For most people, summer is a time of vacation and relaxation, but for thousands of families each year, it can be a time of medical strife. The National Safe Kids campaign reports that one in four kids ages fourteen and younger sustain medical injuries during the summer that require medical attention. They have also found that forty percent of all injury related emergency room visits, and forty-two percent of all injury deaths happen between the months of May and August. The statistics are chilling, and a frightening wake up call for parents everywhere. There are easy ways to help prevent the principle causes of injuries to children.

Playground Flooring
Is your playground really as safe as you’d like it to be? Studies have shown that rubber mulch is the safest playground flooring on the market. Rubber mulch looks like wood chips, but is made out of recycled rubber, providing an alternative that is friendly to kids and to the environment. The flooring has shock absorbing properties that help prevent injuries in children. Rubber mulch in your neighborhood playground can be the difference between sprained wrists or merely bruises. Check with your neighborhood parks department that the parks and playgrounds in your area are equipped with rubber mulch.

Keep Them Hydrated
Kids are often very busy having a good time, and forget mundane details such as meals and drinks. It is vital to keep your children hydrated with water, especially during long periods outdoors and at the pool. Dehydration is a leading cause of emergency room visits for children, as their small bodies retain less water than adults, and they can rapidly dehydrate to dangerous levels.

Helmets
Whether it’s on a scooter, bike, roller blades, or the like, a helmet is vital. Helmets can be the difference between life and death. Dusk is a particularly dangerous time, as drivers have lower visibility, and may not see a child before it’s too late. Make sure that your kids don’t leave the driveway without a helmet on.

Write to your local officials to ensure that rubber mulch is used in community playgrounds, and keep a large stock of water on hand at all times. Make sure that your kids’ helmets fit well, and are in good condition. Keep your summer experience happy and healthy with the necessary safety guidelines in place.

Parents are extremely concerned about the safety features of the play ground area. There can be fatal accidents happening when children play very enthusiastically. It is the property of the surface material to determine the level of injury sustained. Rubber mulches play a vital role in safeguarding the interests of the children and other players using it. The cushioned surface will absorb all the shock leaving no injuries to the people use it. A playground cannot be safe more than having rubber mulch on its surface.

Rubber mulches are prepared by the recycling methods employed in tire industries. They do not harm the environment in any way. People can employ these rubber mulches on the ground surfaces for about 20 to 25 years and can still send it to the factory for recycling. It is highly advised to have a detailed look on the components employed in the manufacturing of the rubber mulch. The playgrounds can obtain a superior look and feel with the improvement in the durability of the material. The players can have the peace of mind during the hard core practice sessions. Added to the credibility, White House has come forward in favor of the usage of rubber mulches. The First Lady of United States of America has expressed her willingness to employ rubber mulch on the playground and have praised the safety features of this product. She is very happy to know that her kids are secured while playing on the grounds where rubber mulch is employed.

There is a well known saying amongst horsey people, which is “no foot, no horse”. When you think about it a horse stands on 4 relatively small feet, attached to 4 spindly metacarpals, which supports often more than 1000lbs of body weight. So horses hooves and feet, need looking after.

Firstly, yes there is a difference between a horse’s hoof and their foot. Foot refers to the hoof and all the internal structures, bones and muscles, and the hoof is just the hard outside covering of the foot, comprising of the wall, sole and frog.

(more…)

Think about everything you throw away. Can something else be done with it? Can it be recycled, or can someone else make good use of it?

So don’t throw away or simply burn old clothes, books, kid’s toys, or even furniture, but instead give them to your local charity shop instead. You will be helping other people and the environment too.

(more…)