How to Talk With Children About Climate Change
7/5/2024 (Permalink)
By: Steph Lee, MD, MPH, FAAP
Climate change affects everyone, but it impacts kids the most. Children are especially at risk from environmental health harms. This is because they are still growing and have higher exposure to air, food and water based on weight. By helping kids understand the issue of climate change and how it affects their health and futures, we empower them to make a difference.
Toddlers and young children (Ages 1-5) are just beginning to learn about their relationship with the world. It's a perfect time to introduce them to the joys of nature and gardening. For school-age children (age 6-12), begin explaining concepts behind climate change in simple scientific terms. Ask what they know and fill in blanks or research it together. NASA has online resources to help parents go through each aspect of climate change. Teens (Ages 13-18) are more aware of how issues may influence all aspects of their lives. Discuss show climate change can affect our economy and society. This can spark scientific curiosity and introduce the idea of civic responsibility.
When disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes happen, be sure to limit your child's media use to cut down on the amount of distressing footage they see and hear on the news. Kids are the next generation of innovators and thinkers. Youth leadership is already making a huge difference. If we nurture a love for the environment early, children may just come up with the best solutions. Don't be surprised if they teach you something, too, along the way.
How to Keep Pets Safe When Temperatures Rise
7/5/2024 (Permalink)
Hot weather can prove dangerous for your furry friends and the American Red Cross has steps you can take to help your pets stay safe this summer.
Don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open.
Keep all unscreened windows or doors closed so pets don’t fall out of them.
Trim longer hair, but never shave your dog.
Brush cats more often than usual to help prevent problems caused by excessive heat.
Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool. Don’t let your pets drink from the pool, ocean or lake.
Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats.
Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from their fur.
Avoid hot surfaces, such as asphalt, that can burn your pet’s paws.
Don’t walk, run or hike with a dog during the hottest parts of the day or on particularly warm days.
Make sure your garden plants are safe for pets.
HEAT STROKE Animals can suffer heat stroke in warmer weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea.
Some of the signs of heat stroke in your pet are:
If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees. Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage.
Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for more information on how to include pets in emergency preparedness plans. The app also features step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies, toxic substances, a pet profile for storing tag ID, photo and medical information, early warning signs for when to contact a veterinarian and an animal hospital locator. Users can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross, texting GETPET to 90999 for a link to download the app or going to redcross.org/apps.
You can also take the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course so you’ll know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available. You can access the course on your desktop or tablet at redcross.org/catdogfirstaid and go through the content at your own pace. The interactive course includes:
How to determine a pet’s normal vital signs so owners can notice if there are any irregularities
Step-by-step instructions and visual aids for what to do if a pet is choking, needs CPR, has a wound, or is having a seizure
Information on preventative care, health and tips for a pet’s well-being
By: American Red Cross
Making the Best Musubi!
9/15/2020 (Permalink)
Here at SERVPRO of East Honolulu we are always on the go. Most of our workers stop by the nearest gas station, grab a quick bite whether that is an egg roll, musubi, or sandwich and head right back out to the field. We are constantly starting and finishing jobs and because of that we know what a good musubi tastes like!
We love all kinds of musubis too, there is nothing more satisfying than a katsu chicken musubi or a refreshing fried fish musubi!
For anyone wondering, a musubi is a Japanese food that here in Hawai'i has been incorporated into our culture. It is simply a type of meat on top of a slab of rice and carefully wrapped by nori or seaweed. This can come in all different types of nori and meats, but the classic musubi is a thin slice of seaweed and spam.
Spam is a cult classic in the Hawaiian isle, and it is absolutely delicious!
So here are some ingredients needed for the office favorite: teriyaki spam musubi,
- 1 can of Spam (keep the can, you'll need it for later!)
- 1 square sheet of nori, cut into 2 inch strips (this is for the individual musubi)
- saran wrap ( to wrap the musubi)
- Japanese medium grain sticky rice (this is important because this is the best and ultimate rice to make with musubis as it sticks well)
here are the ingredients for teriyaki sauce:
- 4 tbsp of sugar
- 1 tbsp of mirin (rice wine vinegar)
- 4 tbsp of soysauce
The steps for the teriyaki sauce,
1. mix all the ingredients together in a sauce pan on low heat until all the sugar is dissolved
2. set aside (this is what we will marinate the spam inside)
To make the SPAM:
1. cut the box of spam into about 1/4 inch slices, which is considered the perfect amount of meat. This will make about 5-6 slices per box
there is where you can deviate:
if you're making the musubis for the next day, in a baking pan place the slices of musubi into said pan and pour the teriyaki inside. Place into the refrigerator and place it over night.
1. the next morning, place the teriyaki SPAM slices into a pan with 2 tbsp of oil and cook until brown
2. make sure that your rice is super fresh, so you'll have to make the rice that morning or use a timer to cook the rice accordingly
If it's for today let's continue!
1. so get your cut spam and cook it in 2 tbsp of oil until it is a light brown and crispy, afterwards place the teriyaki sauce on top of the spam and let it simmer until it bubbles and tops the spam
next, put some cling wrap inside your spam container, coating the inside and enough to have remaining saran wrap to pull it out of the tin
1. place some freshly cooked rice inside the container that is coated with saran wrap and this will be about 4-5 tbsp of rice.
2. then place the spam, and firmly press the rice and meat together
3. once firmly set together gather the cling wrap and pull out the rice and meat
4. from there the rice and meat should be firmly together enough that when you remove the wrap it will stay, take on of your seaweed slices and places it on top of the meat and rice in a way that will help the musubi maintain its integrity. When you firmly wrap the seaweed around the rice and meat block place a little bit of water on both ends of the seaweed strip to lock the seaweed into place.
5. repeat this step until there are no more musubis, if there is extra teriyaki sauce you can use it to eat with the excess rice :)
And that's how you make a musubi! Enjoy it with aloha, and make sure you tag us on instagram to share your own rendition of this island favorite!
Our instagram handle is @ SERVPRO_east_honolulu
Keep Calm, School Almost Starts
6/17/2020 (Permalink)
COVID-19 has drastically changed what anybody thought this year would be like
Our keiki have been out of school a lot longer than anyone would have projected...
Everyone is under a lot of stress which has brought fine lines and tight backs!
Although our job here at SERVPRO of East Honolulu is curtailed to your home's or business building's health; we care about our community's mental health!
We know you've been stressing and your kids probably are also driving you crazy (in the best way possible though!)
So keep calm, social distance, and hope for the best!
Here is a DIY egg skin mask that you don't have to wear outside and is for anyone regardless of age and gender:
Directions:
- Take an egg white and mix it with 1 tbsp. of plain yogurt and 1/8 tsp. of honey
- Then, apply this mixture onto your facial skin and wait until it dries out.
- Rinse it off with warm water.
- Apply this face mask once per week within a few weeks.
Keep Calm and we'll get through this together :)
Servicing in East Honolulu
5/20/2020 (Permalink)
The beautiful Waikiki strip beach
We all know that there will be "trouble in paradise" occasionally, and when there is, SERVPRO of East Honolulu is here to help.
We are so thankful to be servicing the beautiful island of O'ahu and more specifically the Honolulu/Waikiki areas. We are a little biased, but we think this area is the best on the island of O'ahu. Here are some of our favorite things about East Honolulu:
1. We can't start a list about East Honolulu without acknowledging Ala Moana, the biggest mall in the Hawaiian Isle. This houses more than 250 stores and is so versatile for the whole ohana.
2. Our ohana at SERVPRO of East Honolulu love ramen, and the best ramen in the Waikiki area is Tenkaippin Hawaii. Regardless of what you choose on the menu, it is tasty and affordable!
3. The beaches! East Honolulu is known to have the most beautiful beaches on the island with gorgeous views. It is an all time favorite to hit the beach after work!
Thank you East Honolulu for allowing us to help clean up and restore your property to the best shape possible! Mahalo for the beautiful views and the awesome food.
24/7 Emergency Service
