Newspapers / Bennett College Student Newspaper / April 18, 1997, edition 1 / Page 3
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3 • BENNETT BANNER • APRIL 18, 1997 • HEALTH & FITNESS • HEALTH & FITNESS * HEALTH & FITNESS « ER pros say no to medical ID cards Pop quiz: What's your favorite food? (NAPS) Cards containing emergency medical information may seem like a good idea to people with chronic medical conditions, but they can be useless, say medical professionals, in the very situations they are designed for. Emergency management officials and physicians say card- based ID systems are not likely to help if you have a medical condition that must be quickly identified in an emergency. That's because people don't always carry wallets or purses. And even when they do, those items often fail to follow accident victims to emergency departments, said Charlotte Yeh, MD, chief of emergency medicine at the New England Medical Center in Boston. An even bigger reason for the probable failure of wallet card- based systems, is that paramedics are generally discouraged from searching wallets or purses. Paramedics are trained to respond first to the medical emergency at hand, not to waste time looking for ED, says Angelma Mendoza of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority. In most states, finding ID can be delayed because another team member or a police officer has to be present when a wallet or purse is searched. Emergency personnel need to know if you have a medical condition that could complicate treatment, said Kim Marie Zeh, MD, staff physician at Metroplex Emergency Physicians Associates in Dallas. The safest most reUable way to communicate that information is through body-worn identification such as bracelets or necklaces because those are what EMTs are trained to look for. Another problem with card systems is that some rely on 800 numbers to their telephonehoUines, but there is no single 800 number worldwide. If 800 numbers don't work overseas, then those cards arent going to be very helpful to travelers, said Dr. Zeh. A former president of the American Medical Association, says people with medical conditions need to know that the most reliable form of protection is body-worn ID. It is easily seen, its universally recognized, and its what emergency responders are trained to look for. Ask for a free copy of "What Every Consumer Needs to Know About Emergency Medical Identification; Issues and Answers." To join Medic Alert, call 1-800-825-3785. (NAPS) Pop quiz: What foods do Americans say they cannot live without? For many people its pizza, pasta, chicken, ice cream, chocolate and french fries. These are the all-time favorite foods that callers to The American Dietetic Association (ADA)s Consumer Nutrition Hot Line named during a recent survey. Pasta, chicken, chocolate, ice cream, pizzaand french friesare as American as baseball and apple pie, and can be part of a healthful eating plan, according to Nancy Schwartz, Ph.D., R.D., who directs ADAs National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics (NCND). When asked about eating healthfully, 75 percentof the people surveyed said they need to eliminate certain foods, such as sweets, fried foods, and high fat items from their eating plans. In response, Schwartz says people dont need to give up their favorite tasty foodsall foods can fit when consumed in moderation. But, what is moderation? Websters Third New International Dictionary defines moderation as...tending toward the mean or average amount. However, when callers were asked whatmoderation means to their eating habits, about 200 callers came up with just as many different interpretations. Interpretations varied from No matter how hungry I am, I have cereal in the morning and at night ~ to I leave the table when I still want more food and I eat little or no ice cream to I eat fewer than two cups of food at a meal and have four to six meals a day to I eat one egg for breakfast and seldom have meat with it. Despite these numerous interpretations, 90 percent of the answers mentioned the importance of limiting portion size and frequency of eating foods. Like most Americans, people think healthful eating means giving up foods they like the best, says Schwartz. Buthere'sasavorynews flash with a bit of nutrition know how and a healthy dose of physical activity, all foods can fit into a healthful eating style. Schwartz recommends the following guidelines: Be Flexible: Go ahead and balance what you eat and the physical activity you do over several days. No need to worry about just one meal or one day. Be Sensible: Enjoy all foods, just dont overdo it. Keep portion sizes reasonable. Be Realistic: Make small changes over time. After all, small steps woik better than giant leaps. Be Active: Walk the dog, don't just watch the dog walk. Be Adventurous: Expand your tastes to enjoy a variety of foods. If people follow these guidelines, they can eat right and stay physically active while reducing their risk for nutrition- related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, Schwartz added. For customized answers to your food and nutrition questions from a registered dietitian, call 900/ C ALL-AN-RD, or 900/225-5267 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Central Time, Monday through Friday). Model UN Continued from Page 1 Bennett students served as representatives for Japan, France, Jamaica, United Kingdom, and Ghana. Each student was responsible for researching her assigned country and its current issues involving the UN. “As a student leader on this campus, it is imperative to be capable of knowing how to compromise when you have to deal with a lot of ideas from the students on this campus,” said Tennille Francis an accounting major from Chester, Pa. Francis, who represented Ghana, won the "Most Determined Delegate award." The students were also assigned to represent their country in various committees including Economic and Financial, Social Humanitarian and Cultural, and the Security Council. Tips for healthy living survey (NAPS) When it comes to health care problems, Americans may have a lot more control than they think. Roughly 50 percent of all deaths are caused by preventable behaviors, such as smoking, drinking and poor eating habits, according to a report from the Journal of the American Medical Association. Another recent study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed that 44 percent of the U.S. population is plagued by stress-related disorders, including hypertension and heart disease also preventable through behavioral techniques, such as meditation or exercise. Meanwhile, alO-year study by the University of Michigan reported that participants fromhigh health risk categories were able to reduce their total health care costs by 46 percent through preventionsystematic programs of diet, exercise and stress reduction. Many Americans truly can avoid health problems in the future by taking a few obvious steps toward prevention now, says Paul Pevsner, M.D., of the Alliance for Affordable Health Care, an association offering information to improve Americans general quaUty of life. The best furst step? Just get started sign up for a stress-reduction class, an exercise class, or read a book on good nutrition. More tips for healthy living can be found in the Healtiiy Life Guide to Self-Care. To find out how you can receive a free copy or to find out other ways you can cut health caie costs, call the Alliance For Affordable Health Care at 1-800- 733-2242. Or, visit the AlUances Internet site at http:// www.membership.com/alliance/ >. Continued from Page 1 JoTi Johnson, Sr., Most Friendly Pia Holland, Freshwoman, Best Gown in Coronation Social Work-Battering, Best Aces Program Dr. Ruth Lucier, Ethics, Most Enthustistic l^ail Image, Best Place To Get Your Nails Done Love Jones, Best Movie Courtney Alexander, Jr., Angela Prince, Jr., Jasmine Canady, Sr., (tied) Best Dressed Belle Amanda Pecchioni, Most Outspoken Erkah Badu, Best CD Young and the Restless, Best Soap Opera * Based on the 70 responses received. — 1WV
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