Properly washing your hands is the best way to help prevent the spread of germs that can cause influenza (such as H1N1), infections, colds and other respiratory viruses.
1. Wet hands and wrists in warm, running water.
2. Apply liquid soap or clean bar soap. Lather well.
3. Rub hands vigorously for at least 10-15 seconds.
4. Scrub fingertips, wrists, back of hands and between and around fingers.
5. Rinse hands and wrists thoroughly under running water.
6. Dry hands with clean towel or paper towel.If washing hands in a public restroom, rinse hands and leave the tap running. After hands are dry, use paper towel to turn off tap.
If you do not have access to warm running water, you can use an alcohol based hand sanitizer instead.Disinfecting with an alcohol hand sanitizer:
1. Apply sanitizer to open palm.
2. Rub hands together.
3. Make sure to rub fingertips, wrists, back of hands and between and around fingers.
4. Keep rubbing until hands are dry.
You should wash your hands regularily and especially:
•After using the washroom.
•After handling garbage.
•Before and after eating or handling food, especially raw fish, poultry and meat.
•After handling animals.
•After visiting or being near sick people.
•After sneezing or coughing.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
15th annual REALTORS® Care Blanket Drive
**November 30 - December 7, 2009**Every year, Lower Mainland REALTORS® organize a Blanket Drive to collect blankets and warm and/or waterproof clothing to help people in need stave off the winter cold and wet.
The Drive is coordinated by about 75 REALTOR® volunteers and there are over 100 real estate offices across the Fraser Valley, Greater Vancouver and Chilliwack and district serving as drop-off locations. Thousands of REALTORS® and members of the public generously donate to the cause.
Last year, in the entire Lower Mainland, they helped to donate and collect an astounding 4,000+ bags of blankets and clothing — bags the size of green garbage bags stuffed full. Anyone can donate anytime between November 30 and December 7 (during business hours) at one of 41 locations in the Fraser Valley.
Please refrain from dropping donations off before the Drive begins, as realty offices don't have adequate storage. Please donate ANY of these items, either NEW or gently used and clean:
blankets, sleeping bags, bedding (sheets and blankets)- ideally NEW
winter jackets, coats, rain coats, rain ponchos, windbreakers (men, women and children)
sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, turtlenecks, sweatshirts, fleece vests, pullovers
pants, sweatpants, jeans, slacks
long underwear, scarves, hats, mitts, gloves, toques
NEW underware and socks
shoes, boots, especially waterproof
any clothing offering warmth and/or protection from the elements
Please do not donate household items, summer clothing, furniture, books, toys, toiletries, etc. Save them for another time — this is a drive for warm clothing and bedding for people who are homeless! Also, our charities do not have the funds to launder these items, so ask that they are clean and useable, so as to avoid items being recycled or thrown out.
drop off locations At www.blanketdrive.ca.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
housing market- Canada
Housing starts have started to recover and are expected to continue to improve in the second half of 2009. Starts are expected to reach 141,900 for the year and will increase to 164,900 for 2010, according to CMHC’s fourth quarter Housing Market Outlook, Canada Edition report. “We expect housing markets across Canada to strengthen leading into and over the course of 2010 as economic conditions improve,” said Bob Dugan, Chief Economist for CMHC. “Demand for existing homes has rebounded since the beginning of the year. In addition, lower inventory levels characterize both the new and existing home markets. As a result, stronger housing demand will be reflected in higher levels of housing starts in 2010. The strong pace of MLS sales seen in the second and third quarters of this year reflects, in part, activity that was delayed in the previous two quarters and is not likely to be sustained. The level of sales is expected to move back closer in line with anticipated economic conditions. As a result, existing home sales, as measured by the MLS, will reach 441,300 units in 2009 and increase to 445,150 units in 2010. The average MLS price is expected to be $312,950 in 2009 and $324,500 in 2010.
Friday, November 6, 2009
COLD, FLU, H1N1 SYMPTOMS
NOT TO BE RELIED UPON, SUPPLIED AS INFORMATION ONLY
FEVER
COLD Fever is rare with a cold.
SEASONAL FLU Fever is common with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Fever is usually present with H1N1 in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 101°
COUGHING
COLD A hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold.
SEASONL FLU A dry and hacking cough is often present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with H1N1 (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
ACHES
COLD Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
SEASONAL FLU Moderate body aches are common with the seasonal flu.
H1N1Severe aches and pains are common with H1N1.
STUFFY NOSE
COLD Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
SEASONAL FLU A runny nose is commonly present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Stuffy nose is not commonly present with H1N1.
CHILLS
COLD Chills are uncommon with a cold.
SEASONL FLU Chills are mild to moderate with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 60% of people who have H1N1 experience chills.
TIREDNESS
COLD Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
SEASONL FLU Tiredness is moderate and more likely referred to as a lack of energy with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Tiredness is moderate to severe with H1N1.
SNEEZING
COLD Sneezing is commonly present with a cold
SEASONL FLU Sneezing is common present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Sneezing is not common with H1N1.
SUDDEN SYMPTOMS
COLD Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
SEASONL FLU Symptoms tend to develop over a few days and include flushed face, loss of appetite, dizziness and/or vomiting/nausea. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, depending on the individual. Diarrhea is common.
HIN1 - H1N1 has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. H1N1 hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, depending on the individual. Diarrhea is common.
HEADACHE
COLD A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
SEASONAL FLU A headache is fairly common with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 A headache is very common with H1N1 and present in 80% of cases.
SORE THROAT
COLD Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
SEASONL FLU Sore throat is commonly present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Sore throat is not commonly present with H1N1.
CHEST DISCOMFORT
COLD Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
SEASNL FLU Chest discomfort is moderate with the seasonal flu. If it turns severe seek medical attention immediately!
H1N1Chest discomfort is often severe with H1N1.
PREVENTION TIPS:
cough & sneeze into your elbow
wash hands with soap and warm water for a minimum of 15 -20 seconds. Sing your abc's or happy birthday to you
use hand sanitizer when soap & water are not available
avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth without washing or using hand sanitizer first
FEVER
COLD Fever is rare with a cold.
SEASONAL FLU Fever is common with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Fever is usually present with H1N1 in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 101°
COUGHING
COLD A hacking, productive (mucus-producing) cough is often present with a cold.
SEASONL FLU A dry and hacking cough is often present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with H1N1 (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
ACHES
COLD Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
SEASONAL FLU Moderate body aches are common with the seasonal flu.
H1N1Severe aches and pains are common with H1N1.
STUFFY NOSE
COLD Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
SEASONAL FLU A runny nose is commonly present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Stuffy nose is not commonly present with H1N1.
CHILLS
COLD Chills are uncommon with a cold.
SEASONL FLU Chills are mild to moderate with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 60% of people who have H1N1 experience chills.
TIREDNESS
COLD Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
SEASONL FLU Tiredness is moderate and more likely referred to as a lack of energy with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Tiredness is moderate to severe with H1N1.
SNEEZING
COLD Sneezing is commonly present with a cold
SEASONL FLU Sneezing is common present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Sneezing is not common with H1N1.
SUDDEN SYMPTOMS
COLD Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
SEASONL FLU Symptoms tend to develop over a few days and include flushed face, loss of appetite, dizziness and/or vomiting/nausea. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, depending on the individual. Diarrhea is common.
HIN1 - H1N1 has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. H1N1 hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, depending on the individual. Diarrhea is common.
HEADACHE
COLD A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
SEASONAL FLU A headache is fairly common with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 A headache is very common with H1N1 and present in 80% of cases.
SORE THROAT
COLD Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
SEASONL FLU Sore throat is commonly present with the seasonal flu.
H1N1 Sore throat is not commonly present with H1N1.
CHEST DISCOMFORT
COLD Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.
SEASNL FLU Chest discomfort is moderate with the seasonal flu. If it turns severe seek medical attention immediately!
H1N1Chest discomfort is often severe with H1N1.
PREVENTION TIPS:
cough & sneeze into your elbow
wash hands with soap and warm water for a minimum of 15 -20 seconds. Sing your abc's or happy birthday to you
use hand sanitizer when soap & water are not available
avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth without washing or using hand sanitizer first
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
OCTOBER HOME SALES BRISK IN THE FRASER VALLEY
The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) processed 1,704 sales on its Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) in October, an increase of 122 per cent compared to the 768 sales during the same month last year.“We’ve had a reversal. Last October was unseasonably slow and now this past month was one of the strongest real estate markets we’ve had in the Fraser Valley in the last decade,” said FVREB President, Paul Penner.“We continued to see resale buyers from Greater Vancouver and first-time buyers from all over the Lower Mainland taking advantage of competitive interest rates and lower prices in the Fraser Valley.”
Although the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price of all three residential property types combined has increased by 7.4 per cent in the last six months in the Fraser Valley, prices for each property type remain at or below what they were one year ago. The benchmark price of a detached home in October was $491,128, an increase of 0.4 per cent compared to October 2008, when it was $488,983.
The benchmark price of townhouses decreased 2.1 per cent from $319,160 in October 2008 to $312,339 last month. The benchmark price of apartments also decreased year-over-year by 2.3 per cent, going from $245,635 in October of last year to $240,048 in October 2009. “We expect to see prices remain competitive in the Fraser Valley,” added Penner. “Even during our unusually busy summer, prices were sensitive to location and property type.”
Although Fraser Valley’s MLS® received 7 per cent more new listings in October than it did in September, the strength in October’s sales reduced overall inventory. In October 2009, Fraser Valley property hunters had 8,807 listings to choose from, compared to 11,715 in October last year – a decrease of 25 per cent.
source http://www.fvreb.bc.ca/.
Although the MLSLink® Housing Price Index (HPI) benchmark price of all three residential property types combined has increased by 7.4 per cent in the last six months in the Fraser Valley, prices for each property type remain at or below what they were one year ago. The benchmark price of a detached home in October was $491,128, an increase of 0.4 per cent compared to October 2008, when it was $488,983.
The benchmark price of townhouses decreased 2.1 per cent from $319,160 in October 2008 to $312,339 last month. The benchmark price of apartments also decreased year-over-year by 2.3 per cent, going from $245,635 in October of last year to $240,048 in October 2009. “We expect to see prices remain competitive in the Fraser Valley,” added Penner. “Even during our unusually busy summer, prices were sensitive to location and property type.”
Although Fraser Valley’s MLS® received 7 per cent more new listings in October than it did in September, the strength in October’s sales reduced overall inventory. In October 2009, Fraser Valley property hunters had 8,807 listings to choose from, compared to 11,715 in October last year – a decrease of 25 per cent.
source http://www.fvreb.bc.ca/.
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