Avoid the "Danger Zone" this Summer

 
With the summer right around the corner, families across the country will take out their grills and start spending more time in the great outdoors.  We are urging everyone to remember the four simple steps to food safety - Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill - and to steer clear of the ‘Danger Zone’ when grilling this summer.It is important to remember that bacteria grow faster in the same warm temperatures, so extra care should be taken to make sure perishable food doesn’t spend too long in the Danger Zone. That is temperatures between 40 and 140 ˚F when perishable food spoils rapidly. Foods that should be served hot or cold should not spend more than one hour in the Danger Zone when temperatures are above 90 ˚F, and two hours when temperatures are below 90 ˚F.

Resources help new military moms gain resiliency against post-partum depression

New moms have a lot going on. Dramatic changes in daily schedules that cut into sleep, learning to meet the needs of a new baby, as well as body and hormonal changes, can wreak havoc with emotions after a baby is born. All of these factors can contribute to post-partum blues, commonly experienced by new mothers, where feelings of sadness and tears come unexpectedly. http://www.health.mil/News/Articles/2016/05/23/Resources-help-new-military-moms-gainresiliency-against-post-partum-depression

Consultants earn $20K an hour to help employers engage millennials

Companies such as Coca-Cola, Oracle and Goldman Sachs pay "millennial experts" up to $20,000 per hour to consult on how to keep millennial workers engaged and happy. US companies spent as much as $70 million last year to learn more about millennial employees, according to Source Global Research. Fortune (5/18), - http://fortune.com/2016/05/18/millennial-experts/

Packaging improvements help keep detergent packets away from children

Packaging safety measures for laundry packets -- such as a taste deterrent and increased pressure resistance -- can prevent ingestion by children. This piece notes that Procter & Gamble has made several such packaging changes, increased the security of the secondary package closure and made the packets less visible. This year, the company redesigned its flexible pouch multipack option adding an updated zipper that also works as a child-resistant reseal. Packaging Digest - http://www.packagingdigest.com/product-safety/product-in-package-safetyshareresponsibly1505

Financial-literacy event simulates adult living Money

Students participating in a recent financial-literacy event took part in activities designed to simulate one month of independent adult living. Activities included budgeting for food, clothing and housing. - http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2016/05/students_learn_to_budget_value.html

More than 1M young children serve as family caregivers

Over 1 million children in the US are balancing schoolwork with roles as family caregivers, according to the American Psychological Association. The American Association of Caregiving Youth was created to help identify and support such students. The New York Times - http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/supporting-children-whoserve-as-caregivers/

Indoor Exercise Activities for Rainy Days

Indoor Activities

It’s too cold, too hot, rainy, icy, or snowy outside today. It’s true that older adults can be affected by heat and cold more than others, but bad weather is no excuse to cancel your exercise for the day! With a little creativity, you can be active indoors in a variety of ways:

• Walk on the treadmill, ride the stationary bike, or use the rowing machine that’s gathering dust in your bedroom or basement. Or use one at a nearby gym or fitness center.
• Work out with an exercise DVD. You can get a free one from Go4Life.
• Go bowling with friends.
• Join a local mall walking group.
• Walk around an art gallery or museum to catch a new exhibit.
• Check out an exercise class at your neighborhood Y or senior center.
• If you like dancing, take a Zumba® or salsa class.
• Try yoga or Tai Chi.
• Go to the gym and work on your strength, balance, and flexibility exercises or set up your own home gym. All you need is a sturdy chair, a towel, and some weights. Soup cans or water bottles will do if you don’t have your own set of weights.
• Go to an indoor pool and swim laps or try water aerobics
• How about a game of indoor tennis, hockey, basketball, or soccer?
• Go indoor ice skating or roller skating.
• Maybe it’s time for some heavy duty cleaning. Vacuum, mop, sweep. Dust those hard-to-reach areas.
• Play ping pong with the grandkids.

Quick Tip

You’re more likely to exercise if it’s convenient. Put your hand weights next to the sofa so you can do some lifting while you watch TV. Walk around the house when you talk on the phone. Make an extra trip up and down the stairs when you do the laundry.