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This week we will discuss Eye Safety for children.  Eye injuries affect about 2.4 million people every year. Household products cause more than 125,000 serious eye injuries. Hospital emergency rooms treat nearly 23,000 victims of eye injuries from sports. Toys and home playground equipment cause more than 11,000 injuries to young eyes. Below are tips for preventing injury to your child’s eyes. 

Here are some tips for eye safety for children: 
Avoid sharp, broken toys and objects.
Wear sport goggles and sunglasses.
Do not play around lawn mowing and fireworks.
Avoid BB, pellet, NERF®, and dart guns.
Always carry pointed objects such as scissors, knives or pencils with the sharp end pointing down.
Never shoot objects (including toys) or spray things at others, especially in the direction of the head.
Read and follow directions before playing games or using equipment.
Make sure your child wears safety goggles or glasses during sports and leisure activities.
Make sure your child wears sunglasses that have 100% UV protection.
Only buy toys meant for their age.
Show them how to use their toys safely.
Supervise them when they play.
Look into the durability of lens material.
Ask for warranty information on both the frames and the lenses.
About 90% of eye injuries can be prevented with protective eyewear. 
An ophthalmologist, primary care doctor, school nurse or children’s health service should examine the eye as soon as possible, even if the injury seems minor at first, as a serious injury is not always immediately obvious. Delaying medical attention can cause the damaged areas to worsen and could result in permanent vision loss or blindness.
While seeking medical help, care for the child as follows:
DO NOT touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye. DO NOT try to remove any object stuck in the eye. For small debris, lift eye lid and ask child to blink rapidly to see if tears will flush out the particle. If not, close the eye and seek treatment. Do not apply ointment or medication to the eye. A cut or puncture wound should be gently covered. Only in the event of chemical exposure, flush with plenty of water.  
Credits:
URMC / Encyclopedia / Preventing Eye Injuries in Children
Search Encyclopedia 

This week we will discuss LED (light-emitting diode) therapy, a type of treatment that uses lights of different wavelengths to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as acne, scar tissue, and the effects of aging. Most commonly, red and blue lights are used for these treatments.  Light therapy can be performed in a healthcare provider's office or at home. Multiple treatments are required to get results.  There will not be a guest for this week's episode

This week we will discuss Metabolic Systems with our guest,  Francis Fessler.
 

A certified personal trainer and conditioning coach for the last 25 years, Francis Fessler has built a career by designing programs and coaching professional and amateur athletes, celebrities, business professionals, parents and children to achieve their wellness and fitness goals. Throughout his time in the health and wellness world he evaluated, tried and tested countless ‘diet and nutrition plans’ and could not find one that had consistent results for both women and men- so he built one. Francis created F2 Wellness and the highly successful F2 Weight Loss Program for not only his clients, but for anyone looking for a simple, successful and sustainable weight loss program.
Have you ever experienced tiredness in your muscles while working out and you couldn’t continue exercising after a certain point? Have you wondered what can make you lift heavier weights or run longer than you can today? If you have, understanding the mechanism of the body's energy system can help you find answers to these questions.
Three metabolic pathways generate the energy required to perform an exercise: the phosphagen pathway, the glycolytic pathway, and the oxidative pathway, together known as the energy systems. Although your body is always using all three simultaneously, depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise, your body will choose from which pathway it will use the largest percentage of its energy.
​As you may know, all energy used by our bodies is generated from the breakdown of food and drink. The three macronutrients are protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Those are metabolized to create adenosine triphosphate, which is the source of fuel for all body processes, including muscle contraction.
​Unfortunately, the supply of readily available ATP is very limited. It means our bodies constantly have to produce the substance; otherwise, muscle contraction would stop. This re-synthesis of ATP is done by the three energy systems.
​The first 10 to 20 seconds of high-intensity physical activity is fueled by the “ATP-CP,” also known as the phosphagen energy system. Once the available ATP is used up, which occurs in a few seconds, a molecule called phosphocreatine is used to re-form ATP in the muscle. This energy system operates very quickly and can bring the highest output of the three systems. However, it is limited by the availability of creatine phosphate, which is usually consumed within 15 seconds.
​Your body can eventually refill these stores when you rest. This is why this system is most active for athletes who engage in short bouts of very intense, explosive movement, such as a the 50-meter dash or powerlifting. This is also the reason we can sprint at full speed for only a few seconds or lift maximum loads only 1-2 times before requiring rest or a decrease in exercise intensity using another metabolic pathway.
​The second pathway, the glycolytic pathway, is the primary energy system used for exercise lasting from 15 seconds to three minutes. People running an 800-meter event, for example, use this pathway the most. This energy system uses the glucose stored in the muscle, broken down primarily from carbohydrates, to form ATP. The benefit of this pathway is that it kicks in quickly, but it doesn’t make very much energy; it can only supply a maximum of about three minutes of energy. This pathway is responsible for the buildup of lactic acid in our muscles, which contributes to fatigue.
For exercise lasting longer than three minutes, the oxidative pathway is used. Unlike the others, this energy system requires oxygen. The increase in respiratory rate meets the oxygen demand during physical activity. The oxidative system is slow, but is also the most efficient. Using fat as its primary energy substrate, it produces enough ATP to sustain longer duration activities, but only at submaximal exercise output. It means fat is

On this week's episode we are running a rare re-run on the aftermath of 9/11.
The tragic events of September 11, 2001, remain etched in the collective memory of not only Americans but also people worldwide. Beyond the immediate devastation, the aftermath of the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks brought forth an enduring health crisis among those who selflessly rushed to aid their fellow citizens. First responders, the courageous individuals who braved the smoke, debris, and toxic fumes of Ground Zero, now face a formidable foe: cancer. This essay delves into the harrowing issue of cancers among first responders as a result of their heroic work at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
The Heroic Sacrifice
On that fateful Tuesday morning in 2001, first responders raced against time to rescue victims, provide medical aid, and extinguish fires at Ground Zero. Their unwavering commitment to their duty and fellow citizens was nothing short of heroic. However, in their pursuit of saving lives and clearing the wreckage, these valiant individuals unwittingly subjected themselves to a hazardous environment, the consequences of which continue to haunt them.
The Toxic Fallout
The collapse of the Twin Towers released a vast plume of dust and debris, laden with a toxic cocktail of chemicals and substances. This included asbestos, lead, dioxins, and various carcinogens. The first responders breathed in these harmful particles, exposing themselves to long-term health risks. Moreover, the fires at Ground Zero burned for months, releasing even more hazardous pollutants into the air, further endangering the health of those on the front lines.
The Alarming Statistics
Over the years, an alarming number of first responders have fallen victim to cancer. The statistics are sobering, with many developing rare and aggressive forms of the disease. A study conducted by the World Trade Center Health Program in 2020 revealed that cancer has become a leading cause of death among 9/11 first responders. The incidence of certain cancers, such as prostate, thyroid, and multiple myeloma, among this group is significantly higher than in the general population.
The Struggle for Recognition and Assistance
First responders who survived the immediate aftermath of 9/11 are now faced with another daunting battle – the fight for recognition and assistance. Many of these heroes have struggled to receive adequate medical care and compensation for their illnesses. The process of proving that their cancer is linked to their exposure at Ground Zero can be arduous, and the burden of proof often falls on the shoulders of the afflicted.
Legislation such as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act has provided some relief by establishing healthcare programs and compensation for affected individuals. However, the fight for ongoing support and comprehensive healthcare continues, as the prevalence of cancer cases among first responders only grows.
The Psychological Toll
Beyond the physical health challenges, the psychological toll on first responders cannot be understated. Witnessing the loss of colleagues and experiencing the long-term health impacts has led to significant mental health struggles within this community. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, adding to the already burdensome weight of their physical ailments.

The cancers afflicting the first responders who valiantly served at the World Trade Center on 9/11 represent a tragic and enduring consequence of that fateful day. These individuals sacrificed their health and well-being in the pursuit of saving lives and aiding their fellow citizens. As a society, it is our moral duty to recognize their sacrifice, provide them with the necessary medical care and support, and continue research to better understand and combat the long-term health effects of their selfless actions. The cancers among first responders of 9/11 are a stark reminder that their heroism should never be

This week we will discuss being Bi-Polar with Kitt O'Malley.  
Kitt is an author, mental health advocate, and former psychotherapist who lives with bipolar disorder. Both her personal experience and clinical background inform her writing and enable her to help herself and guide others toward mental health recovery. She has a bachelor's in legal studies from UC Berkeley, a master's in psychology from New College of California, and has attended seminary. Visit kittomalley.com for more information.
 
BOOK
"Balancing Act - Writing Through a Bipolar Life" offers hope to those living with mental health conditions and their loved ones. As a therapist who left her career due to a mental health crisis, O'Malley educates the public about mental health and fights stigma against those living with mental health conditions by challenging stereotypes.

O'Malley's writing recounts her struggle with bipolar disorder, the two decades it took to receive a proper diagnosis, and how her journey gave her purpose. O'Malley balances living with bipolar disorder with her work as a mental health advocate and former caretaker of her son and parents.

This week we will discuss Young Onset Parkinson's with Jennifer Crowder.
​
Jennifer has been living in the uncomfortable space of not using her career or family role to define herself for many years. Instead, she describes who she is as a person - she is tenacious, creative, stubborn, sarcastic, relentless, driven, compassionate, and courageous. Her proudest moments are making people laugh when they least expect it and finding a quick and simple solution to a complex problem. She spends most of her time in a boxing gym or carving eggshells. She has been living with Parkinson's disease for 27 years. 
​In reference to advice about starting rock Steady Rock Steady, Jennifer wanted you to know...
​*Don't wait until you feel good to go.
*Go when you're tired.
*Nauseated
*In pain
With this disease, if you wait to feel good enough to go, you'll never go. The first few weeks are undeniably hard. Pain and fatigue from the workouts, pain and fatigue from the disease. But if you stick with it- go every class you can and give 100% each workout, the disease symptoms reduce. I'd rather have the pain from a good workout. It allows a more productive life.