Health Room

From time to time everyone gets stressed, no matter what their age. People deal with stress in different ways, some better than others. Screaming, hitting and punching when dealing with stress won’t solve a problem. However, taking a deep breath and talking with someone you trust about your problem can put you on the right path. The next time you feel stressed think of these five steps to “unstress”:

1. Get support. When you’re in need of help reach out to the people who care about you. Who knows, someone may have similar worries as you.

2. Don’t freak out! Its okay to recognize that you’re upset but don’t go wild. If you’re angry fine, but think about why you’re angry. The, find a way to positively calm down and calmly express your anger. Try exercising, deep breathing, listening to music, writing in journal, playing with your pet, going on a walk or bike ride, whatever it takes to positively exert some of that anger.

3. Don’t take it out on yourself. Believe it or not there is always someone there to help you. Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for a helping hand to help you get through a rough situation.

4. Try to solve the problem. Once you’ve calmed down and you have your support system figure out what the problem is and how to tackle it. It doesn’t even have to be conquered all at once, once step forward is better than two steps back.

5. Be positive, most stress is temporary. When you’re in the heat of a stressful situation it’s hard to focus on the positive. However, the sooner you do the faster you can identify the problem and work on solving it.

You may have to repeat a step or two along the way, and that’s normal. Just stay positive and focus on a solution.

Source: kidshealth.org

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According to the American Red Cross (ARC) being prepared for emergencies is the new golden rule for having a great school year. In addition to the traditional back to school shopping list items of pens, paper and whatnot the ARC encourages you to have components that make up an emergency preparedness kit.

An emergency preparedness kit can be as tailored to specific situations as you want it to be or the end all and be all of first aid kits. At the minimum the ARC suggests your keep these basic supplies in an easy to carry container or bag.

• Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multipurpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items (hand sanitizer, tampons, pads, etc.)
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

This may sound like a lot but essentially it’s really not. Many of the items are compact and can easily all be stored in a cool backpack.

Last but not least make a plan and be informed. In case of an emergency discuss with your family a communications plan as well as two meeting places. Make sure someone in your household is not only trained in first aid and CPR but knows how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) too.

Source: redcross.org

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The Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit campaign is being supported by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) with a capstone contest that offers a grand prize of $25,000 in “fitness cash.” The campaign was just launched for this fall and encourages parents, students, teachers, and community members to nominate their schools for the grand prize. The prize reflects the urgency of school children’s problems with fitness and obesity, as well as the current school budget crisis. This campaign is meant to ensure that youth fitness doesn’t fall out of school curriculum when it’s most needed.

How to Enter

You can submit a nomination online by answering the following question: “What would your school do with $25,000 to improve youth fitness?” The fitness cash is meant to be used toward providing enhanced health and fitness education, equipment, technology, resources, and services that pertain to encouraging youth fitness, so responses should reflect these goals in a creative and convincing argument. The essay can be no longer than 700 words, and finalists will be given Flip cameras to create brief videos that bring their essays to life. These videos will be posted online and Henkel consumers will vote to choose the winner, which will be announced in January of 2011. Essay entries must be submitted by September 30 for consideration.

How ACE is Helping

To show its support for the Henkel campaign, ACE is now offering a free Operation FitKids curriculum. This curriculum can be downloaded in PDF format by teachers who want to improve the integration of health and fitness in classroom learning. It includes seven lessons and comes in two different formats: one for grades 3-5 and the other for grades 6-8. The lessons aim to teach students about the dangers of being overweight and the benefits of living a healthy and active lifestyle. As parents, it may be helpful to make sure that your children’s teachers are aware of this opportunity so that everyone in your child’s class can benefit from increased health and fitness instruction.

Bio: Alexis Bonari is a freelance writer and blog junkie. She often can be found blogging about education and scholarships for college. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.

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Summer 2010 is almost over and to most people that’s a drag.  However, there’s still time to make the most of what’s left and to do it with some extra company. 

The Fresh Air Fund is still in need of loving host families for this summer.  If you live in  the following areas: Red Hook, Columbia County, Saugerties, Delmar, Guilderland & Altamont, Latham and Rensselaer, NY and are interested in hosting a New York City boy or girl aged six to 18 there’s still time to sign up.  If you’re interested get in touch with the Fresh Air Fund right away before summer comes to an end.

Source: www.freshairfund.org

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If you’re a Type A Personality and need to have your list all checked off this blog’s for you.  Ready.gov provides a handy little checklist of recommended items (hand crank radio, flashlight, batteries) to include in a basic emergency supply kit and additional items (blankets, personal hygiene items, feminine supplies) to consider adding to an emergency supply kit.  You probably already have your basic needs set (water, food, first aid kit, dust mask) in case of an emergency along with the extras (moist towelettes, whistle, garbage bags) but this checklist will confirm you are as prepared as can be.  It may even give you a few ideas to help you pass time before help arrives. 

If you’re a Type B Personality and want to be prepared but are not so much into the checklist thing you are in luck.  There are plenty of stocked first aid kits tailored to specific emergency situations.  Anything from disaster first aid kits to earthquake first aid kits to plain old fashioned emergency preparedness kits.  You can prepare you and your loved ones and just get yourself a grab ‘n go first aid kit.  No stocking on your behalf needed. 

Source: ready.gov

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Whether or not you expect to find yourself in an emergency situation, there are a few items it never hurts to have on hand. Storms and natural disasters can strike with little warning, and being prepared is the best way to make it through emergency circumstances without panic.

Batteries
Electricity is the main thing that people take for granted. Just about everything in our lives uses electricity, from appliances and computers to cell phone chargers and the wireless routers that allow us to connect to the internet. The first thing that people scramble to get when the power goes out is a way to power their necessities; in a word, batteries. Make sure to have a stock on hand so that you aren’t left in the dark if a lengthy power outage should occur.

Flashlight
In any emergency, it’s important to have a light source. Placing several flashlights at important places around the house will ensure that you won’t be caught stumbling through the dark should there be an unforeseen power failure. Keeping a powerful flashlight in the back seat of the car is also a good idea in case of a breakdown.

Canned or dried food
Long power outages or damage from natural disasters can make it difficult to keep certain foods fresh or re-stock foods that have spoiled. If you live in a climate prone to snow storms, a deep snow can keep you cut off from the store for several days. Having a reserve of canned fruits and vegetables, as well as dried foods like rice and beans, will ensure that you have meals even if you can’t get out to shop.

Crank-powered radio
Radios and flashlights often take the same kinds of batteries. Instead of wasting potential light power on a radio, invest in a crank-powered model. These are available for many manufacturers in models ranging from small, portable radios to multi-function units containing cell phone chargers. These radios can run for about an hour after being cranked for one or two minutes and provide access to news, weather, and other important information during an emergency.

First aid kit
Emergencies where people get hurt are some of the scariest, but having a well-stocked first aid kit can be a great help. Instead of having to scramble when someone gets hurt, a first aid kit keeps everything close at hand. If you put together a kit, make sure to keep it stocked and re-stock it after use so that there is never a shortage of important items. Consider stocking things like gauze and elastic bandages, surgical adhesive tape, antiseptic solution, instant cold packs, scissors, cotton swabs, eye drops, and antihistamine.

Being prepared can keep an emergency from becoming a disaster. With a little careful planning, you can be ready to take on any unexpected situation.

Louise Baker is a freelance journalist. She currently writes about getting an online degree for Zen College Life. Her most recently article was a review of the best online colleges in the USA.

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To assess your weight and health risk three key measurements are taken into consideration: your body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity.  Calculate your BMI and see if you fall into a normal weight range.

BMI is calculated from your height and weight.  It’s an inexpensive method of measurement of body fat and a good risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat.  BMI may be used on most men and women however athletes and older persons may receive over- or underestimated results respectively.

Measuring your waist circumference helps screen for potential health risks that come with being overweight and obesity.  If you’re carrying fat around your waist, rather than say your hips, you’re at a higher risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  Women should aim to keep their waists below 35 inches or less and men 40 inches or less.

If you’re overweight or obese the following factors put you at a greater risk for heart disease and other conditions:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol)
• Low HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol)
• High triglycerides
• High blood glucose (sugar)
• Family history of premature heart disease
• Physical inactivity
• Cigarette smoking

As always, best to talk with your doctor to see whether you are at an increased risk and whether or not losing some weight will help you lower your risk of developing life-hindering diseases and conditions.

Source: nhlbi.nih.gov

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Veinlite is the best vein finder for vein access in children, neonates, emergency medicine, critical care, radiology and oncology.

So, what does it have that makes it the best?  Innovative Side-Transillumination Technology, which is a method where a bright ring of light is placed on the skin and focused under the skin to form a virtual light source below the skin.  The virtual light source is like having a bright light bulb under the skin that moves with the Veinlite.  The opening on the Veinlite devices provides access to the vein while imaging it for quicker and more precise vein access.  The unique design also blocks the vein and stretches the skin for easier access.

These handheld transilluminators also come in assorted styles to suit your needs and your wallet.  Check out the Veinlite EMS (for general vein imaging in adults and children), the Veinlite LED (the brightest) and Veinlite Pedi (designed for babies, newborns and neonates) transilluminators which are all small enough to fit in your pocket.

Source: veinlite.com

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First aid kits should be stocked and ready to go so if you haven’t got yourself one here’s a list of basic first aid kit contents:

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (space blanket)
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of non-latex gloves (size: large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
• Scissors
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass)
• 2 triangular bandages
• Tweezers
• First aid instruction booklet

Whether you prefer to make a homemade first aid kit or just buy a completely stocked first aid kit is all a matter of personal preference.  Just know that it’s a good idea to tailor your first aid kit contents to the situation at hand.

Hiking or camping? You could go for a pocket size first aid kit for the trails and a Red Cross 5-pack modular first aid kit for the campsite.  If you live in an earthquake zone an earthquake survival first aid kit would be a wise choice.  The Fourth of July may be behind us but it’s not the only day fireworks are lit, so you may want to consider a burn first aid kit. 

Stay safe.

Source: redcross.org

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Yoga exercises may seem to be more of an adult thing but have you thought about getting your child involved in yoga?  Obviously yoga is great for the body but it’s great for more reasons than what probably meets the eye. 

The article 25 Reasons Your Kids Should Do Yoga has some really wonderful supporting material to (at the least) consider getting your kids into yoga.  Think about building your child’s self-awareness, self-esteem and ability to handle stress with one form of exercise.  Think about building not only physical but creative strength as well with this one form of exercise. 

There are many different types of yoga (Ashtanga, Bikram, Hatha, Iyengar, just to name a few).  Yoga is also more than just a stretching session.  Yoga not only challenges the body but the brain as well.  Yoga is one’s own individual journey yet can easily be done as part of a group.

Source: sportsmanagementdegrees.net

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