Family Fishing

There are many ways that families can choose to relax together. Some like to kick back on the couch and watch their favorite television show and other’s like to spend their free time outdoors. “While many others prefer yoga as a form of relaxation we’ve got our fishing, Fishing is a great way to spend a day,it’s a balm for the soul” (Cwynar, 2010) There are many different hobbies families can share but when it comes staying connected with each other and with nature, fishing would defiantly be a great activity to participate in.  There are a lot of ways that this can be beneficial for families. Fishing is not only a fun hobby, but it is also an educational one to say the least.  It can teach kids about the many different kinds of fish or other animals they may see and hear while in the outdoors. There are also a lot of objects to pick up and play with on the banks and in the water, such as rocks and sometimes they may even run across a fossil. Families all over the country build their vacations around fishing and camping, and just getting to spend time in the great outdoors with each other. You can also take along a boat or canoe so that you can be sure to make it to your favorite fishing spot.

It doesn’t take a parent to teach a child or loved one how to fish it can be an aunt, uncle, sibling, or any member in your family. The great thing about fishing is that once you learn how to fish you will be hooked on it and this can be something that you can later pass on to your children. Another great thing about fishing and learning about the outdoors is that it can help keep your child out of trouble, and also provide them with valuable survival techniques. There is an old saying that says “If you give a man a fish he can eat for a day, if you teach a man to fish he can eat for a lifetime.” Fishing can also help to keep kids focused on the blessings of life and not on drugs or alcohol, which is growing to be a more prominent issue in our younger generations every day. While fishing has its benefits to certain life choices it also helps with a person’s health, both young and old, by keeping them active and providing an abundance of sunlight and fresh air to fill the bodies with needed nutrients.

Fishing is a great hobby that has been adapted by many. “More than 1.3 million Missourians fish.” (Cwynar, 2010) Some do it on a more competitive level whereas others do it for relaxation and peacefulness of the sport. There are also many families that participate in fishing not only for fun but also for a source of food. There is no greater feeling than to go out and have a great day outdoors, whether it is hunting or fishing, and then getting to come home and enjoy the bounty of the days catch or kill. Not to mention all of the benefits and nutrients in fresh meat as opposed to processed and packaged meat. To some, the only fishing that they may have ever witnessed could be what they have seen on television. Fishing shows on television can portray the sport to be much complex than it really is. There are many people that would like to learn how to fish; they just may not know where to go for information. “With the basic knowledge, fishing can be just as fun and productive at any skill level.” (Cwynar, 2010)  

If you and your family decide to begin fishing but you are unsure of how to get started, there are many resources that you can go to for information. A great place to start would be your local Conservation Department. There are numerous pamphlets and magazines available that are free to the public, and there are also conservation agents that can help as well. In the pamphlets and magazines you can find information over just about anything involving fishing. This information covers topics from popular streams and different types of fish in Missouri, to step-by-step directions on tying fishing knots. Family fishing is a great way to keep your family involved with each other and also a good learning experience for all.

Work Cited

Cwynar, T. (2010). An introduction to fishing. Fishing

Chasteen, B. (2012). Missouri conservationist.

Meningitis

When you’re about to graduate high school, your health is not the top of your list. Thinking about college, living in the dormitories, and financial aid, vaccines may just slip your mind. Meningitis is a very serious disease that can be prevented with a simple vaccine. According to PubMed Health, “Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges).” Meningitis can be caused by many different instances and sometimes can become deadly it depends on the type and severity of the illness. “Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, usually bacteria or viruses, but meningitis can also be caused by physical injury, cancer or certain drugs” (CDC).

By not completing the childhood immunizations, it highly increases an individual’s chance of being diagnosed with meningitis. On average, 1,500 Americans are infected with meningitis annually and of those infected 11% will die (NMA). Individuals who are at the highest risk are pre-teens and adolescents, college freshman, and travelers. According to the National Meningitis Association, “…approximately 20 percent suffer long-term consequences, such as brain damage, kidney disease, hearing loss or limb amputations” (NMA) It is such a serious disease that it is now mandatory for most colleges to be vaccinated before staring classes. “As of 2009, a total of 34 states have adopted legislation requiring colleges to provide information on risks of meningococcal disease to incoming students and / or students residing on campus, and 15 states have mandated vaccination for certain students, unless a vaccination waiver is provided” (NMA). It is important to understand that being vaccinated does not prevent meningitis; it just helps protect and reduce the chances of being infected.

Meningitis has many signs and symptoms that come upon a person very quickly. Many individuals who are infected with meningitis believe it’s the flu because of the flu like symptoms. These signs and symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and sometime death. High school seniors thinking about going to college should be positive they have their meningitis vaccination. “As children reach their pre-teen and adolescent years, protection provided by some childhood vaccines can begin to wear off” (CDC). It is important to be vaccinated against meningitis not only because the vaccines begin to wear off as you age but also because of the way it can be transmitted. It is said that of the all the U.S. cases, 15 percent are adolescents and young adults (NMA). Meningitis cannot be spread from person to person and doesn’t spread as quickly as a cold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can be spread through fecal materials like not properly washing your hands in the restrooms and diaper changes, and also through salvia, coughing, or kissing (CDC).

Meningitis. PubMed Health. Retrieved on January 20, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth. 

Meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on January 21, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html.

Overview. National Meningitis Association. Retrieved on January 25, 2012 from http://www.nmaus.org/meningitis/.