Preparing a Sleeping Area for a Child with Asthma

Posted on April 12, 2012 by wendy

Guest post from Jim Gates, CAFS:

When you are dealing with a child with asthma, it is very important to ensure that you do everything that you can to prevent asthma symptoms from occurring. An asthma attack can be devastating to a young body and severe attacks can result in hospitalization and a significant recovery time.

According to the Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma-in-children/AS00034, because asthma can’t be cured, it’s important for parents to have formal a plan to minimize symptoms. One important part of this type of plan lies with making sure that children with asthma have a sleeping area designed to minimize exposure to symptom triggers.

Three Steps to Preparing a Sleeping Area to Minimize Symptoms

In order to prepare a sleeping area for a child with asthma, attention to detail and a high level of cleanliness is necessary for creating an area that will be comfortable for the child to sleep in.

1. Dust Furniture With Dust Capturing Product

The first thing that you should do to prepare a sleeping area for a child with asthma is dust the furniture in the room with a product that captures dust instead of just brushing it off of surfaces. The frame, headboard, and footboard of the bed should be dusted thoroughly to limit the amount of dust that is around the child while he or she is sleeping. If you notice that there seems to be a lot of dust in the sleeping area, you may want to consider installing a high quality air filter into the home’s HVAC system to remove more of the dust from the air inside the home.

2. Cover Mattress And Box Spring With Protective Cover

Dust mites and their offspring live and breed deep within the mattresses and box springs used in sleeping areas across the nation. To protect people with allergies and asthma, some manufacturers have begun making protective coverings for all sizes of mattresses and box springs that prevent allergens from coming through the covering including baby beds and toddler beds. These coverings are used to cover the mattress before the sheets and blankets are put on to provide an additional layer of protection from anything that may be in the mattress.

3. Wash Bedding And Pillows

Before placing a child with asthma in a sleeping area, all of the bedding and pillows should be washed thoroughly using the washing directions the manufacturer has placed on the tags of the items. Washing these items before allowing the child to sleep on them will remove any contaminants or pollutants that may be present on the items that you may not know about. This is especially important for bedding that has been recently purchased as many companies spray their products with chemicals before shipping to protect them from pests, bacteria, and mold. If the child likes to have stuffed toys in their sleeping area, these should be washed thoroughly as well.

About the Author

Jim Gates, CAFS, is the brand manager for Quality Filters, Inc. (http://qualityfilters.com), a leading manufacturer and distributor of high quality home and commercial air filters. The company’s products are available online at BuyFilters.com (http://buyfilters.com).

Great thanks to Jim for his informative post! I will be back on Tuesday with tips on how to Green Your Clean!

Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for AirTek Indoor Air Solutions and our affiliate Alliance Environmental Group. We welcome your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on environmental services like mold remediation, lead removal and pest control including bed bugs, Like us at Alliance Environmental on Facebook or follow Alliance on Twitter!

Happy National Networking Week!

Posted on April 10, 2012 by wendy

We would love to connect with you on social media and here on the blog–here’s what you get and how to get it wherever you are!

Since you’re here already, I suspect you know about the AirTek Blog, but did you know that we publish every Tuesday and Thursday before 10am? Our topics range from government regulations about airborne contaminants to helpful tips for improving your indoor environment. We also feature guest posts by Jim Gates from the Breathe blog once a month. If you have a topic to suggest, we would be happy to write about that, too!

What you may not know is that our environmental services division, Alliance Environmental Group, also has a blog which publishes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday before 10am. The Alliance Blog talks about everything from bed bugs and other pests to crime and trauma scenes and lots more! We report on the news about asbestos, toxic mold, lead paint, government regulations and standards and how to solve your environmental challenges.

If you don’t have a lot of time to surf, you can subscribe to our blogs in your RSS reader:

AirTek Indoor Air Solutions Blog RSS Feed

Alliance Environmental Group Blog RSS Feed

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Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek both have active Facebook pages. “Like” us on Facebook for pictures and updates on events and ways you can help us give back to our communities! We post photos and links to news stories that you might be interested in as well. We would also love to chat with you! We are posting and monitoring every business day!

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Twitter

Our time on Twitter is well spent establishing and building relationships with other users talking about the issues that are important to us–and you! For example, the movement to ban asbestos and promote asbestos awareness is very important to us, as well as the issues surrounding lead poisoning and new research on the dangers of toxic mold. We are actively promoting and retweeting important news stories about these and other health issues and helpful hints for improving your environment. Follow us and we will follow you back!

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If you’re really into networking, you might be on LinkedIn more than other platforms and we are there, too! You can follow our Company for updates and discussions and even connect with us!

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Roxana Zenkel, Marketing in the Los Angeles area

And feel free to connect with me: Wendy Stackhouse on LinkedIn

Hope you had a lovely weekend and that we see you soon on social media!

Fusobacterium: Commonly Found and Dangerous

Posted on April 5, 2012 by wendy

The Indoor Air Quality Association uploaded a new video this week and, as usual, it is very informative and interesting. I always learn something from them!

This time they are teaching us about the Fusobacterium, a rod shaped pathogen that can cause gum disease, skin ulcers and Lemierre’s Syndrome.

Lemierre’s Syndrome can develop when a young healthy person contracts Strep Throat. The Fusobacteria enters the bloodstream via the lesions in the throat and creates an infected blood clot. This blood clot then can travel through the body to the heart or lungs and is potentially fatal. Another good reason to treat possible Strep Throat promptly!

Gum disease is linked with heart attacks and skin ulcers are nothing to be neglectful of, either. The Fusobacterium is found pretty much everywhere, but is especially dangerous in hospitals where it can enter the body via surgery or other procedures.

Keeping the ventilation systems in hospitals and other healthcare facilities clean and sanitized is an essential part of providing high quality care and treatment to patients. All such facilities should be following a regular schedule of duct cleaning and maintenance to ensure that there are no bacterial contaminants threatening the wellbeing of the people who are there for care.

AirTek offers duct cleaning and sanitizing for hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, medical offices and anywhere that dangerous bacteria can be a threat. Contact us if you need to clean or maintain your healthcare facility’s ventilation systems anywhere in California.

Spring Cleaning Can Bring on Indoor Air Issues

Posted on April 3, 2012 by wendy

This time of year, it’s easy to get excited about doing some cleaning, right?

Open up the windows, wash the drapes, clean the carpets, dust every surface–each task gives us that spring clean feeling.

Right up until it gives us a nasty headache.

Spring cleaning is great for surfaces and textiles, but not always so great for the air quality in your home. And when you open those windows, you’re letting the pollen and mold spores in with the fresh air.

But don’t despair! It’s still worth doing all that cleaning, you just need to put a little thought into it with your elbow grease!

Change your filters–The filter in your air purifier (you do have one, right?), the furnace, air conditioner or HVAC system and your vacuum will do a better job if it’s new and clean.
Start at the top–Work your way from high to low when you clean a room. Dust ceiling fans, wash drapes and clean furniture before you work on the floor. When you get to the carpets, be sure you are using a good vacuum that doesn’t just distribute the dirt, but really gets rid of it.
Clean your ducts–Spring is the perfect time to have regular maintenance done on your air ducts, kitchen exhaust vents and dryer vents to make sure there are no contaminants and to minimize the danger of fire.
Dehumidify–A dehumidifier reduces the moisture level in your home, helping to avoid the growth of mold and the spores that can cause allergic reactions.
Cleaning Products–A little baking soda and vinegar can go a long way. Check out this website on the uses of this great home mixture! If you want to use commercially available cleaning products, look for greener options. But whatever you use, clean with the windows open to avoid reactions to strong scents that can lead to dizziness and headaches.
You Too Can Make Poison Gas–Never mix bleach with ammonia or use bleach cleaners on toilets or mold. The nasty gas that is produced can cause unconsciousness that can lead to a tragic outcome from your spring cleaning project!

AirTek can help you with commercial and residential duct cleaning, kitchen exhaust vents, dryer vents and other indoor air quality maintenance, so if you are in California, give us a call or send us an email!

We hope you got through this April Fool’s Day with your sense of humor intact!

SLIDESHOW: Ronald McDonald House Dinner with Friends

Posted on March 29, 2012 by wendy

Matt Teeter sent me some great photos from the Ronald McDonald House Dinner with Friends event that we were promoting earlier this month and I thought you would enjoy a slideshow!

The event was a great success thanks to many, many sponsors, donors and guests! Great thanks to Sponsor Narrative Images for the gorgeous photos!

Here is a link to the slideshow on the Alliance Environmental Group blog!

We would like to thank all of our wonderful co-sponsors for their generous participation in support of this incredible organization.

The Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home for the families of critically ill children in cities all over the US. Were it not for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, families would not be able to travel with their children to get the care they need. We hope you will continue to support the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego or the Ronald McDonald House nearest your city!

Alliance Blog: Early Spring Brings Early Pests

Posted on March 27, 2012 by wendy

The Alliance Environmental Group website is having some maintenance done this week and so my blog from yesterday never made it out onto the web! But, hey, waste not, want not, right? Here is what I posted yesterday–enjoy!

Nightline ran a story this weekend about bugs coming out early for spring because of the almost national heat wave of the last few weeks.

It’s been colder than usual in Southern California, but after this weekend’s rains, we might very well begin to see some mosquitos and ants. And a longer termite season isn’t good for anyone! Airborne allergens are also picking up early this year–pollen and mold are already becoming a health concern for many people!

Here is a link to the Nightline video!

Because of the odd weather patterns, now is a good time to:

Make sure there is no standing water in your yard–it only takes a few hours for mosquitos to start their lifecycle in a puddle or fountain catch basin. When you finish your spring gardening for the day, make sure to dump out anything still holding water.

Do a thorough visual inspection of your home or other building for leaks, damp areas, and entry points for insects and do any necessary repairs or maintenance. Bugs and mold can take hold quickly.

If you discover a mold problem or insect infestation, take care of it promptly!

Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek offer ThermaPureHeat services in California to eradicate Termites and other Insect Pests, Mold Remediation and other environmental issues that can happen in your home or other structure. Heat treatment eliminates all adult, larva and insect eggs in one treatment without the use of dangerous chemicals. Contact us for help with these issues, as well as lead paint, asbestos, trauma scene cleanup or demolition projects!

On a personal note, we are back from Spring Break and hope yours is (or was) as fun as ours!

Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. We welcome your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!

VIDEO: Indoor Air Quality and Your HVAC System

Posted on March 22, 2012 by wendy

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recently posted a very informative video about the airborne contaminants which affect the indoor air in our homes and offices.

Did you know you should probably change your air filters every 2 months?

Did you know that the standard 1-inch filters used in most homes don’t filter out much in the way of particles at all?

Did you know that the ducts in most homes have never been cleaned and are probably harboring and distributing construction dust every day?

AirTek offers commercial and residential duct cleaning services all over California. If your ducts have never been cleaned or you are concerned about your indoor air quality, contact us for a consultation. Our teams are ready to tackle any air duct cleaning project quickly and professionally and our staff includes six NADCA Certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialists and one NADCA Certified Ventilation Inspector.

Spring is a great time to think about the air quality in your home! Before you rev up that air conditioning, make sure it’s not circulating particles and chemicals that you would rather have outside than in!

Finding the Hidden Allergy Triggers in Your Home

Posted on March 20, 2012 by wendy

A guest post from Jim Gates, CAFS

There are a number of different places that allergy triggers can hide within your home. These triggers can make your home a very uncomfortable place for anyone who is sensitive to allergens and can lead to severe reactions in people who are susceptible to them.

Three Hidden Allergy Triggers

Finding the hidden allergy triggers in your home and removing them effectively will make your home a much more pleasant place for you and your family members.

1. Animal Dander

Animal dander is typically associated with large dogs that shed and furry cats, but the truth is that any animal with fur and skin will produce animal dander that can trigger allergies in the people living in or visiting your home.

The areas where the animals live and play will have the highest concentrations of pet dander and the movement of the animal in these areas can release old dander that has settled back into the air.

To limit the amount of animal dander throughout your home, limit the animals to certain areas, clean these areas thoroughly on a frequent basis, and purchase a high quality air conditioner filter that is capable of removing pet dander from the air in your home.

2. Dust Mites

Dust mites can be anywhere in a home and their droppings and decayed body parts create the dust that you see on various items in your rooms. Getting rid of this dust is an important key to keeping the allergens in your home under control, but dust can hide in places that you would never think to look.

When you are dusting your home, be sure to lift items and move them around so that you can clean all areas around them and make sure that you are using a dusting product that traps the dust so that you are not just brushing dust off surfaces and into the air.

3. Pollen

Pollen is one of the most prevalent allergy triggers found in a home, especially in the spring and fall months when pollen counts are high. It’s important to take steps to reduce the amount of pollen in your home to avoid triggering allergy symptoms in people who are allergic to pollen.

A few ways to reduce the presence of pollen inside your home include:

Keep your doors and windows closed as much as possible during the times when the pollen count is highest
Install a high quality air conditioner filter that can remove small pollen particles from the indoor air.
Consider removing outerwear and shoes in an area close to the entry doors of the home to prevent disbursing pollen from outdoors throughout the home.

Reduce Triggers for Improved Indoor Air Quality

Taking these steps to reduce the presence of common allergy symptom triggers in your home can help keep your indoor air quality at a high level and ensure that you, the other residents of your home, and the friends and family members who visit you can breathe the cleanest possible air.

About the Author

Why Clean Your Ducts?

Posted on March 15, 2012 by wendy

Because they get dirty! See you Tuesday!

Just kidding! You need to know the benefits of having a clean HVAC system!

Energy Savings

As we discussed on the blog last week, a dirty system works harder, uses more energy and has a shorter lifespan, needing to be replaced more often. The Department of Energy tells us that 25-40 percent of heating and cooling energy is wasted!

During normal use, the filters in your HVAC system will eventually fill up with particles and need to be replaced with clean filters that work efficiently. The cost of clean filters is dwarfed by the cost of energy in today’s market.

Indoor Air Quality

We spend most of our time indoors and the air we breathe there can be much more polluted than the outside air, even in major metropolitan areas. Buildings are very well insulated and sealed to keep heat and air conditioning in, but it becomes difficult for airborne contaminants to escape.

In addition, the occupants of a building make their own air pollution like dust, dander and chemicals from cleaning products, carpeting and furniture. Recirculation of all of these contaminants throughout the day causes buildup in the ducts.

Although you may not have a “sick building,” contaminants in your HVAC system may be contributing to allergic reactions, lost productivity and health problems for those with respiratory challenges like asthma.

Having a clean HVAC system is worth the cost—especially since the cost of cleaning is so much less than the extra energy it takes to run a dirty system and the even greater liability for replacing the system when it has reached the end of its working life. AirTek offers commercial and residential duct cleaning services all over California and we would be very happy to talk to you about cleaning your HVAC system as well as setting up a schedule for routine maintenance!

What Do You Know About…Tetanus?

Posted on March 13, 2012 by wendy

I came across a video from the Indoor Air Quality Association and thought I would share it with you in case you, like me, get questions from your children about Tetanus, Lockjaw and whether that painful shot is really worth it.

Tetanus is a bacterium and the structure that causes infection is called an endospore. Tetanus bacteria cannot survive exposure to oxygen, but if it enters your body, typically via a wound, it can cause muscle spasms and stiffness which start in the face and neck (lockjaw) and spread to the rest of the body.

Most people think that it takes a rusty nail to give you tetanus, but a rusty nail only provides an ideal carrier for the disease and can commonly be found where dogs, horses, cows, sheep and other animals live. You can get tetanus via any wound. A puncture wound is a very low-oxygen injury, however, and does make it easier for the bacterium to reproduce.

I don’t want to spoil all the information in the video, but I will tell my children when they get home from school that, yes, that shot is worth it!

AirTek offers air duct cleaning services which eliminate all varieties of bacteria from your indoor air environment and, clearly, some bacteria are very dangerous! To be sure that your ventilation system is disease free, have it cleaned on a regular schedule!