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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | APRIL 2022 11 By Clare Mendez, Resident It's good to know so many residents came to the CPR / AED classes offered through the Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee. Dr. Carlos Rendon and his team demonstrated, with light humor, what to do when a person has fallen unconscious and is in need of help. Not everyone who falls is having a heart attack so it is important to see if they can be revived first. If there is no response, call to 911 and check for a pulse. On average it takes 7 – 10 minutes for emergency response teams to arrive, so performing CPR before help arrives can prevent the failure of vital organs, brain damage, and even death. Students in the class were also taught how to use an AED machine. As you may know, the AED machine will instruct you what to do, but it is best to have the hands on experience so you can use it correctly and with confidence. There are four machines located in the Lodge, two are in the gym (one upstairs and one down), one in the indoor pool area and one at the front desk. Furthermore, Dr. Rendon's team taught some basic first aid in case of choking or a life threatening allergy attack. Students asked all sorts of questions and the entire class learned much more than just how to perform chest compressions. Dr. Rendon's REvive Education By Clare Mendez, Resident The World Health Organization recognizes that air pollution is one of the main environmental risk factors for human health, along with greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and the impact of climate change. The air we breathe inside our home is, in fact, no healthier than the air outside. In enclosed spaces you also have levels of chemicals such as cleaners, pets, normal biological function, acetone, and volatile organic compounds. VOCs are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners and dry cleaning agents and are emitted as gasses. Poor air circulation often causes significant accumulations of very aggressive substances like formaldehyde and fine particles. Good ventilation of spaces is fundamental but often not practiced. Plants, as we know, absorb carbon dioxide which combine with hydrogen to produce oxygen. So if it's common knowledge that plants bring unquestionable benefits to the quality of the spaces where we live, how do we create a lovely display of pots and plants without looking like a rainforest or a sad display? Interior plant specialists suggest placing one medium sized plant where you spend the longest amount of time. In total, three medium sized plants will yield good results in terms of purification, humidification, oxygenation and ionization. Some plants which are suggested for inside homes are: Acer palm, bamboo palm, dwarf date palm, Boston fern, peace lily, asparagus plant, and Sansevieria (or snake plant). There are truly so many ways to benefit from nature's therapeutic power. You can grow your own organic vegetables, walk among trees, and inject houseplants into your enclosed environment. The Air We Breathe

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