In this blog post, you will learn why anti-ligature access doors are necessary in high-risk environments.

Which areas and items in the building are at high-risk?

Before buying anti-ligature access doors, you should identify the high-risk areas in your building and their ligature points to limit patients and prisoners. Here are examples of high-risk areas and conditions that can contribute to self-harm or aggression:

• High areas: Rooftops, balconies, windows
• Access to ligature points: Loose electrical wires, exposed plumbing fixtures, HVAC, doorknobs, window handles, wall-mounted devices, shoelaces, doors, blanket/bed sheets, and many more.
• Unfinished Construction Sites: Scattered construction materials and equipment

How to reduce ligature risk

Ligature translates to an item or device that you can bind something with tightly, like a rope, wire, or blanket. Mental healthcare and correctional facilities install various products to prevent harm, and aside from installing anti-ligature devices to address this, there are other steps that you can take to reduce ligature danger.

Step 1: Pinpoint high-risk ligature areas

The first step in ligature risk assessment is identifying which rooms and furniture threaten a patient’s safety. Check and assess ceilings, walls, doors, tables, and appliances, and change old items showing wear and tear.

Step 2: Observe which patients or prisoners are at high-risk

Observing people susceptible to self-harm or can be a danger to others is an effective way of mitigating ligature danger. Install security cameras all over the building and hire guards that can immediately intervene should a problem arise.

Step 3: Resident rooms should be ligature-resistant

Although staff and cameras are everywhere to monitor, there would still be instances when more is necessary. But if you create anti-ligature resident rooms, you can effectively ensure their safety.

Step 4: Furnish the rooms with anti-ligature furniture

Installing furniture and instruments with anti-ligature features is highly beneficial for everyone. These include beds, chairs, tables, shelves, and desks.

Step 5: Comply with anti-ligature regulations

The NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, is the occupational safety standard for new and existing buildings. The code pertains to the required provisions, such as locks to stop the patient when they become a threat.

If you’re running a prison, behavioral healthcare, and correctional facility, creating a safe environment for everyone is imperative. Installing an anti-ligature access door is a good way as these products can protect them from inflicting harm to others and from themselves. It helps create a ligature-free atmosphere, such as the absence of crevices, holes, openings, or lips, to prevent at-risk people from harming themselves.

Would installing an anti-ligature access door help?

Anti-ligatured furniture, beds, and doors are necessary for mental health, behavioral healthcare, and rehabilitation facilities. Their primary purpose is to mitigate risks and protect everyone, but these high-risk environments still require the usual maintenance and repair services. How can maintenance specialists and repair team access hidden components in an anti-ligature-filled building? The solution is anti-ligature access doors.

Anti-ligature access doors prevent ligature attachment with their fully gasketed fit, fully welded frame flange with radius corners, and a concealed hinge for a smooth installation. In addition, it’s built with no doorknobs or levers, holes, or openings to prevent ligature attachment, creating a safe environment for at-risk and vulnerable people. It’s your effective access solution in high-risk areas!

Benefits of Anti-Ligature Products

Anti-ligature products also possess other benefits other than the protection and safety of vulnerable people. There are also benefits given to the mental health establishment. Here are those benefits:

Aesthetics

Mental health facilities must create their interior design to form a calming environment for their patients. Anti-ligature products are modern, making a stale room relaxing and calming. There are a variety of colors available for these products, so you can customize the space however you want to.

Cost-Saving Products

Dealing with vulnerable patients sometimes leads to the destruction and vandalism of the furniture inside mental health facilities. Purchasing anti-ligature products can save you money on re-buying the same table all over again, as these products possess super durability as these are for vulnerable people.

Final Thoughts

Mental health problems are as severe as any health problems a human can get, as they might lead to self-harm. Still, anti-ligature furniture or devices such as anti-ligature access doors are there to prevent horrible things from happening. These are just little doors that provide a large amount of help.

The post The Reason Why the Anti-Ligature Access Doors are Ideal for High-Risk Environments first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

What are the benefits of small parks and green spaces, and how do these areas affect your health? What are notable parks and green spaces? This article discusses the benefits of small parks and green spaces, and how they can improve your mental and physical health.

How Can Small Parks and Green Spaces Help With Your Health?

The movement of Healthy by Nature suggests that spending time in nature provides positive human health. A healthy ecosystem is what human health depends on. Parks and protected areas add up to a vibrant, healthy community.

Small parks and green spaces can also be promoted through online platforms and social media channels to raise awareness about their benefits and encourage community engagement. Digital marketing strategies can include sharing captivating visuals, testimonials, and informative content about the positive effects of these areas on well-being, ultimately driving more people to visit and appreciate them. Additionally, digital marketing can highlight notable parks and green spaces, showcasing their unique features, events, and amenities to attract visitors and foster a sense of community pride.

Mental Health Benefits

Mental health may improve when you spend time in parks and green spaces. Spending time in these areas may help reduce anxiety and stress.

Children and adults with ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may also benefit from spending time in green spaces.

1. Stress Reduction

Stress can negatively affect your mental and physical health if it runs for a long time. Illnesses may occur with time, affecting your immune system.

Going to parks and green spaces may be one of your stress remedies. After spending a few minutes in nature, your body can respond positively right away.

Environmental psychologists suggest that visual exposure to nature, including grass, trees, and flowers, may reduce stress, especially if stress levels are initially high.

2. Social Function

Parks and green spaces can connect you to others in your community, improving your social well-being.

People who associate themselves with nature are more likely to be selfless and feel less isolated. Being in nature may also help people connect with their neighbors, resulting in less aggression toward one another and less crime.

Common areas in social housing communities are visited more when they have trees and grass in their surroundings. Individuals who live near green areas are more likely to know their neighbors, have a stronger sense of belonging, and are more companionable.

3. Better Mindfulness and Creativity

The present-time way of life can get busy, and recharging your mental health may have to be done intentionally.

Spending time in nature for clinically depressed people and individuals with healthy mental states shows better cognitive function, immune response, and mood. Areas with vibrant nature provide sensory input that is mentally corrective and can help formulate ideas.

Green spaces improve creativity by drawing out new ways of thinking, opening the mind, and encouraging curiosity. Once a nature recharge restores your mind, it may analyze better and develop ideas.

Physical Health Benefits

Physical health benefits can lead to mental health improvement, but it can also be the other way around. Patients in hospitals tend to recover faster, need less medication, and reduce complications from surgery when they view a green environment versus patients with urban views.

Green spaces may help children develop their body movement and better social skills, reduce the poor effects of exposure to chronic stress, and are less likely to be obese.

1. Improved Productivity

People who live in a nearby green environment experience improved mental health and the ability to be productive.

Projects and busy work life keep people busy nowadays, leading to an overload, which may lead to the inability to function productively.

Spending time in nature can help you recharge your mental state, making you think better and improving productivity in the workplace. A view of nature in an office may also contribute to the productivity level of an office worker, leading to fewer illnesses and increased job satisfaction.

2. Increased Physical Activities

A vital benefit of spending time in green environments is it promotes physical activity, which can benefit mental and social well-being.

People living near parks use the area to do 50% of their physical activities. At the same time, the percentage reduces as their homes get further away from the park.

Green spaces encourage physical activity within the space. People who exercise in natural areas once a week are less likely to have risks of poor mental health.

Physical activities may also be involved in nature, such as gardening, jogging, and hiking. The benefits of physical activity with nature promote the idea that green spaces should be considered a vital health resource.

Small Parks and Green Spaces in Walton County

Grady Brown Park is one of the areas in Walton County with green spaces. You may consider having a picnic with your loved ones under an oak tree and doing recreational activities there.

Another exciting place to visit is Felker Park. It is a new attractive park in Walton County with playgrounds, walking trails, and fitness stations. It consists of 14 acres of green space.

Lastly, Alaqua Creek Park is an area suitable for picnics, boat ramps, and swimming. It offers a green space environment.

References 

1. The Health Benefits of Small Parks and Green Spaces

https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2017/april/the-health-benefits-of-small-parks-and-green-spaces/

2. Felker Park & Community Center

https://www.waltoncountyga.gov/186/Felker-Park-Community-Center

The post Health Matters: Benefits of Small Parks and Green Spaces first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

• Burning or scalding an elderly person with hot water or food.
• Using force against them.
• Depriving them of food or water.
• Depriving them of access to medical care when needed.
• Tricking residents into signing over power of attorney.
• Exploiting an elderly person’s generosity.

Physical neglect is another type of nursing home abuse that occurs when staff members fail to provide adequate nutrition for residents in their care, as well as failing to give proper medication dosages at appropriate times throughout each day.

Other forms include sexual assault and emotional/mental harm caused by verbal threats from staff members toward residents.

Causes and Risk Factors of Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is a serious issue affecting thousands of individuals yearly. While it can happen anywhere, certain factors increase your risk for nursing home abuse. These include:

• Being over 65 years old
• Having a mental illness or cognitive impairment
• Having been a victim of abuse previously

If your loved one has any of these risk factors, and you are considering placing them in an assisted living facility or nursing home, it’s important to be aware of the signs of potential abuse so that you can take action if needed.

Other risk factors for abuse involve how the nursing home is run. For example, nurses who are underpaid and overworked are more prone to mistakes. If there aren’t enough workers, staff may struggle to keep track of everything. The nursing home also needs to have firm requirements for training and education, as well as accountability and documentation.

What to Do If You Suspect Nursing Home Abuse

If you suspect nursing home abuse, there are many steps you can take to stop it.

First, report the suspected abuse to the nursing home’s administrator or director. If they do not take action, contact the Illinois Department on Aging and Adult Protective Services to file complaints. Next, contact law enforcement officials who will investigate your claim further.

Finally, if necessary, seek legal action against those responsible for your loved one’s injuries or death by filing suit against them in civil court. Contact a reputable Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer to seek justice for your loved one and compensation to pay for the additional care they need.

Preventing Nursing Home Abuse

While you cannot predict the future to see if the nursing home of your choice will abuse your loved one, you can take a few steps to reduce the risk.

1. Choose the right nursing home

Nursing homes are required to post their inspection reports on their websites. These reports can help determine whether a facility is safe for your loved one. Also, check reviews, and ask people you know if they have experience with certain facilities. Then, tour the facilities themselves to get a feel for their atmosphere and amenities. If you’re still unsure whether a facility is right for your loved one, it may be best to look elsewhere until you feel confident that their care needs are met by staff members who genuinely care about them.

2. Make a plan

Sit down with your loved one or, if they are unable, your family to discuss plans for health crises and critical care. If something happens, you’ll be prepared to tell the nursing home how to proceed. Consider things like what treatments your loved one may go through and whether or not to sign a Do Not Resuscitate. Also decide who will be power of attorney, and get the paperwork settled so staff can’t exploit your loved one.

3. Befriend and advocate for the staff

These people are in charge of your loved one’s care. Nursing homes employ nurses and nursing assistants, managerial staff, front-end staff, and more. Get to know them, and make sure their job is taking care of them in turn. You are in a position of power as a paying client to bring up any issues or suspicions that the nurses are afraid to— just don’t name names. By helping improve their workspace, you can help ensure better care for all residents.

4. Monitor care at all times

If your loved one has dementia or another condition requiring regular monitoring and assistance from staff members, ensure they get it when you’re not there— and even when you are! If something seems off about what’s happening with them during the day, speak up immediately to address any issues before they become bigger problems later down the road.

The post What You Should Know About Nursing Home Abuse in Chicago first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Microfiltration Goes First

Okay, there are many water filtration systems out there to choose from. Some of these systems are whole-house systems you can have installed and will filter all of the water going into your home. The drawback is that these systems will have to be uninstalled if you decide to move to a new home.

Those who value portability may want to consider smaller water filtration that you can take with you wherever you go. Whatever you choose, the internal process of each water system normally starts with microfiltration. A reliable water filter system is going to have a complex filtration system with millions of pores to destroy potential contaminants like parasites, cysts, bacteria, herbicides, pesticides, and heavy metals, just to name a few things.

The microscopic pores do not allow pathogens and contaminants to pass through. Those contaminants become trapped within the filter. Of course, this is the reason your filters are going to have to be replaced sooner or later. The amount of times you replace your filter depends on how often the filter is used and the construction of the filter itself.

Adsorption is Key

The second step water filters take to ensure that your water is as clean as possible is adsorption. This is a process where an ionic barrier is formed to help the microscopic porous filter work more effectively.

The truth is some contaminants are a little smaller than the tiny pores of the porous filter. These contaminants could make their way out of the first stage without this second stage. The barrier seems to be strong enough to make contaminants like submicron viruses stop in their tracks. It also helps stop iodine or chlorine, both of which are quite common in tap water.

You should remember that the metals that could be in your water such as cadmium, copper, lead, and mercury are also extracted at this point. These questionable heavy metals are extracted through an Ion exchange process, thanks to the electronically charged barrier formed within the filter. Remember that all filters are not this sophisticated, so make sure you find out if the filter you are considering removes heavy metals.

There is no way you want to allow heavy metals to contaminate your home. A high concentration of these metals can lead to all sorts of other issues, such as organ damage. Some say that prolonged exposure to these metals could put people at risk of developing some types of cancer. Dangers like these shouldn’t plague your mind, and they don’t have to with the help of a good filter.

A Different Method

One more thing that needs to be pointed out is that good quality water filters usually use the long contact period filtration method. Okay, most water filters do what they are supposed to by relying on the water pressure in your home. In essence, the water pressure in your home pushes water through the filtration system, which is how contaminants are removed.

Technically, this type of filtration isn’t bad, and it is effective enough to give you clean water, but the long contact period filtration system takes another approach. What these types of filters do is allow water to flow through the first stage using gravity rather than pressure.

Gravity is a little slower, meaning the water has a long contact period as opposed to regular filters where the water shoots through the filter. Yes, this kind of filtration is a lot slower, but the results are much more impressive. You’d be surprised how many contaminants make it through a filtration system that relies purely on pressure. If you want to give your family the best clean water you can give, then be sure to choose a long contact period filtration system.

Now that you know how water filters work and why they are so important in living a healthy life, you can begin your search. The best thing is you won’t need to worry about buying water from the store nor will you have to pollute the earth with dozens of water bottles that you have to discard often.

The post How Does Water Filtration Work? first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

If you’re still wondering about the unseen importance of nursing assistants, read below!

1. Positive Impact on the Patient’s Life As well As Their Family

Nursing assistants are in direct contact with the patient and they spend their time with them almost round the clock. With their kind and sympathetic acts, they even make their patients grateful and smile from ear to ear.

Usually, the patient’s family is quite anxious about how their loved one is being treated at the hospital, however, a nursing assistant calms them down by providing details regarding the current situation of the patient. Also, when the patient’s family sees how well the nursing assistant is taking care of the patient with their own eyes, they feel much more relaxed and satisfied. However, if you notice any medical negligence, don’t forget to contact the best nursing home attorney in the nation.

2. Helps In Daily Life Tasks

A practical nursing agency trains a nursing assistant to help the patient with their common needs and basic daily care. They change their bedsheets, help with their sleeping position, brush hair and teeth, assist with toileting, bathing, and dressing. That’s why their duty is harder than most healthcare workers. No matter what they still keep working hard to help the sick and bring a quick and better change in their lives.

3. Assists Doctors and Other Staff Members

The job of the nursing assistant doesn’t end with the patient or their family members. They also tend to help out the doctors and other staff members like nurses, physicians, and surgeons by giving them detail on the patient’s daily health condition. It includes anything from the records of blood pressure and respiration rates to their body’s temperature monitoring. This saves the time of the doctor and they are able to focus more on the remedy rather than the diagnosis. It can also help the physicians or surgeons to look for any minor details that may help with the patient’s case.

Direct contact with the doctors and other healthcare members from day to day also allows the nursing assistants to build working relationships with them and learn from them.

4. Improves the Experience of the Patient

A nursing assistant improves the overall experience of the patient in terms of their physical and mental health. They help change the patient’s bandages and further analyze if the wound is getting better with time or not to prevent infections. They also help the patients with their medication and pain to bring them solace as quickly as possible. If any minor complication needs to be addressed, they make sure to quickly inform the nurse or the doctor.

The Bottom Line

Although the job of nursing assistants is quite strenuous as it requires them to be almost always on their feet and stay close to their patients to monitor them, however, for the ones who are passionate about a job that involves philanthropic acts, being a nursing assistant is ideal. Nursing assistants are the superheroes of this real-world who are always willing to lend a helping hand no matter what they are going through.

The post The Unseen Importance of Nursing Assistants first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Since the beginning of recorded history, it seems like humans have known that their relationship with nature is something pretty special. From the romantic poets to the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and more, artists, writers and the rest of us have been fascinated by nature’s effects. And we were right to respect nature’s power. Today, a robust body of research helps us understand a little more about why nature is so important to us, along with how exposure to nature can help make us both physically and mentally healthier. Keep reading for more.

Why is Nature So Important?

The short answer is that we aren’t entirely sure – but researchers have offered up several theories. First, there’s the assumption that our connection to nature stems from our ancestors’ reliance on their physical environment for their literal survival – perhaps we’re hard-wired to crave and revere a natural setting that sustained us in generations past. Or, there’s the theory that being in nature simply lowers our stress levels, or that exposure to nature replenishes our cognitive reserves.

While we may not fully understand the mechanism behind it, we do have good reason to believe that exposure to nature is good for us – in fact, nature has been linked to many physical and mental benefits. And like other approaches, including in-person or online therapy, spending time in nature can be an effective tool in the toolbox when it comes to managing the symptoms of many physical and mental health conditions. Let’s take a closer look.

Physical Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

We know that we often feel better after spending time in nature – and the effect is a pretty big deal. In fact, some studies support the idea that time spent in nature can help reduce blood pressure, improve immune function and even speed up post-operative recovery. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that spending time in nature often involves physical activity, such as running, walking or cycling, so it’s been difficult for researchers to isolate the exposure to nature as the cause of improved physical characteristics.

Some of that improvement may also be because of the physical activity participants are engaging in while outdoors. In any case, below we’ve outlined some of the physical benefits attributed to spending time outdoors.

Weight Management

Research shows a positive relationship between time spent in nature and improved physical health. For example, exposure to outdoor spaces has been linked to lower levels of obesity, but it’s difficult to determine whether the natural environment or the related physical activity is the key variable. In one study, U.S. children exposed to green space had lower recorded Body Mass Index numbers, and in another, areas with high tree density were linked to lower rates of obesity. 

Healthy Sleep

Nature also may help us sleep – some research shows a positive link between nature exposure and high quality sleep. There’s some indication that the more time we spend in nature, the more likely we are to sleep longer and with better quality. There’s also a healthy body of research showing that sleep is essential to good health, both physical and mental. So by improving the quality of our sleep, exposure to nature may also make us healthier overall.

Preventing Heart Disease

Enjoying nature has been shown to lower both stress and high blood pressure, which ultimately is good for our cardiovascular health. Some studies have shown that participants with lower exposure to green space are more likely to experience poor outcomes after a stroke and report higher mortality rates from cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.

In addition, nature exposure has been shown in some research to have a positive effect on diabetes, some types of cancer and overall mortality rates.

 Mental Health Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

Stress is seemingly around us all the time – but the great news is that spending time in nature may reverse the negative effects of stress on our mental health and foster more positive feelings of well-being. In fact, a collective body of research supports the notion that time spent outdoors can reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in our bodies, plus lowering blood pressure, heart rate and our own perceived level of threat. All of this contributes to a stronger sense of overall well-being.

In addition, spending time in natural environments has been shown to reduce feelings of anxiety and depression among adults. Many study participants have reported that spending time in nature provides a sense of escape from their everyday lives and encourages feelings of relaxation. Other research has suggested that spending time in nature may reduce depressive feelings. In particular, results of one recent study indicated that spending time in nature reduced feelings of isolation, promoted calm, and lifted mood among psychiatric patients. In short, all indications are that nature is powerful medicine when it comes to supporting our mental health.

Cognitive Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

Some research suggests that spending time outdoors may actually help us think more clearly and process information more effectively. It has been shown, for example, that children in schools with ample access to green space enjoy greater cognitive development and may even more quickly learn to regulate their emotions. Similarly, adults in housing situations that offer access to green space have shown improvement in concentration, executive function and focus of attention.

Some experiments also suggests that exposure to nature may increase working memory and cognitive flexibility. In fact, in one study, participants who listened to natural sounds, like the crash of waves or the song of cicadas, performed better on highly demanding cognitive tasks than those who listened to a more urban soundtrack, like sirens, honking horns, etc.

How Much Time in Nature Is Enough?

If you’re not naturally attracted to the outdoors, it might sound like a daunting task to increase your exposure to nature. But take heart – if you can spend a total of two hours per week outside, that may be the sweet spot for getting the most mental and physical benefits. And that means two hours spent all at once, or spread out among smaller experiences throughout the week. According to a study from the University of Exeter, the two-hour mark is essential. Those in the study who spent at least two hours per week outside reported better mental and physical health than participants who spent less time outdoors. But for participants who spent less than two hours in nature, no significant benefits were reported.

The Takeaway

It seems clear that spending time in nature is good for us – and it’s never too late to increase your time spent outdoors. You can start small by taking a daily walk in your neighborhood and then progress to whatever makes sense for you – whether that includes a beach vacation or repelling in the mountains. Or just eating your lunch in the park every day. However you choose to engage with the outdoors, we’re confident you’ll find that it makes you feel better, both physically and mentally. And that’s a great thing.

The post How Nature Supports Mental and Physical Health first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

From ensuring that all the complex technicalities of installation are met to ensuring that the tank is in proper condition to function, now and then, you have to be careful at every single step.

And if you fail to do so or even lag slightly, you would expose yourself to the possibility of experiencing oil leakage or oil spills.

What happens if domestic oil spills?

If your tank starts spilling oil, the oil won’t just stay there but it will flow out to contaminate the adjacent areas. And if left untreated, it could go on to contaminate groundwater and soil.

This could lead to contamination of wells and water supplies of adjacent properties. Once the water supplies are contaminated, it could cause a myriad of drinking water problems. For example, oil damages the plastic water pipes so when it seeps into the underground water channel, it can affect the water pipelines that will ultimately lead to bad taste and foul odor in the drinking water.

Apart from this, oil spills can have a serious impact on human health as well. The first threat to human health spilled oil is through contaminated drinking water.

The second harmful impact they can have on our health is through disastrous fumes. As all petroleum products contain volatile compounds therefore when the oil is spilled it releases gases. If people nearby inhale these fumes or are surrounded by the vapors that linger in the air longer than usual, they can experience eye irritation, nausea, dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, and disorientation.

However, these symptoms are related to short term exposure to oil fumes. When a person is exposed for a very long time, which could happen if the smell of the fumes does not erupt shortly, then he could experience more serious conditions that would require a doctor’s consultation.

Skin irritation can also arise due to prolonged exposure or contact with the fumes. One could experience redness, severe irritation, and swelling.

How to handle oil spills at home?

Oil spills happen at both small and large scales. The larger ones require proper oil contamination treatment but the smaller ones can be dealt at home. But, this will require all of your attention and efforts. However, a domestic oil spill is not always easy to deal with, especially when the spill is massive and gets out of your hands.

Regardless of that, we should know a few tips and tricks to be well prepared to handle any such mishap because once an oil spill skyrockets, it causes severe damage to the surrounding and human health -as we discussed above.

The first thing that you must do when you have an oil tank placed in your residence, always check it regularly to look for any rusting or other damage to the tank. This way you can easily be one step ahead to deal with any leakage.

Somehow, if you fail to attend to any such damage and the leakage eventually occurs but it is small, place a pan where the tank is leaking to collect the spilling oil before it even touches the ground.

If this too gets out of hands and the oil starts spilling on the floor, try blocking that area to prevent the oil from spreading any further. You can do this by placing small dams as barriers and if that does not work then try using absorbents like cat litter, or sand.

If the flow of the oil dripping from the split of the tank gets a bit controlled then you can easily apply a sealant on the split. However, this is not a permanent solution as sealant only works temporarily. But this should give you enough time to contact professionals who deal with oil contamination treatment.

On the other hand, you have to protect yourself and your family in the midst of dealing with this chaos. This first thing you should do when your home smells of oil is to ensure maximum ventilation.

Open all the windows as well as doors so that the strong oil smell does not accumulate inside. This will also help in warding off the harmful petroleum fumes.

The next thing you have to do is to make sure that all of your family members, and especially children and pets are away from the spill location. If possible, have them evacuate the house for at least the time when the house is cleared of the smell and fumes.

While dealing with domestic oil spill, make sure that your skin and clothes do not come in contact with the oil. Remember to avoid smoking, drinking, and eating during and after you finish dealing with the oil spill. Also, try to examine the tank for the origin of the leak, and before doing that, make sure that the oil supply is turned off.

Who deals with the cleaning of oil contamination?

You can take care of the oil spill to some extent, but cleaning is entirely another process. All the things that have been contaminated with the oil, be it water, ground, or soil, only a team of specialists can do it properly.

Therefore, you should first call the professional before taking on the mission of curing the leakage flow, and when the team arrives, you leave the place immediately to ensure your health.

Bottom line

Dealing with domestic oil contamination might not be impossible but it is not recommended. The only thing you must do after calling the professionals is to ensure no one is around the site. Then let the expert team, who come with efficient methods of oil spill clean up and bioremediation, take care of the rest.

The post How To Deal With Domestic Oil Spills first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Medicines and the Environment

The drugs that we consume naturally enter our environment as our body turns them to waste. This issue becomes exacerbated when people intentionally dispose of unused medicine by flushing it down the drain.

Although our water treatment systems are designed to take contaminants out of our wastewater before we re-introduce to the natural environment, some still get through. These contaminants, which include those in medications, can damage the ecosystems they end up in.

High levels of estrogen in waters due to birth control, for example, can hamper the ability of fish to reproduce, reducing their population size. Once those chemicals find their way into the water, they enter the food chain and eventually impact animals that live on land too, including humans.

Plants will absorb the chemicals from medications. Animals then eat these plants or drink the water and ingest the contaminants. Humans might drink the water or eat the plants or animals, making pollution from pharmaceuticals a human health hazard as well. This problem becomes worse in the summer when livestock such as cattle require two to three times as much water as they do during other times of the year.

Useful Resource: Methods for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment

Proper Disposal of Medicines

If you have unused medications that you need to get rid of, don’t flush them down the drain or throw them straight into the trash. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends one of several other options for the safe and sustainable disposal of medicines.

Some communities have drug take-back programs that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approves. Some pharmacies also allow you to mail in or dispose of unused medications at kiosks. The DEA also organizes a national drug take-back day.

Although certain medications have recommendations on the label to flush them, you can dispose of the majority of them in your regular trash at home. The FDA recommends mixing them with something unpalatable such as dirt, kitty litter or coffee grounds in a plastic bag that you can seal. This disguises the drugs and prevents pets from getting into them. You can then throw the bag away.

If you are a throwing away a prescription medication container, be sure to scratch out all potentially identifying information to protect your privacy and identity.

Using Medicines More Sustainably

Another option for reducing the impact your use of medicine has on the environment is to use less of it or use more environmentally friendly medications.

To use less medicine, only use it when you truly need it and try substituting natural remedies for pharmaceuticals. Reach for naturally derived treatments such as essential oils, vitamins, herbs or a cup of hot tea. Always consult with your doctor before changing your medication regimen.

As a long-term strategy, regular exercise and a healthy diet can do wonders in improving your overall health and decreasing your need to take medicines.

Sustainability from the Industry’s Perspective

Of course, making the pharmaceutical industry more sustainable isn’t the sole responsibility of the consumer. The industry can also change its practices to manage pharmaceuticals in a more eco-friendly fashion.

One aspect of this involves energy use. The manufacturing and transportation of medications can be extremely energy-intensive. By using energy more efficiently and using cleaner energy, drug companies can reduce their environmental impact.

These corporations can also make an effort to include more eco-friendly substances in their medications. While they may not be able to remove every non-natural chemical from their products, they can offer greener alternatives to consume and look into reducing the presence of damaging substances as much as possible.

This applies not only to the organizations closest to the consumers but to the entire supply chain.

Medications are often vital to our health, but it can also have a negative impact on the health of our environment. Taking steps to manage pharmaceuticals more sustainably can enable us to protect our own well-being as well as that of our environment.

The post How to Make the Pharmaceutical Industry More Sustainable first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

Typically, moving to a well-designed energy efficient building helps you manage a home’s indoor air quality effortlessly. However, there are several ways to reduce the impact of indoor air pollution even if your home doesn’t feature energy-efficient designs. Below are the best tips to improve indoor air quality without sacrificing energy efficiency.

Use Natural Ventilation Strategies

Natural ventilation strategies rely on wind and buoyancy to enhance air circulation and cool buildings. For example, opening a window at night during summer is an easy way to let fresh air in your home. The cool air then pushes pollutants outside and creates a cooling effect inside the building without artificial cooling equipment.

Other effective natural ventilation strategies include the chimney effect and allowing the cooling sea breeze to ventilate homes through large, operable windows facing the ocean. The chimney effect uses convention, where cool air enters the home in the basement or first floor, absorbs hot air, rises and escapes through upper floor windows.

Add Indoor Plants

Findings from a study on the impact of indoor plants on air quality published in the Air Quality Atmosphere and Health Journal reveal that plants can reduce nitrogen dioxide, a common pollutant, by up to 20%. Since plants absorb pollutants and release oxygen, they are a perfect option for purifying indoor air. Plants also increase humidity and reduce dust levels, thus improving indoor air quality.

Popular plants that people add to their living spaces, like the pothos plant, peace lily, English ivy, and bamboo palm plants, are effective in improving indoor air quality. However, you can add to your indoor plant collection house plants with fuzzy leaves, such as the green goddess, pussy willow, chenille plant, lamb’s ears, and old man cactus.

The leaves of these indoor plants have tiny hairs on the surface that give them a velvety texture. Besides adding character to your space while improving air quality, these plants are low maintenance. That’s because the tiny hairs also help plants draw moisture from the air, so they can survive on regular spritzes of clean water.

Replace Filters in AC Systems Regularly

Your AC filters play a significant role in trapping pet dander, pollen, dust, and spores to keep indoor air clean. But as dust and other pollutants accumulate on air filters, your AC stops circulating clean air in your home, thus increasing pollution. When air filters are dirty, your AC works harder and consumes a lot of energy. With this in mind, changing your air filters regularly helps enhance air quality and keep your AC system working efficiently.

Contrary to popular belief, indoor air isn’t cleaner or healthier than the air outside. Also, allowing fresh air from outdoors to infiltrate your house doesn’t push energy bills up. With this in mind, using natural ventilation strategies is one of the best ways to improve indoor air quality without sacrificing energy efficiency. Other practices for improving your home’s air quality include adding house plants and changing AC air filters regularly.

The post Tips To Improve Indoor Air Quality Without Sacrificing Energy Efficiency first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.

What is Water Hardness?

Ironically, water hardness has nothing to do with water turning into a solid block of ice or anything involving a transition into something solid. However, the reason for this name is because of what is actually in the water we use or drink.

Sometimes the water we use seems to be different despite the whole house being a general example of cleanliness. For example, one may notice some minerals that are present in cooking dishes or the more obvious scum that seems to be resistant to cleaning.

The simple reason for this would be the existence of “hard water” or water that appears to be infused with undesirable metals, the more prominent ones being calcium and magnesium. These are usually caused by water travelling through places filled with soil and rock, but some have found that water from wells is a breeding ground for this kind of water.

As a simple experiment to test if your home does have hard water, you may take a bottle and fill it up to one-third of it, and you should apply a few drops of soap. From here, shake or mix the solution well, and naturally, the mixture should be clear with bubbles at the top.

However, if it turns milky and lacks bubbles, your water is hard. The water does not cause any severe problems for the consumer, but these will cause some pipes, appliances, and other parts of the house that use water.

How do you calculate water hardness?

Before knowing how to calculate the possible hardness present in your water, you need to know that there are two types of this hardness, temporary and permanent. Since we want to know more about water hardness, measuring hard water would mean we would be looking for permanent hardness.

This, unlike temporary hardness, cannot be removed by heating the undesirable aspects of the water.

An option for calculating water hardness is to manually calculate the hardness using calcium and magnesium values. However, you would need to submit samples to the lab to receive the exact amount of the minerals found in the water. Nevertheless, it would require the use of equations.

The general equation would be as follows:

CaCO3 (Total Permanent Hardness) = Mg (mg/L) as CaCO3 + Ca (mg/L) as CaCO3

The general equation is the sum of both the hardness of Magnesium and Calcium. However, Magnesium and Calcium hardness is determined by another equation in the form of:

Ca or Mg hardness mg/L as CaCO3 / Equivalent Weight of CaCO3 = Ca or Mg in mg/L / Equivalent Weight of Ca or Mg

Calculating the equivalent weight would involve dividing the atomic weight by the valency, and these hold values. For example, calcium would be 20.04 while Magnesium would value at 12.15.

For Calcium Carbonate, this requires the molecular weight, which would be set at 50.04.

In sum, we must first determine the hardness first of the minerals, using the given values of Calcium or Magnesium in milligrams per litre and the set equivalent weights from the mineral being calculated and Calcium Carbonate. You can use the ISCO water sampler for the same.

Once with the two values, they may be added up to form the total permanent hardness of Calcium Carbonate.

Since one calculates for any concerning value, it would also be wise to know the desired water hardness level. It is important to remember that water still possesses minerals that are helpful to the body. However, much like everything in daily life, an excess can cause future problems.

The healthy amount would be at 10 to 50 parts per million of the Calcium Carbonate, while the slightly hard would range from 50 to a hundred. The actual hard water is seen when the amount hits 100, while 200 parts is an amount in which it is incredibly excessive.

Negative Impacts of Hard Water

As mentioned before, hard water does not have any serious problems when consumed by drinking.

This could be a great help for the body as it can give minerals that it could lack. However, this causes much more visible problems when used as bathwater as it interferes with soaps and other cleaning regiments, eventually leaving the skin to become irritated and dry.

These also affect pipes, boilers, and other water-using items in the household as this could affect their daily functions.

We can appreciate the use of hardness as a benefit, but this causes more damage in the long term. Therefore, it is important to be aware and stop this at the earliest possible moment.

Recommended Reading

• 5 Reasons to Get a Countertop Water Filter in Your House
• How Does Water Filtration Work?

The post Water Hardness: Knowing and Calculating The Perfect “Mineral Water” first appeared on BioEnergy Consult.