Q: Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. The bacteria are spread through respiratory droplets and saliva, such as through kissing, coughing, and sneezing. You are at greater risk of contracting meningitis if you:  Are in close or prolonged contact with someone who has meningitis, such as in a daycare setting or shared household Have direct contact with a sick patient's oral secretions Live in an area with poor food and water hygiene – you can get some types of bacterial meningitis from contaminated food and water Certain groups of people are at higher risk of getting meningitis. It is especially recommended that these groups get vaccinated against the illness. Be aware if you are in one of the following high-risk groups:  U.S. military recruits Anyone who has a damaged spleen or whose spleen has been removed College students living in dormitories, and other groups living in close proximity Microbiologists or other healthcare professionals exposed to meningococcal bacteria Anyone who has terminal complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder), or are otherwise immunocompromised Anyone traveling to countries which have an outbreak of meningococcal disease. If traveling overseas, check to see if the vaccine is recommended – you should receive the vaccine at least 1 week before departure. Those who might have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak Young babies, under the age of 2 Meningococcal vaccines protect against most types of meningitis, although they do not prevent all cases. There are two vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis, a common infecting bacteria, available in the United States: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), and meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4). MCV4 is the preferred vaccine for people ages 2-55. If your child did not get this vaccine at their 11 or 12 year old check-up, make an appointment for them to get it now. Hib is a bacterial infection that can cause meningitis in children. The Hib vaccine is the best way to prevent Hib infection and is 95% effective. All children younger than 5 years old should get the Hib vaccine. Make sure your child gets all doses for the best protection, and if you miss a dose or get behind schedule get the next dose as soon as you can. Children should get a series of vaccines at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 12-15 months of age. Pregnant women can pass group B streptococcus bacteria to their infant during childbirth. Group B strep is another cause of meningitis in young children. If you’re pregnant, get tested for group B strep by your doctor. They can give you antibiotics during labor to reduce the risk of passing the bacteria to your baby. Get tested between 35-37 weeks of your pregnancy.
A: Avoid contact with infected people. Know if you are in a high-risk group. Get vaccinated against Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Vaccinate your child against Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib). Get tested for group B streptococcus if you’re pregnant.

Q: Look at paint samples in a store to see how paint will appear when applied. You can tweak the brightness of the paint by adding a light or darker base coat, and you can also mix two colors to create different tones. Buy the paint, base coat, and other materials--a brush, rag, or sponge, as well spackling paste for filling irregularities in the wall--at a paint or home supply store. Consult sales staff to make sure you are buying the right colors for your faux paint and base coat.
A: Pick a color for your faux paint. Purchase your faux paint and painting materials.

Q: Hold the stick with your dominant hand, near-vertically, so that the open rim of the head faces you. Leave a few inches of space between your dominant hand and the head of the stick. Pull the stick up to a cradling position on your non-dominant side, letting your dominant hand slide to the butt of the stick. Work on using the same techniques you use to cradle with your dominant hand. It may feel awkward at first, but with practice it will become more natural. As you grow as a player, it is very important that you can switch your cradle between your dominant and non-dominant sides. If you are right-handed, for instance, you probably tend to cradle with your right hand on top and your left hand near the butt of the stick. If a defender attacks from your right side, it can be extremely useful to quickly switch your hands—you can dodge to the left or avoid the defender with your left hand on top and your right hand near the butt of the stick.
A: Plant your feet wide and bend your knees slightly. Swing the stick low between your knees in a V-motion, and fluidly place your non-dominant hand above your dominant hand on the stick. Cradle with your non-dominant side.

Q: Found across most of the world, Argentine ants are dull brown and are all about ⅛" (3 mm) long, with a pointed node. They move rapidly in tight trails, prefer sugar but will eat protein and fat, and have a musty odor when crushed. Colonies are typically in damp areas outdoors, but are also found indoors. Eradication is extremely difficult due to multiple cooperating colonies and multiple queens per colony. These ants are black, dark brown, or dark red, or a combination of these. They vary in size from ¼" to ½" (6 to 12 mm), and have one erect node and no thorax spines. They move in loose trails and are often found near wood, along with a strong odor and piles of sawdust, soil, and insect parts. Look for trails across lawns where vegetation has been thinned or removed. Crazy ants are named after their rapid changes of direction, and perhaps for their odd-looking, extra-long antenna and legs. Their slender, dark grey, black, or brown bodies are 1/16 to 1/8" (2–3.5 mm) long, have a flat node that's difficult to see, and have no spines. In the tropics, some crazy ant species are yellowish-brown instead and can be up to 1/5" (5 mm) long, with a darker gaster (rear abdomen). These one-node species are common pests in some areas, but much more limited in global distribution than the species above:  Ghost ants: Very small (1/16" or 2 mm), with a black/brown head and pale abdomen. Flat, hidden node, no spines. Usually outdoors in tropics, or on plants from greenhouses or tropics.  Odorous house ants: 1/8" (3.5 mm) long, one flat, hidden node, no spines. Strong, unusual odor when crushed. Primarily found in trails looking for sugar, but this varies.  Rover ants: male workers are 1/16" (2 mm), small and black with unusual straight antenna. Most easily distinguished by the much larger, winged females, which are found near light or floating in standing water.  White-footed ants: These 1/8" (3.5 mm) ants are usually black with pale "feet." A flat, hidden node, no thorax spines.
A:
Identify Argentine ants. Distinguish Carpenter ants. Determine Crazy ants. Identify other species.