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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com NORTH AMERICAN PRECIS SYNDICATE, INC. 350 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10118-0110 PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID North American Address Service Requested NE W Precis Syndicate, Inc. ! #2384 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Creating A Disaster Plan For Your Pet (NAPSA)—When it comes to caring for a family pet in a disaster, a little bit of planning can make a big difference. Here are some tips from a national association of veterinarians on how to create an effective pet disaster plan: • When a disaster strikes, it’s best to evacuate with your pet. Leaving pets behind—even in a safe place—puts them in greater danger, but you must find a refuge or shelter that will accept animals. Emergency shelters don’t accept pets. Contact friends, hotels, boarding facilities and animal shelters in advance to find an emergency refuge for your pet. • If possible, make sure your pet always wears current identification tags or has an implanted identification chip. • If you know ahead of time that a disaster or extreme weather is coming, bring a pet inside long before the disaster strikes. • Assemble a pet evacuation kit in advance, including the following: medications and food (including any required package openers) to last at least three days, leashes, harnesses, a sturdy pet carrier if necessary, portable water, cat litter, a current photo to help find a lost pet. Plus, it’s wise to include newspapers or paper towels, care instructions for your pet in case you have to board the animal, and a list of emergency boarding facilities and veterinarians, along with 24-hour telephone numbers. • If you absolutely must leave a pet at home during an evacuation, follow these steps: Keep dogs If possible, make sure your pet always wears current identification tags or has an implanted identification chip. and cats separate; put pets in a secure room away from windows; keep any tanks and cages away from walls and windows; consider putting your pet in a room with tiled floors that can easily be cleaned in the case of floods. Also, make sure that the animal is in a place or can get to a place that will be above floodwaters. Leave the pet some food to eat, but try to pick an unappetizing food to prevent overeating— and no treats or vitamin supplements. For birds, use an automatic feeder; and leave water for pets in a nonspill container or in a bathtub if it is accessible. • After a disaster, be careful about letting your pet outside. The sights and smells of your neighborhood may have changed, so your pet could become disoriented. For more information, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association Web site at www. AVMA.org. Four Bright Ideas For Your Kitchen (NAPSA)—In homes that welcome friends, family and good conversation, kitchens have become the new gathering place. That’s why the lighting in your kitchen should be as inviting as the rest of the house. These tips from the experts at Croft & Little, lighting retailer at www.croftandlittle.com, should help shed some light: • Avoid a single source of illumination in the center of the room. It provides little in the way of adequate task, ambient or accent lighting. A pendant light or a series of pendant lights can provide inviting ambient light and task lighting. • Track lighting is often used in kitchens and needs to be located much closer to the work surface, not positioned in the center of the room. • Chandeliers have moved into the kitchen. Chandeliers add a sense of style, perfect for the kitchen that has become the center for entertaining. • More kitchens are using natural materials or painted decorative finishes; it is therefore best to direct the light at the front of the cabinets to give reflective light to your work surfaces. To learn more, visit www. croftandlittle.com. Tips To Promote Digestive Health (NAPSA)—Many people may avoid suffering from a variety of digestive disorders, such as lactose intolerance, food allergies and IBS. Better digestive health may be as easy as following some simple suggestions: 1. Maintain a healthy diet and avoid overeating. Note whether certain foods, such as milk/dairy products, chocolate, carbonated drinks, alcohol, caffeine and fatty foods, upset your stomach. 2. E a t l o t s o f f i b e r . A healthier diet naturally includes vegetables, fruits, whole grain cereal, nuts, whole wheat bread and popcorn. Don’t eat too many refined and processed foods from which the natural fiber has been removed. On the other hand, you may want to avoid any foods that give you gas—broccoli, baked beans, cauliflower. If you don’t get the 20 to 35 grams of daily fiber recommended by the American Dietetic Association, you can take a soluble fiber supplement, which dissolves in water. 3. Drink plenty of water. It helps absorb vitamins and lubricates the digestive tract. 4. Exercise regularly. Start out by walking. It’s good for both your body and your mind. 5. Find healthy ways to minimize stress. Yoga, meditation, a soothing bubble bath or reading a good book can help you relax and cope with stress. 6. S e e y o u r d o c t o r i f symptoms persist. Nearly 60 million Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome or I B S , a c o n d i tion in which the Eating healthy, getting plenty of exercise and taking your doctor’s advice can help keep your digestive system on track. gastrointestinal system does not function properly. IBS affects more women than men—with symptoms ranging from mild to severe abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea. While there is no cure for IBS, there are effective treatment options. 7. Ask your pharmacist. Digestive Advantage Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a once-daily, over-the-counter probiotic, has been proven effective in providing relief for people who suffer with IBS. Classified as a medical food, it contains a patented strain of healthy bacteria also known as probiotics. For more information or a free s a m p l e , y o u c a n v i s i t w w w. digestiveadvantage.com or call (800) 456-0276.