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Thursday, February 13, 2014

Oops


Africa-Air Charter Flight 737-200

The pilot of this Boeing 737 had a night departure from Hoedspruit, South Africa, to Johannesburg.

He proceeded to take the wrong taxiway.
Having arrived at a dead end he then attempted to turn around by reversing (using reverse thrust).

He misjudged and put the main gear off the taxiway.

The aircraft then rolled back down the bank. He then tried to climb out using full power.

With the engines that close to the ground grass and stones were ingested.

If it wasn’t raining the jet blast would probably have set fire to the surrounding bush.

Notice the burnt grassy environment in the last photo.

The aircraft has been written off. The cost of the engines alone exceeded the insured value.
No passengers were on board at the time.



Explanation number 2:
I sent this to my buddy who flies for AA (former F-14 pilot).  He said the lack of passengers onboard may indicate it was a maintainer (shop guy) who may have just supposed to do an engine run up or taxi test.  Can’t see an airline pilot being that dumb, but then again…
 
 











 

Saying Warm Under a Sandstone Bluff


Saying Warm Under a Sandstone Bluff

Homemade Monkey Bread with Caramel Sauce.



            http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2013/03/06/homemade-monkey-bread-with-caramel-sauce/

There are many other links on the subject, too.

Keep Your Home and Belongings Safe


Keep Your Home and Belongings Safe

USAA Advice Center


USAA Advice Center

            https://www.usaa.com/inet/pages/financial-center-clarksville-tn?wa_ref=financial_ctr_main_clrksville_tn&adid=icgsch52710549-VQ16-c&akredirect=true

Setting Up A Sick Room in Your Home, by G.A. (RN)


 
 
 
From the Survival Blog
The time may come when normal medical facilities are not available for any number of reasons. If a family member were sick or injured, would you have the supplies and skills to care for them in your home? After 26 years as a registered nurse (RN) working in a hospital setting with a multitude of different types of patients, I have learned the procedures, tips, and tricks for making patient care easier. I will not attempt to teach you about specific injuries and diseases or their treatments. There are many resources for learning these skills, and I suggest that you take advantage of them while they are available. What I can teach you is how to set up a sick room in your home to care for a sick, injured, or quarantined patient. The first thing on the list of things to know is that organization-- both before and during care-- is very important in making a caregiver's job both possible and easy. If you stock the supplies that I have listed below and made a plan, then you will be able to make a challenging situation doable.
Let's discuss choosing a room in your home that can function as a sick room. A bedroom furthest from the rest of the home's rooms and occupants would be best. If it has an attached bathroom, your job will be much easier. It is always best not to have to transport contaminated body fluids (urine, feces, vomit, and blood) thru an uncontaminated area in order to dispose of them. If an attached bathroom is not available, then one as close as possible will do. I suggest removing all furniture except the bed, rolling table, shelves, or bureau, and a chair from the room in order to increase your working area and decrease the number of items that can be contaminated. It makes sense to also remove all rugs from the room for the same reason--less to contaminate. I believe that a single/twin bed is easier to work with because you can reach over it in order to move your patient without constantly having to walk around to the other side. It would also be back-saving for you to elevate the bed to a comfortable working level. There are bed raisers available or you can improvise with anything you have as long as it results in a stable bed. There are easily detachable side rails available which will protect a confused patient from falling out of bed. I am a big fan of side rails and suggest their use even with a patient who seems unlikely to fall. A rolling table will provide both a surface on which to place clean items that you are using to give care and the usual function of providing a dining surface for a patient who is taking food by mouth. A bureau or set of shelves can serve as a place to store all those things that you will need in order to care for the patient--linens, clothing, bath supplies, gloves, etc. It will be so much easier if you gather all these supplies and place them in the room in an organized manner before you try taking care of your patient. You will wear yourself out if you have to leave the room every time you need to go get something you forgot. You will also risk carrying germs to the healthy members of your family if you make frequent trips from the sickroom to the clean parts of your home. You will need a light source in the room-- electric lights, if they are still working or another light source if necessary. Windows for light and fresh air (if the patient is not under quarantine) are nice to have for both the patient and the caregiver.
All of these things will make your job possible and easier, but what else is needed if the problem is one of infectious disease? I suggest setting up a vestibule outside the sick room door. This can be a simple frame made of PVC pipe-- the height of the door and two feet wider on each side. This will give you enough room to prepare to enter the sick room or exit into your "clean" home. If you hang heavy, clear plastic sheeting on the sides, top and the front (nearest your clean hallway) you can produce an area that can hold you and supplies, which you don't wish to leave in the sick room. The entry plastic sheet can be split down the middle, from top to bottom so you can pass through it easily. If you fold up the bottom edge of all the plastic walls of the vestibule, you can place heavy washers or drapery weights in this edge in order to keep the sheet hanging down. Place heavy plastic sheeting, which can be cleaned with antibacterial solution on a regular basis to decrease possibility of tracking contaminants thru your home, on the floor of the vestibule. If you duct tape the long edges of the sides of the vestibule to the walls on either side of the sick room door you will have one more barrier to escaping contaminants. In the vestibule you should have a box of plastic garbage bags because all bagged trash, laundry, and body waste, which you have to transport for cleaning or disposal, should be bagged in a clean trash bag. Before you leave the sick room, the following sequence of actions can help reduce the chance of spreading germs: 1) gather all your plastic bagged items, 2) set them near the door, 3) remove your dirty gloves, 4) put on clean gloves, 5) open the door, 6) go into the vestibule, 7) open and place on the floor a clean plastic bag 8) place a filled plastic bag into the clean bag 9) remove your gloves and dispose of them 10) gather the top and close the clean bag that contains your contaminated items, without touching the dirty bag. Just a note to explain how to best remove dirty gloves without touching them with your clean hands--grasp your left glove near the wrist with your right thumb and forefinger and peel the left glove off, turning it inside out as you do so. Then you can slip the now bare fingers of your left hand under the cuff of the right glove and peel it off, also turning it inside out. This keeps the contaminated surface of the gloves away from your skin. You might want to consider having a large garbage can with lid and wheels outside the vestibule into which you can place bags for transport. This would be easier than juggling multiple bags. Make sure that you have gloves in any place you will need to remove contaminated items in order to clean or dump them. Try to remember that anything coming out of the contaminated sick room is a hazard to you and your family. Place as many barriers as possible between the sick and the healthy. You, as caregiver, are one of the healthy ones, so you should also protect yourself with gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks, and gloves as well as constant awareness of your risk. Plan all your actions beforehand and move carefully and deliberately in order to minimize those risks. Now that we have set up the sick room and all our supplies are installed and ready to use, what should we do next? Let's talk about the linens needed to make the bed and how we go about putting them to best use. I think the first thing to do is to encase the mattress in a zippered plastic mattress cover. This will protect it from being ruined by body fluids. A replacement mattress may be hard to come by in challenging times. The bed can then be made with the following layers of linens: a fitted sheet, a "draw" sheet (one folded to cover the area from the patient's upper back to thigh area for lifting the patient), a fluid-proof pad positioned in the center, a top flat sheet, and a blanket. The fluid-proof pads can be commercial disposable ones or home-made ones. I have made them from inexpensive flannel-backed plastic table cloths and a fabric topping, such as old, soft toweling or heavy flannel. If you decide to make them, cut them out in a size large enough to cover the bed from side to side and about 24 inches wide. Sew them together like a pillowcase with the toweling facing the plastic, then turn them right-side out so that the plastic is on one side (the bottom) and the toweling is on the other side (next to the patient's skin). Then sew the open end closed. These pads wash well but I would hang them to dry, as the plastic may melt in a dryer. A "draw" sheet may be made from cutting a flat twin sheet in half crossways then hemming the raw edges. This sheet is placed across the center of the bed with its ends tucked in on each side. This is a very useful piece of bed linen as it can be used to pull your patient up in bed or to roll them from side to side by untucking the ends and grasping them for the movement instead of grabbing the patient to move them. It becomes more comfortable for the patient and provides better body mechanics for the caregiver. The flat top sheet and blanket are placed on the bed next, just as you would do normally. The only thing I would suggest that you change from your usual bed-making is forgoing tucking the sheet and blanket under the end of the mattress. A tightly tucked covering is uncomfortable for the patient and can cause a problem called "foot drop" in patients who are unable to reposition their feet themselves. As far as pillows are concerned, you need lots of them and they should be encased in plastic protectors for the same reason as you protected the mattress. Multiple pillows have a lot of uses in the sick room. They can be used to raise the patient's head and upper body for easier breathing. They can be used to elevate injured extremities, placed under knees or feet, and tucked behind the patient to keep them in a side-lying position. It was a rule when I worked in the hospital that the nurse with the most pillows "won".
Let's discuss those wonderful disposable plastic basins and "body fluid catchers" that will make your job so much easier. We all have friends and family who have been hospitalized (unfortunately) and return home with a collection of pink plastic "stuff". Don't let them throw them away. Offer to take them off their hands. A collection of rectangular bath basins, emesis basins, urinals, regular bedpans, and flat fracture bedpans will be treasures if you have to care for a sick family member. Just give them a good cleaning and disinfecting and pack them away with all your other sickroom preps. If you can't get them for free, they are available fairly reasonably in medical supply stores. What purpose do these plastic wonders serve? The rectangular basins can be filled with warm soapy water for a bath. The kidney shaped small emesis basins are easy to position under the chin of a vomiting patient. The urinal is fairly self-explanatory as it is positioned to catch the urine flow of a male patient. I would just warn you to make sure that it is tilted with the opening up slightly or you will be changing the sheets. Also be careful to place it gently between your patient's legs to avoid injuring "delicate" parts. The regular bedpan is used for bowel movements for both sexes and urination for female patients. It can be positioned in two ways. If the patient is awake and able to move, they can bend their knees and lift their bottom to allow you to place the bedpan underneath them. If you dust the top edges of the pan with talc first it will slide into place easier. Removal should be done the same way, except carefully so as not to soil the sheets. If the patient is unable to move, you can use the draw sheet to roll them onto their side and place the pan in position before rolling them onto their back again. Obviously the laws of fluid mechanics won't allow you to roll patient and pan for removal; just roll the patient while holding the pan flat. The pan can then be set aside on that handy rolling table while you clean the patient's bottom, straighten the sheets, and reposition them for comfort. Baby wipes are wonderful for the cleaning chores and diaper cream applied to the bottom will help avoid skin irritation. Diaper cream is especially important for those patients who are incontinent and unable to use bedpans or urinals. The fracture bedpan being flatter and smaller is useful with those patients who have lower extremity, back, or pelvis injuries and for whom movement causes pain. This pan can be powdered and gently worked under their bottoms with less pain than the full-size bedpan.
One of the other procedures that can seem daunting to a novice care giver but brings so much comfort to the patient is bathing. If you gather all your equipment first and proceed logically, it can be a pleasant experience for both of you. You will need to assemble: a basin with hot, lightly soapy water, wash cloths, towels, talc, lotion, diaper cream, and a light-weight flannel blanket. If you proceed from one part of the body to the next while keeping everything else covered with the thin blanket, the patient will not get too chilled. I usually start with the head, face, and neck, then the chest, abdomen, and arms. When these areas are washed, dried, and powdered, you can cover then with the blanket and do the lower front part of the body. Use a separate wash cloth for the genitals. After the front of the body is done, you can turn the patient on their side and do the back half. I like to gently rub lotion onto their back before I reposition them again. This relaxes tired muscles as well as stimulates blood flow to the skin, helping to avoid pressure issues. A reminder--every time you have access to any part of your patient's skin, you should make sure it is clean, dry, and either powdered or lotioned. Look for any signs of impending pressure sores--especially over bony areas like shoulder blades, hips, tailbone, elbows, and heels. If you see any redness or whitening of skin, as well as any blistering or skin breakdown, you need to address it immediately and frequently. Make sure the area is clean and dry. If the skin is intact you can apply cushioning pads (available in medical supply stores) and position the area to take pressure off of it. Patients who are unable to move and roll in bed on their own should be repositioned every two hours around the clock. It is much easier to prevent skin breakdown than it is to heal it.
If you plan to change the linen on the bed, it is easy to do after the patient's bath. After finishing bathing the back of the patient and while they are still lying on their side, you can loosen all the linen under the patient and roll it in a long roll toward the patient's back. Then remake that side of the bed with fresh linen--rolling the extra again into a long roll close to the patient's back. Reposition the patient onto their back (they will be lying in a long lump of old and new linen for a few seconds) and then onto their other side. Remove all soiled linen--place it in dirty linen bag--then pull the clean linen through and tuck as needed. Try not to leave folds and creases of linen under the patient; it is uncomfortable and damaging to skin.
Something I have not addressed is talking to your patient. It is a good thing to talk with and listen to your patient during the times you are providing care. They are probably frightened and need to express their fears, be reassured, and be updated on the situation outside their sickroom, especially if they have a contagious disease and have been isolated from family and friends. Being sick brings a strong sense of helplessness and you will be doing a service to your patient if you let them make choices and decisions where it is possible. Even if the patient is unconscious and unresponsive, talk to them; they just may be able to hear you.
Another item of caregiving that should be mentioned is record keeping. I am not talking about a detailed chart such as is seen in hospitals. I am referring to a simple record that lists pertinent information such as name, age, medical history, onset of illness, symptoms, treatment given, and results observed. This information will allow another caregiver to step in and take over care if you must leave the bedside. The last, and possibly least planned for, but most important part of the home sick room is taking care of the caregiver. Nursing a very ill or injured person, especially if it is a friend or family member, is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. Make sure that you, as the caregiver, get enough food, liquid, rest, and time away from the sick room to maintain your strength and health.
This article contains the basics that you need to know in order to care for a patient in your home. It certainly is not a comprehensive nursing course. Please use the extensive online resources available to extend you knowledge in this area. I hope that this information has been useful and would welcome questions and comments.
Things to Stock For Setting Up A Home Sick Room
·        Single bed (possibly hospital bed or raised bed)
·        Plastic mattress cover
·        Pillows (6)
·        Plastic pillow covers
·        Fitted sheets, flat sheets, blankets, pillow cases, draw sheets, waterproof pads
·        Side rails
·        Towels/washcloths
·        Plastic basin, emesis basin bedpan, fracture bedpan, urinal
·        Hospital gowns
·        Rolling table
·        Chair
·        Bureau or shelves
·        Bedside commode
·        Walker, cane, crutches
·        Plastic garbage bags--large & small
·        Plastic garbage cans (2)
·        Toilet tissue and paper towels
·        Tissues
·        Baby wipes
·        Body wash, talcum powder, lotion, diaper cream, waterless
·        Cotton swabs
·        Disposable exam gloves
·        Thermometer with holder
·        Clipboard, paper, pens
·        Bleach, hand sanitizer, air freshener, surface cleaner
·        Tape
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES FOR CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
·        Several large, heavy sheets of clear plastic (for vestibule)
·        Heavy washers or drapery weights
·        Duct tape
·        Heavy duty stapler
·        PVC pipe
·        Shelves or table for vestibule
·        Disposable paper gowns, hair covers, shoe covers, masks
·        Large tub for soaking contaminated linens
·        Tarps for wrapping bodies
 
 
 

How To Dress For Winter Weather


How To Dress For Winter Weather

What a difference the right clothing can make. The weather may be cold, windy and wet, but you're warm and dry because you're wearing authentic winter apparel. Whether you're skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or just running errands, versatile winter apparel is worth the investment.

Shopping for winter clothing can seem a bit overwhelming. New fabrics and insulations are constantly making apparel warmer, more breathable and more waterproof. Fashions seem to change by the season. But don't worry. This guide is designed to give you some basic information about dressing for winter and will make your next shopping trip a lot easier.

Skip to...

·        Layer Up: Proper winter dressing means three layers # wicking, insulating and protection. Find out what kind of clothing is best for each.

·        Accessorize: What to wear on your head, eyes, hands and feet

·        Fashion Tips: How to get the best clothing fit, and what not to wear in the snow

Layer Up
The best way to dress for winter is to wear layers. This gives you flexibility to add or remove layers, depending on the weather and your activity. In general,the three main layers are wicking, insulating and weather protection.

Wicking layer: This is the layer worn next to your skin, usually consisting of long underwear.

·        Look for thermal underwear made of a synthetic # usually polyester # fiber that has "wicking" power. This means the fibers will wick (move) moisture away from your skin and pass it through the fabric so it will evaporate. This keeps you warm, dry and comfortable. Silk is also a good, natural fabric that has wicking abilities.

·        Even though it's cold, you will sweat # especially if you are cross country skiing or snowshoeing.

Insulating layer: This middle layer includes sweaters, sweatshirts, vests and pullovers. The purpose of this layer is to keep heat in and cold out, which is accomplished by trapping air between the fibers. Popular insulation materials include:

·        Fleece, a synthetic material which maintains its insulating ability even when wet and spreads the moisture out so it dries quickly.

·        Wool, which naturally wicks away moisture.

Protection layer: The exterior layer, generally a shell and pants, serves as your guard against the elements of winter. It should repel water from snow,sleet or rain and block the wind, while also letting perspiration evaporate.

·        Most genuine winter shells and pants are made waterproof and breathable to some extent by using tightly woven fabrics teamed with a coating or laminate. This keeps moisture on the outside but allows perspiration to escape, keeping you dry and comfortable.

·        Depending on the weather and type of winter activity you will be doing, you may be interested in uninsulated pants and jackets/shells, or garments with increasing amounts of insulation.

·        One-piece suits, which combine a jacket and pants, are popular with many alpine skiers, especially on cold days and days where there is a lot of fresh powder snow.

·        Look for functional hoods, cuffs, pockets and zippers # details that truly make garments comfortable in a snowstorm.

·        Although less baggy than in previous years, most snowboard clothing is still designed to fit looser than alpine skiwear, giving snowboarders freedom of movement. In addition, many snowboard pants are reinforced in the seat and knees for extra protection when kneeling or sitting on the snow.

Accessorize
Headwear: Up to 60 percent of your body's heat can escape from an uncovered head, so wearing a hat, headband or helmet is essential when it's cold. (Tip: If you wear a hat, you may be able to wear one less layer on your body.) There are thousands of styles of hats and headbands, usually made from fleece or wool. Many have non-itch liners. Helmets are becoming very popular. Not only do they protect your head from bumps, but they also keep your head warm. A fleece neck gaiter (like a collar) or face mask is a must on cold days.

Sunglasses and goggles: Sunglasses do much more than make you look cool. They also protect your eyes from damaging solar radiation. Snow, or any other reflective surface, makes ultraviolet (UV) rays stronger, while increased altitude also magnifies the danger. On flat-light days or when it's snowing, goggles are vital. They protect your eyes and special lens colors increase the contrast so you can properly discern terrain features.

Gloves and mittens: Look for gloves and mittens that use waterproof, breathable fabrics. Mittens, in general, are warmer than gloves, but offer you less dexterity. Consider the type of activity you'll be doing. Snowboarding gloves and mittens often have a reinforced palm because of extra wear from adjusting bindings and balancing on the snow. Some snowboarding gloves and mittens also have built-in wrist guards, which are excellent for novice snowboarders. Cross country skiing gloves tend to be lighter-weight for extra movement and because you perspire more.

Socks: One pair of light-weight or medium-weight socks works best for skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing. Socks are made from a variety of materials, including polyester, silk, wool and nylon. Some socks have wicking properties similar to long underwear, meaning your feet will stay dry and comfortable.

Fashion Tips

·        The wicking layer should fit snugly (not tight) next to the skin in order to effectively wick moisture. Comfort is key for the insulating layer. It should be loose enough to trap air between layers, but not so bulky that it restricts movement. Whether you are a skier, snowshoer or snowboarder, your protection layer should fit comfortably, offering you maximum range of motion.

·        Look for 100 percent UV protection in sunglasses. Make sure the glasses fit snugly behind your ears and rest gently on the bridge of your nose.

·        Goggles should form an uninterrupted seal on your face, extending above your eyebrows and below your cheekbones. Watch for gaps, especially around your nose.

·        Don't buy gloves or mittens that are too tight. There should be a little air space at the tips of your fingers, which acts as additional insulation.

·        Don't wear jeans or street pants. Denim is not waterproof, so water will soak through and you'll end up cold, wet and miserable.

·        Cotton is a no-no. Cotton is great for towels, because cotton soaks up and retains moisture. That's precisely why cotton is all wrong for on-slope apparel. It absorbs moisture (sweat and snow), and retains it. When the wind blows, you will get very, very cold. Don't wear cotton athletic socks, cotton jeans, cotton sweatshirts, or cotton T-shirts.

·        Resist the temptation of putting on too many pairs of socks. You'll restrict circulation and actually cause your feet to get colder.

For more information please visit WinterFeelsGood.com

The original post to this link, can be found at: http://www.weather.com/activities/recreation/ski/articles/snowboarding_dress.html