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Five things to keep in your car's glove box

Whether it’s a long drive to visit family or a quick trip to the local shopping centre, your car should always be equipped with a few essential items. Does your car have all of these items? While many of today’s new cars feature the latest gadgets and technologies for comfort and safety, many don’t come with other useful everyday items which are vital in case of emergency or an unforseen event. For example, a flashlight would come in handy if you need to change a tyre in the evening or an in-car phone charger for when your battery has gone flat. By storing these types of essential items in your glove box, you’ll always be prepared for when life takes an unexpected turn. 1. Important documents wallet One item that should always be stored away in the glove box is a plastic folder or wallet with your vehicle documents, such as owner’s manual, emergency contact numbers and proof of insurance. A spare pen and paper will also come in handy. The owner’s manual should always be left in the car so you never lose it and should be the first point of reference for when experiencing car trouble. 2. Plastic bags and tissues You would be surprised at the number of times you’ll need a plastic bag or some tissues. There could be a spill, a car mess or a passenger may not be feeling well. All good reasons for keeping a few plastic bags handy. The same can be said for tissues or wet wipes, which will be useful if your hands get greasy from having to change a tyre or lift up the hood of the car to check the oil and water levels. 3. First aid kit Always a good inclusion no matter where you go. A basic first aid kit can be purchased from your local pharmacy. Along with the basic contents, such as bandages, antiseptic cream or solution, and a pair of tweezers, make sure you include any items specific to you. If your first aid kit won’t fit in the glove box, pop it under the front passenger seat so it’s easily accessible, if needed. 4. Torch For long trips, it’s a good idea to have a torch stowed away. You never know when you might need to change a tyre or inspect your vehicle for unusual sounds that might occur whilst driving at night. A small LED flashlight would do the trick – and remember to keep a spare pack of batteries in the glove box too. 5. Mobile phone charger Back in the days before we all had mobile phones, we actually remembered phone numbers! However, nowadays, many of us have these important digits stored away in our phones. This makes having a spare phone charger very important, especially when you need to contact someone and your phone has run out of battery. There are phone car charges which you can plug into the power outlet in your car to then charge the battery on your mobile phone. Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

(At least) five reasons you should wear gardening gloves

Gardening is a great way to relax, be one with nature and get your hands dirty. But lurking in that pleasant environment are some nasty bacteria and fungi, with the potential to cause you serious harm. So we need to be vigilant with gardening gloves and other protective wear. Soils contain all sorts of bacteria and fungi, most of which are beneficial and do helpful things like breaking down organic matter. But just as there are pathogenic bacteria that live on your body amid the useful ones, some microorganisms in soil can cause serious damage when given the opportunity to enter the body. This commonly happens through cuts, scrapes or splinters. Plants, animal manure, and compost are also sources of bacteria and fungi that can cause infections. <h2>1. Tetanus</h2> Traditionally, the most common and well-known infection is tetanus, caused by Clostridium tetani, which lives in soil and manure. Infections occur through contamination of cuts and scrapes caused by things in contact with the soil, such as garden tools or rose thorns. Fortunately, most people have been vaccinated against tetanus, which means even if you are infected, your body is able to fight back against the bacteria to prevent it becoming serious. Symptoms include weakness, stiffness and cramps, with the toxins released leading to muscular paralysis and difficulty chewing and swallowing – hence the common term for tetanus of lockjaw. <h2>2. Sepsis</h2> Bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes are often present in gardens as a result of using cow, horse, chicken <a href="http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/urban_hort/Gardening-Infectious-Disease.PDF">or other animal manure</a>. Bacterial infections can lead to sepsis, where the bacteria enter the blood and rapidly grow, causing the body to respond with an inflammatory response that causes septic shock, organ failure, and, if not treated quickly enough, death. A <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/03/solicitor-dies-from-sepsis-five-days-after-injuring-her-hand-gar/">high-profile case recently occurred</a> in England, where a 43-year-old solicitor and mother of two died five days after scratching her hand while gardening. This hits close to home, as a number of years ago my mother spent ten days in intensive care recovering from severe sepsis, believed to be caused by a splinter from the garden. <h2>3. Legionellosis</h2> Standing pools of water may hold Legionella pneumophila, the bacteria causing Legionnaires’ disease, more commonly known to be associated with outbreaks from contaminated air conditioning systems in buildings. Related bacteria, Legionella longbeachae, are found in soil and compost. In 2016 there were <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/77013947/8-dangers-lurking-in-your-garden-that-you-might-not-know-about">29 confirmed cases of legionellosis in New Zealand</a>, including a Wellington man who picked up the bug <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/76915471/potting-mix-nearly-kills-wellington-man">from handling potting mix</a>. Another ten cases were reported in Wellington in 2017, again associated with potting soil. In New Zealand and Australia, Legionella longbeachae from potting mix accounts for approximately <a href="http://hcinfo.com/about/outbreaks/recent/">half of reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease</a>. There were <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/cda-cdi4001e8.htm">around 400 total cases</a> of Legionellosis in Australia in 2014. The bacteria is usually inhaled, so wearing a dust mask when handling potting soil and dampening the soil to prevent dust are recommended. <h2>4. Melioidosis</h2> An additional concern for residents of northern Australia is an infection called melioidosis. These bacteria (Burkholderia pseudomallei) live in the soil but end up on the surface and in puddles after rain, entering the body through cuts or grazes, and sometimes through inhalation or drinking groundwater. Infection causes a range of symptoms, such as cough and difficulty breathing, fever or sporadic fever, confusion, headache, and weight loss, with up to 21 days before these develop. In 2012, there were <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/warning-as-three-die-from-soil-disease/news-story/293f88df25be1ed673d8eea5c443e4dc?sv=d2b413f169f14cdab32b7c5257c75ced">over 50 cases in the Northern Territory</a>leading to three deaths, with <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-12/melioidosis-season-darwin-man-flees-deadly-dirt-disease/6846404">another case receiving publicity in 2015</a>. Preventative measures include wearing waterproof boots when walking in mud or puddles, gloves when handling muddy items, and, if you have a weakened immune system, avoiding being outdoors during heavy rain. <h2>5. Rose gardener’s disease</h2> A relatively rare infection is sporotrichosis, “rose gardener’s disease”, caused by a fungus (Sporothrix) that lives in soil and plant matter such as rose bushes and hay. Again, infections through skin cuts are most common, but inhalation can also occur. Skin infection leads to a small bump up to 12 weeks later, which grows bigger and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/sporotrichosis/index.html">may develop into an open sore</a>. An outbreak of ten cases was <a href="http://outbreaknewstoday.com/australia-sporotrichosis-outbreak-reported-in-the-northern-territory-41184/">reported in the Northern Territory in 2014</a>. Aspergillus, usually Aspergillus fumigatus, and Cryptococcus neoformans are other fungi that can cause lung infections when inhaled, usually in people with <a href="http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/gardening/fungal-infection-garden-work/">weakened immune systems</a>. Gardening activities such as turning over moist compost can release spores into the air. Of course, there are plenty of other dangers in the garden that shouldn’t be ignored, ranging from poisonous spiders, snakes and stinging insects, to hazardous pesticides and fungicides, poisonous plants, and physical injuries from strains, over-exertion, sunburn, allergies, or sharp gardening tools. So enjoy your time in the garden, but wear gloves and shoes, and a dust mask if handling potting soil or compost. And be aware if you do get a cut or scrape then end up with signs of infection, don’t delay seeing your doctor, and make sure you let them know what you’ve been doing. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/at-least-five-reasons-you-should-wear-gardening-gloves-89451" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home & Garden

Shop’s blunt sign causes stir online after banning gloves in store

A sign from an unknown store has caused furious debate online as it said all those wearing gloves would either have to remove them or be denied entry. The store, assumed to be located in the U.S, claims those wearing gloves are not stopping the spread of viruses, but in fact possibly creating cross contamination. “Absolutely no gloves allowed inside store - management,” the note says. “Gloves are meant to avoid cross-contamination. For instance, in a hospital, workers glove up to touch a patient and then DISCARD the gloves before moving on to the next task. If you are wearing the same set of gloves all over town, you are carrying germs everywhere! Every door you touch, the cart, the supplies, your phone, your face. “It would be far better to not wear gloves and WASH YOUR HANDS after every store or every task.” The photograph of the sign was shared over 60,000 times within the span of a week and gravitated many people who agreed with the note writer. “If you wear a clean pair of gloves into the store, pick up an item put it in your cart then pick up another item your gloves are contaminated, you have no idea who touched that item before you,” one person said. “Not everyone has common sense or knows anything about cross-contamination,” another wrote. “People are in fact wearing them store to store. Not even taking them off when they re-enter their vehicle after walking out of Walmart. “If there’s a medical condition, and you need gloves, wear them. But too many don’t understand their proper use, which isn’t helping and is preventing those that need them, from getting them.” Some people said they wash their gloves or change them between visiting each store. “So, I typically wash my gloves or wipe them with a Clorox wipe if going to a new store, usually I just use a new pair for each store. They absolutely are helpful,” said one woman in the comment section. Dr Catherine Bennett, chair in epidemiology at Deakin University explained to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/shop-sign-why-wearing-gloves-isnt-protecting-you-201747209.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News,</a> that there is a risk of gloves transferring virus’ from one surface to another. “If the wearer is not practicing the usual hygiene and awareness of the surfaces being touched that we should all be practising, this risk of cross contamination of surfaces may be higher with gloves on,” she said. “If people are less mindful of what they are touching, including their own face, or tissues etc, then this may increase the risk of spreading the virus from surface to surface further. “It may also undo any protection to the wearer if they are more likely to touch their face with the gloves on with a false sense of security.” Virologist Professor Ian Mackay, from the University of Queensland urges people to stop assuming a pair of gloves will protect them at all costs. He says they can actually increase the chances of someone becoming sick. “They will drag their hands all over the place thinking they’re safe, but they’re actually spreading potential viruses to other people,” he said. “They then leave those gloves, in some cases, in the shopping trolley or in the car park for other people that clean up the shopping trolley to come in to contact with, and risk their health because of laziness.”

Body

How to eradicate aphids

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on sap and leave a sticky deposit as they suck the juice from leaves and stems. They love nasturtiums but attack everything from herbs and vegies to vines, shrubs and trees, including roses, camellias, stone fruit and citrus. Aphids can be green, yellow, pink, brown, grey, black or woolly, and are only 2mm to 4mm long. These tiny insects are usually found clustering in large numbers on stems, flower buds and leaves, causing curled or distorted growth. Populations start building up in mid and late spring, developing from small colonies into heavy infestations in a matter of days. They don’t just destroy new growth but also spread disease, transmitting broad bean wilt, cucumber mosaic and other viruses. Aphids also secrete a sugar-rich substance called honeydew that attracts and feeds a type of fungus called sooty mould. Methods of control Aphids multiply rapidly, so a control program is very important. PICK aphids off by hand and squash them, making sure to wear gloves. BLAST aphids from plants by hosing regularly with a strong jet of water. WIPE off indoor plants with a cotton ball dipped in methylated spirits. SPRAY plants with insecticide, using low-toxicity formulas to protect edibles, pets and beneficial insects. ATTRACT natural predators like ladybirds into the garden by planting achillea or Queen Anne’s lace. PRUNE and bin heavily infested stems and shoots to stimulate new growth. Mixing home remedies Insects are repelled by garlic and cayenne pepper, so use it to make a spray that can be applied to plants as often as needed. Handle the solution carefully because capsaicin, the active ingredient in pepper, is a very powerful eye and skin irritant. COMBINE six unpeeled and crushed garlic cloves with one tablespoon of cayenne pepper in a clean bucket. ADD a litre of warm water and stir the mixture well for one minute then cover the container and leave in a location out of direct sunlight, letting it stand for two days. STRAIN the solution into a plastic spray bottle and use within 24 hours. Spotting and treating infestations Aphids usually attack soft, new young growth and can cluster unseen on the underside of leaves. Monitor plants throughout spring, checking the leaves for signs of aphid activity, and treat infestations immediately. <h4 class="p1">Herbs</h4> PROBLEM Leaves are distorted, yellowing or sticky SOLUTION Companion plant with nectar-rich species like scabiosa or sweet alyssum and include dill, fennel and chives to attract beneficial insects. <h4>Vegetables</h4> PROBLEM Leaves are curled, puckered or sticky SOLUTION Spray insecticidal soap directly onto aphids. To make your own, mix two tablespoons of pure soap flakes in a litre of water. <h4 class="p1">Flowers</h4> PROBLEM Insects cluster on buds and leaves are curled, distorted or yellowed SOLUTION Apply a botanical insecticide such as neem, spraying the foliage in the early evening. <h4 class="p1">Shrubs</h4> PROBLEM Distorted, sticky leaves. SOLUTION Make a pepper and garlic spray for heavily infested foliage and use as needed. It will very effectively protect roses from both sucking insects and fungal issues. <h4 class="p1">Fruit trees</h4> PROBLEM Leaves are misshapen and stunted SOLUTION Prune off and dispose of infested leaves, stems and shoots then spray the tree with white oil, making sure to coat the pests. <h4 class="p1">Citrus species</h4> PROBLEM Black insects cover new growth, leaves wither and buds drop SOLUTION Prune affected shoots to encourage new, healthy growth and apply pyrethrum, also spraying it around the base of the tree. Written by Artemis Gouros. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.handyman.net.au/eradicate-aphids">Handyman</a>.

Home & Garden

6 items every driver must have in their glove box

The humble glove box might just be the most neglected, yet most useful storage space in your vehicle. While it might not have the accessibility of the door accessory pocket, or the readiness of the beverage holder, the glove box is tailormade to store a range of items that will make your journey easier and ultimately safer. We’ve provided a detailed rundown of six items every driver must have in their glove box. To see all these items, scroll through the gallery above. Do you have these items in your glove box? <a href="https://oversixty.disconline.com.au/car/new_quote.jsp?hSty=EXOS&cgpCde=00272&hCenCde=10737&LinkId=12071&utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=insurance&utm_medium=in-article-banner-car-3&utm_content=car-insurance" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/EditorialAddon/201706_CarInsurance_EditorialAddon_468x60_3.gif" alt="Over60 Car Insurance - Get a quote!"/></a>

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Five things to keep in your car's glove box

(At least) five reasons you should wear gardening gloves

Shop’s blunt sign causes stir online after banning gloves in store

How to eradicate aphids

6 items every driver must have in their glove box

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