Winter Asthma and Allergy Tips

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA) offers some advice for helping minimize allergy and asthma triggers in your home this season:

• Most people store decorations in attics, basements or garages, and they can pick up dust, mold and other irritants while in storage. Thoroughly clean these before using them in your home. If one or more irritants is a trigger for you, wear a mask while cleaning. When you’re done with decorations, clean them again before you seal them in plastic bags and store them in airtight containers.
• If you or a loved one suffers from a tree or pollen allergy, artificial decorations can be a less irritating substitute, provided you opt for one that’s not coated with sprayed-on adornments. If you will be using a “living” decoration, you can reduce mold problems by thoroughly wiping it down where practical with a solution of lukewarm water and diluted bleach (one part bleach to 20 parts water). Before you bring any decoration inside, use a leaf blower to remove pollen grains.
• Everyone loves the smell of cooking, and subtle, sweet fragrances, but scent-creating home accessories can be irritants. Limit the use of air fresheners like candles, oils and potpourri. If you really want to fill your home with a special aroma, try baking using naturally fragrant ingredients like vanilla, cinnamon or citrus.
• A crackling fire can create a warm, festive mood for gatherings. To minimize potential irritation, don’t use wood-burning stoves or fireplaces at all. If you use a gas fireplace, check vents and use secured doors, rather than screens, to reduce smoke entering the room.
• When giving a welcoming or other gift to someone with allergies or asthma, keep their potential triggers in mind. For example, some children with asthma may be irritated by the materials commonly used in stuffed animals. Look for products that do not have sensitizing or allergenic chemicals such as formaldehyde. You can also find a list of allergy and asthma-friendly products on the AAFA website, www.aafa.org/certified.
• When welcoming guests having allergies or asthma, take preventative steps to help minimize irritants. Give your home a thorough cleaning (you probably would anyway) using cleaning products that can reduce allergens from hard surfaces, but that do not use harsh, potentially irritating chemicals. Vacuum using a high quality vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to reduce the chance of disturbing dust into the air. Don’t forget to change your furnace filters as well. Use a high efficiency filter that can last up to 90 days.

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Hold to Clean Mold

What should you do if you find mold in your home? Here are some tips from The Healthy House Institute...

• Start with vacuuming as much loose debris and soil as possible. It is preferable to use a HEPA vacuum, but a simple wet/dry vacuum can work. When using a wet/dry vacuum, attach a hose to the exhaust and vent the exhaust air to the outside. This keeps dust, spores and other fine particles from being suspended in the air and settling back on clean surfaces.
• Clean framing with a pressure washer or low-pressure flushing. Scrub framing with a mild detergent (e.g. dish soap) to remove embedded soils. Wipe all adjacent surfaces with a mild detergent. Rinse by low-pressure flushing or wiping with clean water. Vacuum all remaining moisture using a wet/dry vacuum.
• If mold is visible and remains after cleaning, additional scrubbing or multiple rounds of cleaning may be necessary. If significant mold growth is present, or if occupants have immune deficiencies, are elderly, pregnant, or if there are young children present, an IICRC* Certified restorer should be contacted. To find a local IICRC Certified Firm, go to www.iicrc.org or call (360) 693-5675.
• After all surfaces are clean, wipe surfaces with a sanitizer such as a solution of up to ¼ cup of bleach to one gallon of water. After 20 minutes, wipe surfaces using clean water. This step helps neutralize remaining or embedded contaminants.
• For those with chemical sensitivities, perform multiple rounds of cleaning as an alternative to using bleach.

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Coweta County Fire Department 17th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Champion Construction Systems participated in the Coweta County Fire Department 17th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on October 11th, 2013 at Orchard Hill Golf Club in Newnan, GA. Kim Beasinger and Greg Ahlstrom from Champion formed a foursome with David Rieder and Tomas Smith from American Family Insurance. We had a great time and wanted to share some of our photos from the tournament with you...

Prevent Mold Growth: Keep It Dry!

Mold is a 4-letter word that no one wants to hear. How can you prevent mold in your home? Here are some tips from The Healthy House Institute...

The cardinal rule for preventing mold growth is to keep surfaces dry. Strive to ensure your home stays dry and you will be following industry best practices for preventing mold growth and protecting the health of others in your home. It’s also a way to protect the investment of your home, since excess mold growth and moisture will damage the structure. Try to keep indoor humidity below 50 percent using air conditioning or a dehumidifier.

Tip: Use a water-sensing alarm (battery-operated) in moisture-prone areas such as next to the washer, hot water heater, in the basement and other possible wet zones, so you are alerted to the accumulation of excess moisture.

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Prevent Mold: Dry Water Damage Quickly!

Mold is a 4-letter word that no one wants to hear. How can you prevent mold in your home? Here are some tips from The Healthy House Institute...

• Mold spores are everywhere, and it is impossible to remove all spores and potential contaminants. All spores need to grow is moisture. To inhibit future mold growth, dry affected areas as quickly as possible, preferably within 24 to 48 hours from the completion of cleaning and sanitizing.
• The key is directing warm, dry air across wet surfaces. This directed airflow should be exhausted outside or collected using dehumidification equipment. Take care to not spread contaminants. Properly directing airflow may require putting up barriers or containing the affected areas to prevent the spread of contaminants to unaffected areas.
• Drying a wet building correctly is an art as well as a science. IICRC trained and certified experts know how to use state-of-the-art moisture detection and monitoring equipment that identifies hidden moisture in building materials, ventilation systems, flooring and walls. Certified restorers also understand and use the equipment necessary to dry buildings, while preventing the spread of contaminants.
• In a community-wide flood, the availability of power and rental equipment to complete structural drying can be a challenge. If drying cannot be properly initiated, contact an IICRC Certified Firm.

READ MORE TIPS AT HEALTHY HOUSE INSTITUTE

Check Out Our "Hey Punkin" Board on Pinterest!

Fall is the time of pumpkin-flavored everything but we can't get enough. If you feel the same way, follow our "Hey Punkin" board on Pinterest for a plethora of pumpkin delights!

It's Fire Safety Week! Follow Our Board on PINTEREST!

Smoke Alarm Facts

Here are some fast facts about smoke alarms from the NFPA.org...

• Almost two-thirds (62%) of reported home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.
• Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in reported home fires in half.
• In fires considered large enough to activate the smoke alarm, hardwired alarms operated 92% of the time, while battery powered alarms operated only 77% of the time.

Sparky's Aunt Dotty and her kitchen fire-safety rules for kids

Sparky® the Fire Dog's Aunt Dotty, teaches kids kitchen-safety rules from NFPA®'s new "Sparky the Fire Dog®'s Get Cookin' with Fire Safety" video!

"Sparky the Fire Dog®'s Get Cookin' with Fire Safety" video is the perfect mix of lively entertainment and solid kitchen fire safety lessons for children.

Kids will have a blast as they tune into this engaging episode of Sparky® TV where their favorite fire dog is joined by Sparky's Aunt Dotty, along with a cast of canine characters that include the happy and laid back Dude, and Safety Scout Steve, a Junior Safety Dog in training to teach them how to stay fire safe in the kitchen. First up in Sparky's Get Cookin' with Fire Safety DVD is Safety Scout Steve, a junior fire dog in training who interviews a real live chef to learn the rules so he can earn his kitchen fire safety merit badge. Next, the action shifts to Dude who provides comic relief as he tries to get a date at the pet store and even sings about his efforts. Little does he know that Aunt Dotty has arranged a dinner date for him, and as we watch her prepare the meal in her kitchen, she explains all about how to avoid stirring up trouble when cooking. The action concludes with a lively song from Sparky who reviews the safety messages and reminds kids that kitchen rules are your safety tools.

Prepare Now for Earthquakes

What we do now, before the earthquake, will determine what our lives will be like after.

• Do a "hazard hunt" for items that might fall in your home, school or working environment during earthquakes and secure them. Do an inspection for non-structural items (bookshelves, equipment, etc.) that might fall and cause possible injuries. Move or secure these items to provide a safer environment.


• Create a personal or family disaster-preparedness plan.
  • Plan for your family's specific needs (seniors, disabled, children, pets).
  • Teach all household members how to use a fire extinguisher.
• If you are a business or organization, develop, review and/or exercise your continuity plan to identify and practice organizational responsibilities.


• Organize or refresh your emergency supply kits. Be prepared for the possibility that you, your family or those in your school or work place may need to remain in place for 2-3 days.
  • Store at least 1 gallon (4 liters) of water per person, per day
  • What other supplies might you need if transportation routes were blocked and you needed to remain in the same place for an extended length of time?
  • Organize and refresh your emergency equipment – fire extinguishers, first aid, flashlights, food, crank radios, satellite phones, generators, fuel; make sure everyone in your family or work place know the location and how to utilize supplies.
  • What else would you need to be on your own for up to 2 weeks?
  • What would you need if you are in your car or office when the earthquake strikes?
• Consider whether earthquake insurance is right for you.


• Create a game where everyone responds to a signal by practicing Drop Cover and Hold On. Talk to children about what to expect during and after an earthquake.


• Contact your local Emergency Program to learn more about how to take care of yourself and your family when you are “on your own” after a disaster.