Time for New Scooter Batteries?

Most manufacturers give scooter batteries a 2 year life, but some go at 18 months, and others last up to 4 years. 
When you receive your new batteries, they will have some residual charge.  Install them in your scooter and fully charge the batteries. 
After a first charge, the batteries will be at about 90 per cent charged.  Use your scooter for a bit, then charge it again for eight to ten hours.  The batteries will now hold between 90 to 99 per cent of their potential.
After charging your batteries four or five more times, the batteries will be able to power your scooter to it's maximum capability. 

Tips to extend the life of your scooter batteries:
 - Temperature will effect the life of a battery, so if you store your scooter for the winter, remove the batteries and store them where the temperature is stable and warm.
-  Charge your batteries after each use, even if you have not been very far. 
-  Don’t leave your batteries for long periods without being charged, even if you have not used your scooter.
-  Always give your batteries at least 12 hours each time you charge them.

Remember:  Batteries that are drained to almost zero power and charged infrequently will have to be replaced more often. 

Better Living Corner: "I struggle to get in and out of the car, but I don't want anyone's help!"

Gloria recently visited our showroom at Mountain View Medical Supply and told us "I struggle to get in and out of the car, but I don't want anyone's help!"

We know independence is important, which is why we carry products like the Metro Car Handle Plus!

Metro Car Handle Plus

The Metro Car Handle Plus makes it easy to get in-and-out of the car. Simply slide the handle into the striker/door-latch for extra support while sitting or standing. It fits any door striker – so you can have support anywhere in the car for stress-free traveling. When you’re done, simply place the handle in your car and you’re ready to go.
Features:
Non-Slip Grip - Easily stand from your car without falling.
Easy-Leverage - Handle is placed in optimal position for maximum leverage.
Durable - Supports up to 500 lbs.
Universal - Fits most strikers – no vehicle modification required.

ST2082 - $38.18

Includes a flashlight for greater visibility at night.

March is Time For...

MARDI GRAS March 4

*  Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, a day of feasting before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. The first known Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans took place in 1837, though prior to that it was celebrated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703.  

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*  Floats became part of the New Orleans celebration in 1837 and are now an integral aspect of activities.

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*  The official colors of Mardi Gras have meanings.  Purple is for justice, gold is for power and green is for faith. 

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*  Krewes, which are parade groups, started as private social clubs. The oldest of these is Comus which was founded in 1857. 

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*  Mardi Gras became a legal holiday in Louisiana in 1875.

ST. PATRICKS DAY March 17

*  St. Patrick was a Christian missionary, bishop andpatron saint of Ireland, born in Roman Britain. At 16 he was captured, brought to Ireland and became adevout Christian. He escaped Ireland only later to besent on a mission back to Ireland to convert the Irishto Christianity.  He died March 17, 461 AD.

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   *  Wearing green has become a staple of St. Patrick’s Day, but the holiday was originally associated with blue. Because Ireland is the “Emerald Isle”, it is thought the transition was made to green.  In Ireland, some people still adhere to the tradition of Catholics wearing green and Protestants wearing orange, the colors that represent their respective religious sects of the Irish flag.

               SPRING BEGINS March 20

*  The first day of Spring is also known as the VernalEquinox, where the suns path is directly over the equator and there are exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of dark in the Northern Hemisphere. 

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*  The Egyptian Great Sphinx points directly at thesun on this day. 

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*  Vernal means spring and Equinox means equal night. 

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*  About 1800 bird species migrate in Spring. 

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*  Spring Fever may not just be a myth.  Some suggest the body’s reserves of serotonin (happy hormone) become exhausted over winter and when the days become longer the body readjusts its levels of endorphin, testosterone 

and estrogen causing a strain on the body.

SmartPhones: Blue Light Special?

Here comes one more reason to keep your smartphone out of the bedroom - or at least keep it turned off until you're ready to start your day.  It also turns out that those guys at the gym with their faces buried in their phones might actually be onto something. 

A recent study out of Sweden suggests that blue light - the same kind emitted from smartphones and tablets - can give you as good a boost as a couple cups of coffee, or even better.  On the fitness front, this new research suggests blue light might actually help boost sports performance.

All of this is on top of previous research that says the light from smartphones suppresses melatonin production, making it harder for you to fall asleep. 

Scientists from Mid Sweden University tested 21 healthy adults, comparing their reactions to short-wavelength blue light, regular white light, and 240 mg of caffeine, the equivalent of about two and half cups of coffee.

Those exposed to blue light for an hour performed as well as those taking caffeine in tests requiring quick-thinking decision-making skills.  The blue light group did even better in tests when a variety of distractions were introduced, suggesting that blue light provides a significant boost in mental focus as well. 

"The potential for light therapy to impact athletic performance has been overlooked," concludes lead researcher C. Martyn Beaven, in his write-up in the open-source journal PLOS ONE.  "We show improvements in reaction time as a result of blue light exposure and such improvements may have athletic implications, especially given recent research demonstrating a link between reaction time and sprint performance. 

"Further, since reaction time is an important component of agility, blue light has the potential to enhance athletic performance as numerous sports are performed indoors with artificial lighting conditions and/or at night time."

Special bonus for those with blue eyes:  They saw even better results in the testing.

Light exposure was pegged to an hour because that's about the same time it takes caffeine to fully kick in. 

"It is known however, that just 50 seconds of short-wave light exposure can cause detectable effects in the hypocampus and amygdala, brain areas associated with arousal," Beaven writes.

Source:  http://blogs.militarytimes.com/pt365/2014/03/07/study-blue-light-boosts-performance-better-than-coffee/

These Aren't Your Grandma's Compression Garments!

Compression revisited.  Let's take a moment to refresh or reset our thinking about compression garments, shall we?

What it is: 

Compression garments push dilated vein walls back into place, enabling veins to close properly and function more efficiently.  This results in increased blood flow, reducing leg swelling, pain, fatigue and risk of blood clot formation.

How and Why:

Exact fit is critical so that pressure is distributed in a graduated manner and blood flows from the leg veins back to the heart.  All retailers selling compression garments should have professional fitters, and the best time to measure is in the morning when swelling is at its lowest.  

What You Need:

Light compression garments (for travel or those on their feet all day) do not require a prescription from your doctor, but higher compression does (for venous disease or other conditions), so talk to your doctor. The good news is that today’s compression garments are sheer, lightweight and barely distinguishable from regular fashion stockings!