Office Equipment and Furniture That Make a Difference
With the clamor to be more environmentally-responsible, manufacturers of office equipment are slowly rising up to the challenge of producing green products. Green products mean energy-efficient, less pollution, less carbon emission, and more concern for environmental sustainability.Every year with no regards for the environment, energy and resources are wasted. According to the Energy Star website, “if every home office product purchased in the U.S. this year were Energy Star qualified, Americans would save $200 million in annual energy costs while preventing almost 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gases, which is equivalent to the emissions of 250,000 cars.”That’s a pretty good figure for the environment.But what is an Energy Star? How does it make a difference to the environment?An Energy Star signifies the fact that the office equipment or home appliance you plan to purchase helps conserve energy by using energy-efficient designs. This allows them to use less energy than those with no Energy Star seal to accomplish standard tasks. The equipment also goes into a low-power mode automatically when not in use.Office equipments are generally turned on for the most part of the day even after office hours. There is reduced carbon emission if the devices are developed in an energy-efficient manner and there are power management features. You are, in turn, reducing your carbon footprint and doing your part in alleviating the climate change phenomenon.The Energy Star seal also applies to accessories including external power adapters and cordless handsets.Another environment-friendly feature you should look for is the compliance of the manufacturer of the office equipment you plan to purchase to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive. Under this decree, everyone having to do with in the manufacture, selling and distribution, recycling or treating of any electronic and electrical appliances is required to reduce waste generation and to improve environmental performance of these products.Companies which manufacture, sell, and distribute office equipment are accountable for taking back and recycling their products. Recycling of these equipments will follow a strict protocol, with every bit of entire device reprocessed piece by piece, making sure that unsafe materials are properly taken care of.Purchasing energy-efficient office equipment earns savings from lower energy expenses, encourages innovation and creativity, and promotes environmental awareness. Clients will appreciate the company’s efforts of becoming an environmentally responsible business.You should also take into account the materials and the processes which were used in the manufacture of the office equipment. Opt for eco-friendly equipment and greener manufacturing processes. Purchase office equipment and furniture which are sustainably harvested woods and recycled, bio-based, or nontoxic materials, and made with glues, paints, foams, and other ingredients that don’t give off noxious odors.You can make a difference. You can reduce your carbon footprint. You can choose to be environment-friendly with the office equipment you purchase.The Environmental Defense Fund suggests great tips to be more energy-efficient in your workplace. It would be even better if you can apply them at home as well.1. Install an automated energy management system
2. Install occupancy sensors to control lighting
3. Switch to energy efficient lighting
4. Activate power-saving settings on office equipment
5. Install energy management software on PCs
6. Purchase Energy Star certified office equipment
7. Tune-up or replace inefficient heating/cooling systemsOffice equipment and products don’t need to be expensive. Some are even cheaper because they are made from recycled materials. In the long run, you save a lot on the electric bill and repair, and more importantly, you are doing your part in reducing your impact and making a positive change to the environment.It is never too late. Be a smart buyer. Be a conscientious user.
What Can a Strong Pee Odor Tell You?
What Can A Strong Pee Odor Tell You?
If you consume enough (typically one and a half to two liters per day) and empty your bladder regularly, the smell of fresh urine is typically fairly neutral. Occasionally, and for any variety of reasons, even fresh urine can have a strong odor.
The Various Pee Aromas
Urine was once used to identify illnesses and offer hints about whether there was a problem with the body. Today, urine smell can help suggest either good health or illness in addition to color and symptoms.
There are many ways to describe the scent; for instance, that it smells sweet or like fish, ammonia, or alcohol.
What creates a potent or unusual odor in pee?
There could be a number of causes for the urine’s disagreeable and overpowering odor.
Here are a few things that could make urine scent strongly.
Urine smell can be affected by food and medicine.
Urine aroma is closely related to our diet.
While asparagus, coffee, and garlic, for instance, offer urine a more distinct odor, spicy food can make it smell worse.
Penicillin and other medications may have an impact on how urine odors. All of this is perfectly safe, though. When the offending food or medication exits the body, the urine’s odor goes away.
Strong pee odors can result from dehydration.
Lack of water consumption causes pee to become more concentrated.
Food & Beverages Can Affect Pee Smell
Below are some examples of what could cause a strong scent in urine. There may be a number of reasons why the urine smells bad.
Urine smell can be affected by food and medicine.
Urine aroma is closely related to our diet. The color and smell of spicy food both represent the impact it can have. Dehydration might be the cause of dark, strongly scented pee.
Low fluid consumption results in urine that is highly concentrated and frequently has a strong odor. Additionally, too much concentrated pee can irritate the lining of the bladder. This may result in urge symptoms, which are marked by a persistent desire to use the restroom.
The following circumstances can result in dehydration: vomiting, diarrhoea, kidney failure, or a fever.
Anyone can become dehydrated, but some people are more susceptible than others, such as young infants, the elderly, or those who have a chronic illness. It’s crucial to take action if you anticipate dehydration in someone else or yourself. Always make sure you or the people you are caring for drink enough water.
Urine that has a foul odor and is black and cloudy may appear to have a urinary tract infection or what is known as asymptomatic bacteriuria (see below).
Pee Bacteria
Recent research has revealed that the urinary system has its own unique microflora. This indicates that most people’s urine contains small quantities of bacteria. However, this is completely typical and doesn’t hurt. There is continuing research to determine the flora’s composition and if there are any possible pharmaceutical or medical applications. Urinary tract infections may be the cause of foul-smelling pee.
Unwanted bacteria can occasionally enter the urinary system and result in cystitis or a urinary tract infection. Escherichia coli bacteria, which naturally live in the intestine and occasionally enter the urethra and move up the urinary system, are frequently to blame for this. Due to the urethra’s lower length and proximity to the anus, females are more likely than males to develop urinary or bladder infections. Infections can also be brought on by viruses or fungus in addition to bacteria. The invasive bacteria thrives in urine, multiply rapidly, and lead to an infection that may smell bad.
Cystitis or a urinary system infection can cause the following symptoms:
increased regularity of pain or burning when urinating - urine with blood residue
Black urine, or cloudy urine with a strong smell
More information on Urinary Tract Infections.
Pee Odor Brought on by Asymptomatic Bacteriuria It’s also possible for the urinary system to become overrun with bacteria. The bacteria are typically diverse in variety and not particularly dangerous. This means that other than giving the urine a bad smell, they can exist without creating any issues.
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (ASB) or “friendly” bacteria is the medical term for this disease.
These germs are more prevalent in the aged, women, diabetics and catheter users. Antibiotics are rarely used to address this condition. This is due to the possibility that antibiotic treatment may cause other, more challenging bacteria to proliferate if the balance of the flora is changed.
The Connection Between Diabetes and Pee Odor.
For individuals with diabetes and an elevated blood glucose level, the kidneys excrete extra sugar in the urine. The urine has a sweet scent as a result. Other signs of elevated blood sugar include extreme thirst and frequent urination. You ought to speak with your doctor if you experience elevated blood sugar symptoms.
When to see a specialist if your urine smells strong
Even though urine may smell unpleasant, there may not definitely be a problem.
However, the cause should be looked into if the urine odor persists for a long
period and cannot be linked to specific foods or medications and you are concerned about symptoms. If there is pain while peeing, if the colour of the urine has altered, then more lab tests may be needed for a comprehensive diagnosis.
If there is an offensive odor coming from the genitalia, a bacterial unbalance, for instance, may be to blame. This might be due to overzealous cleaning, antibiotic use, or using harsh soaps.
The resistance of healthy epidermis to infection is higher. In order to maintain or enhance the skin’s capacity to defend itself against infection, the genital region must be kept clean and free from disease. In addition to thinking about how to prevent a urinary tract infection, you should also consider developing a good skincare routine, such as using skincare items created especially for intimate care and that maintain healthy skin.
It’s crucial to do the following to lower the chance of infection:
If there is any prior evidence of a urinary tract infection or if a person has been assessed to be risk-exposed, pay closer attention.
Consume enough liquids to maintain hydration
Avoid extended skin contact with urine (i.e. wet incontinence products containing a lot of urine)
Utilize skin-drying ingredients in your goods (e.g. by wicking away the urine into the product core to keep it away from the skin).
Use bowel and bladder emptying techniques when using the restroom, as residual pee may increase the risk of a urinary tract infection.
To prevent transferring bowel bacteria to the urinary system, wipe your body from front to back after a bowel movement.
Feces-covered goods should be removed right away, front to back.
Avoid using harsh soap on the delicate skin near the genitals because it can upset the equilibrium and irritate the skin. Always go for low pH cosmetics and cleaning supplies as these are gentler on aged and sensitive skin.
To sanitize delicate skin, use an excellent sanitizing wash cream or wet wash gloves.
For additional skin defence, apply a barrier cream.
After cleaning, carefully pat dry the skin before applying a fresh incontinence product
because bacteria thrive in moist environments.
As much as possible, expose the area to air to keep it dry.
Urine odor can reveal crucial information.
To summarize: Urine odor changes can be a significant predictor of a variety of conditions. The reason might be unimportant, like eating a lot of asparagus. But the unusual scent of the urine could also be a sign of infection or dehydration. A perceptive nose, along with an acute awareness of other symptoms, can offer helpful hints and, if required, lead to a request for a lab test.
How To Know If A Patient Is In Critical Condition
Critical illness is a multisystem process that can result in significant morbidity and mortality. In most patients, critical illness is preceded by a period of physical deterioration; evidence suggests that early symptoms of this are frequently missed. Identification of these symptoms requires well-trained medical personnel to be able to assess and correct and provide the standard approach ABCDE (airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure). Good outcomes rely on rapid identification, diagnosis, and definitive treatment, and all medics should possess the skills to recognize critically ill patients and instigate appropriate initial management.
Being in critical condition means the patient’s vitals are unstable and not within normal limits. According to American Hospital Association guidelines, there’s a standard language used to determine a patient’s condition these include
Undermined
The patient is awaiting a physician’s and on assessment
Good
Vitals signs are stable within normal limits patient is conscious and comfortable. Indicators are excellent
Fair
Vital signs are stable, and within normal limits, patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable, and indicators are favorable
Serious
Vital signs may be unstable and not within normal limits; the patient is acutely ill. Indicators are unfavorable
Critical
Vital signs are unstable and not within normal limits; the patient may be unconscious indicators that are unfavorable.
Treated and released
This could mean the patient was sent home or released to another facility.
Most critical patients end up in the intensive care unit. These patients have extreme breathing difficulties and are at risk of end-organ damage or failure, so the lung is the most commonly supported organ in the intensive care unit.
Identification of critical patients depends on direct observation or monitoring and physical examination and alternating depending on the patient’s illness
Monitoring includes measurement of vital signs, which include:
Systolic blood pressure
Heart rate
Respiration rate
Level of consciousness
Oxygen saturation
Temperature
In specific circumstances, extra monitoring should be considered
. Hourly urine output
. The biochemical analysis includes lactate, blood glucose, base deficit, and arterial ph.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A POTENTIAL CRITICAL PATIENT
. Sweaty
. pale
. anxious
. agitation
. confusion
. eyes open to voice only
. respiratory rate is 4mmol/L is associated with poor outcomes. However, any level >2mmol/L is abnormal and warrants attention. Monitoring the trend is also useful to help identify a deteriorating patient.
Intracranial pressure monitoring is another way of identifying a critical patient. This monitoring is standard for patients with a closed head injury. It is also used in some brain disorders like hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension or in postoperative or post-embolic management of arteriovenous malfunction. According to Medscape, Cerebral blood flow is relatively well-maintained by autoregulation in a normal state (mean arterial pressure (MAP) between about 60 mmHg and 150 mmHg and an intracranial pressure (ICP) of about 10 mmHg). Outside of this range, autoregulation fails, and the risk of cerebral ischemia due to poor CPP rises. The ideal CPP for patients with brain injury such as traumatic brain injury or subarachnoid hemorrhage is not well known. However, current management commonly targets maintaining CPP at or above 60 mmHg.
Indicators of a deteriorating patient in need of intensive care
This relates to the early warning systems instituted for nurse and doctor-led escalation of care. These indicate deranged physiology as a marker of the
o Tacky/bradycardia
o Hyper/ hypotension
o Hypoxia
o Temperature
o Altered mental state
Christine is a dedicated and compassionate registered nurse with over five years of experience in the healthcare field. She has a strong passion for patient care and education and has spent much of her career in acute care settings. Christine’s goal is to provide accurate, up-to-date information on a wide range of healthcare topics.