Problem: Article: Dehydration is a common cause of confusion, and is easily preventable. Dehydration occurs any time your body loses more water than you ingest. Unfortunately, confusion caused by dehydration is usually a sign of severe dehydration, and may require medical assistance. Drinking water or sports drinks can help treat mild to moderate dehydration. For more severe cases, intravenous saline administration (performed by a medical professional) may be required. Dietary improvements can often help or prevent confusion. It's important to eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean, low-fat protein sources like fish, skinless poultry, and tofu.  Avoid alcohol. Alcohol is a common contributor to confusion and/or memory loss. This can commonly occur after people stop drinking after they have been drinking every day. Make sure you get sufficient vitamin B12 and folate in your diet, as these are believed to help protect the nervous system. Ginkgo biloba, an herbal supplement, may help improve memory and strengthen cognitive abilities. Talk to your doctor about any supplements you're interested in before you begin taking them. Sleep is an important part of cognitive ability, as sleep helps strengthen and solidify memories in our brains. Being sleep deprived may also lead to feelings of confusion and uncertainty.  Practice good sleep hygiene. Create a pre-bedtime routine (such as taking a shower, listening to soothing music, etc.) and stick to a sleep schedule. Most adults and older individuals need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Make sure you are well rested to help prevent confusion and disorientation. Physical exercise helps increase blood flow to the brain, which may help keep your cognitive abilities at their best. If you are physically capable, try to meet the Department of Health and Human Services minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise each week. You also need to include 2 to 3 days of strength training each week for a total of at least 40 minutes. Moderate aerobic exercise might involve walking briskly, while vigorous exercise might involve running or bicycling. High blood pressure, when left untreated, can cause significant problems with your cognitive abilities. It may also result in an aneurysm, stroke, dementia, or a Transient ischemic attack (TIA). See a doctor if you have high blood pressure and follow your doctor's recommendations for treating it.  If you've been prescribed medication for your blood pressure, take that medicine as your doctor instructed you. If you are not currently on medication, talk to your doctor about medicinal options and ways to lower your blood pressure, such as weight loss or dietary changes.
Summary: Stay hydrated to stave off confusion from dehydration. Follow a healthy diet to prevent confusion due to nutrient deficiencies. Get 8 hours of sleep per night to avoid sleep deprivation. Stay active to improve blood flow to the brain. Work with your doctor to lower your blood pressure if it's high.

Problem: Article: If your puppies are suffering from a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection, the puppies will experience diarrhea and vomiting. This is a common symptom of most types of infections, particularly canine herpesvirus, parvovirus, and intestinal parasites. Be sure to visit your veterinarian immediately if your puppies experience any diarrhea or vomiting.  There is a high mortality rate for puppies suffering from canine herpesvirus and parvovirus. Parvovirus has a characteristic smell that most owners find extremely unpleasant. Dogs with parvovirus also often have blood in their diarrhea. Parvovirus is highly contagious, so call your vet immediately if you suspect your puppy may have it. If your newborn pups are suffering from an infection, they will run a fever. The healthy range for a dog's temperature is between 99.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit (37.5 and 39.2 degrees Celsius), with anything over 103.5º F (39.7° C) considered a fever. You can rectally take your puppies' temperature or an ear thermometer; however, that method is less reliable. A common symptom of many infections is sneezing, coughing, or eye discharge. These are all symptoms of an infectious agent causing respiratory complications. If your puppies exhibit any respiratory issues, take them to your veterinarian immediately. Respiratory issues can be symptoms of distemper or kennel cough.
Summary: Look for diarrhea and vomiting. Check for a fever. Observe any respiratory issues.

Problem: Article: If the budget doesn't stretch to these initially, start a savings plan. This might include retrofitting options such as insulation, solar heating, and gray water systems. Not being able to afford these straight away isn't a reason to avoid them; it's a good opportunity to agree that you will save up until you can afford them.  Purchase Energy Star appliances and recycle old ones. New appliances can sometimes be a greener choice in the long run.  Learn how to heat water using solar, and make your own electricity. Don't expect everyone in the family to change their ways overnight but do expect everyone to need gentle reminders to change long-held habits. For family members who feel less inclined to participate, try to offer incentives to get them to at least try a few small changes. Give the reluctant family member a small project and be generous with your praise when they complete it. Small projects include recycling bottles, cans, and paper, and turning off the water while brushing your teeth. Incorporate green living into your life every day by showing how it is done. Also, make it clear how simple it can be and how fulfilling it is for you. Set the example and your family members will follow. It can be a good strategy to ask your family to help you with the green changes that you wish to make and to offer to help them with the green changes that they wish to make.
Summary: Plan ahead for costlier green solutions. Be patient. Be a good example.

Problem: Article: It’s best to get your flag stand first so you can measure the material to fit. Cut a length of your main flag material to the width of the hanging bar of your flagpole. Most flag poles are around 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide on the horizontal pole from which the flag will hang. So cut your flag material to 12 inches (30.5 cm) width (or whatever the appropriate measurement it) or very slightly narrower.. Most flag poles are around 18 inches (45.7 cm) tall. Allow 4 inches (10.2 cm) length for the hanging flap, then cut your flag material an additional 18 inches (45.7 cm) long i.e. 22 inches (55.9 cm).  If you are growing tall plants underneath the flagpole, consider making the flag shorter in length so it will all be visible above the plants. The main thing is that the material should not touch the ground as it will get wet and muddy. You might like to double it the flag length to provide extra weight and make it hang better. Lay your flag material out on a flat surface. If you are doubling up the material, do that now and glue the two sides together along the left, right and bottom sides.  At the top of your flag, fold over a 4 inch (10.2 cm) piece of material. This will create the pocket that the flag rod will insert into in order to hang your flag.  Glue or stitch along the bottom horizontal side of this flap but do not glue the left and right sides as this is where the flap pole will insert into. Now that you have made the main part of your flag, you can do the creative design using the ideas in the section above.   Stitch, glue or paint your design onto the flag background you have created. A bright design can work very well, but remember some colors may fade over time.
Summary:
Measure your material against the flagpole. Decide what vertical length you want your flag to be. Stitch or glue the flag. Decorate your flag.