Features

A car accident is a very traumatic experience for anyone. It can cause serious and life-threatening injuries. Even a minor car accident can potentially cause damages due to the abrupt motions and blunt force that can occur.

Sometimes, just the excitement and disorientation experienced after an accident can mask injuries. Some injuries may not even cause immediate pain.  It is very important that a person always seeks medical care after a car accident and then contact their car accident attorney. While nobody wants to go down this route, sometimes mounting medical needs may necessitate you contact an Expert Sacramento Car Accident Attorney. This will ensure their health is cared for and their case is given the proper attention it needs to ensure proper compensation if appropriate.

After an Accident

After an accident, it is recommended that individuals get checked out by a health care provider if there is any chance of an injury, even minor injuries. The next step after seeking medical care is to contact an attorney to review the case.  It can be hard to know where to start your search for a suitable attorney however perhaps you could  view this law firm page  as a starting point.  

To ensure proper and fair compensation for any injuries after a car accident, individuals must receive immediate medical care. Unfortunately, there are some types of injuries that do not present themselves until later, sometimes hours or even days later.

At the first sign of any pain, soreness, or even a fever, individuals who have been in a car accident should seek medical care. These injuries could be serious and require immediate attention to prevent further risks or problems to their health.

Fever after Accident

Developing a fever after a car accident may be a major warning sign of a problem. Unfortunately, many people do not associate fever with an injury. This can often keep them from seeking medical care and can potentially put their life at risk.

Fever is normally associated with infections or illnesses. However, a fever can develop after serious injuries as well. Internal injuries, deep muscle, or bone damage, even blood clots could produce a fever response in some people.

When a fever occurs within hours or even days after a car accident, individuals should have their doctor check them for various injuries that may not have been detected immediately after the accident. If there is any pain or bruising with the fever, let the doctor know so that they can provide directed care to those areas.

Abdominal Injuries

The abdomen is an area that holds many organs without much protection against injury. When in a car accident, injuries to the abdomen can occur easily. The seatbelt, steering wheel, dashboard, or other parts of the vehicle are common sources of abdominal injuries during an accident.

When the force of the accident causes the abdomen to come in contact with these various parts or to be restrained with force during the impact of an accident, it can cause damage to one or more organs. If help is not provided immediately, it can cause serious complications or even death.

Warning signs of an abdominal injury can vary greatly depending on the affected organs. Injuries to the kidneys can be indicated by blood in the urine or pain in the flank. Damage to the liver can be indicated by pain in the upper right area of the abdomen. It can even cause pressure in the chest.

Sometimes, abdominal injuries can lead to pain in other areas of the body. For example, damage to the spleen could cause pain in the upper back or right shoulder area. Abdominal injuries could even affect multiple organs, including the intestines, bladder, pancreas, stomach, or other areas.

Internal Bleeding

Even if there is no apparent pain, there could still be internal bleeding after a car accident. A fever can sometimes be the first sign of bleeding due to the body’s attempt to heal itself. Internal bleeding is a serious complication and needs immediate care.

Sometimes, internal bleeding is accompanied by severe abdominal pain or even signs of trauma to the affected area. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The injury could be too deep to show signs and the endorphins released after an accident can sometimes mask the pain.

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can often be signs of internal bleeding. Although these symptoms may be associated with other problems, they still should be checked out by a physician if they occur after a car accident.

Some signs of internal bleeding that need immediate medical attention include dizziness, severe weakness, passing out, vision problems, numbness, or weakness on one side of the body. Shortness of breath or severe headaches after an accident should also be signs of a serious issue.

While on the topic of internal bleeding, it’s also important to touch upon external bleeding too. Unlike internal bleeding, external bleeding from a car accident is usually visible and easier to identify. Severe bleeding of this kind requires immediate action to prevent excessive blood loss. Apply direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth or bandage, and elevate the injured area above the heart if possible. For life-threatening bleeding that cannot be controlled with direct pressure, a tourniquet may be necessary as a last resort, but you cannot leave a tourniquet on longer than a couple hours without risking serious tissue damage. Even wounds that appear minor should be properly cleaned and assessed by a medical professional, as they can become infected or may be deeper than they initially appear. Any external bleeding that soaks through bandages, won’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure, or involves spurting blood requires emergency medical care.

Soft Tissue Damage

Soft tissue damage is a common problem after a car accident. Soft tissue often refers to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Damage to these areas can often be difficult to see on standard X-rays but can be just as painful as other types of injuries.

Sometimes, damage to these areas may not show pain for hours or even days after the accident. Tears to the muscles and tendons can even cause a fever response. In some cases, the fever may be the first sign of a problem.

Minor soft tissue damage often only requires a couple of weeks of recovery time. However, more serious injuries may take longer to recover and require physical therapy or other treatments to aid in proper healing.

Head Injuries

Another often missed injury after an accident is a head injury. Concussions are not easily noticed after an accident, especially when the individual does not remember hitting their head. However, concussions and other brain injuries can be serious and require medical care.

Any loss of consciousness from the accident or even after the accident should be cause for emergency care by a health care professional. Other symptoms of a head injury include persistent or worsening headaches, vomiting or nausea, seizures, dilation of one or both pupils, or the inability to wake from sleep.

Delaying medical care is never a good idea after a car accident. There are many serious and dangerous complications that can arise from delayed care Another serious issue with delaying medical care is getting compensation for those injuries after an accident. The longer treatment is put off, the more likely the insurance company can use that against the injured party to deny a claim.

I am married to a builder……….

My husband is honestly one of the hardest working men I know between his work as a stonemason, his farming and being a brilliant dad to the two wee men however……this leads me to a conversation myself and my colleague had recently.  Three reasons you would know im married to a builder…….she concurs by the way!

1 – Tools, tools tools…..

They are everywhere and I mean everywhere. From big to small to everything in between. No space is free when he is finished his days work!

2 – Work wear

At this stage I could sell Hi-viz vests, the kids love trying them on (!!). He owns more wear wear than casual clothes….think this page  from Engelbert Strauss his brand of choice, they are everywhere.  To be fair it makes the present buying easy, the washing not so much! For any other farming mamas out there, they do a great range of kids protective clothes. Something which I am very strict on when they are out on the farm.

3- Our house is never finished

I’m not complaining…. but our house is never finished. We  undertook a mammoth renovation project when we bought our new house 2 years ago and its still on going, extending up and out and all the rest.  He loves to keep working on the house basically because he can. I love his vision and his resolve to give me the house of my dreams. Im currently waiting on a beautiful kitchen from Cherrymore to arrive. Hopefully by Christmas we will be done!

As many of you already know,  I work full time as an accountant which involves 40 plus hours a week at my desk. I read the findings of Lead scientist Professor Ulf Ekelund, from Cambridge University and the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences with interest. His research found that at least  one hour of physical activity per day, for example brisk walking or bike cycling, helps to negate the affects of such a sedantary day.

While preganant with the boys I developed chronic hypertension which went after my first but unfortunately is still lingering a year after my second.  When Furniture @ Work asked me to get involved in a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of movement at work as part of their #officeyoga campaign, I didnt hesitate to get involved. It is something I make a huge effort to do myself. They have produced a range of handy infographics which I have reproduced with permisson below.

The above are so simple and easy for us all to try.  Given the amount of time we spend at our desk its important to look after your posture and over the course of the day make an effort to increase the amout of physical activity you do.  Im based on the third floor and  I always take the stairs up and back. Its much easier on the way down than up!

Has anybody any other tips to increase movement at work, do share them, would love to hear.

Take Care

~Mamma F

Note: This is a collaborative post

Its so hard to believe it is nearly time for the kids to go back to school. If any of you are like me and leave everything to the last minute hopefully this post will help you get the last few bits and pieces sorted!

The basics

I really think the key with school uniforms is good quality basics.  When you think about it, these clothes are in almost daily use and will no doubt take plenty of hard wearing. The M&S trousers come with a range of different options including adjustable wait, crease-resistant and with the stormwear technology which helps to repeal the dirt and mud stains as well as keeping dry in the rain.  They come in a range of colours and combinations of the above options.  For example see  here.  Similarly  with the skirts. They also come with the stormwear technology, adjustable waistband and variants of the different types of pleats.  Link here.

Whether its shirts or polos you are after M&S have a great unisex range in a wide range of sizes – see here for the range of non-iron shirts!! I’m all about non-iron!! Again all the M&S school stock come in a range of colours.

Coats

While most definitely a basic, this deserves a whole category to itself.  My mother always said, a good coat was crucial and I follow that advice with my own boys.  I have picked out my own favourites below.  Most of the coats come with Stormwear to keep the rain out and to repeal the mud and dirt.  Links for each are underneath. Starting from left to right.

1. Padded Jacket – see here
2. Pink coat – see here
3. Black padded coat (comes in other colours) – see here
4.  Cars print jacket  – see here (this one is currently reduced to €15 for €24, we have this one, its fab, go a size up as its quite small fitting.)

School bags

See opposite for some of my own picks. I attended the M&S press day back in June and as soon as I saw the Spiderman backpack I knew it would be a big hit in our house. The big man is superhero mad.  There are other avengers ones in the range.  For the whole range see here.  The sale is currently on and some of the Frozen ones are on sale, good value reduced from €19 to €11.

Hope this post is of some help for those last minutes bits.

Note: This post in in collaboration with Shopping Links and  M&S.

Well…. this month marks the 1 year anniversary of The Mamma Fairy Blog. Never in a million years did I think id still be here a year later and enjoying it as much if not more than the first few weeks. This blog started on maternity leave with my second and grew from there.  I never believed anybody would really be interested in my random ramblings……I have learned so much from this journey, this time last year I had never heard of google analytics or SEO while im most certainly not an expert, I have learned a huge amount about it and the online world. Ill admit I was a pretty poor photographer to begin with but blogging has really helped this.  I didn’t even realise you could purchase   backdrops for your flat lays! How cool is that!  Certainly adds that extra bit of professionalism.

The last few days have been full of great news for The Mamma Fairy Blog.  I’m delighted to share that my little blog has been chosen as one of the Top 100 Mommy Bloggers of 2016 by The Baby Spot Magazine.  This is a huge honour. The Baby Spot is a highly regarded Canadian based worldwide online parenting magazine and to be recognised firstly by such a respected publication and along side some great names is really so overwhelming.

Secondly and hot off the press is the news that The Mamma Fairy blog has been short listed in The Parenting Blog category for the Littlewoods Ireland Blog Awards. Again to be named alongside blogs that I would have followed and read before my own blogging journey is really exciting.  I never set out to earn accolades as a blogger however to be recognised is so flattering.  Thanks to everybody who reads and follows the blog, it is very much appreciated.

To finish I thought id mention some of my own person highlights over the last year. Without doubt meeting and forming new friendships has been my highlight. I have been fortunate enough to attend a number of events over the last year where I  can honestly say I could not have been made feel more welcome.  One particular event stands out and thats the Netflix London lunch. I had the fear big time heading off to London with two fellow bloggers I had never met.  My fears were totally unfounded – Kellie of My Little Babog and Sinead of Bumbles of Rice were so nice and welcoming and I thoroughly enjoyed my time.

Im going to enjoy a nice cold glass of white wine to celebrate the year the was.  Here’s to another blogging year. Again a huge thanks to everybody who reads the blog and do keep any feedback or suggestions coming.

Take Care

~Mamma F

The summer holidays are heading into the last few weeks and if you’ve managed to keep boredom at bay so far, you deserve a medal! If you’ve heard rumblings or you’re looking for new ideas, here are a few brilliant buys to keep the kids happy for the last few weeks.

Embracing Pokemon Go

If you’ve got older kids, the likelihood is that they’re tearing around searching for Pokemon. The new version of the retro classic has captivated kids all over the world. The good news is that there’s some great merchandise around. If you’re embracing the trend as a family, search online for Pokemon Go gear. You’ll find everything from caps to backpacks.

(Image source www.pokemongo.com)

Getting out and about

It’s been a mixed summer so far in terms of the weather. But we’ve been lucky to enjoy a few days of sunshine and some warm evenings. The summer holidays offer a perfect excuse to get out into the garden and spend time together as a family. The range of outdoor toys is increasing year on year.  Invest in a modular climbing frame, which you can add to in the future. Buy some garden games like cricket, tennis or badminton. Have a look at sandpits and water trays for little ones. Go for aqua slides or water guns for older children, if your kids are like men water play provides hours of entertainment.

Finding Dory

The latest Pixar release has got everybody talking. If you’re a parent, you’ve probably already been pestered to book cinema tickets. If your kids are fans of Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, use this to encourage creativity. You can buy all kinds of crafts and art supplies adorned with their favourite characters. Look out for complete sets if you’re in need of an art cupboard clear out.

Paw Patrol

Paw Patrol is one of the most popular children’s TV programmes at the moment. If it’s a big hit in your home, try and channel your kids’ enthusiasm and create role play scenarios. You can buy fire engines, helicopters, and trucks. Encourage your kids to take on the roles of their favourite characters and have fun as a family. There are also lots of associated games you buy.  The big man got a brillant Paw Patrol board game for his 4th birthday.

Small world toys

Miniatures are big business in the toy industry this year. This type of toy is all about giving children a chance to act out real life scenarios. Small world toys give kids an appreciation of the world around them and encourage them to be imaginative. Playing together can improve their social and communication skills. Popular buys include Lego and miniature Disney Princesses and their pets. The beauty of ranges like Lego is that you can add to your collection over the course of time. There are also themes, which appeal to kids with a broad range of interests. You can buy everything from princesses in castles to mad scientists and dinosaur hunters.

The summer holidays are long (for parents maybe not so much for kids!), and even the most inventive parents may struggle to keep their brood entertained throughout. If you’re looking for inspiration for new toys, games, or treats, look no further. Hopefully, you’ve got weeks of family fun ahead!

I was asked to get involved in a campaign with Calibre Office Furniture  to discuss changes in #boardroometiquette over time. I jumped at the chance. I have been an Accountant for the past 12 years therefore have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of board room behaviour!

The boardroom can be a scary place, many a deal is won and lost there, key decisions, multi million decisions are made there, decisions that can have huge ramifications. I still remember my first ever experience of being in a boardroom. It was 2003, I was in college going into my final year and the Partner in the Accounting firm suggested I come with her for the “experience”. I had and still have huge admiration for this woman, she was the only female partner in a firm with 20 other males. She was the ultimate #girlboss in my eyes.  

This was a time when boardrooms were getting a lot of media attention in the wake of Enron and the introduction of the Sarbanes Oxley Act.  I remember walking into the company offices and the secretary in this particular firm was sitting directly outside the board room in an open plan office of about 100 people smoking!! It just wouldn’t happen now. Even Office design has changed so much over time.  We are seeing staff involvement in the process of designing work spaces, in fact I have seen a marked shift towards the more open plan collaborative spaces.

Female representation

The first thing that struck me that day was the fact the Partner I was there to support was the only female.  The gender diversity agenda is something that is coming to the fore in most organisations now but we still have a long way to go.  Improvement is good and its come a long way since 2003,  According to the Gender Diversity Index, in 2015, women held 17.9% of the board seats on Fortune 1000 companies. As of August 2015, only 2% of S&P 500 companies had all male boards of directors.^[source] This is a huge and welcome improvement from 2005, when only 12% of S&P companies had at least one female director on their board.

Tips

Following the meeting, we walked back to the office and she gave me some advice that 13 years later is still ingrained in my brain. Simple but oh so effective.

• KISS – Keep it Simple, stupid. As she pointed out, the board room generally isn’t the place for minutia, it’s the big picture, the final decision so don’t get bogged down in the detail.
• Fix your chair! I may have laughed at this at the time but I most definitely do this. She told me to always fix your chair especially in a board room and there are lots of taller people (men maybe!!) that to rise up my chair so as not to look like the kid, be on the same level.  I love this advice and to this day always do this.
• Don’t rise to it and never throw the toys of the pram……not much explanation needed here. Cool, calm and measured, if only it was that simple!
• Have empathy for each other, despite differences of opinion, having empathy is so important.  

Thanks Calibre  for the opportunity. Have you any office/ boardroom stories to share? Would love to hear them.

Take Care

~Mamma F

Note: This is a collaborative post

Living in a college dorm you have limited options of what to eat. You have to use either mess or cafeteria. Here are some delicious, nutritious and healthy recipes you can cook yourself instead of ramen when you don’t want to eat from mess or café. 

All these recipes by mypaperdone.com are easy to cook and require only microwave, a kitchen knife, and a cutting board. 

1. Cookie in the Mug: 

Ingredients that contain whole food just like banana, peanut butter, and oat make this delicious one serving breakfast recipe. Try it out and you will thank us later. 

2. Microwave Scrambled Eggs: 

Crack and scramble an egg and microwave it rather than cook eggs in the bag. It is mostly done for the white part of the eggs but you should go for the whole egg. 

3. Blueberry-maple Overnight Oats: 

Wanna make morning meals that you just don’t have to prepare every morning then blueberry-maple overnight oats is the best option. It is healthy and you can make a jar of it and eat as much as you want every morning. 

4. Vanilla Yogurt and Berry Parfaits: 

Granola and protein-rich yogurt is a popular combo, but berry parfaits make is special for your morning. It is quite healthy and easy to make. 

5. French Toast: 

Another quick and delicious option for breakfast is French toast in a cup with the touch of cinnamon. The alluring aroma of it will leave your roomies craving for a bite. 

6. Mac and Cheese in Mug: 

Favorite food of most American students. It is not only easy to make but also delicious and healthy. 

7. Burrito Bowl: 

Canned black beans and cooked brown rice (frozen or in pouch) and a bit of Greek yogurt are the ingredients of the burrito bowl recipe. You can make it in only five minutes. 

8. Quesadillas: 

Salsa, cheese, and tortillas are the ingredients of Quesadillas which every student, living in a college dorm, should try. 

9. Cannon Salmon Salad: 

Having a canned salmon in your dorm room is not a bad idea at all. It will help you to get a healthy salad ready for yourself in a few minutes only. 

10. Riceless Risotto: 

It is a perfect substitute for risotto recipe that takes too much time to cook, with the same chewy texture. For more luscious taste add cheese to it as well. 

11. Greek Salad in Jar: 

Having very little time to prepare for anything in between interval of class, pick this easily available and portable option from supermarket. You can customize the ingredients yourself. 

12. Ramen Hacks: 

Having a few packs of ramen for an emergency is not bad at all. It is one of the best options for college foods. 

13. Microwave Popcorn: 

Popcorn, a bit salty and with a touch of butter, cooked in the microwave is a very light and healthy option as snacks. 

14. Rosemary Popcorn and Olive Oil: 

Another popcorn recipe is to use olive oil with sea salt and a blend of rosemary. This is one healthy and nutritious option. 

15. Microwave Potato Chips: 

Get one potato, cut it in on cutting board, and microwave it. You will have some snacks ready within five minutes to get through a few hours. 

16. No-Bake Nutella Energy Bites: 

Mix Nutella with agave, flax, oats, and coconut and get it rolled in balls. Carry with you as a portable energy option. 

17. Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars (No-Bake): 

Another option for a sweet treat in your dorm room is peanut butter choco bars. You can add ingredients of your choice in it. 

18. Microwave Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie: 

Best option to warm yourself while sitting in your dorm room in winters. Easy to make and delicious to eat. 

19. Bowl of Creamy Berry, Chocolate and Coconut: 

Make this recipe when you have massive craving of ice-cream and the dining hall is close for the night. It is cool and not frozen. Use whole dairy milk to make it. 

20. Chocolate Mug Cake (Single Serving): 

A simple way to get your dessert craving satisfied is trying chocolate mug cake that has no butter, gluten, or flour. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Delighted to have Diane Pearce guest posting this month, Diane is an entrepreneur who has been buying and letting holiday cottages for 15 years. She is passionate about providing last-minute getaways to those seeking a retreat. She now owns BimbleBox, a popular holiday cottage rental website that exists to provide beautiful and affordable escapes to remember.

The school summer holidays are fast approaching, and parents all over the country are making decisions about what to do and how to keep their children busy. Tempting though it might be to allow our children to sleep in, spend hours on their consoles and while away the days watching the latest YouTube sensations, choosing to instead travel with your children provides a whole host of advantages.

Travels and adventures don’t have to come in the form of trips abroad to see the Great Pyramids, Niagara Falls or the Great Wall of China. There are so many cities, towns and villages to explore that you will be spoiled for choice. Once you make the decision to escape on a family holiday, you can rest easy knowing that you are making a significant and positive impact on your children’s lives in the following ways.

You will increase their appreciation for the world around them

Children are naturally curious, and feeding this healthy curiosity is something we should prioritise where possible. Taking our children to new places and letting them experience new things gives them a fresh perspective on their place in the world. They begin to realise how much more there is to life, which feeds their appetite for excitement and introduces them to new forms of fun and happiness. In this way, it becomes clear that travel really does broaden the mind.

You will get them accustomed to change

When children never deviate from their daily routine, or have to forfeit control, they become completely unaccustomed to change and as such, don’t learn how to deal with it. Taking children on holidays from an early age allows them to develop coping strategies for change and stress. If their beach holiday gets ruined by rain or they don’t get their own room on their cottage holiday, they begin to learn that sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned, ultimately helping them to become more flexible, patient and easy-going adults.

You’ll help to develop their confidence

When children are continually exposed to new experiences and are encouraged to try new things, they develop a sense of accomplishment while building their independence and self-confidence. Though psychologists debate the realities of whether confidence is a result of nature or nurture, parents can certainly do what they can by providing them with opportunities to grow. Children regularly faced with changes will become confident dealing with diversity and unexpected outcomes. This will prove useful as they grow up into responsible adults, who will need this capacity in their work lives.

You’ll provide opportunities to learn and grow

When we go travelling, our minds aren’t often left unstimulated. We tend to go out, visit museums, art galleries or historic attractions, all of which provide opportunities to learn. These experiences widen children’s horizons and give education a real-world context while making them fun. For example, you could take your children out to a science museum, where they can learn about static electricity by making their hair stand on end, or you could take them to Dinosaur Adventure in Norfolk, where you can learn about dinosaurs while having an amazing time.

You’ll foster closer family bonds

Going on holiday as a family provides dedicated, quality bonding time which in turn provides memories that children carry with them forever. Psychologists have suggested that when family members spend time together and engage in mutual activities, they are building meaningful connections in the form of ‘crescive bonds’. You don’t have to spend much money to foster this bond; it can be forged by a game of football, cards or a play in the park.

This last point is undoubtedly the most important. Research from the Family Holiday Association suggests that family holidays make up most of our happiest memories. 49% of Britons stated that their happiest memory resulted from a family holiday, while 55% of adults agreed that these same family holidays provided comforting memories that would stay with them forever. 24% even went as far as saying that they would recall these family holiday moments in times of stress or difficulty, to help them get through, using them as a ‘happiness anchor’.

Holiday advice for an ideal getaway

If you’re eager to provide a childhood holiday never to be forgotten, try to make it a collaborative experience. We are lucky enough to live in a diverse country, where each town offers something unique and interesting. Consider your child’s opinion; would they prefer a bucket-and-spade beach holiday or would they prefer a countryside retreat where they can go for a family walk through the nearby woods?

Many thanks for Diane for the above.