Many building materials are porous and will absorb water if they are left sitting on the ground. Store bricks or cement on pallets and cover them with a waterproof tarp at the end of each night. Including these into the structure you're building will help prevent water from entering the material when it rains. Overhangs extend over a wall so rainwater does not come into contact with the wall. Copings are slanted caps on top of walls so water does not rest on the flat surface. Flashings are like gutters and divert the water in a different direction than the masonry. Form a capillary break between the soil and your building material, either as a sheet of polyethylene or as liquid-applied waterproofing. Capillary breaks are usually installed during the initial building process and may be difficult to add afterward. Keep water away from an area that may be susceptible to efflorescence. If you have plants next to a porous wall, use a hose and water them directly rather than setting up a sprinkler.

Summary: Store your masonry materials off the ground. Implement overhangs, copings, and flashings to minimize water absorption. Install a plastic sheet in-ground to prevent moisture. Point sprinklers away from walls.

No matter what, children, infants, the elderly, and people with a damaged heart or lung should always seek medical attention for a scorpion sting. Still, most scorpion stings can be treated at home, although the most dangerous venom requires professional medical attention. Seek medical attention immediately if you see any of the following symptoms. Vomiting, sweating, drooling, or foaming at the mouth Involuntary urination or excretion (peeing or pooing) Thrashing or twitching muscles, including involuntary head, neck, or eye movements, or difficulty walking Accelerated or irregular heart rate Difficulty breathing, swallowing, speaking, or seeing Severe swelling from an allergic reaction A scorpion sting may or may not swell noticeably. Any scorpion sting, however, will cause a sharp pain or burning sensation at the time of injury, followed by tingling or numbness. Sting areas generally are near lower portions of the body but may include the rest of the body. Gently remove any clothing from around the area and wash gently. This helps remove any residual venom around the area and keeps the wound clear to reduce risk of infection. Unlike some injuries, scorpion sting wounds should never be raised above the heart, as this can cause the venom to spread more quickly through your system. Keep the affected area at heart level or lower, and minimize the victim's movement to prevent a faster heart rate that will spread the venom more quickly Anxiety or excitement can cause a faster heart rate, which will increase the rate that venom is absorbed. Reassure the victim if possible, and prevent him from moving. Remind them that the majority of scorpion stings result in no permanent damage. The cold helps slow the spread of venom, reduce swelling, and numb the pain. Apply the cold pack or bag of ice for ten to fifteen minutes at a time, waiting an equal amount of time between applications. This treatment is most effective within two hours of the time of injury. If the victim has circulatory problems, apply ice for five minutes at a time instead to prevent damage. Use ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen to relieve discomfort and pain. Always follow the directions on the label. Do not use opiate painkillers (narcotics), as these can suppress breathing. Ibuprofen and aspirin are best as they are both NSAIDs, or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs that will help to reduce swelling. If pain is intense, seek medical attention. . Unconsciousness or severe spasms are rare, but if they occur, call an ambulance immediately. Learn the basic steps of CPR and use them on the patient immediately if you have any suspicion her heart has stopped. Even if you feel that you've recovered through self-treatment, it is highly advisable to see a doctor or medical professional. In order to reduce the risk of infection and other complications, you may be advised to get a tetanus shot, take muscle relaxants, or use antibiotics. Do not give yourself these medicines without a doctor's advice.

Summary: Seek medical attention for serious symptoms. Find the sting location. Wash the sting area with soap and water. Keep the injury area still and below heart level. Calm the victim. Apply a cold pack or ice to the sting area. Take nonprescription painkillers to reduce pain. Provide first aid if necessary Check in with a doctor.

Keep important dates in a calendar or planner that you can access at any time. Make sure you keep your planner organized, and check ahead during the week to see upcoming dates and activities. You can also use a plain notebook as a planner by converting it into a bullet journal. Use the calendar function on your phone to remind you about an event or appointment. Set the reminder for a few hours or days before the date so you don't forget. Then, all you have to do is remember to carry your phone with you! Sometimes things like email programs will have a calendar that you can mark important dates in, like birthdays. Some will send you an email notice within 10 days of the birthday so you can remember to get a present or make reservations. You can even make a little "notice board" for sticky notes to hang in your kitchen, office, or bedroom, and you can make a habit of looking at it every day. If you know you're likely to forget something important, like watering your plants or grabbing your keys before you leave the house, ask whoever is with you to remind you. Saying the task out loud will help you remember, and they might be more likely to remember. For example, if you have a friend's birthday coming up, you might ask a different friend to text you a reminder when they buy their gift so you can remember to buy yours. When you get a reminder or remember to do something, try to accomplish the task immediately when you think about it. If you can't do it right away, set another reminder for a time when you know you'll be free to do it. For instance, if you set a reminder to tell you to put a book in your backpack, move the book to your backpack as soon as you see the reminder. After you complete a task, you might have trouble remembering if you did it or not. Use your phone to snap a quick picture, and when you start to question yourself later, check your photos to see if you did it already. If it isn't in your photos, you'll know that you didn't do it. This is especially helpful for daily tasks, like closing the garage door or locking the front door. You can make a habit to delete these photos at the end of the day so your photo roll isn't cluttered. When the task or information is so vital that something bad could happen if you forget, organize a back-up plan in case you do. Plan for the worst-case scenario, and use the buddy system to hold you accountable. For extremely vital tasks, set many reminders and use the buddy system to remind you to do it. For example, if you're in charge of buying concert tickets for a group of 4 people, but you forget to wake up early enough and they sell out, you should have a back-up plan in place. In this case, your back-up plan could be buying the tickets secondhand on a re-selling website.
Summary: Write down information in a notebook or planner that you carry with you. Set a reminder on your phone for an important date. Ask your friends or family to remind you of the matter. Address the matter or set another reminder as soon as you remember it. Take a picture so you remember what you did. Make a back-up plan in case you do forget.