INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When you get your family together to talk, you need to establish some rules.  Be sure to encourage the various parties to help in this process of creating rules. That way you won't seem like you're lecturing or being condescending. This will also help to assure the conversation runs smoothly and everyone can express themselves.  A good general ground rule is that only one person can talk at a time. You can discourage others from interrupting. You can start off by saying something like, "Even if you disagree with what someone is saying, it's important to let that person talk for the sake of this mediation. You can respond when they're done." You can also have general rules about managing emotion. Let everyone know that, no matter how angry they get, no one should raise their voice or use foul language. It's not uncommon for tensions to run high when discussing family conflict. There may be times when people get emotional and angry. Try to rein in the emotional outbursts as much as you can. While everyone has a right to their personal feelings, make it clear these feelings must be expressed in an appropriate, productive fashion.  Let someone know if they're getting out of control. Say something like, "Uncle Clark, you're starting to raise your voice" or "Uncle Dave, you shouldn't use words like that. It's not productive." Remember not to try to shout over them when they raise their voice. Keep your tone gentle and your voice soft. Use brief prompts such as "lets keep it down" to keep them on track when they start to stray. You can also ask if they'd like to take a moment to breathe or compose themselves. It's important that everyone feels truly heard during a mediation. After someone speaks, briefly paraphrase their words. Give them a chance to clarify if you're misinterpreting something. This way, everyone will feel heard during a mediation. For example, "Uncle Dave, I'm hearing you feel like Clark was being condescending about your job. You worked really hard for the promotion, and while you don't mind joking around, you felt like Clark should have congratulated you first." Do not end the conversation until everyone has expressed themselves. Go around the room and give everyone the chance to talk. Then, go around the room again and let everyone respond. Before ending the conversation, say something like, "Does that cover it? Does anyone else have something they would like to share?" You never want to end a negotiation before all parties have vented their feelings and frustrations about a situation.

SUMMARY: Establish ground rules for the discussion. Encourage everyone to control their emotions. Paraphrase people's thoughts. Make sure everyone has a chance to express themselves.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Using warm water and soap, apply a washcloth to gently wash out your new piercing. Keeping dirt, grime, and bacteria away from the wound should be enough to prevent infection.  Be sure to clean the piercing after exercise, going outside, cooking, or cleaning. Rubbing alcohol, though it kills bacteria, will dry out your skin and potentially cause an infection. While you could buy saline at the piercing parlor, you can also make it at home with only 2 ingredients. Mix 1/8 tablespoon of non-iodized sea salt into a cup of distilled water and stir until it dissolves. Submerge your piercing in the saltwater, or soak a clean cotton swab in the water and apply it to the piercing for 20 minutes twice a day. Dirty hands are the number one cause of infection, so always wash your hands before touching or treating your piercing. If you have a piercing that is constantly rubbing on your clothes, wear looser clothing. This is especially true for navel, genital, nipple, or other body piercings. These places are hot-spots of moisture and bacteria that commonly lead to infections. Your piercing is an open wound and it will absorb bacteria much more readily then unbroken skin. Don’t freak out if you see redness or soreness in the first few days after a piercing. This is your body’s normal response to a puncture. Inflammation is common and can be easily treated with an ice-pack and ibuprofen. If the inflammation lasts for more than 3-5 days, however, you may be developing an infection. While it may seem counterintuitive, you should avoid removing the jewelry if you notice signs of active infection, such as pus, since removing the jewelry can cause the piercing to close up and trap the infection inside your body. It's important that the piercing remain open so that it can drain; otherwise, you may develop an abscess or worsen the existing infection.

SUMMARY:
Clean the piercing frequently. Rinse your piercing with saline solution twice a day. Keep your hands clean. Avoid tight clothing around the piercing. Refrain from pools, hot tubs, or the gym for 2-3 days after the piercing. Know that all new piercings become inflamed for several days. Do not remove the jewelry if you are worried about an infection.