“January marks the 53rd anniversary of National Blood Donor Month – a time to recognize the importance of giving blood and platelets while celebrating the lifesaving impact of those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need. It is also a time to encourage new and lapsed donors to resolve to give blood during one of the most difficult times to maintain a sufficient blood supply – the winter months.

This year’s National Blood Donor Month comes as the nation’s blood supply has dipped to concerning levels and could force hospitals to delay essential blood and platelet transfusions. Blood donors of all blood types – particularly type O blood, the blood group hospitals need most – are needed now to give blood or platelets to help meet daily hospital demands.  Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission.”

American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2021/help-save-lives-during-national-blood-donor-month.html)

“Cervical cancer is highly preventable and highly curable if caught early. Nearly all cervical cancers could be prevented by HPV vaccination, routine cervical cancer screening (So it is important for people with a cervix to have regular screening tests starting in their 20s.), and appropriate follow-up treatment when needed. Condoms, which prevent some sexually transmitted diseases, can decrease the risk of HPV transmission. Condoms can assist in prevention. HOWEVER, they do not completely prevent it. Therefore, exposure to HPV is still possible in areas that are not covered by the condom. You can get HPV by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. It is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sex. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during sex. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even when they have no signs or symptoms.”

National Cancer Institute
(https://www.cancer.gov/types/cervical/causes-risk-prevention)

“Doctors assign the stage of the cancer by evaluating the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Staging is based on the results of a physical exam, imaging scans, and biopsies.

After someone is diagnosed with cervical cancer, doctors will try to figure out if it has spread, and if so, how far. This process is called staging. The stage of a cancer describes the extent of the cancer in the body. It helps determine how serious the cancer is and how best to treat it. The stage is one of the most important factors in deciding how to treat the cancer and determining how successful treatment might be.  Cervical cancer stage ranges from stages I (1) through IV (4).  The lower the better.

To determine the cancer’s stage after a cervical cancer diagnosis, doctors try to answer these questions:

• How far has the cancer grown into the cervix?
• Has the cancer reached nearby structures?
• Has the cancer spread to the nearby lymph nodes or to distant organs?”

American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/cervical-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/staged.html)

Hope you had a Safe but Happy New Year’s Eve Weekend and enjoy New Years Day today!!

“New Year’s Eve is an occasion to celebrate but be SAFE, and the last thing you want is a health and safety issues.

The holidays are always a busy time of the year in the Emergency Department,” says Northwestern Medicine Emergency Medicine Physician Steve R. Edelstein, MD, FACEP. “Conditions outside are precarious, and people are inclined to do things they normally wouldn’t do.”

No matter what plans you have in store, keep these tips in mind to help stay safe on New Year’s Eve.

Plan Accordingly  If you’re going to a party or heading to a public event, make plans to arrive and leave with a group. A lot can happen on New Year’s Eve, and you want to ensure you, your friends and family are safe. Be sure to share your plans for the night and communicate your whereabouts if plans change.

To this end, pack a charger for your phone — a portable one may be especially helpful if you can’t find an outlet. Be aware of your surroundings; if you get separated from your group, you will want to know where you are, where you’re going and where you’re spending the night.

A filling dinner is another way to prepare for a long New Year’s Eve night. A wholesome dinner can not only help to absorb some of the alcohol you might indulge in, but it will also help you avoid nibbling on bar snacks.”

North Western Medicine (https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/nye-safety-tips)

“Fun games are a great way to get everyone mingling if you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party. They’re also a fun way to spend time while waiting for the countdown to midnight. Funny stories and questions, heated races, and hunting for elusive holiday items will keep guests on their toes.   Try Taboo Words.  This game penalizes players who say the wrong words. Tell your guests that during the evening the words yes and no are off limits, as well as any words that contain those words, such as yessir, yesterday, snow, and casino. If someone says the taboo words while mingling with other guests, they get a sticker to wear. The guest with the least stickers at the end of the night is the winner.  Try Adult Loaded Questions.  If you’re unfamiliar with the board game Adult Loaded Questions , the idea is to test players on how well they know each other through suggestive and silly questions. An example includes “What would you be willing to do to get out of an expensive speeding ticket?” Feel free to DIY your own version with questions that pertain to the year’s events. If they succeed in making your guests blush, you’ve accomplished the goal of the game.  There is active games like Name that tune; or Who am I?.  How this game works is as guests arrive, have them write a name on a slip of paper and put it in a hat. Use the names of newsmakers from the past year, characters from recent shows or movies, celebrities in the spotlight, or people in the room. To play, divide partygoers into teams. A player from one team chooses a slip of paper from the hat and draws or acts out the famous person listed for their teammates to guess. Limit the amount of tries teams have to guess correctly. The team with the most correct guesses wins.”

Southern Living (https://www.southernliving.com/holidays-occasions/new-years/new-years-eve-party-games)

“On New Year’s Eve

Avoid leaving your car overnight

New Year’s Day is the most active holiday for car thefts. If you must leave your car somewhere overnight, be sure it’s locked and try to pick it up as early as possible the next day. If you do decide to drive home, let someone know when you leave and when you arrive safely at home.

Plan a ride in advance

On average, driving accidents rise during the holidays, so it’s crucial to have a safe ride on a night when so many people are out and about. Don’t assume you’ll be able to hail a cab. Know your options in advance and decide whether you’ll take public transportation, use a ridesharing service or carpool with your friends.

Plan for guests’ safety

If you’re hosting a party, you’ll want to be sure your guests get home safely. One option might be to hire a driver for the evening to provide people a way to get home. Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends, provide additional food or snacks and ensure that guests do not drive after drinking.”

State Farms Insurance (https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/family/new-years-eve-safety-tips)

“The holiday season is just around the corner! The hallmark of most American winter holidays are centered around big, indulgent meals; think Thanksgiving Dinners, Friendsgiving Dinners, Christmas Breakfasts, Christmas Dinners and New Year’s Eve parties. Research shows that Americans gain an average of one to three pounds from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, which can mean a weight gain of 10-30 pounds per decade. This may not seem like a number to be concerned about; however, this type of weight gain left unchecked can increase the risk of other serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. So how do we balance our holiday eating without wrecking the holiday cheer?

The plate model is a guide from Harvard’s School of Public Health for creating healthy, balanced and satisfying plates of food. Here are the basics:

• Make most of your meal vegetables and fruits (1/2 of your plate)
• Go for whole grains (1/4 of your plate)
• Protein Power (1/4 of your plate)
• Healthy plant oils (in moderation)
• Drink water, coffee or tea (skip the sugary drinks)”

Island Health Care Courageously (https://islandhealth.org/healthy-eating-for-the-holidays/)