How To Avoid Lightning Strikes

How To Avoid Lightning Strikes

By Rod Brouhard, About.com Guide

Updated April 06, 2010

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), from 1977 to 2006 lightning killed an average of 61 people per year, more than either tornadoes or hurricanes for the same time period. Only floods were responsible for more deaths in that time.

Lightning facts from the NWS:

• 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occur in the United States each year
• Lightning can heat its path five times hotter than the surface of the sunOne ground lightning stroke can generate between 100 million and 1 billion volts of electricity
• Knowing where to go when thunderstorms approach is the best defense against lightning.
  Difficulty: Easy
  Time Required: As soon as possible until 30 minutes after last lightning

  Here's How:

Use Better Tools to Be a Better Student in 2010

Despite the proliferation of laptops and netbooks, the vast majority of students still use their computers like $500 typewriters. Stop working so hard and be a better student by leveraging some clever computer tools to your advantage.

Photo by Brad K..

Every semester I get a new wave of college freshman into my classroom, most of them armed with laptops. For the last several semesters, I have been informally tracking how they use their computers. I always assumed that my students were using their computers to their full potential to help them with school, research, and such, but almost all of them were simply using their laptops as extremely expensive typewriters and instant-messaging terminals.

What good is all the computing power of the pre-1960s world sitting on your lap if you're not using it to make college life easier? The following is a guide for students everywhere that want to spend less time on the tedious stuff, and more time on the things like study and research that actually produce results.

Never Do Anything Yourself That Your Computer Can Do For You

Never, ever, do something the hard way without checking to see if any easy way exists. Applications come in every shape and form to automate tasks on the computer. Never undertake a tedious task on your computer without first visiting a search engine and searching for a method of automating it. Whether you're resizing photos for a class project, renaming files, or crunching numbers in a spreadsheet, check for the simple—and automatic!—way first. Photo bystriatic.

Biomedical Engineer: Career Information

By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com Guide

Job Description:

Give a biomedical engineer a problem having to do with biology or medicine and he or she will analyze and then figure out how to solve it. They design prosthetic limbs and artificial organs, as well as the material that is used to manufacture them. They develop software that is used to run medical equipment. Like those working in other engineering disciplines, biomedical engineers use their knowledge of science and math, but they combine this with their background in medicine. Some of the areas they may specialize in include bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, biomechanics, genetic engineering and medical imaging.

Employment Facts:

There were 16,000 biomedical engineers employed in 2010.

Educational Requirements:

To work as a biomedical engineer one needs, at the minimum, a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from a program that is accredited byABET. Coursework combines engineering and biological sciences.

^{Why Do You Need to Know About Educational Requirements?}

Other Requirements:

Will you make a good biomedical engineer? This occupation calls for good problem solving, listening, analytical, math and communication skills. If you have these skills, this might be the right career for you.

Advancement Opportunities:

Biomedical engineers who want to move up the ladder to become the leaders of research teams must earn a master's or doctoral degree.

^{Why Do You Need to Know About Advancement?}

Job Outlook:

The job outlook for biomedical engineers is excellent. This occupation is projected to experience growth, through 2020, that is much faster that the average for other occupations. Biomedical engineering is among the fastest growing occupations among those that require abachelor's degree (The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

^{Why Do You Need to Know About Job Outlook?}

Earnings:

Biomedical engineers earned a median annual salary of $84,670 in 2011 (U.S.).

Use the Salary Wizard at Salary.com to find out how much a biomedical engineer currently earns in your city.

A Day in a Biomedical Engineer's Life:

On a typical day a biomedical engineer's tasks might include:

• designing artificial organs and other devices that will be used to replace body parts
• testing biomedical equipment to determine whether it is safe, efficient and effective
• installing biomedical equipment and then adjusting, maintaining or repairing it
• collaborating with others in the medical field including medical scientists, life scientists andchemists

Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Engineers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/biomedical-engineers.htm (visited June 28, 2012).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Biomedical Engineer, on the Internet at http://www.onetonline.org/link/details/17-2031.00 (visited June 28, 2012).

How To Remove a Ring Stuck on a Finger

How To Remove a Ring Stuck on a Finger 

By Rod Brouhard, About.com Guide Updated April 06, 2010

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

There are no sure-fire ways to remove rings stuck on fingers. This method is easy and does not require medical training or special equipment. Methods involving wrapping the finger or using specialized equipment should be attempted only by trained medical personnel.

In cases of injured fingers, seek medical help immediately. The binding of a ring around the finger may act as a tourniquet and cause permanent damage to the finger if not removed promptly.

If there is no injury, a ring may be removed at home. Do not attempt removal if the finger is blue or purple, or if there is no feeling in the finger.

Difficulty: Hard

Time Required: Up to an hour

Here's How: