Disposables, Landfills and Public Health

Not since the Middle Ages has there been so much human waste in our garbage. The instructions on a disposable diaper package advise that all fecal matter should be deposited in the toilet before discarding, yet less than one half of one per cent of all waste from single-use diapers goes into the sewage system. Most people simply toss soiled disposable diapers into household, hospital or roadside garbage, adding 84 million pounds of raw fecal matter to our environment per year.

Raw sewage is then dumped in landfill sites, breeding viruses and bacteria. As many as 100 viruses can survive in soiled diapers for up to two weeks, including polio viruses excreted by recently-vaccinated babies. According to Environmental Canada, once in landfill sites, which are not designed to handle human waste, single use-diapers threaten the health of sanitary workers, water supplies and our wildlife.

The American Public Health Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have advised parents that “fecal material and urine should not be allowed to be co-mingled and disposed of as regular trash and thereby contaminate ground water and spread disease.” Yet millions of tons of untreated body excrement, which may carry over 100 intestinal viruses, are brought to landfills via disposables.

Cloth diapers offer a simple solution to this public health issue. The laundering process for cloth diapers means that waste water is safely treated in your local treatment plant.

Ready to start your diaper service? Contact Happy Nappy today!

Source: Real Diaper Association

H1N1 Virus and what you should know.

How does pandemic H1N1 influenza virus spread?

It spreads the same way as seasonal influenza – from person to person through “droplets” that are released through the air when an infected person coughs and sneezes. The droplets can then be breathed in by others.
The virus can also be contracted through:
- Shaking hands that are contaminated with the virus; and
- Touching a hard surface, such as a counter or door handle that has been contaminated with the virus.
A person then becomes infected by then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
The virus is considered infectious for up to eight hours on hard surfaces and only a few minutes on soft surfaces.

What can Canadians do to protect themselves and others from pandemic H1N1 influenza virus?

You can take simple measures to minimize the risk of being infected.

Stay home from work or school for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you are feeling well enough to resume normal activities, whichever is shorter.
Help prevent infection with pandemic influenza by getting the vaccine.
Clean hands frequently, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. When done correctly, this is the single most effective way to reduce the spread of infections.
Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand.
Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth after shaking hands or touching hard surfaces like counters and door handles or other surfaces that may harbour influenza and other viruses. Keep common surfaces clean and disinfected.
Stay at least two metres (six feet) away from people who are experiencing influenza-like symptoms. This is called social distancing and includes staying away from crowds when influenza is circulating in the community.
Other steps to keep yourself healthy include:
- Healthy eating;
- Maintaining an active lifestyle; and
- Getting enough rest and sleep.

At HAPPY NAPPY we are taking a proactive approach to this potential threat. Any staff handling the diapers in our laundry facilities will be wearing Masks and Gloves. This is for dirty and clean diapers. Even though the likely hood that something could possibly be passed along by someone sneezing while handling the clean diapers is very remote, " a ounce of prevention in worth a pound of cure."

Bugs, Bugs and more Bugs!

Question: Which types of insect repellents are safe to use on your baby?

A. The same repellents adults use
B. Repellents that contain up to 30 percent DEET or picaridin, once your baby is 2 months old
C. Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus
D. No bug repellents are safe to use on babies

Answer: B
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not using any insect repellents on a baby who's not yet 2 months old. Products containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) or picaridin are both recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for adults and children 2 months of age and older. Picaridin is a chemical that's similar in effectiveness to DEET, but it's odorless, lighter, and less irritating. (The CDC has also recommended oil of lemon eucalyptus, but not for children younger than 3.)

Keep in mind that a lower concentration of the active ingredient doesn't spell reduced effectiveness. It simply means that the product won't keep the bugs away for as long. For example, a product that contains 7 percent DEET will be effective for about two hours, while one containing 20 percent will repel bugs for almost four hours. (Picaridin is effective for similar periods in the same concentrations, though the picaridin products currently available are in the 5 to 10 percent range.)

Repellents reach maximum duration of effectiveness at 30 percent, so there's no reason to exceed that level. In fact, it's a good idea to use the minimum concentration you can for the amount of time you anticipate needing protection. Read product labels carefully because the concentration varies quite a bit from one product to another.

DEET and picaridin aren't water-soluble, so don't put these repellents on your baby more than once a day. Don't choose a product that's both a sunscreen and a bug repellent, because sunscreen should be reapplied regularly. Other guidelines for using repellents that contain DEET or picaridin:
• Apply repellent sparingly to your baby's exposed skin, not to the skin under his clothes.
• Don't put repellent close to your baby's eyes or mouth, and avoid cuts and skin irritations.
• Don't put repellent on your baby's hands, because they'll inevitably find their way into his mouth.
• Don't allow your baby to handle the container while you're applying the repellent.
• Wash off the repellent when you come inside, and launder your baby's clothes if they have repellent on them.
• Don't spray repellents in enclosed areas or near food.
• Store repellents out of your baby's reach.
• If your baby develops any kind of rash while wearing the repellent, wash it off and call his doctor.
You may want to try a natural insect repellent, but read the label first to make sure that it's safe for use on babies. (Repellent products must state any age restrictions.)

Keep in mind that natural repellents generally don't last as long as chemical repellents. Some of them need to be reapplied every 20 minutes or so, while others last a couple of hours.

Dressing your baby in light-colored clothing that covers as much of his skin as possible will help protect him from insects that bite or sting. Avoid bright or dark colors or flowery prints.

Don't use scented soaps or lotions, as fragrance attracts some bugs, and avoid insect hangouts — stagnant water, flower gardens, and uncovered food, for example. You might want to use mosquito netting over your baby's infant seat, playpen, backpack, or stroller when you have him outdoors during bug season.

simple solution

If you are worried about what is in the bug spray, you could mix up 1 part vinegar, 2 parts water and mist or towel it over your baby. The vinegar smell disappears as it dries. You could also try Earth's Best Natural Insect Repellant. It's about 8 bucks online and is deet/ paraben free.