Be Doers..Not Hearers Only

We have been shocked and saddened by the number of occupational injustices we have learned about over the past 3 months. This has inspired us to learn more about what we can do to help. Local opportunities to volunteer are plentiful and easy to find. But what about going on a short term medical missions trip? Did you know there are many opportunities for occupational therapy students to help internationally? Here are some examples:

Six occupational therapy students, six physical therapy students and seven nursing students, accompanied by Sacred Heart University faculty, traveled to Antigua to work with patients with disabilities, children suffering from malnutrition, the elderly, and the homeless. Read more..http://www.news-line.com/blog/2011/11/21/pt-ot-nursing-np-students-and-faculty-return-from-medical-missions/

“It was the most amazing and most fulfilling experience of my life. They (Guatemalan’s) were just grateful for the help. Everyone hugs you, kisses you, they trust you will help them… A lot of what we learned you cannot write down on paper. They lead completely different lives than you do. It takes you down to what health care should be, which is one person helping another.” - Rebecca von der Heyde, MA OTR CHT, assistant professor of Occupational Therapy at Maryville University Read more.. http://www.maryville.edu/news9820.htm

Have you every wondered how you could get involved in medical missions? Here is a website with a whole list of possible ideas (*note: we can't guarantee the integrity of these organizations or opportunities, so we recommend you check them out carefully if you decide to pursue one). Read more.. http://www.medicalmissions.org/mission-trips/occupational-therapy/

References:  

Maryville University. (2011) Students inspired by service work in Guatemala. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.maryville.edu/news9820.htm

Medical Missions.org. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.medicalmissions.org/mission-trips/occupational-therapy/ 

Newsline-Online. (2011). PT, OT, Nursing, & NP Students and Faculty Return from Medical Missions. Retrieved February 28, 2012, from http://www.news-line.com/blog/2011/11/21/pt-ot-nursing-np-students-and-faculty-return-from-medical-missions/

Please join us in discussing the following:

Have you ever considered going on a short term medical missions trip?

If so, what type of occupational injustice would you like to help address?

Is there a geographical area that most interests you?

What is hindering you from beginning to research medical missions opportunities?

After School Community Programs Helping Reduce Teen Suicide Rate

"Suicide is a major public health problem. Each year, more than 30,000 Americans take their own lives. Among adolescents, suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide. In 2001, 4,234 youth between the ages of 10 and 24 took their own lives, accounting for nearly 12 percent of all deaths for this age group. Despite declines among all age groups nationwide, for adolescents between the ages of 15 and19 the suicide rate has increased by 6 percent, and among children between the ages of 10 and 14, the rate has increased by more than 100 percent." Read more...

 "If it weren't for Trackademics, Tre Johnson fears he may not be alive today..." Read more... 

How can occupational therapist help promote and advocate for these programs in our community?

How do occupational therapist currently address teen suicide in our current practice?

Dinh, E. (2012, February, 24). Teens credit after-school program with saving lives. Retrieved February 24, 2012 from http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Teens-credit-after-school-program-with-changing---even-saving---lives-140380153.html

Herman, M. (2012) National conference of state legislatures: teen suicide prevention. Retrieved February 27, 2012 from http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/teen-suicide-prevention.aspx

Premature Births within San Bernardino County

We have been doing a needs assessment of premature births in San Bernardino County for a class assignment. Here are some important facts we have learned: 

•  In 2007 there were more then 35,000 births within San Bernardino County (city-data.com). 
• In 2011 11.5% (almost 3,000) of these births were premature. This percentage continues to be above what the Healthy People 2020 objective is (healthysanbernardinocounty.org, 2012). 

Why is this important?

In 2009 prematurity/low birth weight was the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five (thecommunityfoundation.net). Premature infants are at risk of requiring specialized attention to maintain growth & development.

 “Babies born to mothers who do not receive prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care" (healthysanbernardinocounty.org).

 “Hispanic persons under the age of 65 years (34%) were about twice as likely as non-Hispanic persons in that age group (15%) to be uninsured”  (www.cdc.gov).

References: 

CDC/national center for health statistics. (2012). Retrieved February 10, 2012, from 

  http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/hispanic_health.htm

Healthy San Bernardino county. (2012). Retrieved February 2, 2012, from 

 http://  www.healthysanbernardinocounty.org/

The community foundation. (2011). Retrieved February 10, 2012, from http://  www.thecommunityfoundation.net/home/index.html

 

Please join us in discussing the following questions:

How does this impact our practice of occupational therapy?

What can we do as occupational therapists to help reduce the incidence of premature births?

The Global Health Risk of Traffic

When you think of global health risks, what comes to mind -starving children, the hazards of war, the growing AIDS epidemic? 

Did you think of... the public health costs of traffic congestion? Did you know.... that traffic not only contributes to road fatalities and injuries, but also contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease and other stress related illnesses?

Consider the following risks:

Road Fatalities

"The World Health Organization (WHO) found that wealthy nations such as the U.S., U.K. and Germany own more than half of the world's registered cars but suffer only 8.5 percent of global traffic fatalities.
It is low-income nations, from Vietnam to Ghana to Nepal, that must contend with more than 40 percent of worldwide traffic deaths despite owning less than 10 percent of all registered cars." Read more...

Pollution
"Sitting in traffic leads to higher tailpipe emissions which everyone is exposed to.."Read more...

Noise Risks
Noise from traffic is putting nearly 1 in 6 San Francisco residents at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and other stress-related illnesses.." Read more...

We welcome your comments:
What do you think OT's can do to address the risks created by traffic? Should state and national OT organizations be addressing this area of concern, and if so, how?

Gordon, R. (2008). Sfgate. S.f. traffic noise risks health of 1 in 6. Retrieved from http://www.sfgate.com


Levy, J. I., Buonocore, J., J., Stackelberg, K., V. (2010). The public health costs of traffic congestion. A health risk assessment. Retrieved from http://www.transportationconstructioncoalition.org


Schor, E. (2009). La.streetsblog.org. Who report highlights global health risk of traffic. Retrieved from http://la.streetsblog.org

When Children are the Unexpected Victims of Traumatic Situations

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do."

-Leonardo da da Vinci

Children can experience occupational injustices when traumatic things happen,

 whether it is the unexpected loss of their teachers and school routine, 

or the violent death of a classmate. 

How can OT play a role in situations like these, which unfortunately happen all too often?

Here are some recent events which are examples of these types of occupational injustices:

"If it's a new teacher on Thursday, I'm not going to come to school," said sixth-grader Brenda Alvarez."It doesn't make sense" to turn the whole school upside down, Gervacio said. Another mom held a sign that said: "Not All Teachers Are Criminals." One parent wept as she and others called up to a departing teacher who addressed them from a balcony. Read more...

Los Angeles School Police Officer Ron Chacon comforts 8-year-old Roberto Alvarez, who was weeping over temporary removal of teachers from Miramonte Elementary School. (Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times / February 7, 2012) - www.latimes.com

Now what about these students and parents? 

What can we do to help them cope with the loss of their school?

Puyallup, Washington

Classmates mourn loss of Powell sons 

"Try to explain to my children how anybody could do something like this, let alone a parent," said Stacy Skoog. "It's just been really difficult."  Read more..

We welcome your comments and thoughts. Do you see a role for OT to help children who have experienced these types of traumatic situations, where they experience the loss of a friend, classmate or teacher? If so, can you give some specific ideas? Is this something you could envision yourself doing?