Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Health Tips for September 5

Health Tip: Prepare a First Aid Kit

It's important to have an emergency first aid kit on hand in the event of minor cuts, scrapes, burns or other injuries.

Make sure your first aid kit includes this list of essentials suggested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

* Two pairs of sterile latex gloves (or gloves made of other material if there are known latex allergies).
* Sterile dressings, gauze pads or adhesive bandages.
* Antibacterial soap or towelettes, and antibiotic ointment.
* Burn ointment.
* Eye wash solution.
* A supply of your regular daily prescription medications.
* A thermometer.
* Prescribed medical supplies, like glucose or blood pressure monitoring equipment.

Health Tip: Caring For Your Hearing Aid

A hearing aid is an expensive and sophisticated electronic device that should be cared for properly to help extend its life.

Here are suggestions for how to keep your hearing aid functioning properly, courtesy of the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders:

* Protect your hearing aid from contact with heat or moisture.
* Clean your hearing aid thoroughly and frequently as directed by your audiologist. Excess wax and drainage from the ears can damage the appliance.
* Protect your hearing aid from hair spray and other hair care products. Don't wear the hearing aid until you've finished applying these products.
* Turn your hearing aid off when you're not using it.
* Store batteries in a convenient place, but safely out of reach of children and pets.
* Replace dead batteries promptly.

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