Sport Purple for Platelets Day

Autoimmune diseases occur when the body attacks normal, healthy parts of the body. One type of autoimmune disease is immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). A person is diagnosed with ITP if their platelet count is lower than 100,000/microliter of blood and has no other reasons for low counts. Normal platelet counts range from 150,000-400,000/microliter of blood. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting which is important when we get cuts or other circulatory system trauma. Low platelet levels cause bleeding conditions including spontaneous bruising, tiny red dots on skin, and, in women, strong menses. More severe conditions are blood blisters in mouth and bleeding in the brain. ITP is usually the general diagnosis with low platelets, but there are over 200 main diagnoses, called secondary ITP.

There is no specific cause of ITP, and it can vary among individuals, but there are several treatment options. Each treatment option works differently on each individual and they also depend of the severity of the condition. Some of these treatments include antibiotics, chemotherapy, corticosteroids, platelet growth factors, and transfusions.

Transfusions are a common treatment option, but they cannot happen without platelet donations! Platelets are needed every 30 seconds for patients, and platelets must be used within 5 days. That is why is is important to encourage platelet donations as often as possible. You can donate platelets 24 times as the process is very different than donating blood. Each platelet donation can allow transfusions for 2-3 patients! In order to donate platelets, you must make an appointment. Donating platelets takes up to 3 hours (including health history and setting up equipment), but the chances of feeling sluggish afterwards is very slim (and it uses a smaller needle than the ones used for normal blood donations!). The closest location to donate platelets is located at United Blood Services in Fargo, ND. If you have questions or wish to make an appointment to donate, call United Blood Services at (800) 917-4929. Another thing to consider is that there are plenty of people who are unable to donate any blood due to their own autoimmune disorders, other health conditions. If you are unable to donate platelets, or if needles just aren’t your thing, you can make a monetary donation to support research and awareness by clicking on the following link.

http://www.pdsa.org/contribute/item/1150.html

 

Sources:

https://www.pdsa.org/component/finder/search.html?q=platelet+donations&Itemid=214

http://www.redcrossblood.org/platelets/

World Heart Day 2016 is September 29!

Each year, Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is responsible for 17.5 million deaths, making it the number one cause of death. No wonder the World Heart Federation came together to create their World Heart Day platform! The main idea is to “Power Your Life.” There are four parts to this idea:

1. Know your risk. It is important to know your blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Knowing these will give you and your doctor the information you need in order to create a plan to have a healthy heart.
2. Fuel your heart. Sometimes just a couple diet changes can work tremendously in improving heart health. Limiting prepackaged foods, alcohol, and sugar will make a big difference. It is also important to incorporate fruits and vegetable into your meal every day.
3. Move your heart. Aerobic, strengthening, and stretching exercises are all recommended for good heart health. 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five times a week is the preferred amount of exercise.
4. Love your heart. One of the best things to do for good heart health is to avoid smoking. Benefits of quitting smoking begin the second you stop!

This link provides great information about heart health and awareness!

http://worldheartday.org/

Image Source: http://www.yogadayquotes.com/world-heart-day-2015-poster-wallpapers-for-facebook-whatsapp-87

September is National Preparedness Month 2016

September is the month to ready yourself for any unforeseen events. Put together a survival kit for a flood or earthquake. Map escape routes from your home in the event of a fire. Stock your vehicle with a shovel and blankets for winter. Put together a first aid and disease prevention kit to take with on trips or simply keep around. Taking the time to prepare for various kinds of emergencies can make the difference in safety and survival. “Don’t Wait, Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today” is the slogan for this years campaign. It serves as a reminder that preparedness is the best protection. Youth, elderly, and those with disabilities or accessibility issues should pay special attention to National Preparedness Month (NPM). Certain accommodations may need to be made to ensure safety and planning ahead will save time and maybe even your life.

Each week of the month has a theme and special method of helping to prepare for any emergency.

Promote NPM: August 28- September 3, Kickoff to National Preparedness Month

Week 2: September 4-10, Make a family emergency communication plan.

Week 3: September 11-17, Honor 9/11 by getting involved in your community and planning with neighbors.

Week 4: September 18-24, Take individual steps to prepare for a disaster today like downloading the FEMA app.

Week 5: September 25-30, Be counted and register your preparedness event for National PrepareAthon Day!

For more preparedness resources visit the link below.

https://www.ready.gov/september

 

Image Source: https://www.fema.gov/media-library/multimedia/collections/537

Blog Source: https://www.ready.gov/september

 

 

Dragon Athletics

Dragon athletics are well into their seasons with many events to come! This week, Volleyball will be the only sport with home events. They will be taking on Wayne State Friday (9/23) at 7pm and Augustana on Saturday (9/24) at 4pm. Go and support your fellow Dragons! Home events are FREE if you bring your Dragon ID!

For away events this week, Soccer will be playing at Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 6pm, Golf will be at Southwest Minnesota State University Invite in Marshall Saturday and Sunday, Cross Country will be at the University of Minnesota Roy Griak Invitational, and Football will be playing at Minnesota State University Mankato.

Homecoming is coming quick and will be here before we know it! This year, Homecoming is October 2-9. Don’t forget to attend the athletic events! Home events include Volleyball vs. Bemidji State Friday (10/7) at 7pm, Volleyball vs. Minnesota Crookston Saturday (10/8) at 3pm, and Football vs. Minnesota Crookston at 6pm.

To help you out with some school spirit, the Bookstore is promoting Touchdown Tuesday. Discounts are given on Tuesdays and the discount amount depends on how many touchdowns the football team gets. Stay up to date with this promotion and check out the awesome deals! Also consider trying out the Dragons App’s current promotion “Season of Cash.” This promotion gives you the chance to win cash when you show up to Dragons events! This link will provide you with more information:

http://msumdragons.com/sports/2012/9/12/GEN_0912125820.aspx

The following link gives you all the Dragon Athletic events. Take a look, support the athletes, and show off your Dragon spirit!

http://msumdragons.com/calendar.aspx

 

Flu Vaccination-Give it a Shot!

Flu season is here! It’s that time of year where many people start to consider getting a flu vaccination. Unfortunately, many people will take on the flu season without getting vaccinated. Here are a few reasons why you SHOULD get vaccinated for the flu:

Getting vaccinated will:

• reduce your risk of getting the flu.
• lessen the severity of the flu if you happen to get it.
• protect those who cannot get vaccinated due to age and diseases.

In the past, the flu vaccination was available by injection or nasal mist. However, experts are advising to avoid the mist this season as it has very low effectiveness. This is of very high concern and many distributors are not even selling it and clinics are not ordering it. They recommend to stick with the shot.

This video is of Dr. Barbara Matthees explaining why the MSUM School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership requires the flu vaccination.

Getting vaccinated not only protects yourself, but everyone around you, too. Be proactive and get your flu shot today!

 

Sources:

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pediatricians-give-thumbs-down-flumist-flu-vaccine-n643461

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm

Click to access flu-vaccine-benefits.pdf

National Food Safety Month

September is National Food Safety and Education Month. Included in this month would be cross-contamination, proper refrigeration, and proper surface cleaning. You may think that Food Safety is something that you only need to worry about in restaurants, but proper food safety also needs to be evaluated in the home. Refrigerators are common household items that may be a culprit when it comes to household food safety concerns. Recent studies have shown that almost 43% of household refrigerators are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considered a “danger zone” for bacteria growth. It also shows that many produce bins are among the most contaminated areas in a kitchen containing both salmonella and listeria. To keep you and your family safe, you should clean out your fridge often with warm soapy water. In all settings, especially food service and health care, hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of bacteria. Both areas also put extra emphasis on the cleanliness of counters and other counter-like surfaces.

Here in Moorhead there is an organization that lets locals farm their own crops. It’s Probstfield  Organic Community Garden. They have 100 plots available for rent, so anyone interested gardening their own crops have an opportunity to do so. It is important to remember to that, if you have a plot or you buy from our local farmers’ markets, while there aren’t many, if any, major pesticides the food still needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

To learn more:

http://www.foodsafetymonth.com/Home

https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/2015/09/food-safety-myths.html

http://probstfieldcommunitygarden.weebly.com/

Apply to MSUM’s RN to BSN Program Today!

MSUM is accepting RN-BSN nursing applications from motivated RNs seeking to earn the baccalaureate degree. With the BSN, you can more greatly impact patient outcomes, advance your career, and consider graduate school one day. Obtaining a BSN opens up many opportunities for career advancement. Nurses with this degree are in high demand and the field continues to grow! If you are curious about this degree check out some of the many reasons its a great day to be a Dragon!

WHY MSUM ???

Ø  Flexibility with totally online delivery, semi-annual admission, and progression at your own pace (average part-time completion: 2 years)

Ø  National accreditation since 1981 through CCNE to ensure the highest academic rigor to advance your career – and/or be accepted into graduate schools one day

Ø  A smart investment by delivering a nationally recognized and highly reputable BSN more affordability than any in the area (e.g. compared to other public, for-profit, private institutions)

Ø  Meaningful connections and readily accessible faculty who are well equipped to manage an online learning environment

Ø  Spring application deadline: March 15 (summer/fall start)

Ø  Fall application deadline: October 15 (spring start)

Learn more:

1. Visit the RN-BSN program website | https://www.mnstate.edu/snhl/bsn.aspx
2. You will note a separate link for the RN-BSN Program Admission & Application information.
3. Call or email to get your questions answered with ease. 218.477.2693 | nursing@mnstate.edu

 

National Suicide Prevention Week

Does the number 13 mean anything to you? For many people, 13 is considered an unlucky number. This number is omitted from the floors of buildings, hospital rooms, and, in some cities, the names of streets. Many people and places try to avoid this number because of the bad luck it brings, but now the number 13 will have a new meaning to you. According to the American Association of Suicidology, almost every 13 minutes someone dies from suicide.

What can we do to lessen the frequency of this statistic? One way is to know that signs. Clinical researchers have come up with a mnemonic that you may have heard of before: IS PATH WARM. This stands for Ideation, Substance abuse, Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopelessness, Withdrawal, Anger, Recklessness, and Mood changes.

There are plenty of events to spread the awareness of suicide. On September 10, the campus is encouraging everyone to wear yellow for Suicide Awareness Day. The best way to go about suicide is to prevent it! Being educated on suicide and reporting signs when you see them is so important!

If you or someone you know is thinking about or showing suicidal signs, there are many places to get help!

The Hendrix Clinic and Counseling Center is available Monday-Friday from 8am-4:30pm. The number is 218-477-2211.

The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24/7. This number is 1-800-273-8255.

Always remember that in emergencies you should call 911.

No matter who you are, your life matters and there is always someone wanting and waiting to help!

 

Site sources:

http://www.suicidology.org/ncpys/warning-signs-risk-factors

http://www.dare.org/santa-monica-police-sergeant-brown-gets-hero-award/

Labor Day 9/5- No Classes!

Many people associate Labor Day with a day off, and that is exactly what this holiday is all about! It is a day for workers to sit back and be proud of the hard work they put into our country. It is also a time to think about those workers who do not get the day off for our protection and care, such as police officers and healthcare providers.

The very first Labor Day was celebrated back on September 5, 1882, but it was only celebrated in New York City. As the years went on, this idea spread throughout the country. During those years, Labor Day was assigned to the first Monday in September. Soon after, it became a legal holiday in the U.S. and District of Columbia on June 28, 1894.

Nobody really knows who the exact person that came up with this idea is, but is has narrowed down to two men, Peter McGuire and Mathew Maguire. Fortunately, we don’t need to know whose idea it was in order to celebrate this holiday. So remember, there are no classes on Monday, September 5th! Enjoy the day off and have a great 3-day weekend!

 

Site sources:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/blogs/fl/The-Purpose-and-History-of-Labor-Day.htm

No school – Labor Day