Swim Safely This Summer

Memorial Day weekend is around the corner, and for many people in the valley, this weekend marks the beginning of summer.  Our weather is perfect for backyard barbecues, and of course, swimming! 

For the first time, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is reccomending that swimming lessons may help prevent drowning in some children ages 1 to 4. The Academy also states that not all kids learn how to swim at the same age, and that parents should decide when their kids are physically and emotionally ready to learn.

The AAP also provides these tips for pool safety this season:

1. Never – even for a moment – leave small children alone or in the care of another young child while in bathtubs, pools, spas or wading pools, or near irrigation ditches or standing water. Bath seats cannot substitute for adult supervision. Empty water from buckets and other containers immediately after use. To prevent drowning in toilets, young children should not be left alone in the bathroom.
2. Closely supervise children in and around water. With infants, toddlers and weak swimmers, an adult should be within an arm’s length. With older children and better swimmers, an adult should be focused on the child and not distracted by other activities.
3. If children are in out-of-home child care, ask about exposure to water and the ratio of adults to children.
4. If you have a pool, install a four-sided fence that is at least 4 feet high to limit access to the pool. The fence should be hard to climb (not chain-link) and have a self-latching, self-closing gate. Families may consider pool alarms and rigid pool covers as additional layers of protection, but neither can take the place of a fence.
5. Children need to learn to swim. AAP supports swimming lessons for most children 4 years and older. Classes may reduce the risk of drowning in younger children as well, but because children develop at different rates, not all children will be ready to swim at the same age.
6. Parents, caregivers and pool owners should learn CPR.
7. Do not use air-filled swimming aids (such as inflatable arm bands) in place of life jackets. They can deflate and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
8. All children should wear a life jacket when riding in a boat. Small children and nonswimmers should also wear one at water’s edge, such as on a river bank or pier.
9. Parents should know the depth of the water and any underwater hazards before allowing children to jump in. The first time you enter the water, jump feet first; don’t dive.
10. When choosing an open body of water for children to swim in, select a site with lifeguards. Swimmers should know what to do in case of rip currents (swim parallel to the shore until out of the current, then swim back to the shore).
11. Counsel teenagers about the increased risk of drowning when alcohol is involved. (source: AAP)

Now is the time to make sure that all of your safety precautions are in place for a fun filled summer!

 

Replace Your Builder Grade Blah

This past weekend, I was talking to a friend of mine about how in a  recent project I ended up installing or replacing all of the light fixtures in a rehab house myself.  Of course her reaction was why would I do such a thing.  Doing a job like this saves a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on paying an electrician labor costs for installation. 

In this particular house the fixtures were either taken out (it was a foreclosure home) or what was left is what I call “builder grade blah.”  You know what I mean, that shiny brass or nickel finish that comes standard in a spec home.  And well, its…blah.  When you are staging to sell, replacing blah with beautiful can mean the difference between selling and sitting on the market.

Fixtures in a neutral brushed nickel or, for a more customized look a nice oiled or vintage bronze, provides an updated look.  Since I am usually on a tight budget the first place I check out is a big box home store like Lowe’s or Home Depot.  These stores carry a good size inventory with many attractive styles under $100.

Installing light fixtures where the electrical supply  already exists is actually pretty easy.  Check out this video from youtube.com and you will be well on your way from blah to beautiful!

Everything’s Coming Up Roses: Las Vegas in Full Bloom

I mentioned a few days ago on Twitter that I had taken pictures of some flowers that are in gorgeous bloom these days.

What I did not mention is that the pictures that I took are of blooms here in my own garden!  I was fortunate enough to inherit from the previous owners of our home, a garden full of roses, iris, bougevilla, and even tulips.

Just wanted to share with all of you, and also give proof that Spring is in full bloom– even in Las Vegas!