Article: If you find yourself in a place that has a lot of smokers, try to find areas where there is less smoke. Many public places have designated smoke-free areas, so you should seek these out. Sometimes people smoke in places they shouldn't, like restaurants or bars where smoking has been banned. In these cases, it's appropriate to ask an authority figure -- a restaurant manager or police officer, for instance -- to tell the smoker to stop. If you cannot get away from smokers, try to place yourself upwind of them. This will not completely protect you from secondhand smoke, but it can help you to breathe in less than you would if the wind were blowing the smoke towards you. When walking past smokers in public spaces, try to move past them as quickly as you can. This will help limit your exposure to secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke is harmful to people's immune systems. If you're around smokers and cannot get away, do your best to stay hydrated. Keeping hydrated will help your immune system to stay active in spite of the smoke. If you know you're going to be in a smoky environment for a while, bring a water bottle with you. You should do your best to get plenty of vitamin C if you're around smokers. Like staying hydrated, vitamin C helps promote a healthy immune system. You can get vitamin C from foods like oranges and strawberries or from vitamin supplement pills, which you can usually find in any drug or grocery store.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Find smoke-free areas. Report smokers in appropriate situations. Stand upwind of smokers. Walk past smokers quickly. Stay hydrated. Get plenty of vitamin C.
Article: Hiking guidebooks are essential when it comes to finding the right hike for you. Local guidebooks will also tell you all about the natural landscape around you--from wildflowers you will see while hiking during different seasons, to the types of birds you will see flying overhead. You should be able to purchase a local hiking guide at your local bookstore, outdoor adventure store, or at your regional park's visitors center. You can also purchase them online. You can also search online for hikes in your area. Chances are, you will find a bunch of websites detailing some great hikes right near your house--even if you live in the heart of a city like San Francisco. (If you actually do live in SF, go check out the Marin Headlands!) One of the most important things to know when learning how to hike safely is that you need to bring the right amount of water. Staying hydrated is really important, so drink a good amount of water before you head out on your hike. Bring more water than you think you will need--it's better to carry extra water than not bring enough and become dehydrated. A good rule of thumb is to bring at least one liter of water per person for every two hours of hiking. Bring even more if the hike is particularly hot or strenuous. Depending on the length of your hike, you may consider bringing different things. In general, however, you should always bring some sort of energy-boosting snack (you can never go wrong with trail mix), a knife of some kind (Swiss Army knives are great), a compass and map, a flashlight, matches or a lighter, and an extra layer of clothing (in case the weather changes suddenly) and snacks You could also consider bringing a first aid kit, binoculars, etc. Just remember that you don't want to weigh yourself down with unnecessary items. Always bring plenty of water, though. Along with the other items you have packed in your backpack, you will also need to bring supplies to protect you from the sun. This includes sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Getting sun poisoning or skin cancer is no laughing matter, so do anything you can to protect yourself from the sun's harsh rays. It's important to wear shoes that will make your trailblazing easier. Skip the flip-flops and go for lace-up shoes that give you good arch support. If you can, wear hiking boots or trail shoes--these will be the best for maneuvering in rough terrain. Combat boots are also great--these can be worn for a long time on rough terrain and still be comfortable. If it's tick season, tuck your pant legs into your socks--you don't want to get bitten and infection from ticks spread to you. If you have new shoes that you've never worn before, break them in before you set out on your hike. If you don't, you could end up with some nasty blisters on your feet. Beginning hikers should stick together or go with more experienced hikers before they head out on the trail by themselves. This is because it is much more difficult to get help if you are hiking solo and something happens to you. Plan a hike and ask your friends to come along for the fun of it, but also as a safety precaution. If you do decide to hike solo, let someone else know where you are going and when you plan to be back. Tell them you will contact them after you are done with your hike. Do not forget to actually contact them or they may call emergency services. While it is more than likely that your hike will go perfectly smoothly, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. Carry a first aid kit with you, and bring your cellphone. Be prepared, however, that you may not have reception out in the woods. For an extensive guide on how to survive in the wild, click here.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Buy a local guidebook. Bring lots of water. Pack your backpack. Protect yourself from the sun. Wear the right shoes. Ask some friends or family to go with you. Know what to do in case of an emergency.
Article: If you work with a group, you can brainstorm together to come up with energy-saving ideas. Plus, the more voices you have supporting you, the more likely you are to be heard by the people in charge of making energy-saving decisions at your school. Try organizing a group that is open to all students who want to work together to help the school save energy. If you are a student, walk or ride your bicycle to school whenever possible. You could then go a step further by inviting other students to join a group in school. You could also ask your teacher if they would spread the word and maybe even let you use the classroom for meetings. If you are a teacher, you could recruit students and help them by giving them ideas for how to save energy at school. One other great way to get students organized is to start an official school club. Check the student handbook or talk to an administrator at the school about how to get started. Either as an individual or as a team, create and post signs around your school. Try posting signs that remind people of specific things they can do to save energy and also some signs that raise awareness about saving energy in a more general way. If you are a student, you could create some signs on your own or with a few friends who are also interested in helping your school save energy. Make sure to get permission to hang the signs first. If you are a teacher, you could have your students create signs for a class project or homework assignment, and then go around posting the signs together. For example, you might hang up signs next to light switches around the school with reminders, like "Remember to turn off the lights when you leave!" Recycling is a great way to save energy because it reduces the need to produce new materials. If your school does not already have a recycling station, then ask your school principal if you can set one up. Your school's garbage company may offer recycling services. Check with them first to see if they can provide receptacles, and then ask them to place these in designated areas throughout the school. There's only so much you can do as an individual student or teacher, or even as an organized group. If you want your school to make major changes, such as purchasing energy-saving appliances for the classrooms, waterless urinals for the boys' bathrooms, and dual-flush toilets inside all student bathroom stalls; you'll need to get the administration involved. If you're a student, circulate a petition among your fellow students or organize a meeting between the administrators and your student energy-saving club. It can also help to get teachers involved. Support your case by doing some research and writing up a formal report. Include statistics to demonstrate how much money and energy the school would save by making the changes you're suggesting.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Organize a student energy patrol. Post signs about conserving energy. Set up a recycling station at your school. Approach your school's administration about making big changes.