No alcohol or banned substances may be brought into the facility.

No glass containers are allowed in the facility.

No weapons of any kind are allowed on the premises.

No running or horse-play is allowed in and around the pool.

No dunking or diving off other people’s shoulders is allowed.

No ball games are allowed in or outside the pool area.

No pets may be brought into the facility.

No tents or similar structures may be brought into the facility.

No one may push others into the pool.

Parents should not leave their children unattended at pools.

(Submitted by Councillor Tandeka Gqada, Mayoral Committee Member: Community Services, City of Cape Town.)

MELISSA NEL

Whenever she feels it coming, she leaves everything she is busy with. She especially makes sure is not bending forward, to prevent herself from being stuck like that for a long time and hurt herself, explains Theresa Daniels (49).

Daniels, of Kalksteenfontein, suffers from osteoarthritis and often feels stiff, unable to move herself. “If I were to bend forward while doing washing and that feeling of being paralysed kicks in, I might hurt myself standing stiff like that.”

Osteoarthritis is considered the most common type of arthritis, according to the website about.com. The disease causes limited range of motion which can affect daily activities. Osteoarthritis is caused by progressive deterioration of joint cartilage. Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. Healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one another. It also absorbs energy from shock of physical movement. In osteoarthritis, however, the surface layer of cartilage breaks down and wears away.

Though she loves netball, she cannot play the game. But Daniels does assist with the local community policing forum.

She warns that people must be careful. “You often don’t know when to keep yourself warm or cold. Sometimes it’s not the cold you feel, it just feels like a limp or a back pain.”

People must go for treatment, though not all medicine suits everyone. “I cannot use Voltaren,” said Daniels. “Also, you cannot do too much hard labour, it will strain you.” Osteoarthritis Awareness Day is celebrated today.

Deon Bing at the Water Wall in Cape Town.

The Water Wall was exposed by the Dutch Consulate General David de Waal last Thursday (10 March 2011) on the corner of Strand and Buitengracht Street in Cape Town. The purpose of the wall is to raise awareness for water issues. The wall symbolises the centuries of experience the Dutch have with water. Water Day is on Tuesday 22 March.

Deon Bing, who delivers the daily Surf Report on 94.5 Kfm-radio station, entertained the visitors. Dan Plato the City’s Executive Mayor also attended the event. This year’s Water Week will run over a period of three day period with its opening on Sunday.

The song Water Song “We are for the love of water” akin to the Michael Jackson’s “We are the world” are performed by artists which includes Zolani Mahola, Loyiso Bala and Stef Bos. They aim to inspire the youth and the general public to unite around water issues.

The song will be released on Saturday at K-Day, the Cape’s biggest outdoor family festival organized by Kfm, said spokeswoman Wieke de Vries.  For more information visit the website on www.unwater.org/waterday.

The City of Cape Town in partnership with a number of community organisation hosted a special health day for mostly senior women. With South Africa commemorating Woman’s Month, the City Social Development taught it well to nurture the older citizens.  Senior members were tested for blood test, heart conditions, sugar and cholesterol levels and many ailments couple with ageing and women in particular. COCT coordinator Renecia Landers, said, “old people don’t make time for themselves, and it appears during this month it’s the only time they get some appreciation and recognition.”

New vaginal cream applicator launched

The newly launched Adcock Ingram Gentle Comfort Vaginal Cream Applicator is designed to give women a more hygienic and comfortable alternative to traditional applicators.

The ergonomically designed applicator was developed by a gynaecologist with over 20 years of experience and is made from flexible materials to naturally bend to the contours of the vagina. This allows the new applicator to be used in a convenient standing or sitting position making it easier to insert putting the user at ease and reducing the pain and discomfort often associated with the more rigid traditional applicators.

The new vaginal cream applicator is designed to deliver a metered dose with minimal wastage, ensuring the correct dosage is delivered at the right depth enhancing the efficacy of the medication. The applicator is designed with a closed bulb-shaped head allowing the cream to be deposited through a small opening in the head; the easy to reach and clean exterior of the applicator is the only point of contact with any vaginal discharge, rendering the applicator hygienic and safe for reuse.

The patented applicator is sold exclusively with Adcock Ingram over-the-counter Covospor Vaginal Cream 50mg for a recommended retail price of R22,51 (including VAT) nationwide.

While you studying how about a yummy snack to keep you strength up and what better way to do that than with Rice Crispy Treats.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons   butter or margarine

1 package regular marshmallows

4 cups   miniature marshmallows

6 cups Rice Crispys

Directions:

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.  (insert pic: recipe pic butter)

   2. Add KELLOGG’S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

   3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day. (insert pic: recipe pic tray)

(Insert pic: recipe pic main)

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary

In the first part of the series we brought you the the nutritional benefits of red foods such as beets and cherries now we move on to our second colour, green.

While dark green plant foods are loaded with nutrients, one of their biggest claims to fame is lutein. Lutein is an antioxidant found in high levels in a type of eye tissue called the macula. The macula helps tell the brain what the eye is seeing it is also responsible for the central vision that enables us to drive and read. as we get older the macula degenerates.

Regularly consuming of lutein-rich foods helps to prevent macula degeneration, thus lowering your risk of blindness and can also help cataract prevention.

Green foods to eat

• Avocados
• Green grapes
• Kiwifruit
• Broccoli
• Green peppers
• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Brussels sprouts
• Green beans
• Zucchini
• Green peas
• Snow peas

The Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) will showcase its comprehensive care and support programme as part of National Cancer Week, an Annual event that takes place during the first week in August. “Hearing the words “you has cancer” often leaves people shocked, out of control and helpless,” said Sue Janse van Rensburg, Cansa’s CEO and long term cancer survivor. Cansa coping kit ( comprising of 2 audio CD’s, available in English, Afrikaans and Zulu) helps those recently diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones cope with by providing information and practical tools to promote physical , emotional and mental well –being before and during treatment. Visit www. cansa.org.za or call Cansa toll free on 0800 22 66 22.

Turning the wheel for support

By MELISSA NEL

“Keep their minds occupied.”

That is the advice of the professional counselors at the Sadag give thousands of people consults them about problems regarding their depression and anxiety.

Miss Fatima Seedat, a counselor at Sadag, made an example of advice she would give someone who is struggling with self-mutilation. “Instead of cutting yourself, we would advise you to go put your finger in the freezer. You can also go outside and scream. That produces the same emotions as it would you cutting yourself.”

Seedat said the Sadag hotline gets calls from patients who are: lonely, suicidal, and experienced anxiety because of a crime that took place.

After being counseled on the phone, patients are referred to face-to-face counselors.

Seedat said it is very helpful to know about mental health issues. “My job is rewarding not only because I can give advice to people from different background and situations calling the hotline, but I can also give information to a family member on how to cope with a certain problem.”

Una Hammond of Jubilee Live church in Parow previously suffered from depression and is now a support group leader.

Hammond said it is a major step for a victim of depression to just get out of your house and talk to someone that went through the same emotions you did. “As a support group leader I understand the symptoms of what patients go through, because I went through the same thing.”

Her current group consists of eight people from Belhar and Bellville. “I had a group of 25, but there are those who feel they are strong enough to go on their own. I see them individually.”

For advice regarding depression or anxiety, or to learn on how you can become a support group leader, call the toll-free Sadag hotline at 0800 70 80 90.

When most of us think of eating heathly we tend to think of the food pyramid that we all learnt about at school, protein, fiber, fat, fruits and vegetables and so on but did you ever stop to think about the colours of our food?

No, didn’t think you did. Well, each food colour is rich in its own nutrients and come with their own benefits, for example red foods. Red foods are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect your body’s cells from smoking, second hand smoke, the sun and so on. By doing this, the antioxidants in red food provide protection from cancers and age-related diseases like Alzhiemers.

Red foods like tomatoes are rich in the nutrient lycopene. It’s also found in other red foods such as watermelon. The biggest benefit of lycopene is that it can lower your risk or developing prostate cancer. Eating lycopene-rich foods regularly may also help people who have prostate cancer by preventing it from spreading, as well as keeping tumors small. For women, it may also lower your chances of developing lung, breast, and stomach cancers.

Red foods to eat

Red apples                   Red grapes

Raspberries                Cranberries

Cherries                        Strawberries

Watermelons              Beets

Red potatoes              Red onions

Radishes