SAFE AND SWEET Allergy-Friendly Valentines for Your Child’s Classmates
FANCY UP SOME FRUIT If you’re worried about food allergies
For a parent of a child with allergies, every day can feel like a battle with food labels and ingredients lists — and Valentine’s Day only exacerbates this fear. Avoid the danger of an allergic reaction on Valentine’s Day by creating alternative, candy-free valentines that the whole class will enjoy! GET CREATIVE This valentine idea taps into your kids' desire to create by using commonly found household items. Have your children draw pictures, create cards, mold tiny sculptures, or braid together friendship bracelets to create one- of-a-kind gifts that will be safe for their classmates to enjoy. Kids can put their own effort into gift-giving, and their valentines will have a personal touch candy cannot replicate. THINK LIKE A KID If you’re looking for a creative valentine that will be safe for all your child’s friends to play with, check no further than the toy aisle of your local dollar store. While being mindful of latex allergies, you can purchase little toys that kids will love that won’t break your bank. Think bouncy balls, mini skateboards, Army men, yo-yos, puzzles, rubber ducks, handheld games, markers, or bubbles. Adorn these little gifts with yarn, ribbons, or personalized tags, and slap on cute sayings to make them fit for the holiday. Finish off the masterpiece by having your kiddo sign his or her name on each valentine, and you’ve got a kid-approved Valentine’s Day favorite.
but still want to make a yummy treat, ask your child’s teacher for a list of students’ allergies, then just work around them. Fruits are usually a safe bet, but it’s best to double check. You could skewer strawberries and heart-shaped pieces of watermelon onto kabob sticks for a sweet and fun snack, or pass out goody bags with apples, bananas, and clementines. Offering a group snack that is allergy- friendly will keep your children and their friends safe and healthy, and it can also help children with allergies feel included in the festivities.
As with all Valentine’s Day gifts, keep in mind that it’s not the item or money spent that means the most. It’s the thought behind each gift that makes receiving valentines the sweetest part.
WHAT’S THAT NOISE?
LISTENING TO YOUR HVAC SYSTEM’S PLEAS FOR REPAIR
You don’t have to be an HVAC expert to know when something is wrong with your heating or cooling system, but being able to identify a problematic noise coming from your system will save you headaches, money, and time. While you might not be able to fix a specific problem, you can arm yourself with the following knowledge for when something doesn’t sound right.
that air is escaping somewhere in your home. This could be coming directly from the ducts that travel through your home or from the source of the air, but regardless, your home has a leak. Fixes can be easy for any HVAC professional to tackle, but not repairing a leak can increase your energy bill as the air you pay for escapes.
I Can’t Hear You Over My Furnace
Rattle, Rattle
Overall, if you notice your furnace or air conditioning unit is louder than normal, call an HVAC expert for an inspection. Listen for loud thumping or rattling, and take note if the system appears to be overexerting itself every time it starts up. This may be your HVAC system’s very obnoxious way of letting you know that its motor or fan is about to die. An expert will be able to determine if the parts are salvageable, if you need a new part, and what your next steps should be. If your HVAC system has stopped humming along, see how the experts at Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley can help you by calling 845-256-6158 or visiting AireServ.com/Mid-Hudson-Valley .
A normal-sounding HVAC system will hum regardless of if it’s heating or cooling your home. But if you hear clanking, a piece of your system may have fallen off and is now free-wheeling through your home. This can not only be an annoyance for you and your family, but it could pose a danger should the piece get lodged anywhere, spark a fire, or damage your ducts.
There’s a Snake in My Vent!
You can relax, because the chance of a snake slithering into your air ducts is slim. But hissing noises coming from your HVAC system could be a sign
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