For Healthcare Professionals
Measles is an acute viral respiratory illness. It is characterized by a prodrome of fever (as high as 105°F) and malaise, cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis -the three “C”s -, a pathognomonic enanthema (Koplik spots) followed by a maculopapular rashexternal icon. The rash usually appears about 14 days after a person is exposed. The rash spreads from the head to the trunk to the lower extremities. Patients are considered to be contagious from 4 days before to 4 days after the rash appears. Of note, sometimes immunocompromised patients do not develop the rash.
Measles is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus with 1 serotype. It is classified as a member of the genus Morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family. Humans are the only natural hosts of measles virus.
In the decade before the live measles vaccine was licensed in 1963, an average of 549,000 measles cases and 495 measles deaths were reported annually in the United States. However, it is likely that, on average, 3 to 4 million people were infected with measles annually; most cases were not reported. Of the reported cases, approximately 48,000 people were hospitalized from measles and 1,000 people developed chronic disability from acute encephalitis caused by measles annually.
In 2000, measles was declared eliminated from the United States. Elimination is defined as the absence of endemic measles virus transmission in a defined geographic area, such as a region or country, for 12 months or longer in the presence of a well-performing surveillance system. However measles cases and outbreaks still occur every year in the United States because measles is still commonly transmitted in many parts of the world, including countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Worldwide, an estimated 10 million measles cases and 110,000 deaths from measles are reported each year.
Since 2000, when measles was declared eliminated from the U.S., the annual number of cases has ranged from a low of 37 in 2004 to a high of 667 in 2014. The 2019 case count exceeded 2014 levels as of April 26, 2019, and continues to climb. The majority of cases have been among people who are not vaccinated against measles. Measles cases in the United States occur as a result of importations by people who were infected while in other countries and from transmission that may occur from those importations. Measles is more likely to spread and cause outbreaks in U.S. communities where groups of people are unvaccinated.
It is critical for all international travelers to be protected against measles, regardless of their destination.
Outbreaks in countries to which Americans often travel can directly contribute to an increase in measles cases in the United States. In recent years, measles importations have come from frequently visited countries, including, but not limited to, the Philippines, Ukraine, Israel, Thailand, Vietnam, England, France, Germany, and India, where large outbreaks were reported.
Common complications from measles include otitis media, bronchopneumonia, laryngotracheobronchitis, and diarrhea.
Even in previously healthy children, measles can cause serious illness requiring hospitalization.
- One out of every 1,000 measles cases will develop acute encephalitis, which often results in permanent brain damage.
- One to three out of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
- Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, but fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system characterized by behavioral and intellectual deterioration and seizures that generally develop 7 to 10 years after measles infection.
People at high risk for severe illness and complications from measles include:
- Infants and children aged <5 years
- Adults aged >20 years
- Pregnant women
- People with compromised immune systems, such as from leukemia and HIV infection
Measles is one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases; up to 9 out of 10 susceptible persons with close contact to a measles patient will develop measles. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Healthcare providers should consider measles in patients presenting with febrile rash illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms, especially if the person recently traveled internationally or was exposed to a person with febrile rash illness. Healthcare providers should report suspected measles cases to their local health department within 24 hours.
Laboratory confirmation is essential for all sporadic measles cases and all outbreaks. Detection of measles-specific IgM antibody in serum and measles RNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in a respiratory specimen are the most common methods for confirming measles infection. Healthcare providers should obtain both a serum sample and a throat swab (or nasopharyngeal swab) from patients suspected to have measles at first contact with them. Urine samples may also contain virus, and when feasible to do so, collecting both respiratory and urine samples can increase the likelihood of detecting measles virus.
Molecular analysis can also be conducted to determine the genotype of the measles virus. Genotyping is used to map the transmission pathways of measles viruses. The genetic data can help to link or unlink cases and can suggest a source for imported cases. Genotyping is the only way to distinguish between wild-type measles virus infection and a rash caused by a recent measles vaccination.
For more information, see Measles Lab Tools.
Acceptable presumptive evidence of immunity against measles includes at least one of the following:
- written documentation of adequate vaccination:
- one or more doses of a measles-containing vaccine administered on or after the first birthday for preschool-age children and adults not at high risk
- two doses of measles-containing vaccine for school-age children and adults at high risk, including college students, healthcare personnel, and international travelers
- laboratory evidence of immunity*
- laboratory confirmation of measles
- birth before 1957
Healthcare providers should not accept verbal reports of vaccination without written documentation as presumptive evidence of immunity. For additional details about evidence of immunity criteria, see Table 3 in Prevention of Measles, Rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and Mumps, 2013: Summary Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Measles can be prevented with measles-containing vaccine, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine can be used for children aged 12 months through 12 years for protection against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. Single-antigen measles vaccine is not available.
One dose of MMR vaccine is approximately 93% effective at preventing measles; two doses are approximately 97% effective. Almost everyone who does not respond to the measles component of the first dose of MMR vaccine at age 12 months or older will respond to the second dose. Therefore, the second dose of MMR is administered to address primary vaccine failure
CDC recommends routine childhood immunization for MMR vaccine starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age or at least 28 days following the first dose. The measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine is also available to children 12 months through 12 years of age; the minimum interval between doses is three months.
Students at post-high school educational institutions
Students at post-high school educational institutions without evidence of measles immunity need two doses of MMR vaccine, with the second dose administered no earlier than 28 days after the first dose.
People who are born during or after 1957 who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine.
People 6 months of age or older who will be traveling internationally should be protected against measles. Before traveling internationally,
- Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine†
- Children 12 months of age or older should have documentation of two doses of MMR vaccine (the first dose of MMR vaccine should be administered at age 12 months or older; the second dose no earlier than 28 days after the first dose)*
- Teenagers and adults born during or after 1957 without evidence of immunity against measles should have documentation of two doses of MMR vaccine, with the second dose administered no earlier than 28 days after the first dose
† Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses according to the routinely recommended schedule (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose at 4 through 6 years of age or at least 28 days later).
* The measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine is also available to children 12 months through 12 years of age. If used in place of MMR vaccine, the first dose should be administered at age 12 months or older, and the second dose no earlier than three months after the first dose. MMRV should not be administered to anyone older than 12 years of age.
Healthcare personnel should have documented evidence of immunity against measles, according to the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices pdf icon[48 pages].
For more information, see measles vaccination recommendations.
Some people should not get MMR or MMRV vaccine. For information about contraindications, see who should NOT get vaccinated with MMR or MMRV vaccine?
- CDC. Prevention of Measles, Rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and Mumps, 2013: Summary Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2013;62(RR04);1-34.
People exposed to measles who cannot readily show that they have evidence of immunity against measles should be offered post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) or be excluded from the setting (school, hospital, childcare). To potentially provide protection or modify the clinical course of disease among susceptible persons, either administer MMR vaccine within 72 hours of initial measles exposure, or immunoglobulin (IG) within six days of exposure. Do not administer MMR vaccine and IG simultaneously, as this practice invalidates the vaccine.
MMR vaccine as post-exposure prophylaxis
If MMR vaccine is not administered within 72 hours of exposure as PEP, MMR vaccine should still be offered at any interval following exposure to the disease in order to offer protection from future exposures. People who receive MMR vaccine or IG as PEP should be monitored for signs and symptoms consistent with measles for at least one incubation period.
If many measles cases are occurring among infants younger than 12 months of age, measles vaccination of infants as young as 6 months of age may be used as an outbreak control measure. Note that children vaccinated before their first birthday should be revaccinated when they are 12 through 15 months old and again when they are 4 through 6 years of age.
Except in healthcare settings, unvaccinated people who receive their first dose of MMR vaccine within 72 hours after exposure may return to childcare, school, or work.
Immunoglobulin (IG) as post-exposure prophylaxis
People who are at risk for severe illness and complications from measles, such as infants younger than 12 months of age, pregnant women without evidence of measles immunity, and people with severely compromised immune systems, should receive IG. Intramuscular IG (IGIM) should be given to all infants younger than 12 months of age who have been exposed to measles. For infants aged 6 through 11 months, MMR vaccine can be given in place of IG, if administered within 72 hours of exposure. Because pregnant women might be at higher risk for severe measles and complications, intravenous IG (IGIV) should be administered to pregnant women without evidence of measles immunity who have been exposed to measles. People with severely compromised immune systems who are exposed to measles should receive IGIV regardless of immunologic or vaccination status because they might not be protected by MMR vaccine.
IG should not be used to control measles outbreaks, but rather to reduce the risk for infection and complications in the people receiving it. IGIM can be given to other people who do not have evidence of immunity against measles, but priority should be given to people exposed in settings with intense, prolonged, close contact, such as a household, daycare, or classroom where the risk of transmission is highest.
After receipt of IG, people cannot return to healthcare settings. In other settings, such as childcare, school, or work, factors such as immune status, intense or prolonged contact, and presence of populations at risk, should be taken into consideration before allowing people to return. These factors may decrease the effectiveness of IG or increase the risk of disease and complications depending on the setting to which they are returning.
The recommended dose of IGIM is 0.5 mL/kg of body weight (maximum dose = 15 mL) and the recommended dose of IGIV is 400 mg/kg.
Post-exposure prophylaxis for healthcare personnel
If a healthcare provider without evidence of immunity is exposed to measles, MMR vaccine should be given within 72 hours, or IG should be given within 6 days when available. Exclude healthcare personnel without evidence of immunity from duty from day 5 after first exposure to day 21 after last exposure, regardless of post-exposure vaccine.
- Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, 2007 Guidelines for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings.
Infected people should be isolated for four days after they develop a rash; airborne precautions should be followed in healthcare settings. Regardless of presumptive immunity status, all healthcare staff entering the room should use respiratory protection consistent with airborne infection control precautions (use of an N95 respirator or a respirator with similar effectiveness in preventing airborne transmission). Because of the possibility, albeit low, of MMR vaccine failure in healthcare providers exposed to infected patients, they should all observe airborne precautions in caring for patients with measles. The preferred placement for patients who require airborne precautions is in a single-patient airborne infection isolation room (AIIR).
People without evidence of immunity who have been exempted from measles vaccination for medical, religious, or other reasons and who do not receive appropriate PEP within the appropriate timeframe should be excluded from affected institutions in the outbreak area until 21 days after the onset of rash in the last case of measles.
There is no specific antiviral therapy for measles. Medical care is supportive and to help relieve symptoms and address complications such as bacterial infections.
Severe measles cases among children, such as those who are hospitalized, should be treated with vitamin A. Vitamin A should be administered immediately on diagnosis and repeated the next day. The recommended age-specific daily doses are
- 50,000 IU for infants younger than 6 months of age
- 100,000 IU for infants 6–11 months of age
- 200,000 IU for children 12 months of age and older
For more information, see page 351 of the World Health Organization measles and vitamin A guidance pdf icon[12 pages]external icon. Also see Red Book Online: Measlesexternal icon.
- Measles 2015: Situational Update, Clinical Guidance, and Vaccination Recommendations
COCA Call/Webinar presented February 19, 2015
- Provider Resources for Vaccine Conversations with Parents
- An Introduction to Measles Powerpoint presentation pdf icon[20 pages]
- Measles Data and Statistics Powerpoint presentation pdf icon[15 pages]


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Scientists have spent hundreds of years untangling the brain’s complex web of neurons, calling on everything from powerful microscopes to computer simulations to help. But even after understanding how the cells fit together, it’s tricky to play with the pieces outside of the body – neurons need to be nurtured. Here microscopic sculpting known as micropatterning creates a perfect platform to encourage the sensitive cells to stretch out (top). Plonking a rat neuron’s body onto the circular stage, its spindly axon reaches to the left, while its dendrites extend to the right. By placing two of these platforms end-to-end (bottom), two neurons create a junction, or synapse, similar to those found in the nervous system. While a couple of neurons may seem modest compared to the brain’s 100 billion, its wiring develops from similar 'simple' connections – scaling them up into complex networks. Which is exactly what researchers plan to do next.
Written by John Ankers
BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences the website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biomedicine. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.
BPoD is also available in Catalan at www.bpod.cat with translations by the University of Valencia.


By Meg Sherman, a student of Modern History and Politics at University of Southampton.
Climate change has been hitting the political headlines with increasing frequency, and for anyone who accepts the foundational science it is usually an invitation to despair. Proposing yet more standards that shouldn’t be assented to, UKIP have predictably attacked EU targets to close most coal plants by 2020, and as public appetite for an eco-socialist agenda swells in surging support for the Greens and a dissident left, more insincere rhetoric about the environment from incumbents will inevitably be wheeled out as the general election’s motorcade rolls in to 2015.
But what is at stake?
Following the Copenhagen Accord in 2009, governments – some of the most conservative too – agreed in 2010 that a core temperature rise above two degrees is too much. Britain has signed this in to law already and states have provisionally agreed to return to Paris next year to oblige further measures to stop us going beyond that tipping point. Beyond it we will definitely be left dealing with catastrophic and extinction-level events, the human and economic cost and damage of which we can only estimate.
The onus of preventing this outcome is mostly on the fossil fuel market whose supply-side policies are one of the major culprits for current global warming levels. However, longstanding and continued investment in energies like oil, gas and coal remain virtually unquestioned by governments, who nevertheless have the power of regulation. At precisely the time we most need a sense of awareness and connect between policy-makers and the capital-markets cashing in on dirty energy, there is scant political will to call out the investment gamble. Perhaps it’s politically expedient for the current executive that people aren’t aware that their pensions are being used by the top 200 companies to gamble on yet more fossil fuel reserves and inflate the carbon bubble, that is, betting on the likelihood politicians will do nothing.
It will be impossible to meet the aim of keeping temperature rises below 2 degrees without escalating the movement to divest from fossil fuels. To the ends of raising awareness of the Higher Education sector’s complicity in a dangerous and corrupt market, student group Fossil Free published an open letter to Southampton University calling for a conscientious and responsible strategy of divestment like that hard-won in Glasgow.
We are sitting on the technology, capacity and expertise that can harness renewable sources of energy and organize society better by redistributing net wealth, but the insolence of a corrupt political class afraid to stand up to the market, it’s rapacious mode of consumption and disregard for planetary life may in the end destroy everything we’ve ever loved.
Open letter: http://southamptonfossilfree.wordpress.com/


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An asthma attack is a short period when breathing becomes difficult, sometimes along with chest tightness, wheezing, and coughing. When this happens during or after exercise, it is known as exercise-induced asthma or exercise-induced bronchospasm. About 70 to 90 out of 100 people who have persistent asthma and about 10 out of 100 people who do not have asthma have exercise-induced asthma.footnote 1, footnote 2 Exercise-induced asthma develops most often in athletes, especially those who train or perform in cold air. Swimming appears to cause the fewest problems for children who have asthma. Swimming may even help reduce the severity of exercise-induced asthma.footnote 3
For most people:
Exercise-induced asthma is often not diagnosed, especially in children. Most experts agree that a medical history and a physical exam are not accurate tools for diagnosing exercise-induced asthma. If you notice the symptoms of asthma (such as wheezing or shortness of breath) after your child exercises, be sure to tell your doctor. Children who have asthma should still be encouraged to exercise. And they should not be excused from exercise unless that is really needed.
For people who have asthma symptoms during exercise, using asthma-controlling medicine before exercise may help reduce symptoms, especially in cold, dry weather. For these people, some asthma experts recommend the following:footnote 4
Other steps you can take to reduce asthma symptoms when you exercise include the following:
If your child has exercise-induced asthma, be sure his or her teachers and coaches know when your child's daily medicines should be given and what to do if your child has an asthma attack, especially before and during physical exercise. Your child's asthma action plan provides this information. School officials need to know the early warning signs of an asthma episode, how your child's medicines are used, and how to give the medicines. School personnel also should know how to contact your child's doctor.
CitationsSheth KK (2003). Activity-induced asthma. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 50(3): 698–715.Mickleborough TD, Gotshall RW (2003). Dietary components with demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing the severity of exercise-induced asthma. Sports Medicine, 33(9): 671–681.Rosimini R (2003). Benefits of swim training for children and adolescents with asthma. Journal of the American Academy of Nurses, 15(6): 247–252.National Institutes of Health (2007). National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (NIH Publication No. 08–5846). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/index.htm.
Current as of: February 24, 2020
Author: Healthwise StaffMedical Review: E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal MedicineAdam Husney MD - Family MedicineElizabeth T. Russo MD - Internal Medicine
Current as of: February 24, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Elizabeth T. Russo MD - Internal Medicine
To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.
© 1995-2020 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


NORTH CONWAY, N.H. (AP) — A new analysis of meteorological data collected atop the Northeast’s highest peak is shedding light on how climate change is playing out in the mountains.
Georgia Murray, a staff scientist at the Appalachian Mountain Club, says a shortage of data remains a challenge to understanding climate change on mountains, but fortunately the Mount Washington Observatory has maintained an extensive and continuous record.
She recently published a study analyzing data from the last 15 years from both the observatory’s summit weather station and nearby Pinkham Notch.
Past research showed that Mount Washington’s summit had not tipped toward a significant warming trend in contrast to the rates of change at lower elevations. But the recent data show that statistically significant warming is in fact taking place at both Mount Washington’s summit and Pinkham Notch.


PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) or PCOD (Polycystic Ovarian Disease) is commonly found disease in 1-2 reproductive age girls out of 5 in normal count basically found because of hormonal imbalance.
Ovaries normally secrete female hormones called estrogen and progesterone at a certain ratio, and a small amount of male hormone called androgen. Whenever there is disturbance and slight variation in secretion of male hormone multiple follicles are formed in the ovaries causing multiple small cysts or poly cysts. The main cause of this syndrome is not clear, but is assumed to be based upon today’s lifestyle, stress factor, hormonal imbalance or genetics.
The main symptoms of PCOD are irregular periods may be sometimes prolonged or sometimes scanty, sudden weight gain, acne, heavy hair loss, and distribution of hair on face and body and can lead to infertility due to absence of ovulation if not treated on time.
The syndrome can be diagnosed based on previous medical history, physical appearance and necessary hormonal lab tests and finally Pelvis USG (Ultrasonography) where polycystic ovaries will be visible.
The shocking fact is that there is no specific treatment for PCOD, but can be limited by reducing stress level by following certain medications or exercises. Weight reduction plays a vital role in bringing PCOD to end. Brisk walking, jogging, swimming may aid in weight reduction followed by slight diet food Changing lifestyle like avoiding junk food, smoking and alcohol may be beneficial. The problem can be tackled by regulating ovulation on monthly basis.


NJ American Water Encourages Conservation in 2010
According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections, 1 billion gallons of water are used in the state every day. That's enough water to cover the Garden State in about eight inches of water.
Here are some simple suggestions to save water and money:
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes in the sink.
- Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are full.
- If your appliances have a water-saver cycle, use it.
- Adjust the water level of your clothes washer so it matches your load size.
- Regularly check your toilet, faucets, and pipes for leaks. If you find a leak, have it fixed as soon as possible.
- Consider water and energy-efficient appliances. EPA-certified Energy Star washing machines may use 35 percent less water per load. Water-saving shower heads, toilets and faucet aerators can also help cut your water usage.
- Insulate exposed water pipes with pre-slit foam insulation. You'll enjoy hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
"With small adjustments to their daily routine, customers can reduce their water use, help New Jersey save a natural resource and, at the same time, lower their water bill," said John Bigelow, president of New Jersey American Water. "We want our customers to start the new year off right and make a New Year's resolution to save water and money."


Earth Notes: Grand Canyon's Tiny Snail
Biologists have been putting in a big effort to protect a rare, tiny snail that lives beside the Colorado River in Grand Canyon.
The Kanab Ambersnail is named for one of the few places where it's found, near Kanab, Utah. The only other place where it lives in the wild is at Vasey's Paradise, a lush spring beside the Colorado.
Ambersnails love wet places like Vasey's, among watercress, monkey flower, sedge and cattails. They're holdovers from the last ice age. The snails adapted to the river's naturally varying seasonal flows by staying in the deep, moist vegetation above the historic high water line.
But, after Glen Canyon Dam was built in 1963, river levels were greatly reduced, and became more stable. The snails moved down into the newly exposed habitat and did fine. But when a new, experimental high flow was released from the dam, many of the snails were washed away.
Besides being very rare, the snails - about the size of a dime - are really hard to find. So, rather than physically removing every one before a planned "flood", Jeff Sorenson, with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, along with his "snail crew", took a different approach. They actually picked up whole mats of vegetation, snails and all, and moved them to higher ground.
Once the temporary "floods" went by, they put the snail habitat back in place - and in about 6 months, it had fully recovered.
Sorenson will continue monitoring ambersnail populations, and keep an eye on rising water.


Researchers have uncovered what makes one particular strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) so proficient at picking up resistance genes, such as the one that makes it resistant to vancomycin, the last line of defense for hospital-acquired infections. They report their findings in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, on Tuesday May 22.
"MRSA strains are leading causes of hospital-acquired infections in the United States, and clonal cluster 5 (CC5) is the predominant lineage responsible for these infections. Since 2002, there have been 12 cases of vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) infection in the United Statesall CC5 strains," write the researchers from Harvard, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston and the Broad Institute in Cambridge and other institutions. "Vancomycin is a key last-line bactericidal drug for treating these infections."
The CC5 strain of MRSA has managed to acquire resistance to vancomycin on 12 separate occasions, and although it hasn't spread widely yet, the risk that MRSA could eventually overwhelm even our last-line drugs is a very serious one. In the study, the researchers sequenced the genomes of all available vancomycin-resistant MRSA strains to find what distinguishes them from other lineages and why CC5 is apparently more adept than other strains at picking up vancomycin resistance.
They report that vancomycin-resistant MRSA strains and other CC5 lineages have some important differences from other types of MRSA, including adaptations that allow them to co-exist with other types of bacteria and may help them take up foreign DNA. They all lack the operon called bsa, for instance, a set of genes that encode a lantibiotic bacteriocin, an antibiotic protein made by bacteria to kill other bacteria. This is important, say the authors, because it enables CC5 to get along well with other bacteria in mixed infections. Instead of killing off competing organisms, CC5 aims to co-exist. This enables it to pick up genes - like the one that encodes vancomycin resistance - from unexpected places. Mixed infections are breeding grounds for antibiotic resistance because they encourage the exchange of genes among very different kinds of organisms.
In roughly the place where these bacteriocin genes are missing is a unique cluster of genes that encode enterotoxins, proteins that attack the human host and, again, could make it easier for mixed populations of bacteria to grow at infection sites.
Finally, CC5 has a mutation in a gene called dprA, which is known to influence the ability to assimilate foreign DNA. The mutation could alter or eliminate the function of dprA in CC5 strains of MRSA, making it amenable to taking up DNA from outside sources.
The sum of all these traits, including the lack of bacteriocin production, the ability to produce enterotoxins, and mutations in the ability to assimilate foreign DNA, is a lineage of S. aureus that is optimized to grow in exactly the types of multi-species infections where gene transfer could occur.
This makes CC5 a dangerous organism in hospitals, say the authors. In hospitals, pathogens are under continuous pressure from antibiotics to survive and evolve, and CC5 isolates appear to be very well adapted to succeed by acquiring new resistances. Frequent use of antibiotics in hospital patients could select for strains like CC5 that have an enhanced ability to co-exist with bacteria that provide genes for antibiotic resistance.
Explore further: YEATS protein potential therapeutic target for cancer
More information: VN Kos et al. Comparative genomics of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains and their positions within the clade most commonly associated with methicillin-resistant S. aureus hospital-acquired infection in the United States. mBio DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00112-12 (2012).


It seems like everyday we face more and more conflict. There is conflict in the work place, at home, among friends, co-workers, family members — it is as though conflict is present on every hand. You cannot get rid of conflict, but you can learn how to handle it properly. So, let’s see how do you handle conflict?
When you walk into a scene of conflict you have two options: You can either be a troublemaker or a peacemaker. You can either add to the problem or help to defuse it. You can add to the stress or help to bring a solution. Which are you more prone to do? In Matthew’s gospel Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” If you were to look at the flip side of that statement, you could almost assume that if peacemakers are blessed, then troublemakers must be cursed. Why did Jesus make this statement? I believe it was because in this important sermon, which we refer to as The Sermon on the Mount, He was trying to teach the people then and now how important it is to abide in peace. Anyone can get involved in strife; but the bigger person tries to bring harmony and unity. Anyone can add fuel to an ever increasing war of words; but the bigger person will look past their own feelings and look for the overall good for all those involved. Anyone can either be a troublemaker or a peacemaker. Which are you?
We all know how to troublemakers, it comes naturally to us, so let’s look at how we become a peacemaker. Peacemakers look for common ground and try to get everyone onto it. Their goal is not for self promotion or self gratification, but to find a win-win situation. Barnabas, whose name means “Son of consolation,” stood up for the newly converted Saul of Tarsus (Paul) to the leaders of the church in Jerusalem. The leaders in Jerusalem were angry and looking at Saul’s troubled past, but thankfully Barnabas was looking at his future potential. Instead of him jumping on the band wagon and destroying Saul, he decided to try to become a peacemaker and find a common ground in this situation. Barnabas made the right choice; Saul the persecutor of the church became Paul the Apostle of the church. I’m thankful for Barnabas’ decision because now we have all of the epistles of Paul to teach us how to live a life of victory — forgiveness, letting go of the past, encouraging each other and becoming peacemakers.
Barnabas put his credibility on the line for Saul (Paul). He took a risk. He became a peacemaker and an encourager. So, the bottom line is — the choice is up to us. How are we going to handle conflict? Are we going to be peacemakers or troublemakers? Are we going to do things Jesus’ way or our own way? If you want to be blessed, you will listen to and conform to the words of Christ, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
So, the next time you come into a situation where conflict is present, why not make the choice to defuse the situation, look for common ground, and bring peace and harmony. You will discover it’s a lot better way to live.
Georgina Kennedy is the pastor of Solid Rock Family Worship Center, 2628 Pulaski Hwy. in Columbia.


There has been a lot written, tweeted, and argued recently about the place of statues and monuments in cities throughout the world. The arguments made by young scholars at elite British universities and citizens in American cities highlights the emotional, political, cultural, and imaginative power these objects hold. In Eastern Europe, particularly former state socialist countries, the debates over socialist era monuments have been part of life since 1991. In some cases, the argument about trying to erase history by removing socialist era monuments echoes the attempts of the state socialist regimes who erased history both materially and immaterially. This included new construction of monuments, roads, and plazas, and the renaming of existing places, rewriting educational material, and mass cultural programmes.
In Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria after the end of Todor Zhikov’s regime in 1991 the mausoleum built for Georgi Dimitrov, the founder of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, was demolished in 1999. The area next to the city park in the centre of Sofia where the mausoleum stood remains empty with many plans about what to do with the space nearly twenty years later. Anthropological and geographical studies of Central and Eastern Europe have highlighted the multitude of experiences in the years following the collapse of state socialism across the region. The role of memory is a central part of post-socialist experiences. Creed (1998, 1999) has drawn attention to the ways that socialist memories are used to propose questions of the post-socialist present, emphasising the power of ritual to inform understanding of political and economic changes in everyday activities. Light and Young (2014) argue, through their study of residents contesting the renaming of socialist-era squares and boulevards in Romania, that everyday habits and memory remain stable despite rupture.
On July 28th 2017 the socialist era monument “1300 years of Bulgaria” in Sofia was demolished after several years of plans, legal actions, and protests and counter protests. The monument was unfinished at the time state socialism ended in the country and was in a serve state of disrepair. The decision to remove the monument was taken by the Sofia Municipal Council in 2014. However, the decision was repeatedly challenged in court by the monument’s sculptor Valentin Starchev. As part of the controversy around the monument have been efforts to restore the original monument to the Bulgarian army that the socialist regime replaced with ‘1300 years of Bulgaria’. In 2014, a group of 1,400 activists gathered together and organised a petition to restore the earlier Known Warrior Memorial for the 1st and 6th Infantry Regiments. The plans to restore the Known Warrior Memorial comes at a time when charges of erasing history are levelled at anyone disagreeing with monuments. However, in Sofia this memorial will stand in the shadow of the National Palace of Culture built in 1981 by Todor Zhikov’s socialist regime. At least here the relationship between different histories and regimes will be in constant conversation about the past and possible futures.
Site of monument 1300 years of Bulgaria
Site of the Monument of 1300 years of Bulgaria in Sofia. The former monument and the view towards the National Palace of culture.
Images courtesy of Anna Plyushteva and Desire&Subtext
Creed G (1998) Domesticating Revolution: From Socialist Reform to Ambivalent Transition in a Bulgarian Village . University Park, PA: Penn State University Press.
Creed G (1999) Deconstructing socialism in Bulgaria. In: Burawoy M and Verdery K (eds) Uncertain Transition: Ethnographies of Change in the Postsocialist World. New York: Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 223–243.
Light D and Young C (2013) Urban space, political identity and the unwanted legacies of statesocialism: Bucharest’s problematic Centru Civic in the post-socialist era. Nationalities Papers41(4): 515–535.
Light D and Young C (2014) Habit, memory, and the persistence of socialist-era street names in postsocialist Bucharest, Romania. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 104(3): 668– 685.


Investing $10 billion in water-efficiency programs could play an important role in America's "green economy," creating as many as 220,000 jobs while protecting a priceless natural resource.
That was one of the conclusions in a new report produced by the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes, an environmental advocacy group.
"Water conservation creates jobs, saves money, cuts energy (use) and greenhouse gases, the list goes on," said Cameron Davis, president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. "It's one of the rare magic wands we have in the water world."
The Alliance wants Congress and president-elect Barack Obama to allocate $10 billion to water-efficiency programs nationwide as part of a massive public works program Obama is crafting. The incoming president is expected to propose a multibillion-dollar public works program to create jobs and stimulate the flagging economy.
Investing $10 billion in water conservation and water-related energy efficiency programs could create between 150,000 and 220,000 new jobs nationwide. Such an investment also would reduce water use nationally by 9.3 trillion gallons annually -- enough to supply 5 percent of the U.S. population for 10 years, according to the report.
Increased water efficiency would ease pressure on the nation's lakes, rivers and groundwater resources, reduce energy use and could increase America's gross domestic product by about $15 billion annually, according to the Alliance report.
Repairing or replacing leaky municipal water mains, and installing low-flow toilets and water-saving showerheads would quickly create tens of thousands of jobs, Davis said.
As individuals, businesses and communities learn to use water more efficiently, the demand for energy needed to treat drinking water and the resulting wastewater also would decrease, Davis said. Reducing energy use decreases the volume of air pollutants that power plants emit, including chemicals that contribute to global warming.
A drought that left residents and government officials in Atlanta praying for rain last year thrust the issue of water scarcity into the national limelight.
Forty percent of the world's population is affected by water scarcity, according to the World Health Organization.
Water scarcity is not an issue in much of the Great Lakes region. The five lakes -- Michigan, Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario -- contain 18 percent of the world's fresh surface water and 95 percent of fresh water in the U.S.
Communities in the Great Lakes basin pump 850 billion gallons of water out of the five lakes and the St. Lawrence River each day. Most of that water is returned to the lakes. About 1.9 billion gallons of Great Lakes water is consumed daily, meaning it is lost forever, according to 2004 data compiled by the Great Lakes Commission.
The U.S. and Canada recently approved the Great Lakes Compact, a legally binding agreement that severely limits water diversions to areas outside of the lakes' drainage basins. The compact also requires the eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces that surround the lakes to develop water-conservation programs.
Davis said the abundance of water in the Great Lakes region doesn't diminish the need to use water wisely.
"With water increasingly expensive to pump, treat, distribute, treat again, then discharge, it's not the size of the water body that matters," Davis said. "It's about the money you save and leaving the Great Lakes better for the next generation than the way we found them."


Here are common ones you should know as you keep your eye on the storm’s path:
Lines or bands of low-level clouds that move (feed) into the upper region of a thunderstorm, usually from the east through south.
This term also is used in tropical meteorology to describe spiral-shaped bands of convection surrounding, and moving toward, the center of a tropical cyclone.
When the wind speed increases to at least 16 knots and is sustained at 22 knots or more for at least one minute.
An abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm. The height is the difference between the normal level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the cyclone. Storm surge is usually estimated by subtracting the normal or astronomic high tide from the observed storm tide.
An organized band or ring of clouds that surround the eye, or light-wind center, of a tropical cyclone. Eye wall and wall cloud are used synonymously.
Wind speed determined by averaging observed values over a two-minute period.
Meteorologists use computer models to figure out a storm’s path and its potential path. The models are based on typical weather patterns.
Official information describing all tropical cyclone watches and warnings in effect along with details concerning tropical cyclone locations, intensity and movement, and precautions that should be taken.
An announcement that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are possible. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
An announcement that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area in association with a cyclone. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the warning is issued 36 hours in advance. The warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or high water and waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.


After a car accident, it is essential to make obvious your body has all the elements needed for repair from the car accident injuries. It is important that the nutrition you consume raises the degree of nutrients ready for repair and healing.
Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fats are named as macro-nutrients. This is where nourishment starts. Often, people who tend to overweight also incline to be deficient in these!
According to Dr Natura minerals, proteins, vitamins, and antioxidants help heal car accident injuries, relax stressed tendons, and mend fractured bones more quickly. So, in addition to your physician ’s advice to improve and ice, you need to choose the correct mixtures of healing foods to speed up the recovery process and get back on your bike.
Here’s where to intend for your cart.
Daily Dose of sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, and kale for vitamin A; peppers, oranges, strawberries, and broccoli for obtaining vitamin C
Vitamin A enables making white blood cells for battling the infection, which is often a danger with injury. Vitamin C has been shown to enable flesh wounds and skin heals stronger and faster, making it a valuable ally when caring for a road rash. Vitamin C also enables repairing cartilage and connective tissues by participating in the building of collagen, a crucial protein that produces blood vessels, scar tissue, and even different bone cells.
Daily Dose of lean turkey, fish, sirloin, and chicken
Lean meats are loaded with protein, an important building block for generating new cells. In one research publicized in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, students at the University of Ottawa recognized a protein that behaved as a bridge between injured tissues, stimulating repair.
Because athletes need about 112 grams of protein in a day for best healing, consuming meat is a simple way to shoot up toward this objective faster.
Daily Dose of milk, eggs, and yogurt
All three are useful sources of protein— yogurt and milk also include calcium, which repairs muscle and bone. The vitamin D in dairy commodities enhances calcium absorption and enables injured muscle and bone healing process.
A 2010 survey publicized in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery documented that increasing this nutrient’s stages in deficient victims produced earlier findings.
Daily Dose of Fortified cereals
It includes zinc, a proven aid to the immune system, and to recovering injuries. Along with the red meat, fortified cereals are also useful sources (some provide 100 percent of your proposed everyday value).
By itself, zinc doesn’t improve injured tissue, but it helps the nutrients that work. “Just don’t exaggerate it,” Adding too much—more than 40 grams daily for an adult—of this strong mineral lowers the HDL cholesterol (the favorable kind) and entirely represses your immune system.
Cereal supplies mild zinc quantities as well as the whole-grain carbohydrates, which strengthens your body’s recovery efforts and keep it from spooning into protein for stability. Eating sufficient carbs guarantees that your body settles all of its available protein toward improvements.
Daily Dose of Salmon, trout, and tuna
In addition to an expanded protein bonus, fish is loaded with fatty acids, omega-3s, which suppress the inflammation that hinders recovery from sprained ligaments, tendinitis, and bone fracture.
Dose of Calcium and Vitamin D
As we indicated above, vitamin D enables your body to absorb the calcium that you’re receiving from your diet. This is a very valuable combo if your wound is bone-related. While there are several foods that comprise vitamin D, they are rare, and your body can generate it from disclosure to the sun.
If you’re wasting most of your healing time laid up on the sofa, you could be deficient. And if you obey a dairy-free food, then you may also require an additional boost of calcium. Review with your physician to notice if you should enhance calcium and vitamin D supplements to your medication.
That said, extra calcium doesn’t equivalent stronger bones, in reality, too much can direct to kidney stones so be clear, to obey your medical specialist’s guidance.
Get all your daily dose of nutrients
When your body is on the path to healing, it is burning up your input of nutrients at a largely higher ratio. Keeping all the track of your dietary intake is important while in the healing process. When your body is regenerating the tissue, it needs protein-rich nutrition as well as foods abundant in Vitamin C and Vitamin A.
Vitamin C is not commonly produced in our body and is important for tissue and bone regeneration. Citrus fruits are naturally abundant in Vitamin C, as are bell peppers and broccoli. Vitamin A is present in sweet potatoes, spinach, and carrots and is beneficial in generating white blood cells. White blood cells govern the healing process by fighting off diseases and enhancing the rate of the healing process.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids are very important for sustaining eyesight but serve more crucial in the event of pain. It can lessen inflammation, not only benefiting the recovery process but also decreasing pain. Consuming fish daily can guarantee an adequate input of Omega 3 Fatty Acids. For vegetarians, walnuts are a useful substitute other than, of course, the available supplement capsules.
Major damage usually necessitates that you enhance your input of protein. In cases of bone or tissue damage, a huge protein input is required to stimulate the processes included in healing and tissue renewal. Fish and meat are abundant in proteins, as are legumes and pulses.
Zinc-rich diets are also a must shortly after suffering as they enable your body system the proteins you absorb and assist your recovery. It also improves your immune system and avoids illnesses. Chicken is abundant in zinc, and in case you’re a vegetarian, you can receive your daily portion of zinc by eating nuts as well as grains such as seeds of a pumpkin.
Keeping all of these healing boosting foods in your food will guarantee that you recover faster. Additionally, antioxidant-rich nutrition will enable your body to utilize its resources adequately by getting rid of poisons, such as free radicals.
Having nutrition with turmeric and ginger as and as well as fruits, including blueberries will make obvious that toxins are eradicated from your body. For the other recovery options, check out https://www.aicaorthopedics.com/.


History and Production
Derived from Anglo-Saxon. The symbol was derived from the Latin Stannum. The metal is known since ancient times, dated as far back as 3500 BC. Bronze tools containing about 10-15% tin alloyed with copper have been found in Ur.
The metal is readily extracted from the ores such as cassiterite (SnO2) by heating with coal. The resulting impure molten tin is then stirred in the presence of oxygen in order to oxidize the iron that may present in the ore.
It is used as coatings to prevent corrosion and in food preservation as in 'tin cans'. Tin is an important components for a variety of alloys: with lead, it is used to make solder and organ pipes; with small amount of antimony and copper
to make pewters with copper to make bronze.
It is a silvery-white metal with a highly crystalline structure. It exists in two allotropic forms which changes from gray, or a tin to white or b tin at 13.2°C, a process that is called a 'tin pest'.
Tin occurs mainly as the ore cassiterite in nature.
Interatomic distance: 281 pm (gray tin)
Melting point: 231.93°C
Boiling point: 2602°C
Thermal conductivity/Wm-1K-1: 66.6 (a, 27°C)
Density/kgm-3: 5750 (a at 25°C), 7310 (b at 25°C), 6973 (m.p.)
Standard Thermodynamic Data (atomic gas)
Enthalpy of formation: 301.2 kJ/mol
Gibbs free energy of formation: 266.2 kJ/mol
Entropy: 168.5 J/mol K
Heat capacity: 21.3 J/mol K
Electronic configuration: [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p2
Term symbol: 3P0
Electron affinity: 107.2982 kJ/mol Electronegativity (Pauline): 1.96
Ionization energy (first, second, third): 708.579, 1411.80, 2943.06 kJ/mol
Ordinary white tin is not attacked by air or water at room temperature. On heating in air it forms tin(IV) oxide, SnO2. It is easily attacked by halogens to give the
corresponding tetrahalide. It also dissolves readily in concentrated hydrochloric acid to give tin(II) chloride, SnCl2.
Test for tin:
The charcoal block test gives metallic beads with a yellow (hot) or white (cold) incrustation.
Test for tin(II) ion:
(1) Hydrogen sulfide gives brown precipitate of tin(II) sulfide, soluble in yellow ammonium sulfide.
(2) Mercury(II) chloride is reduced to a white precipitate of mercury(I) chloride and then to metallic mercurry.
Test for tin(IV) ion:
(1) Hydrogen sulfide gives a yellow precipitate of tin(IV) sulfide, soluble in colorless or yellow ammonium sulfide.
(2) Mercury(II) chloride gives no precipitate.


5. Deciduous Forest
4. Tropical Rainforest
8. Temperate Forest
Web Resources: http://www.ucmp.berkely.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/ scroll down and click on the biomes in the table for more information. http://blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm Beneath the map, you click on the biome links. http://enchantedlearning.com/biomes/ click on the links to obtain more information on each biome. http://www.worldbiomes.com/ information on 5 major biomes.
**Complete a research page for your biome. Also, identify and create a food web of varying organisms that are found in this biome. This can be done using Google Drawing. Biome Name:
Continents/Countries where biome is found:
Average Temperature in Summer and Winter:
Average Precipitation in Summer and Winter:
Plants that live in Biome:
Animals that live in Biome:
Adaptations of Plants/Animals in Biome:
Key features or distinct information about Biome:
Threats to the Biome (i.e. Invasive species, etc.):
Rainforest Biome Project
The tropical rainforest is a beautiful lush land. It contains beautiful greenery and wonderful wild life. For many, a journey here would be a dream come true. There is always something to look at in this beautiful forest that many different species of animals call home. Not only are there a large assortment of animals, there is also an abundance of plants. Tropical rainforests are still mysterious, scientists believe there are still thousands of animals and plants living here that have yet to be discovered.
Rainforests are found in plenty of areas. Rainforests are lined up on the equator.
There are numerous continents on which rainforests ly. The continents that they are in are Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.The names of the Rainforests are the
Olympic, Central America, Congo River Basin, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and my personal favorite, the Amazon. These rainforests are amazing to see and study.
Rainforests are generally hot areas. They have the same average temperature all year. The reason for this is because they are at the equator, they absorb all of the suns heat year round. The only thing that cools down the rainforests is the incredible amount of rain they receive. The rainforests average 77 degrees fahrenheit. It might not seem like a lot, but the humidity in this area is very intense.
The precipitation is high in Rainforests. The average precipitation of tropical rainforests ranges from 50 to 260 inches. The reason for this is because most often, the
rain does not even reach the ground. Leaves and greenery act as shields. It then evaporates, causing a lot of humidity in the forests.
Rainforests contain an incredible amount of plant life. Some scientists speculate that because the forests are so thick, there are some left undiscovered. Plants that have been discovered however are incredibly amazing. One plant known as Lianis, starts as a small shrub. This plant starts at the base of the rainforest, but it collects other vines and shrubs, building and forming itself to be an amazing looking creature. The rainforest and its vegetation are shocking and beautiful.
Animals in these biomes are amazingly diverse. There are an insane amount of incredible animals that live in the rainforests. One example is the coypu. This is a semi aquatic rodent that originated in South America. Another…


HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language and is the fundamental technology to structure Web Pages. Each and every web page that you seen on the internet is structured using HTML. In this tutorial series you'll learn everything about HTML, what it is, how it works, from basic to advance. The tutorial is designed to be interactive with functional code examples that you can run live in your browser.
Why Learn HTML
HTML is all around the web and if you're interested in developing websites or having a career in Software or Web Development, a deep knowledge of HTML is necessary. From the most simple to the most complex websites on the internet today have been built using HTML at the core. So learning HTML brings you the following advantages.
Understand the Fundamentals of the Web: Learning HTML helps you understand the fundamentals of the web better. HTML being one of the three core technologies that powers the entire web. Learning it will give you a thorough understanding of things going inside.
Be able to Create Websites: : HTML is the core of web pages. If you're interested in building your own website. Learning HTML is the first step to do so. Once you master HTML, you'll be able to properly structure your web pages from scratch.
Applications of HTML
Now that we have looked upon the advantages HTML has to offer, we would now take a look on things we can do with HTML. There are well a lot of things that you can do with HTML, this list includes a major few.
Create and publish documents with texts, images, hyperlinks, tables
The primary purpose of HTML is to design the basic layout and formatting of web pages and present content to the user. You can create pages with rich texts, images, hyperlinks and more.
- Create forms to collect user data, eg. name, email, phone etc.
You can also create forms to collect data from your users, there are wide range of form elements discussed later in the lessons, that will help you capture information of given type be it a string, number, date-time, colors etc.
Access your visitor's current location
This is a new addition to HTML5, the Geolocation API gives the ability to request users' location information for serving targetted content.
- Embed Videos, Images, Sounds, within Web Pages
The HTML5 specification also adds the ability to embed videos, audios, and other interactive content to web pages. You can add external multimedia resources to your web pages.
Create Interactive Games
Embed other webpages using iframes
You can embed other webpages on your web page using iframes, more about it later in the section.
Create/Render (SVG) Scalable Vector Graphics
SVG are an XML based markup language for describing Vector Graphics. These images are independent of pixesls and thus can be rendered clearly at any size.
HTML5 the latest version of HTML has brought in a lot of improvements over older specifications. These enhacements have made HTML even more broad and powerful. We'll discuss these features deeply in upcoming lessons.
The tutorial also includes references, guides and examples to help you grab the concepts better. We suggest you move serially from one lesson to another, you can use the Previous, Next buttons to move between lessons.


Water is precious: Only 1% of the earth's freshwater is available for use.
If it’s on the ground, it’s in the river. As water flows over the watershed, it picks up chemicals, trash, and microbes that make their way into our water sources. Preserving the quality of our raw water sources is everyone’s responsibility.
Take unused pharmaceuticals to a disposal center. Save your sewer treatment plant from processing pharmaceuticals. Find a drop off here.
Don’t dump anything down storm drains. It flows right into our lakes and rivers.
Use environmentally safe cleaning products. Safer substitutes, like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, salt, borax, olive oil and cedar chips can get the job done just as well as their more hazardous counterparts.
Clean up after your pets. Pet waste releases potentially harmful bacteria and oxygen-consuming materials if it is allowed to enter our waterways. Whether you’re on a walk or in your yard, pick up after your pet.
Choose your lawn fertilizer wisely. Fertilizer can run off of yards when it rains and contaminate our waters. Generally, only new lawns require phosphorus for root growth. Choose a fertilizer that is phosphorus-free. In many instances soils already contain a sufficient amount of phosphorus which can be determined by a soil test.
Take used compact fluorescent light bulbs and mercury thermostats and thermometers to a hazardous waste facility. They contain mercury which accumulates in the food chain and is a poison for humans and wildlife.
Divert rain spouts onto grass or landscaping. It reduces water speed and increases the time over which it is released into the drain system. Sidewalks and driveways do not allow runoff to seep into the ground.
Don’t pour unused cleaners down the drain. Many chemicals cannot be treated at the sewage treatment plant and end up in our lakes and rivers.
Take toxic products to a hazardous waste facility. If not properly disposed, they can contaminate drinking water and can kill fish, animals and plants.
Use dishwashing soap that doesn't contain phosphates. Phosphate-based detergents may spur algal blooms which may harbor bacteria as well as create a terrible smell.
Take used motor oil to a disposal site. Motor oil damages or kills underwater vegetation and aquatic life. One gallon of used motor oil can contaminate 1,000,000 gallons of water.
Don’t pour grease down sink drains. It builds up in sewer lines, restricting the capacity of the pipes. Eventually, the pipes can become blocked completely, leading to overflows of raw sewage into streets, storm drains, and our waterways.


Yes, you read that correctly! Time and again we come across educators and parents who are struggling to reconcile their knowledge of the importance of time outdoors (and play!) and their desire for improved academic outcomes for children.
The real focus…should be not just on vocabulary and reading,but on talking and listening.
Erika Christakis, Author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grown-ups
Pre-school teachers’ use of sophisticated vocabulary in informal classroom settings predicted their students’ reading comprehension and word knowledge in fourth grade.Erika Christakis, Author of The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grown-ups
The richest forms of pretend play occur in gardens that provide natural features
and materials such as trees, grass, twigs and pebbles.
Frankin, M.B. (2008) Words in play: Children’s use of language in pretend. In E. Goodenough (Ed.), A place for play. A companion volume to the Michigan television film ‘‘Where do the children play?’’.
A fully functioning vestibular system supports all six of our eye muscles. It acts similarly to the tripod of a camera, keeping the eyes steady so a child can focus on objects. It also allows for smooth and accurate scanning to search for objects.Angela Hanscom, Author of Balanced and Barefoot
I’m sure you can see how vital this would be for reading (keeping eyes steady and smooth scanning). The Vestibular System also impacts attention, our visual sense and auditory sense.
- Hanging upside down
These are movements that can happen so naturally if we simply take the first steps to provide space and opportunity. This isn’t ‘just play’. This is childhood development and school readiness at its best – it’s free and it’s fun. But the cost is great for our children if we do not provide opportunities for this sort of play in our schools, early childhood centres and homes.