Home Stair Lifts -perfect Solution to Home Accessibility

Home stair lifts are the perfect solution for home accessibility, and help your loved ones to move up and down the stairs safely and effortlessly. These devices add value and at the same time provide convenience to your lifestyle. Most of the elderly or physically challenged individuals find it problematic to participate in public events and other occasions where they might have to negotiate stairways. However, modern technology and innovative products such as home stair lifts have proved to be a real blessing for such individuals.

Home stair chair lifts are used to lift people from a lower plane up a flight of steps and vice-versa. The lowering, raising, folding, and unfolding are all done automatically with the help of a switch. Stair lifts come in both AC and DC models. The DC models come with battery back-up and are more expensive. AC models are comparatively less expensive, and don’t work in case of power failure. These equipments can be easily installed both inside and outside your home. Home stair lifts for straight stairways are easier to install, and also less expensive than those meant for curved stairways. Apart from the stair mounting models which occupy more space, home stair lift systems are also available in models that can be mounted on the wall.

Several models of home stair lifts are available; each having unique features and these can be easily customized to meet any particular challenge in your home. By installing stair lifts, the risk of accidents such as slipping and falling down from stairs can be avoided to a certain extent. Most of the stair lifts come with armrests and footrests that are positioned on the track and add to the comfort and safety of the person using the stair lifts.

Stair lifts offer many safety features such as seat belts, sensors that stop when any obstacle gets in the path, lock to prevent children from playing with the unit, low battery alarm and more. The lift stops by itself on finding an obstruction, thus preventing damages to the equipment and the user. Home stair chair lifts can be folded when not it use, allowing more space for others to walk by.

Considering the expense involved in shifting the house and hiring a nurse, buying a stair lift is a better option. Installing home stair lifts in your home is extremely beneficial since these are the perfect solution to home accessibility, especially in the case of disabled members of the family.

Romance and Rose Petals: 10 Creative Ways to Use Them

If you are looking to create a special ambiance, start the path to seduction or just bring a smile of delight to your sweetheart’s face? One sure-fire way is with deliciously scented, silky rose petals. You can pick up rose petals from your local florist shop or order prepackaged petals online. The prepackaged ones usually come with some other sensual items, like tea light candles, which can add nicely to the ambiance.Of course the rose petals should be lusciously scented. Most will be, but if they are not as pungent as you would like, pick up a rose scented mist from your local bath shop or pharmacy. Make sure you purchase at least a few dozen so your rose petal surprise doesn’t look skimpy. Of course, if you’re making a trail down a hallway or up stairs, buy a few dozen more. Most of the time, eight or nine dozen will not cost more than ten or fifteen dollars – a very inexpensive, romantic treat.Don’t feel that you always have to go with red petals, sometimes a pink, peach or even white can be a wonderful surprise. Take note of what you are putting them on and go with the color that will stand out the most, capturing your love’s immediate attention. • Fill a pretty basket full with the aromatic petals. You need to know when your sweetheart will be coming in, listening closely for that key in the lock. Be positioned so that when they open the door, you are in position to immediately begin dropping rose petals at their feet as they step inside. You will continue to step back as you shower their every step with petals, as the king or queen that they are (remember Eddie Murphy in Coming to America? As a prince, he couldn’t walk a single step without rose petals leading the way!) • Run a warm bath for your love, complete with romantic music and candles. Finish this glorious setting by sprinkling beautiful rose petals in the bathtub. They will be gently floating on top when your sweetie steps in to luxuriate.• Take your rose petals and sprinkle them from your entrance door, down the hallway (or up the stairs) to the foot of your bed. Now there’s a silent invitation that your love will relish when they come home.• A short while before you know that your sweetheart will climb into bed, take a few handfuls of silky petals, pull back the sheets and toss them lavishly into the bed. Put the covers back, making the bed up to look as usual. What a sweet surprise when your darling pulls the covers back to slide into bed!• Put a dozen rose petals on the pull shade in your sweetheart’s car. When they pull the shade down to protect themselves from the sun or pull out an item kept there, they will be showered with the soft, silky petals.• The next time you serve your sweetheart breakfast in bed, make sure you’ve decorated the tray, surrounding all the delectable edibles with some pretty rose petals.• The next time you go on a picnic, along with the wine, cheese & grapes, take along some beautifully scented petals to spread on your throw. There will be nothing better than laying in your bed of roses as an alluring end to your day in the park.• The next time you give your sweetheart a massage, add rose petals for a luxurious, aromatic ambiance. Depending on the surface, you can place bunches of petals in shallow bowls or baskets around the massage area, or simply spread them all over the surface.• When your sweetheart is in the shower, take an opportunity to toss petals all over them. Reach over the shower rod or stall to toss the petals, instead of pulling back the curtain or door.• Take the current book or magazine that your love is reading, open it up to the bookmark and place the rose petals inside. What a delightful surprise when they sit down to relax with their book and the petals tumble into their lap. Make sure your love will not be opening the book/magazine on public transportation.You can create many special moments, enticing, enchanting, seductive moments. Using rose petals can bring an element of surprise that will be appreciated by your loved one. Use these suggestions as your “expressions of love” to and create many joyous moments together.

Stair Climbing: Your Ticket to a Quick and Easy Cardio

Parks filled with rowdy kids? Gym too far from your home or office? Then perhaps it's time to look at stadiums and tall buildings.
You've got it right -- staircases. They're the cheap alternatives to steppers (in fact, they don't cost anything), and the best thing about them is you can do your cardio any time of the day.
Athletes have been performing stadium bleacher runs since time immemorial. It improves their cardiovascular stamina and promotes their muscular endurance -- two things that are necessary for competitive games that last for hours.
For your part, stair climbing gives nearly the same benefits, but on a scale that's just right for you.
The Benefits Of Stair Climbing
This activity is low-impact and safe for as long as you strictly observe the safety rules outlined below. It uses the muscles of the buttocks and the quadriceps (front of the thigh) muscles. It also gives your heart a super workout because you're literally carrying your weight as you work against gravity.
Stair climbing is time efficient as it burns an unbelievable 300 calories in 30 minutes, depending on your pace and body weight.
This could be just the answer to our many alibis to keep from doing routines, such as "dogs chase me at the park," or "the smog outside is just terrible"!
When Is The Best Time To Stair Climb?
If you're using your office stairs, it's better to do this activity after work as you'll be all sweaty and exhausted. However, if you're utilizing your apartment building staircase, early in the morning would be great!
Warming Up And Cooling Down
Walk around your apartment or office for about five minutes prior to tackling the stairs. You should also stretch your calves, quads, and hamstrings to avoid tearing.
On the first week, do the following for 10-15 minutes: Climb 2 flights and then march in place or walk around the entire floor for a couple of minutes to avoid "burning" thigh muscles or shortness of breath. Add five minutes every week to this routine until you're finally able to climb the entire flight without needing to march in place or walk around the floor to catch your breath.
Safety Precautions For Stair Climbing
Wear shoes with good support -- the best ones are aerobic or cross-training shoes. Running shoes are not recommended because they don't give enough lateral support.
Make sure that the stairwell is well-lit and well-ventilated.
Drink enough water before, during, and after the workout.
Discontinue the session as soon as you feel any of the following: nausea, dizziness, heart palpitation, and disorientation, among others.
Alternate this activity with other forms of cardio so as to prevent overuse injury (caused by impacting the same bones and muscles over and over again).
Contrary to popular belief, your knees are more stressed coming down than they are going up because of your reflex of "putting on the brakes," just as the downhill part of mountain climbing is more dangerous. You may want to take the elevator on the way back if you're just beginning.
Assume the proper stance: Lean forward a bit from the hips and keep your back straight. Never slouch while stair climbing.
Don't climb with heels hanging off the edge of the step as you'll risk injuring your Achilles tendon. Instead, place your entire foot on each step.
Never climb a totally desolate area of the building! In the unlikely event of an accident, make sure that you can be heard if you cry out for help. According to the New Zealand government website, www.nhc.govt.nz, stair climbing as an exercise can hold its own against the more established routines such as running and bicycling. A study has concluded that stair climbing is better than these two when considering "the most vigorous exercise in the shortest period possible".
Mohamed Jamal is founder of FunLadyFitness.com a simple take on women fitness, tips and downloadable special reports that could enhance your next workout.
Visit http://funladyfitness.com to see the latest special reports and tips.
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Go Vertical Chicago 2008 Sears Tower Stair Climb Registration Opens June 10

CHICAGO – Registration for Go Vertical Chicago 2008, the annual charitable stair climb to the top of the Sears Tower, opens at 9 a.m. CDT Tuesday, June 10 at the “Go Vertical Chicago” website. Entry for the Sears Tower stair climb, which takes place on the morning of November 9th, 2008, is limited to the first 2250 registrants, and will benefit the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

Climbers will ascend 2,109 steps and 1,353 vertical feet to the famous Sears Tower Skydeck observatory for the best views in Chicago and the satisfaction of having climbed the tallest building in the western hemisphere, all in support of cancer research.

Go Vertical Chicago, in its seventh year, welcomes climbers of all ages and athletic levels. In past years, stair climbers as young as 6 years old and as old as 79 have made their way to the Skydeck, and have travelled from as far away as New Zealand to participate. Elite stair climbers will compete for the top spot and try to break the record of 13:26 minutes set in 2005.

Some climb the Sears Tower for the pure challenge, some are cancer survivors, and many climb in memory of those lost to cancer or who are fighting the disease today. Last year’s sold out event raised more than $340,000 for young cancer scientists whose innovative research is at risk due to funding cuts at the national level.

Lorraine Egan, Executive Director of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation said, “Like participants of Go Vertical Chicago, young cancer researchers of today are audacious and determined, and this event is instrumental in enabling them to continue their discoveries of new ways to treat, prevent and diagnose cancer. We’ve expanded our participant count to cater for demand, and are already receiving widespread interest in this year’s event – from as far away as Vienna, and also from many Chicago locals.”

The entry fee for the Sears Tower stair climb is $35, plus a plus a guaranteed minimum of $55 in pledges. Climbers are encouraged to raise sponsorship through friends, family and colleagues. Participants can climb individually or as part of a team, and there are reduced entry fees for individuals working at the Sears Tower.

More information for Go Vertical Chicago will be available from the event website at the Go Vertical Chicago website..

About the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation:

The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation invests exclusively in top young scientists, recruiting the best new minds into cancer research and seeding their bold ideas. The Foundation offers an alternative to programs supported by the NIH and large organizations, which typically favor senior scientists with established track records.

Since its founding in 1946, the Foundation has invested over $200 million and funded more than 3,000 young scientists. Eleven scientists supported by the Foundation have received the Nobel Prize, and others are heads of cancer centers and leaders of renowned research programs. The Foundation currently is funding more than 120 scientists at leading medical centers and research institutions. This year, it will invest approximately $10 million in outstanding young minds.

100% of all direct donations are used to support scientific research.

About Sears Tower

Sears Tower is the premier corporate office building in Chicago, offering more than 3.8 million square feet of office and retail space. Located in Chicago's West Loop at 233 S. Wacker Drive, the skyscraper is easily accessible by the commuter rail stations, highways and all forms of public transportation.

Standing 1,450 feet and 110 stories tall, Sears Tower is the tallest building in North America and an integral part of Chicago’s culture. Originally opened in September 1973 as the corporate headquarters for Sears, Roebuck and Co., the building is now a multi-tenant office building, home to more than 100 different companies, including prominent financial services firms, law firms and insurance companies.

Many Sears Tower offices boast spectacular vistas of Chicago, with views that can reach nearly 50 miles on a clear day. Sears Tower also boasts tremendous infrastructure, which includes enormous telecommunications capacity and unsurpassed electrical capacity and reliability. The Sears Tower Skydeck on the 103rd floor attracts more than 1 million visitors per year.

Stair Lifts - a Practical and Economical Solution for Accessibility Problems

Stair lifts are a practical and economical solution for accessibility problems faced by physically handicapped and aged people. Physically disabled people often find it stressful to climb or descend the stairways in their houses or offices. While the services of a caretaker could be availed of in the earlier days, it is no longer an easy or practical option nowadays. The presence of a caretaker often disturbs the privacy of the individual. Moreover, caretakers have become quite expensive. Stair lifts are the only practical and economical options to solve this problem. In the case of a stair lift, you have to spend only an initial amount for purchasing the lift.

The stair lift is a mechanical device used for lifting people up and down the stairs. A seating, rail and motor for driving the lift are the main parts of a stair lift. Stair lifts are available for both residential and commercial purposes. There are buildings with straight stairways and curved stairways. Therefore straight rail stair chair lifts and curved rail stair chair lifts are available in the market. Electrically operated chair lifts and hydraulic chair lifts are available. Electric stairway lifts are commonly used and are less expensive than hydraulic stair lifts. Some of the unique features available in stairway lifts are

• Rechargeable battery provision for constant use during power failure
• Obstruction sensors
• Folding up facility
• Wireless controls for convenient use

Some stair lift models have obstruction sensors to detect obstructions in the path of the lift. This is a safety measure to avoid damages to the rider. Many of the stair lifts can be folded when not in use. This gives enough space for others to access the stairways.

Another type of stair lift is the vertical platform stair lift. This stair lift is very useful for physically challenged people to access different floor levels. There are stair chair lifts that are meant for outdoor use. These stair chair lifts are provided with the required weather proofing.

There are many branded companies that provide a variety of stair lift models. Bruno, Thyssenkrupp Access, Savaria Concord are reputable manufacturers of stair lifts. These branded stair lifts can be purchased from various dealers across the country. The dealers provide all assistance for the installation and maintenance of the lift. Always take care to purchase branded products for maximum durability.