Chip and Sue Parrish | The Personal Touch

June Central Ohio Home Sales

Continuing to ride the wave, June's home sales increased by 10% over last June, a trend that we have seen each month as the market continues to gain it’s momentum back. We do see fewer homes going into contract for the month of June, but at the same time, we see the days a home is spending on the market to stay low, and not waiver much. We can also look to the “month’s supply” number to indicate a strong market. A housing market is considered stable and healthy when the month’s supply is between 6.5 and 7.0. So what does that mean? It means, that if no new homes were to enter the market, it would take 6.5 to 7 months to sell all those homes. It’s supply and demand, working to produce a month’s supply of 6.95 for the month of June, keeping Columbus in a good position to stay a strong market. With a wide variety of homes on the market and many well priced and affordable, buyers are taking advantage of these numbers in combination with the lower interest rates while they still exist. Overall, the first half of 2010 has boasted a 20% growth spurt over the same period last year in the total number of sold listings and an increase of nearly 26% in total dollar volume. Columbus is certainly moving in the right direction! Are you?

Call Chip and Sue today for more info - 614 - 324 - 5000.

Central Ohio Residential Home Sales

How to Deal with Heat Related Illnesses

Heat cramps: Heat cramps are an early indicator that you are over doing it, resulting in muscle pains and spasms due to heavy exertion.

Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs during excessive exercise and the body is sweating heavily. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke. Watch for these symptoms:

• cool, moist, pale flushed or red skin
• heavy sweating
• headache
• nausea or vomiting
• dizziness
• exhaustion

Heat stroke: Also known as sunstroke, can be life-threatening. Temperature control and the ability to sweat, stops working so that the body’s temperature rises, so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Watch for these warning signs:

• hot, red and dry skin
• changes in consciousness
• rapid, weak pulse
• rapid, shallow breathing
• elevated body temperature, as high as 105 degrees

If you are experiencing any of these illnesses, get somewhere to cool off, hydrate yourself, and if needed call 9-1-1.

Playing it Safe

So you think it's hot out? Are you sitting there at the ball diamond, or football stadium watching your son, daughter, relative, or friend play a sport. Imagine then how hot they must feel, whether it’s under a uniform, heavy equipment or masks, or just being active. Now that’s hot!

Columbus and the surrounding areas have already seen temperatures sore above 90 degrees this summer. When the weather gets that hot, it’s hard for our bodies to keep up with it. Extreme heat can cause signs of heat-related illnesses including nausea, dizziness, flushed or pale skin, heavy sweating and headaches. This is even more so for the elderly and the young. Children produce more heat during activity and sweat less which increases the risk of dehydration, especially if they are not taking in enough liquids. This can lead to serious dehydration and heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

It is especially important to remember the heat with our youth who are involved in sports and similar activity. Those who are out of shape or just ut of practice can be more vulnerable to the effects of the heat. It can take a few days or up to a couple of weeks to fully acclimate your body to cope with battling heat. So it's best to take it easy as we get back to those summer activities and sports practices. Dress lightly to stay cool, drink plenty of water or non-caffeinated beverages before, during, and after exercise, and gradually increase the workout. Know when to take a break to cool down.

There's more than just the temperature to think about, there's the humidity and solar radiation, while at the same time we can benefit  from shade and a cool breeze. Because of this, some coaches refer to the Wet Bulb Global Temperature to gauge a more accurate temperature for their athletes as this measurement combines the elements mentioned above.

So be sure to play it safe this summer and watch for signs of dehydration and heat related illness such as:

• Dry or sticky mouth
• Thirst
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Cramps
• Excessive fatigue

It is important to teach our kids to be aware of the heat and the effects on their body so they know when to stop. Coaches should also be aware and allow the athletes the chance to speak up if a break is needed, without cause for embarrassment or discipline. And above all, water should always be available during activity. So play it safe this summer both on and off the field!