Here in South Florida, where AirMD’s indoor air quality experts are based, National Hispanic-American Heritage Month is always celebrated with flair. This year, of course, things are different. But not even Covid-19 can stop us from honoring the many contributions the Latinx community in South Florida has made. 

National Hispanic-American Heritage Month traditionally runs from September 15 through October 15. It is an opportunity to pay tribute to the many Hispanic Americans who have had such an amazing influence on all of us.

National Hispanic-American Heritage Month 2020

We may not be able to get together to celebrate the many vibrant aspects of Hispanic-American culture that we enjoy, but there are still ways that you can explore the rich heritage of Hispanic-American culture.

Here are just a few of the many events: 

• On Wednesday, September 30, you can enjoy Homegrown: Changüí Majadero, a virtual performance of Cuban roots music presented by the Library of Congress. The live performance will be available on both the Library’s Facebook page and the Library’s YouTube channel. As the Library explains, “Changüí is the predecessor of son cubano and salsa, a style of music specifically from the region of Guantanamo, Cuba. Its origins can be traced back to the 1800s, during the days of slavery in Cuba. Changüí is to Cuba & Latin America what the blues & early jazz is to American music.”

• Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the National Park Service is taking its celebration of the history, heritage and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans past and present onto their social media platforms. 

• The Smithsonian will be hosting a variety of events online, including an exploration of portraits of prominent Hispanic-American and Latinx individuals — like Selena and Sonia Sotomayor – and the stories behind those portraits.

Here at AirMD, one of the most trusted air quality testing companies, we are scientists, not historians, but that won’t stop us from taking time away from conducting home allergen tests and asbestos inspections, to celebrate Hispanic-American Heritage Month.

The post How Do You Celebrate National Hispanic-American Heritage Month? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Most of the time the folks here at AirMD, an environmental testing company based in South Florida, are focused on things like residential mold inspections, home allergen tests and testing for air and water quality. But this weekend, it is Father’s Day!

Even though some of the restrictions put in place to help stop the spread of Covid-19 have been
Lifted, this Father’s Day is still going to be quite a bit different for most families.

Instead of taking Dad out for brunch or dinner on Sunday, June 21, maybe you’ll be cooking something at home. According to Chiff.com, “Father’s Day recipes” is one of the top online searches related to the holiday. Other popular search topics include “Father’s Day poems” and “Father’s Day crafts.” (You’ve been warned, guys, so start practicing saying the following like you mean it “There isn’t anything I’d rather have.”)

Father’s Day Trivia

If you want to liven up the conversation around the dinner table when the family gets together to celebrate Dad, you can share some of this fun Father’s Day trivia courtesy of Chiff.com, an online guide to sports, travel, shopping and entertainment:

• “Mr. Mom is becoming a more common sight at parks across America with 154,000 estimated ‘stay-at-home’ dads,” they say. They define Mr. Mom as a guy who is married with kids under 15 years who have not worked for at least a year so they can stay home and look after the kids while Mom goes off to work.
• Sonora Dodd is credited with creating Father’s Day as a way to honor her own Dad. The event was first celebrated in 1910 in her native Spokane, Washington in June, because that when her father was born.
• It took a while for the idea to catch on. President Lyndon Johnson didn’t designate the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day until 1966.

And, if you’re still looking for a great gift for Dad, instead of a tie, you could always have the air quality tested in his home or treat him to a residential wellness test from AirMD, the indoor air quality testing experts. (Hey, it’s just an idea.)

The post Happy Father’s Day from AirMD appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Kids aren’t the only ones who will be enjoying Halloween celebrations this month. Over the years, the holiday has increasingly tempted adults to get into the spirit. We now spend more on Halloween than any other holiday, except Christmas. Here at AirMD, our indoor air quality tests, mold inspections and our allergy testing – from Austin to West Palm Beach – are firmly rooted in science, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun with Halloween with its myths and superstitions.

If you’re among the many who will be decorating your home or office for Halloween, there’s a good chance that the image of a black cat might pop up somewhere. According to the Billings Animal Family Hospital, “In the Middle Ages, it was a commonly held belief that witches could disguise themselves as black cats and these dark felines became associated with witchcraft.”

Black Cats Are Nothing to Sneeze At

The truth is that you don’t need to be afraid of black cats – unless you’re allergic to cats. And if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter if they’re black, orange or polka dotted, you should avoid our furry feline friends. According to WebMD, “About 10% of the U.S. population has pet allergies and cats are among the most common culprits. Cat allergies are twice as common as dog allergies.”

Cat Allergy Symptoms

The health experts at WebMD report that the symptoms of cat allergies can include:

• coughing and wheezing
• hives or a rash on the chest and face
• red, itchy eyes
• redness of the skin where a cat has scratched, bitten, or licked you
• runny, itchy, stuffy nose
• sneezing

If your home is feline-free but you or a member of your family is still bothered by these symptoms on a frequent basis, there may be some other allergy involved. Pollen, dust mites and mold are the most common allergy triggers. But having allergies doesn’t mean you are cursed to suffer forever. Call the allergy-busters at AirMD! Our pros can perform home allergen tests that can help you get to the bottom of any mysteries. We are also experts in residential mold inspections and mold removal.

The post Black Cats Can Be Scary – but only if you have allergies! appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.