April is Organ Donation Awareness Month!

Almost 100,000 men, women
and children currently
need life-saving organ transplants.


Every 12 minutes another name is added to
the national organ transplant waiting list.


90% of Americans say they support
donation, but only 30% know
the essential steps to take to be a donor.

What is it?
Donor organs and tissues are removed surgically, and the donor’s body is closed, as in any surgery. There are no outward signs of organ donation and open casket funerals are still possible.

How do I become an organ and tissue donor?
Marking your intentions on your driver's license or state ID card will ensure that your wishes are fulfilled. In Minnesota, residents can also register online by visiting www.DonateLifeMN.org. Also, make sure your family knows your wishes.

Myths:
Myth No. 1.
If I agree to donate my organs, my doctor or the emergency room staff won't work as hard to save my life. They'll remove my organs as soon as possible to save somebody else.
Reality. When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life — not somebody else's. You'll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.

Myth No. 7.
I'm not in the greatest health, and my eyesight is poor. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.
Reality. Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be fine. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Only medical professionals at the time of your death can determine whether your organs are suitable for transplantation.

Myth No. 9.
Rich, famous and powerful people always seem to move to the front of the line when they need a donor organ. There's no way to ensure that my organs will go to those who've waited the longest or are the neediest.
Reality. The rich and famous aren't given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity generated when celebrities receive a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else. In fact, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization responsible for maintaining the national organ transplant network, subjects all celebrity transplants to an internal audit to make sure the organ allocation was appropriate.

These myths and more information can be found at the Mayo Clinic.

To find out more on how you can make a difference
and become someone's hero, please visit these links:

Donate Life
Organ Donor
Organ Transplants

April is STD Awareness Month.

Ah yes, STDs. Remember those? Those little issues that are said to infiltrate your privates and grow puss. Yeah those things. Guess what? Well most of them don't puss, they are extremely harmful to your health and the health of people besides you- the people you spread it to...know what's even more extreme? Only 10% of people who have an STD, are aware of it. That means 90% of people have no idea they are carrying around a desease.

There are nearly 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the U.S. each year. About half are among 15-24 year olds.

Think about it...Most of us wont eat the food we drop on the floor, yet we may not think twice about the penis, tongue or finger we're about to put in our mouth-or other bodily opening. Food it's gross, our body parts are not gross...but we don't know where they have been. Yet even if its our own food, that we dropped- just for a second- most of us do not choose to pick it up and put it in our mouth...but we choose to accept other body parts into our...whatever(s).

If you've put someone else's body part in your orpheus, get checked. You don't know where it's been. So get checked, click here. It's Family Tree Clinic's Link, they are close and have recently been teaming up with Hamline to support the student (us) in sexual health. They are just waiting...they want to keep us safe. How much easier can it be? Yes, it is...if you do not have a car, Counseling and Health Services will pay for your ride to the bus, or get a cab, to Family Tree. There are people on this campus just waiting to help you get checked, and will be more than excited to assist you! Here they are- click.

Spring Break is Coming...

Are you ready?

Spring Break Tips

Travel
If you are taking a road trip, check out all belts, hoses, fluid levels, spare tire and tires on the car.

Pack tools, a cellular phone, a first aid kit, a flashlight, an AAA card, fire extinguisher, water and snacks just in case the car breaks down.

Remember to bring your health insurance card and allergy bracelets.

Let your family and trusted friends know when you are leaving, when you’ll get back and how you are traveling.

Take turns behind the wheel, and whoever sits shotgun should stay awake to keep the driver company. Make sure everyone has a valid driver’s license and the vehicle registration is in the car before driving off.

If you are traveling by bus, rail or air, don’t bring magazines with your name and address. Tear off your address label. You do not want people who know that you are away from home to know where you live.

Don't have your name and address highly visible on your luggage for the same reason.

Be aware of pickpockets who prey on people in crowds. They get close and bump into you without you noticing. Pickpockets also work in groups. One will distract while the other slips away with your goodies.

If you stop at a restaurant, bar or café and set your bag down, put your foot through the strap. That way it won't be taken without you knowing. Also, you'll remember to take it with you when you trip over it as you leave.

Beach Bound
Drink plenty of water, non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if you do not feel thirsty.

The sun’s damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.

Most of the sun’s rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.

When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label - it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours.

The Hotel
Reserve a room that’s above the 1st floor but below the 6th floor. Why? First floor rooms are easier to break into, and rooms above the sixth floor are sometimes too high for fire ladders to reach. If safes are provided, definitely use them for any valuables you may have. Keep doors and sliding doors locked, and don’t let anyone into your room unless you can trust them. Make a mental note of where the nearest fire exits and stairwells are located in case you need to evacuate.


For more tips visit:
Safe Spring Break

March is National Nutrition Month

Celebrate it by following a quick tip on one of the simplest tricks to staying healthy.


Water

1. Water makes up 60% of your body weight on average.
2. It flushes out toxins, carries nutrients throughout your body, and maintains your temperature.
3. You lose water through many common daily routines, so to replenish it, you should drink about eight cups a day.
4. How do you know if you're drinking enough water? If you're not feeling thirsty throughout the day and your urine is mostly clear, you're probably doing all right

Education Yourself By Watching Muppets.