Summer is back and while that means good times at the beach, the parks, and for other recreational activities, it can also mean that its time to implement a few safety precautions while having all kinds of family fun.  Here are 3 ways, in my 3-part series on summer safety to keep your family safe and eco-friendly at the same time! Read more at https://ultimateprepping.com/best-bushcraft-knife/

You can still have fun in the sun, just take a few precautions!

The Beach:

Who doesn’t love a day at the beach with family and friends?  Whether your fortunate enough to live near the beach or your just visiting on vacation, here are some things to keep in mind when laying on the sand or getting in the water.

Do the Stingray Shuffle!

Depending on which beach your visiting, there are almost always stingrays and they feed right at the edge of the water.  Make sure you teach the kids a good rule of thumb when walking into the waves known as the stingray shuffle.  As your walking into the water don’t lift your feet from the sand, instead your going to want to shuffle your feet, sort of kicking up the sand as you move to your destination in the water.  This scares off the stingrays, letting them know that something is coming in the water and to move!  If by some chance someone in your group is stung by a  stingray, here are some first aid rules that you need to quickly and aptly apply.

Teach your kids how to do the "Stingray Shuffle!"

Stingray wounds are very serious and painful so alert a lifeguard or call 911 immediately for medical attention!

In the event that there is no lifeguard available, the first thing to do is to get fresh water to soak the wound.  The hotter the better for pain relief!

The stinger needs to be removed with tweezers.

Do not close up the wound but instead apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

Apply a topical antibiotic if available and get the patient to the hospital quickly for proper medical care.

Prevent Sunburn!

This one may seem like a given but I can’t begin to tell you the countless times that people I know thought they’d be okay without the application of sunscreen for even an hour!  If your spending time at the beach, I recommend an SPF of 30 and higher!  If you have fair or freckled skin, apply with an SPF of 45 and higher for extra protection!  Always reapply several times and try not to hit the beach during the hottest part of the day, which is between noon and 2pm. Be sure to purchase reef-safe, family-safe sunscreen approved by the Environmental Working Group to keep toxins off our family’s bodies and out of the environment. The Green Halloween team loves the clean and effective sun care line from Smart Girls Who Surf.

Always apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for the beach!

In the event that you or someone in your group does get a sunburn, here is what you can do to relieve the pain and heal it faster.

Drink plenty of fluids because a sunburn indicates that your body is dehydrated from the inside/out.

Apply aloe vera or all-natural topical ointments like Burn Out from My Mama’s Love to the burnt areas of your skin in a gentle manner.

Take a cool water bath.

Wear loose cotton clothing for comfort.

Prevent Dehydration!

Many people are drinking alcoholic beverages while at the beach or they simply don’t drink enough fluids.  Bring a small iced chest filled with ice and an eco-friendly, reusable water bottle that keeps your fluids cold while your off playing in the water.  (If you have an alcoholic beverage, equal that with a glass of water because your losing fluids more quickly in the sun.)  In case of emergency, the ice will melt and become your back up plan for water since many people don’t bring enough to drink on their visit to the beach, underestimating the power of the sun.

A reusable water bottle comes in handy when visiting the beach so don't forget yours!

Blogger Laurali Star can be found on The Damsel in the Attic and her blog.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

If your considering converting to the organic food movement, here are a few things to keep in mind when you hit the grocery store.  Always look for the USDA Certified stamp, sticker, or symbol.  Keep in mind that meats will have this too.  The meat section of the supermarket often has chicken and cow meat that is hormone free and the animal is fed only pesticide free food to sustain life.  I would also suggest converting a little at a time, instead of all at once so that it wont be such a shock to your lifestyle.  The kiddies have to get used to it!  Make it fun for them too.  Make colorful veggies into caterpillars or artwork, you can find many recipes here on Green Halloween!

Buying organic foods from your local farmer's market is a safe bet!

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in the Attic and her blog.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

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The Environmental Working Group recently released a report on 173 water bottle products and came up with some surprising results!  You may think its safe to drink your water but much of the information disclosed by the water bottle companies are kept top secret from consumers.  The EWG, a non profit organization, mined for details on where the water comes from, how or if the water is treated, and even went so far to act as consumers, making calls to water bottle companies to see if they would reveal all.  Undeniably, many companies weren’t so forthcoming with the results.

Here are the three brands that made top rank:  Gerber Pure Purified Water, Nestle Pure Life Purified Water, and Penta Ultra Purified Water.  So the question is, does your 1 litre water bottles make the grade?

Does your water bottle make the grade?

Here’s how you can find out:  173 Water Bottles results list.

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in the Attic.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

When it comes to Halloween safety, the first thing that comes to mind is the safety of our children. Often we overlook another important family member, our pets! HomeAgain came up with various tips for their October newsletter on how to keep your beloved pets safe this Halloween.

1. Keep the candy for the kids.
Although chocolate is a well known pet-safety hazard, artificial sweeteners and other candy ingredients are also dangerous for your pet. If you want to give your cat or dog Halloween treats, ones from the pet store are just the trick.

2. Watch for escape artists.
On Halloween night, you’ll probably be opening your door for trick-or-treaters every few minutes. Make sure to check that your dog or cat stays inside after each visit.

3. Make sure your pets are clearly tagged.
It’s easy for an animal to escape on Halloween night, so make certain that your pet is wearing a collar with contact information on it. Brighter colors are easier to see! Don’t have a collar tag? Buy one, now!

4. Consider your pet’s temperament.
If your animals are frightened of strangers, loud noises, or children, keep them in an area of the house that’s away from the front door. The sights, colors, and sounds of Halloween can be stressful for even the calmest pets.

5. Keep your pets close to home, particularly the black cats.
Unfortunately, Halloween brings out the dark side of some people who may use the holiday as an excuse to torment or otherwise injure an animal they find lose on the street. So keep your cats well feed with some tasty canned cat food and keep them inside.

6. Think about the children.
Even if your pets are good with children, not all children are good with pets. It may be a good idea to keep your pets away from a child who could startle them into an aggressive or defensive attack.

7. Avoid costume drama.
Make sure you choose a Halloween costume that’s safe for pets. Avoid strangulation hazards and parts that affect vision or movement. If your dachshund looks completely miserable dressed up as a hot dog, then let him out as soon as you’ve taken a few photos.

8. Be careful with the decorations.
A Jack O’Lantern with a candle or glow stick in it may be beautiful for you, but it’s also fascinating for your pet. Reduce the risk of singed whiskers or poisoned bellies by keeping dangerous decorations out of your pets’ reach.

9. Minimize stress while you’re away.
If you plan to go out for a party or other Halloween fun, leave the radio or television on. The noise can mask loud noises your pets hear from the outside festivities.

10. Remember to keep it fun.
Whatever you do, don’t let worrying about pet safety ruin the evening. With a few simple precautions, there’s no reason why you and your pets can’t have a boo-tiful holiday full of frightful, and pet-safe, fun.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

October is creeping closer and closer and I know households are prepping for another exciting year of Halloween. What do people think of when it comes to Halloween? I bet it’s the color orange, pumpkins, loads of candy and a howling night of fun where kids roam the streets in their favorite costumes of ghosts, witches and monsters! What most people don’t take into consideration is the fact that safety is a huge part of Halloween as well. Sure you can have a wonderful time, but be mindful of everyone’s safety as well! Below are some safety tips that are eco-friendly (no brainer coming from Green Halloween) for Halloween this year.

General Safety Tips:

1. Hand-powered flashlights: Straight from the Green Halloween marketplace. These adorable animal-shaped flashlights are an absolute must when you head out to trick-or-treat with your loved ones. No batteries are necessary so it’s environmentally friendly. Plus you have a light to shine on dark places when necessary!
2. Drivers driving on the night of Halloween should pay more attention to the roads than normal. This is a night where kids roam the streets freely. Even though they are supervised, still pay extra care and drive slowly in neighborhood streets.
3. It’s important to have fun but it’s even more important to know where your kids are. Set a curfew if your older kids are trick-or-treating with a group of friends. Stay connected with them via phones throughout the night. If they do not have cellphones, give them sufficient amount of change so they can use public phones to call home if needed.
4. Set a designated area for your kids to trick-or-treat if you are not going with them. Go over the route before Halloween so they know where they can go and where they cannot go.
5. Tell your children about the basic rules of obeying traffic. Always walk on sidewalks, even if the streets are empty of cars. Make note to take heed of the roads, and always always double check at crossroads and intersections for incoming traffic.
6. Accompany your children while trick-or-treating. If you cannot make it, make other arrangements (older siblings, guardians, neighbors that you know) so your children can go along with adults they are familiar with.
7. Wear bright-colored or light-reflective costumes so you are easily spotted.
8. Make sure costumes are flame retardant.
9. Avoid masks that obstruct vision.
10. If there is no sidewalk, always walk on the left side of the road.
11. Avoid houses with no lights on.

Trick-or-Treating/Candy Safety Tips:

1. Always trick-or-treat at the front door. If children are unsupervised, make sure to tell them to not enter a stranger’s house for candy.
2. Tell your kids to bring all the candy they collected home so you, the parent, can inspect them before consumption. Also, inform them not to accept any candy that are not in wrappers.
3. Feed your kids a hearty and healthy meal prior to trick-or-treating activities so they won’t be tempted to eat the candy before checking for tampering. Plus they’ll need the energy!
4. When in doubt, throw it out!
5. Teach your children to eat 2-3 pieces of candy at a time in order to prevent tummy aches.

For more ideas and information regarding safety on Halloween, please click here for a very handy and comprehensive list of links and resources! If you have tips that you feel are missing from the list, please let us know by email or comments via this post. We’re eager to hear new ideas from our readers for a safe and fun Halloween!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.