HEALTH BULLETINS BETTERSAFE WELCOA’S ONLINE BULLETIN FOR YOUR FAMILY’S SAFETY

Burn Awareness Week A HOT TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT

Things are heating up and it’s not just because Valentine’s Day is around the corner. National Awareness Week is February 7-13 and now is a great time to learn about common types of and how to prevent them. Talk with your doctor if you have HOW BURNS ARE CLASSIFIED & any concerns about your health. COMMON CAUSES

When watching medical dramas, oftentimes you will hear the doctors talk about the degrees of a burn, but not always what caused it. It’s important to discuss both COMMON TYPES OF BURNS when you are talking about burn awareness. » Friction Burns: When a hard object rubs off some of your . This is both a scrape and a heat burn. Burns are classified in four degree categories: » Damage caused to skin by freezing » 1st Degree: Damage to the outer layer of skin. The Cold Burns: site is red, painful, dry, and with no . it or coming in direct contact with something very cold for a long period of time. Also called . » Damage to the outer layer and part of 2nd Degree: » the lower layer of skin. The site is red, blistered, may Thermal Burns: Touching a very hot object raises be swollen, and painful. the temperature of your skin to the point the cells start to die. » Damage to the outer layer, lower 3rd Degree: » layer, and may go into the inner most layer of skin. Radiation Burns: A is actually a type of The site may look white, black, leathery, or charred . X-rays or can also with widespread thickness. cause these. » Damage caused when strong » 4th Degree: Requires immediate medical care. Chemical Burns: Damage to both layers of the skin and underlying acids, solvents, or detergents touch your skin. tissue as well as deeper tissue, possibly involving » Electrical Burns: If you come into contact with muscle and bone. Thee is likely no feeling in the an electrical current, it is classified as an electrical area due to damage to nerve endings. burn.

1 of 2 HEALTH BULLETINS

BURN PREVENTION TIPS: OUTSIDE OF THE HOME

» Hot surfaces are not just in your kitchen, they are outdoors too. As the old saying goes, “it’s hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk” it’s too hot for your toes too! Make sure to protect your feet and your pet’s paws on hot sidewalks and asphalt. » Stand at least 3 feet away from hot outdoor objects such as grills and fire pits. Keep the area clear of trip hazards and limit alcohol consumption around these objects. » As the temperatures start to drop in your area, dress in several layers of loose warm clothing and cover any exposed skin with hats, boots, gloves, face coverings, etc. to avoid frostbite. Do not ignore shivering. That is the first sign the body is losing heat. Go indoors.

BURN PREVENTION TIPS: INSIDE THE HOME

» Unplug electronic devices when they are not in use. » Have a kid-free zone at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or beverages are prepared or carried. » Gas fireplace glass doors can reach excessive temperatures (1,300ºF / 704ºC). Serious burn injuries from the hot glass can happen in less than one second. Use safety gates and install screen barriers to keep your home safe.

REFERENCES http://ameriburn.org/prevention/burn-awareness-week/ https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/types-degrees-burns#1

2 of 2 HEALTH BULLETINS

Go Red For Women Day FEBRUARY 5, 2021

By the time you finish reading this article, 3-4 women will have died from cardiovascular disease. That is one every 60 seconds. It is the #1 killer of women.

To help empower and educate women to take charge of their heart health, in 2004 the American Heart Association created the Go Red for Women® campaign. The goal was to save more lives through awareness and improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent. Talk with your doctor if you have KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR 3. Shortness of breath with or any concerns about without chest discomfort. your health. Though heart attacks and strokes are life-or-death emergencies and every second counts, many women 4. Breaking out in a cold sweat, are likely to ignore or dismiss the signs and symptoms. nausea, or lightheadedness. If you or someone you are with are showing any of the following symptoms, call 911 immediately. Stroke Signs and Symptoms

HERE IS WHAT TO LOOK FOR PER THE Men and women share some common stroke symptoms AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION including:

Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms 1. Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. 1. Discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. It is common for women to 2. Trouble speaking or understanding speech. minimize or blame these symptoms on a different cause. 3. Vision problems in one or both eyes.

2. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain 4. Loss of balance/coordination or trouble walking. in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. 5. Severe headache with no known cause.

1 of 2 HEALTH BULLETINS

Women may also experience more subtle warning signs including:

1. General weakness or fatigue

2. Confusion, disorientation, or memory problems.

3. Nausea or vomiting

GETTING INVOLVED

Raising awareness about cardiovascular disease doesn’t have to put stress on your time or budget. There are several different ways you can help yourself and others this month to get up, get moving, and get into action. “The life you save could be the life of someone you can’t bear to live without. It might even be your own.” American Heart Association

Shop Go Red For Women (https://www.shopheart. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES org/go-red-for-women-collection?affiliate_id=111193 &prodgroup=5547&fname=Go+Red): The purchase of every official Go Red for Women® product goes to How To Prevent Heart Disease After Menopause support the campaign and its fight to end heart disease https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart- and strokes in women. disease-in-women/preventing-cardiovascular-disease/ how-to-prevent-heart-disease-after-menopause Social Media: Take a photo of yourself in red on February 5 and tag the Go Red for Women® campaign. Real Women: Sharing Stories Of Survival Encourage others to share and like your photo plus take https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart- one of their own. Have your office wear red to support disease-in-women/real-women and share it on the company’s social media sites. Andia Winslow: Kitchen Workout Make Your Workplace Healthier: Walk with https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/healthy-living/go- coworkers on breaks or try walking meetings. Whether red-get-fit/andia-winslow-kitchen-workout considering snacks or meals for work, choose healthy foods. Get plenty of activity during the day by standing Sleep, Women and Heart Disease up, stretching, or doing a quick 15-minute workout or https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/healthy-living/go- yoga session. red-get-fit/sleep-women-and-heart-disease

Volunteer: Did you know there are volunteer opportunities starting at age 13? You can be an advocate for change. Host a fundraising event, participate in life- saving research, plus support heart patients and their caregivers. To learn more about these opportunities visit: SOURCES: https://www.heart.org/en/volunteer/opportunities https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/about-heart-disease-in-women/signs-and-symptoms-in-women

2 of 2 HEALTH BULLETINS

Organ & Tissue Donation 3 WAYS YOU CAN SAVE LIVES

Since 1988, there have been 750,000 transplants performed and when surveyed, 95% of Americans are in favor of being a donor. But only 58% are actually registered. How can you help bridge the gap?

Let’s take a look at the facts:

» While you are reading this, another person has been added to the national transplant list Talk with your » By the end of today, 22 people will have died while doctor if you have waiting for a transplant. any concerns about your health. » Approximately 120,000 men, women, and children are on the transplant waiting list. That is more than the largest football stadium in the US can hold. To help them understand the process, here is a brief These can seem like overwhelming numbers. You may overview of what will happen according to the Organ be asking yourself, will my donation really make a Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN): Once a difference? person dies, the search for a matching recipient begins. The surgical team removes the organs, cornea, skin, and The answer is yes. By registering to be a donor, your bone as authorized and the incisions are closed. This organs can save up to 8 lives, your corneas can restore eliminates the common fear that you will not be able to sight to 2 people, and your tissue donation can be given have an open-casket funeral. to up to 75 people. That is 85 families impacted by one decision. The distance between the organ donor and the recipient plays a major factor on the donation process along with #1: REGISTER TO BE AN ORGAN & TISSUE blood type and the size of the organs. The heart and DONOR can only survive outside of the body for 4-6 hours and a liver can survive 8-12. Another critical factor is There are two quick and simple ways to become a how long a recipient has been on the waiting list and donor. You can say yes on your driver’s license or go to if they are currently healthy enough to receive the www.registerme.org. Registration takes less than a transplant. There are 58 local Donation Service Areas minute. These will serve as legal consent. Before filling and 11 regions used in the US for organ donation. out the forms, make sure you discuss your decision with your family, friends, and caregivers. 1 of 2 HEALTH BULLETINS

To read more about how the allocation process works WHAT CAN I DONATE AS A LIVING DONOR? and history behind organ donation including when the first transplant was performed, visit: https://optn. Does not require hospitalization, can be done at anytime: transplant.hrsa.gov/learn/about-transplantation/. » Blood: https://www.redcrossblood.org/ #2: FULL BODY DONATION » Platelets: https://www.redcrossblood.org/ giveplatelets.html Body donation to science or to a university is used to » Plasma: https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate- further medical knowledge and advancements. Scientists blood/dlp/plasma-donations-from-recovered-covid- are able to advance understanding of disease and 19-patients.html development of new treatments and medical students » Hair: https://locksoflove.org/faq/ are able to master their comprehension of the complex anatomy of the human body with such donations. Requires hospitalization:

Donating your body to science is not the same as being » One of two kidneys an organ donor. It is more complicated in that there » One of two lobes of the liver is no single organization or network that oversees the » One or part of a lung process of matching donors with research programs and » Part of the pancreas medical schools. The decision for body donation should » Part of the intestines be researched and the steps to do so will depend on where you live or what type of program you want your » Skin gift to benefit. Use this list of body donation programs » Bone (after knee or hip replacements) by state to view what is available where you live: » Healthy cells from and umbilical cord https://ieds.online/body-donation-programs-by-state/. blood » Amnion fluid (donated after childbirth) #3: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE DECEASED TO DONATE: LIVING DONORS QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PHYSICIAN AND Did you know that in 2019, living donors made a record TRANSPLANT CENTER 7397 organ donations in the United States? This passes » What does the evaluation process include? the old record set in 2004 by over 400+ donations! » What are the emotional and psychological aspects of living donation? Living donors are typically between the ages of 18- 60 and do not have a history of high blood pressure, » What should I know about the financial aspects associated with donating? diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, or heart disease. They are evaluated by the transplant center to ensure they are » What information should I share with my support system? physically, emotionally, and psychologically ready for the process. » Who are all the members of my transplant team including surgeons, doctors, nurses, and aids? What are their roles in my care? The decision to become a living organ or tissue donor is not an easy one. There are many factors to be » Will we still be able to connect post-surgery? What are my options for support? considered for both the person donating and the person receiving the donation. We’ve pulled together a few common questions about the process and we recommend if you are considering this type of donation, to work with your physician on this important life-changing decision.

2 of 2 HEALTH BULLETINS

Making An Impact On Rare Disease Day

There are over 300 million men, women and children worldwide living with one or more of over 7,000 identified rare diseases. Do you or a family member have one or know someone who does?

SOME QUICK FACTS TO THINK ABOUT

» 1 in 20 people will live with a rare disease at some point in their life. » More than 90% of rare diseases are without an FDA approved treatment. » Many rare diseases result in the premature deaths of infants and young children or are fatal in early childhood. disease. With its distinctive markings symbolizing both individual uniqueness and community strength. » Over 500 types of rare cancers. Individuals, organizations, and groups are encouraged to ‘show their stripes’ in support of Rare Disease Day in » All pediatric cancers are rare. a variety of ways.

HISTORY BEHIND RARE DISEASE DAY 5 WAYS TO SHOW YOUR STRIPES ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2021 The first Rare Disease Day was on February 29, 2008 in Europe. Being a leap year, it brought a special 1. Share your story with https://rarediseases.org/ significance to the cause since it is a rare date that shareyourstory/ and inspire others with your happens once every four years. The United States joined personal experiences. in 2009 lending support with over 100 other countries to bring attention to this cause and share its impact 2. Wear striped gear and share on social media with on patient’s lives. Now, each year on the last day of the hashtag #showyourstripes, #rarediseaseday February, the rare disease community comes together to raise awareness on Rare Disease Day. 3. Check out your state’s report card (https:// rareaction.org/resources-for-advocates/state- ZEBRA: THE OFFICIAL US MASCOT OF RARE profiles/) to see how your state is stacking up. If you don’t like what you see, reach out to your state’s DISEASE DAY representatives and let your voice be heard. Forget birds, bees, or even bears—the zebra is the official US mascot for those suffering from a rare

1 of 2 HEALTH BULLETINS

4. Encourage your company or organization to collaborate on a major striping concept for Rare Disease Day. For example, wrap a train car in stripes, drape your workplace’s lobby in striped banners, light up the exterior of a building with stripes or arrange to take a photo of a large number of you and your colleagues assembled in stripes. 5. Print and color this zebra coloring sheet (https:// rarediseases.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ nord-rddus-zebra-coloring-sheet.pdf) and share your art on social media.

Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about your health.

2 of 2