Get Healthy De Soto

…having a long-lasting positive impact on the health and safety of the De Soto community by encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, through programs promoting physical activity, healthy nutrition, weight control and disease and injury prevention.

Grilling Safety

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According to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), July is the leading month for grill fires. It’s time to review some safety tips to ensure you’re staying safe. Here are some good guidelines:

  1. Grill outside and away from any structures. Remember, grills are for outdoor use only, and you need to be mindful of overhanging tree branches, porticoes, and railings.
  2. Make sure your grill is stable.
  3. Keep your grill clean. Remove grease buildup from the grill, and be sure to allow charcoal and ash to cool completely before disposing of them.
  4. Check for propane leaks on your gas grill. Not sure how? Check this out.
  5. If the flame goes out, wait to re-light. A good rule of thumb is to turn the gas off and wait 5 minutes before attempting to re-light it.
  6. Take care around the grill, especially with children. Don’t allow kids or pets to play near the grill. Never try to move a lit or hot grill, and remember the grill will stay hot for at least an hour after use.
  7. Be careful with charcoal starter fluid. A chimney starter might take longer, but it is much safer.
  8. Wear the right stuff. “King of the Grill” aprons are very nice, especially if you just received it from your favorite daughter for Father’s Day. However, tuck in those strings, along with loose shirttails, sleeves, and your fancy lanyard that holds your instant-read thermometer.
  9. Be ready to put out any fire. Baking soda is handy to control grease fires and a fire extinguisher is a good idea too. A bucket of sand can be substituted as well. Just don’t use water on a grease fire. You’ll ruin your fancy apron!

Remember: keep you and your family safe this summer by following these simple guidelines. According to the NFPA, an average of 10,200 house fires are started each year by grills, so stay safe. 

(Tips courtesy of Nationwide Insurance.)

Click here for more safety tips.

Men’s Health Week

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The week leading up to Father’s Day is National Men’s Health Week. Men: it’s a great time to take stock of your health because avoiding intervention due to illness is really important. The goal should be to not need an intervention. Or if you’re a woman, this week is a great time to let the men you care about know that they’re not alone in their quest for good health. Three things to do:

  1. Eat well
  2. Exercise regularly
  3. Stop smoking

These are very basic and get repeated ad nauseam, but isn’t keeping things simple sometimes the best option. Doing these three things can help you avoid disease later in life. According to the CDC, heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death in men, so this time of year is also a perfect time to learn a little more about signs and symptoms that you might see in dear old dad.

Heart disease

Know the signs of a heart attack and if you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Major signs of a heart attack include:

  • Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back
  • Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Pain or discomfort in arms or shoulder
  • Shortness of breath
Cancer

Regular check-ups are important. Talking to your doctor can help determine if initial screenings for certain cancers are warranted. Doctors are also great about reminding you that, “Yup, you’ve had a birthday since you saw me last. Although you’re in good health for someone who is 50, it’s time to schedule your first colonoscopy.” (Heckler cheers and comments go here for Muppet fans.) Of course, if you don’t have a doctor that you see regularly, finding a good primary care physician would be your first step. If you don’t have a primary care physician, you might consider stopping by the DeSoto Farmers’ Market between 9 am and 3:30 pm on June 24th or June 25th. The health department’s Mobile Health Center will be parked there those days, and in addition to basic screenings, they offer additional resources for finding a regular doctor. To find out where they’ll be on other days, check out their website.

World Blood Donor Day

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With World Blood Donor Day fast approaching, now is the perfect time to consider becoming a life-saving hero. On June 14th the world will celebrate World Blood Donor Day to thank those who donate blood and to raise awareness of the ongoing need to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply.

Here’s the breakdown…

The Need

  • Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion.
  • Only 38% of the population is eligible to donate blood and of that group only 10% donate.
  • Blood products are an essential part of care for individuals with cancer, traumatic injuries and chronic illnesses.
  • Approximately 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.

The Supply

  • 1 donation can save up to 3 lives.
  • Donated blood expires after just 42 days.
  • 66 countries report collecting less than 10 donations per 1,000 people.
  • Despite many medical advances blood products cannot be manufactured.
  • 45% of the blood supply comes from individuals age 50 or older.

The Process

  • Registration – sign in, ID verification, basic eligibility questions.
  • Health History – answer questions about your medical and travel history, have your vital signs and iron level checked.
  • Donation – recline on a comfy cot while a specially trained blood center staff member draws your blood, a quick pinch is all you will feel, your donation will be complete in about 10 minutes.
  • Refreshments – enjoy a snack, cool drink and relish in the satisfaction of giving a life-saving gift.
  • Recovery – You’ll be on your way and back to your normal routine in as little as 15 minutes.

As you have read the need for blood is great and continual. The supply can easily be depleted; however, the process of donation is simple. Please consider being a blood donor. Lives depend on it.

How to locate a blood drive near you –

Article written by Sarah Warncke, RN.

Sources:

American Red Cross

U.S. News & World Report

World Health Organization

Swim Safety

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Photo courtesy of Benjamin Miller

Monday marked the opening of many swimming pools, and cooling down, lounging, and playing in water couldn’t be a better indicator that school is out and summer is in. This is a good time to review pool and water safety, especially for young children.

After birth defects, drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1 to 4.

Toddlers are especially susceptible because of their curious natures. There are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of drowning. Here are the top 3:

  1. Talk to your children. They might not fully understand the dangers of being around water, but they will recognize the importance you place on water safety, especially if it is reaffirmed frequently.
  2. Pool Fence. The current recommendation is for a 4′ high fence on all four sides of the pool with slats that are no more than 4″ apart. (Wider slats can allow small children to slip through.) Think that’s unsightly? There are some very nice options, but I agree that a plain wooden slat fence isn’t the most attractive item around your summer oasis. You can always tell the neighbors that you’re protecting them from your mother-in-law’s cellulite or your peg-leg sister’s skinny dipping proclivity. If they have kids though, it is better to tell them it is to protect their children.
  3. Alarms. There are pool alarms, door chimes, and gate alarms that can add a layer of protection. Most toddler drownings occur when adults think the child is in the house or not around the water. The allure of the pool though is often too great for inquisitive toddlers though, and a chime on the door leading to the pool or an alarm on the gate surrounding the pool can alert parents or caregivers.

Toddlers are not alone for increased risk of drowning. Although the risk decreases, it again rises for adolescents (15-19 years old) who have the second highest fatal drowning rate of any age group. This doesn’t exclude teenagers that are good swimmers either.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has more information about water safety on their website. Please review your knowledge of pool safety in an effort to keep kids safe around water this summer.

Arthritis Awareness Month

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One in four adults have arthritis. In fact, arthritis is the leading cause of disability among adults in the U.S. The economic implications are staggering, especially when you consider that many people with arthritis also have other chronic conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Of course, the personal tribulations of these 54 million people with arthritis is something that many of us deal with on a daily basis. Stiffness can lead to difficulty with daily tasks. Opening things like shampoo and those incredibly tiny caps on toothpaste that somehow weld themselves on become things that require adaptation or assistance. The inability to grip your spoon to stir you coffee…well, you can see the degree of frustration this creates, not to mention the physical pain that is sometimes constant.

If you have arthritis, the best thing to do is be an advocate for yourself and manage your care by working with your doctors. If you don’t have arthritis, that’s where Arthritis Aware Month comes into play. Educate yourself about the symptoms of arthritis and talk with family members or friends that might be suffering. (Early diagnosis and treatment is very important with arthritis.) If you know someone with arthritis, you can help support them by being knowledgeable about simple diet and exercise strategies that can help mitigate some symptoms or alleviate flares.

You might also consider taking part in a Walk to Cure Arthritis or Jingle Bell Run, both of which raise money for arthritis research through the Arthritis Foundation.