Extreme Heat and the Dangers! Summer Safety Series

With the temperatures rising and summer now upon us we have got to be more cautious and think, I myself almost got overheated yesterday simply being outdoors to long and not drinking fluids like I should have. Felt tired, dizzy and my body was not producing sweat much anymore, my husband could look at me after we got home and said sit!! drink now! and I did. Even nurses are not so smart some days, busy and forget to pay attention to the temperature gauge in the car.
Credit to CDC website for some great information shared:

These are the main things affecting your body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather:

• High humidity. When the humidity is high, sweat won't evaporate as quickly, which keeps your body from releasing heat as fast as it may need to.
• Personal factors. Age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use can play a role in whether a person can cool off enough in very hot weather.

Here are some facts about which people are at greatest risk for heat-related illness and what protective actions to take to prevent illness or death:

• People who are at highest risk are the elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases
• But even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.
• Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned.

 
You can take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths during hot weather:
Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location if that is possible.

• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
• Pace yourself.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Do not leave children in cars.
• Check the local news for health and safety updates

What happens to the body as a result of exposure to extreme heat?

People suffer heat-related illness when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn’t enough. In such cases, a person’s body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs. Several factors affect the body’s ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions that can limit the ability to regulate temperature include old age, youth (age 0-4), obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug use and alcohol use.

Who is at greatest risk for heat-related illness?

Those at greatest risk for heat-related illness include infants and children up to four years of age, people 65 years of age and older, people who are overweight, and people who are ill or on certain medications.

What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

What are the warning signs of a heat stroke?

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following:

• An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
• Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

What should I do if I see someone with any of the warning signs of heat stroke?

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:

• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Cool the victim rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously. 
• Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

What is heat exhaustion?

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, those with high blood pressure, and those working or exercising in a hot environment.

What are the warning signs of heat exhaustion?

The warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Headache 
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting

The skin may be cool and moist. The pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. See medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.

What steps can be taken to cool the body during heat exhaustion? 

• Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
• Rest.
• Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
• Seek an air-conditioned environment.
• Wear lightweight clothing.

What are heat cramps and who is affected?

Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms – usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs – that may occur in association with strenuous activity. People who sweat a lot during strenuous activity are prone to heat cramps. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, seek medical attention for heat cramps.

What should I do if I have heat cramps?

If medical attention is not necessary, take the following steps:

• Stop all activity and sit quietly in a cool place.
• Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
• Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.

 Stay tuned for next in a series of topics about summer safety, see ya tommorrow!
Leslie

An Experiment or Death by Strangulation

Another report about our deadly friend The choking game, still deadly, still here, not a trend, so get educated and stay educated on what you might be doing to your body.

credit:(dailyRx)

Reports, from the US and Canada, show that adolescents are experimenting with the ‘choking game’. Creating awareness of brain damage and accidental death may curb an adolescents interest.

It appears the choking game has been spreading across the nation for a few years.

A recent study assessed the choking game in Oregon’s eight-grade population. Researchers suggested spreading awareness of the risks and dangers to put an end to it.

Talk to your kids about choking risks.
Kenneth D. Rosenberg, MD, MPH, Robert J. Nystrom, MA, and Sarah K. Ramowski, MSW, from the Oregon Health Authority of the Public Health Division, teamed up with Julie Gilchrist, MD, and Nigel R. Chaumeton, PhD, from the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to look at the risks involved when eight-graders play the choking game.

The choking game is pretty simple. An individual or a group cuts off the blood flow to the brain or induces hyperventilation to generate a high.

The problems with the choking game are twofold: loss of oxygen to the brain kills brain cells, and accidental death from loss of oxygen or asphyxiation.

Oregon isn’t the only place where adolescents participate in the choking game. A recent study looked at accidental death from the choking game in Canada, while another investigated the prevalence of the choking game in Texas.

The Oregon Health Authority gathered data from 2009 on 5,348 eighth-graders. To get a full picture, the team asked about the prevalence and frequency of the individual’s choking game experience and, “included questions about physical and mental health, gambling, sexual activity, nutrition, physical activity/body image, exposure to violence, and substance use.”

Only 6.1 percent of both male and female eight-graders reported having ever participated in the choking game. Of those participants 64 percent had played more than once and 26.6 percent had played more than five times.

The research team found, “Among Oregon eight-graders surveyed, greater than 6% had ever participated in the choking game. Participation was linked to poor nutrition and gambling among females, exposure to violence among males, and sexual activity and substance use among both genders.”

Authors conclude, “The results of this study reveal that choking game participation clusters with other risk behaviors and is not an activity, among those studies, that is more likely to be found among high-achieving, low-risk-taking youth.”

Authors recommend awareness and intervention from parents, teachers and health care professionals to prevent or stop this behavior.

This study was published in the journal Pediatrics, May 2012. No external funding was provided and no conflicts of interest were disclosed.

More information and education here: www.ed4ed4all.com
Our team of educators and specialists in this area will be glad to help you, email me anytime if you know of someone that needs help or has questions about the choking game, our organization is also available for speaking engagements at schools, churches, clubs, etc. email me here ernursescare@charter.net

Leslie

Today is the Day to ASK

How You Can Help

Join thousands of parents and community organizations nationwide who are helping to share the lifesaving message of the ASK campaign!
Stay informed about program news and updates by emailing ask@cpyv.org with your first and last name, city, state, and email address.
“Like” CPYV’s Facebook page, Arm Yourself with Knowledge to stay current on information to keep your family safe.
Promote the ASK campaign in your community by circulating ASK public service announcements through community groups and local media outlets.
Distribute ASK brochures in both English and Spanish to parents through schools, children/family agencies, pediatricians’ offices and health clinics. Email ask@cpyv.org to place an order.
Link your website to www.AskingSavesKids.org by requesting ASK link art.
Download the ASK Community Guide 2012 for more information and the ASK order form. Or contact us directly to order brochures, posters and other materials.

How Much Do You Know About Safe Sex?

 

There are many myths and misconceptions about sex floating around out there. Do you really know what is safe and what is not in the sack? Although abstinence is the only Safe Sex! If you are gonna do it, just be safe please!

Take the Quiz and see just how smarty pants you are!

How Much Do You Know About Safe Sex?

Go Ahead Chew off My Face....

 

Cannibals on the loose? End of the world? What do you think? With all the recent news stories concerning "whacko's on the loose"eating human eyeballs out of unsuspecting victims heads, chewing faces off and other assorted craziness, it makes you wonder. What the heck is going on?

One explanation can be found in this article by Author Carole De Tosti Phd via Technorati. Posted May 30th 2012:

"Bath salts" the code name in teen-speak for the trending designer drug that has been touted as the new LSD once again is in the news, this time in Miami. The crime that took place on Saturday, the 26th of May shocked South Florida. A naked man was shot by Miami Police on the MacArthur Causeway. He was eating another naked man's face.There is growing fear that the "zombie-like" attack was caused by the dangerous white powder. (The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made illegal the possession and sale of three of the chemicals commonly used to make bath salts — the synthetic stimulants mephedrone, MDPV, and methylone.) Armando Aguilar, the president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police thinks the cannibal attack by 31-year-old Rudy Eugene was caused by "bath salts," which go under fanciful names like Vanilla Sky, Ivory Wave, White China, Dynamite and Cloud 9 and can be purchased in jars and packets in tobacco shops or paraphernalia shops in malls.

Jackson Memorial Hospital Emergency room doctors echoed Aguilar saying they have seen a major increase in incidents linked to methylenedioxypyrovalerone. According to emergency room Dr. Paul Adams, "We noticed an increase probably after Ultra Fest." "Bath salts" are more deadly than meth or coke because the drug chemists and their purveyors use loopholes in the law to get around the DEA ban by tweaking the chemicals used to create the drug. Short-term effects include very severe paranoia that can sometimes cause users to harm themselves or others.

Effects reported to Poison Control Centers include suicidal thoughts, agitation, combative/violent behavior, confusion, hallucinations/psychosis, increased heart rate, hypertension, chest pain, death or serious injury. It takes 15 minutes for the drug to take effect and 4-6 hours for it to wear off. The powder is usually ingested by sniffing/snorting and can also be taken orally, smoked, or put into a solution and injected into veins. Dr. Adams of Jackson Memorial Hospital noted that the "bath salts" user’s temperature rises to an extremely high level and they become very aggressive, sometimes using their jaws as a weapon during attacks. The patients are often delirious. Dr. Adams gave an example of one case to illustrate. “Extremely strong, I took care of a 150 pound individual who you would have thought he was 250 pounds. It took six security officers to restrain the individual.” Adams continued, relating that the powerful strength and violence of patients on “bath salts”  threatens those charged with the task of assisting those high on the drug.

The chemical manufacturers are following the FDA guidelines by labeling bath salts as "not fit for human consumption," but that labeling effect is disastrous: reverse psychology marketing to the young and/or adventurous looking for a new thrill. The element of danger is a come on. Though users may only inhale the toxins once or twice, the fear is that they may have recurrent episodes. Officials have pointed out that the substance creates a "ticking time bomb" and in a number of instances, users have committed suicide in the throes of a flashback.

Now there is this incident of zombie cannibalism to add to the horrors of the designer drug's impact. Police reported that Eugene, who was growling like an animal as he swallowed pieces of the 61-year old homeless victim's flesh, was ordered to stop but refused. He continued to tear off and eat the man's ears, nose and cheeks, when police shot him six times. The initial rounds that hit Eugene had little effect as he ate and even tried to gouge out the man's eyeballs. The victim, who is clinging to life in intensive care, is barely recognizable as human, according to reports. Zane Horowitz, MD, an emergency room physician and medical director of the Oregon Poison Center thinks, "Drug makers will keep creating new combinations" of designer drugs "at home and in illicit labs"...because "drugs like these are new and below the radar, unlike named illegal drugs." If "bath salts" are made illegal, other drugs will be created. That is not a good argument to avoid putting a nationwide ban on these chemicals permanently. The lag time needed to create new chemical combinations may stave off the creation of ticking time bombs like Rudy Eugene. A ban will save lives.The sooner the permanent ban, the more likely that events like this zombie-cannibal attack will be avoided.

Even the puppies are doing it~~ Beware~~ had to add that, way to cute!

ASK (Asking Saves Kids)

ASK (Asking Saves Kids)

“Is there a gun where your child plays?” Asking this simple question is an important step every parent can take to help their kids stay safe.
About 1/3 of homes with kids have guns, many left unlocked or loaded. Just talking to your child about the dangers of firearms is not enough. Children are naturally curious. If a gun is accessible in someone’s home, there is a good chance a child will find it and play with it. Countless tragedies have occurred when kids found guns that parents thought were well hidden or safely stored.

 FACT SHEET  Access to Guns

• An average of 8 kids and teens are killed by firearms every day and 38 additional
children and teens are seriously injured (Injury Mortality Reports, National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 2007; 2009). 5RJ43GGK78FP

• 29 children and teens are seriously injured by BB or Pellet guns every day (Injury
Mortality Reports, 2009).

• Studies show that between 33% and 40% of American households with children have guns (Johnson, Renee, “Firearm Ownership and Storage Practices, U.S. Households, 1992-2002.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 27, 2004; Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, 1999, American Journal of Public Health, April 2000).

• 1 in 4 kids and teens whose parents own guns say they have seen or touched a gun
without their parents’ knowledge. (Global Strategy Group Youth Study commissioned
by CPYV, 2011).

• Almost 90 percent of accidental shootings involving children are linked to an easy-to-find, loaded handgun in the house (Society of Pediatric Nurses, 1998).

• Eighty-eight percent of the children who are injured or killed in unintentional shootings are shot in their own homes or in the homes of relatives or friends (Pediatrics 2005).

• 42% of parents with guns keep at least one unlocked, 25% keep at least one loaded, and 14% keep one unlocked AND loaded (Global Strategy Group Parent Study commissioned by CPYV, 2011).

• Over 75% of kids in homes with guns say they know where the gun is hidden (Benenson Strategy Group Study commissioned by PAX, July 2002).
THE ASK SOLUTION

• Less than 50% of parents reported being concerned about guns in other homes, but 79% would be concerned if they knew there was a gun in the home their child was visiting (GSG Parent Study).

• Only 23% of parents said they had asked in the past, but by the end of the survey, 89% said ASKing was important (GSG Parent Study).

• 97% of parents who owned a gun said that they would not be offended if another
parent asked about a gun in their home (GSG Parent Study).

In preparation for June 21 "Ask Day"  I am going to focus on some information that

I recieved from CPYV. Stay tuned next for some real stories that will shock you.

Please help spread this important information:

The ASK campaign provides opportunities for community groups, healthcare
organizations and individuals to help ensure the safety of our children. In this
packet, we have provided suggestions for activities to share the ASK
message as well as examples of materials. 

If you need additional information or wish to provide your feedback, please contact 212-269-5100 or ask@cpyv.org.
 

ASK is a partnership between CPYV / The Center to Prevent Youth Violence and the American Academy of
Pediatrics and is sponsored by the American Medical Association
ASK Endorsers Include:
American Federation of Teachers
American Public Health Association
Children’s Defense Fund
Emergency Nurses Association
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation
National Association of Children’s
Hospitals and Related Institutions
National Association of Pediatric
Nurse Practitioners
National Education Association
National Head Start Association
National Parenting Association
Physicians For Social Responsibility
Police Executive Research Forum
Police Foundation
Safe Kids Worldwide

Linkedin Zombie attack!!

Online safety is just as important as your personal safety, as they will merge together eventually and wreak havoc on your psychological life, I know it freaks me out to think of someone getting into my stuff. Worry can overcome our daily routines and keep us from enjoying our life.
So when I was alerted that my Linkedin account could have possibly have been compromised it upset my "psychie", I changed my password immediately as all is well with the leaky world for this moment in the continum of the internet. Darn hacking spammer zombies!

It’s not known if the leaked passwords were connected to the related emails, but LinkedIn has deactivated the accounts and is sending emails to the users. IMPORTANT POINT: Be VERY careful about any emails you receive from anyone right now claiming to be LinkedIn! When in doubt, go to the LinkedIn homepage to log in.
Now, let’s review best password practices, shall we?

The easiest trick of course is to include the following in your passwords:
• a capital letter
• a symbol
• be eight characters long or more
It’s also considered smart policy to NOT use any words in your password. LinkedIn offers some great tips in their blog post about the security breach.
So go now and change that password, chase away the zombies while you are at it!

Do You Have a Happy Toxic Home?

Shared from Naked Health

March 27, 2012 Public Policy, Safety
By Jen Talley

Do you really know what’s under your kitchen sink, on the garage shelf, or stashed away in the bathroom and laundry room? You use these cleaning products all the time, but you may have never considered what’s actually in them, and the effect it might have on your family’s health. Many contain chemicals associated with eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, and some have been linked to asthma, birth defects, and certain cancers.
The American Association of Poison Control Centers reports more than 210,000 calls to poison control centers in 2009 about household products. 125,000 of those calls concerned children under the age of five, who likely found toxic chemicals close at hand in their kitchens and bathrooms.
You might be surprised at some of the worst offenders; these cleaning products contain chemicals and ingredients suspected or known to be health hazards, but they are easily found at every grocery store.
Ammonia
All-purpose cleaners often contain ammonia and chlorine bleach. Ammonia can cause severe eye irritation, headaches and lung damage. At higher concentrations, ammonia exposure can leave chemical burns or cause severe damage to eyes and respiratory tract. Bleach can be fatal if swallowed by children or pets, and combining ammonia and chlorine bleach can create  ammonia gas, which can be fatal if inhaled.
Ammonia is also extremely poisonous to fish and other aquatic life, even in small amounts. That means that any ammonia you wash down the drain could potentially contribute to the poisoning of your water supply.
Air Fresheners
Another potentially harmful product that may surprise you: air fresheners. Although the spray-type products are made to  to be released into the air in your home, many contain extremely toxic chemicals that can aggravate respiratory problems like asthma. Some also contain phthalates, which have been shown to cause damage to the reproductive and endocrine systems, as well as being linked to some cancers and birth defects. Since the U.S. government doesn’t require companies to disclose the ingredients in these type of products, the toxins may not even be listed on the container.
Para-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) is a chemical is found in solid products, like air fresheners, mothballs, and deodorizers for toilets and trashcans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified p-DCB as a possible carcinogen; limited exposure can cause eye irritation and swelling, headaches, and nausea. It’s been shown to cause kidney and liver damage in animals.
Antibacterial Products
Many antibacterial soaps, body washes, and cosmetic products contain triclosan, which has been found to negatively impact hormone regulation in animals. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing whether the chemical is safe for human use. While the evidence isn’t conclusive yet, the FDA does not that there is no proof that cleaning products with triclosan provide any benefit over washing with regular soap and water. Additionally, there is some evidence to suggest that triclosan contributes to making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Nail polish
Dibutyl phthalate, common in nail products and some makeup, is known to cause birth defects. It’s frequently detected in human blood and urine, which indicates high exposure among the U.S. population. Granted you’re not drinking your nail polish (at least, we hope not) but does this even sound like something you want in your house? It may also have endocrine-disrupting effects, may cause neurotoxicity, and is harmful to the reproductive system.
Upholstery cleaners
Acrylic acid is found in some surface and upholstery spray cleaners. This chemical compound severely irritating to the skin and respiratory tract, with the potential to produce chemical burns, and potentially harmful to a fetus if inhaled by a pregnant woman. If it got in your eyes it could cause serious injury, even permanent loss of vision.
Remember that companies advertising non-toxic cleaning products are not subject to even the somewhat lax rules food products are regarding their advertising claims. “Fresh,” “pure,” “natural,” and even “non-toxic” have no official definition; these claims aren’t regulated by any federal or state agency. It’s up to the consumer, unfortunately, to police what is under their own kitchen sink.


Time to think Green? and live life longer!

Is it Squishy Candy? or a Real Dangerous Mess?

Tide’s reinventing the way you do laundry!
1 pac = 1 laundry load
Works in all machine types
Dissolves quickly in hot & cold
Like any household detergent, keep away from children. There ya go, it says on the Tide website, Keep away from Children! That means yours!
I actually have seen and take care of a couple cases in the ER already of kids that
got a hold of one of these pods, put it in their mouth and tried to eat it. You have to admit, they are pretty, colorful and candy looking, even the plastic container they come packaged in looks like a "candy" container.
As a parent, you will have to be more diligent with these and lock them up, put them up higher since they are highly concentrated and cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,even hospitalizations in children.

AAPCC Laundry Detergent News Release
On May 18, 2012, the AAPCC sent out a news release warning parents about highly concentrated laundry detergent packs and urging them to keep their detergents up and away and out of reach of children. Read the news release here. Click here for an AAPCC factsheet about the issue. Click here to access safe laundry information from the American Cleaning Institute.

The experts at your local poison center urge parents
and caregivers to:
 Always keep detergents locked up, high, and out of the reach of children.
 Follow the instructions on the product label.
Call your local poison center at 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you think a child has been exposed to a
packet of highly concentrated liquid laundry detergent
                       

 

Be a smart cleaning parent and keep those products put up!
Leslie