Doggone, it's summer! How to keep pets cool as it gets hotter

Remember that dogs don’t sweat like humans.

While we keep cool by donning bathing suits and sandals, dogs run the risk of fatal heat stroke if not properly looked after. 

Follow these easy-to-do tips to ensure best care:

Rein in the exercise. When it’s 30-plus degrees outside, it’s probably not a good idea to tackle a long run with your dog.  Instead, adjust intensity and length of workouts depending on the sun’s blaze.

Also, try bringing your dog out in the early morning or close to sunset. This eases the risk of overheating and protects pets from skin cancer (the ears and noses of dogs are especially susceptible).

Spoil them with shade. Just like humans, dogs can get dehydrated and sunburned easily.  Whether you’re relaxing at the beach or playing Frisbee at a park – make sure shade is readily available.

               

Stay hydrated with h2o. If you’re going to be away from home, bring fresh water and a bowl to keep your dog hydrated throughout the day.

Cool them from the inside. Help your dog chill out by making him peanut butter popsicles. These tasty treats help fight heat waves and keeps dogs well-nourished.

Pets in parked cars? Never leave them there. Doesn’t matter if you’ve got the windows down or the AC running. On a hot day, temperatures can quickly rise to dangerous levels.  In fact, temperatures inside a parked car can jump from 20 to 30 degrees in just 10 minutes. Consequently, animals may suffer organ damage or heat exhaustion.

  

Treat heat stroke. Excessive thirst, fever, heavy panting and profuse salivation are all signs your dog could be suffering heat stroke.

Other signs:

Deep red or purple tongue

Glazed eyes

Rapid heart beat

Lack of coordination

Unconsciousness

Vomiting

If your dog shows any of these symptoms – give small doses of water, place him in the shade and get him checked out by a veterinarian ASAP.

Resources:

Heat Stroke and Hyperthermia in Dogs

Social media safety: Are you safe & savvy online?

Facebook. Twitter. Linkedin. Instagram.

Sound familiar? These days, logging into social media is as normal as pressing the snooze button on your alarm.

Without a second thought – many of us post online content on a daily basis. However, displaying too much personal info can be risky.

Issues like cyberbullying, stalking, and your online reputation (how an employer may perceive you) are all concerns to consider before logging in.

Tips for safe & savvy networking:

Less is more. The more info you post, the easier it might be for a hacker to steal your identity or commit crimes like stalking.

Also known as “friend-of-friend” sites, social media encourages you to provide email addresses and work history to connect you with others via mutual friends and interests.

But before plugging in everything short of your SIN number, remember you don’t have to share if you don’t want to.

Instead, err on the side of caution – like what you’d do if you were meeting someone for the first time.

Privacy & security settings. These handy tools exist to help control who gets to see what on your network. Learn about these functions before revealing too much.

It’s a forever kind-of-thing. Think twice before posting photos or status updates you don’t want your in-laws or potential employers seeing. 

Once a post hits online, it stays online. If you’d like to update without restraint, at least alter your privacy settings so you’re limiting content to only those you’d like to show.

Own your online presence. Some of us use social media to create large groups of “friends” for reasons like: fun, work, family and interest. But that doesn’t mean all friends are equal. Use available tools to help manage your groups effectively.

In particular, if you’re trying to create a positive public persona, try using a Facebook “business page” instead of a personal one. This limits private info but promotes your expertise.

Lock & Key. Don’t just create an easy-to-remember, all-lowercased password. Capitals, numbers and symbols are your best friend. 

Mix them up to generate a secure and hard-to-hack password. It’s also good to use different passwords for every account you’ve got. This helps discourage hackers.

Take action. If someone is bullying, threatening or harassing you online, don’t be afraid to use the block feature and report them to your site administer.  

Recommended reads:  

‘Facebook hackers stealing identities for cash’ -- http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/world/498528/facebook-hackers-stealing-identities-for-cash.html

'How to avoid being hacked: Strong passwords and other security tips' -- http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22682717/how-avoid-being-hacked-strong-passwords-and-other

Too hot to handle? Hot yoga safety

Foggy windows. Sweat-drenched faces… And soggy towels?

While some disagree with the intense heat that a hot class emanates – a hot studio warmed to approx. 40 degrees can help prepare muscles for safe stretching.

The practice is also known to aid circulation, release toxins and enhance joint mobility.

So what’s the harm?

Though hot yoga has its perks – excessive sweating can cause dehydration, heat cramps, exhaustion and even heat stroke.

If you enjoy practising – make sure you pay attention to your body’s reactions during class.

Stay sweaty, but safe!

Get the green light first. If you’re pregnant, over 60, have diabetes or other medical issues, check with your doctor first. For those prone to dizzy spells, fainting or problems with high and low blood pressure, consider trying a different type of yoga.

Bottoms up! Drink one or two cups of water an hour before class to stay hydrated. Chugging too much liquid during class, only makes you feel sick or uncomfortable.

Dress for the occasion. Tight-hugging clothes like a sports bra and leggings are preferred to loose-fitting outfits – looser garments tend to trap heat.

Cotton garments are also a no-no. Once soaked in sweat, cotton can feel heavy and clammy on your skin.

Instead try, spandex, Lycra or nylon. These naturally stretchy materials make it easy to move and perform poses during practice.

Listen to your body. You’re the only one who knows how far to push yourself without getting hurt. Do an alternate pose or take a rest if you’re not feeling up for a certain position.

               

Respect your edge. Yoga is supposed to be relaxing. Whether trying a backbend or arm balance, remember to ease into a pose mindfully and not suddenly or forcefully.

Recognize signs of heat exhaustion. Dizziness, nausea, cramping, vomiting, elevated pulse and blurry vision are all indicators your body may be suffering from heat exhaustion. Let someone know and seek medical attention if you experience on-going symptoms.

Happy Stretching!

No thrashing and no crying: Drowning doesn't look like drowning

Contrary to what Hollywood leads us to believe – splashing, yelling and crying isn’t what a drowning person does, or can do.

In fact, lifeguards say most people wouldn’t even notice someone drowning a mere two or three feet away.

The Instinctive Drowning Response (named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D.) is what individuals actually do to avoid drowning:

1) Except in rare situations – drowning people cannot yell for help, instead most struggle silently.

Dr. Pia explains that drowning people’s mouths don’t re-appear above surface long enough to exhale, inhale and call for help. Since our respiratory systems are designed for breathing – speech is always secondary to oxygen.

2) There is no waving for help either.

According to Dr. Pia, instinct forces a drowning person to extend their arms sideways and press down on the water’s surface. 

Physiologically, if a person is struggling to stay above water, they cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements like waving.

3) A drowning person doesn’t show any signs of a supporting kick and their body remain upright in water.

Unless rescued, drowning people will only struggle for approx. 20 to 60 seconds before total submersion happens. 

Unlike what we see on TV, drownings are undramatic and deceptively calm. 

Keep in mind, if a person is thrashing and yelling for help, it doesn’t mean they’re not in trouble. 

Most likely, they’re in aquatic distress. These individuals can still assist in their own rescue by grabbing onto a flutter board or ring.

Signs someone may be drowning:

Eyes are closed, glassy, empty or unable to focus

Hair over forehead and eyes

Head tilted back with mouth open

Mouth at water level

No supporting kick

Trying to swim but not moving in any direction

Gasping, hyperventilating

Looks to be climbing an invisible ladder

Sources:

www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/drowning-doesnt-look-like-drowning-210736971.html

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=25489249