I am not a health care professional and I am not licensed to give advise but these are some ways that I have witnessed parents successfully relieving the fever of a young child or infant baby.  All of the information on this site and page is based on my opinions as well as feedback from other users.  Pediatricians that I have spoken with have mentioned that a higher than normal temperature is part of the child’s process of responding to the vaccine however they still offer ways to lower the fever back to a normal level.

Taking An Accurate Temperature

When taking the temperature of a baby or small child many believe that the most accurate way is by a digital rectal thermometer that is designed for babies by only allowing only about a 1/2 inch to an inch of thermometer to be inserted.  I also believe that testing 3 times to confirm the accuracy of the devise is helpful when recording a temperature.

For this example I will consider the normal temperature to be:

98.6 °F or between 96–99 °F

In this case I will consider a fever to be over:

100.4 °F or over 100-101 °F

Medium grade fevers between:

101-102.5 °F

High fevers are normally considered to be around:

102.5-105 °F

Brain damage, which seems to be uncommon from vaccinations, will be considered for fevers over:

107.6 °F (42 °C)

Infant Fever After Vaccines And Immunizations

When Should We Call The Pediatrician?

Pediatricians seem to have a different opinions on when to call and how high the temperature should be before there is a concern. Many pediatricians seem to consistently say that if they have not had a recent vaccination and/or if they are under 3 months old (some professionals will say 6 weeks or younger) it would be important to call them right away (day or night) if they are showing above 100.4 °F because this may be a sign of a problem that needs urgent medical attention.

Remember that fever alone is not normally harmful and it actually is helpful as part of the baby’s immune system.

If the child has had vaccinations in the last 48 hours, many professionals will say that it is normal to run a low fever and it not necessary to call them urgently unless the temperature goes above 103 °F medium grade fever however they will normally make recommendations in advance on ways to lower the temperature.  I have found that many professionals claim that a fever above 103 °F may be a sign of a potentially dangerous infection.

Why Should We Lower The Baby’s Fever?

Since the baby uses the fever as a way to fight off infection it may seem counterproductive to lower it.  Even so, some reasons to lower a fever may be to comfort the child or prevent the additional loss of supplemental fluids caused by the persistent fever (dehydration).  Some people have said they try to keep the temperature of the baby as close to a normal level as possible to reduce the risk of febrile seizures which might be caused by a quick change in temperature resulting in a fever.

Reasons including comfort and fluid loss are mentioned on this United States Army site:

http://evans.amedd.army.mil/peds/fever.htm

Common Ways To Lower A Fever

If you do want to lower a fever these are some ways that we have had success with.  Again, I am not a medical professional so please consult your advisors and pediatrician before providing any treatment.

1) Consider giving the baby a normal dose of generic brand acetaminophen designed for babies and infants.  Be careful however because acetaminophen, such as Tylenol similar drugs, can add to liver damage and Cirrhosis (https://health.google.com/health/ref/Cirrhosis).   Normally your doctor will also provide a chart that shows how much to give the baby according to the weight.  Also, The Children’s Hospital at 13123 East 16th Avenue Aurora, CO 80045 also mentions, “Caution: Do NOT give your baby any fever medicine before being seen.”

http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/wellness/at_home/baby/illnesses.aspx

2)  Feed the baby to help with hydration, immune system nutrients, and to help comfort the baby.  You may find that feeding the baby may help to reduce the fever because the baby has the hydration it needs to regulate their temperature easier.  Most professionals that I have listened to have advised beast feeding more often during times of fever.  Breast milk may also contain anti-inflammatory nutrients that could reduce the risk of a high fever.

3) Use a medium cool compress to reduce the fever heat.  This could be done by pouring cool room temperature water on a towel and using it as a compress.

4) Give the baby a room temperature bath.  You could even do this with the baby but professionals have mentioned that it is important to use water that is not too cold so that the baby’s temperature does not cool to rapidly or too much.

5) Allow for easy air flow near the baby and consider taking the baby outside if the climate permits.  Fresh air is important and helpful for all humans but it may also help lower the average room temperature slightly which may in turn help with the fever.  Taking the baby outside could provide fresh air and a cooler climate helping the baby recover from the fever more easily.  If you are in a car, be sure to open the windows on a hot day or provide a cool comfortable environment as soon as possible to comfort the baby.

6) Remove excess clothing, blankets, or swaddle attire.  There are a few cases I have found where a child has been known to have a much higher fever when over wrapped with blankets and clothing.  Removing these extra layers may be enough to help comfort the baby and reduce the temperature back to a normal level.

Concerned About Infant Brain Damage After Immunizations?

Most professionals that I have spoken with are not very concerned about brain damage after immunizations because only around 10% of cases can reach over 103 °F.  Even fewer go above the brain damage temperature of 107.6 °F (42 °C).  This temperature for brain damage is also published by:

U.S. National Library of Medicine at 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894

“Brain damage from a fever generally will not occur unless the fever is over 107.6 °F”

What Are The Chances Of Fever?

Specific Immunization Reactions

1. Chickenpox Vaccine:
   • Pain or swelling at the injection site for 1 to 2 days (in 19% of children)
   • Mild fever lasting 1 to 3 days begins 17 to 28 days after the vaccine (in 14%). Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever over 102° F (39°C).
   • Never give aspirin for fever, pain or within 6 weeks of receiving the vaccine (Reason: risk of Reye’s syndrome – a rare but serious brain disease)
   • Chickenpox-like vaccine rash (usually 2 lesions) at the injection site (in 3%)
   • Chickenpox-like vaccine rash (usually 5 lesions) scattered over the body (in 4%)
   • This mild rash begins 5 to 26 days after the vaccine and usually lasts a few days.
   • Children with these vaccine rashes can go to day care or school. (Reason: for practical purposes, vaccine rashes are not contagious)
   • EXCEPTION: avoid school if widespread, weepy lesions (Reason: probably actual chickenpox).
   • Precaution: if vaccine rash contains fluid, cover it with clothing or Band-Aid.
2. DTaP or DT Vaccine: The following harmless reactions to DTaP can occur:
   • Pain, tenderness, swelling or redness at the injection site (in 25% of children) and lasts for 24 to 48 hours.
   • Fever (in 25% of children) and lasts for 24 to 48 hours
   • Mild drowsiness (30%), fretfulness (30%) or poor appetite (10%) and lasts for 24 to 48 hours.
   • A large swelling over 4 inches (10 cm) arm can follow the 4th or 5th dose of DTaP occurs in 5% of children. Most children can still move the leg or arm normally.
   • The large thigh or upper arm swelling resolves without treatment by day 3 (60%) to day 7 (90%). This is not an allergy and future DTaP vaccines can be given.
3. Hemophilus Influenza Type B Vaccine (Hib):
   • No serious reactions reported
   • Sore injection site or mild fever only occurs in 1.5% of children
4. Hepatitis A Vaccine:
   • No serious reactions reported
   • Sore injection occurs in 20% of children, loss of appetite in 10%, and headache in 5%.
   • Usually no fever.
   • If these symptoms occur, they begin 3-5 days after vaccine and last 1-2 days
5. Hepatitis B Virus Vaccine (HBV):
   • No serious reactions reported
   • Sore injection site occurs in 30% of children and mild fever in 3% of children
   • Because fever from the vaccine is rare, any infant under 2 months with a fever following the vaccine should be examined.
6. Influenza Virus Vaccine:
   • Pain, tenderness or swelling at the injection site occurs within 6 to 8 hours in 10% of children.
   • Mild fever under 103° F (39.5° C) occurs in 18% of children. Fevers mainly occur in young children.
   • Nasal Influenza Vaccine: No side effects, no fever or symptoms.
7. Measles Vaccine:
   • The measles vaccine can cause a fever (10% of children) and rash (5% of children) about 6 to 12 days following the injection.
   • Mild fever under 103° F (39.5°C) in 10% and lasts 2 or 3 days.
   • The mild pink rash is mainly on the trunk and lasts 2 or 3 days.
   • No treatment is necessary. Your child is not contagious.
   • Call Your Doctor If:
     • Rash becomes very itchy
     • Rash changes to purple spots
     • Rash lasts over 3 days
8. Meningococcal Vaccine:
   • No serious reactions
   • Sore injection site for 1 to 2 days occurs in 50%, with limited use of the arm in 15%.
   • Mild fever occurs in 4%, headache in 40% and joint pain in 20%
   • The vaccine never causes meningitis.
9. Mumps or Rubella Vaccine: There are no reactions except for an occasional sore injection site.
10. Pneumococcus Vaccine:
    • No serious reactions
    • Pain, tenderness, swelling OR redness at the injection site in 15 – 30%
    • Mild fever under 102° F (39° C) in 15% for 1-2 days
11. Polio Vaccine:
    • Polio vaccine by injection occasionally causes some muscle soreness.
    • Oral vaccine no longer used in the U.S.
12. Rotavirus Vaccine:
    • No serious reactions to this oral vaccine
    • Mild diarrhea or vomiting for 1 to 2 days in 3%
    • No fever
13. Human Papillomavirus Vaccine:
    • No serious reactions reported
    • Sore injection site for few days in 80%
    • Mild redness and swelling at the injection site (in 25%)
    • Fever over 100.4° F (38.0° C) in 10% and fever over 102° F (39° C) in 1-2%.

You can also report fevers and any adverse reactions to the FDA’s VAERS site at https://vaers.hhs.gov/esub/step1.  VAERS seems to be used for taking information and will not provide any help with understanding when to call your doctor or take your baby to the emergency room due to an adverse reaction.  They do however provide some excellent data from vaccinations that you can sort in a variety of ways including by state and by symptom.  You can download the data for any recent year here:  https://vaers.hhs.gov/data/data/

This seems to be a easy to understand video about fevers:

I hope this information can help you or a baby’s life that you know.  If you have any other questions or comments about baby fevers after vaccinations please feel free to leave you comment or message on this site.   A friend also noted that you should only take your child to the ER or doctor if it is needed because exposure to pollution/dangers during the drive, exposure to illness at the location, and other complications could hurt the baby more than the natural reaction of the fever.

When To Write A 1099 Termination Letter

Anytime you hire someone that requires a 1099 it is important to clearly define how the relationship will terminate in a contract.  Normally each party understands that once the project is complete the 1099 independent contractor is terminated but there may be requirements for a 30 day notice or other letters to confirm the termination.  Check your contract to make sure you are following the agreed upon termination procedure.  If the termination agreement is not in the contract it is normal to provide 2-4 weeks of notice with a 1099 termination letter.

It may also be the case that a 1099 termination letter is appropriate after the project is complete to confirm with service provider that the project is complete and no additional services are needed.

If you are terminating your agreement before the agreed end of the contract then it may be best to consult a legal adviser on the best way to get out of the contract.  I am not a lawyer and I can not provide legal advise but it seems to be best to hire the right 1099 contractor for the job, check references, licensing, and have each party sign the agreement before the service begins.  Also, create wording in the contract that explains what would happen if the 1099 does not complete the project or does not complete it in a certain time frame.

Writing the 1099 Termination Letter

It may be best to write the termination letter in a simple format by email, PDF, or if necessary on company letterhead.  Typically you should write the letter in the same format that you normally conduct business in with the 1099 service provider.  This means if you normally correspond and work out agreements by email then email would be the best way to deliver the termination letter.  I also suggest reading over the general Contract Termination Letter for more information on this.

1099 Termination Letter Example

Current Date

Address of Party 1

To Whom it May Concern:

Thank you for your business as an independent contractor.  Please consider this our notice to terminate the contract contract between (party 1) and (party 2) on good terms ending Month Day, Year.  The original agreement allows this type of termination in section (provide section numbers here).  The reason for the termination is (reasons for termination).  Since the total amount of services in the contract exceeds $600, we will be filing a 1099 with the IRS and sending a copy to you.  Please report any address changes to us to ensure your forms are delivered correctly.  If you have any questions about this contract termination please contact us by email at (email address).  Thank you.

Sincerely,

Party 2 Name

Address of Party 2

Reduce The Need For An Early 1099 Termination Letter

In some states any project that requires $500 or more in services and materials may also require your contractor has insurance and a license.  If you are using a 1099 contractor you can confirm their license and status if required by the state.  A quick review of the license may reveal concerns or problems that

California 1099 Contractor License Search:

http://www2.dca.ca.gov/pls/wllpub/

Texas 1099 Contractor License Search:

http://www.license.state.tx.us/LicenseSearch/

Washington State 1099 Contractor License Search:

https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/dolprod/bpdLicenseQuery/

Many other states also have their own online license search and you can normally review the enforcement status and other information as well.

In some states licenses are requires for these types of professions which may also require filing a 1099 if the services exceeded $600 for the year and the professional is an independent contractor.

ACCOUNTANCY
ACUPUNCTURE
ARCHITECTS
ATHLETIC COMMISSION
AUTOMOTIVE
BARBERING AND COSMETOLOGY
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
CEMETERY AND FUNERAL
CHIROPRACTIC
CONTRACTORS
COURT REPORTERS
DENTAL
DENTAL HYGIENE COMMITTEE OF CALIFORNIA
ELECTRONIC AND APPLIANCE REPAIR
ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS (PROFESSIONAL)
GEOLOGY
HEARING AID DISPENSERS
HOME FURNISHINGS
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
MEDICAL BOARD
MIDWIVES
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
OPTOMETRY
OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS
PHARMACY
PHYSICAL THERAPY
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
PODIATRIC MEDICINE
PROFESSIONAL FIDUCIARIES
PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS
PSYCHOLOGY
REGISTERED DISPENSING OPTICIANS
REGISTERED NURSING
RESPIRATORY CARE
SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY & AUDIOLOGY
STATE BOARD OF GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND
STRUCTURAL PEST
VETERINARY MEDICINE
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
VOCATIONAL NURSES

Importance Of New Vaccination Information

New information about vaccines can be found in the news but more importantly from your medical professional who should be completely up-to-date on any vaccines they are suggesting for you or your child.  Vaccines expire and taking an expired vaccine may not have the same effect as a current one so be sure to double check the expiration.  Also, some people have accused medical institutions of providing adult vaccines to children or Vice versa so be sure to double check the type of DTaP or other vaccine you are giving to a child or adult.

My Vaccination Opinion

I am not a medical professional nor do I work in the medical industry.  I know very little about vaccinations and the health industry and these are just my opinions based on information I have read, seen, and discussed with other public health professionals, parents, Doctors, and people who work in the medical industry.

Vaccinations can be a way to make money, they can be a life improving/saving heath benefit.  Vaccinations are also potentially unsafe to yourself or your child if taken incorrectly.  Every time you receive a vaccination, I suggest confirming that it is more beneficial to have the vaccination than not to.  Be sure to take into consideration the current situation and information available at the time.  Check the current report and information when traveling to see if a vaccination is recommended by any traveling advisory institution.  Educate yourself about it, talk to your advisers, and do not just believe one person’s opinion.

2010 Vaccination Examples

Vaccinations

This photo includes some current examples of real Vaccinations given in 2010 including:

• RotaTec – 1 Single Dose 2 mL tube
• DTaP-IPV (5/2011 expiration) with ACTHIB Made by Sanofi Pediacel
• Prevnar 13 .5 mL single dose by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.

CDC on Vaccinations

The CDC seems to be one of the more developed sources of information on Vaccines.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/

The CDC publishes information on all of the most available types of Vaccines and a lot of information about the benefits and drawbacks.  Some of the information contains logical fallacies and some fluff but I suggest reading it before taking or giving a Vaccination to a child or teen.

FDA on Vaccinations

The FDA provides some recall information and reporting tools for Vaccinations however it is unknown how much of the information they receive is published and available to the public. They also provide some approval information and some good historical information on vaccination approvals and recalls.

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/

EPA on Vaccinations

The EPA has about 1300 pages of information that contain the word vaccination or vaccine but they normally suggest to “keep your vaccinations current” and do have great notes on historical data about vaccinations and their role on preventing future problems.

http://www.epa.gov/TEACH/chem_summ/mercury_org_summary.pdf

In this link the EPA shows here how vaccinations and mercury were a concern in the past for children but have now been shown to be less of a concern or no concern now which pediatricians I have spoken with would agree with.

CHOP on Vaccinations

CHOP provides extensive videos and written information about vaccines and help educate parents on vaccination schedules.  It is easy to understand and has some intersting stats to consider.

http://www.chop.edu/service/vaccine-education-center/

Paul A. Offit, MD who seems to the face of this part of CHOP is a great speaker although it is obvious he, like many others, are exposing this type of information for profit so take things you hear as an opinion and read other sources as well.

After Vaccinations

After some vaccinations many Doctors will recommend some type of pain medication like Acetaminophen and to watch symptoms of any signs of concern.  These may include rashes, high temperature, and febrile seizures.  Call your pediatrician right away if you experience any side effects and report them to the FDA at VAERS:

http://vaers.hhs.gov/esub/index

info@vaers.org
Call VAERS at (800) 822-7967 | Fax VAERS at (877) 721-0366

Also, I suggest letting any other relevant institutions know about the side effects including NVIC:

http://www.nvic.org/Forms/CivilianReactionPage.aspx

By reporting any problems you can help find problem areas or bathes of Vaccinations.  I believe we should all be aware of any problems so I also encourage you to post any concerns publicly but anonymously.

Vaccinations and Febrile Seizures

This video shows some developed opinions on Febrile seizures:

Important 2010 Vaccination Information

A professional friend who believes that, “MMR is no longer manufactured with thimerosal preservative (even though this has been proven to have no risks associated with it).”

We have found a trusted medical professional that has said that they have treated people suffering from the effects from:

• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• DTaP
• HIB
• Pheumococcal
• Measles / Mumps / Rubella

That same medical professional has administered or seen over 10,000 people vaccinated but has never heard of a complication that needed hospital or clinic care.  If you are interested in contact information for our experienced professional please email me directly at greg@gregoryhillman.org.

Other Suggested Vaccination Links by Friends

http://www.antemedius.com/content/lancet-withdraws-study-linking-autism-mmr-vaccine

Remember, vaccinations are not 100% safe.  There are things you should look for after a vaccination and it is suggested to stay at the vaccination office for 15 or more minutes after the Vaccination and be aware of side effects for days after.

We read “On Becoming Baby Wise” and other similar books but we do not let the baby cry out or stress for long periods of time even with interruptions.  I am not a doctor or professional in pediatrics but we are average parents that have read and watched information on helping a baby to sleep and sleep through the night after 6 weeks.  Before 6 weeks our medical advisers suggest having the mother feed the baby at night to relieve pressure and to give the baby the nutrition every few hours.

Sleep Through The Night

Here are my suggestions after 6 weeks:

• I would suggest waiting for an “owe” sound or “owal” sound before putting the baby to bed at night.  This is the sound they tend to make when they yawn.  If they are saying “eh” they may still need to be burped and may wake up because they are uncomfortable due to gas.
• Even though I did not enjoy tight spaces as a child, the tight swaddle seems to help the baby calm down and relax.  This may be in part due to the consistent procedure before going to bed but the results have been positive.
• Feed more often during the day and “cluster” feed before bed.  The baby normally goes in about a 2-3 hour cycle of feeding at this time along with the mother.  This seems to be right amount of feeding during the day after 6 weeks.  I would normally see newborns to 6 weeks feed about 1.5 – 2.5 hours.  Cluster feed by increasing the amount of feedings later in the day to help provide the baby with nutrition.
• Consider a 4 oz. bottle of fresh breast-milk before bed.  Since the mother’s milk productions tends to decrease later in the day, try using a 4+ ounce colic reduction bottle with pumped breast milk.  This may help provide the baby with more nutrition that could help it sleep though the night.  Remember to burp often when feeding with the bottle.
• After the baby is fed, changed, swaddled, and tired you are ready to “soothe” the baby.  I have seen this done in many ways including a rocking chair, bouncing, swaying, walking, driving, or any ongoing light movement.  Include a soft lullaby during this time and keep playing them until the baby is completely sleeping.
• Once the baby is sleeping put the baby down in the crib or bassinet gently.  The room should be completely dark with a quiet fan to help circulate air and remove toxins.
• If the baby does wake up, feed, then “soothe” the baby again until sleep is ongoing.  Feed early in the morning when the baby wakes.

Swaddling To Help Baby Sleep Though The Night

Don’t forget to put the baby on the back to sleep through the night and if they tend to look to one side or the other try to help the baby look the other way frequently to help with normal development.

Fans and air quality from the CDC:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts111.html

“Formaldehyde is usually found in the air, and levels are usually higher indoors than outdoors. Opening windows and using fans to bring fresh air indoors are the easiest ways to lower levels in the house. Not smoking and not using unvented heaters indoors can lower the formaldehyde levels.”

If you have any questions or need more information please leave a comment on this page.

Try a lullaby before bed:

I am not a medical professional and I can not offer medical advise but these are some things that I believe have helped me remove wax after over 20 years of visiting the doctor a few times a year for wax removal.  I now have relieved of problems with earwax and do not need a medical professional’s help for most of my ear concerns.

Caution When Using H2O2

An audiologist friend of mine warns anyone of using H2O2 in your ear because it can eat away at healthy tissue.  She suggests garlic and olive oil during the night and a flush of bulb water in the morning.  This technique has never worked for me to date but it may work for you.  I believe H2O2 should be a last resort after using filtered water in a bulb first and other methods of earwax removal.  I also believe H2O2 will hurt human tissues.

Caution When Using Ear Picks

I do not suggest using ear picks because it is too easy to scrape skin or hurt your ear drum.  Japanese bamboo ear picks, down tipped ear picks, and even the softest brush has irritated my ears in the past.

Symptoms Of Earwax Buildup

The first signs of earwax buildup are normally that you have slight hearing loss in your ear, that you notice pressure, or a “slushy” feeling when your ear moves.  Do not mistake earwax buildup for water in your ear.  I have written more about getting water out of your ear on this site here:

http://www.gregoryhillman.org/2009/08/13/how-to-get-water-out-of-your-ear/

Just because you have some earwax buildup does not mean that you need to treat your buildup.  Earwax will normally dry up and fall out with out any additional help.  One thing I have found that will hurt the process of natural removal is pushing the wax further in your ear with a q-tip or your finger.  This just moves the wax in your ear further but it can still normally be removed with this treatment.

Treatments of Earwax Buildup

If your wax is causing a problem and does not fall out normally, you could have buildup in just one ear or in both ears.  I have found that only treating the ear that has the earwax buildup is necessary.

First, use water with your syringe or bulb.  Water may be all that is needed with some light pressure to remove the wax.  I use water with a very low TDS that has been put through a Reverse Osmosis membrane so it contains less extra materials.

Earwax Removal Syringe Bulb

If the purified water with some pressure from the bulb does not work, I normally use about 1/2 a cap full of H2O2.

Lay down on your side with a white towel under your head so the light bleaching agent does not bleach any materials under your head.  H2O2 (Hydrogen peroxide) will make spots in dark clothing, towels, and rugs.

Pour about 1/2 to 1 cap full in the effected ear while laying on your side.  You should be able to hear the bubbles easily with wax in your ear and fresh H2O2.  You may also see bubbled up wax coming out of your ear during this process.  After about 3-10 minutes the bubbles will stop and you can pour the wax and excess H2O2 in your sink or shower.

Then take your earwax removal bulb and spray warm (98.4±0.7 °F or slightly warmer) water in your ear with some light pressure.  This should help remove any extra wax.

Be sure to put the cap back on your H2O2 right away otherwise it will loose the ability to work correctly.  Also, be sure to replace your H2O2 if it is old or does not work any longer.  I do not use H2O2 unless it is completely necessary because there may be other side effects from this weak base.  I use about 3% H2O2 and additional purified water to make it more diluted.

If you have a more significant buildup you may need to repeat the H2O2 process with the bulb a few times or once a day for a few days.

H2O2 For Earwax Buildup

If the wax is not gone and your hearing is back to normal with no evidence of wax you may need to visit a medical professional for a much stronger syringe.  Some professionals have much larger devices that will spray at a higher level but not so height it will rupture your ear drum.  Be careful though because a doctor or nurse could rupture the drum with this high pressure device.

Normally I have seen tap water have slightly lower TDS and EC readings such as around 240 ppm for TDS near UCLA or 400 ppm or less TDS near the harbor area.  These readings do meet the EPA secondary maximum standards.

Is water important?

Many of the food providers including pizza places and fast food locations are using this tap water for drinking, beverages, and other food related purposes as well so it is good to know where the water comes from that you are taking into your system.  I suggest at least finding out what type of filtration they use before consuming the water.

Water Testing Cost

I own the meter so this test only costs a few minutes of the battery life and the time it takes to read it.  Testing can be done to any water with this meter from Hanna including lake water, sea water, tap water, brackish water, and filtered water.  It includes EC, TDS, and pH with Temp.

405 Los Angeles Water Testing

I am not a professional water tester and I can not say if water is safe or not to drink.  Also, I was only able to do three tests and there are many other tests that can be done to determine water quality.  These are the Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels from the EPA:

You can also read more about EC and water quality on this site.

This first test shows a 8.41 pH of the tap water:

405 Los Angeles pH 8.41 Water Quality

This second test shows a TDS of 472 ppm in the tap Water

405 Los Angeles TDS 472 ppm Tap Water

The third EC test shows 946:

405 Los Angeles Water EC of 946!

Would I drink this water?

I hope not.  The EC shows much more salts than normal in the water.  The TDS show much harder water than I would suggest drinking since we do not know what materials are in the water.  The pH is much to high as well and the test is just a little under the EPA secondary maximum contaminant levels.

I would try to filter this water and only drink it if I was suffering from dehydration.  I would want to at least put it through an RO filter but a carbon block or even a fine screen or paper filtration would improve the quality.

Yes, I worked for a short period of time at businesses that in the end I did not believe “helped people” which is what I will base this post on.  I will also assume that people can work for any business they choose and people are not trapped in working at jobs that offer little or no purpose.

Here is a short list of easy ways to spot a Hokey Business:

• Forces you to sign up and pay for membership/service well before the service should start.  A company may require payment in advance if they do not have an accounting or billing department but the service should have an exact time line and start right after payment.
• Asks for investment money or interest with out a complete written contract and full disclosure about exactly what will happen with your money with how & when you will be paid.  Real investors know each other well over many years and have a strong relationship.  If you don’t have this, it’s time for a formal contract that a professional should look over.
• Has anything to do with a pyramid structure or marketing schemes including friends buying from friends.  Oil, home products, magazines, and other types of industries are well known to try this so be warned.  It does not work.  The pay outs are always a fraction of your investment and time in the end and I suggest investing in yourself instead.
• Asks you to do business out-of-state but does not have a current, exposed, and resourceful website.  If you have a business, you have a informative helpful website.  Only poor fly-by-night companies or hokey businesses are missing web exposure now.
• Any public representative of a business that will not send you their information (even over the phone) including first and last name with title at the business is a “hokey business.”  Collection companies that work under false names and some low quality banks have done this.
• Any business that does not offer easy to access contact information like a phone number or email that someone will answer with in 24 hours is hokey.  Every business should have basic customer service.
• Can not tell you how much a service or product will cost until it is complete or shipped makes a business hokey.  Businesses should know how much their services or products cost before they sell them.
• If any business changes the name or has different names for the same business it is hokey.  Many business try to hide behind new names or just push marketing materials by changing the name.

There are many other ways to spot a hokey business and I will be sure to post more at this site.  Also, please leave your comments if you have seen any common characteristics of “hokey business.”  Try a *review search* for a hokey business, phone number, and contact information on Google and other search engines.  See what other people have to say.  Any business that has clients will have at least some reviews that are posted online.

The TDS of this water is considerably lower than many other parts of Los Angeles that have been tested.  Some of highest TDS areas that have been tested are near the 405 freeway and very close (with in a block) of the ocean including Long Beach, Santa Monica, Venice, and Marina del Rey (400+ TDS).

This test was taken before March in 2010.

I am not a professional water quality tester and I can not say weather or not water is safe to drink.  I do hope this information helps.

Westwood Village Medical Center Water TDS in PPM

The pH of water is 7. The EPA suggests secondary maximum contaminant levels of pH be at least between 6.5 – 8.5

The test done at a similar time shows a pH of 7.55 which again is better than many other areas of Los Angeles that have recently been tested.  West Los Angeles can be as high as 8.65 or greater from tap water.

EPA physical test:

low pH: bitter metallic taste; corrosion

high pH: slippery feel; soda taste; deposits

Westwood Village UCLA Water pH

Electrical conductivity (EC) estimates the amount of total dissolved salts. Most information that I have seen shows that high quality water is under 500 σ. I have personally seen better ECs in water from mountain rain puddles in Topanga with ECs below 200 but most of the water tested in LA has been over 400 σ.  The EC at this UCLA medical center shows 398 σ.  This test was also conducted at the same time from the same tap water at a UCLA medical center.

Westwood Village water EC Temp UCLA medical

Would I drink this water?

Yes, but only if I needed to to stay hydrated and there was no filtration available because of the higher EC and TDS. I would much rather drink water that has been treated with distillation, RO, or another method that will lower the salt / nitrates / viruses / metals, and other hard unknown materials.

The EPA suggests these 2nd maximum levels here:

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/consumer/2ndstandards.html

Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html

Iron Health Concerns

It has also been mentioned that people with heterozygous for a hemochromatosis mutation (body not able to absorb Iron like others) may need to stay away from water containing Iron. For most people it may just have an unpleasant metallic taste, rusty color, and may be an indication that your pipes are deteriorating. You also may have high iron from a private well.

I have consistently read that everyone including pregnant women and children need iron in reasonable levels but this is normally found in breast milk, prenatal vitamins, and other typical foods.

Removing Iron

If you have too much iron and want it removed from your drinking water reverse osmosis may be one of the most cost effective ways.  Water softeners have also been mentioned as a way of removing iron but I have not been able to test this to date.

Iron Water Test

I have completed an Iron water test in Los Angeles California that shows very low levels of Iron in the tap water.  The test only takes a few minutes and then will show a reading.  As seen in this photo below the Iron level is well below 0.3 ppm.

Iron Water Test Los Angeles

Would I Drink This Water?

Yes, I would drink this water because I have also done many other tests on it and the iron level is well below the EPA secondary standard.  I also believe that my body can process Iron and it appears that low levels of Iron in drinking water should not cause a health concern.  I am not a water professional and I can not say if it is safe or unsafe for sure but I would suggest putting this water through a reverse osmosis machine so that it smells, tastes, and looks better!

Iron

Symbol: Fe
Latin: ferrum
Atomic Number: 26

Silver Lake Research mentions that high levels of copper may cause gastrointestinal distress so today I tested the tap water in Marina del Rey Los Angeles California.

The test took a few minutes to administer and was completed with a strip in some tap water.  After two minutes you can see the results.  The EPA states copper levels should be below 1.3 ppm.

Would I drink this water?

Yes, the copper level does show less than 1.3 ppm as seen in this photo and I have tested the water for a variety of other concerns.  The test may show about 0.7 ppm or less.  The water tastes good!

*Please note I am not an expert or professional water tester and I can not say if water is safe or unsafe to drink.  No test can.

The CDC has some information on Copper that is easy to understand such as:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/healthywater/factsheets/copper.htm

“All living organisms including humans need copper to survive; therefore a trace of copper in our diet is necessary for good health.  However, some forms of copper can also harm you.”

“Corrosion of pipes is by far the greatest cause for concern.”

“Drinking water with high levels of copper for many years could cause liver or kidney damage.”

This test supplies were from Silver Lake Research:

Copper Water Test in Los Angeles

Copper.org offers some current information:

http://www.copper.org/consumers/copperhome/Env_Health/environmentandhealth_drinkingwater.html

“How much is too much copper in water and food?

The NASFNB recommends that you not consume more than 10 mg/day to be safe. The NASFNB has determined that most men, women and children consume less than 1.6 mg/day.”

http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/fact_sheets/copper_in_drinking_water.htm

“In Washington, most copper in drinking water comes from corrosion of household plumbing.   Public water supplies are required to conduct treatment to reduce corrosion when more than 10 percent of the tap water samples exceed 1.3 parts per million (ppm) of copper.

Copper from plumbing corrosion can accumulate overnight.  Flushing the water from the tap for 30 to 45 seconds can reduce the copper that can accumulate when the household plumbing is not in use.”

The DOH also mentions this about the amount of copper that is safe.

http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/dw/fact_sheets/copper_in_drinking_water.htm

“Copper is an essential mineral in the diet.  Too much copper, however, can cause health problems.  Major food sources of copper are shellfish, nuts, grains, leafy vegetables, and stone fruits. Typical sources of copper from food range from less than 2 milligrams (mg.) to 5 mg. per day.

Health studies have found that copper in drinking water can add 4 to 45 percent more copper to a person’s diet than what is in food sources.”