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Protect Your Investment: Close Up Your Home

Whether you're a seasonal resident or planning an extended trip, properly closing up your home will reduce the risk of finding problems when you return. Without certain precautions and preparations, Florida's  warm, humid climate can take its toll on a home. Learn what you can do to help prevent moisture problems, exterior deterioration, theft and vandalism while you're away.

How to Make Every Week Poison Prevention Week

In 1961, Congress enacted National Poison Prevention Week to be celebrated the third week of every March. But we believe poisonings can be prevented 365 days a year. Shockingly, 90% of all poisonings occur in the home, which is the one environment you would think people had the most control over.

A poisoning is when someone swallows, breathes, touches or gets splashed in the eye with a substance that can cause sickness or death. Yet not all of these substances are in and of themselves poisonous. An adult may take an aspirin to ease some pain, but when a two-year-old ingests a handful of pills thinking they're candy, it can result in much more than a headache.

Here are some poison-prevention tips:

• Keep all cleaning products out of sight and reach of children; install childproof safety latches on cabinets
• Store food and household cleaning products in separate areas
• Keep products in their original, labeled containers, and read those labels prior to use
• If the phone or doorbell rings when you're in the middle of using a product, close the bottle or box. Many incidents happen when adults are distracted
• Wash hands thoroughly after using a product, and, likewise, wash any utensils that may have been used to measure or dispense a product
• Turn on fans or open windows when using household and chemical products for proper ventilation
• NEVER combine cleaning agents with ammonia. Some chemical mixtures can create deadly fumes
• Don't use empty cleaning-product containers to store food, and, likewise, never use cups or baby bottles to store detergents or cleansers

In case of an accidental poisoning or emergency, call the number listed on the product label or call the U.S. Poison Control Center's toll-free hotline at 800-222-1222.

Learn more about the National Poison Prevention Week Council at www.poisonprevention.org. Help raise awareness about poisoning by following the Council at www.twitter.com/PreventPoison, liking the Facebook page and sharing these links with your family, friends and community.

Earned Income Tax Credit Can Put Money in Your Pocket

You could be eligible to get more money back from the IRS - as much as $5,751. If you earned less than $49,078 from wages, self-employment, or farming last year, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit  - or EITC.


EITC is a financial boost for working people in a recovering economy. You may be among the millions who will qualify for the first time because your financial, marital or parental status changed in 2011.


Eligibility is based on several factors, including the amount of earned and other types of income, or combined income if married, whether you have qualifying children and how many. Workers without children may also qualify.


Four of five eligible people claim and get their EITC. Use IRS's online EITC Assistant to see if you qualify. If so, you must file and claim the credit to get it.


Free help is available at volunteer income tax assistance sites. Locate a volunteer site by calling United Way 2-1-1 of Manasota for local services or call the IRS at 1-800-906-9887.


If you file in a state other than Florida, your state may also have an EITC, so you could get back even more.


EITC. You earned it. Now file, claim it and get it!

Clean Ideas: Going Beyond Green While Getting Clean

Laundry Tips That Promote Sustainability

Sustainable laundry practices are good for the environment and your budget. While it may be easy to find green products, going beyond green is about more than choosing a green product. It's about proper use, dosage and recycling. Follow these simple tips and make a commitment to go beyond green in your laundry room!

• Make proper use of your washing machine's capacity. Washing one load will take less energy than washing two smaller loads. To get a feel for proper load size, check your machine's load capacity, and then weigh out a few loads of laundry to get a sense of how much volume 10 or 18 or 20 pounds represents. Based on this, use your eye to judge the volume for future loads.
• If your hot-water supply is limited, start with the hot-water wash load, then follow with warm, then cold.
• Use cold water for the rinse cycle.
• Pay attention to water levels and select the right amount of water for each load of laundry. Avoid over-filling your washing machine to save water and energy.
• Follow garment care instructions to select the right water temperature. Select a lower water temperature when possible.
• Presoaking heavily soiled clothes may mean that a cooler wash temperature can be used.
• Treat stains promptly so no extra laundry cycles are required.
• Use the recommended amount of detergent, bleach and fabric softener. It will give you top performance and can help you save money and a small piece of the Earth.
• Concentrated laundry products save packaging and transportation energy costs. Do your part by disposing empty laundry product containers at your local recycling facility.
• The two biggest energy uses when doing laundry come from heating the water and drying the load. Always follow fabric care labels and instructions: wash with the coldest water possible and spin at the highest recommended speed to remove water.
• When drying clothes, put similar types and weights together. Lightweight synthetics, for example, dry much more quickly than bath towels and natural-fiber clothes.
• Don't over dry clothes. Too much heat, too often, can help wear them out before their time. If you take the clothes out while they are still slightly damp, it can reduce the need for ironing – another energy saver.
• To conserve energy and save money, consider using a clothesline to dry your laundry outdoors, instead of using your gas or electric dryer.
• Clean the dryer's lint filter after each use. A clogged filter will restrict flow and reduce dryer performance.

Tips provided by The American Cleaning Institute

For more information on keeping your family clean, safe, and healthy visit http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/FCS/healthyhomes.shtml

A Fresh Look at School Lunches in the Cafeteria or the Lunch Box

We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but lunch is not far behind.  After a healthy lunch, kids have better concentration and performance. With our lunch box tips and new school cafeteria nutrition standards, it’s easy to ensure your child’s lunch is delicious and satisfies their growing body’s needs.

In the Cafeteria: USDA revamps school nutrition standards

In an effort to lower childhood obesity rates - which have been climbing rapidly over the past three decades - the Obama Administration is raising the bar on school nutrition. 

With the help of First Lady Michelle Obama, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed a new set of regulations for school meals on January 25, 2012. This marked marking the first overhaul of these standards in more than 15 years. 

As a complement to the new rules, the government is also expanding funding for schools which meet its nutrition requirements for the first time in 30 years.

Under these rules, cafeterias will now offer double the amount of fruits and vegetables, increase whole grain options, and reduce the amounts of saturated fat, trans fat and sodium. Gone is whole milk, to be replaced by skim and 1 percent. Portion sizes will be based on children's age groups, so that they are not consuming too many or too few calories.  For more information visit http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/01/in-an-effort-to-lower/

In the Lunch Box: Healthy Lunch Box Ideas

Pack a nutritious lunch with the help of ChooseMyPlate.gov.  Include at least one fruit, one vegetable and a grain, some protein and a dairy product to help your kids get the nutrients they need to stay healthy.

Here are some examples of healthy options from each food group:

• Fruits: apple, banana, orange, grapes, dried fruits or 100% fruit juice
• Vegetables: baby carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, a mini salad with low fat dressing.
• Grains: whole grain breads, pita, tortillas, crackers, or low fat cereal bars.
• Protein: peanut butter, nuts, bean dip or low-fat reduced sodium turkey or ham.
• Dairy: low fat versions of yogurt, milk, string cheese or cottage cheese.

If you pack hot soup, keep it hot in an insulated thermos.  Use cold packs to keep cold foods cold or freeze juice boxes the night before.

For more information on keeping your family clean, safe, and healthy, visit http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/FCS/healthyhomes.shtml

How Many a Day?

How many fruits and vegetables do you need to eat every day?  Everybody is different.  Enter your age, sex, and level of activity to find the amount that’s right for you at fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov. You will find recipes, budgeting tips, and interactive tools and more, to help you make healthier choices.