According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), over 700 people die yearly from heat-related illnesses in the United States. Record high temperatures over 100 degrees in the Southwestern United States and 96-degree ocean water in the Florida Keys are a result of climate change. In this blog post, we will provide you with valuable hot weather safety tips and information that will help you beat the heat and protect your well-being. Remember, prevention is key when it comes to heat-related illnesses. The elderly population is at risk for heat-related illnesses because of medical conditions such as heart…
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Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a type of brain injury that can occur when an infant’s brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen. It can be a devastating condition, often leading to serious health problems or even death. Legal nurse consultant Joan Earley has written an article in The Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting on HIE titled “Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: Pearls for the LNC.” In her article, Earley provides valuable information on the signs and symptoms of HIE and assists attorneys with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy cases. She also discusses the legal implications of HIE, and how LNCs can play a role in cases…
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The CDC noted that e-cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product used by young people in the United States. Over 2 million junior high and high school students used these devices in 2016. What are e-cigarettes? They are devices that heat nicotine and other substances in an aerosol delivery system. The Ohio Department of Health stated e- cigarettes are sometimes called “e-cigs,” ‘vape pens”, and electronic nicotine delivery systems; (ENDS). People around e-cigarette users are exposed to the aerosol. The fruit flavored smoke is popular with teens. The ENDS devices contain a mix of nicotine, fine particulate matter, nickel, lead,…
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The warm summer months provide many opportunities for carefree activities such as picnics and backyard barbecues. However, according to the CDC, forgetting about proper handling of food is a recipe for disaster. Every year 48 million people in the United States become ill from eating contaminated food. Foodborne illnesses are identified as outbreaks when the same pathogen affects two or more people who consumed the same food. Foodborne illness affects 17% of the country. This leads to 3000 deaths and 128,000 hospital admissions annually. This is a public health burden. Children under the age of 4, adults over the age…
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Measles is making a comeback in the United States. Measles was declared eliminated from this country in 2000, however, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 764 people in the United States have contracted the measles virus from January 1- May 3, 2019. This outbreak has been reported in 23 states. The latest state to report to the CDC is Pennsylvania. Factors driving the increase in measles cases include international travel in unvaccinated persons and the large number of caregivers who have chosen not to get their children immunized. Unvaccinated persons traveling to Israel, Ukraine, and the…
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It’s almost summertime and many of us are ready to enjoy vacations with family and friends. Fear of contracting the Zika virus leaves many of us wondering if we should put our plans on hold. The questions we have concerning Zika virus include: What is Zika virus? Zika virus is spread by the bite of the Aedes mosquito. What are the symptoms? Symptoms include rash, fever, conjunctivitis and joint pain. Symptoms which are usually mild may last a few days to as long as a week. Zika virus if contracted by a pregnant woman can cause microcephaly in the fetus…
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Bioethics is a field that recently grabbed the attention of the country after a recent surrogacy case. A married couple requested that their gestational carrier have an abortion after physicians discovered that the fetus she carried had severe congenital defects, (including craniofacial, cardiac and neurological problems). The surrogate was offered $10,000.00 to abort the pregnancy. The surrogate agreed to have an abortion for $15,000.00. The biological parents refused to pay this fee. The gestational carrier declined to have an abortion and moved to Michigan. Surrogacy is prohibited in Michigan. The surrogate agreed initially to have an abortion in the event…
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Your health is important wherever you go. And now that many people are spending most of their day sitting at a desk or inside an office, implementing health programs inside the workplace has become a vital piece of the healthy lifestyle puzzle. Chronic Disease at Work Chronic diseases such as depression and hypertension can lead to a decline in the overall health of employees in a workplace, contribute to an increase in health-related expenses for employers and employees, and lead to days away from work. Many businesses have realized the benefits of health promotion, and to curb the costs of…
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It’s unfortunate how many people believe that estate planning is only for wealthy people. People at all economic levels benefit from an estate plan. Upon death, an estate plan legally protects and distributes property based on your wishes and the needs of your family and/or survivors with as little tax as possible. Advance Medical Directives Everyone faces the possibility that sometime during our lifetime, we may become incapacitated. This often happens when nearing death, but it can also be the result of a temporary condition. Many people assume their spouses or children will automatically be allowed to make financial…
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When you set your clocks forward one hour when Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 10, remember to change the batteries in your CO detector. Learn more about preventing CO poisoning. Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 10th, 2013. As you prepare to set your clocks back one hour, remember to change the batteries in your CO detector. If you don’t have a battery-powered or battery back-up CO alarm, now is a great time to buy one. More than 500 people die each year in the US from unintentional, non-fire related CO poisoning. CO is found in fumes…
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