HINTS FROM HELOISE

PRACTICAL, DEPENDABLE TIPS FOR TODAY’S BUSY CONSUMERS

Dear Readers: Today’s Sound Off is on the very serious topic of vaping:

Dear Heloise: According to research from Johns Hopkins Hospital, e-cigarette (or vape pen) usage among teens has increased nearly 900 percent in the past few years. It’s called vaping, and it’s far more dangerous than you might have expected. Nearly 40 percent of teens who try vaping never smoked before!

Smoking these electronic cigarettes affects the heart and lungs, as dangerous chemicals are inhaled. It can, and often does, cause serious permanent physical damage or, in some cases, death. It raises blood pressure and causes scarring of delicate airways. Nicotine is still present in high concentrations in an e-cigarette, which means they can be as addictive as smoking regular cigarettes.

If you haven’t had a serious talk with your children about vaping, now is a good time to start. Not only is it foolish and dangerous to smoke e-cigarettes, it’s also unhealthy to inhale secondhand smoke from one of these devices. Remind them that it’s not cool and it could be deadly. No matter what their friends say, vaping is dangerous.

— Lynda W., Milwaukee

Dear Readers: Here are new uses for old winter sweaters:

■ Use the sleeves to make “sweater socks” for around the house.

■ Slip a small pillow into the body of a sweater, fold or glue the arms underneath, and you’ll have a cozy pet bed.

■ Make small animal toys for tots.

— Heloise

Dear Heloise: I make use of those brightly decorated popcorn tins by setting house plants in them when they’re empty and using one in the bathroom as a waste basket.

After the holidays I use them to store figurines and odd shaped ornaments.

— L.D.W., Waco, Texas

LDW, that’s a wonderful use of popcorn tins! Here are a few other suggestions from some of my other readers: use as a storage tin for large bags of dry dog or cat food.

Paint the outside and use as a colorful planter for the patio. Store Christmas dinnerware in a couple of them.

Store baby blankets or christening gowns that can be handed down one day to your grandchildren.

One woman said she used one as a time capsule, which will be opened 25 years after her daughter’s birth. They are also great for storing small toys or game pieces.

— Heloise