‘Always ask for your receipt’

Customer says Burger King worker secretly charged her extra to pocket some money

A TikToker says that a Burger King employee stole $16 dollars from her at a location in Taylor, Michigan.

Her receipt shows that she paid $16 dollars in cash and then paid the bill in full on her credit card. In the comments of the video, the TikToker says that because she paid $16 dollars in cash, her card should have been charged $18.95 (the bill in full was $34.95).

In a TikTok posted on Feb. 4, @mrshardy2011 shows her receipt from the Burger King in question. In it, she tells another person that the actions of the employee could get her in serious trouble. The TikToker wrote in the video’s caption that the worker “told the police I didn’t give her cash” and commented that a supervisor at Burger King told her that the employee wasn’t fired, though disciplinary action was taken.

“I’m writing corporate,” the TikToker commented. @mrshardy2011’s video has been viewed over 73,000 times.

Commenters on @mrshardy2011’s video said they had had similar experiences.

“Someone at a McDonald’s stole my moms credit card numbers and was ordering off Amazon,” @moodymoonie97 commented. “They got nerve.”

“I legit had this happen to me today at the exact same store!” @naeeh9 wrote.

“That location has done that to me as well before,” @k_lynne925 commented. “One time I went there at 12 in the afternoon and they said I’m sorry we’re not open yet.”

“I stopped going to that one after the manager claimed my card declined but charged it 4 times and tried to deny it,” @dani3times wrote.

Others offered the TikToker advice about her situation.

“Always ask for your receipt. I noticed these restaurants will keep your receipt,” @sheritagriffin318 wrote.

“Just show the cops, have manager count the drawer and call corporate,” @notapickmedale commented. “It’s all on video.”

Source: ‘Always ask for your receipt’: Customer says Burger King worker secretly charged her extra to pocket some money (msn.com)

Pet poodle killed by neighbor’s dog on Far South Side, owner cited

A few days ago. I posted an article about the deadliest dog breed to own. This is the dog breed that’s attacked the most people – TUTORING YOU

Based on the number of deaths attributed to this breed (421), the Pit Bull is by far the deadliest dog to own. I don’t have the number of other dog breeds that have been killed or injured by this breed, however it happens more frequently than attacks on humans. Here is a report on the latest attack from ABC 7 news:

“Cynthia Bailey said when she let her toy poodle Caeser out around 6 a.m. Tuesday, a neighbor’s dog was in her yard.

She said that dog attacked Caesar once, then came back after him again.

Baily said she tried to fight off the dog, but Caesar died from his injuries.

“I’m screaming and yelling for help, but he’s just constantly attacking, you know, my dog,” Baily said. “Nothing I did touched him. He didn’t flicker at all.”

The owner of the pitbull, cane corso mix told officers the dog had gotten out of the house.

The owner was cited, according to police.”

Just to reiterate, got kids? Beware of this breed!

Nice doggy!

5 essential things to do to prepare for a snowstorm

By Jean Levasseur  for Reviewed©

© Getty Images / PavelRodimov 

Winter storms happen every year, and yet the first one can still catch us by surprise. With the cold weather and snow comes power outages, car accidents, and other problems.

By taking a few simple steps ahead of the first winter storm, you can stay warm and safe while enjoying all the fun things that snowy weather has to offer.

Winter-proof your house

Your house is your number one protection against the cold weather, so you’ve got to make sure that it’s sealed up tight. There are a few steps you should take every year before winter comes.

First, make sure that your heating system is up and running. Don’t wait for the first 10-degree day to turn it on. Run your furnace early in the fall for a few hours, and, if needed, have it tuned up, its filters changed, and its chimneys cleaned. If you use oil heat, fill your tank before the heating system starts.

Go around your house and make sure all of your insulation is intact, particularly around windows and doors.

Also check your water lines. Make sure that they are all insulated properly, and that you shut off the water leading to your hose and drain those pipes. If you have a sprinkler or irrigation system, drain the lines and shut that water off as well. A burst pipe is a terrible thing anytime of year, but can be particularly damaging if it freezes.

Bring in your outdoor furniture. Most of it isn’t going to be designed to stand up to the rigors of winter. The weight of the snow can make the fabric and springs sage, and the cold can be damaging as well.

Lastly, prune away any dead branches and have dead trees removed from your property. The weight of the ice and snow, accompanied by the wind from winter storms, can rip down even healthy limbs and trees. By clearing out the dead ones, you’re reducing the chances of them falling on power lines, your house, or even worse, a person.

Ready your equipment for snow

The morning after a 16-inch snowfall is not the time to discover that your snowblower won’t start, or that you don’t know where your snow shovels or ice melt are. Proper prep for a snowstorm in advance can make your snow clearing easier, faster, and less backbreaking.

Well before the first snowstorm headlines a weather forecast, dust off your snow blower, start it up, and then run it for a while. Have it tuned up in the fall so that you know it is ready to go.

If you have a generator, the same rules apply. Make sure it runs, that the wiring hooks up properly, and that you have plenty of gas on hand—enough to run the generator (and your snowblower) for at least several days in the event of a power outage. More than likely, a five gallon container won’t be enough.

The night before it snows, bring all of your tools to where they’re needed. It’s frustrating to have to trudge through thigh-high snow to the shed to get a shovel, so leave it by the door so that it’s right there when you go out to clear. Same goes for ice melt.

Move your snowblower to a place where you can just drive it out, rather than having to muscle and drag it around. And, if your house is prone to ice dams, don’t forget to get your roof rake out—clearing the snow from the bottom few feet of your roof is the best way to stop ice dams from ever forming.

Prep your car for winter roads

Let’s face it—at some point this winter, you’ll have to drive somewhere on a snowy day. While snow and cars can increase the dangers of driving, some basic preparations in advance can keep you safe, even when you have to be on the roads.

It’s a good idea to take care of any lingering maintenance issues before winter starts. Get your fluids changed if needed, swap out your windshield washer fluid for one that de-ices, and make sure that your wipers are in good shape. Double check that your heater works, and that your battery holds a charge.

Make sure your tires are up to snuff. Just because they passed inspection doesn’t mean they’re great for the winter. If you use snow tires, change them over well before the first snowfall.

If you don’t own snow tires, check the tire treads on your regular wheels. If they’re balding or wearing unevenly, it may be time to get new ones. Any tire can slip on snow or ice, but tires with enough tread will slip less and regain traction faster.

Also make sure to check your tires’ air pressure—improperly inflated tires are more likely to slip as well.

Transfer your snow-removal equipment into the car before it snows. You don’t want to come out of a store or work and discover that you don’t have your snow brush in the car when there’s already six inches of snow on your windshield.

A snow brush may not be enough. Always have a shovel in your car as well, just in case you need to dig out. A bag of kitty litter or sand provides traction under your wheels in case you get stuck.

An important and easy task is to fill your gas tank before every storm. You sure don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of a blizzard.

Lastly, keep an emergency kit in your car. This should include everything you’d need if you got stranded and had to stay with your car for hours. This kit should include:

  • Blankets
  • Flashlight and batteries
  • Cell phone chargers
  • Food and water
  • Maps and a compass
  • Sand or kitty litter for traction
  • A first aid kit
  • Jumper cables and tire-changing equipment

Expect a power outage

Unfortunately, power outages are a part of winter for many of us. While most tend to be short, you need to prepare for the chance that one may last days or weeks

If you have a generator, make sure that it works and that you have plenty of gas. Also have some way of securing it in place to prevent theft. Most importantly, practice generator safety and place it away from your house—generators give off toxic carbon monoxide, and you don’t want it seeping into your home.

Know where your flashlights are, and make sure that they all have fully-charged batteries. You want to have several flashlights available, and at least one in each bedroom.

Prepare like you would for any emergency situation. Keep a supply of non-perishable food and water on hand. The food in your refrigerator can keep for a short time in a power outage, but only if you don’t keep opening the door. If you have a chock-full fridge, but aren’t sure if it’s safe to eat after the power comes back on, try this trick—but prepare for it ahead of time.

Keep a spare propane tank for your grill. This way, if you lose power for several days, you’ll still have a way to cook food and boil water, if necessary.

While you want your food to be cold, you yourself want to be warm during a storm—obviously. If you have a working fireplace and/or wood stove in your home, stock enough wood inside or by your door to last through the duration of the storm, and then some. A fire can be the difference between a comfortable night’s sleep and a frigid one. That said, if you do not have a working fireplace or wood stove you should never light a fire for warmth inside your home. That is an easy way to either get carbon monoxide poisoning or light your house on fire.

Know where your extra blankets and warm clothes are. If an outage goes on for days, it’s going to get chilly, and you want to make sure that you can stay warm without having to rummage through a few dozen attic boxes to find the sleeping bags.

Finally, have a backup plan. While you probably shouldn’t try to travel in the middle of the storm, know where you can go if the power is going to be out for an extended period of time.

Don’t forget that winter can be fun

Winter and snow aren’t all bad, and many of us live in colder climates because we enjoy the beauty and activities that winter has to offer.

By prepping for fun activities early in the season, you can make the most of the cold, snowy weather. Pull out the sleds before the storm comes. Get your skis or snowboards edged and waxed in advance. Dig out your ice fishing equipment or snowshoes.

And, if you’re one of those who really doesn’t like the cold or snow, then at the very least make sure you have a few good books to read while you wait for spring.

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/shopping-all/5-essential-things-to-do-to-prepare-for-a-snowstorm/ar-BB1bOsnw?ocid=msedgntp

Fire Prevention Week 2020, October 4-10

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 95 years, has announced “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10, 2020. NFPA’s focus on cooking fire safety comes in response to home cooking fires representing the leading cause of U.S. home fires, with nearly half (49 percent) of all home fires involving cooking equipment; unattended cooking is the leading cause of these fires.

“Cooking continues to be a major contributor to the home fire problem,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “The good news is that the vast majority of these fires are highly preventable. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign works to better educate the public about where potential cooking hazards exist and basic but critical ways to prevent them.”

Carli notes that this year’s focus on cooking safety is particularly timely. “As the public may continue to avoid restaurants for some time and opt instead to do more cooking and entertaining at home, the potential for home cooking fires will likely increase as well.”

Key messages around this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen” will include the following:

  • Keep a close eye on what you’re cooking; never leave cooking unattended
  • Keep anything that can catch fire — oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains — at least three feet away from your stovetop.
  • Be on alert. If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don’t use the stove or stovetop.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week and this year’s theme, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,”along with a wealth of resources to help promote the campaign locally, visit fpw.org.

About Fire Prevention Week

NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records Administration’s Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation declaring a national observance during that week every year since 1925. Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more safety information.

10 Things You Should Never Burn in Your Fireplace

Slide 1 of 10: Burning high moisture-content wood in your fireplace produces more smoke than seasoned wood. This, in turn, can cause dangerous creosote to build up on the walls of your chimney. Burn only dry wood. Be sure you always check your chimney before using your fireplace.

© GRANATA68/SHUTTERSTOCK

Wet wood damages a fireplace

Burning high moisture-content wood in your fireplace produces more smoke than seasoned wood. This, in turn, can cause dangerous creosote to build up on the walls of your chimney. Burn only dry wood. Be sure you always check your chimney before using your fireplace.

Some plants

It may be tempting to throw dried up plants in the fireplace—they’re kind of like firewood, right? Well, the smoke from some plants, such as poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak can cause an allergic reaction when burned and inhaled. Leave all plant matter outside.

Painted or treated wood

Because burning painted and treated wood can release dangerous, toxic chemicals into your home, keep them out of your fireplace. Not only can these chemicals irritate lungs, eyes, and skin, but they can damage the inside of your fireplace. FYI: Never mount your TV above your fireplace.

Christmas trees

It seems logical that you could get rid of your old Christmas tree in the fireplace, but it’s best to dispose of it by other means. Not only is the wood not properly seasoned, evergreen trees often contain high levels of quick-burning resin which can reach high temperatures and result in a chimney fire or even crack your chimney.

Slide 5 of 10: It doesn't matter what type of plastic you have—plastic bags, bubble wrap, plastic bottles, or cartons—never throw it in the fireplace. When burned, plastic releases harmful chemicals that can be dangerous for your health. Or, try to reduce your plastic consumption entirely—it's one of the tiny ways you can make a difference to help the environment.

© TEERASAK LADNONGKHUN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Plastic

It doesn’t matter what type of plastic you have—plastic bags, bubble wrap, plastic bottles, or cartons—never throw it in the fireplace. When burned, plastic releases harmful chemicals that can be dangerous for your health. Or, try to reduce your plastic consumption entirely.

Some papers and cardboard

It may be tempting to toss old papers, wrapping paper, or that cardboard pizza box in the fireplace, but you should dispose of paper and cardboard with colored print another way (though, make sure you check if you can recycle these things—because many times, you can’t). The brightly colored inks may release toxic gasses when burned.

Charcoal products

While you may use charcoal products in your barbecue grill, keep them outdoors. When you burn charcoal, it releases carbon monoxide into the air, and that’s the last thing you want inside your home.

Dryer lint

While dryer lint may work as a great fire starter when you’re on a camping trip, keep it out of your fireplace. The synthetic fibers in dryer lint can release dangerous chemical fumes into your home and chimney. Choose a healthier way to ignite your fire.

Driftwood

That large piece of driftwood you found on the coast may seem like a good choice for firewood, but it can potentially release salt and thus corrode your fireplace and chimney. Leave driftwood to its best use: a decoration.

Fire accelerants

Never use fire accelerants such as gasoline, grill starter fluid, or kerosene to start a fire. These highly flammable liquids can cause a fire that quickly becomes too hot for your fireplace and chimney, putting the integrity of your chimney and your home at risk. It’s best to keep these accelerants out of your home.

Article for Reader’s Digest by Rachel Brougham

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/home-and-garden/10-things-you-should-never-burn-in-your-fireplace/ss-BB189Gzn?ocid=msedgntp#image=10

9 Things You Shouldn’t Post Online When You’re Not Home

Don’t announce your plans online

“Finally going to Italy May 10-29!” you might caption an Instagram or Facebook photo months in advance. If your social media platforms are public, you’re giving plenty of strangers the opportunity to plan for a break-in. And even if they’re not, an acquaintance might mention it, with the information getting in the wrong hands.

Solution 1: Post old photos

While you’re on vacation, occasionally post ambiguous images of you or your family and friends at your home to throw off any potential burglars following you on social media.

Solution 2: Post photos of your house sitter

If you absolutely must post photos of your trip, or are required to do it for work (such as lifestyle blogging), then a good way to keep the burglars away is to post sporadic photos of your home, pets, and even house sitter. You can post captions like, “So grateful we have a wonderful house sitter watching over our home for the next week!” 

Solution 3: Get on a neighborhood app

Finally, there’s a perk to all your nosy neighbors! If you have an app like Nextdoor, the free private social media network for your neighborhood community, you can keep a lookout for any lurkers in your area, since people post suspicious activity all the time. If anything comes up, you should have a select few trusted sources to keep an eye out for your vacant home.

Log out of your accounts

Log out of your personal accounts on your computers at home, ensuring you have a protective password. Personal information on there could relay your travel plans, or give people passwords to safes and more in the home. You should also log out of your personal social media accounts on any public computers you use while traveling.

Disable location settings

Have you ever noticed that, when on Facebook, a little bar pops up on your Newsfeed that shows you where people are traveling? It can show people traveling simply an hour away for the day, or off to another country. Do you really want people to know this information about you … ever? Especially while on vacation, it’s best to disable your location settings on all your social media channels.

Only accept friend requests from friends

Your social life might have your friend requests on social media skyrocketing, but be careful not to accept people who you don’t genuinely know. Not everyone has the best of intentions, and someone who you met through a friend of a friend very briefly could come across your personal life and track down your home. 

Enable two-factor authentication

If you are posting your travels merely with trusted friends in private messages on your social media platforms, you should be sure no one else can access your account. That means enabling two-factor authentication on your social media platforms. With this, no one on another computer, phone, etc., can access your account just because they know your password, as the platform will recognize it’s a new device and send your phone a notification.

Get your kids on board

You may put in all the work to ensure your social media doesn’t relay your vacation information but are your kids playing along? You’ll want to make sure you go through all of these steps with them to be safe.

Graphic by How-To Geek

Great article by Alexa Erickson  for the Reader’s Digest

Facebook Scams You Need to Take Seriously

A healthy dose of skepticism

Facebook can be a wonderful place full of opportunities to learn new things, share the special moments in your life, and reconnect with old friends. While Facebook is a lighthearted site for sharing, liking, and commenting, it is also one of the most common places for scams and fraud on the Internet. Unfortunately, while you’re sharing your life with friends and family, you might be unintentionally sharing private information with those who wish to do you harm.

On the bright side, there are ways to protect yourself against the nefarious and sometimes quite believable scams. More and more scams are being exposed every day and each new scam is more clever and less detectable than the last. As a rule of thumb, remember to do your own research, never click on suspicious links, and distrust sites asking you to enter personal information.

Slide 5 of 18: Your friend just found out what ‘80s pop star is their spirit animal and now you can’t wait to find out either. Don’t let your curiosity get the better of you, though. Some Facebook quizzes will ask for access to your profile, and others will even go a step further by throwing certain questions into the quiz itself, says Adam Levin, founder of global identity protection and data risk services firm CyberScout and author of Swiped. “They’re purely to gather information because … they could be the answers to security questions,” he says. Only take quizzes on sites you know and trust, and create fake answers for password recovery questions so they’re hard to crack, says Levin. It might be easy enough for Facebook scams to figure out your mother’s maiden name, so leave an easy-to-remember lie instead.

© mirtmirt/Shutterstock

Taking quizzes

Your friend just found out what ‘80s pop star is their spirit animal and now you can’t wait to find out either. Don’t let your curiosity get the better of you, though. Some Facebook quizzes will ask for access to your profile, and others will even go a step further by throwing certain questions into the quiz itself, says Adam Levin, founder of global identity protection and data risk services firm CyberScout and author of Swiped. “They’re purely to gather information because … they could be the answers to security questions,” he says. Only take quizzes on sites you know and trust, and create fake answers for password recovery questions so they’re hard to crack, says Levin. It might be easy enough for Facebook scams to figure out your mother’s maiden name, so leave an easy-to-remember lie instead.

Insane giveaways

Free iPad giveaway? Sign me up! But wait—before you click that sweepstakes link, ask yourself whether it seems real, says Eva Velasquez, CEO and president of Identity Theft Resource Center. “Yes, there are legitimate sweepstakes and raffles and giveaways, but there’s usually an end goal there,” she says. Most companies are hoping the promise of a free iPad (or flight or jewelry) will entice you enough to, say, sign up for a newsletter or buy a product. Before you give any personal information to a company, weigh the chances of winning with what you’ll lose giving up personal information. 

The “new” old friend

Be skeptical if you receive a friend request from someone you could have sworn already had a Facebook page. Sure, some people like to clean house by ditching their old profiles, but other friend requests aren’t so innocent. Scammers will clone a person’s entire Facebook profile, creating a fake profile of a real person. From your “friend’s” page, the hacker could send a link for a get-rich-quick scheme or a cute quote. It’s the kind of thing you’d ignore from an anonymous email message, but not from a loyal friend. “They’re banking on the fact that you will trust the message,” says Levin. The problem is, clicking that link could add malware to your computer. Before you accept a weird friend request, shoot over a text or call the person to confirm it’s not a fake account.

A friend’s strange request

Even if you haven’t received a new request, don’t immediately trust a message from a friend you can’t see face-to-face. Hackers can find a person’s password and break into their account, then message their friends. The person might claim to have lost their wallet in Europe and ask you to send money. It might sound obvious enough now that it’s a scam, but those messages could tap into your fear so you don’t think straight. If you’re wondering if your “friend” is who you think it is, get in touch on a platform other than Facebook. Ringtones sound different in America than in other countries, so you’ll be able to figure out if you’re friend is traveling, even if they don’t pick up the phone, says Levin. Still not sure? Again, get in touch off of Facebook to find out what’s going on. 

Gossipmongers

Whether you know the person who posted it or not, you might go into panic mode when someone leaves you a message warning, “OMG look what they’re saying about you” and click the link to find out what’s going on. “It’s really about engaging your curiosity and getting your curious nature to say, ‘I want to know,’” says Velasquez. But don’t click! A vague message (“Did you see this picture of you?” vs “LOL at your face eating cake at Sam’s party last weekend”) is suspect, and clicking it could load malware onto your computer, says Velasquez. Text your friend to confirm the link is real.

Click here for more info (This is not a hoax):

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/17-facebook-scams-you-need-to-take-seriously/ss-BB17fNTj?ocid=msedgntp#image=1

How to Take the Heat

See the source image
carriagetradeinsurance.com

Baby, it’s hot outside. At least in my corner of the U.S. Maybe yours too! So, how do we stay safe in this summer’s heat? Here are some tips from The Old Farmer’s Almanac©.

If you work outside or play outside in excess, watch for sunburn and dehydration.

Have a perfect summer!

How to treat a bee sting, and what to do if you have an allergic reaction

a close up of a flower: Bee stings will usually resolve on their own within a few days. Ervin Herman/Getty Images
© Ervin Herman/Getty Images Bee stings will usually resolve on their own within a few days. Ervin Herman/Getty Images

Bee stings are one of the most annoying parts of summer. But in most cases, they’re easy to treat at home. 

If you get stung by a bee, a normal reaction can include redness, swelling, and pain near the wound. These symptoms should subside within a few hours, and you can use ice, anti-itch cream, and Advil or Tylenol to help relieve them sooner. 

But if you have an allergic reaction to a bee sting, you may want to seek medical attention. Here’s what you should know to treat your bee sting. 

How to treat a bee sting

Bee stings are typically more of a nuisance than they are dangerous. Most people have a mild reaction that doesn’t last longer than a few hours. 

If you experience a normal, localized reaction, you should be able to effectively treat your bee sting at home, says David Cutler, MD, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.

First, it’s important to immediately remove the stinger from your skin, if it’s still there. You’ll see a small black dot at the sting site, if so. 

Some types of bees — like honey bees — have barbed stingers that remain in your skin. Other types — like carpenter bees, or venomous insects like wasps — have smooth stingers that stay attached to the insect, and they can sting you multiple times before flying away. 

You won’t need to remove a stinger if you’re stung by a wasp, hornet, or carpenter bee. But if a honey bee stings you and the stinger remains in your skin, it can continue to pump toxins into your body, which will make symptoms worse if it’s not removed. 

Here’s how to remove the stinger: 

1. Use a scraping motion with a flat, blunt object like a credit card across the affected area to remove the stinger. 

2. Don’t try to pull the stinger out with tweezers or your fingers — this could result in even more venom squeezing into the skin. 

3. Once the stinger is removed, wash the site with soap and water. 

After you remove the stinger, you can use a few remedies to treat the pain, itchiness, and swelling that can accompany a bee sting:

  • Apply ice or a cold compress at the sting site for about 20 minutes every hour to ease pain and reduce swelling. You should wrap the ice in a cloth or towel to protect your skin.  
  • Use hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to help reduce itchiness at the site. 
  • An over-the-counter antihistamine like Zyrtec or Claritin can also reduce itchiness.
  • Pain relievers like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help reduce pain, swelling, and general discomfort. 
  • Spray or creams that contain an anesthetic, like Solarcaine, can also help ease pain or itchiness. These are widely available over-the-counter. 

Other natural remedies like applying honey, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar to the sting site might help some people, Cutler says, but there’s not much scientific evidence that these treatment methods are effective. 

What to do if you have an allergic reaction 

About 5% to 7.5% of Americans will experience an allergic reaction to an insect sting at some points in their lives, according to the Journal of Asthma and Allergy

Signs of an allergic reaction from a bee sting include:

  • Hives
  • Excessive itchiness that persists past a few hours 
  • Swelling in other areas of your body, in addition to the sting site
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Dizziness

According to Cutler, most allergic reactions are mild or moderate, and can still be treated at home with antihistamines and ice. But some allergic reactions are more severe. 

In fact, about 3% of adults who experience insect stings develop a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which does require immediate medical attention. It’s estimated that 90 to 100 Americans die every year due to anaphylaxis from an insect sting. 

Signs of anaphylaxis can occur within minutes of a sting and include:

  • Trouble breathing 
  • Chest tightness
  • Swelling of tongue or throat  
  • Difficulty swallowing 

In the case of anaphylaxis, you must be treated with an adrenaline injection, known as epinephrine. This counteracts the hormones your body releases in response to the sting and prevents your body from going into shock, Cutler says. 

If you’ve had a mild or moderate allergic reaction to an insect sting before, you should discuss this with your doctor, as this may increase your risk for anaphylaxis in the future. Those at risk can get a prescription for an epi-pen, which allows you to administer epinephrine yourself if you have a severe reaction.

When to see a doctor 

Most of the time, you should be able to treat your bee sting at home. However, it is still important to monitor symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if you experience any signs of anaphylaxis, like difficulty breathing or lightheadedness.

And if you do experience a moderate allergic reaction to a bee sting, you should discuss it with your doctor afterwards, because you could be at a higher risk of having a more severe reaction if stung again. 

Written by insider@insider.com (Erin Heger) for Insider ©

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/how-to-treat-a-bee-sting-and-what-to-do-if-you-have-an-allergic-reaction/ar-BB15VOA5?ocid=msedgntp

Going Hiking ? Bring These Items With You !

CRUCIAL HIKING SURVIVAL GEAR THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

There are some basic survival supplies that we should all carry with us at all times when hitting the trails.

This is true for all hikes regardless of distance. These survival items don’t take up much space and can be carried in a small pack.

Just like in most areas of life, no one ever plans on bad things happening.

I feel that it’s always best to be prepared and not need it, than need it and not be prepared!

First Aid Kit

It’s extremely easy to become injured while hiking at all levels of experience. Make sure to have a basic first aid kit with you at all times.

You can either purchase a small first aid kit like this one or even throw together one of your own.

There are many great ideas for making your own kit on Pinterest. I suggest adding bug repellent wipes or spray into your first aid kit as well.

Sun Protection

Make sure to put sunscreen on before heading out—even on cloudy days—as well as carrying some with you to re-apply throughout the day.

Wear a hat and clothing that protects your skin.

There are plenty of breathable options that help with protection while still keeping you cool.

Don’t forget your sunglasses to protect your eyes from the harsh UV rays of the sun!

I know this one may not seem so “life saving” but think long term!

Water and Water Filtration

Make sure to carry plenty of water with you along with something to purify water in case of an emergency.

I recommend something like LifeStraw Personal Water Filter or Sawyer Products MINI Water Filtration System.

Water purification tablets are also a great product to carry as they are affordable and lightweight.

The Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets are highly recommended.

Rope

Paracord Bracelet

Rope is one of those items that can really help you out if you’re in a bind (see what I did there).

If you aren’t familiar with it, paracord is an excellent “rope” to bring with you.

There are several wearable items, such as a paracord bracelet, which is perfect for hiking.

This one by Nexfinity One is pretty cool as it checks several of the items on this list.

It is made from 10 feet of 550 lb. paracord, a fire starter, illumination, whistle, compass, knife, and multi-tool.

You can also find some great tutorials on making your own paracord bracelet.

For more information on paracord, survival uses of paracord, and wearable items made of paracord click here.

Food

Make sure to always carry snacks with you.

I suggest foods that hold and pack well, such as energy bars, trail mix, dried fruit, nuts, jerky, etc.

There are also plenty of items sold specifically for hiking and backpacking but I prefer to just throw my own together as they can become quite costly.

Duct Tape

Duct tape is one of those items that is extremely versatile.

It can be used for binding, blisters, making rope, fixing cracked water bottle, bandages, mending clothing, packs, and boots, etc.

They sell small rolls (like this) specifically for hiking/backpacking.

You can also buy a normal sized roll and wrap some around the handle of a flashlight, hiking stick, water bottle, or lighter to keep you from having to carry the whole roll.

Emergency Blanket/Sleeping Bag

Emergency blankets have come a long way in the last several years. I recommend something like this Mezonn PE emergency sleeping bag.

It is small, lightweight and can be attached to the outside of your pack. This item is reusable, tear resistant, bright colored, and waterproof.

There are multiple uses besides the obvious warmth.

It can be used as an emergency signal, rain protection, ground cover, water collector, shelter, etc. and could be a serious factor in your survival.

Headlamp

A headlamp is an important item to carry at all times.

If you get lost or have to be out past dark, having something hands free to illuminate your path is a must.

I recommend a waterproof, LED headlamp such as this one that also offers SOS flashing to signal help.

Fire Starter

Always carry a waterproof fire starter when you are on the trails. A butane lighter or waterproof matches are the easiest option.

I would also recommend carrying something you can easily ignite such as, dry tinder, fire starter, candles, or even compact dryer lint.

Carry it in a plastic or dry bag to make sure it stays dry in all situations.

Compass

A compass is a must as it can be easy to get turned around in the wild. Make sure to get a high quality compass.

There are plenty of electronics you can use as well but I recommend carrying a good old fashioned compass at all times.

You can never be positive that your electronics won’t fail you, get damaged, or run out of battery.

Knife or Multi-Tool

I always carry a knife (at minimum) or a multi-tool (even better). You never know when you may need one!

There are plenty of great multi-tools out there ranging from $10 to all the way over $100 and all can serve a great purpose in a survival situation.

Extra Layer of Clothing

It’s a great idea to always carry an extra layer of clothing with you. This is especially true if you’re hiking in an area with drastic temperature changes.

Whistle

A whistle is a great emergency tool for hiking. The sound carries further than your voice and is much less tiresome than yelling.

It works in an emergency situation to call for help as well as to locate the rest of your group if you were to get separated.

There are plenty of great options that you can hook directly to your pack. For something so light, it doesn’t make sense not to carry one with you.

Safe and Happy Hiking!

Article written by Christy of adventuresbyamom.com

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