Bird flu is commonly used to refer to Avian flu (see below). Bird flu viruses infect birds, including chickens, other poultry and wild birds such as ducks.

Avian flu (AI)

Avian flu (AI) is caused by influenza viruses that occur naturally among wild birds. Low pathogenic AI is common in birds and causes few problems. Highly pathogenic H5N1 is deadly to domestic fowl, can be transmitted from birds to humans, and is deadly to humans. There is virtually no human immunity and human vaccine availability is very limited.

Pandemic flu

Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu.

Seasonal (or common) flu

Seasonal (or common) flu is a respiratory illness that can be transmitted person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available.

Swine Influenza (swine flu)

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen.

Why do people use?
People may use marijuana for a wide variety of reasons. Some people may use substances to relieve stress, feel good, experiment with something new, satisfy curiosity, “fit in,” lose inhibitions, lose themselves, change physical state (for example, become energized or relaxed), self-medicate (either knowingly or not), or for any number of other reasons. While recreational and, in most states, medical use is against the law, many substantive legal and philosophical debates continue in regard to the benefits and harms of marijuana usage and legalization.

How does Marijuana affect you?
You might ask what’s the big deal about using drugs? And do they really affect the brain? What’s important to know is that no matter how a drug is put in the body, it travels through the blood until it reaches the central nervous system. Psychoactive drugs affect the chemistry of the brain, especially that of neurotransmitters which transmit messages throughout the body. The drugs work by mimicking or modifying the effects of various pathways, such as dopamine, serotonin, etc. This is what causes most of the effects on the mind and body. In addition to these direct effects, phenomena such as tolerance, tissue dependence, withdrawal, and metabolism can determine a user’s reaction to psychoactive drugs.

Is Marijuana addictive?
While some professionals in the field disagree about the extent to which marijuana may produce a physical dependence, many will acknowledge that people can develop a strong psychological dependence that can cause great discomfort and difficulty when trying to stop or cut back. Marijuana in particular often has a social component to usage, and social pressures can exacerbate psychologically addictive feelings.

How can I learn more?
Marijuana Anonymous has information on its website about the range of effects that users have reported as well as strategies that may be helpful when trying to change one’s relationship with pot. The National Institute for Drug Abuse and Erowid’s websites cover a broad spectrum of information about marijuana and other drugs.

Here are a few tips to help you settle into the new school year in the big city while playing it SAFE and smart.

* Use the Buddy System – Stick with your friends! They’re your best bet for staying out of trouble. Whether you have a secret set of hand signals or a system of code words, you should always discuss the plan for the night before you go out and stick to it. Look out for each other and stay together.
* If you drink alcohol, set a limit for yourself before going out. Eat first and alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic. Be aware of how much alcohol you are consuming and pace yourself. Again, use the buddy system. Have a friend remind you of your limit and help you stick to it while you do the same for him or her.
* It’s never a great idea to leave a party with someone you’ve just met, especially if you’ve been drinking, and your judgment is impaired. Remember, you don’t really know the person, no matter how nice they might seem in the moment.
* Don’t leave your drink unattended. Someone may put something in it. Be aware of “predatory drugs,” substances that can be slipped into your drink without your knowing it.
* Be wary of club promotions or parties that charge men but admit women for free and let them drink for free. Alcohol generally affects women more quickly than men and an intoxicated person may be targeted for sexual assault.
* Just because you’re a man doesn’t mean you don’t have to be careful. Men can be attacked too.
* Always keep your cell phone on you – you never know when you may need to use it.
* Be sure to check the Department of Public Safety’s list of crime prevention tips.
* And most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right to you, it’s probably not. Take steps to ensure your safety.

Each Monday provides a fresh start and gives us the opportunity to plan the week ahead. Mondays focus our attention on goals and weekly to-do’s which is why it’s also a great day to do something healthy like taking the stairs, getting more sleep, setting a limit on alcohol use – decisions that can pay off all week and longer. So, here’s a Monday motivator, a brief health-enhancing action step which you can apply to school, work, relationships and life, Monday – and every other day of the week.

It is important to be aware of the strain on your body that can be caused by computer use. You can take many steps to minimize this strain and prevent pain and injuries that result from poor computer health by doing the following:

• keep your feet on the ground
• sit up straight
• make sure your eyes level with the screen
• make sure your forearms are parallel to the floor
• make sure your shoulder blades are settled
• rest your eyes from time to time
• take a break at least every 20 minutes
• make sure you stretch and move frequently

Reduce the stress on your body that working on a computer can cause. By doing these simple things, you’re likely to be less tired and more productive.

Remember to follow these tips so you can stay healthy at your computer!

Source: NYU.edu

It doesn’t take much. Maybe you lugged the trash bag to the curb or loaded heavy groceries into the car. Back pain – the most common medical disorder in our modern society – is often triggered by simple, daily activities like these. Statistics indicate that two-thirds of all Canadians will experience at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime.

How your back works

You may not realize it but you use your back constantly – to bend, twist, stand, even to lie down. This steady pattern of wear and tear makes the back extremely vulnerable to stress, strain and fatigue. All the more reason to keep your back healthy – after all, you’ve only got one!

Your back is an ingenious structure, brilliantly engineered to support your upper body and give it flexibility. Your spinal column is made up of 24 moveable bones, called vertebra, which are separated by tough cushions of cartilage, called discs. The entire structure is supported by muscles and ligaments that help keep your back straight and strong.

The usual suspects

Current research indicates that 80% of all back pain is the direct result of poor physical fitness and lack of exercise. Most back pain is caused by overusing or overstretching the muscles and ligaments that support the spine. Sudden, unexpected movements can also cause pain by straining your back joints or injuring a disc.

Keeping your back and abdominal muscles strong and flexible is one of the best ways to protect your back from injury. A regular routine of stretching and strengthening exercises Exercise Your Back  will improve your back strength and flexibility. Excess weight, especially in the abdominal area, puts steady pressure on the muscles of the back and is a common cause of back pain. Visit Eating Right  section and learn more about a healthy diet and good nutrition. A few dietary changes may save you years of aches and pains!

Safe lifting

Lifting is one of the most common causes of back injury. Whether you’re lifting your baby out of a crib, putting groceries into the trunk or moving a stack of art supplies, remember these important points:

Before you lift

• Identify the weight of the load – can you do it alone?

• If the load is manageable, make sure you can lift the load without straining yourself

• Make sure the load is free to move

• Check that the pathway to the spot where you will put the load is clear. You could easily slip and fall on grease, oil, water or clutter

• Check that there is nothing blocking the spot where you intend to put the load

As you lift

• Stand close to the load, facing the direction you plan to move

• Keep your feet well apart and flat on the floor for good balance

• Make sure you have a good grip on the load. Get as close to the load as possible and try not to reach for it

• Keep your arms straight

• Tighten your stomach muscles and tuck your chin into your chest. By tightening and tucking your pelvis, you’ll help keep your back in alignment while you lift

• Lift by bending at the knees, not at the waist. Keep holding your back in alignment – let the strong muscles in your thighs do the actual “lifting”

• As you lift, hold the load close to your body

• Lift smoothly, without jerking

• Never twist while lifting. Instead, move one foot at a time in the direction you want to go, then turn with your leg muscles

Follow these same, safe techniques as you put your load down. It doesn’t take any more time to lift safely than to lift unsafely, so why not play it safe and lift right?

The responsibility for your personal safety begins and ends with you. These guidelines will help you identify common safety problems and develop good safety habits to reduce your risk of accidents. 

1. Look at the big picture

• Recognize that accidents hurt everyone – an accidental injury can have a far-reaching impact, not only on you, but also on your family, co-workers and employer
• Take responsibility for keeping your home, workplace and recreational areas as safe and risk-free as possible

2. Follow the Golden Rule

• When you’re at work, at home or out having fun, act as safely around others as you would want them to act around you
• Recognize and report or repair safety hazards
• Before you take unsafe “short cuts,” remember that this could be the time that you cause an accident

3. Know the common hazards

• Be aware of the four main causes of accidents
  • Physical overload – lifting too much, straining, twisting or making the body move in unnatural ways
  • Unexpected impact – being hit by or hitting an object
  • Slips and falls – falling from a height or falling during a slip
  • Machine accidents – getting caught in moving machine parts

4. Put your mind to safety

• Accidents don’t just happen. They are always caused by a combination of:

• Unsafe attitudes – coming to work angry, not taking safety rules seriously, not paying attention to the task at hand
• Unsafe behaviours – failing to follow safety procedures, fooling around, refusing to wear protective clothing
• Unsafe conditions – a work area cluttered with debris, spills, broken equipment

5. Protect your back

• Stretch and strengthen your back  Exercise your Back and stomach muscles to protect yourself from injury
• Use safe lifting techniques  Back on Track to avoid strains and injuries

6. Avoid chemical hazards

• Read the warning labels on any chemical before you use it
• Remember that an unlabelled chemical is a dangerous one.
• Never sniff or smell an unlabelled chemical
• Know how to protect yourself from the health hazards of the chemicals you use
• The board provides Material Safety Data sheets (MSDSs) for all hazardous chemicals used in the workplace. MSDSs describe the contents, hazards and applications of these chemical products. They also provide guidelines for using the chemicals safely and for treating dangerous exposures. Before handling hazardous chemicals, learn how to read and understand a MSDS and find out where you can access them in your workplace.

7. Use protective clothing and equipment

• Protective clothing and equipment can keep you safe from many hazards – but they only work if you wear them and use them correctly
• Know the right type of protective clothing for the task
• Inspect all personal protection clothing and equipment regularly and replace damaged or worn pieces when necessary

8. Respect machinery

• Modern machinery can be very dangerous if you don’t operate it or repair it properly
• Always leave machine guards in place and follow instructions for operating machinery
• Avoid wearing loose sleeves, gloves, rings or other jewelry that could get caught in a machine

9. Prevent slips, trips and falls

• Everywhere you look, there are hazards that could cause you to slip and fall. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid situations that put you at risk
• Visit our Slips and Falls  pages for safety guidelines and risk prevention tips

10. Be prepared for emergencies

• Knowing how to react in an emergency can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Develop emergency plans for common situations in your home or work life and make sure you know:
  • The location of fire extinguishers, first aid kits and exits
  • What type of fire extinguisher to use on a fire
  • Medical first-aid procedures, such as CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
  • What to do if you inhale a hazardous chemical or get a dangerous substance on your skin or eyes

Many people enjoy outdoor grilling in the summer months. Here are some tips to avoid food poisoning caused by germs growing too quickly in the summer heat.

Wash your hands and forearms thoroughly before preparing or serving food. Use warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.

While You Are Cooking…

Meats must be cooked to the proper temperature to assure safety.

Germs such as E-coli and salmonella can still be present in undercooked meats such as hamburger and chicken. These germs can cause severe illness and even death.

While the juice color will usually change from red to gray when the meat is fully cooked, it is not a reliable test to assure it is safe to eat. Always check the temperature with a meat thermometer. Foods that reach the temperature listed or higher are fully cooked.

Insert the thermometer into the center of the meat, which is the least cooked part. For checking hot dogs, go from the end of the hot dog to the center. Be careful not to pass through the meat and touch the cooking surface or you will get a false high temperature reading.

Wash your hands after touching raw meat! Use utensils to handle the cooked meat. Do not place cooked meat on surfaces that had raw meat.

While You Are Serving Food…

Serve the first-cooked meats first. Make sure the food is used before the temperature drops under 140 degrees, and within two hours. Cold foods need to be kept cold. Keep them refrigerated (at 40^o F) or stored in coolers with lots of ice until ready to eat.

Before serving, wash your hands thoroughly. Avoid touching food such as rolls, bread etc. with your bare hands. Wash your hands after touching raw or undercooked foods.

Use a utensil when serving food.

Refrigerate any leftovers immediately! Never leave food at room temperature for more than two hours.

Whenever Working With Food…

Leave the food preparation area to smoke, eat, or drink.

When you return, wash your hands thoroughly before handling any food.

Wash your hands after any contact with unclean surfaces — after handling trash or raw meat, eating or smoking, using the bathroom, handling pets, or dirtying your hands during any activity.

A Few More Tips…

• Wipe surfaces often, especially after using them for food preparation. Germs from undercooked meat can grow on vegetables cut or washed on the same surface as the meat. Mix and use a sanitizer solution of one capful of chlorine bleach per gallon of water for cleaning work area surfaces.
• Marinate food in the refrigerator. Don’t taste the marinade or re-use it after raw meat has been added.
• Keep flies away! Cover trash containers, and do not store meat wrappers and other trash, even for a short time, in open cardboard boxes or uncovered containers.
• Do not use fly spray or “No-Pest” chemical strips – they can contaminate the food.
• Do not store food containers out in the open; rather, place them in the shade.
• Keep plates, cups, utensils and food covered until ready to use.
• Never re-use plates before washing them, especially plates used to hold raw meats or eggs.
• Use a separate cutting board or surface for foods that will not be cooked (such as salad).
• When handling plates, cups and utensils, touch them where food will not be placed: use handles, rims, bottom of plates, etc.
• Tie long hair back in a pony tail or bun. A hat, bandanna or net will also work.
• Don’t prepare and serve food if you have been sick with vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
• Don’t wear loose finger or wrist jewelry or false nails while working with food.
• Pack plenty of paper towels for cleaning hands and surfaces at your picnic.