HEADLICE(And how to get rid of them!)Written by Linda Evans
WHAT ARE HEADLICE? Headlice are tiny parasites that live in human hair, feeding on blood from their host. They are a brown/red colour and have six legs with claws on them which they use to grip onto hair. WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? Experts believe they have always been with us. Dried eggs have, so they claim, been found on remains of ancient mummies. WHAT IS A NIT? The louse's egg, a smooth oval shape, slightly smaller than a seseme seed, attached to hair, close to scalp. HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE? The louse survives for 30 days and female lays 3-5 eggs per day. The eggs take 7-10 days to hatch and 7-10 days to mature, then cycle begins again. CAN PETS CATCH THEM? No. They can only survive on humans. HOW CAN HUMANS CATCH THEM? By direct contact, where they can crawl from one head to another. Also by sharing towels, brushes and hats, etc. DO LICE JUMP? Lice do not have hind legs to jump, nor do they have wings to fly. CAN'T I JUST WASH THEM OFF? No. Lice go into a state of suspended animation underwater, surviving this way. DO LICE ONLY LIKE DIRTY HAIR? It is believed that lice prefer clean hair, but that doesn't mean they don't like dirty hair - they like any hair. It is also not true that only poor, white people catch them. Lice are not fussy and will infest anybody! CAN I GET THEM FROM A PILLOW? Only if you lay where someone who's infested has recently laid. CAN THEY LIVE ON MY FURNITURE? Lice can only survive for 72 hours at most once they've left a human host. Most die within 24 hours. CAN I JUST USE A LOTION? There are countless numbers of lotions and potions on market. While they kill lice, they don't kill eggs. Most are chemically based and can aggrivate conditions such as asthma or allergies. You can pay dearly for your products, only to find a few days later that lice are back again.
| | WELCOME TO MY HOME Written by Arleen M. Kaptur
Wherever you live, and whatever style home you have, it should be a place that reflects who you are and where you want to be. If you live in a country setting, woodland area, or in a rustic cabin, you can create an atmosphere of comfort, relaxation, and friendship. A simple wooden or metal “Greetings” sign by your main entrance will let others know that you welcome their visit and are extending a hand of friendship. Adding a “nature” theme to your sign gives it personalization and is fun. A bear, fish, or deer will lend a real “rustic” feeling to your doorway. If your hobby is camping, or backpacking, add a theme to reflect your interests - make it truly “your” greeting. A welcome sign of any kind creates an atmosphere of good-will to people who come by. If you live in a city, town, or village, you still can add an entrance decoration that lends itself to your interests, hobbies, or lifestyle. Rugged, dainty, elegant, country, homey, or business-like, whatever your choice, this is first impression someone will see. It will give them an instant first glimpse into who you are. Remember old adage that first impressions are important ones. Give some thought to your sign and let it paint a simple picture. As individual as your signature is, your sign should also be personal and reflective of your personality and lifestyle. Furnishings also should be stamped with your personal touch. They can be simple, exotic, or handed down from previous generations. Whatever your taste in furniture, let it be comfortable and friendly. If you give an impression of “Don’t Touch”, people will not want to stay. They may admire, but they won’t visit. If you have valuables, place them in curio cabinets, on shelves, or in unique places where they will come to no harm, but others may still enjoy seeing them. Accent touches lend so much to our homes. Pillows, pictures, quilts, flowers, and so on give color, texture, and speak for people who live in this house. Bathrooms should not be an afterthought. We do spend some of our time in these usually small rooms, and sometimes they are employed as places to relax and hide from world. Decorate them with everyone in mind. Gear accessories to everyone. Choose some rugged and handsome and other pretty, and feminine. If there are children, adding a whimsical touch here or there gives a child feeling that it is their home too and they are an important, contributing resident.
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