If you think you might have tetanus, admit yourself to a hospital as soon as possible. In most cases, you will need to be hospitalized to treat a tetanus infection – especially if it is severe. If possible, get treated with a prophylactic dose of human tetanus immune globulin (TIG) (or equine antitoxin). This should begin to halt the spread of tetanus through your system. You do not need to wait for severe symptoms to seek treatment. If you have not been vaccinated and you think that you've been exposed to tetanus bacteria: consider getting the antitoxin. Penicillin, chloramphenicol, and other antimicrobial agents are commonly used to treat tetanus. You may also be given drugs to stabilize your muscle spasms. In very severe tetanus infections, drug treatment might be coupled with tissue debridement: the surgical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue. You should only go this route if it is recommended by a licensed and trusted physician. Be absolutely certain that the infection has spread too far to treat otherwise. Be aware that even after you've recovered from tetanus, you can still get reinfected at any point. Get the vaccine as soon as possible after the symptoms disappear. This will reduce the risk of lockjaw coming back. Continue to re-up with booster shots every ten years (at least) to keep yourself protected.

Summary: See a doctor. Get an immediate dose of antitoxin. Ask your doctor about antibacterial drugs. Know what to do in a severe case. Get the vaccine once you recover.


Dogs of all ages do not really need to be bathed unless they have a skin condition or if they are very dirty. If your puppy is very dirty or smelly you can bathe it occasionally.  Try not to bathe a puppy more than once a month or so. Most dogs only need to be bathed a couple times a year. Do not put puppies into a bathtub, sink, or tub full of water. It is hard for them to regulate their body temperature and they can become too cold when immersed in water. Brush your puppy to remove tangles or mats before you bathe it if it has a long or fluffy coat. It is good to get longer coated and fluffy dogs used to being brushed while they are young. Choose a soft clean cloth and get it wet in water that is warm but not very hot. Wipe the puppy off with the cloth.  Start at the head and wipe gently back towards the tail. Make sure to wipe the underside too. Use shampoo made for puppies or babies. Puppy skin can be sensitive even as they start to grow.  Just use a small amount of shampoo. Dry shampoos can be used on older puppies that don't like water. These are rubbed onto the coat without water.  Make sure not to get the suds in the puppy's eyes. Lather the shampoo like you would on your own hair. Wipe the suds away with the cloth, then rinse it in warm water and wipe again. Repeat until the puppy is clean. Dry the puppy right away with a clean dry towel. It is important to get the puppy dry so it does not get too cold. Puppies need a place to stay warm since it is hard for them to regulate their own temperature. Choose an area that is not drafty. Get your puppy used to bathing and make them associate a bath with nice things like toys and treats. Let your puppy have a nice treat after its bath.

Summary: Decide if your puppy needs a bath. Put the puppy on soft blanket so water doesn’t drip on the floor. Brush puppies with a very fluffy coat before bathing. Use a gentle washcloth and warm water. Use gentle shampoo. Gently wash the puppy. Dry the puppy off. Put the puppy in a warm area. Associate bathing with good things.


Visit your local grocery store or farmers market and purchase some fresh fruits and vegetables. (Organic produce is best, if possible.) Pick up some lettuce, kiwifruit, banana, bell peppers, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, or any other fruits and veggies you like. Wash them thoroughly, and cut them up into very small pieces.  Hermit crabs don't like the taste of citrus fruits like lemon and lime and will probably not eat them. They also don't like herbs (peppermint, rosemary). They tend to avoid "Prunus fruits" or "stone fruits" (cherries, apricots, plums). If you have oak trees or red maple trees in your area, these trees provide a great source of nutrition for your hermit crab. Harvest a few oak leaves and some oak bark, or some red maple leaves. Be sure to wash your leaves and bark in dechlorinated water.  Oak trees have leaves with a "lobe and sinus" pattern. Maple leaves have three "fingers" (think of the Canadian flag). Oak trees drop acorns, while maple trees drop "helicopters." In addition to fruit and veggies, it is crucial for hermit crabs to have some form of protein everyday. Your crab may enjoy cooked lean beef, chicken, salmon, or shrimp. Or you can add dried plankton, krill or any other dried sea creatures (available at most pet stores). Be sure the protein you provide has not been seasoned with spices or table salt. Your hermit crab can eat almost any kind of vegetables or fruit, but they are very sensitive to fertilizers and pesticides. Whenever possible, you should seek out organic produce and untreated leaves/bark. If this is not possible, all produce should be washed thoroughly in dechlorinated water. Combine a ¼ cup of chopped fruits and veggies with ¼ cup of protein. Add a few leaves or bark (if possible), and 1 tsp. of sea salt. Mix everything together. Serve 1/3 of this mix to your hermit crab each night and refrigerate the rest. Note that sea salt is different from conventional table salt. Sea salt contains natural, unrefined minerals that are healthy for your crab, whereas table salt does not.

Summary: Purchase a variety of fruits and veggies. Harvest some leaves and bark. Add some form of protein. Avoid pesticides. Mix everything together.


If you use a petite lace headband, you probably will not need to make any adjustments. If you use a standard-size lace headband, you might need to take it in.  You can use a white headband, but you can also try to find one in a color that matches your dress or your school colors. A petite lace headband is the sort of headband worn by babies and toddlers. To take the headband in, clip apart and remove the ribbon holding it together. Turn the headband inside-out and fold one end of the lace down until the entire length matches the length the garter needs to be. Line up the fold with the other end and stitch them together using a triple stitch or narrow zigzag stitch. Turn the garter right-side-out again. Cut 10 inches (25 cm) of narrow tulle. Fold it together and attach your embellishment with glue.  You should have about eight layers of folded tulle. Even at this thickness, the tulle will be light enough to prevent it from being seen at a distance. Put a small amount of hot glue in the middle of the tulle before firmly fixing your embellishment on the dot. Let dry. You could use fake pearls or gems for an embellishment, but for something more themed to homecoming, use a charm of your school mascot or school emblem. You could also attach a football jewelry charm or a small bow made with ribbon in your school colors. Hand stitch the tulle onto the center seam of the lace headband to complete your garter. Trim your tulle down before attaching it. Cut it near the embellishment, leaving just enough to sew into.
Summary: Adjust a lace headband to fit around the wearer's thigh. Attach an embellishment to a thin piece of tulle. Stitch the tulle and embellishment onto the garter.