| Want to Check Your Microwave for Leaks? Put Your Mobile Phone In It. Posted: Being exposed to high levels of microwave radiation can cause health problems, such as cataracts and burns. [1] While most microwave oven leaks are considered to be too small to create such significant health risks, [2] a microwave that is leaking radiation could cause unknown health risks and isn't likely to be as efficient as it should be. In this tutorial you will learn how to check your microwave for radiation leakage, and no special tools or experience are required. Steps Wireless Netbook method This method works best because microwaves and wireless networks operate on very nearly the same electromagnetic frequency (between 2.4 and 2.5 GHz). - Unplug your microwave from the power socket. For wall switches, remove the whole electric plug from the wall socket (power point) rather than simply turning off the switch.
- Check that your netbook has a working 802.11 wireless card and is on your local network.
- Place the netbook in the microwave. Do not turn the microwave on!
- Close the microwave door.
- Ping your netbook. If the ping is answered, the microwave leaks radiation. If the packets time out, everything is fine.
Cell phone method This method is demonstrated in the video below. - Put your cell phone in the microwave. Shut the door.
- Do not turn on the microwave!
- Dial the number of your cell phone. If it rings, you have a leak. If it doesn't ring, your microwave oven is fine.
Fluorescent light method This method only works for large leaks.[3] - Find a fluorescent tube.
- Darken the room.
- Hold it against the edges of the microwave oven's door when the oven is in use. While normally it is not recommended to use the microwave with nothing inside it, in this short experiment, it is best not to add anything to the oven. If your microwave oven is pre-1980s, however, add a glass of water.
- Check for a reaction. If there is microwave leakage occurring, the bulb will glow.
What to do next If you find a leak, or you still believe that there might be a leak even if these tests have not proven anything to your satisfaction, here are some suggestions for what to do next. - Check the hinges, latch, center door panel, and seal of the door. If microwave radiation is leaking, it is usually as a result of worn or broken elements on the microwave oven's door. Any of the following signs could indicate leakage:
- Look for cracks on the hinges or seals
- Look for worn seals
- Look for dents or breaks in the door itself.
- Take the microwave to a professional repair shop for testing and fixing. Note that the FDA in the USA does not certify any home leakage protectors, which can sell anywhere from around US$10-50. In fact, the FDA states that it has tested a number of these and found them inaccurate and unreliable, and says that they should be used only for an approximation of leakage.[4] The reality is that proper testing requires expensive equipment using a radio-frequency radiation probe, which is not only expensive but also requires technical training to operate. Such sophisticated testing devices used by public health authorities to measure oven leakage are far more accurate, as well as being periodically tested and calibrated. Hence, the FDA recommends the following:
- Don't operate an oven if the door does not close firmly or is bent, warped, or otherwise damaged.
- Contact the oven manufacturer, a microwave oven service organization, your state health department, or the nearest FDA office for checking any leakage issue you are concerned about.
Video Tips - Microwave radiation is not the same as radioactivity; microwave radiation is electromagnetic radiation. This consists of a very long wavelength of electrical and magnetic energy moving together through space, within the radio frequency band of electromagnetic radiation. This is not the same as gamma rays or x-rays, which are far more powerful. Microwave radiation is non-ionizing radiation.[5]
- Microwaves have three characteristics that allow them to be used in cooking: they are reflected by metal; they pass through glass, paper, plastic, and similar materials; and they are absorbed by foods.[6]
- Many people simply refuse to use microwave ovens for fear of the unhealthiness of the food cooked in this manner. If it really bothers you, don't own one. There is still much study to be done to determine accurately what constitutes a safe level of exposure to microwave radiation.[7]
- If your microwave is very old, recycle it. If freecycling or donating a leaking microwave, leave a clearly taped note on it that you think the oven is leaking, so that people receiving it can make a decision to repair or recycle.
Warnings - Do not turn the microwave on while the netbook or cell phone (mobile phone) is inside.
- The most dangerous thing about using a properly maintained microwave is burning yourself if you don't handle the cooked items properly.[8]
Things You'll Need - Microwave oven
- Netbook or cell phone or fluorescent tube
- Repair store if there is a problem
Sources and Citations |
| How to Treat a Puncture Wound Posted: Did you know that puncture wounds account for 5 percent of the admission reasons for children going to emergency centers? [1] Puncture wounds occur when a narrow, pointed object such as a nail, tack, stick, or other similar sharp object pierces the skin. These wounds tend to be narrow and can be quite deep if the object was driven into the skin with substantial force. Puncture wounds require different care from other wounds. Read on to learn what you need to do. Steps - Treat immediately. Provided a puncture wound is attended to quickly, it will usually not become serious. If left unattended, however, infection introduced through the puncture site can become life-threatening for the patient.
- Reassure the patient. This is especially important for children and for people who don't cope very well with pain. Help them to remain calm while you treat the wound.
- Remove the object (small objects and not serious punctures only). Remove the object that created the wound if you have not done so already.
- Make sure that there are no splinters or other pieces of the object remaining in the wound if you can. If you don't get everything out, infection is more likely.
- If there are large or deeply embedded objects in the wound that you cannot remove easily, you will need to get the patient to a doctor to remove them.
- Do not remove the object if there is major bleeding. The object may be helping to close off and clot severed vessels. Removing it will remove the clot and cause more extensive bleeding. Leave removal in this situation for medical professionals only.
- Permit the wound to bleed for a few minutes. Puncture wounds usually do not bleed profusely.[2] If bleeding is not severe, allowing the wound to bleed for about 5 minutes will help to cleanse the wound.[3]
- Stop the bleeding. Use direct pressure to the wound -- apply this using a clean cloth bunched up in your hand. The bleeding should stop within a few minutes.
- Clean the wound. Use mild soap and warm water to clean the wound.[4] Alcohol or other common household antiseptics should be avoided, as these can delay healing and injure tissue. [3]
- Make sure that the cleaning has not revealed any other embedded objects. Dirt or other objects can remain embedded in the skin if not removed.
- Bandage the wound if it requires protection. Because puncture wounds do not tend to be very large in size and are not prone to bleeding, you may not need a bandage for it. However, puncture wounds to the feet or other places that get dirty may require a bandage to prevent the entry of more dirt, etc.
- Allow the wound to dry thoroughly before covering it with a bandage.
- Use a porous adhesive dressing. Change daily to ensure that the wound stays healthy and dry.[5]
- Know when to see the doctor. The following symptoms suggest that you need medical help:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Pus
- A concern that debris remains in the wound
- Tetanus vaccination is not up-to-date (see next step).
- Get a tetanus shot if needed. Use the following guidelines to determine if the patient needs a tetanus shot (and contact your doctor for advice):[6]
- If more than 10 years have passed since the patient last had a tetanus shot.
- If the object causing the injury was dirty or rusty (or you are not sure whether or not it was dirty), and more than 5 years have passed since the patient last had a tetanus shot.
- The patient is not sure when the last shot was.
- The patient has never received a tetanus shot.
Video Tips - Puncture wounds are usually not very serious and do not require professional medical attention.
- If the patient has never received a tetanus shot and the wound is at high risk, the patient may need immune globulin.[6] Discuss this with the doctor.
Warnings - Be sure to watch for signs of infection around the wound site until it heals. Symptoms such as redness, swelling, throbbing, red streaks, pus or discharge may indicate an infection.[7]
Things You'll Need Related wikiHows Sources and Citations |
| 10 Ways to Put an End to Your Mean Streak Posted: Put aside your anger and actually be nice to someone, no matter how mean you feel you have become. You can become "one of the nicest people" you'll ever meet, but bear in mind that you are the only one who can make this significant change. Here are some steps to put an end to your meanness. Steps - Find the root of your anger and defensiveness. Are you mean to people because you like them, you're jealous of them, or you can't seem to find their good points? Do you feel as if you're "getting back at the world" for having treated you badly? In reality, it doesn't work that way--you get back what you put out and meanness will rebound on you. Instead, learn to let go of anger and resentment; seek professional counseling if you can't do this by yourself.
- Turn any insult, mean comment, or unkind statement that you are about to say into a compliment. While trying to turn over a new leaf, you will find the mean voice continues to pop into your head. Instead of letting it speak for you, however, balance it with your thinking voice that can translate the mean words into compliments or kind statements. For instance:
- "You are so annoying" turns into "You are so confident in yourself all the time, it's great."
- "That's an ugly shirt" turns into "That's a really interesting pattern on your shirt."
- "You're so loud and bossy" turns into "You always know what you want out of life, I wish I had that strength of purpose."
- "You are such a know-it-all" turns into "You're always concerned about me putting my foot in it but you must let me make my own mistakes sometimes."
- Instead of turning away, give a hug.
- Adjust your negative criticism. Try using the sandwich-style-style critique instead of being blatantly negative about someone's actions or words. Start with a compliment about the person, then say something "constructive" about what has gone wrong or bothers you, then end with another compliment. Other ways to adjust your preference to say things negatively include thinking through how this comes across to others:
- Ask yourself: "If I say this, will it really have a positive effect, or could it have a negative one?. Will I hurt this person, If I say this, or act this way?"
- Check yourself. When you are talking to people, think "Am I saying this in the nicest way I can?"
- Is it how you would like someone saying something to you?
- Know the difference between assuming that you know better; even where you do, nobody wants their nose rubbed in superiority.
- Keep other people's feelings in mind, all the time. It's an old but true phrase: If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all.
- Put yourself in other people's shoes. How would you feel if other people treated you the same way?
- Don't judge people before you discover what they're really all about. First impressions can often be misleading, and couched in your own biases. Get to know people before you decide you don't like them.
- Realize that the world doesn't revolve around you, and you aren't the only one with strong feelings or problems.
- Consider the reason why you don't like someone. Could it be possible that they are a lot like you, and the things you don't like are the things you do too?
- Take mental notes from people you know who are nice. Notice the differences between what you both say and do to other people. Put into practice some of the things you have learned and see how differently people respond to you.
- Lend a hand or a shoulder to someone who isn't at the top of your favorites list. Make that effort and see what you get back - maybe nothing, or just maybe you'll discover your best friend.
- Offer to help. If you see someone struggling or doing anything, offer to help, even doing something as simple as carrying a bag of groceries. Offering help will take you out of your comfort zone initially but you'll end up feeling good about yourself when your help is accepted.
- Use a reminder prop to pull back your attitude. Wear an elastic band around your wrist. When you feel you are about to say something mean, give the band a snap to discourage yourself.
- If you are still having trouble accomplishing this task, surround yourself with others who can help you. While the process can be challenging, seek support from friends and family who can guide you to slowly alter your personality. The best way to ultimately change this habit is to be held accountable for your actions by people you trust.
Video Tips - Before doing anything quickly ask yourself: "Will this thought/action/comment make the world a better place for me, or anyone else?" If not - don't do it and save yourself the repercussions. There's no point expending effort in making yourself or others unhappy. Ever.
- Tell yourself constantly that you're a nice person so that your mind begins to accept that you are. Change your behavior accordingly to fit these new standards. Thinking you're one of the "good people" instead of a "bad person" can really make a difference to how you act. Your mind will react positively.
- Resist judging people if they are not nice to you. You shouldn't judge people anyway. There is always someone nice inside everybody, even those whose insecurity causes them to be mean to you.
- Like all habits, this one will be hard to stop. With perseverance, however, your defensive meanness will change.
- Smile. A smile will let people know that you are pleasant and inviting. If you smile at someone, look them in the eye.
- Ask people how they are doing. Take the time to ask someone how things are going in their lives, without being nosy or intrusive. If they seem resistant to talking, just let them know that you're always around to talk to, and that you want them to be alright.
- Be a good listener. Listen when other people are talking to you.
- Be courteous, patient, observant, and considerate. And be positive. Don't be negative or critical. Keep looking for the positive in any given situation.
- Be humble. The key to being nice is remembering that you are not "better" than someone else. You're an individual, but everybody has their struggles, and being nice to one another makes life better for everyone.
- Be sincere. Don't be nice as a means to an end. If you just want to be nice so that you can gain preferential treatment, it's quite the opposite of being nice -- it's deceptive, shallow and cruel. Be nice because you want to look back on your life and know that you were a nice person, no matter what.
- Don't lie. You will go on to do good things if you refrain from lying.
Warnings - If you live your life being mean to everyone, you're only going to end up lonely. Nobody wants to be around mean people.
- What goes around comes around. If you are a mean person, others will probably be mean to you as well.
- Being mean isn't logical, and will therefore cause you to lose each time.
- Don't spread rumors; they are not only pointless but they confirm that you're behaving as low as you can go.
- Don't be so arrogant as to assume that you have a role in changing another person for the better. You can be constructive with suggestions but don't try to change them to something that they're not capable of being, or don't want to become. It's very likely that there is something deep within you that needs the change more than the other person.
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