| How to Splint a Fractured Hand Posted: 20 Apr 2016 05:00 PM PDT A fractured bone in the hand can be extremely painful, and the slightest movement can exacerbate the pain and possibly cause further injury. A splint serves to provide support to your injury, including the bones, tendons, tissues, and other ligaments. Splint a fractured hand as soon as possible after the injury, as this will help to keep broken bones immobilized and as straight as possible for healing. Splints can also help reduce pain by maintaining stability and reducing swelling. You can even make temporary hand splints out of everyday objects once you understand their purpose and application. However, a hand fracture in a makeshift splint should always be checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible to avoid additional damage.[1] EditPreparing to Make a Splint - Know the terms for applying splints properly. When describing the application of a splint or cast, it is necessary to understand the basic terms regarding the proper orientation and position to splint your injury. Two terms are particularly important:[2]
- Flexion — A bending movement that decreases the angle between a segment and its proximal segment. For the purposes of making a splint for the hand, think about this as the movement applied to clenching a fist. Making a fist uses flexion of the muscles in your fingers.
- Extension — A straightening movement that increases the angle between body parts. You can think of this as the opposite of flexion, or making a fist with your hand. Extension will be moving your joints away from each other, or opening your from a closed fist.
- Think about how to immobilize the joints near the injury site. Splints should be applied with the idea of splinting the joint above and all the joints below the injury site, to keep free movement of the injury to a minimum and restrict movement of the surrounding tissues
- Note that there are different splinting techniques. The type of splint depends on the injury. What follows in the next two methods are general guidelines. However, there are specific injuries that require slightly different splinting techniques, including:
- Extensor tendon injuries — For this type of injury, the purpose of the splint will be to prevent any flexing of the hand and fingers. Place the split along the palm-side of the hand (volar side). The wrist should only have about 20 degrees of extension and the Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) about 10-15 degrees flexion (not straight).[3]
- Thumb injuries — For injuries solely to the thumb, a thumb spica splint can be used and will allow the uninjured fingers to function normally. The interphalangeal joint of the thumb should be splinted in a straight position. The thumb spica splint will immobilize the wrist and thumb, adhering to the policy of splinting above and below the injured joint.[4]
- Single finger injury — For injuries only to one finger, you can purchase aluminum splints with foam padding, which can be shaped to the right position. Alternatively, you can also use a tongue depressor cut to the appropriate size as a splint.[5]
- Little finger (or "pinky") injuries — When the only injury occurs to the smallest finger of your hand, an ulnar gutter splint can be used and will allow range of motion to the other uninjured fingers, possibly allowing for continued day-to-day use of the hand. The splint will be applied to the outer edge of the little finger running alongside the ulnar bone (the opposite side of the thumb). Often the little finger will be attached to the ring finger in the splint to provide greater support and the wrist is immobilized (since the splint extends down the wrist).[6]
- Find a splint. It should be a hard, straight object that is at least as long as the distance from the middle of the forearm to the tips of the fingers. Ideally, use an object that will form to the shape of the arm, wrist and hand. Rolled up newspaper provides adequate support to make an impromptu hand splint.
- Many first-aid kits have splinting material that is firm enough to hold a fractured hand in place, but with a handle that the injured person can grasp with their fingers.
EditMaking a Splint - Prepare the hand for splinting. Put small pieces of cotton or gauze between each finger at the base of the hand to help absorb sweat.
- Make or cut the splint as needed. Measure out a length for the splint that can adequately immobilize the hand and fingers. The length of the splint should be approximately the length from the middle of your forearm to the fingertips.[7] Curve the splint so that it follows the curve of the injured limb and provides a cupping support to the wrist/arm/elbow.
- Pad the splint and your hand with cotton padding.
- Position and contour the splint. Splints are meant to allow an injury to safely recover while positioned in a safe and natural resting position. The splint should be applied with the hand and wrist in a neutral position. A neutral position is generally the relaxed and natural position of the resting hand where your fingers are naturally slightly curled without any active flexing or use of the muscles.[8]
- Take a rolled up crepe bandage segment, rolled gauze or a small cloth and set it between the resting fingers and the bottom of the splint to support the fingers in the resting position
- In general, the wrist is usually at a position of 20 degrees extension, and the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints are positioned in 70 degrees of flexion. The MCP joints are the joints at the base of your fingers that attach to your palm. The interphalangeal joints are the joints between your fingertips and and the MCP joints and should be roughly straight.
- For finger injuries, be sure to allow the fingers to flex naturally. There should not be anything rigid that keeps the fingers from passively flexing or bending at rest.
- Wrap the fractured area. Use gauze, a clean cloth or belt. Wind it securely around the splint and wrist area to keep the splint in place. Secure the splint without wrapping too tightly.[9]
- Work from above the injury site to the injury site. If possible, wrap up to the injury, then put a different colored bandage over the injury. This allows the doctor to remove only the bandage over the injury to assess it, leaving the splint in place for support
- A splint is not a cast, and should allow for more mobility. If the splint is wrapped too tightly, there will be no flexing (bending of your hand and fingers downward towards the natural resting position) and too much constant pressure may be applied to the injury.
- Ensure that the splint is only wrapped tightly enough to make the splint secure in its position. Check the fingertips for circulation by gently squeezing over the fingernail. If the color returns to the fingernail in good time, circulation is good. Otherwise, rewrap the bandage and retest the capillary refill in this manner.
- Do not remove the splint. Only remove it at your doctor's recommendation and under his supervision.[10]
EditMaking a Cast Splint - Place a splint under the injured hand. Make sure the injured hand rests comfortably and straight with fingers bent slightly around the end of the splint, as detailed above.
- Place cotton pieces or gauze between each finger.
- Wrap the splint. Use four layers of cotton gauze or padding, starting around the hand and winding up the arm at least half-way to the elbow. Padding is important because it helps protect the hand and forearm from the heat of the plaster and keeps the cast splint from rubbing uncomfortably against the skin.
- As described in the previous section, do not wrap the splint to tightly against the injury. The splint should be held in place just enough to be secure and to provide adequate support.[11][12]
Check the capillary refill of the fingers before you commit to the plaster of Paris. - Cover the splint with plaster of Paris strips. Use roughly 12 layers of plaster of Paris that are the right width for the extremity. Cut the strips if necessary. Dip them in warm water and squeeze out the excess water. The plaster must be damp but not sopping wet. Wrap the strips around the gauze padding until the entire padded area is covered.[13]
- Make sure the water is only lukewarm. Plaster of Paris will warm up as it sets, and you'll risk burning the patient's skin if the strips are dipped in hot water to start.
- You can also use fiberglass for the outer layer, which dries more quickly than plaster but is more expensive. Fiberglass is applied in the same way as the plaster of Paris strips. However, only a doctor should apply fiberglass to a cast, as a doctor should assess the injury and make sure it is set properly.
- Immobilize the splint. Maintain the desired position of the splint and hand for several minutes to allow the cast splint to harden and adequately dry.
- Plaster can take more than a half hour to set, whereas fiberglass dries in 15 to 30 minutes.
EditUndertaking Additional Treatments - Apply ice to the injury. Wrap ice in a towel or cold compress cloth and place it on the top of the hand. Use a loosely wrapped bandage or cloth to hold the ice in place to prevent the fractured hand from swelling. Never apply ice directly to the skin, as it can cause frostbite.[14]
- Apply an ice pack or cold compress for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Just make sure the ice doesn't get the splint or cast wet.
- Applying ice to the injury will help decrease swelling of the hand and can improve healing time.
- Elevate the hand. Keeping the injured hand elevated above the level of your heart can help to reduce swelling and increase drainage of fluid in your hand. Elevation of the hand is the most effective way to promote healing, and keeping your hand elevated during the first week of your injury is extremely important.[15][16]
- If you develop numbness or pressure in the cast, go to the doctor and have it checked for compartment syndrome.
- When walking, it is important to keep the hand elevated and not naturally dangling along the side of the body, as is normally done.
- Arm slings may be prescribed by your doctor, but they usually keep your hand below the level of your heart, and they can increase the likelihood of shoulder stiffness. An arm sling can also cause additional problems and is not a necessity when caring for a fracture.[17]
- Use an elevation sling for support rather than the traditional sling. This keeps the wrist and hand above the level of the heart and close to the body for protection
- Take pain medication. If you are feeling considerable pain, you can take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol).[18]
- All of these are available over-the-counter. Be sure to follow the dosage recommendations on the bottle.
- Consult your physician. After the first week, your doctor will be able to assess and better guide the ongoing treatment. You should also call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:[19]
- Increased pain
- Numbness, tingling, burning or stinging in the injured area
- Pressure against the inside of the cast that turns to throbbing, tingling or pain
- Circulation problems (look for discolored, pale, blue, gray or cold fingers and nails)
- Bleeding, pus, or bad odors coming from the splint or cast
- Check the fingertips occasionally to make sure they are a normal, pink, color. If the fingers show any signs of graying or turning blue, it can mean the hand is receiving poor circulation. You may have wrapped the splint too tightly around the arm or hand.
- Keep your splint and/or cast dry.[20] Taping a bag around the cast can help in the shower; special 'shower cap' like bags with implanted elastic are also available.
- Splints usually remain on for several day to several weeks, depending on the injury and rate of recovery, as determined by follow-up from your doctor.[21]
- Eat well while recuperating. Lots of green, leafy vegetables like kale and spinach help with bone repair. Lean protein and lots of fruits and vegetables help to repair the body's tissues are better than a high-fat, high calorie diet.
- Avoid smoking during the healing process. Smoking is known to reduce the circulation of blood in your extremities, and this can lead to delayed recovery and poor functioning after recovery.[22]
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| How to Validate Someone's Feelings Posted: 20 Apr 2016 09:00 AM PDT Validating feelings involves recognizing someone's feelings and acknowledging them as important. It helps the other person feel that you care about and understand them. Validation can be a tremendously useful skill in resolving conflicts, helping people who have problems, and strengthening relationships. EditAvoiding Non-Validating Responses - Really listen to the speaker. When listening to a person's troubles, the first instinct is to respond with your advice, opinions or relevant stories in order to help. However, what most people really want is to just be heard and understood. Listen more closely to what they are saying, and empathizing first.
- Listening does not mean be stonily silent. Saying things like, "uh-huh", "what did he say about that?" and "that's terrible!" show you are listening and facilitate talking.
- After the person finishes, that is the time to ask if and how you can help.
- If unsure whether the person needs advice or support, ask. Unsolicited help is rarely listened to, but if the person says they would like to hear what you have to say, that is typically listened to.
- "Are you coming to me for advice, or would you just like to vent?"
- "I had something like that happen to me. Would you like to hear about that?"
- "I have some ideas that might help you. Do you want to hear about it?"
- Recognize that validation does not require lying or agreeing with them.[1] You can recognize that someone's feelings are valid without liking what they're doing.
- Don't try to fix their feelings. Sometimes people try to make their loved ones stop hurting simply because they don't want them to be upset. While well-intended, it usually doesn't help them feel better long-term, and they may feel like it is their fault for still being unhappy after your efforts.[2]
- If you want to help, try listening to the whole story and validating their feelings along the way. Then ask how you can help or offer to brainstorm solutions.
- Don't try to "hoover" their feelings. Hoovering means vacuuming up any unpleasant feelings and pretending they aren't there.[3] Examples include:[4]
- "Oh, it's not so bad."
- "It's not a big deal."
- "Let's stay positive."
- "Just toughen up."
- "Look on the bright side."
- Avoid judging them or blaming them for their emotions. Treating people badly for feeling bad is an easy way to get them to stop trusting or talking to you. If you catch yourself doing this, stop yourself and apologize, then focus on having empathy for the other person. Here are some things to avoid
- "Whining about the situation isn't going to make it any better. Man up and deal with it."
- "You're overreacting."
- "So you decided to be mad at your best friend. How's that working for you?"
- "Well, maybe he wouldn't have treated you that way if you hadn't been wearing such a short skirt."
- "Quit bellyaching -- it's not a big deal".
EditUsing Validation Techniques This section encompasses a variety of mostly verbal techniques. You do not need to use all these techniques in order to validate; instead, choose one or two that feel natural and fitting in a given situation. - Be present. The most basic form of validation is to stay with them, even when their feelings are difficult or unpleasant. Put aside your own discomfort, and focus entirely on being there for them. Here are some ways to show you are listening:
- Holding their hand
- Sitting with them or rubbing their back
- Saying "I'm here"
- Nodding and using fillers such as "uh-huh" and "right" (be careful not to use these in a sarcastic way, though)
- Summarize their feelings to show understanding. Repeating their feelings back to them shows that you hear them and are paying attention. You might rephrase their words, or infer how they must be feeling. If you get it wrong, let them correct you, and try again.[5]
- "So you're frustrated that the professor gave you so little warning."
- "Wow, you seem really excited!"
- "That must have been hard."
- "Tell me if I've got this straight: you felt hurt when my brother mimicked your disability accent, and I didn't say anything."
- Put yourself in the other person's shoes and see the situation from his or her perspective. Place their feelings in personal context to validate them. If you are close to them and remember a past experience that's affecting them, you may choose to bring it up as a reason why you think their feelings are understandable.
- "Given how Amy treated you, I totally understand why you'd want to take a break from dating. That's a lot to recover from."
- "After that last roller coaster ride, I can see why you'd be hesitant about this one. Want to ride the merry-go-round instead?"
- This technique can be tricky, especially if you are basing it on conjecture, or talking about a way that anyone would feel in that situation.[6] If you're unsure, try using another validation technique.
- Place their feelings in general context. Stating that anyone would feel a similar way in a given situation can help them feel that their emotions are normal and justified.
- "It's okay to be squeamish about your flu shot. Nobody likes those."
- "Of course you're worried about asking your boss for a promotion. This sort of thing is scary for everyone."
- "Well, no wonder you don't feel like going out today."
- "I understand why you feel as if what Ryan said was demeaning to you. As I know from being called that before, calling anyone a 'big, fat loser' is very cruel, deprecating, and brings self-confidence way down".
- Share genuine empathy and sympathy. Give a "radically genuine" response[7] that shows complete identification with their feelings. This might mean sharing them (e.g. if you are experiencing something together) or saying that you personally can relate.
- "That sounds difficult."
- "I totally understand. I would have responded the same way."
- "Yeah, I miss her too. It's more fun when she's here."
EditProviding Micro Validation There are also tiny ways to make comments and use body language to show that you care and are paying attention. - Use body language to show that you're listening. Look at them, and turn your head or entire body towards them while they speak. You may want to stop whatever else you are doing. Show that you are attentive and present.
- If you are doing something else while you listen (e.g. folding laundry or cooking), then look periodically at the person and use other cues to show you're paying attention.
- If your body language is affected by a disability, you can still show that you are listening. Try accommodating your needs (e.g. fidgeting with one hand while looking at their chin) or explaining outright that your body language is different, but you are still listening.
- Use mirroring to show you share their feelings. Mirroring is the practice of mimicking someone else's body language: smiling when they smile, leaning back when they lean back, or looking concerned when they look concerned. It is an easy way to visually demonstrate empathy.
- You don't need to perfectly copy their body language or facial expression. A loose approximation will clearly communicate that you're empathizing.
- Give them utter patience. Some people's communication may be awkward, halting, or otherwise unusual, especially if expressing feelings or communicating in general is hard for them. You can show you care by continuing to listen, and not pressuring them to hurry up and finish what they are saying. This helps them relax and communicate better. It also helps them feel a bit better.
- Use small auditory signals to show you're paying attention. Cues like "uh huh" and "yeah," along with periodically nodding your head, show that you're paying close attention and caring about what they have to say.
- Show caring curiosity about their feelings. You can ask questions to help you learn more about the situation, and to encourage the person to keep talking and letting out their feelings.
- "Then what did you do?"
- "How so?"
- "What bothered you the most about that?"
- "Has this situation happened before?"
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| How to Help Save the Earth Posted: 20 Apr 2016 01:00 AM PDT Are you concerned about the health of our planet, and ready to do what you can to save it? With bad news about global warming, dying oceans and endangered animals flooding us on a daily basis, it's hard to know where to start. It may seem like the actions of one person won't make a difference, but there are actually many ways you can help. See Step 1 to learn how changing your personal habits and educating others can make an impact. EditConserving water - Conserve water at home. Wasting water is one of the biggest ways individuals impact the health of the planet. Taking measures to use less water is something you can start doing right away. If you live in an area with a water shortage, this is even more important for the health of your region's environment. Try to check off as many items as possible from this list:
- Check and fix any water leaks. A leaky faucet can waste a lot of water.
- Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets. A low-flow showerhead could be a good start.
- Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously. Use a method that requires less water to get the dishes clean.
- Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks. It doesn't need to be on all the time.
- Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
- Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes. Doing a half-load wastes water.
- Don't use too much water to water your lawn.
- Don't leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth.
- Use fewer chemicals. Chemicals used to wash our bodies, homes, cars and everything else get washed down the drain or absorbed in the grass, and eventually end up in the water supply. Since most people use heavy-duty chemicals for all sorts of things, chemicals are doing real damage to waterways and aquatic life. The chemicals aren't good for humans, either, so do your best to cut back on them. Here's how:
- Learn about alternatives household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals. For example, using a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water works as well as most commercial cleaners for basic cleaning jobs. Baking soda and salt are cheap, nontoxic cleansers, but should be used in moderation.
- When no good alternatives to a toxic item exist, determine the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result and use a minimal amount each time you clean. Paying close attention to the requisite amount will help you reduce and also save money.
- Instead of using chemical-laden shampoos and soaps, try making your own.
- Instead of using pesticides and herbicides, find natural ways to get rid of weeds and pests.
- Dispose of toxic waste the right way. Paint, motor oil, ammonia, and a host of other chemicals should not be poured down the drain or directly into the ecosystem. They'll soak into the earth and end up in the groundwater. Contact your local sanitation department to find out about best practice for disposing of hazardous waste and toxic chemicals. [1]
- Help identify large-scale water polluters. Individuals can only do so much when it comes to keeping water clean. Businesses and industries are often the culprits when it comes to water pollution. In order to protect the earth's water, concerned citizens should speak up and find ways to stop pollution at its source. [2]
- Join a local environmental group that works to clean up the water in your area, whether it's a river, lake or ocean.
- Contact your local representative to speak up about your views on keeping water chemical-free.
- Volunteer to help clean up beaches or riverbanks.
- Help others get involved in efforts to clean up the water in your area.
EditPreserving air quality - Use less electricity. Coal and natural gas are the most common sources of energy that gets turned into electricity. The burning of these substances is a major factor in world air pollution. Reducing your reliance on electricity is a great way to play a part in saving the planet.[3] Here's what you can do:
 - Use solar power for home and water heating.
- Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
- If you have central air conditioning, do not close vents in unused rooms.
- Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120.
- Turn down or shut off your water heater when you will be away for extended periods.
- Turn off unneeded lights even when leaving a room for a short time.
- Set your refrigerator temperature at 36 to 38 and your freezer at 0 to 5 .
- When using an oven, minimize door opening while it is in use; it reduces oven temperature by 25 to 30 every time you open the door.
- Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy.
- Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot.
- Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
- Use compact fluorescent light bulbs to save money and energy.
- Plant trees to shade your home.
- Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
- Keep your thermostat higher in summer and lower in winter when you are away.
- Insulate your home as best as you can.
- Drive and fly less often. Another big source of air pollution that has led to global warming is emissions from cars, trucks, planes and other vehicles. The manufacture of the vehicles, the gas needed to run them, the chemicals they burn, and the production of roads all play a part. If you can drive and fly less often, you'll be doing a lot to help save the planet.[4]
- Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible. Find bike routes in your town and use them!
- Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work if biking or walking isn't an option.
- Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
- Maintain your vehicle properly. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle. Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
- Buy local goods. Buying local helps combat air pollution in two ways. You don't have to travel as far to get what you need, and products don't have to travel as far to get to you, either. Making smart choices about where your food, clothes, and other goods come from can help make a dent in air pollution.
- Shop at farmer's markets and buy food that was produced as close to your home as possible.
- When you're online shopping, pay attention to how far the items you order will travel before they arrive. Try to find items that won't have to travel long distances.
- Pay attention to where your clothes, electronics, home goods, and other possessions were made. As much as possible, buy items that were made in your region.
- Eat vegetables and locally-sourced meat. Industrial farming practices are not only harmful to individual animals, they're unsafe for the planet itself. Factory farming produces a lot of air and water pollution. You can address this issue in a personal way by doing the following:
- Eat more vegetables. This simple change is a way of opting out of the factory farming industry.
- Question where your meat comes from.
- Buy only locally-sourced meat from a small farm.
- Become an air pollution activist. Identify local groups working to combat air pollution, and find a way to get involved. By educating yourself and others about the problem, you can have a greater impact than you'd have by simply making lifestyle changes.
- Join a group that plants trees to help clean the air.
- Become a bike activist. Work to have safe paths built in your city.
- Contact your local representatives to speak up about issues particular to your region. If there's a factory spewing pollutants into the air, for example, get politically active to put a stop to it.
EditProtecting the health of the land - Produce less waste. Everything you throw in the garbage, tie up and take out to be collected is going to end up in a landfill. Plus, all that trash - plastic, paper, metal, and whatnot - was likely manufactured using unsustainable practices that hurt the health of the earth's land. By making less trash, you can reduce your impact. Try making these changes:
- Buy products that you can reuse. Get glass containers instead of flimsy plastic ones, for example.
- Don't use plastic bags - use cloth.
- Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
- Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33% of what we throw away is packaging.
- Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.
- Buy rechargeable batteries for devices used frequently.
- Copy and print on both sides of paper.
- Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
- Use e-mail or texting as a substitute for paper correspondence.
- Use recycled paper.
- Mend clothes instead of buying new ones.
- Buy used furniture - there is a surplus of it, and it is much cheaper than new furniture.
- Make your own stuff. When you make your own dinner from scratch or mix up your own cleaning supplies, you naturally make less waste. Single-sized TV dinners, shampoo bottles and the like can really add up in the trash can! Here are a few things you can make on your own:
- Food. If you're really ambitions, grow your own! Otherwise, do your best to make as many meals as possible from scratch. Buy ingredients in bulk to cut back on packaging.
- Body products. Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste etc. - you name it, you can make it! Try replacing a few things at first, then work up to making most of what you use. Hint: coconut oil is a brilliant replacement for lotion, deep conditioner and face wash.
- Cleaning products. Everything from window cleaner to bathroom cleaner to oven cleaner can be made using all-natural supplies.
- Compost. This is an excellent way to cut back on waste and improve the health of the land you're living on at the same time. Instead of throwing your food scraps in the trash, compost them in a bin or a pile. After tending the pile for a few weeks, you'll have rich soil you can spread on your grass or use to make a delicious vegetable garden. The land around you will be healthier and more vibrant for your efforts.
- Plant trees and don't cut them. Trees protect land from getting eroded, and they're an integral part of the ecosystem. In saving trees you'll be protecting not only land, but water and air, too. If you have room in your yard, consider planting a few trees to invest in the future of your neighborhood.
- Do research to figure out what trees will be most beneficial to the environment where you live. Plant native species.
- Aim to plant trees that will grow tall and provide shade.[5]
- Work to stop clearcutting and mining. These practices raze and gut the land so that it's no longer healthy enough to provide a home for plants and wildlife. Join up with a group working to protect your region from industrial practices that damage the land.[6]
EditHelping to protect animals - Make your property a haven for wildlife. All types of animals, from birds to deer to insects, have lost some of their habitat to human developments. You've probably seen birds bathing in oil-tainted water and deer wandering through suburbs because they have nowhere else to go. If you have the space, try to be welcoming to animals who could use a helping hand. You can make your property hospitable in the following ways:
- Plant shrubs, flowers and trees that attract wildlife.
- Put out a bird feeder and bird bath stocked with clean food and water.
- Let beneficial snakes, spiders, bees, bats, and other creatures live. Having these animals around is a sign your ecosystem is in good health.
- Install a beehive if you have the room.
- Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.
- Don't use chemical pesticides.
- Use humane traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
- Use an electric or manual lawnmower instead of a gas-powered one.
- Eat sustainably-caught fish. The oceans are being depleted of large fish populations due to overfishing and pollution. Up to 90 percent of the ocean's large fish are now gone.[7] You can do your part to protect marine life by only eating fish that is in season and caught using sustainable practices.
- Respect animals. Many animals that are thought of as pests are not causing real harm. Other animals that live in wild places aren't usually in human view, so we tend to forget about their needs. With dozens of animal species going extinct every day,[8] they need all they help they can get. Try being more mindful in the following ways:
- Let creatures like moles, groundhogs, and squirrels live instead of trapping and killing them. They may cause a little inconvenience in your garden, but they have a part to play in your region's ecosystem.
- Don't disturb wild places like forests, beaches, wetlands and other areas where animals make their homes. When you visit such areas, stay on trails so you don't accidentally cause damage to an animal's habitat.
- Work to protect animal habitats.[9] Whether there's a particular type of animal you want to work to save, or you'd like to work for the health of all of the planet's endangered species, there's an animal rights group out there that could use your energy and time.
EditConserving energy - Use a solar powered outdoor light. These lights come with rechargeable batteries that are charged by the sun during the day.
- Use the sun to heat your hot water. Search and consult with local appliance centers, this technology is more available than most think.
- Install a low wattage motion sensor night light for the bathroom. The bright light will only wake you up, so using low wattage is best and you'll save energy too.
- Install a shower water recycler. This water will be filtered and fill your toilet for flushing.
- Depending upon your age and experience, consult with an adult to help you while recycling. Make it a family project.
- While recycling you are helping to save humanity.
- You can make some good stuff from items while recycling, if you are artistic.
- You can earn money while recycling when you turn in cans from home or found where other have thrown them, if your area has this option.
- Take your pop bottles to a local redemption center. You get change and you'll be surprised by how quickly five to ten cents add up.
- Take bottles to the bottle bank, use garden trimmings for compost, recycle paper and get everyone (friends and family) to help!
- Buy recycled grocery bags to eliminate plastic waste.
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