Take Steps to Prevent Sports Eye Injuries

By Kathy Morley, RN

As your child gets ready for practice, are you sure he has all the protective equipment he needs?

Every year, more than 600,000 eye injuries occur during sports and recreation. Wearing protective eyewear can prevent almost all of these injuries. Wearing "street wear" such as sunglasses and eyewear that do not conform to American Society for Testing and Materials standard F803 can be more risky then having no protection at all. This is because the lenses can shatter, often causing injuries that lead to severe injury to one or both eyes.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends eye protection for the following sports: baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse, paintball, racket sports, skiing and swimming.

Baseball has the highest risk of eye injury for children age 14 and younger. Basketball is the leading cause of eye injury for athletes ages 15-24. A specific type of protective eyewear is recommended for each sport.

Parents must be proactive in protecting their children’s eyes. Insist that your children wear safety glasses, even though many youth teams don’t require them. You, as an adult, also need to be a good example by wearing your own protective eyewear whenever you participate in a sporting activity.

Gastroenteritis

AKA: “Stomach Bug”, “Stomach Flu”
Submitted by Connie Finkle, RN

Over the past few weeks, we have been seeing an increased number of cases presenting with G.I. symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, general body aches & malaise. Initially, cases seemed to be only 24 hours in duration however, latest cases seem to be lasting =/> 96 Hours.

What is gastroenteritis? It can best be described as an inflammation of the stomach and intestines (both small & large) usually caused by a variety of virus or bacteria. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children and infants, especially in the winter months. People contract the germs by consuming contaminated food and/or water, or by breathing contaminated air. A lack of adequate hygiene, especially after using rest room facilities, can also enable transmission through close contact with infected persons. Although all of the cases may not be prevented, there are measures which can be taken to greatly reduce the spread of the symptoms.

Listed below are just some important guidelines recommended to assist in reducing the spread of these “germs”.

• Healthy people should avoid contact with those who are ill.

• Sick children should be kept home from schools or day cares for one week from the onset of symptoms.

• Good personal hygiene should be maintained, especially after using the toilet.

• Any person who attends to a sick person should wash their hands with soap & water and, if possible, an antiseptic solution in addition.

• Proper collection and disposal of garbage.

• Toilets should be disinfected after each use.

• Avoid drinking or eating from shared kitchen utensils

• FINALLY>>>”WASH YOUR HANDS”< “WASH YOUR HANDS”< “WASH YOUR HANDS”

American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3)

The American Cancer Society’s Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance research is starting a historic research study. The goal is to enroll 500,000 men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 years of age who have no personal history of cancer. The purpose of this study is to better understand the lifestyle, behavioral, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer and to ultimately eliminate cancer as a major health problem for this and future generations.

Study enrollment will take place at Relay For Life events in selected communities. Delaware County Relay has been chosen. You will be asked to fill out a survey, have a waist measurement and a small blood sample. A survey will be sent to you every 2-3 years.

This is a grassroots effort where local communities from across the country can support cancer research not just through fundraising efforts like Relay For Life, but also by participating actively in this historic research.

We are seeking Volunteers to assist in the tent as well as participants. If you are interested please contact Kathy Morley, (607) 746-0525

If you are a member of a group we also will give a short presentation.

CenteringPregnancy
Prenatal Care in Support Groups

The CenteringPregnancy Program is a model of empowerment to women to take control of their bodies, their pregnancies, and their families. It is also a model of empowerment to health care providers to share their care giving with their clients.

The CenteringPregnancy Program changes prenatal care by taking the woman out of the exam room and into groups for their care. After they have their initial intake into obstetric care in the office space they are then invited to join groups of other women with similar due dates. The groups form between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy and meet every month then biweekly meetings into the postpartum visit. You will be in a group with other women whose due dates are close to yours.

The women engage in self- activities of weight, blood pressure, and estimation of gestational age. They record this on their chart. With the provider they listen to the fetal heartbeat and measure for uterine growth.

They then meet in a group facilitated by the provider and are able to share in discussing topics of interest to pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, and personal growth. These fifteen hours together over several months allows the provider with an extraordinary opportunity to observe and interact with the group.

This is a pilot program at O’Connor Specialty Clinic for MIBH. Kathy Morely RN, Manager of Specialty Clinics of O’Connor Hospital is assisting Gail Phillips CNM the new Mid-wife at O’Connor in establishing this pilot program starting in January 2009.

For more information, call Kathy Morley at 607 746-0525.