Anatomy Web Sites

If you've ever looked for pictures/diagrams of the different parts of the human body, you know that sometimes it's hard to find exactly what you want. I found some great web sites that have diagrams and written information on various body systems. Here are some great ones to check out:

Anatomy of the Heart (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute)

Kidneys and How They Work (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Normal Eye Anatomy (National Eye Institute)

Your Digestive System and How It Works (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Brain Basics: Know Your Brain (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Diabetes: Treatment and Financial Help Information

Diabetes affects 25.8 million people of all ages, or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population: 18.8 million people are diagnosed, but 7 million people remain undiagnosed. About 1.9 million people ages 20 years or older were newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2010 in the United States. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States. It is also is a major cause of heart disease and stroke and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. (Statistics from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse)

Many people don’t even realize they have diabetes and will go undiagnosed. However, there are some warning signs to be aware of. These are some symptoms of diabetes:

- being very thirsty

- urinating often

- feeling very hungry or tired

- losing weight without trying

- sores that heal slowly

- dry, itchy skin

- losing the feeling or having tingling in your feet

- having blurry eyesight

It is important to see your health care provider if you experience these symptoms.

There are many treatments for the different types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is usually first diagnosed during childhood or early adulthood and is treated with insulin injections (or an insulin pump). Type 2 diabetes usually develops later in life but in recent years there has been an increased incidence of diagnosis in children. There are many types of medications for type 2 diabetes.

For more information on treatment, check out these links:

Treatments (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Premixed Insulin for Type 2 Diabetes: A Guide for Adults (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes: A Review of the Research for Adults (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)

If you are in a situation where you cannot afford your diabetes medications, there are places that can help. Check out these links:

Financial Help for Diabetes Care (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

www.nahu.org/consumer/hrpguide.cfm (Information on high-risk health insurance pools or other means for covering people otherwise unable to get health insurance.)

www.bphc.hrsa.gov (The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and Services Administration, offers primary and preventive health care to medically underserved populations through community health centers. For people with no insurance, fees for care are based on family size and income. Besides the web site, information about local health centers is available by calling 1-888-ASK-HRSA (1-888-275-4772).

www1.va.gov/health (The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs hospitals and clinics that serve veterans who have service-related health problems or who simply need financial aid. Check out the web site or call 1-800-827-1000.

Also check with your local health department for more information on financial help.

Child Safety during the summer

You should always follow good safety habits for your children all year long, but summer presents some unique challenges that are not present during other times of year.

Water Illness and Injury

There are many issues involved when being around water and these are not just for kids. Swimmer’s ear affects swimmers of all ages and results in an estimated 2.4 million health care visits every year. Swimmer’s ear is an infection that is caused when water stays in the air for long periods of time and usually occurs within a few days of being in the water.

Symptoms of swimmer’s ear:

-Itchiness inside the ear.

-Redness and swelling of the ear.

-Pain when the infected ear is tugged or when pressure is placed on the ear.

-Pus draining from the infected ear

Things to do to prevent swimmer’s ear:

Keep your ears as dry as possible: use a bathing cap or ear plugs

Dry your ears thoroughly after being in the water: use a towel; turn your head sideways on each side so that each ear can drain

Don’t put objects in your ear and don’t try to remove ear wax

Playground safety:

Adult supervision is of utmost importance when there are children at a playground. The adult should keep watch for potential dangerous situations.

When visiting a playground, inspect all the equipment to ensure it is in proper working order and nothing is broken.

Teach your children how to behave safely while at a playground:

- Never push anyone on a slide, jungle gym, or other piece of equipment

- Use the equipment properly

- In hot weather, check the temperature of the equipment. If it is too hot to the touch, stay off it.

- Wear sunscreen while at the playground

- Don’t use the equipment if it is wet. It could be slippery and dangerous.

Swings:

Be careful on and around swings. Do not swing too high and don’t twist while swinging. If you’re not on a swing, don’t run and play around anyone on a swing because accidents can happen.

Slides:

When climbing the ladder, take one step at a time. Go down the slide feet first, sitting up, with only one person on the slide at a time. Wait for the person in front of you to clear the area before you go down.

Seesaws:

Only one kid on each end of the seesaw and they should be facing each other. Hold on tightly to the handle and keep your feet to the sides so they don’t get caught underneath the seesaw.

Bicycles/skateboards:

Always wear a helmet and other protective equipment. Take some kind of training so you know the proper way to use your bike or skateboard. NO HOTDOGGING while biking or skateboarding!

For more information on all aspects of child safety, visit the MedlinePlus Child Safety page.

Heat-related illness

With a good portion of the country baking under extreme heat, I wanted to post some information on heat-related illness. It is vitally important to be aware of the signs of heat-related illness, because if ignored, it may lead to death.

Before I get to the specific conditions, I just want to make some observations on some heat-related stories I’ve heard over the years. Every year you hear about people who, for some unknown reason, thoughtlessly leave a child or a pet in a sweltering car. It only takes a few minutes for the temperature inside a car to reach dangerously high levels so UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES leave a child or a pet in a locked car in hot weather. (You shouldn’t leave a child alone in a car in any weather!) Make sure you have plenty of water with you if you have to be outside for extended periods of time in hot weather. Also, make sure you wear a hat, use sunscreen and cover as much of your body as possible with lightweight clothing to protect from the dangerous rays of the sun.

Now here is the information on heat-related illnesses:

Heat-related illnesses include:

-Heatstroke - a life-threatening illness in which body temperature may rise above 106° F in minutes; symptoms include dry skin, rapid, strong pulse and dizziness

-Heat exhaustion - an illness that can precede heatstroke; symptoms include heavy sweating, rapid breathing and a fast, weak pulse

-Heat cramps - muscle pains or spasms that happen during heavy exercise

-Heat rash - skin irritation from excessive sweating

FIRST AID FOR HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS:

SUNBURN:

Symptoms:

Skin redness and pain, possible swelling, blisters, fever, headaches

HEAT CRAMPS:

Symptoms:

Painful spasms, usually in leg and abdominal muscles; heavy sweating

First Aid:

-Get the victim to a cooler location.
-Lightly stretch and gently massage affected muscles to relieve spasms.
-Give sips of up to a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. (Do not give liquids with caffeine or alcohol.)
-Discontinue liquids, if victim is nauseated.

HEAT EXHAUSTION:

Symptoms:

Heavy sweating but skin may be cool, pale, or flushed. Weak pulse. Normal body temperature is possible, but temperature will likely rise. Fainting or dizziness, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and headaches are possible.

First Aid:

-Get victim to lie down in a cool place.
-Loosen or remove clothing.
-Apply cool, wet clothes.
-Fan or move victim to air-conditioned place.
-Give sips of water if victim is conscious.
-Be sure water is consumed slowly.
-Give half glass of cool water every 15 minutes.
-Discontinue water if victim is nauseated.
-Seek immediate medical attention if vomiting occurs.

HEAT STROKE (a severe medical emergency):

Treatment:

High body temperature (105+); hot, red, dry skin; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid shallow breathing. Victim will probably not sweat unless victim was sweating from recent strenuous activity. Possible unconsciousness.

First Aid:

-Call 9-1-1 or emergency medical services, or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Delay can be fatal.
-Move victim to a cooler environment.
-Removing clothing
-Try a cool bath, sponging, or wet sheet to reduce body temperature.
-Watch for breathing problems.
-Use extreme caution.
-Use fans and air conditioners.

(First Aid tips from Are You Ready? Extreme Heat (FEMA)

Here are some links to other great resources on heat-related illness:

Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Heat Stress Resources for Workers (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)

Heat Index (National Weather Service)

Heat Stress in the Elderly (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Keep It Cool in Hot Weather (National Institutes of Health)

Coping with the Loss of a Child

I noticed that this month is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month so I thought that would be a good topic to cover. Grief is a process that has many stages and you can’t rush any of them. Each person responds differently to grief and some may go through the stages at different rates. Some people may take longer to go through the stages and that is fine.

Weather the death of a child is expected when a serious illness or involved, or if it unexpected, parents will go through many stages and feel many different emotions.

Some emotions you may experience include:

- Denial

- Disbelief

- Confusion

- Shock

- Sadness

- Yearning

- Anger

- Humiliation

- Despair

- Guilt

These emotions are perfectly normal and they may be very intense. They may last for only a short time or they may linger, but they all play an important role in helping come to terms with your loss.

Some Ways of Coping:

Coping with death is vital to your mental health. You should allow yourself to grieve and here are some ways to help you:

- Seek out caring people with whom to share your feelings

- Don’t be afraid to express your feelings

- Take care of your health

- Postpone any major life changes until you have gone through the whole grieving process

- Be patient

- Seek outside help if you need it

If you need further information, here are some web sites with helpful information:

Death of a Child, the Grief of the Parents: A Lifetime Journey (National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Resource Center)

Surviving Your Child’s Suicide (Compassionate Friends)

The Sudden Death of a Child (Compassionate Friends)

Boating Safety Tips

I just read the obituary of a 50-year-old man who was tragically killed in a boating accident. Although that accident is still under investigation, it illustrates that there are safety risks involved in boating and you must make every effort to minimize those risks.

I found a vessel safety checklist from the Coast Guard Auxiliary that you should definitely check out: Virtual Vessel Safety Check. They also have the checklist in a PDF version: Vessel Safety Check.

One of the most important things to do when going out on a boat is to WEAR A LIFE JACKET! The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that a life jacket could have prevented over 80% of the fatalities from boating accidents. There are certain life jackets that are designed to keep your head above water, which allows for proper breathing. Even if you are a good swimmer, you should wear a life jacket in the event that you are knocked unconscious in an accident. (see link at the end of this article for more on life jackets)

Here are some tips for safe boating:

Do not drink alcohol or consume drugs while operating a boat of any kind.

Obey all regulations for the particular place you are boating.

If you are in a motor boat, do not speed. Don’t “hot dog” it to impress your friends.

Make sure you have the proper equipment on board.

Pay attention if you are driving a boat. Do not do other things that distract your attention from where you are going. Have a lookout to help you look out for other boats in the area.

Share the water with other boats. Be courteous at all times.

Pay attention to all signs and barriers in the area where you are boating.

Here are some links to other useful safety information:

Wearing Your Life Jacket

Tread Lightly!’s Tips for Responsible Motorized Boating

Reference Guide to State Boating Laws - Know the boating laws in your state.

Swimming Safety Tips

Over the Fourth of July weekend I heard about a young boy who drowned while swimming in the ocean. I thought it would be a good time to provide some swimming safety tips, not just for the ocean, but for all types of swimming.

Follow these tips for a safer swimming adventure:

1. Never swim alone. Even if you’re a good swimmer, unexpected things can happen, so have a buddy with you.

2. Never dive into water when you can’t see how deep it is. Never dive into shallow water.

3. Never swim during a thunder storm. If you hear thunder or see lightning, get out of the water and seek shelter.

4. If you are at a pool, do not run around the pool or push someone in. Never dunk anyone while in the water.

5. Do not eat while swimming.

6. If water levels are high and the current is strong in a river, stay out of it! Too many people die needlessly from accidents around high water. Don’t even go near a swollen river because it is just too dangerous. Rocks are slippery when wet and if you fall in, you could get swept away.

7. If you are swimming in the ocean, pay attention to life guards. If there is a danger of rip currents, stay near the shoreline or out of the water altogether.

8. Children should always be accompanied by an adult.

9. Never drink alcohol before or during swimming or any other water activity.

10. Take swimming lessons. If you are not a good swimmer, wear a life jacket, especially if you’re out in a boat. (Everyone should wear a life jacket while out in a boat.)

Stay safe out there this summer!

For some great resources on ocean swimming safety, check out these web sites:

Ocean Swimming Safety (Cape Hatteras National Seashore)

Rip Currents (National Weather Service)

Food Safety for Summer (Barbecues, picnics, etc.)

With summer, comes barbecues and picnics and all kinds of eating outdoors. It is important to follow safe food handling practices in order to avoid foodborne illness. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when you are preparing for a cookout or picnic. You have to be careful with keeping cold foods cold and cooking food to a proper temperature.

BUYING FOOD

When you’re in the market buying your foods, make sure you refrigerate cold foods immediately upon arriving home, especially if it’s a hot day. If you are buying meat, you should get that last so you can head directly to the checkout quickly. If it’s really hot or you have to transport your groceries some distance, you might want to use a cooler for your cold items, especially meats.

THAWING FOOD

If you are using frozen foods in your meal, be sure to thaw out the food in the refrigerator and not on the counter. If you use a microwave to defrost, make sure you cook the food immediately after thawing. Marinade foods in the refrigerator, also.

KEEPING THINGS CLEAN

When grilling foods, make sure you use clean utensils. Don’t cross-contaminate foods by using plates and/or utensils on cooked food that you used on raw food, especially meat. Juices from raw meat can contaminate the cooked food.

COOKING FOOD

Cook foods thoroughly. It is important to get the food hot enough in order to kill bacteria. When grilling foods such as poultry and meat, the outside tends to get brown very quickly, but the inside takes some time to cook properly. Use a meat thermometer to check for proper cooking temperature.

SAFE MINIMUM INTERNAL TEMPERATURES

- Whole poultry: 165 °F

- Poultry breasts: 165 °F

- Ground poultry: 165 °F

- Ground meats: 160 °F

- Beef, pork, lamb, and veal (steaks, roasts and chops): 145 °F and allow to rest at least 3 minutes.

Refrigerate food promptly after eating. If anything has been out longer than 2 hours, throw it away. If it’s hot out, throw it away after one hour of being left out.

For more safe grilling tips, check out these sites:

Barbecue and Food Safety

Eating Outdoors, Handling Food Safely

Seasonal Food Safety