Health Archives - Page 88 of 90

Diabetes Day today at Tulalip Health Clinic from 9:30 – 3:30

By Monica Brown Tulalip News writer

Janurary 16, 2013

TULALIP, Wash-

The event began today with and opening prayer and is scheduled to run until 3:30 p.m. Breakfast was served with the intention to inform about healthy options for people either with diabetes or wanting to ward off diabetes. Tribal member Hank Gobin gave a informative speech about diabetic care.

Lunch will be served from noon to 1:30pm. Clinic staff will be offering comprehensive Diabetic Services for all Tulalip Tribal members and authorized patients of the Karen I Fryberg Tulalip Health Clinic.

Breakfast for Diabetes Day, fresh fruit, oatmeal, greek yogurt, eggs and tea. — Breakfast for Diabetes Day, fresh fruit, otameal, greek yogurt, eggs and tea.

Diabetes Day at Tulalip Health Clinic today

Burn bans continue for Snohomish County, Tulalip & Stillaguamish tribes

Source: Arlington Times

January 15, 2013 · 1:36 PM

Snohomish County is one of three counties in which the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has lowered the air quality burn ban to Stage 1 until further notice.

“Air pollution levels throughout the region have dropped, likely due to clouds and warmer temperatures,” said Dr. Phil Swartzendruber, forecaster for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. “The drop in pollution could also be due to the help of our communities following the burn ban. Calm, cold and clear weather conditions are likely to continue over the next few days, so ongoing cooperation with the burn ban will help keep our air healthy.”

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency will continue to closely monitor the air quality and weather situation.

During a Stage 1 burn ban:

• No burning is allowed in fireplaces or uncertified wood stoves. Residents should rely instead on their homes’ other, cleaner sources of heat, such as their furnaces or electric baseboard heaters, for a few days until air quality improves, the public health risk diminishes and the ban is cancelled.

• No outdoor fires are allowed. This includes recreational fires such as bonfires, campfires, and the use of fire pits and chimineas.

• Burn ban violations are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

• It is okay to use natural gas, propane, pellet and EPA-certified wood stoves or inserts during a Stage 1 burn ban.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit their time spent outdoors, especially when exercising. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung and heart problems, people with diabetes, children and adults older than 65 years.

The Tulalip and Stillaguamish tribes are likewise among the six Native American reservations on which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 will continue a burn ban on all outdoor burning until further notice, due to stagnant air conditions that are forecast to prevail over the next few days.

This burn ban applies to all outdoor and agricultural burning, including camping and recreational fires within reservation boundaries. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the outdoor burn ban.

The EPA also requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, including excess driving and idling of vehicles, and the use of wood stoves and fireplaces, unless it is their only source of heat.

Air pollution can have significant health impacts. Cooperation from the community will help people who are at risk during this period. Those most at risk are children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with difficulty breathing, and with heart and lung problems. Those at risk should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize their exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible.

Please call 1-800-424-4EPA and ask for the Federal Air Rules for Reservations Hotline, or visit the FARR website for the current burn status at www.epa.gov/region10/farr/burnbans.html.

Regional burn bans called to protect public health

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

Burn bans in effect in King, Pierce, Snohomish

SEATTLE, WA – To protect the public from unhealthy levels of air pollution, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has issued burn bans for King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. The bans are designed to reduce public exposure to harmful wood smoke pollution from indoor and outdoor burning.

Wood smoke is a growing health concern nationally and increasing attention is paid to the health impacts from short- and long-term exposure to the fine particles and other pollutants it contains. Recent studies have tied wood smoke exposure to health effects such as aggravated asthma, increased heart attacks, acute bronchitis and chronic lung disease.

Locally, high levels of wood smoke pollution violate the federal Clean Air Act in the greater Tacoma area. Within this area, known as the Tacoma-Pierce County Smoke Reduction Zone, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is implementing robust new enforcement and assistance programs recommended by the community to clean up the air.

Fine particle pollution levels are monitored daily by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at more than a dozen locations in four counties, including three sites inside the Smoke Reduction Zone. The figure below shows daily accumulation of fine particles as measured by a device known as a “Federal Reference Method sampler.” The sampler inhales approximately twice as much air as the average adult over the course of a 24-hour period.

The “Stage 2” burn ban will remain in effect as long as air quality conditions remain poor. Until then, no burning is allowed in any wood-burning fireplaces, stoves or fireplace inserts. Use of pellet stoves and all outdoor burning is also prohibited.

Residents should instead temporarily rely on their home’s non-wood source of heat.

Updated air quality information and current burn ban status are available through the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency at www.pscleanair.org or (800)552-3565.

Tulalip Diabetes Day, Jan 16

Providing culturally sensitive diabetes health care to promote the overall well-being of our people

Join the Karen I Fryberg Tulalip Health Clinic staff on Wednesday, January 16 for Diabetes Day 2013.

The event is schedule for 9:20 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., and will being 8:00 a.m. with an opening prayer and song. Lunch will be served at noon.

Clinic staff will be offering comprehensive Diabetic Services for all Tulalip Tribal members and authorized patients of the Karen I Fryberg Tulalip Health Clinic.

Two no-cost whooping cough & flu vaccination clinics, Jan. 18 & 26

Snohomish Health District

Low-income and uninsured adults only – first come, first served

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. – Uninsured and low-income adults can take advantage of two shot clinics for flu and whooping cough at handy locations in Everett, Wash. Both clinics are free and open to the public.

· The first clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Jan. 18 during the WorkSource Community Resource Fair at Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., Everett, Wash.

· The second clinic will run from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Comcast Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett, Wash. This clinic is sponsored by the South Everett-Mukilteo Rotary Club and coincides with a free skating event for the public in the main ice rink.

The Snohomish Health District will provide 200 doses of adult flu vaccine and 200 doses of adult whooping cough vaccine, also called Tdap, at the WorkSource event; and 300 doses of each at the Comcast clinic.

Washing hands, covering your coughs, and staying home when you are sick are effective ways to reduce spreading and getting diseases. The best way to prevent illness is vaccination.

The flu season in Snohomish County is proving to be more severe than usual. Three adults in our county have died from flu complications in the past several weeks .Getting a current flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and others. Everyone 6 months and older should get a shot every year, since the flu vaccine changes to match the most common illnesses.

Vaccination is also the best protection against whooping cough. Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is no longer at epidemic levels in Snohomish County, but cases of it are still being confirmed and it can still be deadly to babies. All adults who have not had a whooping cough booster shot should get one. It is especially important that all pregnant women and people – including teens – who are around newborns get the booster shot to protect the infant.

Download vaccine information sheets and consent forms in English and Spanish at www.snohd.org.

Visit www.flu.gov for more information about flu, and www.doh.wa.gov for statewide updates.

Established in 1959, the Snohomish Health District works for a safer and healthier community through disease prevention, health promotion, and protection from environmental threats. Find more information about the Health District at www.snohd.org.

Tulalip Health Clinic offering flu mist through Jan 14

The Karen I. Fryberg Tulalip Health Clinic has the flu mist, a type of a influenza vaccine in the form of a nasal spray available for tribal children ages 2 to 18. This is not an injection but a mist in the nostrils.

The Clinic will have the mist available until January 14^th, 2013. No appointment necessary, walk-ins are welcome.

Off the Rez, serving Native American eats since 2011

Off the Rez, a mobile food truck has been serving up Native American eats around Seattle since 2011.

The outfit of Mark McConnell and partener Cecilia Rikard, Off the Rez is inspired by Native American food, a cuisine generally not found on menus around Seattle. McConnell, A Ballard native, grew up on Indian tacos, frybread and other foods that his mom and grandmother would cook for gatherings and special occasions. Marks; mother grew up on the Blackfeet reservation on Montana.

McConnell says he originally intended to open a restaurant but opted for a mobile operation. The Native food truck can be found at lunchtime around downtown, with possible stops in South Lake Union and late nights on Pike Street and Capital Hill.

This not-to-be-missed truck of tasty meals features a mural of a chief in a war bonnet on one side and a fellow smoking out of a peace pipe with a scene of Seattle on the rear.

The highly-rated menu includes pulled pork smoked for ten hours, a bacon burger, and frybread and tacos, slathered in homemade jam or chicken chili verde.

You can find the Off the Rez truck on Facebook. The Capitol Hill stops are fairly regular, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. by the Caffe Vita at 1005 E. Pike St.

By Kim Kalliber, Tulalip News staff

Flu more widespread in US; eases off in some areas

Associated Press, Mike Stobbe AP Medical Writer, Jan 11, 2013

Flu is more widespread across the nation, but the number of hard-hit states has declined, health officials said Friday.

Flu season started early this winter, and includes a strain that tends to make people sicker. Health officials have forecast a potentially bad flu season, following last year’s unusually mild one.

The latest numbers, however, hint that the flu season may already have peaked in some spots.

Flu was widespread in 47 states last week, up from 41 the week before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday Many cases may be mild. The only states without widespread flu are California, Mississippi and Hawaii

The hardest hit states dropped to 24 from 29. Those are states where large numbers of people were treated for flu-like illness.

Those with less activity include Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina in South, the first region hit in the current flu season.

Nationally, 20 children have died from the flu. There is no running tally of adult deaths, but the CDC estimates that the flu kills about 24,000 people in an average year.

Flu vaccinations are recommended for everyone 6 months or older. Health officials are still recommending vaccinations, even in areas with widespread flu reports.

Nearly 130 million doses of flu vaccine were distributed this year, and at least 112 million have been used, according to CDC officials.

Vaccine is still available, but supplies may have run low in some locations, health officials say.

Also on Friday, CDC officials said a recent study of more than 1,100 people has concluded the current flu vaccine is 62 percent effective. That’s in line with how effective the vaccine has been in other years.

The flu vaccine is reformulated each year, and officials say this year’s version is a good match to the viruses going around.

Flu usually peaks in midwinter. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, head and body aches and fatigue. Some people also suffer vomiting and diarrhea, and some develop pneumonia or other severe complications.

Most people with flu have a mild illness. But people with severe symptoms should see a doctor. They may be given antiviral drugs or other medications to ease symptoms.

Get fit at the Tulalip Conditioning Center

Tulalip employees, tribal member Joseph Alexander and Jadah Milam are taking advantage of the conditioning center. — Tulalip Tribal members Joseph Alexander and Tulalip Tribes employee Jadah Milam are working up a sweat on the recumbent bikes.

By Jeannie Briones, Tulalip News staff

Since the opening of the Tulalip Conditioning Center five months ago, community members have taken advantage of the various exercise equipment that the center offers, including treadmills, elliptical bikes, recumbent bikes, a heavy punching bag, speed bag, dumbbells, bench press, curling bench, ab crunchers, and other devices to provide an overall well-balanced workout.

“This center provides a healthy and safe program for our community. Diabetes run within Native American communities, so my main objective is providing somewhere the community can workout for free and feel safe at the same time,” said Josh Fryberg, Youth Services Recreation.

“I am thankful to have the opportunity to workout. I have kids and can’t workout at home, so I want to take advantage of this time,” said Tulalip Tribal employee Jadah Milam.

To better ensure that folks meet their health goals, Josh encourages people to workout in pairs and set weekly obtainable goals.

The Conditioning Center is available at no charge to tribal members, tribal employees, and community members. The center is open Monday through Friday, usually from 12:00 – 4:30 p.m., but hours may vary at different times throughout the week.

The Center is located at 7730 36th NW Ave W, Tulalip, WA 98271 (across from the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club). For additional questions, please contact Josh Fryberg at 425-377-4110.

Jeannie Briones: 360-716-4188; jbriones@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov

Are you or is anyone in your family interested in becoming part of a Healing Circle?

Buffalo Star People is a Native nonprofit, based in South Dakota, dedicated to helping our relatives heal from losses, traumas, and addictions. Buffalo Star People has been helping Native people in tribal communities transform their lives in powerful ways for over 7 years. They are here in our community to facilitate a series of Healing Circles for about 11 weeks, ending in a graduation ceremony. Participants and mentors will be guided in a new approach to healing. Please consider joining us on this healing journey.

Want to learn how? Our Healing Circles are free, and open to adults ages 18 and up. The only requirement is that you complete an orientation with a facilitator. Barbara Bettelyoun, Rosebud Sioux, is a Doctor of Psychology and has worked with Native communities on issues of trauma and healing for over 15 years. She co-facilitates with her husband, Francis. Francis Bettelyoun, Oglala Lakota and enrolled in the Ihanktonwan Sioux Tribe, is Vice President of Buffalo Star People Nonprofit, and has been co-facilitating Healing Circles for the past 7 years.

Orientation appointments immediately available for exploring the Healing Circle starting on 1/16.

Call to schedule a time that works for you:

Leila or Razi can be reached at 716-4100

Group co-facilitator Barbara Bettelyoun can be reached direct at 605-201-7576