security lapse at National Book Store
On May 29, 2008, the person inspecting bags, at street entrance to National Book Store at Robinsons Ermita, didn't (1) inspect well my trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements; (2) inspect my waist bag, which was large enough to contain deadly weapons. From said store, I proceeded to other parts of said mall, but nobody inspected said trolley luggage or waist bag.
Advisory re person identified as Hector M. Reyes, who wrote in the Manila Bulletin style weekend magazine. If will benefit customers to, before believing any claims said person makes about cosmetics, require him to produce proofs, that what said person claims about cosmetics, is true.
CPSC Urges Consumers to Prepare for Dangers After the Storm
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08291.html
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2008
Release #08-291 CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
CPSC Urges Consumers to Prepare for Dangers After the Storm
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC is urging consumers to include a plan for after the storm.
If a storm knocks out power, consumers who use portable gasoline generators to restore power can place themselves at risk
for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Only use portable generators outdoors, far away from the doors, windows and vents of
indoor spaces. Generators should never be used indoors, including inside homes, garages, basements, crawlspaces and sheds.
The amount of CO from one generator is equivalent to hundreds of idling cars in a garage and can kill consumers in minutes.
At least 65 people died from CO poisoning associated with portable generators in 2006.
CPSC also advises consumers to keep charcoal grills outside. Never use them indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of CO.
If flooding occurs after a storm, do not use gas or electrical appliances or equipment that has been submerged. The electrical components and safety controls may be damaged and burner parts may be plugged with debris, leading to a fire
risk. Have fireplaces, furnaces, and other heating equipment inspected by a professional to make sure they are working properly.
CPSC recommends that consumers install CO alarms in their homes as a line of defense against CO poisoning. Battery operated CO alarms or plug-in alarms with battery back-up add an important layer of protection in consumers’ homes. Remember to replace CO alarm batteries annually.
For more information on protecting your family against CO poisoning, visit www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/464.pdf and www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/468.html
(800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to
https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
Information about children and secondhand smoke:
ttp://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/smokeexposure/
Remarks as prepared; not a transcript.
Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H
United States Acting Surgeon General
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Remarks at press conference to launch Children and Secondhand Smoke Exposure - Excerpts from The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
10:00 a.m.
Washington, D.C.
Children and Secondhand Smoke Exposure
We're here today for one simple reason: the health of our children is at risk in this country-at risk from the proven, undisputed dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Sadly, children are powerless to protect themselves from this risk.
But we are not.
Parents, healthcare professionals, educators, caregivers, business owners, community leaders, and all of us in the public health community must act-and we must act now-to protect children from this very real threat.
Fortunately, we possess the scientific information we need to do just that and effectively safeguard the health and wellbeing of our young people.
The Surgeon General's 2006 report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, concluded without equivocation that secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children.
Specifically, the report finds that children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (or SIDS), acute respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, middle ear disease, more severe asthma,
respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
The California Environmental Protection Agency has estimated that 430 infants nationwide die each year from SIDS as a result of secondhand smoke exposure and that another 202,000 episodes of asthma and 790,000 doctor visits for ear infections each year are attributable to this exposure as well.
Further, the Surgeon General's Report concluded that there is quite simply no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure, and-perhaps most disturbingly-the report documents that children in this country are more heavily exposed to
secondhand smoke than nonsmoking adults.
In fact, the Report finds that 60 percent of U.S. children aged 3-11 years-nearly 22 million of our young people- are exposed to secondhand smoke.
This is unacceptable.
They are exposed to this health hazard in the places where they spend most of their time: at home, in cars, at child care centers, and in a multitude of public places including restaurants.
As parents, neighbors, healthcare professionals, and government officials-as a society-we want nothing but the best for our children. We want them to be safe and to grow up healthy.
Yet, we continue to allow our children to regularly breathe a substance that contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals.
We are allowing them to be exposed for hours at a time to a substance that makes healthy children sick and sick children even sicker.
We can do better.
Starting this morning, it is my hope that we can refocus the nation's attention on the need for immediate action to protect children from this totally preventable health hazard.
Today we are announcing two new educational resources and two major national initiatives that are intended to provide parents, pediatricians, childcare providers, and community leaders with the facts and tools they need to keep our children
safe.
We are fortunate to be joined by Daniel Schneider, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families; Elizabeth Cotsworth, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air; and
Dr. Jay Berkelhamer, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who will be announcing two ambitious national initiatives to reduce children's secondhand smoke exposure.
I am confident that these initiatives, which they will detail for you shortly, will act as catalysts for other organizations to launch their own efforts to address this serious public health problem.
The first publication we are releasing today consists of key excerpts from the 2006 Surgeon General's report: The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke.
This special excerpt documents the various ways in which secondhand smoke exposure harms children's health and details approaches that are effective in protecting children. The findings in this excerpt provide the scientific foundation for our efforts in this area.
We are also announcing a new resource entitled Sabemos, the Spanish phrase for "We Know."
Sabemos is a bilingual, culturally competent resource developed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help Hispanic/Latino families protect their children from secondhand smoke exposure.
Sabemos is an excellent example of how we can translate the science into culturally appropriate and accessible messages that can be effectively delivered into people's homes and communities.
Now I will turn it over to Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families, Daniel Schneider, and Director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Elizabeth Cotsworth. Their announcement will be followed by Dr. Jay Berkelhamer, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
[Daniel Schneider and Elizabeth Cotsworth, followed by Dr. Jay Berkelhamer speak at the microphone]
Thank you. We certainly look forward to these initiatives truly making a difference in our children's lives.
As we've just heard, we all have a role to play in making the places in which our children live, learn, and play smoke-free. The ways to achieve this are not complicated, nor are they beyond our reach. In fact, they're quite simple.
*
Let's make our homes and vehicles smoke-free at all times. If there are
smokers in your family, they should always go outside to smoke. Opening a
window is not enough.
*
Let's be certain that our children's day care centers and schools are 100%
smoke- and tobacco-free.
*
Let's do our best to bring our children to public places like restaurants that
are completely smoke-free.
*
Let's insist that no one smokes around our children.
Finally, let's remind smokers that the single best step they can take to protect both their family's health as well as their own is to quit smoking.
While quitting can be difficult, a number of proven resources are available to help?including a range of FDA-approved medicines and the National Network of Quitlines, which is accessible by calling 1-800-QUITNOW. And smoke-free home rules
not only keep our children safe, but also make it easier for smokers to quit.
In closing, I must point out that we have achieved great progress in this nation in protecting nonsmoking adults from secondhand smoke by dramatically reducing their exposure. At the same time, children continue to represent a disproportionate burden from this exposure.
While the new publications and initiatives we've announced today represent very real steps forward in the fight to protect our children from secondhand smoke, we all have a role to play and an obligation to act if we are to make greater strides
still.
By "connecting the dots" and working together, we can educate parents and caregivers, empower health care providers, and inspire community leaders to make informed decisions that will protect all children in this country from the serious health
effects of secondhand smoke.
Last revised: September 18, 2007
Related Websites
* Office of Public Health and Science
* U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
* Medical Reserve Corps
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services · 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. · Washington, D.C. 20201
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/factsheets/factsheet2.html
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children are Hurt by Secondhand Smoke
* Secondhand smoke contains more than 250 chemicals known to be toxic or
carcinogenic (cancer-causing), including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride,
arsenic, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide. Children who are exposed to secondhand
smoke are inhaling many of the same cancer-causing substances and poisons as
smokers.
Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke in Children
* Because their bodies are developing, infants and young children are especially
vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke.
* Both babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant and babies who are exposed to
secondhand smoke after birth are more likely to die from sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS) than babies who are not exposed to cigarette smoke.
* Mothers who are exposed to secondhand smoke while pregnant are more likely to
have lower birth weight babies, which makes babies weaker and increases the
risk for many health problems.
* Babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant or who are exposed to secondhand
smoke after birth have weaker lungs than other babies, which increases the risk
for many health problems.
* Secondhand smoke exposure causes acute lower respiratory infections such as
bronchitis and pneumonia in infants and young children.
* Secondhand smoke exposure causes children who already have asthma to experience
more frequent and severe attacks.
* Secondhand smoke exposure causes respiratory symptoms, including cough, phlegm,
wheeze, and breathlessness, among school-aged children.
* Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for ear infections
and are more likely to need an operation to insert ear tubes for drainage.
Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Among Children
* The Surgeon General has concluded that there is no risk-free level of
secondhand smoke exposure. Even brief exposures can be harmful.
* On average, children are exposed to more secondhand smoke than nonsmoking
adults.
* Children aged 3-11 years and youth aged 12-19 years are significantly more
likely than adults to live in a household with at least one smoker.
* Children aged 3-11 years have cotinine levels more than twice as high as
nonsmoking adults.
* Children who live in homes where smoking is allowed have higher cotinine levels
than children who live in homes where smoking is not allowed.
Information contained on this highlight sheet has been taken directly from The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. For more information, please refer to the Resources and How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Secondhand Smoke highlight sheets. Additional highlight sheets are also available at www.cdc.gov/tobacco.
Last revised: January 4, 2007
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services · 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. · Washington, D.C. 20201
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/factsheets/factsheet3.html
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Secondhand Smoke
* The Surgeon General has concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful.
* The Surgeon General has concluded that the only way to fully protect yourself
and your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke is through 100%
smoke-free environments.
* Opening a window, sitting in a separate area, or using ventilation, air
conditioning, or a fan cannot eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.
* You can protect yourself and your loved ones by:
o Making your home and car smoke-free.
o Asking people not to smoke around you and your children.
o Making sure that your children’s day care center or school is smoke-free.
o Choosing restaurants and other businesses that are smoke-free. Thanking
businesses for being smoke-free. Letting owners of businesses that are
not smoke-free know that secondhand smoke is harmful to your family’s
health.
o Teaching children to stay away from secondhand smoke.
o Avoiding secondhand smoke exposure especially if you or your children
have respiratory conditions, if you have heart disease, or if you are
pregnant.
o Talking to your doctor or healthcare provider more about the dangers of
secondhand smoke.
* If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family from secondhand
smoke is to quit smoking. In the meantime, you can protect your family by
making your home and vehicles smoke-free and only smoking outside. A smoke-free
home rule can also help you quit smoking.
Information contained on this highlight sheet has been taken directly from The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. For more information, please refer to the Resources and How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Secondhand Smoke highlight sheets. Additional highlight sheets are also available at www.cdc.gov/tobacco.
Last revised: January 4, 2007
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services · 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. · Washington, D.C. 20201
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/factsheets/factsheet4.html
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the Home
* The home is the place where children are most exposed to secondhand smoke and a
major location of secondhand smoke exposure for adults.
* Children who live in homes where smoking is allowed have higher levels of
cotinine (a biological marker of secondhand smoke exposure) than children who
live in homes where smoking is not allowed. As the number of cigarettes smoked
in the home increases, children’s cotinine levels rise.
* Although secondhand smoke exposure among children has declined over the past 15
years, children remain more heavily exposed to secondhand smoke than adults.
* Secondhand smoke exposure in the home has been consistently linked to a
significant increase in both heart disease and lung cancer risk among adult
nonsmokers.
* The Surgeon General has concluded that eliminating smoking in indoor spaces is
the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure.
Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings
cannot completely eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.
* Smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles can reduce secondhand smoke exposure
among children and nonsmoking adults. Some studies indicate that these rules
can also help smokers quit and can reduce the risk of adolescents becoming
smokers.
Information contained on this highlight sheet has been taken directly from The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. For more information, please refer to the Resources and How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Secondhand Smoke highlight sheets. Additional highlight sheets are also available at www.cdc.gov/tobacco.
Last revised: January 4, 2007
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services · 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. · Washington, D.C. 20201
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Security lapses on May 28, 2008 at Ayala Center Makati; about Maurice Arcache ; backpacks for kids
security lapses at Ayala Center, Makati
on May 28, 2008
On May 28, 2008, security guard, identified as Pasaqumat, at entrance (near National Book Store) to Park Square 1, didn't inspect my trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. Then, on said date, security guard, at street entrance near Park Square 1, to Glorietta 1, didn't inspect said trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. The guard, at the second level entrance to National Book store at Glorietta, didn't inspect said luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. The guard at the second level entrance to SM Makati, from Glorietta, didn't inspect said trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. Said guard was identified as Pedrajas. The guards, at entrances to SM Supermarket and SM Department store at SM Makati, on said date, didn't inspect said trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements.
advisory re Maurice Arcache:
He was identified as the source of the following allegations which were published on May 27, 2008 in the May 27, 2998 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.
(1) "Pond's CLA4 Complex . . . visibly reduces fine lines, wrinkles and age spots in just seven days"; (2) "I've noticed that most of the newly built homes or remodeled ones are all using Bticino switches and socket lines." What proof, if any, does said Arcache have, to support his claim that most of the newly built homes or remodeled homes are all using said brand of switches and socket lines? I challenge said Arcache to cause to be published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (1) certification from a reputable, unbiased, independent entity that said Arcache actually witnessed the alleged visible reduction, by said product, of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots in seven days. (2) the complete addresses of all the newly built homes and remodeled homes, if any, that he allegedly visited; (3) certification, from an independent, unbiased entity, that said Arcache actually visited most of the newly built homes or remodeled homes. (3) a complete list and addresses of all the newly built homes or remodeled ones that are allegedly using Ticino switches and socket lines.
web sites with free useful info
U.S. Transportation Security Administration
http://www.tsa.gov/
* For Travelers
* 3-1-1 for Carry-Ons
* Customer Service
* Air Travel
* Highways
* Maritime
* Mass Transit
* Railroads
What To Know Before You Go
Permitted and Prohibited Items
* What Can I Bring?
* Body Piercings
* Makeup, Medication, Personal Items & Special Needs Devices
* Electronic Devices
* Sharp Objects
* Sporting Goods
* Guns & Firearms
* Tools
* Martial Arts & Self Defense Items
* Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items
* Food & Drinks
Other Items
Item Carry-on Checked
Gel-type candles No Yes
Gel shoe inserts - Gel shoe inserts are not permitted, but shoes constructed with gel heels are allowed and must be removed and screened. Read more on our shoe screening policy. No Yes
Non-flammable liquid, gel, or aerosol paint Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container Yes
Flammable liquid, gel, or aerosol paint No No
Snow globes and like decorations regardless of size or amount of liquid inside, even with documentation.
coralreefalliance org
http://www.coralreefalliance.org/
digicamreview
http://www.digicamreview.com/
Lumix FX35 reviews
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/
photography review
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/
The following web sites had free information about the alleged harmful effects of sun blockers on coral reefs:
www.news.com.au/
www.cosmeticsdesign.com/
http://www.physorg.com/news130762664.html
ubs.acs.org/subscribe/
ecosystem-preservation.suite101.com/
http://www.coralreefalliance.org/
http://www.neatorama.com/2008/02/05/sunscreens-are-killing-coral-reefs/
Sunscreens are Killing Coral Reefs!
When it comes to sunscreen, it seems that it’s your health or the coral reefs’. A new study finds that sunscreen ingredients are killing coral reefs:
Four commonly found sunscreen ingredients can awaken dormant viruses in the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that live inside reef-building coral species.
The chemicals cause the viruses to replicate until their algae hosts explode, spilling viruses into the surrounding seawater, where they can infect neighboring coral communities.
Zooxanthellae provide coral with food energy through photosynthesis and contribute to the organisms’ vibrant color. Without them, the coral "bleaches"—turns white—and dies.
"The algae that live in the coral tissue and feed these animals explode or are just released by the tissue, thus leaving naked the skeleton of the coral," said study leader Roberto Danovaro of the Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy.
The researchers estimate that 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers annually in oceans worldwide, and that up to 10 percent of coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching.
The following web sites had free information about backpacks for kids:
http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:6ZDo20jHss8J:cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=98
The following is the html version of the file http://cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf.
To link to this page, use the following url: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:6ZDo20jHss8J:cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=98
The Proceeding of the XVI Annual International Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Conference '2002
This is the html version of the file http://cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf.
Page 1
The Proceeding of the XVI Annual International Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Conference '2002
1
Are Backpacks Making Our Children Beasts of Burden?
Karen Jacobs
Boston University Department of Occupational Therapy 635 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215 (617) 353-7516 FAX (617) 353-2926 kjacobs@bu.edu
Abstract: More than 40 million US students carry school backpacks. Increasingly heavy
school backpacks are putting the nation’s students at risk and may be causing long-term damage to their growing bodies. Occupational therapy practitioners work with children and can advise parents on ways to avoid backpack-related problems.Both organizations’ Web sites and a brochure available at L.L. Bean, retail outlets, offer tips for parents and children on choosing the correct backpack design, loading, and wearing backpacks.
In the U.S., it is estimated that more than 40 million youths carry their school materials in backpacks (Wang, Pascoe, Weimar, 2001). Everyday these youths carry backpacks filled with books, bottles of water, laptop computers, and other items that create a strain on their growing bodies. In 1999,the use of backpacks resulted in more than 6,000 injuries in the U.S. alone (Pascoe, Pascoe, Wang,Shim, 1997; Hamilton, 2001). Approximately 23% of elementary youths and about 33% of secondary
school youths complain of backaches (Roth, 2001). Despite recent media coverage and concerns of health professional, such as occupational therapy practitioners, regarding heavy backpack use by children, there is a paucity of research on its effects.
Three important factors in school backpack use: selecting a pack,loading a pack, and wearing a pack.
Selecting a pack
Choose a pack that's appropriate to the child's size and age. School backpacks come in different sizes for different ages. Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. The shoulders and neck are rich in blood vessels and nerves that when constricted can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms, and hands. Choose a pack with a waist belt to be fastened for extra support and to help transfer the weight from the shoulders to the body's trunk and hips.Consider a pack with reflective trim to increase visibility of kids who carry the school backpack in the evening.When shopping for a school backpack, take along books and other materials that the child would carry to judge how each pack varies when fully loaded.
Loading a pack
Never allow a child to carry more than 15% of his or her body weight. That means a child who weighs 100 pounds should not carry a school backpack that weighs more than 15 pounds. Load heaviest items closest to the child's back. Pack items neatly and organized to keep books and materials from sliding around in the pack, shifting the weight. If a pack is too heavy, consider using one on wheels.
Wearing a pack:
Always wear both shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly. Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can cause a person to lean to one side and curve the spine.
Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles between the shoulders. The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child's waistline.
=============================================================================================================================
http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:SPiSPYlYA-AJ:www.montclair.edu/detectives/curriculum/docs/4.4arts1.doc+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=121
This following is the html version of the file http://www.montclair.edu/detectives/curriculum/docs/4.4arts1.doc.
Adapted from “Heavy Backpacks Harmful to Students, Simmons Study Says,” Boston Globe, February 13, 2001, by Scott Greenberger.
Heavy Backpacks Harmful to Students, Simmons Study Says
Though most students are used to the burden, a new study suggests many are doing themselves harm.
Fifty-five percent of the Massachusetts children surveyed by researchers at Simmons College typically carry loads heavier than 15 percent of their body weight - the limit recommended by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Though the researchers couldn't definitively draw a connection, one-third of the 345 children in grades 5 through 8 surveyed reported back pain that forced them to see a doctor, miss school, or skip athletic activities.
The students, who were recruited through Healthnet, a statewide Internet health education program, weighed themselves and their backpacks under the supervision of teachers.
"If your head is kind of like a turtle in a forward position, that will cause pain and make you more vulnerable to injury," said Shelley Goodgold, associate professor of physical therapy at Simmons. "We know that putting the backpack on will make you more vulnerable."
Though a heavy backpack isn't healthy for anyone, children are particularly susceptible to injury because their bodies are still developing, Goodgold said.
Ninety-four percent of the students in the -study carried standard two-strap backpacks, and most said they used both straps. But only 4 percent used the hip belt recommended by health professionals. Packs designed to give better support, such as those with metal frames, weren't popular among the middle school students.
The Simmons study comes amid growing concern about heavy packs. In Melrose, school officials sent a letter to parents warning them about heavy backpack burdens. Northeastern University researchers have tapped Beverly High School students for their study on backpack back pain. And the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that in 1999, more than 800 youngsters were treated in emergency rooms for backpack-related injuries.
"They shouldn't make us take all this stuff around," said 11-year-old Sean White, who looked like he might be swallowed up by his black backpack as he stood outside
Richard J. Murphy School in Dorchester. “When I go to sleep sometimes, my back hurts." But a heavy backpack isn't all bad, according to White. He said it comes in handy when he has to swing the pack at his 13-year-old sister.
Adapted from “Backpack May Spell Backache,” Current Health, September 2000, by Tamra Orr.
Backpack May Spell Backache
It hangs around with you almost every day. It manages to handle whatever you throw into it. It's cool. It's convenient. It's your backpack!
But guess what? The facts are in: Backpacks can be dangerous! Yep, that handy backpack just might be your own personal ticket to lots of back problems in the future.
"We are seeing students in the fourth and fifth grades who are complaining about backaches, fatigue, and (physical) stress," says Russell Windsor, M.D., a surgeon at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Windsor is an expert in orthopedics (or-tho-PEED-ix; having to do with the prevention or correction of skeletal deformities).
What causes the complaints Dr. Windsor hears from kids? Backpacks that don't fit properly, backpacks that weigh far too much for kids to be carrying safely, and backpacks that are worn with the weight unevenly distributed.
How much are kids carrying on their backs? Many of them are carrying more than 25 percent of their overall body weight, and that is just too much. Experts like Dr. Seymour Zimbler - Associate in Orthopedic Surgery at the Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts - recommend that you carry no more than 15 percent of your total body weight, and preferably less than that. What does all that mean? If you weigh 80 pounds, your backpack should not weigh more than 12 pounds. If you weigh 100 pounds, your backpack should tip the scales at less than 15 pounds. Any more than this will cause a lot of wear and tear on the muscles, joints, and ligaments of your shoulders, neck, and spine. That can mean pain today and real back problems in the future.
"If you have a 90-pound female carrying a 20-pound backpack, then the backpack weight becomes a medical issue," says Dr. Charlotte Alexander, an orthopedic surgeon in Houston. "We found one 10th grade female student with a backpack weighing 47 pounds!"
How much does your backpack weigh? Bring out the bathroom scale and find out. Put all the books you usually carry in it and then put it on the scale. Is it less than 15 percent of your weight? If you're like most kids, the answer is no.
Adapted from “Overstuffed Backpacks Are Giving Children Adult-Like Back Pain,” The Wall Street Journal, April 6, 2002, by Tara Parker-Pope.
Overstuffed Backpacks Are Giving Children Adult-Like Back Pain
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY is weighing in on the debate about the amount of homework students are asked to do. The diagnosis: The problem isn't how much homework kids have, but how much they are carrying.
Doctors say they are seeing a growing number of children suffering serious back pain as the result of carrying around overloaded backpacks. Because children's spines are still growing, many fear the heavy packs and tilted gait they cause could lead to long-term back problems.
Injuries associated with backpacks have more than doubled during the past five years. More than 6,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for injuries related to lugging heavy backpacks-and most are under 14 years of age.
The phenomenon even prompted the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations to declare April National Backpack Safety month.
A study by Akron General Medical Center weighed the backpacks of more than 400 fourth and fifth graders. The average pack weighed about 14 pounds. More significantly, the fourth graders were carrying about 15% of their body weight, while the fifth graders were carrying, on average, 17%.
MANY KIDS, however, carried far heavier bags. The study found that nearly a quarter of the children carried a backpack weighing more than 20% of their body weight. The equivalent would be a 180-pound man carrying nearly 40 pounds on his back, several times a day, five days a week.
"This is too much weight for kids to be carrying around," says Heidi Frasure, hospital research coordinator and one of the study's authors.
The trend is particularly troubling because children are now complaining of aches and pains that 'historically haven't shown up until people hit their 30s or 40s.
"Unfortunately children are carrying backpacks that are 25, 30 and 40% of their body weight," says New York City chiropractor John Vilkelis. "As the backpack gets heavier, they alter their posture more, they lean forward to support the weight, and it can cause all kinds of different injuries to their back and neck."
Andrew B. Marsh, physical therapist at the University of Michigan spine program, says he has seen kids as young as five or six complaining of back pain.
The problem, he says, is one of repetitive strain. Overloaded backpacks are carried by kids on their way to the bus stop, from the bus to the school, between classes, and on the way home – every day, five days a week.
Adapted from “School Backpacks Can Be Painful Burden,” Health Scout News, September 17, 2001, by Nancy A. Melville.
School Backpacks Can Be Painful Burden
Homework can place a heavy burden on kids in more ways than one. Experts warn that the load can be more than just a pain in the neck if proper backpack usage isn't followed. Injuries related to backpacks, in fact, accounted for more than 13,260 visits to hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices and clinics last year, according to estimates and projections of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Although backpacks are still a highly recommended way of carrying books around, the improper use of them may defeat their purpose, explains Dr. Angela D. Smith, an orthopedic surgeon at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The problem is that many children using backpacks these days either don't use backpacks that meet the recommended parameters or don't use them appropriately, Smith says.
Among the most important recommended features are that backpacks have padded straps and a waist or hip belt. These devices prevent strain on the shoulders and help stabilize the pack in place. Straps are helpful to cinch in books that would otherwise sag out the back.
But just as important, Smith adds, is how books are placed inside the pack. If books are placed flat, or fall flat, as opposed to being upright, that's when problems with back strain can occur. But with the load positioned lengthwise and extending away from the body, your position must be altered or aches and pains can result, adds Dr. David L. Skaggs, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital, Los Angeles.
"The further backwards you have the weight, the more it pulls you backward, so as a result you have to lean forward," he says. "The important thing is to have the heaviest stuff right against your back to keep the center of gravity above your pelvis," he adds.
Another problematic book-carrying practice is carrying a pack or bag on just one shoulder, says Skaggs. "If books are being carried with only one strap, it's an asymmetrical load that's placed on the back. And we know from long-term studies that asymmetry and leaning to one side is probably linked to back pain." Muscle strain is the main problem, explains Smith. You'll get some pain in your back and the body's response to the pain is to shut off the muscles or make them spasm. Then the muscles weaken because they've been in pain and now they can do even less work, so it becomes a downward spiral. Smith encourages building strength in abdominal and back muscles through exercises like stomach crunches, because simply being physically fit may not help alleviate backpack pain problems. Skaggs adds, however, that the daily chore of carrying the backpack around itself is often enough to build up the proper muscles. "The best exercise is probably just doing it," he says.
Even proper positioning can be undermined if a backpack is simply overloaded, however, the experts say. But proper weight limits can differ with each individual, Smith notes. "I steer away from making any recommendations in terms of how much weight should be carried because what works for one person may be completely different for another," she says. "My recommendations to kids are simply the same things I learned growing up about camping, and it's the same thing the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts will tell you: Pack everything you need and then take away half of it," she adds.
Adapted from “Backpack as a Daily Load for School Children,” The Lancet, December 4, 1999, by Stefano Negrini, Roberta Carabalona, and Paolo Sibilla
Backpack as a Daily Load for School Children
34.8% of Italian schoolchildren carry more than 30% of their bodyweight at least once a week, exceeding limits proposed for adults. Given increasing evidence of back pain in children, the time has come to propose some limitations to backpack load.
Repetitive loading of the spine is a risk factor for low back pain not only in adults but also for children. The load that children most commonly carry is their school bag or backpack. Most studies of this issue have been published in non-indexed journals and have various limitations. Nevertheless, some results suggest that the backpack could be a factor contributing to low back pain in schoolchildren with sufferers carrying backpacks for more time and experiencing greater fatigue and difficulty. We aimed to quantify the absolute and bodyweight-related backpack load carried daily by schoolchildren.
We studied children in the school catchment area of Bresso, Milan. We ascertained the weight of the backpacks of all the year 6 children at school (n = 237, average age 11.6 years, 119 girls). The data were collected daily on 6 days at school (from Monday to Saturday) over a period of 3 weeks. The days included were not shown to the children or to teachers. The average load and the maximum load of the backpacks was calculated for each child, for the week, and the average of these measurements calculated for the total population.
Sixty-one girls attended our institute for further assessment after their parents gave informed consent; they were assessed by a single specialist in pediatric orthopedic rehabilitation with medical scales.
The average load carried daily by schoolchildren was 9.3 kg, and the maximum load was 11.5 kg. The average load was 22% of bodyweight and the maximum load was 27.5% of bodyweight; 34.8% of the pupils carried more than 30% of their bodyweight at least once during the week.
The average load and maximum load being carried by children are equivalent to an 80 kg man carrying daily a backpack with an average load of 17.6 kg and a maximum load of 22.0 kg (or for a 60 kg woman, 13.2 kg and a 16.5 kg, respectively). In Italy, labor laws restrict the maximum load that can be lifted during work to 30 kg in men and 20 kg in women. The limits are 20kg and 15 kg for workers aged 15-18 years. The USA recommended limit for adults is 23 kg, which is deemed to protect 99% of men and 75-90% of women. No limits have been developed for application in schools; the limits usually proposed for children, although scientifically unproven, (10-15% of bodyweight) are widely exceeded in everyday life.
Rates of low back pain in children are approaching those seen in adults. Although the economic importance of the problem is small at this age, the lack of certified limits for backpack carrying is shortsighted. Previous studies have shown that the backpack load contributes to low back pain in childhood, and our results suggest that a decrease in this load is advisable.
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http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:CqILcUBh1aEJ:www.csmc.edu/pdf/CSISD-BackpackSafetyPR-2004.pdf+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=125
The following is the html version of the file http://www.csmc.edu/pdf/CSISD-BackpackSafetyPR-2004.pdf.
Media Contact: Kelli Hanley
E-mail: kelli.hanley@cshs.org
Telephone: 1-310-423-3674
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 11, 2004
BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY: AVOIDING BACKPACK INJURY
Tips for helping your kids to wear their backpacks safely
LOS ANGELES, August 11, 2004 – Despite parents’ best efforts to protect their children from getting hurt,one of the greatest sources of potential injury often gets overlooked even when it’s in plain sight: the backpack. Considered the most efficient way to carry books and other items that kids need for school, when it’s overstuffed, it may actually be causing the pain and fatigue that as many as 50 percent of kids today are experiencing. “Although there are a number of causes for back pain in school-age children, many kids are carrying backpacks that weigh more than 15 percent of their body weight,” said Avrom Gart, M.D., a Medical Director at the Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders. “Over time, children carrying this kind of weight
can develop serious back pain and other problems that can require treatment.” Compared to satchels or briefcases, backpacks are typically safer for kids because they distribute weight evenly across the body and are supported by the back and abdominal muscles. Furthermore, children and teens prefer them because they are fashionable, hold more items, and come with multiple compartments that help them to stay organized. But despite their usefulness, a major study reported by the American Physical Therapy Association has found that more than 50 percent of children surveyed carry backpacks heavier than 15 percent of their body weight.“To manage the load, children sometimes arch their backs or lean forward, causing them to develop poor
posture as they grow,” said Dr. Gart. “Children should carry no more than 15 percent of their body weight on their backs.” Wearing a backpack on one shoulder can also cause the child to lean to one side to compensate for the extra weight and can result in an asymmetrical spine, back pain, and a strained shoulder and neck. In severe cases, children can develop a condition called “scapular winging,” when the nerve that supplies the shoulder muscle becomes pinched, causing paralysis.“If you notice that one of your child’s shoulder blades is not moving or not symmetrical, a doctor should be consulted immediately,” said Dr. Gart.To help your child wear backpacks safely, Dr. Gart recommends the following: 1. Wear no more than 15 percent of your body weight. Work with your child to determine how much weight should be carried in his or her backpack. Weigh each item separately, so that your child can determine which items should be carried versus what can be left at home. 2. Keep backpack use limited to necessities only. See that your child cleans out his or her backpack
daily by removing any items that can be left at home or in a locker. 3. Use both straps. Make sure that the weight of your child’s backpack is evenly distributed across the back to promote good posture and to avoid shoulder strain and/or a pinched nerve. 4. Recognize signs that the backpack is too heavy. Pay attention to whether your child is slouched or leaning to one side when wearing a backpack or is experiencing any type of back pain, tingling or numbness in the shoulders or arms.
5. Select the proper backpack. Enhance comfort and safety by purchasing a backpack with multiple compartments, so that weight is more evenly distributed. Padded straps can also help to prevent straps from cutting into shoulders. Newer backpacks with wheels are also an option, provided that the handle extends long enough to allow children to stand upright while pulling it. The backpack and wheels must also be sturdy enough so that it does not topple over. 6. Pick up the backpack properly. Teach your child how to pick up his or her backpack by demonstrating how to bend at the knees and grasp the pack with both hands before putting it on. “Kids and parents alike need to remember that while backpacks are a great tool to carry and keep track of items children need for school, they must be used properly to avoid injuries,” commented Dr. Gart.
###
SOURCES: Avrom Gart, M.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; American Physical Therapy Association (www.apta.org);
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http://fcs.tamu.edu/health/child_health/choosing_a_backpack.php
Choosing the Correct Backpack for Your Child
It‘s that time of year again—back-to-school time! Many parents and children prepare for that first day of school by doing some back-to- school shopping, which often involves buying new clothing, pens, pencils, paper, markers, etc. However, backpacks are one of the biggest necessities for both college-aged and younger students, and it‘s important to choose wisely.
There are so many backpacks to choose from, and choosing the right one for your child is not always easy. Backpacks come in all sizes, colors, fabrics, and shapes—all of which help kids express their own sense of style. As practical as backpacks are for those who use them, backpacks can cause strained muscles and joints and back pain when worn incorrectly.
The human spine is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae, and between the vertebrae are discs that act as shock absorbers. When something heavy—such as a backpack filled with books—is incorrectly placed on your child‘s shoulders, the force of that extra weight can pull your child backwards. To compensate, your child may bend forward at the hips or arch his or her back, which can cause your child‘s spine to compress unnaturally. Because of the heavy weight he or she is carrying, your child might begin to develop shoulder, neck, and back pain. What can we do about this? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that before you purchase a backpack, look for the following five criteria:
* Choose a lightweight backpack that doesn‘t add a lot of weight to your child‘s load. For example, although leather backpacks look cool, they weigh more than traditional canvas backpacks.
* Choose a backpack with two wide, padded shoulder straps. Straps that are too narrow can dig into shoulders.
* Choose a backpack that has a padded back, which provides increased comfort and protects the wearer from being poked by sharp edges (such as pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the backpack.
* Choose a backpack that has a waist belt, which helps distribute the weight more evenly across the body.
* Choose a backpack that has multiple compartments, which also helps distribute weight more evenly.
Although most backpacks come with two shoulder straps, this doesn‘t mean that your kids will use both straps! Many kids wear their backpacks over just one shoulder, which is the wrong thing to do. This makes the person lean to one side to offset the extra weight, and they might develop lower and upper back pain and strain their shoulders and neck. Wearing the backpack incorrectly can also lead to poor posture. So, make sure your children wear the backpack using both straps. It‘s also a good idea to tighten the straps enough for the backpack to fit close to the body, and it should sit 2 inches above the waist.
Girls and younger children may be especially at risk for backpack-related injuries because they‘re smaller and may carry loads that are heavier in proportion to their body weight. Doctors recommend that people—especially children—carry backpacks that are no more than 10–15 percent of their body weight. For example, if a child weighs 80 pounds, 15 percent of his or her body weight is 12 pounds. So, for an 80 pound child, the backpack and its contents should not weigh more than 12 pounds—but remember, lighter is always better.
Lifting and Positioning Backpacks
Children also need to know how to lift and position their backpack. Improper lifting can cause damage. Teach your children these four simple steps to safely lift their backpacks:
1. Face the backpack before you lift it.
2. Bend at the knees.
3. Using both hands, check the weight of the backpack.
4. Lift with your legs, not your back.
5. Carefully put one shoulder strap on at a time; never sling the backpack onto one shoulder.
Another Option
Another option to consider when purchasing backpacks is to look for a backpack on wheels. However, these types of backpacks may be less practical than traditional backpacks because they‘re difficult to pull up stairs. If you‘re thinking about purchasing a rolling backpack for your child, contact the child‘s school first to be sure that they are allowed. Many schools don‘t allow rolling backpacks because they pose a tripping hazard in the hallways.
By following these guidelines, your child will start off this school year with a healthy back!
Last updated: 8 April, 2008
http://www.essortment.com/family/kidsbackpackss_soip.htm
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/healthy-living/parenting/school-age-kids/school-learning/backpack-safety-children
http://childcare.about.com/cs/generaladvice/bb/backpack.htm
ww.webmd.com/parenting/features/kids-backpacks-101 - 100k -
http://www.spine-health.com/Conditions/Back-Pain/Backpacks/Backpacks-And-Back-Pain-In-Children.html
www.healthycomputing.com/kids/backpacks.html
http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/medicaldepartments/orthopaedics/backpacks/index.html
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/school-age-kids/activities-sports/backpacks/backpacks-for-kids-405/overview/
http://www.sickkids.ca/kidshealth/fall2001vol2issue3/backpack.asp
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/backpack.html
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00043
www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/school_stuff/backpack.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51548
http://www.sailgb.com/c/childrens_backpacks/
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/briefs/childrenshealth/hb051212a.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/50140.php
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&id=2324&np=286
http://www.promoteot.org/AI_BackpackStrategies.html
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/your_child/wellness_index.jsp?id=-8850
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/school_backpacks_-_choice.html/context/363
http://www.accessibility.com.au/news/bad-backs-are-headed-back-to-school-overloaded-backpacks-to-blame-for-back-pain-in-children
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=83507
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-rock-positano/backpacks-can-cause-back-_b_63007.html
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/backpacks.shtml
http://orthopedics.about.com/b/2004/03/06/childrens-backpacks-can-cause-back-problems.htm
blogs.webmd.com/healthy-children/2006/01/back-to-school-backpacks-and-backaches.html - 27k -
http://www.pediatricsnow.com/metrowest_pk_archive/jul_26_2005_choose_right_kids_backpack.htmlhttp://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/backpacks
on May 28, 2008
On May 28, 2008, security guard, identified as Pasaqumat, at entrance (near National Book Store) to Park Square 1, didn't inspect my trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. Then, on said date, security guard, at street entrance near Park Square 1, to Glorietta 1, didn't inspect said trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. The guard, at the second level entrance to National Book store at Glorietta, didn't inspect said luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. The guard at the second level entrance to SM Makati, from Glorietta, didn't inspect said trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements. Said guard was identified as Pedrajas. The guards, at entrances to SM Supermarket and SM Department store at SM Makati, on said date, didn't inspect said trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements.
advisory re Maurice Arcache:
He was identified as the source of the following allegations which were published on May 27, 2008 in the May 27, 2998 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper.
(1) "Pond's CLA4 Complex . . . visibly reduces fine lines, wrinkles and age spots in just seven days"; (2) "I've noticed that most of the newly built homes or remodeled ones are all using Bticino switches and socket lines." What proof, if any, does said Arcache have, to support his claim that most of the newly built homes or remodeled homes are all using said brand of switches and socket lines? I challenge said Arcache to cause to be published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (1) certification from a reputable, unbiased, independent entity that said Arcache actually witnessed the alleged visible reduction, by said product, of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots in seven days. (2) the complete addresses of all the newly built homes and remodeled homes, if any, that he allegedly visited; (3) certification, from an independent, unbiased entity, that said Arcache actually visited most of the newly built homes or remodeled homes. (3) a complete list and addresses of all the newly built homes or remodeled ones that are allegedly using Ticino switches and socket lines.
web sites with free useful info
U.S. Transportation Security Administration
http://www.tsa.gov/
* For Travelers
* 3-1-1 for Carry-Ons
* Customer Service
* Air Travel
* Highways
* Maritime
* Mass Transit
* Railroads
What To Know Before You Go
Permitted and Prohibited Items
* What Can I Bring?
* Body Piercings
* Makeup, Medication, Personal Items & Special Needs Devices
* Electronic Devices
* Sharp Objects
* Sporting Goods
* Guns & Firearms
* Tools
* Martial Arts & Self Defense Items
* Explosive & Flammable Materials, Disabling Chemicals & Other Dangerous Items
* Food & Drinks
Other Items
Item Carry-on Checked
Gel-type candles No Yes
Gel shoe inserts - Gel shoe inserts are not permitted, but shoes constructed with gel heels are allowed and must be removed and screened. Read more on our shoe screening policy. No Yes
Non-flammable liquid, gel, or aerosol paint Yes - 3 oz. or smaller container Yes
Flammable liquid, gel, or aerosol paint No No
Snow globes and like decorations regardless of size or amount of liquid inside, even with documentation.
coralreefalliance org
http://www.coralreefalliance.org/
digicamreview
http://www.digicamreview.com/
Lumix FX35 reviews
http://www.digitalcamerareview.com/
photography review
http://reviews.photographyreview.com/
The following web sites had free information about the alleged harmful effects of sun blockers on coral reefs:
www.news.com.au/
www.cosmeticsdesign.com/
http://www.physorg.com/news130762664.html
ubs.acs.org/subscribe/
ecosystem-preservation.suite101.com/
http://www.coralreefalliance.org/
http://www.neatorama.com/2008/02/05/sunscreens-are-killing-coral-reefs/
Sunscreens are Killing Coral Reefs!
When it comes to sunscreen, it seems that it’s your health or the coral reefs’. A new study finds that sunscreen ingredients are killing coral reefs:
Four commonly found sunscreen ingredients can awaken dormant viruses in the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that live inside reef-building coral species.
The chemicals cause the viruses to replicate until their algae hosts explode, spilling viruses into the surrounding seawater, where they can infect neighboring coral communities.
Zooxanthellae provide coral with food energy through photosynthesis and contribute to the organisms’ vibrant color. Without them, the coral "bleaches"—turns white—and dies.
"The algae that live in the coral tissue and feed these animals explode or are just released by the tissue, thus leaving naked the skeleton of the coral," said study leader Roberto Danovaro of the Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy.
The researchers estimate that 4,000 to 6,000 metric tons of sunscreen wash off swimmers annually in oceans worldwide, and that up to 10 percent of coral reefs are threatened by sunscreen-induced bleaching.
The following web sites had free information about backpacks for kids:
http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:6ZDo20jHss8J:cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=98
The following is the html version of the file http://cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf.
To link to this page, use the following url: http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:6ZDo20jHss8J:cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=98
The Proceeding of the XVI Annual International Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Conference '2002
This is the html version of the file http://cehd.umn.edu/kls/ecee/pdfs/BackpacksMakgChldrnBeastsofBurden_Jacobs.pdf.
Page 1
The Proceeding of the XVI Annual International Occupational Ergonomics and Safety Conference '2002
1
Are Backpacks Making Our Children Beasts of Burden?
Karen Jacobs
Boston University Department of Occupational Therapy 635 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215 (617) 353-7516 FAX (617) 353-2926 kjacobs@bu.edu
Abstract: More than 40 million US students carry school backpacks. Increasingly heavy
school backpacks are putting the nation’s students at risk and may be causing long-term damage to their growing bodies. Occupational therapy practitioners work with children and can advise parents on ways to avoid backpack-related problems.Both organizations’ Web sites and a brochure available at L.L. Bean, retail outlets, offer tips for parents and children on choosing the correct backpack design, loading, and wearing backpacks.
In the U.S., it is estimated that more than 40 million youths carry their school materials in backpacks (Wang, Pascoe, Weimar, 2001). Everyday these youths carry backpacks filled with books, bottles of water, laptop computers, and other items that create a strain on their growing bodies. In 1999,the use of backpacks resulted in more than 6,000 injuries in the U.S. alone (Pascoe, Pascoe, Wang,Shim, 1997; Hamilton, 2001). Approximately 23% of elementary youths and about 33% of secondary
school youths complain of backaches (Roth, 2001). Despite recent media coverage and concerns of health professional, such as occupational therapy practitioners, regarding heavy backpack use by children, there is a paucity of research on its effects.
Three important factors in school backpack use: selecting a pack,loading a pack, and wearing a pack.
Selecting a pack
Choose a pack that's appropriate to the child's size and age. School backpacks come in different sizes for different ages. Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. The shoulders and neck are rich in blood vessels and nerves that when constricted can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms, and hands. Choose a pack with a waist belt to be fastened for extra support and to help transfer the weight from the shoulders to the body's trunk and hips.Consider a pack with reflective trim to increase visibility of kids who carry the school backpack in the evening.When shopping for a school backpack, take along books and other materials that the child would carry to judge how each pack varies when fully loaded.
Loading a pack
Never allow a child to carry more than 15% of his or her body weight. That means a child who weighs 100 pounds should not carry a school backpack that weighs more than 15 pounds. Load heaviest items closest to the child's back. Pack items neatly and organized to keep books and materials from sliding around in the pack, shifting the weight. If a pack is too heavy, consider using one on wheels.
Wearing a pack:
Always wear both shoulder straps to distribute weight evenly. Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can cause a person to lean to one side and curve the spine.
Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles between the shoulders. The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child's waistline.
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http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:SPiSPYlYA-AJ:www.montclair.edu/detectives/curriculum/docs/4.4arts1.doc+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=121
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Adapted from “Heavy Backpacks Harmful to Students, Simmons Study Says,” Boston Globe, February 13, 2001, by Scott Greenberger.
Heavy Backpacks Harmful to Students, Simmons Study Says
Though most students are used to the burden, a new study suggests many are doing themselves harm.
Fifty-five percent of the Massachusetts children surveyed by researchers at Simmons College typically carry loads heavier than 15 percent of their body weight - the limit recommended by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.
Though the researchers couldn't definitively draw a connection, one-third of the 345 children in grades 5 through 8 surveyed reported back pain that forced them to see a doctor, miss school, or skip athletic activities.
The students, who were recruited through Healthnet, a statewide Internet health education program, weighed themselves and their backpacks under the supervision of teachers.
"If your head is kind of like a turtle in a forward position, that will cause pain and make you more vulnerable to injury," said Shelley Goodgold, associate professor of physical therapy at Simmons. "We know that putting the backpack on will make you more vulnerable."
Though a heavy backpack isn't healthy for anyone, children are particularly susceptible to injury because their bodies are still developing, Goodgold said.
Ninety-four percent of the students in the -study carried standard two-strap backpacks, and most said they used both straps. But only 4 percent used the hip belt recommended by health professionals. Packs designed to give better support, such as those with metal frames, weren't popular among the middle school students.
The Simmons study comes amid growing concern about heavy packs. In Melrose, school officials sent a letter to parents warning them about heavy backpack burdens. Northeastern University researchers have tapped Beverly High School students for their study on backpack back pain. And the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that in 1999, more than 800 youngsters were treated in emergency rooms for backpack-related injuries.
"They shouldn't make us take all this stuff around," said 11-year-old Sean White, who looked like he might be swallowed up by his black backpack as he stood outside
Richard J. Murphy School in Dorchester. “When I go to sleep sometimes, my back hurts." But a heavy backpack isn't all bad, according to White. He said it comes in handy when he has to swing the pack at his 13-year-old sister.
Adapted from “Backpack May Spell Backache,” Current Health, September 2000, by Tamra Orr.
Backpack May Spell Backache
It hangs around with you almost every day. It manages to handle whatever you throw into it. It's cool. It's convenient. It's your backpack!
But guess what? The facts are in: Backpacks can be dangerous! Yep, that handy backpack just might be your own personal ticket to lots of back problems in the future.
"We are seeing students in the fourth and fifth grades who are complaining about backaches, fatigue, and (physical) stress," says Russell Windsor, M.D., a surgeon at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Windsor is an expert in orthopedics (or-tho-PEED-ix; having to do with the prevention or correction of skeletal deformities).
What causes the complaints Dr. Windsor hears from kids? Backpacks that don't fit properly, backpacks that weigh far too much for kids to be carrying safely, and backpacks that are worn with the weight unevenly distributed.
How much are kids carrying on their backs? Many of them are carrying more than 25 percent of their overall body weight, and that is just too much. Experts like Dr. Seymour Zimbler - Associate in Orthopedic Surgery at the Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts - recommend that you carry no more than 15 percent of your total body weight, and preferably less than that. What does all that mean? If you weigh 80 pounds, your backpack should not weigh more than 12 pounds. If you weigh 100 pounds, your backpack should tip the scales at less than 15 pounds. Any more than this will cause a lot of wear and tear on the muscles, joints, and ligaments of your shoulders, neck, and spine. That can mean pain today and real back problems in the future.
"If you have a 90-pound female carrying a 20-pound backpack, then the backpack weight becomes a medical issue," says Dr. Charlotte Alexander, an orthopedic surgeon in Houston. "We found one 10th grade female student with a backpack weighing 47 pounds!"
How much does your backpack weigh? Bring out the bathroom scale and find out. Put all the books you usually carry in it and then put it on the scale. Is it less than 15 percent of your weight? If you're like most kids, the answer is no.
Adapted from “Overstuffed Backpacks Are Giving Children Adult-Like Back Pain,” The Wall Street Journal, April 6, 2002, by Tara Parker-Pope.
Overstuffed Backpacks Are Giving Children Adult-Like Back Pain
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY is weighing in on the debate about the amount of homework students are asked to do. The diagnosis: The problem isn't how much homework kids have, but how much they are carrying.
Doctors say they are seeing a growing number of children suffering serious back pain as the result of carrying around overloaded backpacks. Because children's spines are still growing, many fear the heavy packs and tilted gait they cause could lead to long-term back problems.
Injuries associated with backpacks have more than doubled during the past five years. More than 6,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for injuries related to lugging heavy backpacks-and most are under 14 years of age.
The phenomenon even prompted the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations to declare April National Backpack Safety month.
A study by Akron General Medical Center weighed the backpacks of more than 400 fourth and fifth graders. The average pack weighed about 14 pounds. More significantly, the fourth graders were carrying about 15% of their body weight, while the fifth graders were carrying, on average, 17%.
MANY KIDS, however, carried far heavier bags. The study found that nearly a quarter of the children carried a backpack weighing more than 20% of their body weight. The equivalent would be a 180-pound man carrying nearly 40 pounds on his back, several times a day, five days a week.
"This is too much weight for kids to be carrying around," says Heidi Frasure, hospital research coordinator and one of the study's authors.
The trend is particularly troubling because children are now complaining of aches and pains that 'historically haven't shown up until people hit their 30s or 40s.
"Unfortunately children are carrying backpacks that are 25, 30 and 40% of their body weight," says New York City chiropractor John Vilkelis. "As the backpack gets heavier, they alter their posture more, they lean forward to support the weight, and it can cause all kinds of different injuries to their back and neck."
Andrew B. Marsh, physical therapist at the University of Michigan spine program, says he has seen kids as young as five or six complaining of back pain.
The problem, he says, is one of repetitive strain. Overloaded backpacks are carried by kids on their way to the bus stop, from the bus to the school, between classes, and on the way home – every day, five days a week.
Adapted from “School Backpacks Can Be Painful Burden,” Health Scout News, September 17, 2001, by Nancy A. Melville.
School Backpacks Can Be Painful Burden
Homework can place a heavy burden on kids in more ways than one. Experts warn that the load can be more than just a pain in the neck if proper backpack usage isn't followed. Injuries related to backpacks, in fact, accounted for more than 13,260 visits to hospital emergency rooms, doctors' offices and clinics last year, according to estimates and projections of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Although backpacks are still a highly recommended way of carrying books around, the improper use of them may defeat their purpose, explains Dr. Angela D. Smith, an orthopedic surgeon at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The problem is that many children using backpacks these days either don't use backpacks that meet the recommended parameters or don't use them appropriately, Smith says.
Among the most important recommended features are that backpacks have padded straps and a waist or hip belt. These devices prevent strain on the shoulders and help stabilize the pack in place. Straps are helpful to cinch in books that would otherwise sag out the back.
But just as important, Smith adds, is how books are placed inside the pack. If books are placed flat, or fall flat, as opposed to being upright, that's when problems with back strain can occur. But with the load positioned lengthwise and extending away from the body, your position must be altered or aches and pains can result, adds Dr. David L. Skaggs, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Children's Hospital, Los Angeles.
"The further backwards you have the weight, the more it pulls you backward, so as a result you have to lean forward," he says. "The important thing is to have the heaviest stuff right against your back to keep the center of gravity above your pelvis," he adds.
Another problematic book-carrying practice is carrying a pack or bag on just one shoulder, says Skaggs. "If books are being carried with only one strap, it's an asymmetrical load that's placed on the back. And we know from long-term studies that asymmetry and leaning to one side is probably linked to back pain." Muscle strain is the main problem, explains Smith. You'll get some pain in your back and the body's response to the pain is to shut off the muscles or make them spasm. Then the muscles weaken because they've been in pain and now they can do even less work, so it becomes a downward spiral. Smith encourages building strength in abdominal and back muscles through exercises like stomach crunches, because simply being physically fit may not help alleviate backpack pain problems. Skaggs adds, however, that the daily chore of carrying the backpack around itself is often enough to build up the proper muscles. "The best exercise is probably just doing it," he says.
Even proper positioning can be undermined if a backpack is simply overloaded, however, the experts say. But proper weight limits can differ with each individual, Smith notes. "I steer away from making any recommendations in terms of how much weight should be carried because what works for one person may be completely different for another," she says. "My recommendations to kids are simply the same things I learned growing up about camping, and it's the same thing the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts will tell you: Pack everything you need and then take away half of it," she adds.
Adapted from “Backpack as a Daily Load for School Children,” The Lancet, December 4, 1999, by Stefano Negrini, Roberta Carabalona, and Paolo Sibilla
Backpack as a Daily Load for School Children
34.8% of Italian schoolchildren carry more than 30% of their bodyweight at least once a week, exceeding limits proposed for adults. Given increasing evidence of back pain in children, the time has come to propose some limitations to backpack load.
Repetitive loading of the spine is a risk factor for low back pain not only in adults but also for children. The load that children most commonly carry is their school bag or backpack. Most studies of this issue have been published in non-indexed journals and have various limitations. Nevertheless, some results suggest that the backpack could be a factor contributing to low back pain in schoolchildren with sufferers carrying backpacks for more time and experiencing greater fatigue and difficulty. We aimed to quantify the absolute and bodyweight-related backpack load carried daily by schoolchildren.
We studied children in the school catchment area of Bresso, Milan. We ascertained the weight of the backpacks of all the year 6 children at school (n = 237, average age 11.6 years, 119 girls). The data were collected daily on 6 days at school (from Monday to Saturday) over a period of 3 weeks. The days included were not shown to the children or to teachers. The average load and the maximum load of the backpacks was calculated for each child, for the week, and the average of these measurements calculated for the total population.
Sixty-one girls attended our institute for further assessment after their parents gave informed consent; they were assessed by a single specialist in pediatric orthopedic rehabilitation with medical scales.
The average load carried daily by schoolchildren was 9.3 kg, and the maximum load was 11.5 kg. The average load was 22% of bodyweight and the maximum load was 27.5% of bodyweight; 34.8% of the pupils carried more than 30% of their bodyweight at least once during the week.
The average load and maximum load being carried by children are equivalent to an 80 kg man carrying daily a backpack with an average load of 17.6 kg and a maximum load of 22.0 kg (or for a 60 kg woman, 13.2 kg and a 16.5 kg, respectively). In Italy, labor laws restrict the maximum load that can be lifted during work to 30 kg in men and 20 kg in women. The limits are 20kg and 15 kg for workers aged 15-18 years. The USA recommended limit for adults is 23 kg, which is deemed to protect 99% of men and 75-90% of women. No limits have been developed for application in schools; the limits usually proposed for children, although scientifically unproven, (10-15% of bodyweight) are widely exceeded in everyday life.
Rates of low back pain in children are approaching those seen in adults. Although the economic importance of the problem is small at this age, the lack of certified limits for backpack carrying is shortsighted. Previous studies have shown that the backpack load contributes to low back pain in childhood, and our results suggest that a decrease in this load is advisable.
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http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:CqILcUBh1aEJ:www.csmc.edu/pdf/CSISD-BackpackSafetyPR-2004.pdf+backpacks+for+kids&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=125
The following is the html version of the file http://www.csmc.edu/pdf/CSISD-BackpackSafetyPR-2004.pdf.
Media Contact: Kelli Hanley
E-mail: kelli.hanley@cshs.org
Telephone: 1-310-423-3674
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 11, 2004
BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY: AVOIDING BACKPACK INJURY
Tips for helping your kids to wear their backpacks safely
LOS ANGELES, August 11, 2004 – Despite parents’ best efforts to protect their children from getting hurt,one of the greatest sources of potential injury often gets overlooked even when it’s in plain sight: the backpack. Considered the most efficient way to carry books and other items that kids need for school, when it’s overstuffed, it may actually be causing the pain and fatigue that as many as 50 percent of kids today are experiencing. “Although there are a number of causes for back pain in school-age children, many kids are carrying backpacks that weigh more than 15 percent of their body weight,” said Avrom Gart, M.D., a Medical Director at the Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders. “Over time, children carrying this kind of weight
can develop serious back pain and other problems that can require treatment.” Compared to satchels or briefcases, backpacks are typically safer for kids because they distribute weight evenly across the body and are supported by the back and abdominal muscles. Furthermore, children and teens prefer them because they are fashionable, hold more items, and come with multiple compartments that help them to stay organized. But despite their usefulness, a major study reported by the American Physical Therapy Association has found that more than 50 percent of children surveyed carry backpacks heavier than 15 percent of their body weight.“To manage the load, children sometimes arch their backs or lean forward, causing them to develop poor
posture as they grow,” said Dr. Gart. “Children should carry no more than 15 percent of their body weight on their backs.” Wearing a backpack on one shoulder can also cause the child to lean to one side to compensate for the extra weight and can result in an asymmetrical spine, back pain, and a strained shoulder and neck. In severe cases, children can develop a condition called “scapular winging,” when the nerve that supplies the shoulder muscle becomes pinched, causing paralysis.“If you notice that one of your child’s shoulder blades is not moving or not symmetrical, a doctor should be consulted immediately,” said Dr. Gart.To help your child wear backpacks safely, Dr. Gart recommends the following: 1. Wear no more than 15 percent of your body weight. Work with your child to determine how much weight should be carried in his or her backpack. Weigh each item separately, so that your child can determine which items should be carried versus what can be left at home. 2. Keep backpack use limited to necessities only. See that your child cleans out his or her backpack
daily by removing any items that can be left at home or in a locker. 3. Use both straps. Make sure that the weight of your child’s backpack is evenly distributed across the back to promote good posture and to avoid shoulder strain and/or a pinched nerve. 4. Recognize signs that the backpack is too heavy. Pay attention to whether your child is slouched or leaning to one side when wearing a backpack or is experiencing any type of back pain, tingling or numbness in the shoulders or arms.
5. Select the proper backpack. Enhance comfort and safety by purchasing a backpack with multiple compartments, so that weight is more evenly distributed. Padded straps can also help to prevent straps from cutting into shoulders. Newer backpacks with wheels are also an option, provided that the handle extends long enough to allow children to stand upright while pulling it. The backpack and wheels must also be sturdy enough so that it does not topple over. 6. Pick up the backpack properly. Teach your child how to pick up his or her backpack by demonstrating how to bend at the knees and grasp the pack with both hands before putting it on. “Kids and parents alike need to remember that while backpacks are a great tool to carry and keep track of items children need for school, they must be used properly to avoid injuries,” commented Dr. Gart.
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SOURCES: Avrom Gart, M.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; American Physical Therapy Association (www.apta.org);
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http://fcs.tamu.edu/health/child_health/choosing_a_backpack.php
Choosing the Correct Backpack for Your Child
It‘s that time of year again—back-to-school time! Many parents and children prepare for that first day of school by doing some back-to- school shopping, which often involves buying new clothing, pens, pencils, paper, markers, etc. However, backpacks are one of the biggest necessities for both college-aged and younger students, and it‘s important to choose wisely.
There are so many backpacks to choose from, and choosing the right one for your child is not always easy. Backpacks come in all sizes, colors, fabrics, and shapes—all of which help kids express their own sense of style. As practical as backpacks are for those who use them, backpacks can cause strained muscles and joints and back pain when worn incorrectly.
The human spine is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae, and between the vertebrae are discs that act as shock absorbers. When something heavy—such as a backpack filled with books—is incorrectly placed on your child‘s shoulders, the force of that extra weight can pull your child backwards. To compensate, your child may bend forward at the hips or arch his or her back, which can cause your child‘s spine to compress unnaturally. Because of the heavy weight he or she is carrying, your child might begin to develop shoulder, neck, and back pain. What can we do about this? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that before you purchase a backpack, look for the following five criteria:
* Choose a lightweight backpack that doesn‘t add a lot of weight to your child‘s load. For example, although leather backpacks look cool, they weigh more than traditional canvas backpacks.
* Choose a backpack with two wide, padded shoulder straps. Straps that are too narrow can dig into shoulders.
* Choose a backpack that has a padded back, which provides increased comfort and protects the wearer from being poked by sharp edges (such as pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the backpack.
* Choose a backpack that has a waist belt, which helps distribute the weight more evenly across the body.
* Choose a backpack that has multiple compartments, which also helps distribute weight more evenly.
Although most backpacks come with two shoulder straps, this doesn‘t mean that your kids will use both straps! Many kids wear their backpacks over just one shoulder, which is the wrong thing to do. This makes the person lean to one side to offset the extra weight, and they might develop lower and upper back pain and strain their shoulders and neck. Wearing the backpack incorrectly can also lead to poor posture. So, make sure your children wear the backpack using both straps. It‘s also a good idea to tighten the straps enough for the backpack to fit close to the body, and it should sit 2 inches above the waist.
Girls and younger children may be especially at risk for backpack-related injuries because they‘re smaller and may carry loads that are heavier in proportion to their body weight. Doctors recommend that people—especially children—carry backpacks that are no more than 10–15 percent of their body weight. For example, if a child weighs 80 pounds, 15 percent of his or her body weight is 12 pounds. So, for an 80 pound child, the backpack and its contents should not weigh more than 12 pounds—but remember, lighter is always better.
Lifting and Positioning Backpacks
Children also need to know how to lift and position their backpack. Improper lifting can cause damage. Teach your children these four simple steps to safely lift their backpacks:
1. Face the backpack before you lift it.
2. Bend at the knees.
3. Using both hands, check the weight of the backpack.
4. Lift with your legs, not your back.
5. Carefully put one shoulder strap on at a time; never sling the backpack onto one shoulder.
Another Option
Another option to consider when purchasing backpacks is to look for a backpack on wheels. However, these types of backpacks may be less practical than traditional backpacks because they‘re difficult to pull up stairs. If you‘re thinking about purchasing a rolling backpack for your child, contact the child‘s school first to be sure that they are allowed. Many schools don‘t allow rolling backpacks because they pose a tripping hazard in the hallways.
By following these guidelines, your child will start off this school year with a healthy back!
Last updated: 8 April, 2008
http://www.essortment.com/family/kidsbackpackss_soip.htm
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ww.webmd.com/parenting/features/kids-backpacks-101 - 100k -
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http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/school-age-kids/activities-sports/backpacks/backpacks-for-kids-405/overview/
http://www.sickkids.ca/kidshealth/fall2001vol2issue3/backpack.asp
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/backpack.html
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00043
www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/school_stuff/backpack.html
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=51548
http://www.sailgb.com/c/childrens_backpacks/
http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/briefs/childrenshealth/hb051212a.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/50140.php
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&id=2324&np=286
http://www.promoteot.org/AI_BackpackStrategies.html
http://www.chop.edu/consumer/your_child/wellness_index.jsp?id=-8850
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/school_backpacks_-_choice.html/context/363
http://www.accessibility.com.au/news/bad-backs-are-headed-back-to-school-overloaded-backpacks-to-blame-for-back-pain-in-children
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=83507
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-rock-positano/backpacks-can-cause-back-_b_63007.html
http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/backpacks.shtml
http://orthopedics.about.com/b/2004/03/06/childrens-backpacks-can-cause-back-problems.htm
blogs.webmd.com/healthy-children/2006/01/back-to-school-backpacks-and-backaches.html - 27k -
http://www.pediatricsnow.com/metrowest_pk_archive/jul_26_2005_choose_right_kids_backpack.htmlhttp://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/backpacks
Monday, May 26, 2008
Manila Mayor Lim; Samsung Electronics; Bgy Chairman of San Lorenzo Village; Mayor of Plaridel , Bulacan; Security Lapse at SM Makati;
Manila Mayor Lim told MPD officials "Whatever you are doing now, drop everything and concentrate on finding the killers" Said allegation was contained in an article titled "Lim calls for speedy arrest of cop killers" which was published on page A26 of the May 23, 2008 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper. If said statement was made by said Lim, then he was giving special attention to the search for said killers, irregardless of whatever other matters the MPD officials were doing, irregardless of whether said matters may have been requests for assistance or complaints . After said Lim was elected Manila Mayor in the recent elections, did he only institute upgraded security measures at Manila City Hall after the shooting incident inside said building? Did he, during his previous stint as Manila Mayor, spray paint the residences of suspected drug pushers? Did the court not declare said spray painting as illegal? Does said Lim tolerate anti-senior citizen behavior of employee/s of the Manila Office for Senior Citizens Affairs? Evidence available.
Advisories re: Samsung Electronics (Phils) Corp.; Barangay Chairman of Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati; The Mayor of Plaridel, Bulacan. On March 27,2008, I sent a registerd letter, designated as registered letter No. 7062, to Samsung Electronics (Phils.) Corp. Said letter contained a request for information about a Samsung product. On April 4, 2008, I received the registry return receipt for said letter. Up to May 26, 2008, I have not received any reply from said corporation. On March 27, 2008, I sent, to the Baranagay Chairman of Barangay San Lorenzo, a report about security lapse at Ayala Center. Said center is within the area of said barangay. Said letter was designated as registered letter No. 7062. On April 4, 2008. I received the
registry return receipt for said letter. The receipt indicated that said letter was received on April 3, 2008 by the agent if said barangay chairman or his agent. Up to May 26, 2008, I have not received any communication from said chairman or his agent. On April 19, 2008, I sent a registerd letter, designated as registered letter No. 1634, to the Mayor of Plaridel Bulacan. The registry return receipt for said letter was received by me on or before May 7, 2008. Said letter was an advisory re Abenson, Whirlpool products, Excellence Appliance Technologies. The registry return receipt for said letter was received by me on May 7, 2008. I have evidence that, on November 2, 2007, an SM Makati employee, at SM Makati, my written report about a security lapse which occurred on said date at an entrance to said building. The person who was lax in security checking was identified as "Cervantes". Up to May 26, 2008, I have not received any communication from anyone from SM about said security lapse.
I have evidence vs. Robinsons supermarket in Ermita. On May 26, 2008, a Metro Biscuit chocolate Wafers product was on sale at said store. Hoever, the marking on the package of said product was: "BEST BEFORE 05 0523.2008". Based on advice, goods marked "BEST BEFORE" should not be consumed beyond the indicated BEST BEFORE DATE. I have evidence of said product which was being offered for sale on May 26, 2008.
soyouwanna com web site
http://www.soyouwanna.com/
provides information on how to do things that people weren't taught in school
Ensuring Safe Use of Medicine
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm
General Use of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicine
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm#general
Driving When You Are Using Medicine
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm#driving
Safe Use of Medicines for Seniors
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm#seniors
6 Tips to Avoid Medication Mistakes."
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/medtips062107.html
Drug Interactions: What You Should Know."
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/druginteractions.htm
Preventing Serious Drug Interactions."
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/404_drug.html
Protect Yourself Against Tampering.
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/tampering.htm
Driving When You Are Taking Medications."
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/driving_taking_meds.htm
Medicines and You: A Guide for Older Adults."
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/medAndYouEng.htm
"As You Age...A Guide to Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol."
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/as_you_age_text.htm
"As You Age...A Guide to Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol."
http://www.asyouage.samhsa.gov/default.aspx
"Medication Use and Older Adults."
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/406_olderadults.html
Advisories re: Samsung Electronics (Phils) Corp.; Barangay Chairman of Barangay San Lorenzo, Makati; The Mayor of Plaridel, Bulacan. On March 27,2008, I sent a registerd letter, designated as registered letter No. 7062, to Samsung Electronics (Phils.) Corp. Said letter contained a request for information about a Samsung product. On April 4, 2008, I received the registry return receipt for said letter. Up to May 26, 2008, I have not received any reply from said corporation. On March 27, 2008, I sent, to the Baranagay Chairman of Barangay San Lorenzo, a report about security lapse at Ayala Center. Said center is within the area of said barangay. Said letter was designated as registered letter No. 7062. On April 4, 2008. I received the
registry return receipt for said letter. The receipt indicated that said letter was received on April 3, 2008 by the agent if said barangay chairman or his agent. Up to May 26, 2008, I have not received any communication from said chairman or his agent. On April 19, 2008, I sent a registerd letter, designated as registered letter No. 1634, to the Mayor of Plaridel Bulacan. The registry return receipt for said letter was received by me on or before May 7, 2008. Said letter was an advisory re Abenson, Whirlpool products, Excellence Appliance Technologies. The registry return receipt for said letter was received by me on May 7, 2008. I have evidence that, on November 2, 2007, an SM Makati employee, at SM Makati, my written report about a security lapse which occurred on said date at an entrance to said building. The person who was lax in security checking was identified as "Cervantes". Up to May 26, 2008, I have not received any communication from anyone from SM about said security lapse.
I have evidence vs. Robinsons supermarket in Ermita. On May 26, 2008, a Metro Biscuit chocolate Wafers product was on sale at said store. Hoever, the marking on the package of said product was: "BEST BEFORE 05 0523.2008". Based on advice, goods marked "BEST BEFORE" should not be consumed beyond the indicated BEST BEFORE DATE. I have evidence of said product which was being offered for sale on May 26, 2008.
soyouwanna com web site
http://www.soyouwanna.com/
provides information on how to do things that people weren't taught in school
Ensuring Safe Use of Medicine
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm
General Use of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicine
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm#general
Driving When You Are Using Medicine
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm#driving
Safe Use of Medicines for Seniors
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm#seniors
6 Tips to Avoid Medication Mistakes."
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/medtips062107.html
Drug Interactions: What You Should Know."
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/druginteractions.htm
Preventing Serious Drug Interactions."
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/404_drug.html
Protect Yourself Against Tampering.
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/tampering.htm
Driving When You Are Taking Medications."
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/driving_taking_meds.htm
Medicines and You: A Guide for Older Adults."
http://www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/medAndYouEng.htm
"As You Age...A Guide to Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol."
http://www.fda.gov/Cder/consumerinfo/as_you_age_text.htm
"As You Age...A Guide to Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol."
http://www.asyouage.samhsa.gov/default.aspx
"Medication Use and Older Adults."
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2006/406_olderadults.html
Saturday, May 24, 2008
complaint vs. Smart Communications, Inc,; National Telecommunications Commission, Hunt's Homestyle Meals Caldereta with BEANS, Golden Valley Peach Hal
About Smart Communications, National Telecommunications Commission, Hunt's Homestyle Meals Caldereta with BEANS, Golden Valley Peach Halves In Heavy Syruo, Mercury Drug store at Robinsons Ermita, dormitory safety, Aristocrat restaurant at Robinsons, Ermita
My complaint vs. Smart Communications accepted by National Telecommunications. Evidence is a letter identified as coming from said commission addressed to Atty. Enrico L. Espanol, Head; Legal Department, Smart Communications, Inc., 11/F Rufino Pacific Towers, 6784 Ayala Avenue, Makati. Said letter was dated 08 May 2008. The writer of said letter was identified as Edgardo V. Cabarios, Chief, CCAD.Said letter contained the following words: Enclosed herewith are the complaint letters of the following, which are self-explanatory . . . Please coordinate directly with the complainanants and submit report of compliance to the Commission not later than 23 May 8, copy furnished the complainants. Up to May 24, 2008, I have not received any communication from said Atty. Espanol regarding my said complaint.
The consume before date, of the Hunt's Homestyle Meals Caldereta with BEANS, could not be detected by me. Said consume before of said product is supposed to to be indicated on the container of said product. I believe the Consumer Act of the Philippines has been violated. Also, the name and address of the packer of said product was not visible (to unaided eye). Said container bore the words: "HUNT UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION"
Can of Golden Valley brand Peach Halves In Heavy Syrup bore the words "PRODUCT OF GREECE". However, said can did not bear a visible (to unaided eye) indication of the importer/distributor of said product. I believe the Consumer Act of the Philippines has been violated.
Security lapse, on May 24, 2008, at entrance to Mercury Drug store at Robinsons Ermita. The guard, at the entrance to/near the entrance of said store, didn't inspect two compartments of my waist bag. Said compartments were large enough to contain deadly weapons. Said guard was identified as "Arnel" of Jimonez Security Agency. The manager of said store was identified as "Ellen". The president of Mercury Drug Corporation was identified as "Vivian G. Ascona".
websites with free information regarding dormitory safety:
http://www.sunysb.edu/ehs/fire/dorm.shtml
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http://www.pbfd.com/fs_Dormitory_and_Housing_Safety.htm
Pelham Batesville Fire Department
Dormitory and Housing safety
Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system or other local emergency numbers.
Install smoke alarms in every dorm room and every level of housing facilities.
Maintain and regularly test smoke alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Ask your local fire department for assistance.
Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
Make sure electrical outlets are not overloaded and make sure extension cords are used properly.
Properly maintain heating and cooking appliances.
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www.nfpa.org/
http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/envhealth/DormitoryEvacuationProcedures.html
http://www.ul.com/fallsafety/dormsafety.html
http://www.campus-firewatch.com/
http://www.lssu.edu/publicsafety/dorms.php
http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/firemarshal/?pid=6
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/greenwich/21915.shtml
http://www.robertslawfirm.com/consumer_safety_99.htm
http://www.thehartford.com/schools/pdf/680-330.pdf
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfoncampus04/focus.htm
Fire and Electrical Safety in Your Dormitory
Avoid becoming a statistic by following the advice from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
* You may be tempted to buy an inexpensive tall halogen lamp. But did you know that the bulbs can get hot enough to ignite curtains, blankets, or towels that are too close? If the lamp has a 500W bulb, replacing it with a 300W bulb will help. Some colleges do not allow halogen lamps, no matter what the bulb wattage.
* The bulb on a fluorescent floor lamp reaches 200 degrees. A 300W bulb on a halogen lamp can reach 970 degrees. Fluorescent is not only safer; it will keep your dorm room cooler.
* Do not run extension cords under carpet or rest furniture on them. This can cause cords to overheat and ignite.
* Be cautious when using toaster ovens. They get hot enough on the outside to ignite notebooks and loose paper near them.
* If your dorm room has old-fashioned two-prong outlets, don’t sever the third prong (the grounding prong) in order to plug an item in. Prevent shocks and electrocutions, and protect your electronic equipment by using adaptors instead.
* Note the location of the nearest fire extinguisher and familiarize yourself with how they are used.
* Do not disable smoke detectors, even “sensitive” ones that go off frequently.
* Replace smoke detector batteries every six months.
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/indoor-safety/indoor.htm
http://www.firesafety.gov/
College Fire Safety
college
Every year college and university students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies. There are several causes for these fires; however, most are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention.
The Facts
In cases where fire fatalities occurred on college campuses, alcohol was often a factor. There is a strong link between alcohol and fire deaths. In more than 50% of adult fire fatalities, victims were under the influence at the time of the fire. Alcohol abuse often impairs judgment and hampers evacuation efforts. Cooking is the leading cause of fire injuries on college campuses, closely followed by careless smoking and arson.
The Cause
Many factors contribute to the problem of dormitory housing fires.
* Improper use of 911 notification systems delays emergency response.
* Student apathy is prevalent. Many are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment.
* Evacuation efforts are hindered since fire alarms are often ignored.
* Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and preplanning.
* Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and fire alarm systems inhibit early detection of fires.
* Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords increase the risk of fires.
Safety Precautions
* Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
* Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system.
* Install smoke alarms in every dormitory room and every level of housing facilities.
* Maintain and regularly test smoke alarms and fire alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
* Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Ask your local fire department for assistance.
* Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
* Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings, and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
* Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
* Do not overload electrical outlets and make sure extension cords are used properly.
* Learn to properly use and maintain heating and cooking appliances.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Aristocrat restaurant at Robinsons Ermita:
An employee at said restaurant, on May 24, 2008,gave me less money change than I was entitled to receive. Also the receipt given to me had a VAT charge separate from the price of food. I believe said firm violated the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
My complaint vs. Smart Communications accepted by National Telecommunications. Evidence is a letter identified as coming from said commission addressed to Atty. Enrico L. Espanol, Head; Legal Department, Smart Communications, Inc., 11/F Rufino Pacific Towers, 6784 Ayala Avenue, Makati. Said letter was dated 08 May 2008. The writer of said letter was identified as Edgardo V. Cabarios, Chief, CCAD.Said letter contained the following words: Enclosed herewith are the complaint letters of the following, which are self-explanatory . . . Please coordinate directly with the complainanants and submit report of compliance to the Commission not later than 23 May 8, copy furnished the complainants. Up to May 24, 2008, I have not received any communication from said Atty. Espanol regarding my said complaint.
The consume before date, of the Hunt's Homestyle Meals Caldereta with BEANS, could not be detected by me. Said consume before of said product is supposed to to be indicated on the container of said product. I believe the Consumer Act of the Philippines has been violated. Also, the name and address of the packer of said product was not visible (to unaided eye). Said container bore the words: "HUNT UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION"
Can of Golden Valley brand Peach Halves In Heavy Syrup bore the words "PRODUCT OF GREECE". However, said can did not bear a visible (to unaided eye) indication of the importer/distributor of said product. I believe the Consumer Act of the Philippines has been violated.
Security lapse, on May 24, 2008, at entrance to Mercury Drug store at Robinsons Ermita. The guard, at the entrance to/near the entrance of said store, didn't inspect two compartments of my waist bag. Said compartments were large enough to contain deadly weapons. Said guard was identified as "Arnel" of Jimonez Security Agency. The manager of said store was identified as "Ellen". The president of Mercury Drug Corporation was identified as "Vivian G. Ascona".
websites with free information regarding dormitory safety:
http://www.sunysb.edu/ehs/fire/dorm.shtml
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.pbfd.com/fs_Dormitory_and_Housing_Safety.htm
Pelham Batesville Fire Department
Dormitory and Housing safety
Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system or other local emergency numbers.
Install smoke alarms in every dorm room and every level of housing facilities.
Maintain and regularly test smoke alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Ask your local fire department for assistance.
Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
Make sure electrical outlets are not overloaded and make sure extension cords are used properly.
Properly maintain heating and cooking appliances.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
www.nfpa.org/
http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/envhealth/DormitoryEvacuationProcedures.html
http://www.ul.com/fallsafety/dormsafety.html
http://www.campus-firewatch.com/
http://www.lssu.edu/publicsafety/dorms.php
http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/firemarshal/?pid=6
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/greenwich/21915.shtml
http://www.robertslawfirm.com/consumer_safety_99.htm
http://www.thehartford.com/schools/pdf/680-330.pdf
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfoncampus04/focus.htm
Fire and Electrical Safety in Your Dormitory
Avoid becoming a statistic by following the advice from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.
* You may be tempted to buy an inexpensive tall halogen lamp. But did you know that the bulbs can get hot enough to ignite curtains, blankets, or towels that are too close? If the lamp has a 500W bulb, replacing it with a 300W bulb will help. Some colleges do not allow halogen lamps, no matter what the bulb wattage.
* The bulb on a fluorescent floor lamp reaches 200 degrees. A 300W bulb on a halogen lamp can reach 970 degrees. Fluorescent is not only safer; it will keep your dorm room cooler.
* Do not run extension cords under carpet or rest furniture on them. This can cause cords to overheat and ignite.
* Be cautious when using toaster ovens. They get hot enough on the outside to ignite notebooks and loose paper near them.
* If your dorm room has old-fashioned two-prong outlets, don’t sever the third prong (the grounding prong) in order to plug an item in. Prevent shocks and electrocutions, and protect your electronic equipment by using adaptors instead.
* Note the location of the nearest fire extinguisher and familiarize yourself with how they are used.
* Do not disable smoke detectors, even “sensitive” ones that go off frequently.
* Replace smoke detector batteries every six months.
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/housing/indoor-safety/indoor.htm
http://www.firesafety.gov/
College Fire Safety
college
Every year college and university students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies. There are several causes for these fires; however, most are due to a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention.
The Facts
In cases where fire fatalities occurred on college campuses, alcohol was often a factor. There is a strong link between alcohol and fire deaths. In more than 50% of adult fire fatalities, victims were under the influence at the time of the fire. Alcohol abuse often impairs judgment and hampers evacuation efforts. Cooking is the leading cause of fire injuries on college campuses, closely followed by careless smoking and arson.
The Cause
Many factors contribute to the problem of dormitory housing fires.
* Improper use of 911 notification systems delays emergency response.
* Student apathy is prevalent. Many are unaware that fire is a risk or threat in the environment.
* Evacuation efforts are hindered since fire alarms are often ignored.
* Building evacuations are delayed due to lack of preparation and preplanning.
* Vandalized and improperly maintained smoke alarms and fire alarm systems inhibit early detection of fires.
* Misuse of cooking appliances, overloaded electrical circuits and extension cords increase the risk of fires.
Safety Precautions
* Provide students with a program for fire safety and prevention.
* Teach students how to properly notify the fire department using the 911 system.
* Install smoke alarms in every dormitory room and every level of housing facilities.
* Maintain and regularly test smoke alarms and fire alarm systems. Replace smoke alarm batteries every semester.
* Regularly inspect rooms and buildings for fire hazards. Ask your local fire department for assistance.
* Inspect exit doors and windows and make sure they are working properly.
* Create and update detailed floor plans of buildings, and make them available to emergency personnel, resident advisors and students.
* Conduct fire drills and practice escape routes and evacuation plans. Urge students to take each alarm seriously.
* Do not overload electrical outlets and make sure extension cords are used properly.
* Learn to properly use and maintain heating and cooking appliances.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Aristocrat restaurant at Robinsons Ermita:
An employee at said restaurant, on May 24, 2008,gave me less money change than I was entitled to receive. Also the receipt given to me had a VAT charge separate from the price of food. I believe said firm violated the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Man Killed by Lightning; DOH Health Advisories; Health News;NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory; Search Systems web site; Seasonal Flu
Man killed by lightning
The Philippine Star p. 23 May 2008
"A utility worker died after he was hit by lightning during a heavy downpour in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.
Larry Vallenas, 39, was already lifeless when he was found under a tree along Stockholm street in Classica Vista Real Subdivision in Barangay Batasan Hills. Police Officer 2 Armando Penaflor said Vallenas was sweeping the street when the rain started and he sought shelter under a tree."
The following was the result of my research, regarding trees and lightning, on the internet:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/severe/swa/lightning.htm
" * Stay away from trees and other tall objects."
=========================================================================================================================
Philippine Department of Health Health Advisories
http://www.doh.gov.ph/healthadvisories/weather_season/summertime
It's Summer time
March to May is vacation time and fiesta season in the country. To avoid food poisoning, diarrhea, heat-associated ailments and recreation-associated injuries, the public is advised to take the following precautions.
Food and drinks
· Cook food properly.
· Preferably, foods must be eaten immediately after cooking (while still hot).
· Left-over food should be refrigerated and reheated before being eaten.
· Food handlers should wash their hands before and after food preparation.
· If sick, you should avoid preparing food for others.
· Avoid drinking water and iced beverages of doubtful quality.
· If water quality is doubtful, boil your drinking water for at least 2 minutes.
· Peel and wash fruits / vegetables before eating.
· Wash hands before and after eating.
At the beach
· Do not allow children to swim without the company of an adult who can swim and is not drunk.
· Avoid staying under the sun with scanty clothes for more than 3 hours as this predisposes to sunburn, heat exhaustion and the worst, heat stroke.
· Should you want a tan, drink plenty of fluids so as not to dehydrate yourself.
While on the road
· Check your vehicle very well before going on a trip.
· Bring your repair kit with you.
· When drunk, never attempt to drive.
During the tyhoon season
During the typhoon season
Water:
• Make sure drinking water is from a safe source.
• When in doubt, do not drink. Boil it for 3 minutes or chlorinate drinking water to make it safe.
Food:
• Food should be well-cooked.
• Left-overs should be covered and kept away from household pests.
• Food waste should be disposed properly.
Clothing:
Keep yourself dry and warm.
Others:
• Consult a doctor at once if you, or any member of your household, have any sign or symptom to prevent the spread of infection in the evacuation area.
• Common infections or diseases that may spread in an evacuation area include: coughs and colds, acute gastroenteritis, skin and eye infections, measles, dengue, leptospirosis, hepatitis A.
• Do not allow children wade in floodwaters to avoid diseases such as leptospirosis.
• Dispose all waste properly.
• Maintain personal hygiene, always wash your hands before and after eating and using the toilet.
• Put safety first. Avoid hanging wires and unstable structures.
THIS EARLY, DOH LAUNCHES 2008 ANTI-DENGUE CAMPAIGN
Created 2008-02-01 09:07
Press Release/21 January 2008
Information is power.
The Department of Health (DOH) today turned over dengue information resources to the education and local government departments and the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, to add more power to their capabilities in helping curtail the dengue problem in the country, as the DOH launched its 2008 National Anti-Dengue Campaign.
“The fight against dengue is not a DOH battle alone. We have allies in this war from the local front, most notable are the Departments of Education (DepEd) and Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, and we have to reinforce the instruments to their fight by giving them more ammunition in the form of education materials,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.
The health chief said that apart from local partners, there are also international agencies that are helping the DOH. Two of these supporters are the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“Among the things that we turned over today to DepEd are flip-charts/posters and audio visual presentations funded by the ADB and WHO, respectively; and calendars, that were also financed by the ADB, to the DILG and Liga,” Duque noted.
He explained that the flip-charts, posters and audio visual presentation will be used by DepEd in their health education classes, while the calendars will be posted by DILG and Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas in their affiliated barangay halls and health centers.
“Disseminating information is the key to solve the dengue menace. The public should be told that the best and most cost effective preventive strategy is source reduction. They should be taught specifically to search for artificial containers that can hold clean and stagnant water because it would be a possible breeding site for the Aedes Aegypti, the mosquitoes that sow dengue,” Duque stressed.
The DOH chief said that the reason why the government is launching its dengue campaign at this early part of the year aside from to prepare for its peak season is because the disease has also recently become an all-year-round public health threat. Last year, there were 43,938 cases and 407 deaths reported from January to December 8.
“The occurrence and spread of dengue are now not only confined to the known wet and rainy months of the year anymore because in some parts of the country, rain comes even during the dry season and summer time. Hence, the possibility of having more breeding grounds than the usual is high and very likely. And we all know what could happen next: the inevitable increase of dengue cases,” Duque explained.
The health chief reiterated that all these endeavors are not going to work without the help from the public.
“We can beat and outsmart dengue. But our success will largely depend on the willingness of our people to help and cooperate with the campaign. The community needs to actively participate in the search and destruction of unnecessary containers where these killer mosquitoes breed. We will win this battle if we will fight this together,” Duque concluded.
Source URL:
http://www.doh.gov.ph/press/20080121
===========================================================================================================================
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
Health News from U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health
* Drinking Water Can Be Harmful to Smallest Babies (05/22/08)
* Smokers Quit in Droves, Not Isolation (05/22/08)
* Weight, Lifestyle Factors Tied to Urinary Symptoms (05/22/08)
====================================================================================
NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/
NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory studies severe and hazardous weather processes and develops tools to help National Weather Service forecasters, and federal, university and private sector partners use weather information more effectively.
The three research divisions - Forecast, Warning, and Radar - carry out NSSL's core science by blending resources, talent, knowledge and shared goals to:
* Develop enhancements to existing weather radar, and to design and test a new radar system.
* Develop and test tools to improve forecasts and warnings.
* Develop hydrometeorology tools for severe storm monitoring and prediction
* Carry out field research to improve the basic understanding of severe storm processes.
NSSL has a strategic research partnership with CIMMS, the University of Oklahoma's Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, one of NOAA's joint institutes. Other collaborations include the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Department of Transportation, FAA, and other universities and corporations.
NSSL, a vital part of NOAA's research network, is a $16 million laboratory ($6.2 million in NOAA base) that supports approximately 50 federal employees and 85 university and contract employees.
NSSL recently joined other weather researchers and partners in the new National Weather Center, a $67 million severe weather research and forecasting complex designed to increase collaboration and communication within the weather community.
====================================================================================
searchsystems web site
http://www.searchsystems.net/
==================================================================================================================
Seasonal Flu
info from U.S. government Center for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
Influenza (the flu) is a serious disease.
Influenza: The Disease
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu)
What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of flu include:
* fever (usually high)
* headache
* extreme tiredness
* dry cough
* sore throat
* runny or stuffy nose
* muscle aches
* Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
Complications of Flu
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
How Flu Spreads
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get Vaccinated
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:
* The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
* The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age† who are not pregnant.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
1. People who should get vaccinated each year are:
* People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
* Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
* Pregnant women,
* People 50 years of age and older,
* People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and
* People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
* Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
* Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
* Health care workers.
3. Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age† who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated vaccine.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:
* People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
* People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
* People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
* Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
* People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health-care provider.
For more about preventing the flu, see the following:
* Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
* Influenza Antiviral Drugs http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/antiviral/
* Good Health Habits for Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm
* The Flu: A Guide for Parents http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2007-08/parents_guide.htm
Questions & Answers
# Seasonal Influenza http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm
# Cold vs. Flu http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm
# Flu & Staph Infection http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flustaph.htm
# Flu & Other Respiratory Viruses http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/other.htm
# Misconceptions About Influenza and Influenza Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm
* "Healthy" indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.
† On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old (24-59 months old) without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing. The vaccine continues to be recommended for healthy persons ages 5-49 years who are not pregnant.
* Page last updated November 16, 2007
* Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
* National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
What to do if you get sick
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whattodo.htm
lthough yearly vaccination with the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs can be effective for prevention and treatment of the flu. The resources below explain which antiviral drugs are approved for seasonal flu and will help you understand when you might need to take them. If you are a health professional, please also see Antiviral Agents for Seasonal Influenza: Information for Health Professionals.
* Key Facts About Antiviral Drugs and Seasonal Flu
Overview of the use of antiviral drugs and who should get them …
* Antiviral Drugs for Seasonal Flu: Additional Links and Resources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and more …
* The Flu: A Guide for Parents
Questions and answers about the flu, how to protect your child, treatment, and more …
* CDC Health Advisory for 2007-2008 Season: Influenza Antiviral Use for Persons at High Risk for Influenza Complications or Who Have Severe Influenza Illness
Key Facts About Antiviral Drugs and Influenza (Flu)
Background
While getting a flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect you from the flu, there also are drugs that can fight against influenza viruses, offering a second line of defense against the flu. These are called “influenza antiviral drugs” and they must be prescribed by a health care professional. These drugs can be used to treat the flu or to prevent infection with flu viruses. Influenza antiviral drugs only work against influenza viruses -- they will not help treat or prevent symptoms caused by infection from other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the flu.
Antiviral drugs are used in different settings and circumstances to treat the flu and to prevent people from getting the flu:
* Antiviral drugs are used to help control flu outbreaks in places where a lot of people at high risk of serious flu complications live in close contact with each other, like nursing homes or hospital wards, for example.
* Antiviral drugs are used in the community setting to treat people with the flu to reduce severity of symptoms and reduce the number of days that people are sick.
* Antiviral drugs are used to prevent the flu
o for people who have been close to someone with the flu, or
o for people that need protection from the flu but they either don’t get protection after vaccination, or the vaccine is unavailable or they can’t get the vaccine because of allergies, for example.
While most healthy people recover from the flu and don’t have serious complications, some people—such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)—are at higher risk for serious flu-related complications. It’s especially important that these people are protected from the flu.
Remember, a flu vaccine is the first and best defense against the flu, but antiviral drugs can be an important second line of defense to treat the flu or prevent flu infection.
Use of Antiviral Drugs for Treatment
For treatment, influenza antiviral drugs should be started within 2 days after becoming sick and taken for 5 days. When used this way, these drugs can reduce flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They also may make you less contagious to other people.
If you become sick with flu-like symptoms this season, your doctor will consider the likelihood of influenza being the cause of your illness, the number of days you have been sick, side effects of the medication, etc. before making a recommendation about using antivirals. He or she may test you for influenza, but testing is not required in order for a physician to recommend influenza antiviral medications for you.
Use of Antiviral Drugs for Prevention
Influenza antiviral drugs can also be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. It’s important to remember that flu antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person’s particular situation.
In some instances, your doctor may choose to prescribe antiviral drugs to you as a preventive measure, especially if you are at high risk for serious flu complications and either did not get the flu vaccine or may still be at risk of illness even after vaccination. Also, if you are in close contact with someone who is considered at high risk for complications, you may be given antiviral drugs to reduce the chances of catching the flu and passing it on to the high-risk person.
Who Should Get Antiviral Drugs?
CDC has provided guidelines for health care professionals on the use of antiviral drugs (see: Information for Health Care Professionals: Using Antiviral Agents for Seasonal Influenza).
In general, antiviral drugs can be offered to anyone 1 year of age or older who wants to avoid and/or treat the flu. People who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu may benefit most from these drugs.
Antiviral drugs can also be used to prevent influenza among people with weak immune systems who may not be protected after getting a flu vaccine or who haven’t been vaccinated.
Remember, a flu vaccine is the first and best defense against seasonal flu, but antiviral drugs can be an important second line of defense to treat the flu or prevent flu infection.
Notes
This information is summarized from Prevention & Control of Influenza - Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2007 Jul 13;56(RR06):1-54. (Also available as PDF, 720K), and focuses on the two licensed influenza antiviral agents recommended for use in the United States during the 2007-08 influenza season: oseltamivir and zanamivir.
* Page last updated September 18, 2007
The Philippine Star p. 23 May 2008
"A utility worker died after he was hit by lightning during a heavy downpour in Quezon City yesterday afternoon.
Larry Vallenas, 39, was already lifeless when he was found under a tree along Stockholm street in Classica Vista Real Subdivision in Barangay Batasan Hills. Police Officer 2 Armando Penaflor said Vallenas was sweeping the street when the rain started and he sought shelter under a tree."
The following was the result of my research, regarding trees and lightning, on the internet:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/severe/swa/lightning.htm
" * Stay away from trees and other tall objects."
=========================================================================================================================
Philippine Department of Health Health Advisories
http://www.doh.gov.ph/healthadvisories/weather_season/summertime
It's Summer time
March to May is vacation time and fiesta season in the country. To avoid food poisoning, diarrhea, heat-associated ailments and recreation-associated injuries, the public is advised to take the following precautions.
Food and drinks
· Cook food properly.
· Preferably, foods must be eaten immediately after cooking (while still hot).
· Left-over food should be refrigerated and reheated before being eaten.
· Food handlers should wash their hands before and after food preparation.
· If sick, you should avoid preparing food for others.
· Avoid drinking water and iced beverages of doubtful quality.
· If water quality is doubtful, boil your drinking water for at least 2 minutes.
· Peel and wash fruits / vegetables before eating.
· Wash hands before and after eating.
At the beach
· Do not allow children to swim without the company of an adult who can swim and is not drunk.
· Avoid staying under the sun with scanty clothes for more than 3 hours as this predisposes to sunburn, heat exhaustion and the worst, heat stroke.
· Should you want a tan, drink plenty of fluids so as not to dehydrate yourself.
While on the road
· Check your vehicle very well before going on a trip.
· Bring your repair kit with you.
· When drunk, never attempt to drive.
During the tyhoon season
During the typhoon season
Water:
• Make sure drinking water is from a safe source.
• When in doubt, do not drink. Boil it for 3 minutes or chlorinate drinking water to make it safe.
Food:
• Food should be well-cooked.
• Left-overs should be covered and kept away from household pests.
• Food waste should be disposed properly.
Clothing:
Keep yourself dry and warm.
Others:
• Consult a doctor at once if you, or any member of your household, have any sign or symptom to prevent the spread of infection in the evacuation area.
• Common infections or diseases that may spread in an evacuation area include: coughs and colds, acute gastroenteritis, skin and eye infections, measles, dengue, leptospirosis, hepatitis A.
• Do not allow children wade in floodwaters to avoid diseases such as leptospirosis.
• Dispose all waste properly.
• Maintain personal hygiene, always wash your hands before and after eating and using the toilet.
• Put safety first. Avoid hanging wires and unstable structures.
THIS EARLY, DOH LAUNCHES 2008 ANTI-DENGUE CAMPAIGN
Created 2008-02-01 09:07
Press Release/21 January 2008
Information is power.
The Department of Health (DOH) today turned over dengue information resources to the education and local government departments and the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, to add more power to their capabilities in helping curtail the dengue problem in the country, as the DOH launched its 2008 National Anti-Dengue Campaign.
“The fight against dengue is not a DOH battle alone. We have allies in this war from the local front, most notable are the Departments of Education (DepEd) and Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, and we have to reinforce the instruments to their fight by giving them more ammunition in the form of education materials,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.
The health chief said that apart from local partners, there are also international agencies that are helping the DOH. Two of these supporters are the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
“Among the things that we turned over today to DepEd are flip-charts/posters and audio visual presentations funded by the ADB and WHO, respectively; and calendars, that were also financed by the ADB, to the DILG and Liga,” Duque noted.
He explained that the flip-charts, posters and audio visual presentation will be used by DepEd in their health education classes, while the calendars will be posted by DILG and Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas in their affiliated barangay halls and health centers.
“Disseminating information is the key to solve the dengue menace. The public should be told that the best and most cost effective preventive strategy is source reduction. They should be taught specifically to search for artificial containers that can hold clean and stagnant water because it would be a possible breeding site for the Aedes Aegypti, the mosquitoes that sow dengue,” Duque stressed.
The DOH chief said that the reason why the government is launching its dengue campaign at this early part of the year aside from to prepare for its peak season is because the disease has also recently become an all-year-round public health threat. Last year, there were 43,938 cases and 407 deaths reported from January to December 8.
“The occurrence and spread of dengue are now not only confined to the known wet and rainy months of the year anymore because in some parts of the country, rain comes even during the dry season and summer time. Hence, the possibility of having more breeding grounds than the usual is high and very likely. And we all know what could happen next: the inevitable increase of dengue cases,” Duque explained.
The health chief reiterated that all these endeavors are not going to work without the help from the public.
“We can beat and outsmart dengue. But our success will largely depend on the willingness of our people to help and cooperate with the campaign. The community needs to actively participate in the search and destruction of unnecessary containers where these killer mosquitoes breed. We will win this battle if we will fight this together,” Duque concluded.
Source URL:
http://www.doh.gov.ph/press/20080121
===========================================================================================================================
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
Health News from U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health
* Drinking Water Can Be Harmful to Smallest Babies (05/22/08)
* Smokers Quit in Droves, Not Isolation (05/22/08)
* Weight, Lifestyle Factors Tied to Urinary Symptoms (05/22/08)
====================================================================================
NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory
http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/
NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory studies severe and hazardous weather processes and develops tools to help National Weather Service forecasters, and federal, university and private sector partners use weather information more effectively.
The three research divisions - Forecast, Warning, and Radar - carry out NSSL's core science by blending resources, talent, knowledge and shared goals to:
* Develop enhancements to existing weather radar, and to design and test a new radar system.
* Develop and test tools to improve forecasts and warnings.
* Develop hydrometeorology tools for severe storm monitoring and prediction
* Carry out field research to improve the basic understanding of severe storm processes.
NSSL has a strategic research partnership with CIMMS, the University of Oklahoma's Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, one of NOAA's joint institutes. Other collaborations include the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Department of Transportation, FAA, and other universities and corporations.
NSSL, a vital part of NOAA's research network, is a $16 million laboratory ($6.2 million in NOAA base) that supports approximately 50 federal employees and 85 university and contract employees.
NSSL recently joined other weather researchers and partners in the new National Weather Center, a $67 million severe weather research and forecasting complex designed to increase collaboration and communication within the weather community.
====================================================================================
searchsystems web site
http://www.searchsystems.net/
==================================================================================================================
Seasonal Flu
info from U.S. government Center for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
Influenza (the flu) is a serious disease.
Influenza: The Disease
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu)
What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of flu include:
* fever (usually high)
* headache
* extreme tiredness
* dry cough
* sore throat
* runny or stuffy nose
* muscle aches
* Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
Complications of Flu
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
How Flu Spreads
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get Vaccinated
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:
* The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
* The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age† who are not pregnant.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
1. People who should get vaccinated each year are:
* People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
* Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
* Pregnant women,
* People 50 years of age and older,
* People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and
* People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
* Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
* Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
* Health care workers.
3. Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age† who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated vaccine.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:
* People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
* People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
* People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
* Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
* People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health-care provider.
For more about preventing the flu, see the following:
* Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
* Influenza Antiviral Drugs http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/antiviral/
* Good Health Habits for Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm
* The Flu: A Guide for Parents http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/2007-08/parents_guide.htm
Questions & Answers
# Seasonal Influenza http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm
# Cold vs. Flu http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm
# Flu & Staph Infection http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flustaph.htm
# Flu & Other Respiratory Viruses http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/other.htm
# Misconceptions About Influenza and Influenza Vaccine http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm
* "Healthy" indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.
† On October 24, 2007 CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding the use of the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) to include healthy children ages 2-4 years old (24-59 months old) without a history of asthma or recurrent wheezing. The vaccine continues to be recommended for healthy persons ages 5-49 years who are not pregnant.
* Page last updated November 16, 2007
* Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
* National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
What to do if you get sick
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whattodo.htm
lthough yearly vaccination with the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs can be effective for prevention and treatment of the flu. The resources below explain which antiviral drugs are approved for seasonal flu and will help you understand when you might need to take them. If you are a health professional, please also see Antiviral Agents for Seasonal Influenza: Information for Health Professionals.
* Key Facts About Antiviral Drugs and Seasonal Flu
Overview of the use of antiviral drugs and who should get them …
* Antiviral Drugs for Seasonal Flu: Additional Links and Resources
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and more …
* The Flu: A Guide for Parents
Questions and answers about the flu, how to protect your child, treatment, and more …
* CDC Health Advisory for 2007-2008 Season: Influenza Antiviral Use for Persons at High Risk for Influenza Complications or Who Have Severe Influenza Illness
Key Facts About Antiviral Drugs and Influenza (Flu)
Background
While getting a flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect you from the flu, there also are drugs that can fight against influenza viruses, offering a second line of defense against the flu. These are called “influenza antiviral drugs” and they must be prescribed by a health care professional. These drugs can be used to treat the flu or to prevent infection with flu viruses. Influenza antiviral drugs only work against influenza viruses -- they will not help treat or prevent symptoms caused by infection from other viruses that can cause symptoms similar to the flu.
Antiviral drugs are used in different settings and circumstances to treat the flu and to prevent people from getting the flu:
* Antiviral drugs are used to help control flu outbreaks in places where a lot of people at high risk of serious flu complications live in close contact with each other, like nursing homes or hospital wards, for example.
* Antiviral drugs are used in the community setting to treat people with the flu to reduce severity of symptoms and reduce the number of days that people are sick.
* Antiviral drugs are used to prevent the flu
o for people who have been close to someone with the flu, or
o for people that need protection from the flu but they either don’t get protection after vaccination, or the vaccine is unavailable or they can’t get the vaccine because of allergies, for example.
While most healthy people recover from the flu and don’t have serious complications, some people—such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease)—are at higher risk for serious flu-related complications. It’s especially important that these people are protected from the flu.
Remember, a flu vaccine is the first and best defense against the flu, but antiviral drugs can be an important second line of defense to treat the flu or prevent flu infection.
Use of Antiviral Drugs for Treatment
For treatment, influenza antiviral drugs should be started within 2 days after becoming sick and taken for 5 days. When used this way, these drugs can reduce flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They also may make you less contagious to other people.
If you become sick with flu-like symptoms this season, your doctor will consider the likelihood of influenza being the cause of your illness, the number of days you have been sick, side effects of the medication, etc. before making a recommendation about using antivirals. He or she may test you for influenza, but testing is not required in order for a physician to recommend influenza antiviral medications for you.
Use of Antiviral Drugs for Prevention
Influenza antiviral drugs can also be used to prevent influenza when they are given to a person who is not ill, but who has been or may be near a person with influenza. When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective. It’s important to remember that flu antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine. When used for prevention, the number of days that they should be used will vary depending on a person’s particular situation.
In some instances, your doctor may choose to prescribe antiviral drugs to you as a preventive measure, especially if you are at high risk for serious flu complications and either did not get the flu vaccine or may still be at risk of illness even after vaccination. Also, if you are in close contact with someone who is considered at high risk for complications, you may be given antiviral drugs to reduce the chances of catching the flu and passing it on to the high-risk person.
Who Should Get Antiviral Drugs?
CDC has provided guidelines for health care professionals on the use of antiviral drugs (see: Information for Health Care Professionals: Using Antiviral Agents for Seasonal Influenza).
In general, antiviral drugs can be offered to anyone 1 year of age or older who wants to avoid and/or treat the flu. People who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu may benefit most from these drugs.
Antiviral drugs can also be used to prevent influenza among people with weak immune systems who may not be protected after getting a flu vaccine or who haven’t been vaccinated.
Remember, a flu vaccine is the first and best defense against seasonal flu, but antiviral drugs can be an important second line of defense to treat the flu or prevent flu infection.
Notes
This information is summarized from Prevention & Control of Influenza - Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2007 Jul 13;56(RR06):1-54. (Also available as PDF, 720K), and focuses on the two licensed influenza antiviral agents recommended for use in the United States during the 2007-08 influenza season: oseltamivir and zanamivir.
* Page last updated September 18, 2007
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Security lapse at Robinsons Ermita; National Hearing Conservation Assn. web site
Security lapse at street entrance to Robinsons Ermita
On May 22, 2008, security lapse at street entrance (beside Jollibee restaurant) to said mall. The guard at said entrance didn't inspect my trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements.
web site with free useful information
National Hearing Conservation Association
http://www.hearingconservation.org/
Brain teasers
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/brain_teasers.htm
On May 22, 2008, security lapse at street entrance (beside Jollibee restaurant) to said mall. The guard at said entrance didn't inspect my trolley luggage, which was large enough to contain bomb elements.
web site with free useful information
National Hearing Conservation Association
http://www.hearingconservation.org/
Brain teasers
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/brain_teasers.htm
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Filipino senior citizen mistreated at Papyvore Trading store
Senior citizen mistreated, on May 21, 2008, by an employee, identified as Neri, who was working at a store at the second floor of Robinsons Manila. Said store was identified as Papyvore Trading, whose address was identified as # 1 Luntan St., cor. Kapiligan St., Quezon City. The proprietor of said store was identified as Janice Margot A. Koa. Said employee didn't follow the first come first served procedure. He accepted the photocopying of my material. However, after he started photocopying my material and before he had finished photocopying said material, he attended to other persons who had come after me. When I complained. he stopped photocopying said material and left said store. Another employee at said store completed photocopying said material. Proof of payment for photocopying of said material is Papyvore Trading cash invoice dated 5/21/08 for the amount of one hundred fifty seven pesos and fifty centavos.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Warning re text raffle scams; Raps filed vs. alleged scam execs; Travelers warned; Warning vs. Dining Out section; web site with free useful info.
Warning vs. text raffle scams
Warning against text scams that take advantage of the financial needs of the people especially as prices of basic commodities are rising. With an estimated 40 million phone subscribers, many people, rich or poor, educated or uneducated - are potential prey of text scams. The public is encouraged to exercise sheer vigilance so that perpetrators would be discouraged from proceeding with said acts. As potential victims, celluar phone subscribers are informed that they have won a special price through a raffle allegedly sponsored by a particular comppany, government agency or foundation. The scammers often cite government agencies such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to make it more believable to the unsuspecting victims. However before the winners can claim the alleged prize, they are usually asked to deposit money in a bank account or send prepaid load supposedly as processing fee or tax payment. After persons do as they are instructed, the victims then realize that the culprits have suddenly disappeared with the money.
Raps filed vs. alleged scam execs
It was reported in the Sunday May 18, 2008 issue of a local newspaper that the National Bureau of Investigation filed charges against eight officers and employees of Royal Manchester Five Trading Corp. (RMF), an alleged Ponzi scam. The NBI allegedly said what RMF was running was clearly a Ponzi scam. a fraudulent operation that involves paying investors abnormally high short-term returns with money raised from new investors, rather than from profits generated by a real business.
Travelers warned: Don't carry bags for just anyone
May 18, 2008. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday advised Filipino travelers not to agree to carry luggage for other people, including countrymen, lest these contain illegal drugs.
PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago allegedly said Hongkong Authorities recently arrested two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for transporting five kilos of heroin. "Filipino travelers are being exploited due to their accomodating nature in the spirit of pakikisama (camaraderie), a popular and often abused cultural trait," Santiago allegedly said. He allegedly said that drug dealers usually offered travelers up to $400 to carry a suitcase to their destination for them. It is unwise to risk one's life and future over any amount in dangerous drugs or cash," Santiago allegedly said. He allegedly advised travelers to personally inspect the contents of any bags they are asked to carry if they cannot turn down the person making the request. Santiago allegedly said that a traveler caught in possession of dangerous drugs, even if he did not know the bag contained illegal drugs, would have to answer to the arresting country's laws.
Warning vs. the Dining Out section on page D4 of the May 15, 2008 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Regarding the Bed restaurant, it was claimed that " A combo of crunchy Tex Mex nachos, creamy quesadillas, spicy buffalo wings, crispy fries, fish and chips, california spring rolls, and fried calamari will definitely leave everyone yearning for the main course in Bed. The source of said claims was not identified.
Regarding the California Pizza Kitchen, it was claimed that "everyone will enjoy this crispy chicken wok-seared in an orange sauce with Shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, carrots and green onions. The source of said claims was not identified.
website with free useful information:
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/
fruitsandveggiesmatter gov web site
Warning against text scams that take advantage of the financial needs of the people especially as prices of basic commodities are rising. With an estimated 40 million phone subscribers, many people, rich or poor, educated or uneducated - are potential prey of text scams. The public is encouraged to exercise sheer vigilance so that perpetrators would be discouraged from proceeding with said acts. As potential victims, celluar phone subscribers are informed that they have won a special price through a raffle allegedly sponsored by a particular comppany, government agency or foundation. The scammers often cite government agencies such as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to make it more believable to the unsuspecting victims. However before the winners can claim the alleged prize, they are usually asked to deposit money in a bank account or send prepaid load supposedly as processing fee or tax payment. After persons do as they are instructed, the victims then realize that the culprits have suddenly disappeared with the money.
Raps filed vs. alleged scam execs
It was reported in the Sunday May 18, 2008 issue of a local newspaper that the National Bureau of Investigation filed charges against eight officers and employees of Royal Manchester Five Trading Corp. (RMF), an alleged Ponzi scam. The NBI allegedly said what RMF was running was clearly a Ponzi scam. a fraudulent operation that involves paying investors abnormally high short-term returns with money raised from new investors, rather than from profits generated by a real business.
Travelers warned: Don't carry bags for just anyone
May 18, 2008. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday advised Filipino travelers not to agree to carry luggage for other people, including countrymen, lest these contain illegal drugs.
PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago allegedly said Hongkong Authorities recently arrested two overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for transporting five kilos of heroin. "Filipino travelers are being exploited due to their accomodating nature in the spirit of pakikisama (camaraderie), a popular and often abused cultural trait," Santiago allegedly said. He allegedly said that drug dealers usually offered travelers up to $400 to carry a suitcase to their destination for them. It is unwise to risk one's life and future over any amount in dangerous drugs or cash," Santiago allegedly said. He allegedly advised travelers to personally inspect the contents of any bags they are asked to carry if they cannot turn down the person making the request. Santiago allegedly said that a traveler caught in possession of dangerous drugs, even if he did not know the bag contained illegal drugs, would have to answer to the arresting country's laws.
Warning vs. the Dining Out section on page D4 of the May 15, 2008 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Regarding the Bed restaurant, it was claimed that " A combo of crunchy Tex Mex nachos, creamy quesadillas, spicy buffalo wings, crispy fries, fish and chips, california spring rolls, and fried calamari will definitely leave everyone yearning for the main course in Bed. The source of said claims was not identified.
Regarding the California Pizza Kitchen, it was claimed that "everyone will enjoy this crispy chicken wok-seared in an orange sauce with Shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, carrots and green onions. The source of said claims was not identified.
website with free useful information:
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/
fruitsandveggiesmatter gov web site
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image of registry return receipt of letter addressed to Makati councilor J. J. Binay
