In the Kitchen After a Flood

Food Safety and Kitchen Cleaning After a Disaster

Flooding can cause power outages for hours, days and even weeks, which may make food unsafe to eat.  If a fire, flood, power outage or natural disaster impacts your home, minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness by knowing how to determine food safety. You can learn the right decisions for keeping your family safe after a power outage with food and cleaning safety facts from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). After a Flood ·         Use bottled drinking water that has not come into contact with flood water. ·         Do not eat any food that may have come in contact with flood water. ·         Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance it may have come in contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. ·         Discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with flood waters.  They cannot be cleaned and sanitized effectively.  ·         Inspect canned foods; discard any food in damaged cans. Check cans for  swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel-type can opener. ·         Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples, and pacifiers that may have come in contact with flood waters. There is no way to clean them safely.  ·         Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, utensils (including can openers) with soap and water (hot water if available). Rinse and sanitize them by boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. ·         Thoroughly wash countertops with soap and water (hot water if available). Rinse and then sanitize them by applying a solution of 1 tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. Allow it to air-dry. ·         Note: If your entire refrigerator or freezer was in flood waters — even partially — it is unsafe to use and must be discarded. After a Weather Emergency The USDA also issued a news release with food safety tips to follow in advance of losing power, steps to follow if the power goes out,  and food safety after a flood. There were also steps to follow after a weather emergency. ·         Check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for two hours or more.        ·         Check frozen food for ice crystals. The food in your freezer that partially or completely thawed may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is 40°F or below. ·         Never taste food to decide if it is safe. ·         When in doubt, throw it out.  For more information about cleaning up after a disaster, review Prepareathon’s Flood and Hurricane guides. Also, see food safety tips at Ready.gov.

Family Emergency Communication Plan

When a disaster strikes, it is too late to develop a family emergency plan.  Here is some advice from FEMA on how to do so.  There are three steps: Collect, share and practice.
Collect:  This refers to gathering the necessary information to implement your plan.  It also includes writing this down.  Information needed includes household information, school caregiver and childcare information, out of town contact, emergency meeting places (more than one including by home, and out of town, and any other important information.
Share: means to share your written copy with all involved, your family members and those who are your contacts.
Practice: Putting your plan into action before time will make sure it will work in an emergency.  Remember texting is best because it requires less band width.  It will also be important to conserve phone energy.  Best to keep phones fully charged, and consider solar power for recharging in an emergency.

How to Lose Belly Fat

I saw the title to this article in Everyday Health and was really excited.  This is one of my goals.  However I was a bit disappointed in the suggestions.  The article is about exercises to lose belly fat.  It suggests the best involve weights--High-Intensity Strength Training.  Studies show strength training targets belly fat better than cardio.  One of the exercises is the incline push-up.  This is something I can do, and there are chances to do this many times a day.  The other exercises seem too complicated and I can't really see them in my brain.  I need a video or someone to guide me I guess. 

Friday is International Overdose Awareness Day.

This flyer has introduced me to Naloxone, a medication that can counteract the effects of opioid drug overdose.  Too late for the display at Farmer's Market, but not too late to remember the Overdoe Awareness Day.

VMC Farmers Market

751 Bascom Ave, San Jose, CA

Wednesday, August 29, 10AM to 2PM

International

Overdose

Awareness Day

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day.

Everyday, we see lives around us being changed and lost to

overdose. Overdose does not discriminate – it could be you or

someone you love, a friend, colleague or your neighbor.

Come join us to understand how this affects each one of us.

We will be providing educational resources and distributing

Naloxone, the life-saving opioid overdose medication.

To†join†our†coalition¨†receive†opioid†education†or†host†a†free

Naloxone†training¨†contact†sccoopp@hssÆsccgovÆorg

Find†us†online†at

https∫ØØwwwÆsccgovÆorgØsitesØbhdØinfoØopioid

facebookÆcomØSCCoOOP

It's time to remember. It's time to act.

Time: The Opioid Diaries

Time Magazine published a special edition dedicated to documenting the cost of opioid addiction: Special Report March 2018.  The photographs were taken by James Nachtwey.  There are now annually in the United States 64,000 drug overdose deaths. Life expectancy in the United States is going down as a result.  The pictures are very graphic.  They show people who are overdosed, emaciated, homeless.  Some are in coffins.  They show pregnant mothers with the effects of drug usage.  They show families that are devastated as a result of addiction.  Stories are also presented; but it is the pictures that drive this message home.  This is really bad stuff. 

Reflective Questions

A Message from NAMI About Stigma

Here is a good message from NAMI.  It comes with a quiz.   Stigma harms one in five Americans who has mental illness.  

Eggs for Diabetics

I have been visiting the diabetic nurse lately.  She chided me on how many carbohydrates I put in my breakfast, and suggested an egg or two for protein.  It is so easy to get into the carb habit for breakfast--cake, breakfast roll or cereal with milk.  There are better choices.  I found an article about the benefits of eggs, "8 Egg-cellent facts about eggs."
1. Eggs can be hearth healthy.  The big issue has been egg yolks, which hide a lot of cholesterol.  However dietary cholesterol generally does not cross over, and egg yolks have healthy nutrients.  No cholesterol in egg whites.
2. Eggs are a weight-loss super food.  Eggs are high in protein and low in  calories.  Consequently they can curb hunger with just a few calories.  Plus you can add vegetables to a scrambled egg for more nutrients.
3. Eggs are nutrient-rich.  Consider the vitamins in an egg.  The are a good source of zinc and vitamin A.  For a vegetarian who eats eggs they provide vitamin B12.
4. Egg size and color come to the chicken.  In other words there are varieties, but no real different in the actual egg.  Color and size have to do with color and size of the chicken laying the egg.
5. Dyed Easter Eggs is an ancient tradition.  People have been dying eggs for centuries.  These eggs are part of Jewish and Easter traditions.  Dyed eggs are safe to eat if they have been refrigerated.
6. Egg substitutes are healthy too.  These are usually egg whites with added color.
7. Are raw eggs safe to eat?  The risk with raw eggs is the threat of Salmonella which is a food born illness.  There is no loss in nutrients in cooking an egg, so no health benefit in eating raw eggs.  If speed is a question throw the egg in a mug and microwave for a minute.
8. The healthiest way to eat eggs.  There is really no difference in the egg with the type of preparation, other than some methods add calories.  Boiling and poached eggs do not add calories.  Another suggestion is using spray oil which adds minimal calories.
My issue with eggs is the rush I have in the mornings.  Consequently I usually boil a few eggs and then keep them in the fridge.  However the idea of cooking an egg in the microwave I need to try.

Screen Time: The Power is Yours

The Power Is Yours: Simple rules for supervising screen time, Scouting Magazine, March April 2018.

Simple rules:
Enjoy Screens:  Screens are not all bad.  They can bring games, and social interaction with family that is far away. 
Not Too Much:  Screen time can be limited by requiring credits for screen time.  Credits can be earned via chores.  Using screens before bed disrupts sleeps.  Good reason to turn them off an hour before bed and keep them out of the bedroom.
Mostly with Others:   Keeping screens out of the bedroom is big here.  Also doing activities together, such as family history, or research projects, or Instagram projects.
Lead by Example: You can lead by example by letting kids know what you are doing when you look at a screen during family time.  If you are overusing, then your kids will too.
Lastly, some age appropriate ideas:
No screen time under 18 months except for video chatting
18-24 months only age appropriate programs such as PBS which you watch with them and explain.
2 to 5 years: Limit screen time to less than an hour per day.  Watch with them so you can pause the programs and talk about things.
6 and older: Place limits and stick to your limits.  Agree on media-free times.

7 Tips to Help You Stick With Exercise When Managing Type 2 Diabetes

This   article is  taken from  Everydayhealth.  I explore each bullet and how I am personally doing.
Exercise helps with weight loss; and weight loss helps to reduce your A1C.  Exercise can be as simple as walking.
1. Start slowly:  I am a walker, but my walking is still slow.  This article suggests working p to 30 minutes of brisk walking daily.  I need to add the brisk part.
2. Choose an activity you like:  I don't mind walking, and this is what I usually do.  However I would like to add some basketball and other enjoyable activities.
3. Grab a Friend:  I have failed with this regard.  Most of my walking is as I commute or as I play Pokemon during lunch.  I have not been able to interest anyone in exercising with me in the evening, even for a walk.
4. Reward Yourself Along the Way:  I have failed in this regard.  My reward is to go out to eat which defeats the whole process in the end.  This article suggest rewarding yourself with music.  This may be a better way to motivate myself.
5. Formally schedule you workouts:  Again I am not good here.  Of course commuting exercise is at the same time everyday.  However other exercise usually depends on the weather.  If it is too hot, I choose to read a book instead.  I would be  good to schedule exercise with a partner.
6. Prep for your workouts:  Again I haven't done this.    I do not lay out clothes as I am wearing work clothes. 
7. Check your blood sugar before and after exercise:  I have never done this.  This article says it is a good idea as the numbers should provide motivation to continue exercising. 

Information on drowning/near drowning patients

This is from an e-mail newsletter at work.  
From May 10 to June 23, eight children were brought to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for drowning incidents. Tragically two of these patients died. Children under the age of five are at the most risk of drowning, with 70% of drowning incidents last year involving children under 5 years of age.  Nurses in the Emergency Department and Pediatrics asked if community awareness could be raised to help reduce these preventable deaths and injuries. You can see the news release on HHS Connect News once the site is back up later today. More information will be posted to social media sites to bring even more attention to the issue and hopefully prevent additional child drownings.  As the weather warms up and more children are in and around water, it is important that we all do what we can to reduce fatal and nonfatal drownings.  You can help. Keep an eye out for our social media posts. Read and share the tips provided. Some of the key prevention tips include making sure children know how to swim and learning CPR. Please do what you can to bring more awareness to this issue so that every child can have a fun but safe summer! Thank you.

Black Widows

This flyer is from Santa Clara County Vector Control. 
Black Widows live under buildings, under rocks and in woodpiles and dense vegetation.  The can also be in storage sheds, under patio furniture and in dark hidden corners.  We use to have them in Cupertino, in the outside tool closet.  Bites cause mild to sever pain.  The can also cause muscle spasms, increased blood pressure and difficulty breathing.  For most people, symptoms will subside after a couple days.  Fr children and elderly medical attention should be sought.  A cold pack will lessen the pain.  Bites can be prevented by being alert moving a wood pile, shake out clothes that have been stored, dust and vacuum where spiders may hide, clean clutter in the garage, seal cracksk in windows and doors.
We also have tarantulas in our area.  They are shy and rarely bite.  When they do their bite is similar to a bee sting.  Brown Recluses are not in our area.  False Widows have mild venom. 

Diabetes, Ten Mistakes in Monitoring Blood Sugar

This list is provided by Everyday Health.  I also document how I am doing as others may have the same issues.
1. Getting the wrong Meter.  Mine was given to me by the doctor so no issue here.  It works. 
2. Getting a meter not covered by your insurance.  See number one.  Mine was selected for me so it was covered.
3. Setting up the incorrect time and date.  I have no idea how to do this.  The staff at the diabetic clinic do this for me.  recently on a visit the meter was all off and they had to fix it for me.
4. Testing at the wrong time.  This is a big one for me, because I try to only test when I haven't eaten for three hours.  Sometimes it is hard to do.  Diabetic nurse says I should test first thing in the morning for sure.  I don't always get that done.
5. Not getting into a routine.  I am out of my routine.  I use to always test blood on the train ride home from work about five minutes before exiting the rain.  I am currently out of my groove.  Even when I am in a groove, I have difficulties on the weekend when I do not go through my regular routine.
6.Not cleaning your hands before checking your blood sugar.  This is something I had not really considered.  However I had worried about it a couple times.  However it makes sense.  Washing hands before measuring can give a more accurate reading.
7. Misusing you testing supplies.  Check the expiration dates of the test strips, and avoid reusing the lancets.
8. Testing your fingertip.  The fingertip is the most sensitive part of the finger.  Better to test on the side where it is not so painful.  Also best to change fingers so one isn't over used.
9.  Not staying hydrated.  If you are dehydrated  it can change your numbers.  I had never thought of this.
10. Not tracking your results.  I have never done this, other than what my machine does.  The office of the diabetic nurse use the monitor to get a recent record of my numbers.

When You Fear Someone May Take Their Life

This pamphlet is from The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.  It is not big on graphics and pictures, but very good on the information provided.
90 percent of people who commit suicide are suffering from a treatable mental disorder including: depression, bipolar depression, alcohol abuse or dependence, schizophrenia, post traumatic stress, drug abuse, eating disorder or personality disorder.  Most of these disorders are recognizable and treatable.  Another telling sign for suicide risk is past attempts.  Access to easy means is also a risk factor. 
Things that could signal risk for suicide include suicide threats or threats to hurt others, looking for means to commit suicide, talking or writing about death and suicide plans.  Other warning signs include withdrawing form family and friends, increased alcohol or substance use, engaging in violent behaviors and acting reckless. 
If someone mentions they are suicidal it should be taken seriously.  Be willing to listen.  If you see signs don't be afraid to ask if the person is considering suicide.  Don's try to argue the person out of suicide. 
Seek professional help.  Persons contemplating suicide sometimes don't think they can get help, but there is help available.  In an acute crisis do not leave the person alone, remove means for suicide--fire arms, pills, knives, etc.  Take the person to a crisis center, or lacking this to the nearest hospital.  9-1-1 is always an option; as are suicide prevention lines.  1-800-273-8255 is a national hotline.  Santa Clara County the hotline is 1-855-278-4204.
Persons with suicidal thoughts often hesitate to seek treatment.  You can support them in seeking treatment.  Also medications have side effects and you can help them through this.  It is also important to stick with treatment.  The first medication is not always the right medication.

Salt Lake's Answer to Homelessness

What do people think of Salt Lake's answer to homelessness.  They ask that you not give to panhandlers, but to organizations that help the homeless.  I wonder if it has had any effect on the homeless. It should as programs can offer much more than a little money.

Reflective Leadership: Reflective Supervision

Attended this training while I was doing the supervision curriculum.  It was presented by Maretta Juarez.  Just a few ideas I gleaned from the training.  "We do not learn from experience...we learn from reflecting on experiences" John Dewey.
Reflection is:
Stepping back from the immediate, intense experience to think about what it really means.
Examining our thoughts and feelings about experiences. 
Important skills include self awareness, careful observation and flexible responses.  Elements of reflective practice are relationships and development, parallel thinking, awareness, perspective taking, not knowing and collaborative stance.
Intended impact of reflective practice are: improved outcomes, improved program quality, improved clinical practice, and reflective practice and activities.

Holiday Stress, Mindfulness and Holiday Tradition

Helpful Holiday Resources   The holidays can often be filled with stress and pressure, leading to fatigue and withdrawal. It may seem ironic that the holiday season, which is supposed to cheer us up and bring us together, ends up stressing us out. Why does this happen? Well, our brains are hard at work trying to help us survive the chaos of the busy season. So, we’ve put together some helpful holiday resources to help you manage and even enjoy the holidays! Be Mindful One way to break the cycle of stress is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is about being interested and paying attention to what is happening in our bodies and minds in any one moment. By being aware of our experiences, rather than distracting ourselves and pretending we are not facing anxiety, we can learn to address our feelings as they come up. We can train our brains to reduce anxiety that can disconnect us from our family and friends. We can even tap into the very process that drives behavior: our natural reward-based learning system. Here’s how: instead of fighting our brains, or forcing ourselves to try to not be anxious during the holidays, be mindful and really pay attention to what you are doing. Curiosity is a powerful tool for taming stress and anxiety. What happens when we get curious? We notice that the feelings of stress and anxiety are simply made up of body sensations—and that these sensations come and go. We notice what is happening in our experience from moment to moment – a deeper level of mindfulness. By substituting the behavior of distraction, worry, or comparison with curiosity, we’ve hacked our brain’s reward-based learning process. Curiosity feels good and is readily available – it’s just a matter of tapping into our own capacity and noticing the reward right in that moment. So, in preparation for the holidays, take a few moments every day to train your brain to be mindful. Whenever you notice that you’re beginning to get stressed or anxious, take a moment to be aware of what’s happening in your body and mind right in that moment. Be curious.   Credit: https://www.mindful.org/train-brain-tame-holiday-stress-anxiety/ (Judson Brewer)   Define Your Holiday Traditions Talk to older family members or friends – Ask relatives about past holidays and events. Reviving these memories could link generations together and revive forgotten traditions. Savor edible traditions – Food is an essential part to many holidays, and the sense of smell is powerfully connected to memory. The wonderful aromas of decadent desserts or delicious dishes evoke memories of special days. Ask family or friends to share their favorite recipes to keep the memories going. Recall family origins – Research the traditions and foods of your ancestors, and find ways to incorporate them into your own celebrations. Members of your family will gain a sense of their own unique heritage that can be preserved for future generations. Record new memories – Keep traditions alive and remembered by keeping a “holiday journal”. Immediately after the holidays, briefly note how you celebrated, who was there, what you ate, where you went, etc. and capture a few moments on camera – but be sure to enjoy the moment as well! Keep it simple – Traditions should be fun, and not overly time-consuming or expensive. This year, take a few moments to define your family’s traditions and make a special effort to preserve them. Your family and friends will thank you for it!

Use un Casco: Helmet Safety in Spanish

Helmet Safety: Protect Your Head

This flyer comes from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.  Wearing a helmet is so important when riding--bicycle, skateboard, skating scooter.  Brain injury can lead to death, but also permanent disability.  This flyer also addresses the proper wearing of the helmet.  I didn't realize what the difference in helmets meant, or how to wear the helmet correctly.  ALso tossing the helmet after four years, or earlier if it has been in a crash, and no used helmets. 

Calorie Busters

This little article is from the magazine Health.Com.  I like most of these little ideas.  However a couple really jump out at me.  Taking the stairs is easy, but also hard in its own way.  However it is a good idea for burning calories fast.  I like doing chores.  A half hour of chores can burn 120 calories.  A good suggestion is doing cardio while waiting for things in the kitchen, such as the microwave or toast or cooking.  Taking t.v. binges are smarter if you exercise 15 minutes before.  I also like active dates, but don't have a regular partner for exercise. 

Safety in a Construction Area

There has been construction going on at the hospital for many years.  It seems construction will be with us for the next several years as well.  The hospital is being taken down, and rebuilt one section at a time.  Came across this interesting poster of safety clothing for construction workers. 

Tinnitus

I wish I would have noticed these letters when tinnitus first became an issue with me. 



The doctor seemed to think that the cause of my tinnitus was a history of loud noises, Del Monte and boy's bands.  He gave no hope for ever having something that would alleviate the tinnitus.  Number 5 says to be wary of hopeless prognostications from doctors.  The How is the problem treated section doesn't hold out much hope, except for the vitamins.  They may prove helpful.  Reducing stress and getting enough sleep are other important things to remember.  Usually I don't note my tinnitus.  It is just there in the background.  However I have gotten negative at times, thinking I will never hear silence again, and I miss silence sometimes.  However the habituation of the tinnitus has happened, and I deal with it; much better than when it first started.  I was pretty anxious for a while, but this went away.  I have also noticed that if I am overly tired, or stressed, the tinnitus is louder.  I can handle this. 

Santa Clara County Mental Health Urgent Care

This is a place to go with urgent mental health issues in Santa Clara County:

The Opioid Epidemic

Mental Health First Aid in their blog Be the Difference is this month featuring articles on the opioid epidemic.  Some are very goo so I thought I would share them here. 
Polls Show Americans Understand the Opioid Crisis but Blame People with Addiction
This is a poll from Kaiser Foundation.  While this poll indicates people are paying attention to the problem, it also points to stigma still being an issue.  However the problem hits close to home.  Most Americans know someone addicted to pain killers.
#BeTheDifference This February: The Opioid Epidemic
This is a short article but makes a list of things you might do to help confront the opioid epidemic.  Some suggestions are read up by following their blog, and then sharing what you learn. 

(I will be adding more articles and ideas over the month)