Hand Sanitizers

For the most part, it is safe to say that by now the general public is aware of the importance of good hygiene. You see the evidence of this everywhere. When you walk into a grocery store, many times you can find a small stand located by the carts with a container of sanitizing cloths to wipe across your cart. There are signs in most bathrooms, especially of food preparing establishments with instructions on proper hand washing technics. Hospitals and healthcare establishments even let you know with posters and signs that it is okay to tell your nurses, doctors, and other staff to wash their hands if you as a patient or visitor did not see them do this. It has become a very present part of our everyday lives and fortunately so.

                Proper hand hygiene is especially important and has led to a decrease in the spread of some communicable conditions like the common cold, H1N1, and other viruses and bacteria. Hand hygiene has fortunately become common practice. I know that it is reassuring to see others washing their hands in the restroom (especially when it is a staff member at a restaurant). It is safe to say that everyone has simply become more aware.

                Now, here is the upsetting part. We follow the recommendations of organization like the FDA regarding hand hygiene. We think we as a society are getting it right. We have options, soap and water washing and for a while now the fast sanitizing liquid gels, lotions and foams. Well, things are starting to get complicated. According to the Food and Drug Administration not all instant hand sanitizers are doing their job. The bacteria Methicillin-resistant- staphylococcus-aureus also known as MRSA has been found to be resistant to the use of some instant hand sanitizers.  This is particularly true of the lotion varieties.

                I think if there has been a particular type of sanitizer that has been linked to this short-coming then this type of product should not be produced under the same label as similar products in gel and foam form.

                The FDA has warned the manufactures of these products of their false advertising. I feel that if manufactures such as these want to continue making their product and having it placed on the shelf next to other more effective products, then they should have to carry a label stating the possible short comings of their items. As a consumer I want to know that the product that I am purchasing to improve my safety will do everything it is advertised as doing. We have choices on how we spend our money and I think most people would agree that they want the most effective product possible and we want to be informed consumers.

 
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20110421/fda-hand-sanitizers-make-false-claims

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a not-for-profit organization that I have volunteered at two times.  The facility that I have reported to is the Habitat Restore located on W. Chestnut Exp., Springfield, MO. The restore has been open since 1999 and is open to the general public. The restore sells donated new and used building materials at discount prices with the proceeds staying within our local community. The proceeds fund additional Habitat for Humanity homes in our area.

            Habitat for Humanity is Christian based housing ministry organization that works around the world to help eliminate poverty housing. The organization started in the United States in 1976, but today there are over 2,300 affiliates in all 50 states and around the world. They strive to bring the need for adequate housing to light. People of any faith or no faith are encouraged to help join them in their efforts. All individuals or groups need is the ability to pick up a hammer to aid those families that are in need of shelter.

            Habitat for Humanity teams up with people in need to renovate homes and then sell the homes to the homeowner partners. The criteria to be a family chosen for the Habitat for Humanity to partner with is based on, ability to repay a no-profit mortgage, need for housing, and willingness to partner with the organization. The mortgage payments made provide funding for more houses to be built. The homes are built primarily by volunteers which helps the cost remains low and therefore is affordable for the low-income families that the organization partners with.

            I volunteered two times at the restore for four hours at a time. When arriving at the location, I first provided the necessary documentation to drive one of their vehicles and picked up directions for the task ahead of me. 

This organization brings together people of different social and financial classes, genders, races, and religions. Although Habitat for Humanity is a Christian based organization, they do not discriminate against other religions or any denomination, men and women work side by side with common goals between them, and social status boundaries are broken resulting in a better understanding for people to have of one another in different situations.

            The organization also obtains proceeds through many gracious donations for individuals and businesses in the form of money and building materials. The restore stocks the following items.

Appliances                Doors                         Light fixtures                         Shelving

Bath tubs                   Drywall                       Lumber & trim                       Sinks

Cabinets                    Electrical fixtures     Paint                                       Windows

Carpet                        Flooring                     Plumbing fixtures                Roofing

Ceiling fans              Hardware                   Other miscellaneous building materials

            Volunteers are always needed to help on the building sites and to help with the general operations within the Restore.

            Volunteering with this organization did increase the appreciation that I have for my own home and the resources that I have access to. There were many other volunteers at the facility for a variety of reasons. Some people have to put in sweat equity in the form of hours served in the organization that go toward the home that their family will live in, other people were there without the purpose of fulfilling any outside commitment and were just generously donating their time and effort.         

            The Habitat for Humanity has purchased several acres of land at half price where they plan to develop 56 new housing opportunities. These opportunities will be funded through donations, charity events and volunteers.  I do encourage others to give back to their community by volunteering their time to not-for-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

           

Exercise Program I have created for myself

I believe that it is important for me to incorporate a realistic exercise program into my daily schedule.  By doing this I hope to attain a healthier body both physically and mentally.  I believe that setting realistic fitness goals can make the difference between a successful fitness plan and one which ends in disappointment.  I realize that there is not an instant fix to a healthier body, but with realistic goals and a determined motivation optimal health can be achieved.  The exercise program I have set for myself is to exercise four days a week, 1 hour each day which include: Monday and Thursday as strength training, Tuesday and Friday cardiovascular training, and Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday as resting days.  I have decided to incorporate this exercise program into my life for many health reasons including:  

    * Reduce the risk of premature death

    * Reduce the risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease

    * Reduce high blood pressure or the risk of developing high blood pressure

    * Reduce high cholesterol or the risk of developing high cholesterol

    * Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and breast cancer

    * Reduce the risk of developing diabetes

    * Reduce body weight or body fat

    * Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints

 These are important factors in choosing my wellness plan because I want to live a long healthy life. 

            The main focus of my wellness plan is to be a healthier person.  With a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, these are the main health issues I am concerned with in my life.  By introducing more physical exercise in my life it will lower the risk that I am for all three of these health concerns.  Not only will I be more acceptable to these concerns if I do not act on adding physical activity to my lifestyle, but I will be at a larger risk of developing high cholesterol, at a higher risk of developing colon cancer, and will speed up the process of deteriorating muscles, bones, and joints. 

            My goal of incorporating a realistic exercise program will include strength training as well as cardiovascular training.  The strength training will include going to the local gymnasium which includes a weight room.  There are many exercises that I can do there to get an all-around workout.  I plan on doing a complete body workout which will include different exercises for my legs, arms, chest, and back.  Also, I plan on including sit-ups and push-ups every day that I have planned for strength training.  For my cardiovascular workout days I have chosen to go back to the gym on Tuesdays to do bicycle training and on Fridays I will jog on my neighborhood roads.  One obstacle that I might face is time to get to the gym since it is about 20 minutes away from my house.  If for some reason I cannot make it I can always jog around my neighborhood or do extra sit-up and push-ups at my house.   Another obstacle that I will be faced with is taking care of my soon to be newborn child.  This gift in my life may have me resort to purchasing a workout station for my home. 

            There are numerous benefits I can achieve by implementing a regular exercise into my life.  Improved physical health will boost energy and endurance with everyday activities which will also improve my social health I believe.  After exercising you will feel rejuvenated, both physical and mental. As result, this will improve my performance at work, as I will feel more assertive and confident.  I realize that exercising is time consuming, but the advantages of exercise far outweigh this disadvantage of time.  I know that I will have to be patient and use gradual steps to achieve my goal, but doing this will give me lifetime results. 

http://www.medicinenet.com/benefits_of_exercise/article.htm 

E-commerce

Electronic business enterprises have changed the way that global marketplaces market, sell, deliver, and pay for products and services on the internet.  They have revolutionized the way that individuals and companies perform business worldwide.  As shown in the last few years, these companies have a great possibility for economic growth.  
 

Electronic commerce involves a wide range of activities. In its simplest form, the goal of electronic commerce is to improve the way in which business is conducted through technology. This could be as simple as establishing a computer-based relationship between consumer and consumer, between consumer and business, between business and supplier, or between supplier and manufacturer. It could involve automation of existing business systems, such as transaction or manufacturing processes. On the web, electronic commerce often means marketing and online sales. Within the past few years companies have been excited with the idea of online shopping and connecting with customers worldwide.

One reason so many companies and government agencies are interested in the development of extensive electronic commerce is because of its potential to lower or eliminate costs, for example, from the purchaser to the vendor or from the seller to the buyer. When a vendor uses electronic commerce the purchaser lowers its costs by avoiding such expenses as answering phones, cutting checks, and postage. Another reason that electronic commerce is gaining momentum so quickly is that the business processes make it more user friendly by making the process simpler, more efficient, and less costly.

Most people believe that there will be a successful future for e-commerce. Once the details of online commerce are worked out, it and the Internet in general could

reshape the structure of the business world.  The steady growth of electric commerce promises to shift the balance of economic power from the manufacturer to the consumer. A small company with better products and customer service can use  e-commerce to challenge larger competitors, which is something it probably couldn't do in the real world.

Electronic commerce is an essential element for any businesses that wants to maximize potential customers and profits on the Internet.  Electric commerce through the World Wide Web will continue to change the way worldwide market places perform business operations.  E-commerce will continue to revolutionize the way that individuals and companies market, sell, deliver, and pay for products and services on the Internet.