Signs of a Heatstroke

Heatstroke can be the serious and often fatal result of a dog's prolonged exposure to excessive heat. Below are the signs of heatstroke and the actions you should take if your dog is overcome.

Early Stages:

•    Heavy panting.

•    Rapid breathing.

•    Excessive drooling.

•    Bright red gums and tongue.

•    Standing 4-square, posting or spreading out in an attempt to maintain balance.

Advanced Stages:

•    White or blue gums.

•    Lethargy, unwillingness to move.

•    Uncontrollable urination or defecation.

•    Labored, noisy breathing.

•    Shock.

If your dog begins to exhibit signs of heatstroke, you should immediately try to cool the dog down:

•    Apply rubbing alcohol to the dog's paw pads.

•    Apply ice packs to the groin area.

•    Hose down with water.

•    Allow the dog to lick ice chips or drink a small amount of water.

•    Offer Pedialyte to restore electrolytes.

Check your dog's temperature regularly during this process. Once the dog's temperature has stabilized at between 100 to 102 degrees, you can stop the cool-down process.

If you cannot get the dog cooled down and you begin to see signs of advanced heatstroke, take the dog to the veterinarian immediately.

-Content Credit: http://www.akc.org/public_education/summer_safety.cfm

Beach tips for your pets

If you plan on taking your Fur Child to the beach, here are some tips to keep your pet healthy and happy!

Make sure your dog has a shady spot to rest in and plenty of fresh water.

Dogs, especially those with short hair, white fur, and pink skin, can sunburn. Limit your dog's exposure during the day and apply sunblock to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside.

Check with a lifeguard for daily water conditions. Dogs are easy targets for sea lice and jellyfish.

Running on the sand is strenuous exercise. A dog that is out of shape can easily pull a tendon or ligament, so keep a check on your dog's activity.

Do not let your dog drink seawater; the salt will make him sick.

Salt and other minerals in ocean water can damage your dog's coat, so rinse him off at the end of the day.

Not all beaches permit dogs; check local ordinances before heading out.

-Denea Duran

-Content Credit: http://www.akc.org/public_education/summer_safety.cfm

Heat Hazards For Our Pets

  

Our dogs are our fur children and when the hot weather approaches we have to take special care of our pets. Here are some tips to get you through the hot summer days!

Hot weather can make us all uncomfortable, and it poses special risks for your dog. Keep the following safety concerns in mind as the temperature rises, and follow our tips to keep your dog cool.

If your dog is outside on a hot day, make sure he has a shady spot to rest in. Doghouses are not good shelter during the summer as they can trap heat. You may want to fill a child's wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in.

Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a hot day. The temperature inside a car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

Always provide plenty of cool, fresh water.

Avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days. Take walks in the early mornings or evenings, when the sun's heat is less intense.

Try to avoid prolonged exposure to hot asphalt or sand, which can burn your dog's paws.

Dogs that are brachycephalic (short-faced), such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Japanese Chins, and Pekingese, have an especially hard time in the heat because they do not pant as efficiently as longer-faced dogs. Keep your brachycephalic dog inside with air-conditioning.

2nd Annual Red Cross/ SERVPRO Golf Tournament

Happy Friday and happy first day of summer. If you haven't already 

go check out our highlights of the Golf tournament! 

FACT.

Even a small fire can cause odors in your home for years to come. 

Any fire in your home is bad. But when you try to clean it up yourself, it can be a disaster. Especially considering that smoke and soot from even a small fire can cause odors that may resurface for years. So, before you risk doing more damage by attempting to clean it up yourself, call us, your local fire, smoke and soot cleanup and restoration experts at SERVPRO.

Photo Credit: http://nocleaning.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/32047941.jpg

From Wildfires to Hurricanes: Here's Why You Want SERVPRO

In the midst of of the drought-related wildfires that are devastating the West and the hurricane-induced water and wind damage hitting the East Coast, people everywhere are having to make tough decisions about where to go from here. Particularly in large-scale disasters, being taken advantage of is a threat that faces many homeowners. On the other hand, taking on fire and water damage cleanup yourself can be overwhelming and not entirely possible without the right equipment. So take it from a neighbor you can trust: here are 7 reasons to choose SERVPRO.

Timely mitigation is key to controlling damage, downtime and recovery costs. The  training of your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional will help limit damage and get your facility back in operation quickly. You can count on our nationwide coverage, full line of restoration services, and the 1-4-8 service guidelines.

They key to a good relationship is good communication. With SERVPRO, you'll know what is happening every step of the way. From the first telephone call within the first hour following damage notification, until the job is complete, we are dedicated to effectively communicating with you. You will be aware of the job status and the progress toward project completion.

Jobs are documented with itemized estimates, digital photographs, signed work authorization forms and regular progress reports. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals, utilizing technology developed for documenting insurance claims, electronically collect and store project information which is accessible to you via a secure e-mail link 24 hours a day. Upon project completion, a signed customer satisfaction form is the final piece of information entered into the file.

When fire, water or mold damage strikes a commercial facility, it has a negative impact on everyone -- the owner, the management team, employees, tenants and even customers. Even small fire or water damages must be addressed quickly in order to limit secondary damage. We understand the urgency in responding to your facility or home following a disaster. By arriving quickly, mitigating damage to the structure and contents, and providing effective cleanup and restoration services, we will get you back in business as soon as possible.

We help you save money: Emergency mitigation services help minimize secondary damages; proper restoration versus replacement of contents is less expensive; faster recovery lessens loss; pre-approved pricing and procedures; and comprehensive cleanup and restoration services help prevent future problems and potential liability risks.

Commercial properties probably have an emergency exit plan in place with illuminated signs leading occupants to safety and even facility maps strategically placed to identify alternate routes out of the building. But have you developed a thorough Contingency Plan? Is the emphasis on the first 24-48 hours, to help you get back in your building as quickly as possible?

Your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional can provide you assistance in developing an Emergency Response Profile. As part of a well-thought-out Contingency Plan, your Emergency Response Profile will contain information you need in the event an emergency situation occurs.

An added advantage to utilizing SERVPRO in the development of your Emergency Response Profile is the opportunity to coordinate a preferred provider relationship including pre-arranged pricing and procedures for handling emergency response for your facility before damage occurs.

We have the solution to your cleanup needs. Utilizing the right equipment and supplies, SERVPRO can handle all of your cleanup needs. In addition to our superior fire, water and mold restoration services, we provide cleanup services for those special needs that surpass the capabilities of your regular maintenance staff: Fire, Smoke and Soot Cleanup and Restoration; Water Removal and Dehumidification; Crime Scene, Biohazard and Vandalism Cleanup; Mold Mitigation and Remediation; Contents Claim Inventory Service; Air Duct and HVAC Cleaning; Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning and Care; Stain Removal, Stain Resistance Applications; Odor Identification and Deodorization; and Upholstery and Drapes: Wet or Dry Cleaning Methods.

In the event of a major catastrophe, SERVPRO has a nationwide Large Loss Response Team comprised of trained and equipped professionals capable of responding to your facility. While most systems have a waiting list, you get priority service with SERVPRO. Call us today to find out how.

Each of SERVPRO's over 1,400 nationwide Franchises is independently owned and operated by trained professionals committed to providing the highest level of emergency cleanup and restoration services and customer satisfaction. What this means to you, the commercial property owner or manager, is that should fire, water or mold damage occur in one of your local facilities or a facility across the country, a SERVPRO Franchise Professional will provide quality professional service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

http://www.servprolexingtonsc.com/fire-smoke-damage-restoration

The Facts on Wildfires and What You Can Do

From coast to coast, wildfires across the country have been making national news. Thousands of acres, homes and businesses have suffered and even faced destruction in lights of these flames.

Southern California isn’t the only area of the country that faces this threat. In 2008, 29 states had more than 10,000 acres scorched by wildfires, as a total of 5.2 million acres burned across the country. In fact, South Carolina ranked number 8 in the nation for number of wildfires in 2008. Though thousands of wildfires are started every year by natural causes—lightning strikes for example—many more are man-made disasters. Returning to the 2008 statistics, 8.856 fires were attributed to lightning strikes, while humans caused 70,093 fires.* Man-made wildfires can be more dangerous than natural fires, because they tend to occur in more populated areas.

Through we may never be able to eliminate wildfires, there are steps we can take to help lessen the danger of damage to our homes and businesses. As a National Preparedness Coalition member, your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional encourages you to follow these safety tips, courtesy of FEMA.

• Always build fires away from nearby trees or shrubs.
• Create a 30-foot safety zone around the house or business, clearing all flammable and combustible objects.
• Remove debris from under decks and inside gutters.
• Prune branches and shrubs within 15 feet of chimneys and stove pipes.
• Replace highly flammable vegetation such as pine, eucalyptus, junipers and fir trees with lower growing, less flammable species. Check with your local garden store or fire department for suggestions.
• Use fire-resistant siding.

*Statistics provided by the National Interagency Fire Center.

Staying Hydrated!

When the temperatures rise, getting enough to drink is important whether you’re playing sports, traveling or just sitting in the sun.

And it’s critical for your heart health.

Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles remove waste so that they can work efficiently.

How much water do you need?

What does being well hydrated mean? The amount of water a person needs depends on climatic conditions, clothing worn and exercise intensity and duration, Batson said.

A person who perspires heavily will need to drink more than someone who doesn’t. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, may also mean you need to drink more to avoid over-taxing the heart or other organs.  People with cystic fibrosis have high concentrations of sodium in their sweat and also need to use caution to avoid dehydration. 

Water is best.

For most people, water is the best thing to drink to stay hydrated. Sources of water also include foods, such fruits and vegetables which contain a high percentage of water. Sports drinks with electrolytes, may be useful for people doing high intensity, vigorous exercise in very hot weather, though they tend to be high in calories.

“It’s healthier to drink water while you’re exercising, and then when you’re done, eat a healthy snack like orange slices, bananas or a small handful of unsalted nuts ,” Batson said.

He cautioned against fruit juices or sugary drinks, such as soda. 

Not just for athletes or exercise.

Hydration isn’t just important during physical activity. Sitting in the sun on a hot or humid day, even if you aren’t exercising, can also cause your body to need more fluids.

People who have a heart condition, are older than 50 or overweight may also have to take extra precautions.

It’s also a good thing to keep tabs on if you’re traveling.

“You might sweat differently if you’re in a different climate,” Batson said.

Content Credit: 

-Denea Duran 

Fun Friday: Rainy Day Projects

Since Tropical Storm Andrea is heading our way, and many if us will be stuck in the house. I found some great DIY projects you can do with the kids or you can do solo.

Tape painting: 

Here is how we did it: – bought a big canvas and sprayed it metalic gold (2 layers) – added a pattern using washi / masking tape – painted the shapes using different colors acrylic paint – gently remove the tape

Kid Fun Project: 

Supplies Used:

Old Cookie Sheet with edges cut off (if you want it to be magnetic…or you could just used an old picture frame.)

Fabric to cover the backing

Mini Clothes Pins (I found mine at a local fabric store, Pacific Fabrics)

Colored Cardstock

Boxes are made out of a Jiffy Cornbread Box cut in half

Hot Glue Gun

Heavy Duty Magnets

If it were up to me, Tacos or some other form of Mexican food would be listed for every night of the week.

Sadly my husband doesn’t agree and appreciates a bit more variety!

So, I sat down and began writing down about 30 meal ideas.

They are color coded in a way that works best for me:

GREEN: Meat Dishes

TAN: Other/Misc.

WHITE: Crock Pot Meals

BLUE: Mexican & Italian Dishes

YELLOW: Easy & Quick

The goal is to not have too many of the same color each week. And to rotate through the stack of recipes before you start using them again.

(However, Tacos will still be eaten weekly in our household! 

Once a week… I can sit down and plan the meals for the menu.

On the back I’ve written all the ingredients needed to make each meal.

This way, when I go to make my shopping list…It’s pretty quick and painless.

Content Credit: http://sarahpotterphotography.com/diy-menu-board