Are We Recycling As Much As We Should Be?

There is no denying that we all know the importance of doing our bit in order to protect the planet. This is something that all businesses and individuals know; we have to do more if we want our world to not only survive but thrive. 

At the most basic level, we know that we need to recycle items, rather than simply throwing them in the bin. But are we doing enough? Unfortunately, the statistics show that there is still a long way to go. In the U.S., 262.4 million tons of trash are produced per annum. However, only 67.8 million tons of trash gets recycled. This shows that there is a significant way to go when it comes to recycling the trash that we are responsible for. The quest to be sustainable is still far from being complete.

This is why we all need to do our bit and educate ourselves on recycling. Knowing what to recycle, and how to recycle it, is key. After all, you cannot simply throw everything in your curbside recycling bin. The likes of batteries, electronics, and aerosol cans can be hazardous, and so there are specialist processes in place for recycling items like this. 

For more details about recycling and the right way to go about it, check out the infographic below. You will find out everything that you need to know about recycling and where we stand on the matter right now.


Infographic Design By educationconnection

5 Signs That You Might Have Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is one of the most difficult conditions to self-diagnose because it happens so gradually, and you usually don’t notice it even happening until you take a test. As a result, it can be challenging to identify hearing loss, and leaving it too late can result in some huge problems in the future. So to help you learn more about the condition, we’ve put together a couple of signs that will tell you that you might have hearing loss.

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1. You find it difficult to make out sounds in a crowd

One of the most common symptoms that one faces with hearing loss is being unable to distinguish people speaking in a crowd. When there are lots of sounds around you, it’s difficult to identify a specific sound or person speaking because your ears are having difficulty processing all the noises. This will result in muffled speech and can be incredibly frustrating to experience.

2. You usually ask people to repeat themselves or speak louder

If you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves fairly often, then it might be a sign that your hearing is already suffering. We highly suggest that you learn more about hearing loss and available solutions to help you recover from this as it can cause future problems if it’s not dealt with correctly. It can quickly lead to withdrawal from social settings and may make communication in your workplace difficult.

3. You feel tired after participating in conversations

If you find yourself straining to listen to conversations and follow with what someone is saying, then you might be suffering from hearing loss. As this can negatively affect your lifestyle, it’s a good idea to book yourself a hearing examination before it can cause issues in your life.

4. You have trouble listening to children and women

Hearing loss typically affects certain frequencies. In most cases, it tends to happen at higher frequencies, meaning you’ll have trouble hearing women and children. If you find this to be true, it’s worth having a hearing examination to see if you actually have hearing loss.

5. Someone else is commenting on your hearing

While it might sound like a bit of banter or a joke, you should really pay attention to other people, especially friends and family members, when they mention that your hearing might be weaker than before. A couple of key signs of this include making the TV too loud for others or even failing to hear the doorbell occasionally. These are all fairly clear signs that you might actually be facing gradual hearing loss, so it’s always good to take those comments seriously and consider having a hearing exam to ensure it’s in top condition.

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it’s a good idea to learn more about hearing loss and also consider an appointment with your physician or an audiologist. It’s possible that another condition, such as an ear infection or clogged earwax, could be causing your hearing loss. If that’s the case, then it’s possible to treat your hearing loss if you let your physician know as soon as possible.

How Your Family Can Cope With Trauma and Build a New Normal After an Accident

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More than 50% of U.S families have experienced some disaster, and two-thirds of children encounter a traumatic event by age sixteen, according to SAMHSA. If you or a family member is involved in an accident, it’s normal to feel uncomfortable, confused and stressed. However, individuals react differently to traumatic events, and that may lead to disruptions in the family, including a lack of proper communication and lapse in daily routines. Luckily, your family can overcome post-traumatic stress by practicing daily habits that put your life back on track. The key is to ensure the entire family is committed to building a new healthy lifestyle.

Seek Legal Assistance

When dealing with the aftermath of an accident, it is easy to overlook the importance of hiring a personal injury lawyer. Keep in mind an accident of any nature will not have a psychological impact only, but also hurt your finances. According to the professionals at https://personalinjuryattorney-fresno.com/, if the injuries you or a loved one experience following an accident are due to someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation.

Legal experts at JJS explain that if you have a high-stake personal injury case, an experienced attorney will assist you to hold the party at-fault accountable and seek a fair amount of settlement. Although filing a personal injury claim will not alleviate the pain and suffering, it will bring financial relief to settle medical expenses and compensate for lost wages. That way, your family can focus on healing. 

Stay Active, Together

Physical activity promotes the production of feel-good hormones to reduce stress, speed recovery, and improve appearance. Simple activities like playing soccer, basketball, swimming, and dancing with the kids enhance mood. Nonetheless, it is essential to learn how to exercise after an accident to ensure the injured person does not strain. Make sure to consult a physician about the best workout routine to keep your family healthy and safe.

Encourage Communication

It takes time to recover from post-traumatic stress, but you can help your family cope by creating a supportive environment. Your children, for example, may not feel comfortable talking about current events. In that case, encourage them to draw, write, or paint to express their feelings. Self-expression is particularly important in dealing with traumatic experiences, so encouraging your family to work through their emotions in whichever way works for them is key. 

Engaging in activities with loved ones is another excellent way to enhance communication. Start dialogues that are less serious and stressful. Then listen to your family’s concerns, do not judge, and reassure them it’s not their fault for the accident. But most importantly, manage your stress to achieve positive outcomes.