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Are You Safe in the Sun?

We all know the importance of protecting ourselves in the sun.  Summer is here and with more time spent outdoors and the UV index at its highest it is extremely important to protect yourself.  Proper clothing, sun hats, and shade all help, but many health experts feel the best way to protect ourselves is by regular use of sunscreen.  But how do you know which sunscreen is best and which sunscreens can actually do more harm than good?  Many of the sunscreens we use contain harmful chemicals and though they protect you from the sun’s harmful rays, may actually be harmful in other ways.

Check out the Environmental Working Group’s “Guide to Sunscreens” which annually rates over 1800 different sunscreens available consumers.   Visit the website and see how your favourite brand stacks up.

EWG:  2015 Guide To Sunscreens

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Solutions for A Sore Neck

Sitting at a desk, staring at a screen, reading a book, working on a laptop or tablet, texting, daily commuting… these are all activities that can lead to pain and soreness in the neck and shoulders.

The Institute of Work and Health reported that neck pain related to work is one of the most common complaints of working aged adults and in 2006 it was reported that injuries to the upper extremity account for 30% of lost-time claims in Ontario.

The following handout provides you with some simple and cost effective solutions to reduce neck pain while at work.

NECK PAIN -- ergo doc one pager

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The Dirt on the Dirty Dozen

There is much debate over whether to buy organic or non-organic fruits and vegetables.  Eating only organic is definitely a more expensive option, however, many feel it is worth the cost.  If you are looking to go organic, how do you know where to start?  The following infographic from Juicing with G provides a deeper look into pesticides in food and explains the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen, said to be the foods with most and least pesticides respectively.

We want to hear from you.  What are your thoughts on organic vs. non-organic?

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What Is OT?

A common question I am asked is “what is occupational therapy?”

Most people think occupational therapy is about getting people back to work following an injury, or designing functional work spaces and workstations because of the word “occupation” in the term.  While this is an important part of what occupational therapists do, their scope is actually much broader.

Here are some other examples of areas where an occupational therapist can help:

– Dressing and grooming

– Bathing and showering

– Making and eating meals

– Being social

– Returning to work, school, or volunteering activities

– Engaging in leisure activities

The following video from our OT-V series provides an indepth look at what occupational therapy is and how occupational therapists can help people with physical, emotional, or cognitive disabilities.

We hope our video provides you with a great explanation and answers the frequently asked question:  “What IS OT?”

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Time to Power Down and Get Your Kids Moving!

Living in the digital age is starting to take a toll on the health of Canadian children.  In Canada’s most recent participation report card on physical activity for children and youth we received a D-.  Not a grade most parents would be happy with if it was on a child’s school report card.  The question is, how can we improve this grade?  To start, we need to tame the technology habit and get kids playing again.

We love the recent campaign from Participaction that includes commercials with a powerful message, like the one shown here, to encourage parents to “Make Room for Play.”

Check out highlights of the report from Participaction and take a moment to tell us how you think we can improve our grade and the health of Canada’s children.

Participaction: Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

 

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Absenteeism and Presenteeism Are Costing Your Organization—It’s Time to Take Action!

Absenteeism and Presenteeism in the workplace are hurting the bottom line of individual organizations.  In fact, a 2013 study by The Conference Board of Canada shows that absenteeism alone is costing the Canadian economy $16.6 billion each year.  Despite this, a recent study done by Morneau Sheppell shows that while the majority of employers are concerned about absenteeism they do not give much thought to the issue of presenteeism, as it is harder to quantify.  Both may be hurting your bottom line.

So our question to you is:  what is your organization doing to combat this billion dollar problem?

See more on the study here:

Morneau Shepell releases study on the reasons and predictors of workplace absenteeism and presenteeism

For more on workplace health and wellness visit our Healthy Workplace page.

 

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Foods For Hydration

Summer has arrived and with extreme heat the risk of dehydration is heightened.  Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is the easiest way to ensure proper hydration, but there are some foods that can help.  The following from Health Magazine provides you with an overview of the best foods to prevent dehydration.

 

Health Magazine:  15 Foods That Help You Stay Hydrated

For more tips on staying hydrated check out our post:  “Hydrate For Health.“

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Top Pool Safety Tips

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

In celebration of summer, I wanted to repost our popular blog on pool safety. These helpful tips and tools are good things to review and consider…especially this time of year.

I was a fortunate child who grew up with an in-ground pool. As the only house on the street with a pool in our yard, the neighborhood kids would loiter around our home hoping for an invite. My mom developed a wonderful system using a Canada flag. If the flag on our fence was up – everyone was welcome for a swim. The only rule was that the kids needed to bring a parent. Mandatory. And despite the kids that would sit on our lawn whining about not having an adult to join them, my mom was firm to the rule.

We have a pool in our yard. This is separately fenced. As our kids are getting older, and have been able to swim for years, we are giving them more freedom around the pool. As long as an adult is home, they are welcome to swim. However, last year I was reminded of an important lesson – just because my kids can swim, that is not necessarily true for others of the same age. We had a pool party for our twins’ birthday and all the kids arrived and proceeded to jump in the pool. One child was hanging around the shallow end and I asked her if she could swim – nope. I was surprised that in dropping her off to a pool party, her parents would not mention this very important fact.

A few summers ago on a street very close to mine an 18 month old child drowned when he was able to get outside while his father had a 15 minute nap. Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among children aged 14 and under in Ontario, after motor vehicle accidents. Yet, like many risks, drowning is absolutely preventable. Here are some safety precautions to consider:

1.  Constant and vigilant supervision. Supervision of any child is a full-time job. Most drowning’s occur when a child is playing near the water and falls in – not while “swimming”. So, when it comes to kids, the “within arm’s reach” rule should always apply – whether they are in, or around, water.

2.  Using safety devices for the pool. These could include:

o Poolside Alarm– A motion sensor is installed along the pool edge, which sounds an alarm when waves are detected from a body falling into the water.

o Child Immersion Alarm– A wristband worn by a child, which will sound an alarm when they come into contact with water.

o Pool Fences– Fences should be at least four feet tall, surround the entire pool and have self-latching gates out of the reach of children. Speclocks prevent children from entering the pool area, as they are complex or require adult strength to open. Gate alarms can also be installed to alert when the gate is unexpectedly opened.

o Pool Covers– A cover built to fit your pool dimensions will act as a barrier for a falling body, as they will not enter the water.

o Door locks – special locks, difficult for children to open and installed at the top of a door, prevent kids from being able to get into the yard without an adult.

3.  Use life jackets, not just floaties. If your child is not a strong swimmer, they should always be wearing a life jacket – in a pool, at the beach, or on a boat. Like wearing a seat-belt and helmet, children should be taught from a young age that wearing a life jacket is necessary around water. From a functional standpoint, life jackets are safer than floaties. Floaties can develop small holes that actually fill with water, or can deflate, causing the child to slowly sink lower into the water. A well-fitting life jacket is designed to keep a child’s head above water, and to flip a child over onto their back to facilitate breathing. They cannot deflate. It also provides something for an adult to grasp if they need to pull the child out of the water.

4.  Know the signs of drowning. Contrary to popular belief, drowning does not happen when people are flailing their arms, yelling and calling for help. It is actually the opposite. People that are getting into trouble in the water often look like they are climbing an invisible ladder. They can’t yell or cry for help as their body is low on oxygen and is focused on trying to keep air in, not yell it out. Know the signs – check out this link for the “8 Quiet Signs of Drowning.”

5.  Knowledge of first aid. Parents should always consider having knowledge of CPR or basic water rescue. This could prove handy for many situations beyond just water safety.

6.  Swimming lessons. Give your kids a head start by helping them to become comfortable in the water from a young age. Every minute they can stay afloat could save their life.

But remember, when it comes to children, nothing is safer than diligent and attentive supervision.