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GO GREEN, PLASTIC IS OBSCENE
Citizen Responsibility
Planet Vs Plastic Secrets You Should Know #WorldEarth Day
This year the theme is planet versus plastic and I have written extensively about that.Recently I read in a medical news update, that microplastics and nanoplastics were found in a specimen of atheromas blocking the carotid arteries that’s scary.
World Earth Day is today that is April 22nd and over the years I have tried to do my part with planting trees and since 2021 it’s now more than two hundred trees that I have planted in different plots of land plus the balcony gardening continues as a side project .I also try to visit resorts and locations which believe in staying close to nature and not disturbing the ecological balance.That way I am supporting nature even when I spend time traveling .
Development is crucial. But if we can land on the moon and visit myriad other places in the galaxy ,then keeping the earth clean and green shouldn’t be difficult .Listen to the podcast to know about Project Nature that our family is supporting since 2021.
Did you know the artificial turf that many use in their homes can cause health problems?Did you know when you grow micro greens in plastic containers you are harming your health?Did you know your paper plates and paper cups are laced with microplastics to make them water resistant?
Did you know one hour of nature time per week is known to cause a boost in your overall feeling of wellbeing ?Did you know its cooler under a Mango tree even in the scorching summer heat?
Sharing videos of my plant inspirations and my art inspired by nature.
Subscribe to the Healthwealthbridge Blog to stay updated.
Listen to the podcasts about how you can support Mother Earth
10 Simple Ways to beat plastic pollution
Other posts you might like
https://healthwealthbridge.com/nature-video-inspiration/
https://healthwealthbridge.com/why-planting-trees-is-more-important-than-ever-before/
World Earth Day Inspiring Quotes by Dr.Amrita Basu
What I plant today will give you food tomorrow.
The tree you plant today will shelter your child tomorrow.
The Earth is not just soil ,its an entire world of micro-organism,minerals and the seeds of life .
Go Green Stay Green
Green Power is REAL power
When you stand up for trees and Mother Earth you stand up for all living beings.
If not trees, then who will give us oxygen?
A seed today is a tree of tomorrow
Every seed is a world of potential.
Flowers know the secret of true happiness…making others happy.
Live like a flower.
Bloom where you are planted.
Those who garden ,will always reap gold.
If you can’t take care of nature ,you cant take care of yourself.
What we save ,saves us
Anuprita Misra
Through cracks and crevice,stick and stone ,seeds planted with love, will always grow.
Dr.Amrita Basu
World Earth Day Art dedicated to Mother Earth
How are you taking care of Mother Earth?Let me know in the comments below.
This is a V post and I preponed it for BlogchatterA2Z
Sharing is good Karma!
The Letter to America by Osama :Did American Gen Z fall victim to Tiktok?
If you don’t know this is about Osama’s Letter to America with a clear reason for 9/11 .Cut short he is killing nonbelievers as he believes that’s what he is destined to.
That is not unbelievable what’s horrific is American youngsters are feeling “existential crisis” because of that !The education system and parents both need to look inside because it’s never easy accepting that behavior .
But starting with a prayer.Thank God Tik tok and tiktoking is not legal in India .Because spreading disinformation, misinformation seems dangerously easy with little scope of culpability.
Since the content is misinformation I didn’t share the videos reading the letter.But sharing this to let you know that some people like chaos and they make money when ordinary citizens fall victim to terror and chaos.Don’t believe videos on social media,whatsapp about any even unless you can verify the source personally.Also don’t forward anything in Whatsapp groups which are legally,medically and financially problematic if classified as misinformation or disinformation.
Sharing is good Karma!
Fake COD Delivery Scam Using Amazon Delivery Partner-Beware
Yoyo Fashions a shop in Surat sent me a pre-stitched garment, an unstitched choli piece, and a dupatta on Saturday the 28th of October. It had Amazon shipping printed on it, received an SMS saying an Amazon delivery partner would deliver. It came. But one big problem.I never ordered from there. I don’t wear ghagra choli and luckily their data was all wrong. It was being tried for a cash on delivery or parcel delivery scam and it was not fun!
Read about the Jamtara scam that I was a target for and was saved by the almighty and my hubby’s quick thinking.
But forceful delivery of products with the address of the company printed on it made me realize, that someone is using data from the Amazon website to send people products through cash on delivery, and trying to dupe people is not cool. They also send a message saying an Amazon delivery person will deliver. It’s a problem. Kindly check your orders before accepting or paying because guess what? You have no way of returning it since you never ordered it!
It may be a phishing attempt and your account gets compromised when you pay online.But you can’t complain because guess what? You don’t have an order page because you never ordered.
It was the morning of Laxmi puja and I was planning my day while chatting with my husband who was fasting with me for the puja. It was Goddesse’s blessing that I received the money back even after opening the package because I returned it right away, practically within minutes. It was also the goodwill of the delivery company(maybe ?).
What I did Right
Immediately called and told him it was a wrong delivery and he needed to take it back or I was reporting him and the delivery partner to the local police and cybercrime division.
Didn’t pay online.
Didn’t share OTP.
Checked order history on the Amazon app and email for verification.
What I shouldn’t have done:
Accept the order when I had no notification of it.
A similar package was again sent for my husband which apparently the delivery agent canceled.I asked him whether they had checked with the company. He claimed many people had received packages from the same company which they had accepted. Very interesting to say the least. I wondered whether it’s usual for a company to be so casual about attempted fraud through their service. But that’s a question whose answer is blowing in the wind.
Who are they targeting?
People who have a large volume of shopping done online. That is people who have numerous parcels being delivered at home. Hence the Parcel scam.
People who accept multiple parcels at the same time and don’t check in the app before paying.Possibly in a hurry.
People who like Cash on delivery .The reason it’s called a cash-on-delivery scam.
People who don’t keep track of cybercrimes.
What’s their modus operandi?
Small amount of COD approximately 1000 to 1500 an amount they feel people won’t think twice about paying.
What can go wrong for you?
If you click on their link and put in the OTP generated. Your phone may be hacked or duplicated. Your banking data and other data were stolen and lost money from the bank. This can also happen if you share OTP for canceling an order.
What to do if they say the order cancellation requires an OTP to be shared? This is another method they are hacking into phones.
.Refuse and say since you didn’t place the order, you find no need to cancel it. In case of trouble call and report the crime to your nearest police station cybercrime division.
Have you ever faced something like this? What did you do?
I am reporting this to the cybercrime portal. I hope you do too if you face something like this.
Sharing is good Karma!
Rabies: Virus, Symptoms, Vaccine(What you should know) #WorldRabiesDay
Rabies: Virus, Symptoms, Vaccine(What you should know).World Rabies day is on 28th September and I wanted to write about it since then.But better late than never.
Rabies is a virus of the Lyssavirus genus spread by saliva of infected animals.It is known to cause a disease that has almost 100 percent known mortality. That’s the bad news. The good news is it’s almost 100 percent vaccine-preventable.Its an old disease with history dating back to 4000 years.
Rabies causes viral encephalitis which kills up to 70,000 people/year worldwide. Infected animal saliva transmits viral encephalitis to humans.
Primary prevention involves dog vaccination campaigns to reduce the virus reservoir.
If exposure occurs, timely post-exposure prophylaxis can prevent the progression to clinical disease .
Rabies eradication is possible but will need multifaceted approach where dog rabies control is crucial if the crux of the problem is to be addressed.
Tldr
The rabies vaccine and Anti Rabies serum are given for free in all Government hospitals all over India. In case of a dog, cat, or monkey bite, visit your nearest center immediately for the best result. Even for a pet or domestic animal vaccination is required as vaccine failure in pets can occur due to multiple reasons.
Rabies transmitted by the bite of which animals?
- 99% of human Rabies is caused by Dog bites
- Cat bites
- Other Bites: monkeys, horses, cows and other large mammals.
- Infected human bite
- In America: Hematophagous Bat bites (not reported in India). Bat-mediated rabies is also an emerging public health threat in Australia and Western Europe.(Source)
These animals don’t cause Rabies: Domestic rodent (rat) bites and bites by small mammals (e.g.rabbits, squirrels) .
The incubation period is usually 2 -3 months . May vary between 1 month to 1 year and has been reported even after 8 years.
Live and let live is a very good way of life. Kindness towards our animal friends is also great. But Rabies being endemic in India, being careful is crucial, and preventive healthcare is our strength and the reason I started Healthwealthbridge.
But I sincerely believe in the Bengali adage
Kids are happiest in the mother’s Lap and animals in the jungle. While urbanization made having domestic animals in the yard impossible, pets at home are usually well cared for and hopefully vaccinated.
This year’s World Rabies Day theme is: “All for 1, One Health for all”.
28 September this year will mark the 17th World Rabies Day.
In many countries having adequate vaccination is mandatory as otherwise, it amounts to cruelty to the animals. But what about the stray animals? Stray dogs in particular are a horror and anyone who has had to work at night in any part of West Bengal may have faced groups of angry barking dogs. The issue was so personal that I refrained from writing about it, as who needs trolling about a healthcare emergency that few understand or realize?
Incidents that made me decide to write.
No.1 A dear friend’s mom was scratched by a stray cat.
A close relative was scratched thrice by a monkey.
A colleague was badly mauled by a rabid dog (who went on to bite several others)in front of the medical college where we worked, while he was on his way to the operation theatre.
I was on a vacation and a family had brought a very large Dalmatian with them for a vacation. The young boy of the family decided to let the dog go loose and I was faced with a dog with both its forelegs on my shoulder(I am five feet tall) and my daughter in my lap. Luckily the dog only wanted to play!
Finally, a social media video on Twitter showing a child being attacked by several digs which I was unable to watch fully because of the triggering effect of the incident.
Everyone knows about Rabies and the “no cure” tag attached to it.
If any rabid dog/monkey bites anyone that person depending on the grade of bite must get the vaccine with or without the human antisera immediately. If the bite is anywhere in the face or neck the urgency is paramount. Visit your nearest Government health center or private clinic where vaccine and antisera can be given and emergency care is done.
One of the people who was mauled by the dog had his dominant hand totally devoid of muscles and tendons exposed. As with Antirabies protocol, it couldn’t be sutured and was left to heal by secondary intention. The trauma of it cannot be imagined. The dog was taken away by the municipality and no one knows whether he had bitten other dogs and humans.
The Rabies Problem in India
In India annually 21000 people have Rabies(Association of Prevention and Control of Rabies in India)and these people face death within 1 month of symptoms like hydrophobia becoming apparent. There is no treatment only post-exposure vaccine and vaccination of dogs and stray dog population control by humane methods.
The Rabies Problem in the World
Most cases reported in Africa and Asia .35% human rabies death occur in India. Less than 0.05% deaths due to human rabies occur in America.
In case of a suspected Rabid animal or any animal bite Woundcare
Clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Remember to keep cleaning the wound for at least 10 minutes under running water. Then clean with Povidone Iodine(Betadine solution ) and/or 70% alcohol spirit. The wound should not be bandaged. In case of bleeding, suturing done after infiltration of HRIG.
Rabies Symptoms:
There are two forms of rabies:
Furious rabies: hyperactivity, excitable behavior, hallucinations, lack of coordination, hydrophobia (fear of water), and aerophobia (fear of drafts or of fresh air). Death occurs after a few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest.
Paralytic rabies is 20% of the total number of human cases. Less dramatic and gradual coma and death and often the diagnosis can be missed.
Laryngospasm manifests itself as:
Aerophobia: Fear of air
Hydrophobia: Fear of water
The virus infects the peripheral nervous system after skin breach and gradually as the central nervous system is involved the patient succumbs.
Anti Rabies Vaccine and Anti Rabies Serum
Vaccine Schedule in India is given after exposure
Category 1 (No exposure):
Lick on intact skin, exposure to saliva on intact skin, feeding of milk of infected animals: Wound washing.
No vaccine or antisera needed.
Category 2 Exposure
Nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding (exposure)Lick on breached skin/wound. Bite without bleeding.
Wound washing and immediate vaccination.
If wild animal bite :Treat as cat 3(vaccine and HRIG)
If immunosuppresed due to any cause treat as cat 3 vaccine and HRIG).
Category 3 exposure
Single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, contamination of mucous membrane or broken skin with saliva from animal licks,
Exposures due to direct contact with bats in America(severe exposure).
Wound washing, immediate vaccination and administration of rabies immunoglobulin/monoclonal antibodies
Pre-exposure prophylaxis is given to those with a high risk of Rabies due to working with animals.This includes
- veterinary doctors,
- animal handlers,
- wildlife workers,
- postmen,
- taxidermists,
- municipal workers
- Children with pet dog at home/exposed to community dogs/neighbour’s dogs/stray dogs .
- Adults with pet dog at home/exposed to community dogs/neighbour’s dogs/stray dogs .
Anti Rabies Serum(Human Rabies Immunoglobulin or HRIG)
Human Rabies Immunoglobulin is now available widely and helps to give good protection if given immediately as post-exposure prophylaxis. The antisera is infiltrated around the area of bite
Should your child receive the vaccine if bitten by a vaccinated, pet dog?
Vaccinated animals may also transmit if adequate seroconversion didn’t occur.Haplens in 29% of pets.Whether provoked or unprovoked bite is a difficult to assess.
Pet animal vaccine failures may
occur due to varied reasons.Category of bite should be the deciding factor for treatment.
Who should not receive the anti-rabies vaccine?
Anti-rabies vaccine is for everyone on case of exposure.For details and personalized treatment please consult your doctor.
There is almost 100% mortality in proven cases of Rabies. The best treatment is prevention. It is a 100% vaccine preventable disease.Rabies is included in WHO’s 2021–2030 Roadmap for the Global Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, which sets regional, progressive targets for the elimination of targeted diseases. Rabies is one of these.
Source
WHO https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/rabies
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Managing internet access for children with Happinetz
Today I talk about managing internet access for children with Happinetz
The best thing about the internet is that it opens up the world to us. That unfortunately is also the worst thing, because managing internet access, especially when it comes to children may need to be done with guidance and intervention.
Tldr:
I want Happinetz to solve the problem of kids accidentally seeing harmful content online, including adult games.
But what exactly is Happinetz? I will tell you all about my tech guardian. But before that I need to go back to when the story started.
It was 2020 and the Pandemic hit us hard and out of the blue. Online school was a new normal during the pandemic. I felt lucky to have an education for my child. However, with time, as internet access for children became more common and widespread, we adults realized that all content on the Internet is not child-specific or age-appropriate. I needed a solution that would keep internet browsing safe for my child.
Thanks to Happy Parents Lab, because of whom I found Happinetz. It is the brainchild of my favourite blogging platform Blogchatter’s founder owners Richa and Vikas. With Happinetz, the good of the internet is accessible with zero headache of managing internet access on my part.
While being a mother means I will never again rest easy, having an ally like Happinetz for managing internet access makes me happy. This is especially true when I am not physically looking over my daughter’s shoulder. Yes, I do that too. But this is getting trickier as she is growing up and when one has a thousand and one things to juggle. A home is never done. And the internet can never truly be safe or kid friendly. It’s the world wide web and there is so much that you and I, regular everyday people don’t know about. I recognise the immense opportunity for education and learning that the internet opens up for all of us. But as a mommy, I am also afraid.
Did I tell you about the real life Jamtara scam I faced? It was horrifying how creepy these crooks are. Now, I am scared of online predators who use chat windows, gaming sites, and ads to harm children and steal data. It’s not too late to have gatekeepers around, both physical and digital because the predators are everywhere.
Happinetz helps me screen for several categories of content while easily managing internet access.
Though Happinetz has divided the internet into 15 categories, some of the common categories that I have found the most useful are:
- Online learning
- Education
- Home and Family
- News and General Knowledge
- Video and entertainment
- Chat and forum
What are the age options of access control you ask?
There are 3 modes, kid, teen and parent and toggling between them is easy. So is setting up internet access timing. Best part, I can do this right on my phone.
I am a curious person. So is my daughter. I also encourage her to do her own research while making her school projects. While I don’t enjoy peeping over her shoulder, I keep a strict watch on her online history, overall time spent and specific sites she spends time on. She doesn’t text or video call friends without our permission and I know it’s not always a ten on ten situation. So I am happy Happinetz is there to keep her curiosity safe from age-inappropriate content.
I know also that while gamified learning is helpful, excessive gaming may be a problem. Happinetz allows her to access quiz sites with fun or educational content while blocking sites I don’t want her to see. That’s where Happinetz’s advanced settings to whitelist specific websites and blacklist others made me relax with a smile.
Children will be children. If you have checked out some recent scary stories about grooming gangs stalking kids through social media, you will know why you need an internet guardian.
How I got Happinetz to manage Internet access
My daughter hasn’t asked for her own phone yet. She uses one of our phones for occasionally chatting with her friends. The school has made a sensible decision of banning children from having social media accounts.
She has access to one phone to check her school messages and a laptop for school work. We connected Happinetz on both these devices. From the laptop it was a simple matter of finding the Happinetz Wi-Fi connection. Happinetz has an exhaustive filtering system, a customisable internet schedule option and insights to help me monitor the websites and apps accessed online by my child’s device.
You just need to install the app on your phone (the mommy or daddy phone) from where you can link the devices whom you want Happinetz to monitor.
I like tech stuff which makes life easy, not complicated. The 5 minutes Happinetz setup was worry free. Since the user manual is easy to follow, setting up the connection with the device and router is effortless. In fact, my daughter helped me set it up and make an unboxing video.
My hubby had a few questions when I told him about Happinetz and since men have typical men questions, I am sharing some FAQs.
Will Happinetz impact the main Wi-Fi at home ?
No. Happinetz only monitors the devices connected to its WiFi. Devices connected to the home router will not be monitored.
Will I face problems while accessing news sites ecommerce stores etc using my phone when Happinetz app is installed?
No. If you haven’t added your phone as a device to be connected through Happinetz then your phone internet will be unaffected.
Even if your phone has been added to the Happinetz network, you can keep it on parent mode. When the device is on parent mode, filters or time slots are automatically switched off.
How to check issues with Happinetz?
You can check the activity tab on the app for easy understanding of any issues you encounter.
But I have a pet peeve. The history shows several sites which give a 404 error when I search for them by URL, though my daughter really didn’t see anything. I don’t know whether that’s a glitch or I am missing something. You have no way of drilling down into what exactly the kid sees on YouTube.
I am sure if kids put their mind on it, they can bypass the best gatekeepers. I was a kid once too. But if there are roadblocks in place, sometimes it’s that much more time consuming to visit a gaming site. Happinetz assures us that they have taken care of all popular methods of bypassing parental control systems.
All in all, Happinetz has really made parenting and managing internet access for my child easy. If you want to get the Happinetz box for your home to manage internet access, buy it here.
