On a whim of wanting something different to eat for lunch, I went to a local bagel shop that I had never been to before. I was pleased to see the employees using proper food handling techniques – tongs to grab the bagel, gloves on while handling food, hats on, etc. I ordered a bagel with garden veggie cream cheese, to go. I watched as the woman slabbed on an enormous amount of the cream cheese and I thought to myself, “Dang, that’s enough cream cheese for two bagels! Hmmm….I’ll just order an extra bagel!” So I asked the woman who handed me the bag if I could order another bagel. She said sure, proceeded to punch the keys on the register, took my $1 bill, and gave me change…all with her gloved hands. Assuming she would take the goves off, then put clean ones on…I watched as she grabbed the tongs, and tossed the bagel on a plate for the gal in the back to slice for me…then took the next person’s order, took their money, gave them change – all while wearing those same gloves. She grabbed my sliced bagel with her contaminated gloves, opened up a bag (being sure to stick her hand all the way to the bottom) with her contaminated gloves, placed my now contaminated bagel inside the contaminated bag, and handed the contaminated mess to me…all with a smile on her face, “have a nice day”, she said to me, and off to the next person with her contaminated gloves she went! Completely oblivious as to the magnitude of her ignorance. I wanted to say something, I even stuttered a “Um, you know…Uh…”, but the place was packed, and no one else seemed to have a problem with her use of those gloves to protect HER from US…instead of the other way around!! Really?! No, I didn’t eat that bagel. And, no, I haven’t been back there. Lesson learned – by me.
Really. What are the gloves for?
February 9th, 2012Tips for a Healthy Holiday Season
December 10th, 2008The cold and flu season is now upon us, but you can decrease your chances of catching a bug this year by following these helpful tips:
Be aware of what you touch. Cold and flu viruses can survive on inanimate objects for days. Daily activities like grabbing a door handle, borrowing a pen, shaking someone’s hand, and using the keypad at the checkout lane or ATM can expose you to an enormous amount of germs that are just waiting for a host. Think about where your hands have been and don’t touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth until you’ve washed or sanitized.
Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water. You should wash up when you come home from work, school, shopping, etc., and always wash you’re your hands before you eat.
Use hand sanitizer. For those times when you can’t wash with soap and water, using hand sanitizer is a great alternative. Carry a small bottle in your purse and keep a handy pump dispenser in your car and use it as soon as you’ve gotten into the vehicle before you touch anything.
Cough or sneeze into the crux of your elbow, and teach your children to do the same. Children are less likely to wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, this way they are less likely to pass their germs to their friends at school or daycare.
Kick off your shoes and change your clothes when you get home. Removing your shoes at the door keeps the dirt and germs you’ve picked up thru your day from being spread throughout your home. And a quick change of clothing keeps the germs you may have on your clothes from spreading to your family.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown if you exercise regularly, eat right, and get enough sleep, you’re less likely to become sick. If you’re in good health, you’re less likely to catch a cold or flu.
Following these simple tips can help you keep your family healthy this holiday season.
Penny Rushing is a WAHM of 3 and a self-proclaimed germaphobe. Find information about keeping preemies and newborns healthy at www.healthylittleones.com.
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com
Featured Healthy Little Ones
June 14th, 2008
Meet Isabella and Sophia our Featured Healthy Little Ones!
You can read their story on our Healthy Little Ones “Your Stories” page!
All Wall Signs for Home and Day Care 50% off!
June 7th, 2008For a limited time you can get your Home and Day Care Wall Signs for 50% off! Great reminders for removing shoes, washing hands, no smoking, and more!
Signs for Home
Signs for Day Care
Sale ends July 1, 2008
A Hair-Raising “Big Give”
April 29th, 2008A friend of mine has a child who was recently diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis, which causes complete hair loss over the entire body. Their family has been helped tremendously by a non-profit organization called Children With Hairloss. This organization gives children with medically-related hair loss a hair replacement, a care kit, a band of hair, a turban, a hat, and free styling service — completely free of charge to the family! Those children with long-term hair loss (like my friend’s child) will receive a new hair replacement once a year until the age of 21, again, free of charge.
I have been growing my hair since July 2007 and am ready to donate 12 inches of my hair to this wonderful organization. The Oprah Winfrey Show was recently looking for people who wanted to donate their hair to charity so I wrote them a letter and received a call from one of the show’s producers! Unfortunately I didn’t make the “cut” for the show, but I decided to take this opportunity to turn it into my own mini “Big Give” and organize a fundraiser to go along with my donated hair!
It costs Children With Hair Loss about $1100 to make one custom hair replacement. Children With Hairloss was recently contacted by St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital about creating an on-site facility for their children, which CWHL would love to do, but that is not financially feasible at this time.
If you feel that this cause is something that you would love to support, any amount you can give would be GREATLY appreciated! For more information about donating your hair and to make a monetary donation, please go to Children With Hairloss. They are a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization and you will receive a letter and receipt for tax purposes.
For more information about Children With Hairloss please go to www.childrenwithhairloss.us.
Thank you! If we look beyond ourselves, we can make a deeper impact on the world!
How Big Is A Momma’s Lap?
April 25th, 2008Ah, springtime! The birds are back, the daffodils are blooming, the windows can be opened, and warmer gentle breezes flow thru the house (along with muddy footprints), and let’s not forget…it’s storm season!
The newest member of our family, our dog Ella, was the first to notice. A distant rumbling now and again, I thought it was a truck down the street, Ella barked a few times and I got to thinking I’d better check the radar. I sat in the recliner and turned the TV to the local weather station and the radar showed a small storm approaching. Before I knew it there was a loud clap of thunder and my 3 year old son, Luke, and Ella the dog were in a race to get to my lap first. Now, I typically don’t let the dog on my lap because she’s about 80 lbs or so, but we’ve recently discovered when it comes to storms she’s a big chicken. I hoisted my son up and blocked the dog with my arm, but she persisted and was on top of both of us before we knew it…shaking like a leaf. Luke and I looked at each other and giggled, thinking how funny we must look with this huge dog squashing us.
We were able to move the dog enough to get slightly comfortable — because she was DEFINITELY not going anywhere — when, of course, the phone rang! Yeesh. Luckily the cordless phone was on the table next to me so I didn’t have to drag my 2 “babies” to the kitchen phone with me!
So, how big is a momma’s lap? As big as your babies need it to be — especially during a storm! Welcome Spring!
Parents For Window Blind Safety
April 25th, 2008As parents, we all try to make our homes as safe as possible for our children and we have been lead to believe that placing the pull cords of our window blinds up and out of reach of our children is enough to protect them. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
There are 8 WAYS a child can DIE from corded window treatments!! Please take time to visit this website Parents For Window Blind Safety. Inform yourself and pass this information on to everyone you know — all your family, friends, day cares, preschools…anyone who has a child in their lives! I had no idea there were so many different ways a child could be strangled by cords from window treatments…this is a very sad reality for many families. The danger is not just to infants and toddlers, deaths have occured up to the age of 12! It’s a difficult thing to do, reading the stories on this website, but if others can learn from these people’s experiences a life may be saved!
I encourage you to take immediate action if you have these products in your home!!
We Now Have Birthday Calendars — Travel Size!
April 25th, 2008Use this handy checkbook-size calendar year after year for quick, easy access to those special dates you need to remember! It’s easy! Just write down the names of your loved ones on their special date! Use the notes section to keep track of details like what items you have given, their favorite colors, scents, flowers, what year they were born, etc.! Keep addresses on hand for mailing out those cards or gifts! You’ll never forget another special occasion again!
Save time by not having to transfer information from one calendar year to the next! Keep in your purse or near the phone!
At a price of only $8.49 and 7 styles to choose from, you’ll want to get one for everyone on your gift list!
Chore Charts & Teacher Notes SALE!
April 25th, 2008Right now at healthylittleones.com you can get our chore charts for only $3.99, that’s $2 off the regular price! Choose from our regular kids chore chart, the breakfast and bedtime checklist, and our regular household chore chart. Each magnetic dry erase chore chart comes with a magnetic dry erase marker with eraser for conveniece! Chore Charts
Thank your child’s teacher for a wonderful year with one of our magnetic, dry erase Teacher Notes boards! There are 2 styles to choose from and each comes with a magnetic dry erase marker — on sale for a limited time for $3.39, a savings of $1.10! Teacher Notes
Sale ends April 30, 2008
I Guess It’s About Time…
April 23rd, 2008That I get with the program and start a blog! I will be announcing sales, new products, and information about my products at Healthy Little Ones along with sharing life happenings and soap box rantings. Bookmark us and visit us often — I look forward to sharing LOTS of fun things with you!
In Good Health,
Penny
