A Long Island woman’s big toe will adapt to function as a thumb after doctors performed a rare transplant operation to replace the vital missing digit.
Shannon Elliott, 25, lost the thumb and two fingers from her left hand in November when a firework exploded in her palm…
Have a safe and happy July 4th — and stay out of the ER. Please follow these fireworks safety tips:
Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
Fireworks should be unpacked from any paper packing out-of-doors and away from any open flames.
Be sure other people are out-of-range before lighting fireworks. Small children should be kept a safe distance from the fireworks; older children that use fireworks need to be carefully supervised.
Do not smoke when handling any type of “live” firecracker, rocket, or aerial display.
Keep all fireworks away from any flammable liquids, dry grassy areas, or open bonfires.
Keep a bucket of water or working garden hose nearby in case of a malfunction or fire.
Take note of any sudden wind change that could cause sparks or debris to fall on a car, house, or person.
Never attempt to pick up and relight a “fizzled” firework device that has failed to light or “go off”
Do not use any aluminum or metal soda/beer can or glass bottle to stage or hold fireworks before lighting.
Do not use any tightly closed container for these lighted devices to add to the exploding effect or to increase noise.
Never attempt to make your own exploding device from raw gunpowder or similar flammable substance. The results are too unpredictable.
Never use mail-order fireworks kits. These do-it-yourself kits are simply unsafe.
For more information on injuries that can occur from unsafe use of fireworks, see:
I like to pass on good tips, and these ways to simplify your life make a lot of sense. The constant stress we feel because life is so complicated isn’t good for our health. Here are six tips to have a simpler lifestyle:
1. De-Clutter Your Home
Look around. If you have piles of paper, too many “things” and nic-nacs laying around, it’s hard to think clearly and function. An open, clear space allows our minds to feel open and more peaceful. Tackle one room at a time. Be ruthless and donate or toss everything that isn’t useful, beautiful, or has special memories. 2. Limit Family Activities Try to force family members to choose only those activities that are most important. Many of us are over-scheduled and have no time to “just see where the day will take us.” Thirty years ago no stores were open on Sundays and there wasn’t much to do except go on picnics or just hang out with friends and family. It’s okay to “veg out” and may even be good for your family’s health. Read more »
Journalist Andrew Holtz, one of our expert reviewers on HealthNewsReview.org, has some fun with a horserace-style look at low-carb versus low-fat diet research on his MDiTV.com site:
Here’s a wonderful cartoon primer by Darryl Cunningham on the fundamentals of homeopathic “medicine”:
To see the entire 19-page cartoon strip, click here.
Well worth the read, especially for anyone who might be considering homeopathic treatment. This author also put together a nice explication of the Wakefield Autism Vaccine Fraud.
*This blog post was originally published at Movin' Meat*
When healthcare reform became law, HR and benefits professionals I spoke with had two reactions: surprise and annoyance. Surprise, because they thought reform was dead; annoyed, because the law was full of provisions that didn’t make sense to them. But it was partly their own fault.
Blogs and other social media were buzzing with healthcare reform talk for more than a year, and were more influential than ever. But HR and benefits professionals –- experts in the topic –- were mostly on the sidelines. They didn’t shape the debate, didn’t point out when people didn’t know what they were talking about, didn’t talk about how what was proposed would affect what they did for a living.
Don’t take my word for it. A study last year on social media use by HR professionals revealed some striking results:
Only 13 percent use RSS feeds, tags and bookmarks
Only 5 percent post original content to blogs and website
Only 4 percent post ratings and reviews or comments on blogs and online forums
Reform shows there are real consequences to this failure to participate in social media. If you’re not part of the conversation, you’re marginalizing yourself, losing influence within your organization and the world.
So let this be a wake-up call: Get involved in social media. Easy to say, but how do you get started? Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at See First Blog*
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Time for a reminder about safe fireworks use. This Daily News article by Lauren Johnston — Doctors replace woman’s missing thumb with big toe transplant –- shows and tells you why. An excerpt:
