#covid-19 sanitization service

[k12academics]

Correa Logistics, LLC is a small business with expertise in medical supplies and innovative medical technology and equipment. We specialize in the sales and distribution of health care products which include personal protective equipment (PPEs), and also offer laboratory testing services.

Our team is comprised of a diverse group of exceptionally talented professionals across multiple industries with over 100 years of combined experience.

We are based in California but have operations and staffing in multiple states across the US, from coast to coast. As a Minority, Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, we provide products and services of exceptional quality direct from well vetted manufacturers, to ensure that they meet the highest standards of quality, safety, and reliability.

[appalachiananarchist]

One of my least favorite things about having a chronic illness is that I have no choice but to tell people at work about it. I am a private person and would prefer not to talk about my health problems unless necessary, but given I am a permanently immunocompromised person working in primary care, it necessary most of the time.

We just got a new manager and I had to pull her aside to say, "Hey, heads up, I will get sick a lot and here is why. I promise I am not being intentionally difficult if I call in sick or have an emergency appointment." I don't want the people I work with to know that I am sick or the degree of it, but if I don't tell them, I look lazy due to calling off more than what is typical.

Most of the time people just accept it and don't ask any more questions. I did have one guy a few years back who asked me the name of the condition, which I told him because if I didn't I would look like a liar. He then googled it and later approached me to very earnestly insist I should not be working as a doctor and that "I should have been dead years ago." He told a bunch of other people the same, which is how I ended up pulled from hospital service and only allowed to do home-based Telehealth visits during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He meant well. People always do. I just would rather them not know at all so I could decide what risks to take for myself. I already know I have a serious condition, that being exposed to the general public is a big risk, and that there are unencouraging life expectancy stats on the internet. I wear masks, sanitize often, and act quickly the moment I feel an illness coming on. Working as a doctor was an important choice for me and I know for a fact I have made a difference in the lives of a lot of people. I want to keep doing that for as long as I can, be that short or long (and hopefully, long!). I just don't see a future in which I give up on medicine and hide myself away as one worth living in.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Happy Memorial Day

Veterans and Active Service Members who support Conservatives and/or Trump, let's have a chat. I'm going to run a few things by you and see if they sit right with you....

If we're being honest here, when it comes to trusting Donald Trump on anything related to the military (or in general for that matter), maybe just don't. You've heard all this talk about how those on the left are "communists" or "fascists," meanwhile, for all you 2nd Amendment folk, here's Trump back in 2018 saying, "take the guns first, due process second."

Question: Did you know that Trump made his 2nd wife, Marla Maples, sign a prenup that would have cut off all child support if their daughter, Tiffany, joined the military? In fact, not a single member of Trump's family tree has ever served in the military; this spans 5 generations, and every branch of the family tree. Apparently, the whole reason his grandfather immigrated to America was to avoid military service.

In his 2015 biography, Trump says: “I felt that I was in the military in the true sense because I dealt with those people,” because he went to a military-style academy and that he has “more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military." Matter of fact, according to Trump, he knows more about ISIS than American generals.

This self-proclaimed "military genius intellect" in action?

In 2017, he sent commandos into an ambush due to lack of intel and then sent contractors in to pick them up, resulting in a commando being left behind, tortured, and executed. Trump reportedly approved the mission because "Bannon told him that Obama didn’t have the guts to do it."

When retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal criticized Trump on his withdrawal of troops from Syria, Trump attacked him saying that he "got fired like a dog by Obama" and is "known for [a] big, dumb mouth." Let's not even get into the botched Afghanistan withdrawal...Oh, and it was definitely strategic and totally not an accident when he revealed the faces, names, and location of SEAL Team 5 on Twitter.

SIDE NOTE: If conservatives only remember 13 of the 2,420 service members that died fighting in Afghanistan over the past 20 years, then aren't they really just scapegoating your demographic?

If we're being frank, it's not just Donald that you shouldn't trust, either. It never has been, he's just a useful mouthpiece for the GOP and corporate America's impulses. Conservatives don't really care about the troops, if we're being honest with each other. You've been fed this lie that it's the liberals that hate you, when most of us don't (can't speak for everyone). You're just being used as a cudgel against people who are looking out for your own best interests. It's quite obvious and sad, actually, how much they love using the military as canon fodder for their propaganda.

When COVID reared its head in 2020, Capt. Crozier of the USS Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter pleading with 10 navy officers (3 were Admirals within his chain of command, 7 were to other captains on the Roosevelt), asking to offload most of the sailors on the Roosevelt in order to allow for social distancing and the sanitizing of the ship due to how crowded it was. On March 30, 2020, the day Capt. Crozier sent his letter, cases peaked as 736 of 4,085 sailors on the ship had tested positive for COVID-19, a 25% infection rate. The following day, his letter was leaked to the press. Trump attacks Crozier's letter calling it “terrible” and "not appropriate” leading the Secretary of the Navy to remove Capt. Crozier from his post. Later in the pandemic, on June 24, 2020, the White House ended the National Guard's deployments to assist the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic, which just so happened to be the day before thousands of National Guard members would qualify for early retirement and education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI bill. Convenient.

Then, in the midst of all that, he visits the troops deployed in Iraq and claims that he's giving them all a 10% raise and that it's their first raise in over a decade. False on both accounts. What actually happened was that he tried to give the military a raise that was lower than the standard living adjustment. Congress told him that idea wasn't going to work. Then, after Congress had to force him to give the military an actual raise, Trump of course lied about it, claiming that it was larger than Obama’s. (Not the first time, probably...)

This is just a guy who wants to claim he made the call, just to see his name pop up on the chyron. He admitted he believed that his administration's assassination of al-Baghdadi was more significant than the Obama administration's assassination of Osama Bin Laden.

Still think he's a patriot?

On ⁠October 8th, 2019, Trump planned to withdraw from the Open Skies treaty, giving Russia the ability to target our military aircraft. Then in 2020, the New York Times published an Op-ed on CIA intelligence claiming that Putin was paying the Taliban for the bounties he reportedly placed on US Soldiers heads, Trump said he never mentioned the rumors when meeting with Putin later that year. The validity of the intel has since been ruled inconclusive. Trump, however, also directed the CIA to share counterintelligence with their Russian counterparts despite the Russians also arming the Taliban.

Friendly reminder that in May 2019, Trump also got the bright idea to pardon war criminals Eddie Gallagher, Mathew Golsteyn, and Matthew Behenna. A few weeks later, on July 31, 2019, Trump ordered the US Navy to rescind the medals given to prosecutors who failed to convict Gallagher.

This is the same guy who demanded that US military chiefs stand next to him and made the U.S. Navy Blue Angels violate ethics rules by having them do a fly-over at his 4th of July campaign rally, really patriotic right? I mean, who else would be more preoccupied with an intelligence briefing when the leader of the free world could be ordering a milkshake? Does this sound like a "leader of men"? Because blocking a veteran group on Twitter because they criticized you and hurt your feelings, doesn't fit my mental image of "leader." Actually, kinda sounds more akin to a dictator than the Commander in Chief. Not to mention how often he likes to cozy up to dictators and autocrats.

For example: when the alt right protesters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, Trump demanded that the National Guard protect his supporters. Meanwhile, the US Army recently concluded that the DC National Guard misused their helicopters in 2020 when they flew them too low over BLM protestors, one reportedly "hovered under 100 ft."

Remember when Trump refused to sign his party’s funding bill, which caused the government to shut down from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019? This temporary shut down would force the members of the US Coast Guard to go without pay, otherwise they would be listed AWOL. This led to service members relying on food pantries to eat. Somehow, though, Trump's appointees ended up with a $10,000 raise.

But don't worry, it only took him 2 years of being in office and 154 vacation days at his various properties before he finally visited the troops in December of 2018. Later, the following June, Trump sent additional troops to the border to paint the fence for a better “aesthetic appearance.” Don't let this distract you from the fact that under his administration, we saw more illegal border crossings than before. (You know, just in case that was another reason you were planning on voting for him.)

Halfway through his presidency, he used troops as a political prop for optics during the midterms by sending them on a "phantom mission'' to the border and made them miss out on Thanksgiving with their families in 2018. Of course, in typical Trump fashion, he then called troops on Thanksgiving and told them he’s most thankful for himself. Even though he stopped using troops as a political prop immediately after the midterms, the troops remained in their muddy camps at the border.

Then, in early 2019, Trump tried diverting military housing funds to pay for the border wall, but a federal judge subsequently denied this. Later that July, SCOTUS ruled that Trump could in fact divert military housing funds to pay for his wall, as well as funding from military pensions and Afghan Security Forces.

That same July, Trump denied a US Marine with 6 years of service entry into the United States for his scheduled citizenship interview. The next month, his administration looked to change the policy which granted citizenship for children of deployed US troops. This change would no longer grant automatic American citizenship to children born overseas during US military deployments, including US troops posted abroad for years at a time.

Imagine coming to America to fight for a country that isn't yours on the promise of citizenship, only to be deported. But don't worry, your family isn't safe either! Trump once deported a spouse of a fallen US Army soldier killed in Afghanistan, leaving their daughter parentless. The US has thankfully overturned this as of April 16, 2019. His administration actually doubled the rejection rate for veterans requesting family deportation protections.

Not surprising, considering this is the same administration that deported veterans, too. Hell, ICE even tried to deport a US-born Marine. He later ordered the discharge of active-duty immigrant troops with good records who were already promised citizenship, just so he could say he was tough on immigration.

Or how about just before the 2018 holidays, when they discharged 2 Air Force members living with HIV? Or how his administration denied female troops access to birth control to reportedly "limit sexual activity"? In 2019, he even banned service members from serving based on gender identity, but this has since been reversed by the Biden administration.

Trump even urged the officials in Florida to not count mail-in votes, specifically those of the actively deployed.

You know, I kinda get the sense that Trump and his MAGA lackeys seem to simultaneously dislike and fetishize being in the military, because that seems to be all you are to them: drones, existing to shoot, be shot at, and die for America, a manifestation of their own gun fetish. The moment you remind them that you aren't just professional killers but human beings who need social services or housing benefits, they lash out.

Here's another FACT for you: over a decade, Trump sought to kick veterans of Fifth Avenue because he found them unsightly nuisances outside of Trump Tower. In 1991, he was even quoted saying, “While disabled veterans should be given every opportunity to earn a living, is it fair to do so to the detriment of the city as a whole or its tax paying citizens and businesses?”

During the Trump administration, the VA in Atlanta purged 200,000 veterans’ healthcare applications due to known administrative errors within VA’s enrollment process and enrollment system. When making changes to the VA at a meeting in Mar-a-Lago, Trump recruited Bruce Moskowitz, a Palm Beach doctor; Ike Perlmutter, the chairman of Marvel Entertainment; and Marc Sherman, an attorney; to run it. None of them have experience with the military or veterans. These shitheads ended up trying to sell veteran's medical records.

Trump increasingly privatized the VA, leading to longer waits and higher taxpayer costs. For example, in January 2016, Trump sent funds raised from a veterans’ benefit to the Donald J. Trump Foundation instead of the promised veteran’s charities. The foundation has since been ordered shut down because of fraud and Trump had to pay $2 million in damages as of November 2019.

When a man was caught swindling veterans’ pensions for high-interest “cash advances,” Trump’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fined him $1. As a reminder, the Trump administration’s goal was to dismantle the CFPB, installing Mick Mulvaney as the director, who publicly stated the bureau should be disbanded.

Eventually, his administration tried to slash disability and unemployment benefits for Veterans, and eliminate the Extraschedular Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from the VA. Trump even changed the GI Bill through his Forever GI Act back in 2018. This change caused the VA to miss veteran benefits, including housing allowances and forced many veterans to run out of food and rent.

Ironically, at one of his rallies in 2016, Trump accepted a Purple Heart from a veteran supporter in the crowd. He said to the crowd: “I always wanted to get the Purple Heart. This was much easier.” Earlier in 1998, Mr. Bone Spurs himself was quoted saying having unprotected sex was his "own personal Vietnam." I guess naturally, when it comes to stolen valor, no one knows it better than Trump.

Don't think his contempt stops when you've died for our country, either. He apparently could care less, unless he can make it about him. Once while at a cemetery to pay respects to the fallen soldiers on the anniversary of D-Day, Trump started his commemoration speech by attacking a private citizen, Bette Midler, following later with an attack on Robert Muller, former FBI special counsel and a Vietnam War veteran. (Speaking of Vietnam, did I mention that Trump had dodged the draft 5 times, 4 for college and 1 by having a doctor diagnose him with bone spurs?) Then later, while in Europe in 2018, he didn’t even attend a ceremony at a US cemetery commemorating the end of WWI due to the rain – every other world leader went anyway.

He's insulted Gold Star families. Both, Myeshia Johnson — a gold star widow and the Khan family—gold star parents, have negative stories about being contacted by Trump. To add salt to the wound, he even forgot a fallen soldier’s name during a call to his pregnant widow. In fact, under the Trump Tax Plan, some Gold Star families had to pay increased taxes on the death benefits they received. The surviving family of US Navy Lt. Cmdr. Landon Jones in particular, went from paying $1,100 in 2017 to $5,400 in 2019.

In an apparent attack directed at the late-Sen. John McCain, Trump said he doesn’t consider POWs heroes because they were caught. Specifically, he said he "prefers people who were not caught." I mean, Trump even turned away Navy Sailors from his 2019 Memorial Day speech in Japan because they were from the destroyer USS John S. McCain. Trump initially ordered the USS John S. McCain out of sight during his visit, which led to the ship’s name subsequently being covered. Then, on March 20, 2019, after Sen. McCain's passing, Trump complained that he was never thanked for the funeral. But really, how spiteful can you actually be?

Maybe it's because I'm such a lib, but the most damning for me, is the deafening silence if you're a POC veteran. Remember Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén? Remember 2nd Lt. Caron Nazario?

10 Benghazi investigations, 0 into the Fort Hood murders. Can you guess who blocked that? I wonder what conservatives would be saying about Lt. Nazario if he had happened to have kneeled next to Colin Kaepernick?

Conservatives seem to support and/or believe in an abstract, fetishized version of the troops, all fueled by handshakes, prayers and yellow ribbons. Y'all hear about how libs strip money away from the military, because "we don't care" or whatever Fox News is saying, right? Meanwhile, here's Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) sitting on the House Armed Service Committee and using his position on the committee to make over 90 trades of stock, some in a major defense contractor, earning millions of dollars in the process.

Do you honestly believe that any conservative, let alone Trump, thinks you should even have the benefits of healthcare?

$725 billion annual military budget, but instead everything goes to the NSA, the CIA, the DHS, ICE...How many times were we lied to about help coming with regards to the VA? This is the best help we can give our veterans? Is this a joke? “You can count on us to serve, but we can’t count on the VA to make a deadline,” as one veteran said. No one steals from service members while lying through their teeth like these MAGA conservatives or Trump!

Let's not pretend he's an advocate for mental health, either; look no further than Ashli Babbitt. Talk about being used as a political prop! (Sadly, nearly 1 in 5 of those arrested for storming the US Capitol have served.) They only seem to like you when you're a martyr, it seems. But he's just pulling on your heart strings, making you feel like this is the next Pat Tillman.

Do you ever ask yourself why it always seems to always suddenly shift from "lives spent" to "lives wasted" whenever the other guy's in office?

Speaking of lives being used for political gain, how many of you enlisted after 9/11? Never forget how the GOP fought tooth and nail to not have to pay for 9/11 first responders medical treatments.

Bennington College published documents showing the US military ordered the clandestine burning of over 20m pounds of AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) and AFFF waste between 2016-2020, emitting these toxins into the air and onto nearby communities, farms, and waterways.

Is this the America that you signed up to fight for? Cuz if not, then vote like it.

Here's to hoping y'all read this and choose to make a difference again.

[she-karev]

Meeting Luna (Jolex Sweet Imagine)

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: One of One

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Ship: Alex Karev x Jo Wilson/Jo Karev

Canon Episode: Season 17 Episode 3

Summary: Alex and Jo help a patient deliver a baby that formed in her liver. Later Amber Karev gets news that devastates her and her loved ones.

Words: 3554

April 12th, 2020

Jo comes out of the hospital exhausted and rubbing her strained neck. It’s been four days since Meredith Grey was found passed out in the parking lot by Alex. He brought her inside the hospital where she was tested positive for covid. Since then, he has been checking in on her as her medical proxy, making sure she’s stable while Jo has been covering Meredith’s service. So far Jo hasn’t been outside in four days and the stress of the new job is getting to her.

“Hey.” Jo looks up to find her sister-in-law, Amber Karev, and best friend, Link, approach her in their casual clothes, “I’d ask how you’re doing but I think your appearance is answer enough.”

“Despite what you may read or hear in the news, sunlight does not in fact kill Covid 19.” Link says when he sees Jo has her mask off to take a breath.

“Ha. I've been covering Meredith's service. I haven't been outside in four days.” Amber hisses at that feeling bad for her, “What are you doing here?”

“Hand trauma.” Link explains.

“You left Amelia alone with four kids for a hand?”

Amber oohs at that, “You are so gonna be in the doghouse tonight.”

“She told me to come in.” Link explains.

“Oh. You're already annoying her.” Jo teases causing Amber to grin, “What's on your shirt?”

Link sees a sticky spot on his shirt, “Ooh, that's, uh, syrup? I made pancakes this morning.”

“Weird. You're a dad.” Jo jokes.

“Missed you!” Link sings before going inside leaving the sisters-in-law to catch up.

“How’s it going on your front?” Jo asks Amber, “I’m sure it’s not as painful as mine.”

“Normally I would disagree, but I know me complaining about my life right now is just gonna piss you off.” Amber says before changing the subject, “Any luck getting DCFS to do a home inspection?”

Jo frowns at that reminder. She and Alex bought a suitable two story 4-bedroom house back in February so they can raise a family there. They started the adoption paperwork, and the agency was gonna send a social worker to do a home inspection and interview them face to face.

But then March 13th happened, and social services has limited home visits in favor of public safety. The news broke Jo’s heart who was getting happier every time she and Alex were one step closer to having a baby of their own. So far, she has been trying to get past the pain with virtual therapy and work.

Jo sighs, “No they said other matters take precedence which as a woman who wants to adopt an abandoned baby pisses me off but as a doctor working in this terrible time I get it. I just wish I finally decided to have kids one month or hell even one day earlier. Maybe it might have made a difference.”

“I’m really sorry.” Amber says sad as well, “I know it doesn’t compare but my life hasn’t gone the way I envisioned it would five months ago either.”

Jo nods understanding, “Yeah if you had told me a year ago a pandemic would hit and instead of shopping for a car seat and looking toward the future, I would pray for toilet paper and hand sanitizer I would think you were crazy.”

“I would think I was crazy too.” Amber says bitterly, “I really am sorry I know how much you and Alex want a baby.”

“Thanks. We’re fine, we have each other, and we’ll just wait until social services finally does a visit and approves us. And to practice we have Schmitt living with us.”

Amber laughs, “I still can’t believe your letting him live with you. And I can’t believe Alex agreed to it, were you guys running low on rent or reasons for pity?”

“Okay he was sad and lonely, and he didn’t have a place to live I felt bad. It’s how Jackson felt with you after DeLuca broke up with you so…”

“…Touche my friend, touche. I gotta go, we’ll complain together later.”

“I’m holding you on that.” Amber walks past Jo and enters the pit when Levi Schmitt comes out and approaches Jo from behind.

“Abdominal pain consult in the ER.” Jo groans at that before snapping her fingers at Levi.

“I have faith in you.

“Covid test is still pending.” Levi informs Jo who slumps in defeat.

“I feel like I could just lay down and die.”

“Ah.” Levi imitates spitting to Jo’s confusion, “You really shouldn't say that during a pandemic.”

Levi goes back inside with Jo sulking for a minute before she puts her mask on and goes to her patient inside. Jo puts her protective shield on before going inside the trauma room where a blonde woman wearing a mask, face shield and gloves is sitting on the table clutching her stomach in pain.

“Val Ashton?” Jo starts, “Hi. I'm Dr. Karev. Okay, so you've had abdominal pain and vomiting for the last two weeks?”

“But it's not Covid.” Val insists, “I have gone nowhere, seen no one, touched nothing. I couldn't stop talking to the nurse that took my blood. It was the first in-person conversation I had had in months. I told her about the fight with my co-worker, all about my ex. And I think I invited her to lunch.”

Jo chuckles, “Don't worry. They're used to it.” Jo goes over Val’s chart in her tablet, “Okay, so your labs came back already, and…congratulations. You don't have Covid. You're just pregnant.”

Val looks at Jo in shock and utters a single word, “What?”

“Pregnant.” Jo repeats.

“What?”

“Yaay?” Jo says in the form of a question leaving Val to look at her in utter shock at this news.

An Hour Later

After the ultrasound from Carina confirmed there was no fetus in the uterus Jo ordered an abdominal scan for Val to find the underlying issue for her stomach pains. She asked Amber to assist her because she knows with Webber restricting residents from treating covid patients her resident sister-in-law is bored from doing scut and mandating patient entry.

“Thanks for letting me in on this I really needed it especially since Webber decided to punish Koracick by making him residency program director which also punishes us.”

“Yeah of course I figured it was either let you work close with me or risk getting Koracick punched in the face and you losing your job.”

“You make it sound like those are bad things.”

Bailey comes inside the monitor room, “Karev, I need you to keep covering Grey's service. I'm hoping to persuade Dr. Webber to come back to the OR, whenever he finishes adjusting his crown. Chief of chiefs. I could be chief of chiefs.”

“You'd be really good at that.” Amber says.

“What do you got?” Bailey asks

“Abdominal pain, vomiting, positive beta HCG. She's not pregnant, but I want to rule out a mass.” The scans pull up.

“Okay I see a mass it’s in the liver.”

Bailey looks at the scans astonishes, “That is no mass. That is a fetus.”

“She is pregnant, but her baby is attached to her liver?” Jo gasps at this in wonder while Amber chuckles in delight until Bailey steps in.

“Mine.”

“Hell no.” Amber retorts facing her boss, “This patient doesn’t have covid and I need something to lift up my spirits.” Bailey stares down at the resident who stares back with equal intimidation, “I’ve faced scarier things chief the only way you’re getting me out is tossing me across the floor.”

“Do you want to see that happen?” Bailey asks threateningly which doesn’t faze Amber as they continue to stare down with Jo looking on in worry.

“Okay as primary I will call the shots. Amber, I love you, but Bailey is my boss so get out.” Amber scoffs and turns to Jo who speaks before she can, “Go.”

“Fine.” Amber growls and stands up stomping out of the room with Bailey taking her place in joy as they look at the scans of the baby inside Val’s liver.

Later

Jo sees Alex in the middle of the empty peds floor and approaches him with a tablet in her hand.

“Hey are you busy?”

“Well, my best friend is being monitored by her sister and my sister’s ex-boyfriend so that leaves me time to sort out my empty floor where every surgery has been rescheduled for the next three months. I’m free for whatever you have as long as it’s not mundane.”

Jo chuckles, “Oh then you are gonna love this.” She hands him the tablet and shows Alex Val’s scans, “Val Ashton 35, came in with abdominal pain and vomiting, labs showed that she was pregnant but there was nothing in the ultrasound so we ran scans to see what the issue was.”

Alex looks at the scans, “Tumor in her liver that released HCG? I’m lost on why you came to me with this.”

“Because that mass in her liver is a fetus.” Jo explains and grins at Alex looking at her with wide eyes, “Yep you heard me my patient has an abdominal pregnancy.”

“I can see why you came to me.” Alex says with a grin relieved to have a case, “Is the fetus viable?”

“Carina DeLuca is about to do an ultrasound and we’ll get answers. If the baby is viable, we need to get them out so the growing placenta doesn’t rupture Val’s liver. We want you there so you can explain the risks the baby will face if she decides to keep it.”

“Okay yeah I can do that lead the way.” Jo leads Alex away from the peds floor to Val’s room.

Later

“There's a baby in my liver?” Val asks Jo with Alex next to her while Carina does an ultrasound on Val’s side where her liver is hearing a heartbeat.

“You have what's called an abdominal pregnancy, where the fetus develops outside of the uterus. You're about 26 weeks.”

“And so far, the heartbeat is strong which indicates viability.”

“That’s right and it’s very good in cases like this.” Carina says as she wipes away the gel, “Val, these pregnancies don't normally survive to term, but your baby is very much alive. Your case is extremely rare.”

“He made me feel like crap for eight years.” Val explains, “Every time IVF didn't work…he would look at the doctor and say, ‘Well, what can she do differently next time?’ When clearly it was his fault. Because I had a one-night stand with a guy that wears square computer glasses, and I'm knocked up.”

Alex nods understanding her pain from having his dream of having a baby with Jo stalled by covid.

“Val.” Carina sits by Val’s side and asks her cautiously, “Do you want this baby?”

Val inhales with tears in her eyes before nodding.

“Okay. Then we need to deliver her today.” Jo explains, “The growth of the placenta could cause the liver to bleed at any moment, and we need to operate to save you both, now.”

“It's a girl?” Val asks with a smile behind her mask.

Alex grins and nods, “Yes, it is.”

“Luna.” Val says rubbing her own belly, “That's her name. Ever since I was a little girl, I knew my daughter's name. I want to call her Little Moon, like the book, my mom would read it to me all the time.”

“Val.” Carina says and Val looks up nodding.

“Yeah, okay. Let's get her out!” Val gives consent in joy and the doctors look at each other knowing it’s not gonna be an easy surgery.

Two Hours Later

Jo and Bailey expose the liver revealing the baby inside as the scans show waiting for Alex and Carina to gown up so they can take the baby.

“Is she viable?” Alex asks as he spins while the nurse gowns him.

“Come see for yourself. Liver's exposed.” Bailey says causing Alex and Carina to observe the liver where they see the amniotic sac attached to the liver to their wonder.

“Wow.” Carina says in shock.

“Hello there, Little Moon.” Alex greets the baby before Bailey and Jo go over the steps of the procedure. Alex and Carina start the c-section and take out the small baby immediately, putting her inside the incubator while Bailey and Jo try to save the liver.

“Alex, I'm not seeing any movement.”

“Damn it.” Alex curses, “We need to intubate.” Alex and Carina try to intubate Luna while Jo and Bailey try to stop the heavy bleeding.

“How's Luna?” Jo asks.

Carina responds while helping Alex, “Apgar 2, maybe 3.” “We’re still trying to get the tube in.” Alex tries to intubate Luna, “Come on Luna you got this come on.” He successfully intubates her, “I’m in, bag her and get her up to the unit now let’s go!” Alex and Carina hurriedly take the incubator out of the OR while Jo and Bailey work hard to save Val’s life.

That Night

Jo is in the NICU looking down at her and Alex’s patient, Luna, who is hooked up to leads and wires in an incubator. The sight of the tiny premie breaks Jo’s heart but knowing the baby’s story gives her hope in a hopeless time.

“Hi, Luna.” Jo coos at the baby as she holds her tiny hand, “Hi. Your mommy is asleep right now, but she is gonna be so excited to meet you.”

Bailey approaches them with a grin, “See? Joy.”

Jo chuckles lightly, “She developed in a liver and was born in a pandemic. She is a survivor.”

“Your work these last few days hasn't gone unnoticed.” Bailey compliments, “Thank you.”

Jo nods and grows solemn at the reminder knowing why she’s so busy, “Meredith has to be okay, Bailey. She has to be okay.” The woman stand there looking at the baby hoping their good friend will make it through this virus.

Later

“We’re gonna need to keep you for observation for the next month.” Alex informs Val who is bleary from her surgery, “Dr. Karev and Dr. Bailey did their best to resect your liver without doing too much damage but we need to be safe and keep a close eye on you. Now we’ll do daily scans on your abdomen to make sure your liver isn’t failing. Worst case scenario we put you on the transplant list and wait for a match to fall through. And until then we would put you on dialysis to buy you some more time.”

“And what about Luna?” Val asks worried, “Is she gonna be okay?”

“She needs to be constantly monitored in the NICU while her lungs continue to form. Now she’s 26 weeks so we would have her incubated for the next 19 weeks till she reaches full term.”

“Can I hold her? Or visit her?”

Alex sighs, “I want to say yes but her immune system is still compromised and you’re still fresh out of surgery moving one of you could raise complications. We would need to wait until you’re discharged so you can visit her. Now I can set up a camera so you can watch her and talk to her while you’re both recovering. I’m sorry but it’s the best I can do right now.”

Val sighs in sadness, “…This is not how I imagined having a baby after all this time but I wouldn’t change it if it meant finally having Luna.”

Alex nods understanding, “If it makes you feel better my plans for having a baby have been recently stalled too.”

“Fertility issues?”

“Not exactly.” Alex sits in a chair next to Val, “My wife, Dr. Karev, told me she was finally ready to start a family and I was excited to be a dad. We were gonna adopt instead of getting pregnant because we were both kids in the system and we know it can be a brutal upbringing. We bought a house, we bought furniture to make it look picture perfect for social services, we were finally ready to start a family…but then March happened, and all our efforts went out the window. We’re now waiting as patiently as we can to get a social worker to visit and approve us and every minute that passes feels-”

“Like an eternity?” Val finishes understanding, “It’s how I felt before, during and after IVF. It felt like I was never gonna have a baby, like it was my fault somehow and to find out it wasn’t my fault at all makes me angry…but you telling me my baby is finally out. It makes all that anger disappear and I feel joy. God, I feel so much joy.”

Alex grins at that, “I could use some of that joy right now, can you share?”

“No.” Val’s blunt answer makes Alex chuckle. She frowns as a horrible scenario comes into her head that makes her look at Alex square in the face, “I need you to promise me something. Promise me that if I die, you’ll make sure Luna walks out of this hospital if I can’t.”

“Val…I can’t make promises.” Alex sadly tells her.

“I know but I need you to promise you will do everything you can to make sure Luna is okay. You will try any procedure, you will get her into a trial, you will do anything to make sure one of us makes it out of this alive. I need you to promise that you will take care of my Little Moon if I can’t, from one desperate parent to another please promise me.”

Alex looks at Val in awe before holding her hand and looking into her eyes with conviction, “I promise.” Val sniffles and looks at Alex gratefully as he holds her hand with the both of them feeling hopeful.

Epilogue

Amber is alone in the resident’s lounge putting her casual clothes on feeling drained once again after another long day. What was supposed to be her first surgery in weeks turned She has been in charge of the line outside which got her into little arguments with people who refuse to fully wear their masks and keep a six feet distance.

It got to the point where one of them spit on her and she spent ten minutes furiously scrubbing her face with rubbing alcohol afraid of the germs and angry at the ass who demeaned her. Now all Amber wants to do is go to Jackson’s penthouse, drink his expensive alcohol and watch bad reality tv. A knock on the door calls her and she turns to find her roommate Jackson Avery standing outside the door in his casual wear and black mask looking at her in worry.

“I heard what happened. Did the guy really spit in your face when you told him to stop acting like an idiot and put his mask on and keep a safe distance?”

Amber groans putting her black mask on, “Yep, I did the silkwood shower on my face right after I think I peeled off a layer of my own skin. I don’t want to talk about it I just want to go home, watch The Bachelorette and wonder where my life is going after today.”

“I’ll join you; I got a feeling Hannah is gonna eliminate Peter.”

Amber scoffs at that, “Please you wish, Peter is going all the way, Mike is next mark my words.”

Jackson’s eyes widen offended, “Oh we’ll see about that Mike is her dream man, loser does the laundry?”

Amber chuckles at her friend, “You’re on, make sure to fold my delicates I like them neat and organized.”

“Same. Let’s go.” Amber slings her backpack on and is about to walk towards him when Owen Hunt comes in with a numb face wearing his scrubs and mask.

“Good I caught you both before you left.”

“What’s wrong?” Jackson asks concerned.

Owen looks solemn but faces Amber with regret getting straight to the point, “Amber your test came back just now, your positive for covid 19, I’m sorry.”

Jackson and Amber are stunned by this with him standing by the doorway looking at Amber worried she’ll faint like Meredith. Amber is standing by her cubby with her backpack on looking frozen with shock before she chuckles uneasily.

“Is this a joke? I’m not symptomatic, I feel fine. Did Koracick or Alex put you up to this because it is the worst punking in the history of ever.”

“No this isn’t a joke.” Owen says with a serious tone, “The test is right here you can look at it if you want.”

Owen puts the tablet on the table six feet away from Amber who takes it and looks at her results with a small gasp. She looks up at Jackson who looks down in worry but pulls out his phone.

“I’ll book you a hotel room to quarantine and tell your family.” He puts the phone to his ear, “And April we should get tests too.”  

Amber swallows the lump in her throat before sitting on the bench while Jackson makes calls. At this moment she feels a fear in her chest she’s never experienced before as a doctor and as of now a patient.

[girlactionfigure]

The dark-haired girl on the right with the impish smile, her name was Eddie Lou, she was about 8 years old when this photo was taken in 1909. The picture was taken at the Tifton Cotton Mill, Tifton, Georgia. The girls worked there.

The photograph was taken by Lewis Hine, who visited factories such as this mill and took photographs of the children who worked there as evidence for the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC).

In another part of the country, Mary Harris Jones, also known as "Mother Jones", led a march of children from Philadelphia to New York in what would be known as the March of the Mill Children, a three-week trek by striking child and adult textile workers on July 7, 1903.

Children had been forced to work in coal mines and mills, when their fathers were killed or injured, unable to support the families. As a result, many children suffered stunted growth and were injured, maimed. Mother Jones described the children, "some with their hands off, some with the thumb missing, some with their fingers off at the knuckle. They were stooped things, round shouldered and skinny. Many of them were not over ten years of age, the state law prohibited their working before they were twelve years of age."

“Since 2000, for nearly two decades, the world had been making steady progress in reducing child labour,” according to the United Nations. “But over the past few years, conflicts, crises and the COVID-19 pandemic, have plunged more families into poverty – and forced millions more children into child labour. Economic growth has not been sufficient, nor inclusive enough, to relieve the pressure that too many families and communities feel and that makes them resort to child labour. Today, 160 million children are still engaged in child labour. That is almost one in ten children worldwide.”

This is an update of a series of stories that have been posted for Labor Day. You can find those stories in the Peace Page archive or Google the information on your own to find out more.

~~~~~

“Over 100 years ago, the National Child Labor Committee used photos of children doing industrial work to demand change in America. Several states adopted child labor laws, and after much debate and several setbacks, the Fair Labor Standards Act became law in 1938. Its protections included the nation’s foundational child labor laws, including restrictions on the age of workers and hours they can toil,” wrote Michael Lazzeri, regional administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division in Chicago

Max McCoy of the the Kansas Reflector wrote today on September 3, 2023:

“After more than a century of progress, you might think child labor is a thing of the past, something we condemn other countries for but that we don’t need to worry about here. Tragically, that shadow army of workers is still with us, and many of those workers are children. These underage exploited are often immigrants . . .”

“In February of this year, a cleaning company was fined $1.5 million for employing children ages 13 to 17 at meatpacking plants in eight states. The firm, Packers Sanitations Services Inc., was the target of a federal Department of Labor investigation that found 102 children working illegally, including 26 at the Cargill meatpacking plant at Dodge City.

“Appallingly, many states are now racing to loosen — not tighten — child labor laws.

“Arkansas, for example, in March did away with the requirement that the state’s Division of Labor had to give permission or verify the age of children under 16 to be employed. Although those under 14 still cannot be employed, the ending of age verification requirements is an invitation to child labor abuses.

“Other states are making similar moves.

“Iowa, for example, has made it legal for teenagers to work in meatpacking plants and children as young as 16 to bartend. New Jersey and New Hampshire have also lowered ages for some types of work. The argument goes that work builds character and that overly restrictive laws prevent young people from fully developing their capacity to earn a living.

“But such arguments stink like the stuff you find on a slaughterhouse floor.”

~~~~~

"In the early 1900s, Hine traveled across the United States to photograph preteen boys descending into dangerous mines, shoeless 7-year-olds selling newspapers on the street and 4-year-olds toiling on tobacco farms. Though the country had unions to protect laborers at that time — and Labor Day, a federal holiday to honor them — child labor was widespread and widely accepted. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that around the turn of the century, at least 18 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 15 were employed," according to the Washington Post.

Mother Jones would say after the march, "I held up their mutilated hands and showed them to the crowd and made the statement that Philadelphia's mansions were built on the broken bones, the quivering hearts and drooping heads of these children. That their little lives went out to make wealth for others. That neither state or city officials paid any attention to these wrongs. That they did not care that these children were to be the future citizens of the nation."

Many industries hid the fact that they employed children. They took advantage of poor families, such as Eddie Lou's family. Eddie Lou's father had died and left her mother with 11 children and no income. Her mother was forced to work at the cotton mill for $4.50 a week. Eddie Lou and four siblings also worked there and they were all together paid $4.50 as well. Eddie Lou and her youngest siblings would eventually be sent to an orphanage because her mother wasn't able to provide for them.

“If we don’t hold the line on child labor, we risk losing one of the things the has sets us apart as a nation founded not only on laws, but of morals,” wrote McCoy. “Of course children provide cheap labor, but business profits should not be the gauge of our society. In addition to the mental and physical tolls that children suffer in jobs that are inappropriate — and can you really imagine a 16-year-old wiping down the bar and asking what’s your poison? — there’s also a danger these children will become primary breadwinners for their families, with their educations coming a distant second.”

The children at the march carried banners that said, "We want more schools and less hospitals" and "We want time to play."

~ jsr

The Jon S. Randal Peace Page

[covid-safer-hotties]

Louisiana COVID levels among the highest in the country as school starts. See the data. - Published Aug 9, 2024

A COVID-19 summer surge continues to mount in Louisiana, according to the latest federal data. Louisiana has the second-highest level of COVID-19 in wastewater in the country, behind only Utah.

Four years after the first COVID-19 cases were announced in the state, Louisiana has retired some of the tools for tracking the spread of the virus. Mask-wearing, regular testing and sanitizing efforts have also fallen by the wayside. However, rising wastewater levels, hospitalizations and emergency room visits for cold-like symptoms show that COVID is still a presence.

“There is clearly virus circulating,” said Susan Hassig, an infectious disease epidemiologist and associate professor emerita at Tulane University. “I would suggest it’s at much higher levels than people are even contemplating.”

Although the virus is not the hazard it was in previous years, it can still be dangerous to people with compromised immune systems. That includes people in places like nursing homes, but could also extend to the workplace, especially in an aging population, said Hassig.

“Nobody necessarily knows who in their workplace has cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes or other underlying conditions, even asthma, that may be problematic if they get COVID,” said Hassig.

Louisiana has a large burden of chronic disease, with over 60% of the population having at least one condition such as dementia, heart disease or another illness. Many of those conditions make it harder for the body to fight off and recover from COVID-19.

Fanning the flame It’s those patients that Dr. David Janz, a critical care pulmonologist, is seeing with COVID-19 at LCMC Health’s eight-hospital system in the New Orleans area. Systemwide, COVID has increased tenfold over the last three months.

There are 44 hospitalized patients who are positive for COVID across LCMC’s hospitals right now compared to 4 patients before the summer surge. In these patients, COVID is fanning a flame.

“Now, COVID just seems to be the straw that broke the camel's back in some patients that have just a lot of other medical conditions,” said Janz, the director of medical critical care services at University Medical Center. “And this one new respiratory infection was enough to kind of tip them over the edge.”

Over 2,000 people visited the emergency room for COVID-19 in Louisiana during the week ending July 27, according to the most recent data available. The highest percentage of those visits were among children under two, followed by ages two to four.

Back to school With school starting, the surge could continue.

“Any time you put a lot of people together in a room, there is the chance of spreading any respiratory illness,” said Janz.

While ER visits and hospitalizations are still on the upslope, the rate has slowed, he said, indicating the spread may start to level and drop soon.

COVID-19 has settled into a twice-yearly surge pattern, making a winter wave likely. When COVID does reemerge, it will be on top of other respiratory illnesses that start to rage in winter such as RSV and flu. That strains how hospitals can care for people with conditions like heart attacks and stroke, especially in rural areas.

“The hospitals just get too full and too busy to be able to care for all these other conditions,” said Janz.

Janz said a newly formulated vaccine that contains the variants currently circulating could be available as soon as the end of this month.

[elegantlaundry]

Elevate Your Laundry Experience at the Premier Laundry Shop in Dubai - UAE

Welcome to Elegant Laundry & Dry Cleaners, your Premier Destination for Top-tier Laundry Shop in Dubai - UAE. We're excited to unveil an exclusive deal for our valued patrons. Enjoy an amazing 15% discount on online bookings, along with complimentary pickup and delivery. Act fast, as this time-limited offer caters only to the initial 100 customers. Our diverse range of services covers Dry Cleaning, Steam Ironing, Wash & Fold, Wash & Press, and Carpet Cleaning. Kindly note, this discount is applicable solely for online reservations.

Driven by an unwavering dedication to customer service excellence, we invest in cutting-edge technology and adhere to industry best practices, ensuring unparalleled value for our customers. Our state-of-the-art equipment and advanced technology, paired with our rigorously trained staff, guarantee consistently Superior Laundry Shop. Moreover, our prompt pickup and delivery services span across Dubai, tailored to fit your budget range.

Discover Personalized Laundry Packages designed to cater to your unique needs. Whether it's your children's school uniforms, your everyday wear, professional attire, or household items such as curtains and carpets, our bespoke packages have you covered.

From initial pickup to the meticulous washing, folding, and subsequent delivery, we prioritize the highest standards of safety and hygiene. Our Laundry Center undergoes rigorous sanitization, and our staff strictly adhere to Covid-19 safety protocols, ensuring a safe and clean process from start to finish. Your laundered garments are delivered in meticulously sanitized bags for your peace of mind.

Experience the pinnacle of Laundry Care at Elegant Laundry & Dry Cleaners - your trusted Laundry Shop in Dubai – UAE

[newsbites]

News from Africa, 19 June

Hage Geingob will host Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and Dutch PM Mark Rutte today in Namibia. Green hydrogen will reportedly be among the subjects discussed.

2. Namibia's proposed visa exemption for Chinese nationals is a bilateral agreement that would benefit both countries, according to China's ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping.

Some Namibian politicians have objected to the proposal, with opposition leader McHenry Venaani claiming it is a "hoodwinking process" for Chinese prisoners to come to the country, and aspiring presidential candidate Job Amupanda alleging that it involves a deal between the ruling party and China to garner support for next year's elections.

The proposed agreement's main goal is to attract Chinese tourists and help Namibia become competitive again after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Namibia's minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Albert Kawana.

3. Angola and Zambia signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in information technology, including digital transformation, AI, and space technology.

The agreement includes the establishment of direct cross-border optical fibre backbone connectivity between the two countries, scheduled to happen this month.

The collaboration is expected to help improve the regulation of the Angolan and Zambian telecom markets and lead to improved coverage and quality of ICT services provided in both countries.

4. Namibia is embarking on a journey of digital transformation to modernize various aspects of the country's life.

The Department of Home Affairs, Immigration and Security recently announced the successful implementation of an online passport application system, a major step towards delivering home affairs government services through digital channels. Namibia is partnering with Estonia to bring government services online and gradually prepare citizens for the transformation ahead. The Vice Minister of ICT recognizes the importance of foreign direct investment (FDI) for African technology spaces, but stresses the need for a clear roadmap or strategy to ensure that solutions developed in Africa fit the lifestyle on the continent.

5. Nigeria has 71 million people living in extreme poverty and 133 million people are classified as multidimensionally poor, according to 2023 data from the World Poverty Clock and the National Bureau of Statistics.

6. The Bank of Namibia increased the repo rate to safeguard the dollar-rand peg and contain inflationary pressures, but this will severely impact consumers who rely on debt to survive.

The governor expressed empathy for people losing their homes due to rising debt costs, and urged the nation to find better solutions to keep more Namibians in their homes while maintaining financial stability.

7. The fighting in Sudan has caused a surge in refugees fleeing to South Sudan, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The UN has called for $253 million in funding to respond to the crisis, but donations have been slow to come in.

The lack of resources and funding has led to inadequate food, water, and sanitation facilities in transit camps, resulting in malnutrition, disease, and preventable deaths.

[kadcptblog]

Castillo PT 6

Video 1: "#MSafe always with McDo" by McDo Philippines

The reason why I selected this advertisement in particular was because I came across it almost everyday through various multimedia websites during the pandemic. The video advertisement itself is a short video featuring the various sanitation and safety practices done by the McDonald's employees in order to minimize the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The commercial was made in order to draw in customers by ensuring that their safety is guaranteed when dining or entering any McDonald's restaurants nationwide. Which brings us to its target customers. This video was posted on YouTube on April 2021, which was still at the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The target customers for this ad would most likely be the general public. The various sanitation practices shown in the ad are most likely shown to persuade the individuals who are still skeptical about dining/purchasing food outdoors. The practices they've shown in the video are common COVID-19 prevention practices, which include good hygiene, the wearing of proper equipment such as masks and face shields, the installation of transparent boards in order to block the transmission of the virus, among many other things. The efficacy of face masks and face shields at blocking the transmission of the virus has already been proven by Wendling et al. (2021), who experimented with various types of facial equipment using two mannequin heads spaced 25cm apart. The experiment also included a particle emitter in order to simulate the transmission of virus particles. The results showed a transmission reduction of up to 98% when wearing a face mask or a face shield, which of course, could benefit the consumer as they’re running a lower risk of receiving the virus in the public environment. To conclude, I'd like to discuss if there are any forms of Media Manipulation present in the video. From my experiences, I'd say that they're sticking to their promises. Obviously, since the threat of the virus has died down, they're way less strict than they were during the midst of the pandemic. But, they're still practicing most of the various sanitation methods that they've presented in the advertisement.

Video 2: "Sama-sama sa Distansya" by globeph

The video features a compilation of cuts of different places in the Philippines showcasing the effect of the pandemic on the daily life of Filipinos. This was backed by an audio recording of a woman who at first seemed to be avoiding someone who was important for her, but we soon learn that it was for good reason. She states that, during that time, it would be better for them to distance themselves from one another, because they were close. Which may imply that staying too close to each other during the time of the pandemic may cause more harm than good. Though, during that time, they were able to meet more often through the use of the internet and its communication capabilities. They were able to find ways to connect with each other, even though they're far apart. The possible intended purpose of this short ad is to let the people know that during this time of being disconnected to the outside world, we could still build more connections with those around us through different means. And those means could be accessed through the internet. The target audience for this ad would be those who miss the ones dear to them, to persuade them to connect with those loved ones through the use of the internet, and the services of Globe Telecom. For me, the services that Globe offers is essential during this modern time, especially since we're recovering from a pandemic. The internet allowed us to limit physical interactions, which drastically decreased the transmission of viral diseases such as COVID-19. As for the presence of Media Manipulation, I'd say there is a subtle hint of it, but it isn't really relevant. I think that the ad managed to gain the interest of the public because of its creative writing and storytelling. It draws you in to anticipate the conclusion of the story.

References:

McDo Philippines. (2021, April 23). #MSafe always with McDo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTx9KhgA91w

globeph. (2020, April 17). Sama-sama sa Distansya | #SafeAtHome [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZNnrEKbyJ4

Wendling, J., Fabacher, T., Pébaÿ, P. P., Cosperec, I., & Rochoy, M. (2021). Experimental Efficacy of the Face Shield and the Mask against Emitted and Potentially Received Particles. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1942. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041942

[ethon-brown-niku]

Keeping Your Home Healthy and Safe from Bat Infestations

Bats are an important part of the ecosystem, but when they take up residence in our homes or buildings, they can become a nuisance and a potential health hazard. In Dallas city, bat removal services are available to help residents deal with bat infestations and protect their health.

Health Risks Associated with Bat Infestations

Bats can carry and transmit a variety of diseases to humans, including rabies, histoplasmosis, and coronavirus. Rabies is a viral infection that can be fatal if left untreated. It is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, and bats are one of the most common carriers of the virus. Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection that is caused by inhaling spores from bat droppings, which can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues. Coronavirus is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted from bats to humans, as was seen with the outbreak of COVID-19.

In addition to health risks, bat infestations can also cause damage to homes and buildings. Bat gray can collect in attics and walls, causing odors and stains. They can also attract other pests such as cockroaches and beetles, so it is important to hire a pest control professional to remove these pests from your living areas. Otherwise, insects can cause further damage to the building.

Bat Removal Services

If you suspect you have a bat infestation in your home or building, it is important to contact a professional Bat Removal in Dallas Service. These services have the expertise and equipment to safely remove bats from your property and prevent them from returning.

The first step in bat removal is to conduct a thorough inspection of the property to determine the extent of the infestation and identify any entry points that the bats may be using. Once the entry points are identified, the professionals will install exclusion devices or seal off the entry points to prevent the bats from re-entering.

In addition to removing the bats, bat removal services will also clean up any droppings and sanitize the affected areas to prevent the spread of disease. All Day Pest Control provide guidance on how to prevent future bat infestations, such as sealing gaps and cracks in the building and removing any potential food sources.

Bat infestations can pose serious health risks to humans, but with the help of professional Bat Removal Services, residents in Dallas city or other cities can protect their health and their homes. If you suspect you have a bat infestation, contact a professional bat removal service immediately to ensure the safe and effective removal of the bats from your property.

[lyndztanica]

In Lieu of Twitter Going Dark Pt. 4

I wasn’t intending on doing this again on Tumblr, but given what could happen with Twitter, and people’s interests, I figured I would do a big charity thread for as much as I can fit in a post. I may have to split them into multiples, at which point I will edit this one to provide links to the others.

If you find this type of information important and want to learn about new charities (or submit others) I have a discord server that I will also link to in this to join. As always, the goal of this is to showcase places to donate your money or other resources to. Again, they might need more than money! Maybe they need a social media manager. Maybe they need someone else to offer rides or information. If you find yourself in a position to do something but you’re broke don’t let the money stop you.

Mutual Aid

Austin Area Urban League :: https://aaul.org/ - [Austin-centric] Local affiliate of the National Urban League, they provide a variety of services to underserved communities in Austin and the Central Texas Region. These include Education, Youth Development, Workforce and Career Development, Healthcare, Housing, and Justice and Advocacy.

Corpus Christi Democratic Socialists of America Mutual Aid :: http://www.corpuschristidsa.org/mutual-aid.html - [Corpus Christi-centric] One of the working groups of the DSA, they cover expenses of people in need with the funds which covers everything from groceries to rent to medical expenses. 

DFW Mutual Aid :: https://www.facebook.com/DFWMutualAid/ - [Dallas/Forth Worth-centric] Mutual aid collective that provides financial support and online resources. 

Houston Houseless Organizing Coalition :: https://linktr.ee/htx.hoc - [Houston-centric] Mutual aid group that provides meals, clothing, hygiene products, and financial support to help people stay housed or get housing.

STRIVE :: https://strive.org/ - [US-centric] Black-led organization that helps unemployed Black members of their community find job training and new, better employment to escape poverty. 

For Our Farmers :: https://forourfarmers.com/ - [Philippines-centric] organization formed in response to Covid-19 to help rural farmers and their families to have enough to eat and have other important needs met. 

Emergency Workplace Organization :: https://workerorganizing.org/ - [US-centric] organization that gives workers the knowledge and resources to organize and advocate for a safe working environment for them and their coworkers. 

Asian Pacific Labor Alliance :: https://www.apalanet.org/ - [US-centric] Labor organization formed by and for Asian and Pacific Islander workers in the United States. 

Freedom Community Clinic :: https://www.freedomcommunityclinic.org/ - [Oakland, CA-centric] clinic that operates out of Oakland, CA to serve communities typically left underserved or mistreated by the medical industry. 

National Alliance on Mental Illness :: https://www.nami.org/home - [US-centric] non-profit organization that provides education, support groups, a help line, and advocates for people with mental illness and their caregivers (should they have caregivers). 

Water Mission :: https://watermission.org/ - International group that works to provide accessible clean water for drinking and sanitation to communities in need due to inequality or disaster. 

International Relief Teams :: https://www.irteams.org/ - International group that strives to restore infrastructure and provide supplies to communities in need. 

RIP Medical Debt :: https://ripmedicaldebt.org/ - [US-centric] Founded by two debt collectors, RIP Medical Debt is the organization used by John Oliver to buy up $15 million dollars of medical debt and clear it. 

Humanity First :: https://usa.humanityfirst.org/ - International organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering where and how a community needs it most. This leads to a variety of efforts -- digging water wells, aid in the wake of natural disasters, etc. 

World Food Program USA :: https://www.wfpusa.org/ - International organization dedicated to alleviating hunger in times of crisis and working to solve world hunger in the long run. 

Take This :: https://www.takethis.org/ - [US-centric] organization that provides resources and help for members of the game industry, which is infamous for its slew of mental health problems. 

Islamic Relief Pakistan :: https://islamic-relief.org.pk/ - [Pakistan-centric] organization dedicated to aiding citizens of Pakistan in the wake of any disaster that strikes the country. 

Post One. Post Two. Post Three.

[hakkiest]

i dont usually add stuff to posts that are already getting lots of notes but when talking about the main covid 19 pandemic outbreaks and thr workers who were affected please remember mortuary workers. Cemetery, morgue and crematoriums are places with literally dozens of different workers in there doing a lot of different things ans essentially none of us were able to stop working, we were frequently forgotten when it came time to talk about working conditions and hazard pay during the pandemic, and unlike health and public sanitation and service workers we continue to be forgotten when it comes to essential workers. Which is completely ironic cause our job is beyond essential and it was the work ethic and discipline and planning and hard work of mortuary workers that kept many different countries afloat during the 2020-2023 main covid outbreak. This ofc is different from place to place but cemetery workers dont often have college education, work is unsanitary, biohazardous and physically demanding, and there was a moment in time when we didnt know if corpses could infect the living but someone still needed to figure out how to deal with the dead.

im not saying office jobs aren’t bad in some ways but its always very telling when people treat it like the WORST job at the bottom of the rung…because they have never had to face manual labor as a real option they would ever be forced to take.

[pudumjeehygiene]

The Impact of Global Hygiene Solutions on Health and Wellness Worldwide

As global awareness of health and wellness has grown, so has the need for advanced hygiene solutions that support safe, clean, and sanitary environments. Hygiene solutions impact many facets of life—ranging from public health to personal wellness and even economic productivity. By effectively managing cleanliness in homes, workplaces, and public spaces, these solutions help combat illness transmission, improve air and surface quality, and enhance overall wellness standards globally.

This article explores the far-reaching impact of global hygiene solutions and how they are shaping a healthier, safer future for people worldwide.

1. Reducing the Spread of Infectious Diseases

One of the most critical roles of hygiene solutions is reducing the spread of infectious diseases. Tools like hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and air purifiers help minimize pathogen transmission, especially in high-traffic environments such as hospitals, schools, and public transportation hubs. Hygiene practices like frequent handwashing and surface disinfection have proven effective in controlling the spread of various illnesses, including:

Respiratory infections like the common cold, flu, and COVID-19.

Foodborne illnesses in restaurants, kitchens, and food production facilities.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), which pose significant risks in healthcare settings.

With enhanced hygiene protocols and products, infection rates are significantly lowered, creating safer environments in communal areas and reducing the strain on healthcare systems worldwide.

2. Improving Air Quality for Respiratory Health

Indoor air quality is a growing concern as poor ventilation and pollution contribute to respiratory issues. Hygiene solutions that improve air quality—such as HEPA filters, UV-C purifiers, and advanced HVAC systems—can remove harmful particles and pathogens from the air, promoting healthier breathing spaces. By removing allergens, bacteria, viruses, and even mold spores, these solutions help reduce the risk of asthma, allergies, and respiratory infections.

Air quality management has a particularly strong impact in densely populated urban areas, where air pollution levels are high, as well as in hospitals and workplaces. These settings rely on improved ventilation to maintain a safe, breathable environment, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, children, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

3. Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being

Cleanliness and hygiene also have an indirect but notable impact on mental health. Studies have shown that clean environments can reduce stress and anxiety, boost focus, and enhance mood. In workplaces, a well-maintained and sanitary environment can lead to higher productivity and morale, while in homes, cleanliness contributes to a sense of peace and relaxation.

In public spaces, well-kept restrooms, tidy transit areas, and clean recreational facilities create a more welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. When people feel safe and secure in their surroundings, their mental and emotional well-being improves, contributing to a higher quality of life.

4. Reducing Healthcare Costs

Global hygiene solutions contribute significantly to reducing healthcare costs by preventing the spread of diseases and minimizing hospital-acquired infections. By implementing stringent hygiene practices in healthcare facilities and public spaces, organizations can prevent outbreaks that would otherwise lead to high healthcare expenses. Preventing disease transmission helps reduce the need for medical treatments, hospital admissions, and long-term healthcare services, leading to substantial savings.

For healthcare systems, these savings allow for a more efficient allocation of resources toward patient care, innovation, and emergency preparedness. Investing in advanced hygiene solutions is thus a cost-effective approach for governments and organizations looking to lower the financial burden of preventable diseases.

5. Promoting Wellness in Workplaces and Schools

Hygiene solutions are particularly impactful in workplaces and schools, where many people share the same spaces daily. Maintaining cleanliness through hand sanitizing stations, regular disinfection, and improved ventilation helps reduce absenteeism due to illness. By minimizing the spread of colds, flu, and other contagious diseases, workplaces and educational institutions can create healthier environments that support higher attendance and engagement.

In workplaces, cleanliness translates to fewer sick days, improved productivity, and better employee satisfaction. In schools, a cleaner environment supports student health, leading to better academic performance and attendance rates. Hygiene practices in these environments are integral to supporting the wellness of students, teachers, employees, and employers alike.

6. Enhancing Hygiene in Under-Resourced Areas

Global hygiene solutions are also transforming health standards in under-resourced areas where access to clean water and sanitation facilities can be limited. Portable handwashing stations, water purification tablets, and low-cost sanitation options are providing hygiene essentials to communities that lack conventional resources. By addressing basic hygiene needs in these areas, global organizations and non-profits help reduce health disparities and improve wellness for millions of people.

In rural and impoverished regions, access to hygiene tools and education on proper hygiene practices is essential for preventing disease outbreaks, reducing child mortality rates, and supporting general public health. Global hygiene solutions empower these communities to break the cycle of illness and improve quality of life.

7. Raising Awareness and Encouraging Good Hygiene Practices

Beyond products and technologies, hygiene solutions also encompass education and awareness initiatives that promote responsible hygiene habits. Public health campaigns, instructional signage, and digital resources are all effective tools for encouraging handwashing, proper sanitation, and respiratory hygiene.

Raising awareness of the importance of hygiene not only prevents disease but also cultivates a culture of wellness, where people are proactive in maintaining clean environments. By empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves, hygiene awareness programs contribute to widespread health improvements on a global scale.

8. Sustainability in Hygiene Solutions

The hygiene industry is also embracing sustainability, developing eco-friendly products that minimize environmental impact. This includes using biodegradable materials, refillable packaging, and low-water-use products that reduce resource consumption. Sustainable hygiene practices ensure that health and wellness are prioritized without compromising environmental health.

From biodegradable cleaning agents to energy-efficient air purifiers, sustainable hygiene solutions support global wellness by promoting a healthier environment. As organizations and consumers increasingly prioritize eco-friendly products, sustainable hygiene solutions will continue to shape the future of health and wellness.

The Future of Global Hygiene Solutions and Wellness

As technology advances, global hygiene solutions will become even more integral to health and wellness initiatives. Emerging technologies like AI-driven cleaning systems, automated disinfection robots, and personalized hygiene tools are set to redefine hygiene standards across various settings. These innovations aim to make hygiene management more efficient, accessible, and adaptable to diverse environments, supporting better health outcomes worldwide.

Global hygiene solutions are also fostering collaboration between governments, healthcare providers, and private companies to address shared health challenges. By working together, these entities can achieve higher hygiene standards, reduce health disparities, and build resilient public health systems.

Conclusion

The impact of global hygiene solutions on health and wellness is far-reaching, influencing everything from disease prevention and air quality to mental well-being and sustainability. By promoting cleanliness and providing advanced tools for sanitization, these solutions help create healthier, safer environments for people everywhere.

As the importance of hygiene continues to grow, innovations in global hygiene solutions will support a healthier future—one where public health and wellness are prioritized across all communities. Through thoughtful design, sustainable practices, and widespread accessibility, hygiene solutions are playing a critical role in improving the quality of life for individuals worldwide, paving the way for a safer, more resilient global community.