Monthly Archives: October 2011

Happy Halloween!

ZomBieber (image source: mtv)

In the spirit of Halloween, MTV ranked pop stars on their ability to fight back in a zombie war. Of course, Lady Gaga ranked first….who DIDN’T see that coming?! 

Check out the complete list: Zombie Apocalypse Survival Rankings: Pop Stars

But seriously, what if zombies really did exist? Would YOU be able to survive a zombie war? Last May, the CDC blogged about how to prepare for a Zombie Apocalypse.  The entry is both entertaining and informative.  If you’re ready for zombies, then you’re ready for any emergency (natural disasters and pandemics).

Check out the blog! Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse

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Amy Winehouse Died of Alcohol Poisoning

An LA Times article reveals singer Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning, despite allegations that the singer had died from a drug overdose. Though many overlook alcohol poisoning as a major threat to health, alcohol can be lethal in high doses.

According to the article, “the coroner’s report found that Winehouse had consumed 416 milligrams per deciliter of blood. That’s above the potentially lethal dose of 400 mg per deciliter (or a blood-alcohol level of 0.4, five times the legal drunk-driving limit in the U.S.), according to the Mayo Medical Laboratories.”

Alcohol poisoning can be caused by binge drinking, drinking on an empty stomach,  or low alcohol tolerance. Other risk factors can be seen here. In some non-fatal alcohol poisoning cases, people suffer from irreversible brain damage.  If you think a friend has alcohol poisoning, make sure to take him/her to the hospital right away. Symptoms include vomiting, unconsciousness, seizures, and slow breathing. Also, if you think a friend has a drinking problem, make sure to get them help. Alcohol poisoning is highly preventable, so don’t let it happen to you or a loved one.

Know Yo Rights!

If you’re a teen in California, you should make sure to check out this handbook. Did you know that if you’re under eighteen, you have the right to:

  • Birth control or emergency contraception
  • Testing or treatment for STDs/STIs.
  • Pregnancy and prenatal care
  • Abortion services
  • HIV/AIDS testing

Thaaaat’s right! Who knew?! Not many teens, that’s for sure, which leads to statistics like THIS: “Although 15–24-year-olds represent only one-quarter of the sexually active population, they account for nearly half (9.1 million) of the 18.9 million new cases of STIs each year” (Guttmacher Factsheet).

Don’t become a statistic! #Knowyourrights

Lead by Example


And be a part of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week! The goal of NLPPW (October 23-29) is to raise awareness about lead poisoning and to reduce lead exposure.

Leading poisoning is 100% preventable. In fact, the CDC states that it is the most preventable environmental disease among little kids. However, an estimated 250,000 children in the United States have high blood-lead levels.

Did you know that lead pencils aren’t actually made of lead? So misleading, right? Back in 1564, a guy stumbled upon a shiny, black mineral. He called it plumbagoi, which means black lead. This mineral was really graphite and not lead. Anyways, the name stuck. Thus, lead pencils.  And this explains why you cannot get lead poisoning from a lead pencil.

How do children get lead poisoning? Kids like to put things in their mouth: food, toys, hands, and other random objects.  These things are usually covered with lead paint or dust.  The CDC explains that over time lead paint gets ground up into tiny pieces, which become part of the dust and soil.

According to kidshealth.org, lead poisoning can lead to:

  • decreased bone and muscle growth
  • poor muscle coordination
  • damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and/or hearing
  • speech and language problems
  • developmental delay
  • seizures and unconsciousness (in cases of extremely high lead levels)

image source: kim kardashian celebuzz

So to all the big sisters, big brothers, cousins, aunt, uncles, moms, dads, here are some ways to protect your little ones from lead poisoning.

  • Make sure children do not have access to peeling paint or chewable surfaces painted with lead-based paint.
  • Regularly wash children’s hands and toys.
  • Create barriers between living/playing areas and lead sources, such as chipping or peeling paint on walls
  • Prevent children from playing in bare soil; if possible, provide them with sandboxes.

Rock-a-bye Baby

Even James Franco falls asleep in class (image source: fanpop)

Stayed up late to watch funny/stupid YouTube videos? Woke up to a baby puddle of drool in the middle of lecture? Pulled an all-nighter?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might not be getting enough sleep. The CDC recommends 8.5-9.25 hours for 10-17 year olds and 7-9 hours for adults.

Insufficient sleep is linked to chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and depression. It can also cause motor vehicle and machinery related crashes, which often result in substantial injury and disability. Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and unintentional accidents are 4 of the 7 leading causes of death in the United States. As dramatic as it may sound, catching some extra Z’s can help save your life.

More than two-thirds of teens don’t get enough sleep. Sleep-deprived teens are more likely to engage in risky health behaviors such as smoking cigarettes, getting into a physical fight, feeling sad or hopeless, and seriously considering suicide. There is talk of public health policies to delay the start of school so that students can get more sleep. But until that day comes, all you can really do is sleep.

“Pass out at 3. Wake up at 10. Go out and eat and do it again. Man, I love college.” Between the studying and the partying, getting an adequate amount of sleep has become a challenge for college students. Not doing so can impair your memory and concentration. Dr. Adam Knowlden, the lead researcher from the University of Cincinnati, explains, “During sleep, the brain acts like a hard drive on a computer. It goes in and cleans up memories and makes connections stronger, and it gets rid of things it doesn’t need.” So hey, instead of spending the night studying at the student center, how about you just sleep? After a full night’s rest, you’ll be more energetic and productive.

Flash forward 20 years. Now you’re working at some 9-5 job. Bad sleeping habits can decrease your productivity at work. Researchers have projected that more than $63 billion is lost due to poor job performances from insomnia. Insomnia is the inability to initiate or maintain sleep. Dr. Ronald Kessler, Ph.D, a psychiatric epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School, found that in actuality the primary cause of inefficiency was workers showing up too tired to perform their job effectively. Don’t be a waste of space. Sleep earlier. Get money, get paid.

Sleep Hygiene Tips from the CDC:

  1. Go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning.
  2. Make sure your bedroom is a quiet, dark, and relaxing environment, which is neither too hot or too cold.
  3. Make sure your bed is comfortable and use it only for sleeping and not for other activities, such as reading, watching TV, or listening to music. Remove all TVs, computers, and other “gadgets” from the bedroom.
  4. Physical activity may help promote sleep, but not within a few hours of bedtime.
  5. Avoid large meals before bedtime.

And here’s a playlist of modern day lullabies (Bon Iver, Ellie Goulding, Bright Eyes, and more) that will surely send you into a deep slumber.

Good night!

By ALYSSA LLAMAS

A Shaky Matter

image source: mnn

Just two days after the 7.2-magnitude quake devastated regions of Eastern Turkey, CNN reports 459 deaths, 1,352 injured, and 2,262 buildings demolished. But today, a miracle happened. 14-day old Azra Karaduman was rescued from the rubble along with her mother and grandmother. Amidst the wreckage, baby Azra gives emergency personnel hope that there are others out there waiting to be rescued. Click here for the complete article on CNN.

Even though Turkey may be thousands of miles away, there are still many ways that you can lend a hand. Need help brainstorming? Check out these great ideas on how to help. Donations can be made to GlobalGiving, Catholic Relief Services, or ShelterBox.

Unfortunately, earthquake prediction is not yet possible. According to USGS, most earthquakes center around the Ring of Fire (rim of the Pacific Ocean).  However, there is no such thing as an earthquake-free zone. So our best bet is to be prepared.

The CDC states, “During an earthquake, most deaths and injuries are caused by collapsing building materials and heavy falling objects, such as bookcases, cabinets, and heating units.” This is why it is important to know the safe spots in each room of your home, school, and workplace. Get together with your family or roommates and create an evacuation plan. Being prepared ahead of time will help you react correctly and automatically when a quake occurs. Practice makes perfect. An earthquake drill is a great way to ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared.

Here are some tips from the CDC:

  • Get under a sturdy table or desk and hold on to it.
  • If you’re not near a table or desk, cover your face and head with your arms, and
    • stand or crouch in a strongly supported doorway OR . . .
    • brace yourself in an inside corner of the house or building.
  • Stay clear of windows or glass that could shatter or objects that could fall on you.
  • Remember: If inside, stay inside. Many people are injured at entrances of buildings by falling debris.

For more information on preparing for an earthquake, click here.

Happy Food Day!

Check out this website for more news about Food Day…which is TODAY!

Food Day is a chance for the nation to look at what is wrong with American diets and the food system. Food Day advocates healthy meals that are produced in a humane way.  It also aims to alleviate hunger for those who do not have access to meals. Furthermore, Food Day aims to change conditions for farm works and agricultural industries. Food Day can change the way Americans look at food.

There are plenty of events going on today that you can get involved in! If you can’t make any of them, try eating a healthy meal tonight with your family. It might not seem like a lot, but it definitely gets Food Day’s message out. Furthermore, studies have shown that eating with your family will decrease your chances of developing an eating disorder, trying drugs, and  getting bad grades. Check out the eight reasons to make time for family dinner.

Hope YOU have an awesome Food Day!

Attack of the Salad!

Well, not exactly, but the FDA recently announced a recall on bagged salads over concerns of a Salmonella contamination. 3,265 cases of salad (with “best by” dates between Oct. 18 & 21) are being recalled by Taylor Farms Retail of California. States affected include AZ, CA, CO, FL, KY, MO, NM, NY, NC, OR, SC, TX, VA, and WA. If you have a recalled product, don’t eat it, return it.

Salmonella is a bacteria that lives inside the intestines of humans and other animals, such as birds. People usually get Salmonella by eating food, such as beef, poultry, eggs, milk, and vegetables, contaminated with animal feces. I’m 100% sure none of us intentionally eat food garnished with animal poo, so how can we get infected?

Salmonella can survive on raw meat or poultry if it is not cooked properly. If you’re into rare steaks, make sure it’s cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature. USDA recommends 145 °F for beef and pork and 165 °F for poultry. Also, be careful when making a side salad for that steak. Salmonella can spread if raw juices from the meat come into contact with the veggies. It’s important to thoroughly wash your hands, knives, cutting boards, utensils, and counters  after handling uncooked foods. For more tips on food safety, click here.

Our four-legged pals can also spread Salmonella. So wash your hands animal lovers. Reptiles are more likely to harbor Salmonella. Sorry Ms. Frizzle.

image source: current

According to the CDC, there are at least 40,000 Salmonellosis cases each year.  Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, which develop 12 to 72 hours after infection. Usually, the illness lasts 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment.  In more serious cases, antibiotics or hospitalization may be required.

I’ll leave you all with a fun fact. Salmonella was named after the American scientist, Salmon, who discovered it. Salmonella, a fishy matter indeed.