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Ways to Prepare Yourself and your Family this National Preparedness Month

September 26, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

We are once again in September and it’s National Preparedness Month. If you are not aware, September is the month dedicated to preparing and educating people on disasters. Natural disasters like wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes can occur without notice. That is why being ready for anything is important.

The first thing to have when a disaster strikes is a meeting spot or evacuation center. This could be the nearest fire station or a 24-hour grocery store that are a safe distance away from your home. These meeting spots may depend on the event but it’s important to establish a place and have a solid plan ahead of time. Once you have this setup, it’s time to think about other possible scenarios.

Here are some ways to prepare yourself and your family:

Preparation starts at home

Develop a family disaster plan. Like mentioned earlier, plan a place to evacuate should any disaster arises. If you are separated when an emergency occurs, plan how you will reconnect. Make a disaster kit. This should contain essential items to survive 3 to 5 days. Drinking water, first aid kit, identification documents, non-perishable food, flashlights, and battery-operated radios are some of the things you should pack.

Stay updated and informed

Information is available for everyone. It can be from federal, state, or local resources. Stay informed and learn what to do before, during, and after a disaster.

Help others as well

Most municipalities in the US have a disaster response and recovery plan made by the local government. If you want to help out, you can be an affiliate with an agency that is engaged in disaster response and relief.

Do not stop preparing

Disasters occur without any prior notice so it’s best to be prepared at all times. Revisit and update your family disaster plans time and time again. Change the supplies in the disaster kit so the food and water stay fresh. Being prepared will give you more chances of survival, it is key.

Some situations you can prepare for:

Home invasion

This is scary whether you are at home or not. Know how to protect your home from potential invasions to keep you and your family safe. You can start by checking the locks on your doors and windows. Secure any pet entrances and purchase a security system for your home. The presence of even one security camera will chase away burglars. If a break in happens and you are at home, here are a few things to remember.

Stay calm and collected. Don’t panic. You will feel an adrenaline rush, use it to help you stay alert.
Go to a safe room and call 911.
If in the event, your safe room is not accessible, have evacuation plans. This can be window ladders or back door routes.
Do not engage with the intruder. Do not let them know that you’ve called for help.
Another thing to remember is to keep your car keys close to you so that you can hit the panic button on it. This will create a distraction and alert the neighbors.
In case of an extreme situation, it would be good to have self-defense knowledge.

Responding to a situation like this is to practice. It’s important that you can think straight so that you will know how to defend your family and keep them safe.

Fire

Be sure that your home has the correct amount of fire alarms as this is the first line of defense. Practice setting them off and educating family members on what they should do if this alarm rings. Make an evacuation plan in your home and assign tasks to family members. In situations like this, it is very important to not panic. Make sure everyone is accounted for, even the pets, and then call 911 for help. If there is thick smoke, use something like a shirt to cover your mouth and nose to avoid inhaling it. If in the event, your clothing catches fire, know how to stop, drop and roll. Practice these safety measures so that if this disaster happens, family members will know how to respond.

Flood

If you live somewhere that’s prone to flooding, it’s good to know the warning signs and how to evacuate to a safe place. If you find your family and yourself trapped once the flood has begun, know that you should never enter fast flowing water on foot or in a vehicle. This can get you hurt or worse.

When water has flooded in your home, disconnect all electrical appliances and turn off your main electricity. Move furniture and other valuable stuff to higher ground. Depending on the frequency of the flood, it may be worth it to flood-proof your home.

Being prepared is the key to being safe from disasters. Take these simple actions and teach them to your family. Stay alert, stay safe!

National Wellness Month: 7 Tips for a Healthier Life

August 31, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

This month of August is the best time to focus on managing stress and promoting self-care and healthy routines. You know why? Because it is National Wellness Month! Studies have shown how self-care helps reduce stress and promote happiness. And putting efforts into making a change in your lifestyle can significantly affect your health in positive ways. If you want to take the first step to living a healthier life, read the tips below.

Drink a glass of water in the morning

One of the very first things you should do when you wake up in the morning is to drink a glass of room temperature water. This will help cleanse your system and flush out toxins before you even eat any food. Also try adding a twist to your regular water by putting a slice of lemon or lime for a citrusy taste.

Get enough sleep

The importance of sleep cannot be emphasized any more. Regardless of your age, it’s imperative that you get an adequate amount of sleep every night. A lack of sleep is detrimental to your health in several different ways. Not only will it cause damage to your heart, it can also make you feel constantly tired, irritable and can reduce your attention span.

Eat healthy snacks

In between meals snacks don’t always have to be junk foods. You can snack the right way by switching to healthier alternatives. Instead of consuming too many sweet and starchy foods like candies, potato chips, and cookies, you may want to have nuts, berries and fruits. These foods are rich in vitamins and minerals and are good for your health.

Exercise often

We are all aware of the benefits of working out and exercise. However, these are some things we usually take for granted. Exercising doesn’t always mean going to the gym and spending an hour or so sweating out. It can be as simple as taking a daily walk to or from work. Instead of taking the elevators, use the stairs as often as possible. Or take your dog for a long walk during weekends. The important thing is that you take time to do some physical activity every chance you get. Having an active lifestyle can improve your heart health and overall wellbeing.

Connect with people

People who don’t have friends are said to have higher likelihood of sickness and early death. Their stress and depression can make them physically ill. This is the reason why experts highly recommend that we make time to connect and nurture healthy relationships with the people around us. Spend more time with your family, friends and loved ones. No matter how busy you are, make it a point to get in touch with someone close to your heart. Catch up with your friends during your free time. Visit your parents on the weekends. Doing these things can significantly impact your health, even in the later years.

Try new activities

Finding a new hobby can help reduce stress. If you haven’t done anything fun and exciting for a while, it’s time to look for a new activity that you can enjoy with your friends or family. Think about going hiking, playing a new sport or trying out a new adventure. This will help you unwind and even give you opportunities to meet other people who share the same interest. But if you want to try out some activities alone, that’s perfectly fine, too. For as long as it pumps your adrenaline and makes you happy, you can never go wrong with it!

Ditch the unhealthy habits

If you have some habits that you know are detrimental to your health, stop them now before it’s too late. This includes smoking and excessive drinking. Smoking reduces a person’s lifespan by several years. It can affect your lungs as well as your skin. It is one of the major causes of death in the world. If you want to live longer, ditch the unhealthy habits and always choose life!

There is no better time to live a healthy lifestyle than now. Start making these small changes and you’ll be amazed at how they can improve your life in general.

Easy Plumbing Repair Fixes you can Do Yourself

August 30, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

Some home plumbing system issues are not as complicated as one might think. A lot of them can be addressed by DIY fixes and with the right tools. Doing common a plumbing repair can save you tons of time and money. Getting yourself familiar with the basic steps of plumbing will come in handy when you encounter emergency plumbing issues. Read on to learn some of the easy plumbing repairs that you can do yourself.

Repairing a leaky faucet

Most faucet issues are a result of either a leak at the base of the faucet or a drip from the spout. Either way, they are relatively easy to fix. The important thing is that you know the basic types of faucets and you know how to take them apart. Be familiar with the type of faucet you’re working with. There are faucets with parts that can be easily found at your local home improvement store.

When repairing a leaky faucet, you must shut off the water supply to the area before starting with the repair. The shut offs are generally located in your home’s basement or somewhere under your sink. But if you don’t feel comfortable turning your water supply off or you have a hard time finding it, you can reach out to a reputable professional plumber.

Installing a new faucet

Installing a new faucet is a relatively easy task and you can opt to take on the job yourself. Make sure that you get the right replacement parts from your local hardware store. Before you remove your old faucet, don’t forget to shut off the water supply to your sink. Take note of the connection points of your existing faucet so you can put the new faucet using the same connection. If you find the installation too extensive, you can call your trusted plumber for quality plumbing installation services.

Unclogging a drain

When dealing with a clogged drain, keep in mind that using the standard drain cleaning solvents is not recommended. They eventually end up eating away your pipes which results in their deterioration. Use natural cleaning solvents to keep your drains clean, such as vinegar and baking soda. Knowing how to address clogged drain is just as important as preventing it. Do your part to prevent clogged drains by using a hair catcher in the bathroom drains. Also, avoid washing large food particles down the kitchen drain. Also, clean your drains every now and then to avoid potential clogs. When all else fails, you can call a trusted plumber to assess the situation.

Replacing a showerhead

Replacing a showerhead is another relatively simple plumbing fix. It’s basically about unscrewing the old showerhead and screwing on the new one. A pair of tongue and groove pliers could come in handy if the existing showerhead is a bit difficult to remove. But if you don’t have the right tools, you can always call a professional plumber to perform the job.

Stopping a toilet from running

A running toilet is something that should be addressed as soon as possible because it can waste a large amount of water over time. This issue is usually an indication of a broken floater valve or stop valve which you can replace on your own. Be sure to shut off the water supply to your toilet and replace the valve by following the existing set up. However, if you can’t get the toilet to flush, the problem might be a blocked toilet trap or clogged drain. In this case, you can try fixing the problem by using a plunger to loosen the clog. If that doesn’t work, you can also use a plumbing snake to break up the blockage.

Addressing water pressure issues

A water pressure issue in the shower is usually caused by a buildup of hard water materials. Check if there’s a visible buildup. And if there is, remove the showerhead as well as the spray plate. Prepare a descaling solution and immerse the spray plate. Give it ample time before rinsing off the spray plate and then assemble it back to the showerhead.

A lot of plumbing issues can be repaired on your own so long as you are familiar with the common issues and you have the right tools. For complicated plumbing system issues, make sure to reach out to the reliable professional plumber you can always count on – Johnson Plumbing.

6 Tips on How to Fix Common Toilet Problems

January 30, 2018 by Admin Leave a Comment

A lot of the plumbing in your bathroom is in your toilet tank. If you happen to experience toilet problems, the tank is where most issues will occur. The tank’s role is to hold the water that is used to flush the toilet. It also contains the apparatus and the variety of parts that fills and empties water from the tank. So when you encounter problems with your toilet, the tank should be the first thing you check.

Here are some of the common toilet problems and tips to help fix them.

Weak flushing

Weak flushing usually happens with bad water pressure or with older toilets. If your tank was manufactured long ago, usually before the year 2000, then age could be the problem. Hard water collects in toilets, especially over a long period time. It is not easy to clean even if you use hard brushes or tools. The solution? Muriatic acid. Using muriatic acid wash can really do the job and all you have to do is to mix one part acid to 10 parts water. Use a funnel to pour at least one half of the solution in the toilet tank. You can expect a fizzing sound, but be careful of the fumes. Make sure that you don’t splash the solution on you, on your clothes, especially your eyes. Leave the acid for 30 minutes then pour out the remainder of the solution. Flush the toilet after 30 minutes.

Toilet running constantly

When the toilet runs constantly, it can be a nuisance. Aside from being annoying, it can also make your water bill go up. First, identify the root cause of the problem and make sure to check the handle lever inside the tank. Check that the chain is connected properly, check the water level in the tank and the fill valve. Make sure that there is a good seal between the plunger and the hole at the bottom of the tank.

Flush handle is loose

There are times when your flush handle seems to be disconnected from the rest of the tank. When this happens, the fix should be easy. If it is disconnected, just reconnect the lift chain or lift wire from the handle mechanism in the tank. You can also make an adjustment to the handle mounting nut inside the tank. Tighten it by rotating it clockwise.

Phantom flushing

This problem happens when the tank is leaking water and it will look as if the toilet tank has just been flushed. To confirm that you have a leaking toilet problem, you can use a coloring dye and add it to the tank after the water has stopped running. Wait for about 5 to 10 minutes and see if the water in the bowl is colored. If it is, it means that the plunger is not completely sealed and is in need of a replacement.

Sluggish flush

When the toilet doesn’t flush as quickly as it should, it could be a partial or complete clog in the drain pipe. A snake may be able to unclog the drain. If that doesn’t work, it may be time to call a plumber.

Water on the floor

If you see water at the base of your toilet, it can be an indication of a problem. Try to avoid using the toilet until the problem is identified and fixed. If the wax ring is the issue, the toilet will need to be removed from the floor to address and replace the ring. However, if the issue is more serious, you may need to hire a professional and licensed plumber to fix the problem.

These are some helpful tips that may come in handy when you encounter toilet issues. But if you need the help of an expert plumbing company, Johnson Plumbing is a company that you can count on.

It’s National Kidney Disease Month. Read These Tips for Better Kidney Health

March 21, 2017 by Joe Amos Leave a Comment

Your kidneys are very important organs in your body. Taking proper care of them will help you live better and longer. Many people don’t understand kidney disease or how to prevent it. For National Kidney Disease Month, you can learn how to better care for your kidneys and prevent disease.

Get Tested

Kidney failure is a slow and progressive disease that usually has no noticeable symptoms. Kidney disease awareness is important. Unless your kidneys have been injured in an accident, you may not know you have kidney disease without medical testing. Your doctor can perform a few types of tests to determine kidney function. These are usually blood tests or urine tests.

The blood test for kidney function is called glomular filtration rate or GFR. This measures the amount of creatine in your blood. Creatine is a waste product produced by working muscles. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering this waste from the blood. If the kidneys are not working properly, this acid will build up to unsafe levels in the blood stream.

The urine test for kidney function is called albumin-to-creatine ratio or ACR. The urine is tested for the protein albumin. This protein that should not be found in urine. If the test is positive, it indicates your kidneys are not functioning as well as they should.
There are five stages of disease that lead to kidney failure. There is no way to correct full kidney failure, so it is a life-threatening disease. The best option for a person in the advanced stages is a kidney transplant. Health can be maintained with dialysis, but this does not heal the kidneys.

Diabetes and Sugar

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. When you have diabetes, your body has trouble maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood, so when you have high blood sugar your kidneys are under a lot of pressure to balance your system. They eventually become overloaded and begin to fail.

There are many things that may contribute to developing diabetes. Sometimes the disease is genetic, and there isn’t much you can do about that. Most diabetes, however, is brought on by a poor diet. Excess sugar in the diet is one of the leading causes of diabetes. It is important to avoid excess sugar. The American Heart Association recommends that children consume no more than six teaspoons of added sugar per day. This is also a good rule for adults to follow. Diabetes can affect a person of any age. The sooner you take steps to avoid it, the healthier your kidneys will be.

Salt and Blood Pressure

Blood pressure also has a major impact on kidney function. When blood pressure is high, more blood is forced through the sensitive tissues of the kidney faster. Over time, this may damage the kidney tissue that filters the blood. This tissue is very difficult to heal once damaged.

Too much sodium in the diet contributes to high blood pressure. Salt may also pose a danger to the kidneys directly. Sometimes minerals like sodium will harden in the kidneys. The result is a kidney stone. The kidney eventually forces the stone through the kidney tissue. The process is very painful. It may also damage the kidney tissue, which reduces function. The damage caused by passing a kidney stone often does not heal. A scar will form that is never able to filter any blood.
You do not have to eliminate all salt from your diet, but you should keep it to a healthy level. This means not adding salt to most foods and avoiding processed foods already high in salt. You can help balance sodium levels by also getting plenty of potassium from food and drinking plenty of water each day.

Drinking Too Much

Your kidneys are responsible for getting toxic substances out of your blood stream. Alcohol is highly toxic to the body, so your kidneys work extra hard to get rid of it. When you drink too much, you put strain on your kidneys and may damage them.

Alcohol also dehydrates you. Your kidneys’ other job is to maintain the right balance of water in your body. Consuming alcohol can make this job much more difficult. Over time, this may result in lost kidney function.
It is important to know how much is too much. Three drinks or less per day is considered safe for your body and is unlikely to cause serious problems.

Your diet has a lot to do with your kidney health. By maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding alcohol and smoking and choosing healthy foods most of the time, you can keep both your kidneys functioning for your entire life. Many of the conditions that lead to kidney disease are preventable.