You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2706 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Buying Smart Home Technology? Ask Three Questions First (NAPSA)—This year, many families will become owners of smart home technology for the first time. Connected to the Internet and controlled by smartphone apps, smart home devices promise to enhance everyday life with convenience, energy savings and even security. However, taking the wrong approach when buying them can lead to an expensive case of buyer’s remorse. This very new technology comes with some unique considerations and options that many shoppers may overlook in pursuit of the best deal at retail. Before clicking ‘buy’, experts say, shoppers should consider the following questions to determine the best approach. 1. Can I install it? Devices such as connected light bulbs may be simple to install, but others, like a smart thermostat, will require competence with electrical wiring and heating systems in order to work right. If DIY is a concern, buyers should research the ‘do it for me’ option: the growing network of smart home service providers who supply, install and configure smart home devices. 2. Is security important? Many of this year’s most popular smart products, such as streaming video cameras and smoke detectors, offer awareness of what’s happening at home. But when it comes to security, they are self-monitored. You’ll get a text message if there’s trouble at home but what happens if you It’s wise to ask a few questions when setting up a smart home. don’t get the message or can’t respond? For the security minded, professionally monitored options are a better buy. These systems send you a text notification if there’s an emergency and automatically contact emergency responders on your behalf. 3. Am I investing in a smart device, or a smart home? A common cause of smart home frustration is devices that don’t intercommunicate, requiring the user to use multiple apps and complex workarounds to automate their home. As more devices are added, the situation grows more complex. For shoppers planning to buy more devices in future, a solution such as a smart home security system eliminates the problem before it begins. The solution approach gives the buyer a complete ecosystem of smart home devices, connected by a single software platform and mobile app that ensures every device—current and future—can contribute to the goal of a smarter home. For more advice about smart home technology, visit Alarm.com/blog. Window Film— A Powerful Defense For Homeowners (NAPSA)—Many Americans think they need to worry about skin protection only when they are outside. However, according to the International Window Film Association (IWFA), the harmful UV rays that people are concerned about while outdoors can also penetrate into homes, with the possibility of causing damage. Protect yourself from harmful UV rays while indoors by installing window film. Typical windows block as little as 25 percent of UV rays which, if left unchecked, can cause extensive damage to the skin, including premature aging, wrinkles and even skin cancer. Additionally, the UV rays may accelerate the fading of furniture, flooring and other dcor. Fortunately, professionally installed window film may act as a powerful defense against these problems, by blocking up to 99 percent of the UV rays. Installing window film can also have a positive affect on energy costs, because it can help regulate room temperatures, thus lowering energy bills during warm and, in some cases, even cold weather. “Thousands of highly-trained dealers and installers across the United States stand ready to help consumers achieve a safer, more comfortable and energy efficient home,” said Darrell Smith, Executive Director of the IWFA. You can learn more at www.iwfa.com. Caring For Infants In Cough And Cold Season (NAPSA)—The common cold is nothing to sneeze at. Most years, a child under 2 years old may get as many as eight to 10 colds, the National Institutes of Health reports, especially if he or she is in day care or has older siblings. When your baby is feeling miserable with clogged nasal passages, it can be especially stressful because it tends to disrupt things like feedings and sleeping, since babies tend to breathe through their noses more than adults. How To Handle Baby’s Colds So what’s a parent to do? These four steps may help: 1. Give your baby plenty of fluid s. Water is fine, but warm drinks can be more soothing. 2. A warm, moist atmosphere can ease breathing. Use a humidifier or take your baby into the bathroom and run a hot bath or shower. 3. Keep the room well aired and at a comfortable temperature. 4. Often, babies need their noses cleaned out with an aspirator to help them breathe easier. The “sucker ball” is still the go-to baby product for helping babies who can’t blow their own noses. It’s an instant way to ease cough irritants, too. The Little Remedies Stuffy Nose Kit comes with an aspirator and saline spray and drops. In addition, Ilana Wiles, founder of MommyShorts.com, offers this advice: “Besides lots of hugs and cuddles, I like to give my kids all-natural Sore Throat Pops from Little Remedies when they get sick and have a sore throat. I don’t let them have lollipops that often so this feels like such a special treat in an otherwise miser- While it’s almost inevitable that your baby will catch a cold, you can take steps to relieve the symptoms. able day. They get so excited about those pops.” The pops are just part of the Little Remedies portfolio of cold care products that includes Little Remedies Sore Throat Pops, Little Remedies Saline Spray/Drops, Little Remedies Stuffy Nose Kit, and Little Remedies Sterile Saline Nasal Mist. Created by a pharmacist and dad, Little Remedies is made with everything they need, nothing they don’t. There are no artificial flavors, dyes or parabens. The Stuffy Nose Kit flushes little noses to help your baby or young child breathe easier with no side effects. The Saline Spray and Drops also moisturize nasal passages that are dry, irritated or crusty due to low humidity, heated environments, air travel, allergies or colds. Daily use of saline drops will help keep nasal passages clean and moisturized. Learn More For further facts on helping your little one overcome a cold and more information on where you can find Little Remedies in nearby stores, go to www.littleremedies.com.
