Arkansas Reports First Heat-Related Death of 2010

Arkansas has recorded it’s first heat-related death of 2010 according to the under a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NOAA) all week. There were seven deaths in Arkansas from heat-related causes in 2009.">Arkansas Department of Health. Due to patient confidentiality issues, no information on the victim has been released.
Arkansas, along with much of the central part of the United States has been under a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service (NOAA) all week.
There were seven deaths in Arkansas from heat-related causes in 2009.
Hot, humid weather can be very dangerous. The elderly, people with health problems, and very young children are the most vulnerable to heat, but anyone can be affected. It is important to be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It is important to stay well-hydrated, to get out of the sun, and takes rest breaks when working and playing in sun.
If you must pursue intense activity during hot weather, follow these safety tips.
* Drink plenty of water; fluid replacement is crucial to avoid heat risks. Drink more water than usual before exercising or working in the heat. (If you are elderly or taking medication, ask your doctor about fluid intake recommendations.)
* Schedule your strenuous activity during the coolest time of the day.
* Monitor how you feel. If you have difficulty maintaining your regular pace, slow down.
* Symptoms of heat-related illness include muscle and abdominal cramps, heavy (or worse – have stopped) sweating, headache, dizziness, and nausea / vomiting.
Heat related conditions include:

1. Heat Rash Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young children. Although heat rash occurs because of exposure to extreme heat, treating heat rash is simple and usually does not require medical assistance. Other heat-related problems such as those listed below can be much more severe.
2. Heat Cramps Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat heavily during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's salt, magnesium, and water. The low salt and magnesium levels in the muscles may be the cause of heat cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
3. Heat Exhaustion Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop in exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body's response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
4. Heat Stroke Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate 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.
5. Heat-Related Deaths Most heat-related deaths occur when high temperatures overcome the body's natural ability to cope with heat. The elderly, very young children and persons with chronic medical conditions (especially cardiovascular disease) are at highest risk.

New Jersey Workplace Blood Donor Coalition Focuses On Combating NJ Blood Shortage

New Jersey is facing a severe and chronic blood shortage. To address this potential crisis, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC) are joining forces to create the New Jersey Workplace Blood Donor Coalition. This partnership also will include New Jersey businesses as well as hospital and blood bank associations in an effort to increase workplace blood donations in the state.
Novartis will chair the coalition launched today at its headquarters in East Hanover, New Jersey.
The coalition will call upon employers to conduct more workplace blood drives each year and to increase the number of people in the state who routinely donate blood from 2.5 percent to the national average of 5 percent.
In 2007, New Jersey used 45,269 more units of blood than it collected. In the past, New Jersey has turned to other states when blood was needed. Now, these states are experiencing blood shortages of their own, and this alternative supply is becoming less available.
"Many New Jersey residents are quick to give blood in times of national crises or natural disasters, but we need donations on a regular basis to maintain a stable blood supply for daily medical and emergency needs," said Health and Senior Services Commissioner Heather Howard. "We look forward to help from the New Jersey business community to provide more opportunities for people to donate blood and do it on a more frequent basis to ensure that New Jersey has an adequate blood supply at all times."
Nine out of 10 people will need blood some time in their lives. Blood is in constant demand for treatment of injuries, cancer, and hemophilia and for use during surgery. The act of giving a pint of blood – the standard for blood donations – may save up to three lives. Workplace blood drives provide a convenient way for donors to give blood during the workday without leaving the office. For these reasons, the coalition has adopted the theme that Governor Corzine coined last year, "Save 3 Lives…All in a Day’s Work."
"Workplace donor campaigns are an integral part of our culture at Novartis, and I am proud to be involved as a founding member of this lifesaving task force," said Kevin Rigby, Vice President of NPC’s Public Affairs, and Corporate Chair of the Coalition. "While blood is needed 365 days of the year and is already in short supply, we are entering the summer months – a time of even greater need for blood donation."
There are three major reasons most people give for not donating blood. It’s not convenient; they haven’t been asked; or they are unaware of the need. The Save 3 Lives campaign addresses these issues. Donating blood at the workplace only takes about an hour. Companies that host workplace blood drives generally enable their employees to donate on company time and all employees can be asked to participate. Employers can share information about the need for blood – and the importance of blood donation to public health – through blood drives and corporate communications.
It is especially important to encourage everyone in New Jersey’s minority and multicultural communities to donate at all times throughout the year. As one of the most culturally diverse states in the nation, New Jersey needs to reach out to minority groups as their blood types are often in short supply.
For example, 25 percent of Asians and 18 percent of African Americans have B positive blood type while only nine percent of Caucasians and Hispanics have that type. In addition, some African-American patients have U negative or Duffy Negative blood types, which are rare. Patients with these blood types must depend on other African-Americans to supply this life-saving blood. Workplace blood donor drives offer opportunities to reach diverse ethnic groups.
In addition to NJDHSS and Novartis, the eight founding coalition members are MetLife, Capital One, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, the New Jersey Hospital Association, Virtua Health, Educational Testing Service, New Jersey State Masonic Blood Program and the Blood Bank Task Force of New Jersey.
Their goals include expanding the size of the Coalition by 200 percent in the first year, and ensuring that New Jersey has an adequate blood supply at all times. Doubling the number of residents that donate blood on a regular basis would meet New Jersey’s needs for blood donations.
Sixty percent of the adult population is eligible to donate blood. Specific requirements include being in good health, being at least 17 years old and weighing at least 110 pounds. People taking certain medications are not eligible to give blood. Healthy individuals over 75 years old must have written permission from their physician dated within two weeks of their donation.

Adults Need Their Teddy Bears, Too

Do you take a teddy bear to bed with you at night? If you are an adult, chances are about one in three that you said yes, according to a new survey.
Travelodge, a hotel chain found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland, Canada, and Australia, surveyed 6,000 British adults and learned that many respondents like to end their day with a “comforting and calming” teddy bear. In North America, Travelodge is franchised by Wyndham Worldwide, which has a mascot called Sleepy Bear. Travelodge also has a line of motels called Thriftlodge that has a bear mascot named TJ.

Comforting Teddy Bears

According to Travelodge, 25 percent of men say they take their teddy bear with them on business trips, but apparently many of the travelers have trouble remembering their comfort animals, as the hotel reported having to reunite more than 75,000 bears with their owners last year, and many of the reunions were with adults.
This is not the first time Travelodge has surveyed adults about their need for stuffed, cuddly comfort. In 2007, a survey of 2,000 people found that 63 percent of respondents said they needed a cuddly toy to sleep. Twenty percent of men admitted to cuddling a teddy, compared to 15 percent of women.
The earlier survey also revealed that 8 percent of women said they sprayed their pillow or nightclothes with their partner’s aftershave when they were away from home alone, while only 3 percent of men used their partner’s perfume for the same reason. Nearly 60 percent of people admitted they felt lonely sleeping without their partner, and 16 percent had difficulty getting to sleep.
In the more recent study, Travelodge found that traditional teddy bears are the most popular bedtime cuddle among adults, followed by Winnie the Pooh and Paddington Bear. In the Telegraph UK, Corrine Sweet, a psychologist, noted that cuddling a teddy bear “evokes a sense of peace, security and comfort. It’s human nature to crave these feelings from childhood to adult life.”