Page 5 - RVO What Women Want May 2017

What Women Want • An Advertising Supplement to the River Valley & Ozark Edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette • Sunday, May 7, 2017 • 5VV
Container gardens are often easier to maintain and to make more versatile than traditional gardens. It is often recommended that container gardens be used in groupings of three different plants that require similar maintenance.
ENCLOSE
what grows
Container gardens provide many benefits
Tending to an outdoor garden can be tedious and require a lot of work and space. Plus, not everyone has the resources, such as a backyard, required for maintaining a garden. For these people, the dreams of gardening are not lost.
Container gardens have become a popular way for gardeners without access to a lot of land, and those who might want to bring the garden inside, to do so in a fun, unique, eye-catching manner.
These gardens allow ornamentals or fruits and veggies to be grown in a small space while also avoiding lots of soil-borne diseases in the garden and damage from rodents. Along with these benefits, specific houseplants provide clean indoor air. According to an article published in the journal Environmental Health Perspective, houseplants can work wonders when it comes to improving overall health, removing toxins from air, soil and water by metabolizing some toxic chemicals and releasing harmless byproducts while sequestering such toxins by incorporating them into plant tissues.
Pollinator plants are another popular choice for container gar- dens, and these plants’ maintenance is important. It is crucial to keep pollinator plants watered and to tolerate unsightly plants during the growing season. Many times the “weeds” owners might see are actually host plants and food sources for insects. It is imp- ortant to keep the area around pollinator plants pesticide-free.
Fresh herbs and recently picked ingredients can add flavor to any meal, and those herbs can be easily brought into the home through the use of a container garden.
Herbs are perhaps some of the easiest plants to cultivate ind- oors because they don’t require large pots or much space. The plants themselves are relatively compact, and it only takes a small amount of herbs to give a meal some extra flavor. Some herbs that are good to grow together are chives, mint and cor- iander because of the plants’ need for more water. Rosemary, thyme, bay, sage and oregano also grow well together because they thrive on less moisture.
Once your container garden is finished, you can sit back and enjoy the clean air and beautiful environment the plants give your home or patio.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative, with contributions by Spencer Griffin, special sections writer
SAFETY first Be aware of summer health hazards
Summer is a season best spent outdoors, and many people anxiously await the opportunity to soak up some sun in the warm weather. However, many outdoor activities can pose a threat to those who aren’t careful when summer arrives. Here
are a few hot-weather dangers that families need to watch out for.
HEAT STROKE
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two of the biggest concerns for those spending time in the sun. Heat exhaustion causes the body to lose fluids through sweat, leading to dehydration, and may cause the body temperature to rise as high as 104 degrees.
Symptoms include sweating profusely, dizziness, muscle cramps, fainting, dehydration, nausea, pale skin, rapid heartbeat and headache. People who suspect heat exhaustion should move to a cooler location, drink water, and remove tight or unnecessary clothing. Call a doctor if the person suffering from heat exhaustion cannot keep fluids down or seems incoherent.
Heat stroke, on the other hand, is a potentially life-threatening condition that causes the body’s cooling system to shut down and can cause injury to the brain or other organs. Symptoms include a body temperature of 105 degrees or higher, a throbbing headache; flushed, hot and dry skin; dizziness and lightheadedness; nausea; rapid, shallow breathing; a lack of sweating; a rapid heartbeat that is strong or weak; and unconsciousness.
Immediately dial 911 if a heat stroke is suspected. While waiting for the ambulance, move the person to an air- conditioned room, wet the victim’s skin, and apply ice packs to the armpits, groin, neck and back.
“I encourage people to drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks in the shade or a cool area when working outside during the hot days of summer,” said Dr. Wade Gregory, emergency- medicine specialist with the Conway Regional Health System.
BUG BITES
Warm weather can be a welcome en- vironment not only for families having fun, but also for bugs. Some bug bites are merely an itchy annoyance, but others are more serious.
“While local insect bites and stings can be managed with topical Benadryl and steroid creams, there are considerable additional concerns,” Gregory said.
Tick bites can transmit a number of serious diseases, including Rocky Moun- tain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia and Lyme disease. According to the Ar- kansas Department of Health, common symptoms of tick-borne illnesses include fever and chills, aches and pains, and rash. People who experience such symp- toms after being bitten by a tick should consult a doctor immediately.
Another common pest, the mosquito, can transmit the West Nile virus and the Zika virus. The Department of Health recommends wearing light-colored clothing doused in permethrin, long sleeves and pants, and insect repellent to prevent both tick and mosquito bites. In addition, people should perform tick checks soon after being outdoors and remove any embedded ticks by gripping them as close to the skin as possible and detaching them.
WATER RISKS
Bodies of water can seem like peaceful and welcome respites on a hot day, but water-related accidents, particularly unintentional drownings, account for roughly 3,500 fatalities on a given year in the United States. Furthermore, about one in five people who die from drowning are children younger than 14.
Families can ensure a safe and enjoyable sum- mer by protecting themselves against seasonal dangers such as heat stroke, bug bites, snake bites and drowning.
For Gregory, many water-related ac- cidents come down to one word: “Al- cohol, alcohol, alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol and operating boating equipment or swimming are very dan- gerous,” he said. “Drink less alcohol; drink more water. Wear life jackets that fit, and keep underage children off of water equipment and vehicles not suit- ed for their age.”
If someone is drowning, throw him or her a life jacket or flotation device, he said, adding that bystanders should avoid direct contact with the drowning person, who could smother rescuers in his or her panic. Then call 911 and give rescue breaths if needed, he said.
Summertime can be plenty of fun, and with the right precautions, people can enjoy the warm weather safely.
“A few words of advice: use good judg- ment, drink in moderation, dress appro- priately for outdoor activity, and keep an eye on your children,” Gregory said.
— Courtesy of Metro Creative, with contributions by Sarah DeClerk, special sections writer
Be PREPARED Craft an on-the-go first aid kit for minor mishaps
While women are out having summer fun, they can stay one step ahead of scrapes, headaches and bug bites by crafting an on-the-go first aid kit that fits in a mint tin. While this kit is no replacement for a fully stocked first aid kit, having some supplies on hand in a purse or pocket can help women deal quickly with minor injuries and get back to enjoying summer faster.
▶ Adhesive bandages ▶ Adhesive cloth tape ▶ Antibiotic ointment ▶ Antiseptic wipes
▶ Pain reliever
▶ Allergy medicine
▶ A cough drop
▶ Hydrocortisone ointment
▶ Nail scissors
▶ Sterile gauze pad ▶ Tweezers
▶ Safety pins
▶ Small pencil
▶ Emergency
contact card
Your special delivery
deserves our special team.
Every year, Conway Regional welcomes nearly 2,000 bundles of joy into the world. And every birth is special to us, just like it is to you. That’s why we’re the area’s most preferred place to have a baby.* When the time comes for your special day, know that our team is ready.
One Team. One Promise.
*Strategic Market Research, 2016