March 21^st is…

World Down Syndrome Day

March 21^st was chosen for World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) to signify the uniqueness of Down syndrome (DS) in the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome (3/21), which is used synonymously with Down syndrome. 

This year – 2009 –  also marks the 50th anniversary of when the discovery by Professor Jerome Lejeune of that extra copy of chromosome 21 which causes Down Syndrome was first published.  The Lejeune Institute inParis continues to sponsor DS research.  Down Syndrome was first described by John Langdon Down (an English doctor), in 1866, but until Professor Lejeune's publication (in 1959), Down Syndrome’s ultimate cause wasn’t known.

The first events of WDSD, itself, were organized in Geneva, Switzerland - proposed by Stylianos E. Antonarakis (a medical geneticist of the University of Geneva Medical School), & originally adopted by adopted by a patient group called “ART21”, in the Lemanic region of Switzerland.  They organized the first events on March 21^st, 2006, there… & inaugural events for the day were held in Singapore (organized by Down Syndrome International [DSI]) then, also.

Down Syndrome International (the WDSD sponsor) decided last year not to set a theme, themselves, but to let individual organizations select their own themes each year.  One theme mentioned under a USA program this year is “Imagine the Possibilities”, for example.  A theme from the Netherlands & Germany is “Don’t Let Me Down”; an exhibition in Poland has the theme “There are many countries but the only one DS”; & in Brazil a stated theme is “Inclusion to Autonomy.”

Find WDSD Events [click]

(Click on flags, there, for programs in various countries.)

Learn More – Visit:

Down Syndrome International

Down Syndrome International Swimming Organisation

DownSyndrome.com

Extensive List of Nat’l/Int’l Sites & Resource Links

International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association (IMDSA)

Genes Day

(also held on March 21)

World Down Syndrome Congress 2009 Website

(to be held August 19-22 in Dublin, Ireland)

World Down Syndrome Day Website

World Health Organization (WHO)

Down Syndrome Information

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Friday – March 20^th, 2009 – is…

The First Day of Spring

(The First Official  Day, Anyway )

Springtime can make a person feel healthier & more hopeful, don’t you think?  For many areas (where the climate is broken into 4 distinct weather-seasons), it means warmer/sunnier days, lively &/or soothing breezes, earth-soaking rains & snow-meltoff which (hopefully) refill parched ponds & reservoirs, & tender new shoots & buds of green growing-things.

Green, itself – the color – is thought to symbolize health, life, & growth by many… & is thought to even hasten healing, as well.  In ‘color therapy’ it is the color which creates balance; & is also thought to effectively help with the nervous system, high blood pressure, wound-healing, ulcers, & muscle relaxation.

What can be more mood-brightening & stress-relieving than Spring flowers?!  Studies have even shown their helpful health-effects (barring the sniffles & sneezes & such of those who are allergic, of course – many hospitals have barred all live floral arrangements & plants due to allergens/molds); even photos of them have been found to help.

Early Spring Flowers [click]

(MSN Slideshow of Flower Displays Around the US)

Happy Spring to All!  To your health!!

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March 19^th is…

Certified Nurses Day™

This is the very FIRST annual Certified Nurses Day™ (2009)!  The day was created & sponsored by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) staff. http://www.nursecredentialing.org/  March 19^th was chosen because it’s the birthday of Margretta "Gretta" Madden Styles, RN, EdD, FAAN, who’s known as the 'Mother of Nurse Credentialing', was the “architect” of the first comprehensive study of nursing credentialing in the 1970s.  Dr. Gretta Styles also served as President of the American Nurses Association, the International Council of Nurses, the California Board of Registered Nursing & the American Nurses Credentialing Center, & was a recipient of numerous honors and recognitions around the world.

There are over 140,000 ANCC-certified nurses serving in the USA & around the world!

Certified Nurses Day™ celebrates the professionalism, dedication & excellence of nurses who have received their certification credentials, & recognizes the difference they make through their work.

Visit the CND Website to Learn More [click]

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The 3^rd WEEK of March is…

National Poison Prevention Week

Poison Prevention Week Council

&

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition

It’s also…

World Brain Awareness Week

The European Dana Alliance For The Brain

Society for Neuroscience

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 March 17^th is…

St. Patrick’s Day

For many people, St. Patrick’s Day has become a popular night/weekend out to celebrate with friends and family (Irish or not).  No doubt, celebrations for this year’s St. Patty’s day are already well underway, this weekend.  Unfortunately, due to the large volume of impaired drivers, celebrating this holiday (& other ones, as well) has also become very dangerous.

• Over the past five years, 851 people lost their lives in motor vehicles crashes during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday.*  Out of that number, 327 were killed in crashes that involved a driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

• In 2007 alone, 91 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a BAC of .08 or higher during this holiday.

• Every year, thousands of people needlessly lose their lives in motor vehicle crashes involving impaired drivers and motorcyclists.  Of the 41,059 people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2007, 12,998 involved at least one driver or motorcycle rider (operator) with a BAC of .08 or higher. 

* NHTSA defines the St. Patrick’s Day Holiday as 6:00 p.m. March 16th through 6:59 a.m. on March 18th.

Driving impaired or riding with someone who is impaired is simply not worth the risk. The consequences can be serious, costly, embarrassing, or even deadly:

• The tragedies and costs from drunk driving are not limited to death, disfigurement, disability or injury.  They also can lead to the trauma and financial costs of a crash or an arrest, which can be very significant.

• People that break the law often face jail time, the loss of their driver’s license, higher insurance rates, and dozens of other unanticipated expenses from attorney fees, fines, court costs, increased insurance rates, car towing, repairs, lost time at work, etc.

• Plus there is the added embarrassment and humiliation after informing family, friends, and employers.  
•  

Don’t  rely on the luck of the Irish to keep you safe this St. Patty’s Day – plan a safe way home before your celebrations begin:

• If you plan on drinking, don’t drive.  Use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely. 

• If you plan to get a ride home with someone else, designate a sober driver before any drinking begins.

• Consider using your community’s Sober Rides program.

• If you notice your friend is showing signs of impairment, don’t let him or her get behind the wheel - Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

• If you notice someone you know is about to drive or ride their motorcycle while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement.

May the road rise up to meet you… & may all those who are driving be sober this St. Patrick’s Day (/weekend/always)!   Have a fun & safe time celebrating! 

Learn More:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The Impaired Driving Division

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

MADD’s Safe Party Guide

Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA)

Drunk and Drug Impaired Driving Info.

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Speaking of Patient Safety Awareness Week…

AKA National Patient Safety Week

(Con’t from previous post – click above, for that

[or scroll down in the Care-Aware™ blog])

Oprah Winfrey had Dr. Mehmet Oz on her show this week – did you catch that one?  They discussed medical mistakes & misdiagnoses.  Dennis Quaid & his wife were on – discussing the dosing error which happened with their twins when they were babies (the hospital has since made $100-grand computerized med-dispensing improvements to prevent further errors of the sort).

Read/Watch Portions of the “Medical Mistakes” Show [click]

Dr. Oz also offered his own list of eight things you can do to protect yourself from medical errors:

Dr. Oz’s Checklist [click]

Here’s an additional article done by Dr. Oz & Dr. Mike Roizen on to help us be smarter with health matters.  It includes lots of great pointers on thing like finding a good doctor & hospital, insurance, ER’s, pharmacists, “germ warfare”, bureaucracy, & such:

"Becoming a Smart Patient" [click]

This handy health journal link was also included, in that article:

“Your Health Journal” [click]

(9 page Simple Format Fill-In [PDF])

Hospital-acquired infections are all-too common – killing up to ninety-thousand patients each year!  But, a lot can be done about them, too – simple things, like having hospital staff follow checklists, & patients speaking up to request that healthcare workers wash their hands before touching them.  Read how one simple checklist reduced line-infections dramatically at Johns Hopkins University hospital, in this interview with Dr. Peter Pronovost by Dr. Oz:

The Power of a Checklist [click]

A “YOU: The Smart Patient” section is also available on Dr. Oz & Dr. Roizen’s RealAge® website (& corresponds with their book by that same name):

Visit “YOU: The Smart Patient” on RealAge® [click]

You can also get advice for a healthier hospital visit:

“The Healing Environment” [click]

(“Why hospitals aren't necessarily set up to help you heal,

and what you can do about it.”)

While all of us do what we can to try to improve our (& our loved-one’s) odds of avoiding health hazards in healthcare environments... I, for one, hope that many more-progressive (& long-needed) changes are being put into place by the healthcare places (hospitals, clinics, doctors offices, etc.) & their staffs (doctors, nurses, janitorial staff, etc.) so that patients can spend their time & energy on healing rather than on additional concerns about errors & added infections & such!

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This week – March 8^th – 14^th, 2009 – is…

National Patient Safety Week

Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) is a national observance sponsored by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) to education build awareness for improving patient safety at local levels. NPSF was founded in 1997, with the intent of improving the safety of our healthcare system; & remains the sole organization with that singular focus over decade later.  NPSF has made available literature, videos, handouts and other materials to assist both healthcare institutions and professionals as well as patients themselves in increasing safety in healthcare settings.

The theme for Patient Safety Awareness Week 2009 is, “A Prescription for Patient Safety: One Partnership, One Team” – which goes along with their newly-developed “compact” for healthcare providers & patients both:

“The Universal Patient CompactTM“ (PDF) [click]

Some more actions you can take, during NPSW (or any time), to help protect yourself:

• Get rid of old/expired medications.
• Bring your medications to your doctor or pharmacist for review.
• Obtain copies of all your healthcare records and keep them in a safe place.
• Write down and carry with you a list of all of your prescription and over the counter medications (plus any vitamins, herbs, & supplements) - names & doses - as well as any allergies you might have.
• Write down and carry with you the names and numbers of all of your healthcare providers and pharmacies.
• Identify an advocate (either family member or friend) who can accompany you and ask questions on your behalf.
• Talk with your family or other close individuals about what your preferences are for your healthcare, in case you are unable to speak for yourself.

Help Prevent Medication Errors

by th Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)

 A few more links of interest:

The ABCs of Patient Safety

Patient & Family Resource Guide

Additional Patient Resources

More Information is Available at:

National Patient Safety Foundation

Patient Safety Websites List

I’ve seen a LOT of instances of patient safety issues, myself, in getting to know various families/patients over the years, & following their stories – from literally life-threatening infections to medical & or medication errors, misdiagnosis’, & other mistakes.  It’s a BIG issue, out there!  

Did your hospital, doctor’s office, or other healthcare provider do anything for Patient Safety Awareness Week?  Ask them.

For more interesting & helpful stuff regarding Patient Safety Awareness Week, continue to the next post on CareAware™ – Part II: Oprah/Oz “Medical Mistakes” Show.

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Thursday – March 12^th, 2009 – is…

World Kidney Day

The Month of March is

Nat’l Kidney Month (US) & Kidney Health Month (CND)

World Kidney Day’s (WKD) global awareness campaign focuses on the importance of our kidneys, & is an effort to reduce the impact of kidney disease & the number of people it affects, as well as its’ associated health problems.  

Every year millions die prematurely of kidney failure or heart attacks and strokes linked to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).  Kidney disease is common & harmful… but it is also treatable.

The 2009 theme for WKD is…

"Keep the pressure down"

World Kidney Day 2009

This year’s WKD campaign highlights the importance of high blood pressure as one of the key risk factors, symptoms and causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).  Nearly one billion people worldwide have high blood pressure and more than 500 million have CKD.  High blood pressure is a key risk factor for CKD; but better blood pressure control slows the progression of CKD, & makes it less likely that a person will require dialysis or suffer from heart or other cardiovascular diseases.

10-13% of the population is affected with CKD in most countries.

Less than 30% of people with CKD are aware they have the condition.

It’s very important for all people who are at risk for kidney disease to get early, comprehensive screening for it.  High blood pressure is one risk factor; & there are others, as well, such as diabetes, overweight, smoking, & family history.  

Are your kidneys okay?  Check out the checklist on the poster below; take the quick quiz; & find a FREE screening location:

Take this Quick Kidney Quiz [click]

Find a FREE Kidney Screening Location [click]

Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP)

by the National Kidney Foundation

Search for Kidney Screenings around the World HERE [click]

Here are some fun photos you can look at from last year’s (2008) World Kidney Day:

WKD Photos 2008 from Around the Globe [click]

Sources: World Kidney Day & Nat’l Kidney Foundation

Learn More, Visit:

The World Kidney Day Website

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The Second Week of March is…

National Patient Safety Awareness Week

See these Care-Aware™ posts for more:

National Patient Safety Week

Patient Safety Awareness Week

Part II: Oprah/Oz “Medical Mistakes” Show

& also...

National Procrastination Week

Hmm… wait a minute - it seems that a number of sources indicate National Procrastination Week as being the first week of March, rather than the second – I wonder if someone out there procrastinated in posting it, at some point??

Well, anyway… I DO (very seriously) hope that those two are NOT being celebrated at ONCE (if ya know what I mean)… unless of course it’s to implement more ways to NOT procrastinate with patient safety, out there (I've heard of way too many times in which it didn't seem to be a priority, somehow)!!

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March 8^th is…

International Women's Day

The Month of March is Women's History Month

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global event which is held to to inspire women and which celebrates their economic, political and social achievements throughout the world (& throughout time).  IWD began in 1911, & grew out of an International Conference of Working Women the year before.  In some countries (such as China, Russia, Vietnam & Bulgaria) IWD is also treated as a national holiday.

IWD’s theme for 2009 is:

“Women and men united to end violence against women and girls.”

Related Previous Care-Aware™ Post:

International Day To End Violence Against Women

[click to read]

The above global theme is from the United Nations.  While the theme set by the UN is often used worldwide, themes may also be set according to local issues.  Here are some of the additional local themes for 2009:

Canada, Status of Women (Federal Gov):  “Strong Leadership. Strong Women. Strong World: Equality”

Australia, UNIFEM:  “Unite to End Violence Against Women”

Australia, Queensland Government Office for Women:  “Our Women, Our State”

Australia, WA Department for Communities:  “Sharing the Caring for the Future”

UK, Doncaster Council: “Women's Voices and Influence”

UK, Welsh Assembly Government:  “Bridging the Generational Gap”

UK, Accenture: Stretch Yourself:  “Achieving 50:50 in the boardroom by 2020”

UNHCR video for International Women's Day 2009

Men and Women United for Gender Equality

There are currently 946 events listed for IWD (195 in the US, alone):

Search list of Events HERE [click]

Here’s an interesting “key gender fact” I just ran across on the IWD website:

“Only 21% of all news subjects (people interviewed or whom the news is about) are female.”

I did not realize (how ‘bout you?).

Some more “key gender facts”:

“Females in developing countries on average carry 20 litres of water per day over 6 km.”

“Women do two-thirds of the world’s work but receive only 10% of the world’s income.”

“Globally women comprise 42% internet users (Italy 37% ... US & Canada 51%).”

Read more about the global women’s/gender issues HERE [click]

Source: IWD Website

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

IWD Photos from Around the World

For more information on IWD:

Visit the IWD Website [click]

IWD is also on Twitter:

Follow the Reuters_Women 2009 IWD Twitter Feed [click]

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 Friday – March 6^th, 2009 – is…

Dress in Blue Day

for Colorectal Cancer Awareness

The Month of March is Nat’l Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Dress in Blue Day began in March of 2006, in Seattle, WA, by Anita Mitchell - a Colon Cancer Alliance volunteer.  She worked with her children's local school and parents to coordinate a day where the students were allowed to wear blue (instead of their catholic school uniforms) if they donated a dollar to colon cancer research.  Parents were also given some simple screening guidelines, along with the notice about the day; & the children were each given a blue ribbon for their participation.

• Colorectal cancer is the #2 cause of death in the U.S.

• Over 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year.

• Colorectal cancer is 90% preventable when detected early!

• Colorectal cancer often has no symptom at all until it’s at an advanced stage.

• You can reduce your risk through regular screening.

• Beginning at age 50 (or earlier with family history), everyone should be screened for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps (growths that shouldn't be there) in the colon or rectum; some of which can turn cancerous over time.  Screening tests can find polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer, & can also detect colorectal cancer early, when the chance of being cured is good.   Guidelines emphasize the importance of a regular screening program which includes annual fecal occult blood tests (FOBT), periodic partial or full colon exams, or both.  It’s been estimated that, if these screening practices were widespread, as many as 30,000 lives could be saved each year.

Source: CCA

Learn More, Visit:

Colon Cancer Alliance

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Friday – March 6^th, 2009 – is…

World Day of Prayer

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together with people everywhere - in more than 170 countries and regions around the world - to observe a common day of prayer each year (on the 1st Friday in March)

Mary Ellen James - the wife of a Presbyterian minister in New York and the mother of seven children - started the WDP in 1884 by simply reacting, as a Christian, to the society in which she lived. Mary Ellen was aware of the problems faced by many women around her: the awful slums with their poverty, unemployment, poor housing, & the lack of health or educational facilities.  Something had to be done.  From her humble & heartfelt act of empathy, & the prayers of a small group of women, the worldwide movement & call to prayer grew.  

Today, WDP’s motto is:

“Informed prayer leads to prayerful action.”

All people are welcome to join in (women, men, & children of all countries, languages & cultures…).  During the Day of Prayer, people collectively pray all over the world, beginning with the first sunrise and ending at the last sunset – the prayers follow the sun’s path around the globe.

Each year, WDP chooses a country & a theme:

2009 Featured Country:

Papua New Guinea

2009 Theme:

"In Christ There Are Many Members, Yet One Body"

To learn of the current situations, there, for which they are requesting prayer:

“World Day of Prayer 2009: Papua New Guinea” [click]

&

“Papua New Guinea – BACKGROUND” [click]

WDP Links:

Canada:

Women’s Interchurch Council of Canada

England, Wales or Northern Ireland:

WWDP EWNI 

USA/English-speaking webpage

WDP Argentina

WDP Australia

WDP Austria

WDP Germany

WDP France

WDP Paraguay

WDP Scotland

WDP Switzerland

World Day of Prayer (main website)

So, how does this post relate to health & wellness (if at all)?  Many studies have actually been done on the affects of prayer, meditation & spirituality on health.  In fact, just in the past few years, even the NIH has begun to get involved in such studies through its’ Frontier Medicine Initiative.

Read “Can Prayer Heal?” [click]

(WebMd Feature Article)

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The Month of March is…

Cataract Awareness Month

National Eye Institute (@NIH) 

Deep-Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Month

The Coalition to Prevent DVT

International Listening Awareness Month

The International Listening Association

International Mirth Month

Jollytologist® Allen Klein

Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

The American Association on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)

The Arc

National Brain Injury Awareness Month

Brain Injury Association of America

National Caffeine Awareness Month

The Caffeine Awareness Association

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (US & CND)

The Colon Cancer Alliance

Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada

National Endometriosis Awareness Month (US & CND)

Endometriosis Research Center

World Endometriosis Research Foundation

National Eye Donor Month

Eye Bank Association of America

National Hemophilia Month

National Hemophilia Foundation

National Kidney Month (US)

National Kidney Foundation

National MS Education & Awareness Month

Multiple Sclerosis Foundation

National Nutrition Month^® (US & CND)

National Dietetic Assoc.

Dietitians of Canada 

Optimism Month

Article by its’ Co-Founder

Red Cross Month (US & CND)

American Red Cross

Canadian Red Cross

Save Your Vision Month

American Optometric Association

Social Work Month

Nat’l Assoc. of Social Workers

Workplace Eye Health & Safety Month

Prevent Blindness America

In Canada, the Month of March is also…

(in addition to those noted above)

Easter Seals Month

Easter Seals Ontario

Help Fight Liver Disease Month

Canadian Liver Foundation

Kidney Health Month

The Kidney Foundation of Canada

Learning Disabilities Awareness Month

The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada

National Epilepsy Awareness Month

Epilepsy Canada

[Click on any purple title to open link in separate page.]

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March 2, 2009 is…

Yellow Shirt Day

This is also Endometriosis Awareness WEEK

& Endometriosis Awareness MONTH

The Endometriosis Research Centre has sponsored this event for 3 years now, to support endometriosis awareness. 

Wear a yellow shirt to support endometriosis awareness today.

A petition has been created by the Endometriosis Research Centre for the US Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to approve an Endometriosis Stamp honoring the millions of American women and girls who suffer from endometriosis.

Click HERE to Sign the Endometriosis Stamp Petition

For More about Endometriosis, Visit:

Endometriosis Research Center

ERC on FaceBook

ERC on MySpace

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