James Stabile Info Blog Newsletter
July 2005
Health, Fitness and Lifestyle...
I don't usually tackle pet health and safety but I read an interest article in the Sun-Sentinel (May 24, 2005) about pet safety in the summer. The article offered a few suggestions and I've included some of my comments. I couldn't help relating much of what was said about pets to children, too:
Never leave pets in parked car on a hot day. The same goes for children. Heat and humidity can't tell the difference between a pet or a child. We have all heard tragic stories about the consequences of a child or a pet being left in a parked car on a hot humid day.
Avoid taking a dog for a ride in the back of a pick-up truck. Debris flying, dog can be bounced out of truck. I've heard about this since forever.
Pets should have access to water and shade outdoors. Dah?
Fertilizer poses a serious health danger to pets. The pet may ingest it.
Spaying or neutering your dog reduces the likelihood that he will bite a person. And it will cut down on unwanted puppies and kittens, lowering the number of unwanted animals.
A pet should always wear a collar with identification. A no brainer.
Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworm disease becomes a pressing issue during the summer. A veterinarian can offer prevention advice or heartworm prevention medication. Fleas and ticks can also be treated. Short answer, your pet needs a vet just like you need a PCP, primary care physician.
Pets and pools don't always mix. Same for children, pools or any body of water may be dangerous for your child and your pet. Monitor the behavior of your child and your pet at all times.
Older pets, those with heavy coats and short-nosed dogs should go easy on outdoor activity in the heat. Outdoor activities should be limited to morning or evening. Also, watch concrete and asphalt, they heat up fast in the summer sun. For that matter, the sand on a Florida beach heats up, too.
Pets with light-colored noses or light-colored ear fur are vulnerable to sunburn. A dab of sun screen can help. That's right sunscreen, for pets, too.
There is a lot of responsibility in owning a pet. It can provide a great learning experience for children if the children are age appropriate for the responsibility that comes with owning a pet. Come to think of it, there's a lot of responsibility raising children. If you have trouble being a good pet owner, you better reconsider that choice to raise children. Either that or consider parenting training.
You've heard it before - fitness is important in the quality of your life. Health experts are now saying that physical activity for 30 minutes, 5 times a week is adequate in supplying that fitness level to one's life. The activity could be walking. Walking is the easiest form of physical activity. If you don't have the time or inclination to begin a regulated fitness program, there are many simple, non-intrusive, minimal ways of adding a degree of that fitness level to your life.
At home: walk, take the long way when doing chores, stand when folding laundry, TV - don't use the remote, at commercials get up off that couch and do a lap around the room or house (even a brisk walk would help) or get up a dance to that catchy commercial tune. Become an active viewer of TV and an active participant in life.
At work: stand while you are on the phone, do a little fidgeting (anything to get you moving), call out for your lunch at a local restaurant then go and walk to pick it up, set a timer - work a good 20 minutes then take a walk around the office. Or do what I do, deliver your hall passes to your students yourself - walk to their rooms and personally deliver the passes. While I'm on this point, conducting business or your work related responsibilities by walking and visiting the people or areas that you may need to contact is a great way of not only getting out of the office and getting active, but depending on your particular job description, it provides a good way to be visible, well connected and concern about your job and responsibilities. Now if you work at a counter or assembly line, you may want to schedule those hikes or public relations trips. At the job, always do what is expected of you in your particular line of work, but I think you get may point about being an active player.
An easy, simply and effective way of getting more activity in one's life is to park your vehicle a distance from your destination. Don't search for the closest parking space, chose the parking space that will give you the exercise that you so desperately need. In any case, walk to the store, etc. Look for ways to add physical activity to your daily life.
A formal fitness program at a gym is good, but how many people really take the time, money and energy to follow through on such a venture? Keep it simple stupid, a popular phrase in business or sales is appropriate at this point. Formal fitness programs are good, but any time you get physically active as part of your regular daily routine is an added benefit to that formal program. If you do not have a formal physical activity program, just take the opportunities to ensure an informal one.
Another way for you, the adult to shape up is to do it with your children. Make fitness a family goal. Yard work and cleaning the car, among other outside activities can be adapted to family chores and goals. Do it as a family. Your example will inspire your children, actions always speak louder than words.
In short, make any activity that you must perform as physical and as energy producing as possible. Use simple, common, non-threatening means to achieve your desired fitness level. Do it together with the people who are important to you and share in the results.
Bottled water vs. tap water. Many adults drink more bottled water than tap water. Personally, I drink equal amounts of both. I prefer bottled water for work and walking due to the ease in transportation and use. At home I usually drink chilled tap water. I tell myself that the tap water in the pitcher in my refrigerator has sat in the fridge for a period of time, so all of the harmful byproducts of the tap water has filtered out. I don't know where they go, possible in mid-air since I don't use a filter, but that's my rational for drinking tap water. I think a bigger reason for me to use tap water is the fact that it is cheaper than bottled water. I think a filtering system would be a good idea, but I haven't investigated that possibility. My point in bringing up this matter has to do with children and the fluoride in tap water. Children need fluoride to build the strong enamel that prevents tooth decay. If children do not drink tap water on a regular basis, they may be missing that vital fluoride. Choosing bottled water that contain fluoride would be one alternative. A conversation and advice from your family dentist would be advisable to ensure the optimum health of your child.