INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you start adding dry ingredients, you need to wet all the things that you'll mix in, carry the mortar in, and use the mortar with so the mortar will slide off easily and reduce waste. Slosh about half the water necessary for the batch you're making into the mixer or the tray, and pour some water into the wheelbarrows or buckets you'll be carrying it in. Depending on the size of your project, you be using a small mixing tray or you may want to use a gas-powered mortar mixer to mix large quantities of mortar. These feature several spinning blades that can hold up to three bags of 80 lb. mix, cutting down on the elbow-grease necessary to mix up a batch of mortar mud. Consider renting one for your job, especially if you'll be working over the period of several days. If you're using a power mixer, turn it on to get the blades churning and gently add your dry ingredients. Be careful to not dump them and splatter the water out, or to lose too much of the cement by clouding it. The order of ingredients isn't particularly important, but some mixers tend to add the cement first and the sand afterward if it isn't pre-mixed. It's generally just easier to break the bag on the mixer, dump it out, and shovel in the necessary amount of sand. As you mix, or as the mixer does its work, keep a close eye on the mortar. If it looks too dry, add small amounts of water as you go to keep it pliable and wet. Be careful about adding too much, and don't add too much right at the end, or you'll get a soupy, unintegrated, and useless mortar.

SUMMARY: Wet the mixer, wheelbarrow, and/or buckets. Add the dry ingredients and start mixing. Get your face out of the way, wear breathing protection, and don't breathe in any of the dust created, mortar mixes contain Silicates which can cause COPD, or other Cancers. Add extra water if necessary.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: When you notice the tank starts to look smeared or dirty, it's time to wipe it down. Just use a damp cloth to wipe down the sides and the lid. The substrate will get dirty over time as your snail uses it for a bathroom. That means it needs to be changed out frequently. Once a week, throw out the old substrate and provide the snail with a new, clean layer. Once in a while, you'll need to clean the tank fully. Clean it at least once a month, though some owners clean it weekly. Take everything out, and scrub the tank down thoroughly with hot water. You don't want to use cleaners or disinfectants, as the snails will absorb those through their skin. Snails also need regular baths, though only about once a month. Keep in mind that snails absorb through their skin, so you don't want to use soap. Just bathe them in lukewarm water, gently wiping them down with a soft cloth. After you do anything with your snail, from bathing it to cleaning the cage, you need to wash your hands well. Using warm water and soap, scrub them for at least 20 seconds before rinsing. Though the risk is low, snails can act as an intermediate host for certain parasites. Washing your hands well is important for protecting yourself from possible parasites.
Summary: Wipe down the tank when it looks dirty. Change the substrate weekly. Clean the tank fully once a month. Bathe the snails once a month. Wash your hands thoroughly.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Stitches have a multitude of uses. The most common reasons to get stitches are: To close a wound that is too big to be closed otherwise. Using stitches to bring the edges of the wound together can help to speed up healing. To prevent infection. If you have a large, gaping wound, closing it with stitches can help to minimize the risk of infection (as skin that is broken open, especially large, gaping wounds, are a prime target for an infection to enter the body). To prevent or reduce scarring after your wound heals. This is especially important when the cut is on areas of the body that are more cosmetically important, such as the face. If it is greater than 1/4 inch deep, the wound may be eligible for stitching. If it's deep enough that you can see yellow fatty tissue, or even bone, you should definitely see a doctor for treatment. Are the edges of the wound close together, or do they need to be pulled together to cover the exposed tissue? If the edges of the wound need to be pulled together to cover a gap of exposed tissue, this is an indication that stitches may be required. By pulling the edges of the wound close enough to where they can touch, stitches can help to speed healing. If the open wound is located on a specific area of the body where there is a lot of movement involved, it will most likely need stitching to prevent re-opening of the wound caused by movement and stretching of the skin. For example, an open wound on the knee joint or fingers (especially where joints connect) would be eligible for stitches whereas an open wound on the thigh would not really need stitching. Tetanus shots last no longer than 10 years and then you'll have to be re-vaccinated. If you have an open wound and it's been longer than 10 years since you've had a tetanus shot, go to the hospital. While you are at the hospital, you can have the doctor evaluate the cut also to see if it will need stitching.

SUMMARY:
Understand why stitches are used. Consider the depth of the wound. Evaluate the width of the wound. Look at the location of the wound. Ask your doctor about getting a tetanus shot.