The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate with friends and family the vast opportunities our country has given us. While we reach the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Independence Day traditions and celebrations are a go, but that may not be the case everywhere. Be sure to check your local restrictions before hosting barbeques. If your state is fully opened and you plan to attend an event, be vigilant about your safety and that of your belongings. Here are a few other tips to help you get through the festivities.

WAYS TO STAY SAFE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY

1. Stay cool and hydrated especially in areas very hot!

July is one of the hottest times of the year and it’s easy to fall victim to sun or heat stroke. Stay cool by being a shade-seeker: bringing an umbrella with you, wearing a hat, or staying under the covered portion of a porch or patio. It’s equally as important to wear sunscreen as well as light and loose clothing.

Finally, don’t forget the water. Many times, we get caught up in festive food and drink options and forget to add in water. Aim for eight cups or more per day, depending on how hot it is outside or how much sweet or salty food you are consuming.

2. Consider the safety of your food

The heat not only has an impact on you but your food as well.  Having a BBQ and thinking of throwing all the meat on one platter outside awaiting the grill? Think again. Keep raw meat and seafood cold until it’s ready to be cooked. Once it’s ready, keep it hot until it’s consumed, then put in the fridge once everyone is done, meaning, don’t let it sit out. Contaminated food or items that have sat out too long can lead to food poisoning of some sickness, like infection.

3. Be mindful at events

Summer and celebrations mean concerts, BBQs, and state or county fairs. But it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t leave your food, bag, or belongings unattended, and if the event is happening at night, be sure to stick with a friend. Fireworks are prime for theft as they are loud with those watching focused on the show.

4. Prevent eye injury

Prevent Blindness Texas has declared June 28th through July 4th as Fireworks Safety Awareness Week. Fireworks can damage your eyes, too. Contusions and lacerations are the most frequent injuries to eyes, which include foreign bodies in the eye.

If you do encounter an eye emergency, follow these steps to save your sight.

In the event of an eye emergency:

1. Do not rub the eye. Rubbing the eye may increase bleeding or make the injury worse.
2. Do not attempt to rinse out the eye. This can be even more damaging than rubbing.
3. Do not apply pressure to the eye itself. Holding or taping a foam cup or the bottom of a juice carton to the eye are just two tips. Protecting the eye from further contact with any item, including your hand, is the goal.
4. Do not stop for medicine! Over-the-counter pain relievers will not do much to relieve pain. Aspirin (should never be given to children) and Ibuprofen can thin the blood and increase bleeding. Go to the emergency room at once – this is more important than stopping for a pain reliever.
5. Do not apply ointment. Ointment, which may not be sterile, makes the area around the eye slippery and harder for the doctor to examine.

Overall, the best way to prevent eye or other injuries is to not play with fireworks and do not let your child play with fireworks, even if their friends are.

“This week is Fireworks Safety Week. Whether you are staying at home or going to a big celebration, leave the fireworks to the professionals to ensure a fun and safe Fourth of July for the whole family! Fireworks injure thousands of people every year, and some injuries result in death. Be safe and smart this summer and don’t play with fireworks.

Home fireworks, like sparklers, bottle rockets, and firecrackers were responsible for 2,100 hospital visits, and fireworks in general were responsible for 7,300 hospital visits in the year 2019. Burns are the most common injuries, with burns to the fingers, hands, arms and legs, but eye injuries also occur.”

NBC5W-Dallas Fort Worth

“If your community is reopening, know which precautions to take in public settings.

1. Continue to social distance by staying 6 feet away from others, especially if you are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19 (over age 65 or any age with underlying medical conditions).
2. Continue to wear cloth face coverings in public. Face coverings are most essential when social distancing is difficult.
3. Follow guidelines for your area when it comes to how large gatherings can be. Avoid crowds and mass gatherings.
4. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
5. Stay home if you are sick.”

American Red Cross

In Large Crowds especially, wear the mask

For many, last year’s Fourth of July didn’t go quite as planned. Countless families were forced to modify their usual celebrations because of the COVID pandemic. But this year, things are different.

With COVID restrictions being lifted, including in New York, Indiana, and other states but FOX 23 is stating due to droughts out in the West alot of places are closing down a Fourth of July Fireworks display in many areas out west in the US.  Though there are still going to be parting possibly at home.  Hoosiers are ready to celebrate this holiday season pre-pandemic style. That means family barbecues, fireworks and the usual festivities.

It’s been a tough year to the past year and half, so we’re really excited to get back out there and get back to our normal lives and CELEBRATE!

Were not saying not to celebrate the 4th of July but what we are saying is be SAFE, SAFE, SAFE!  So our government doesn’t go backwards in panic putting the most of society stuck homes and those that are front line providers are the only ones going to work without forgetting LESS MASK WEARING.

The Fourth of July is a time for America to commemorate the passage of the Declaration of Independence and often celebrated with parades, concerts, firework shows, family road trips, barbeques, and parties where participants toast to the nation.

Sadly, these holiday festivities can lead to potentially deadly consequences on the roads, especially when alcohol is thrown into the mix. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, 812 people died in motor vehicle crashes involving drunk drivers during the July 4^th holiday period from 2014-2018.

“Many of our service members and their families will take to the roads in hopes of celebrating our nation’s birthday someplace special,” said Michael Ballard, chief of occupational safety, Air Force Safety Center. “I urge leadership at all levels to take time to engage with Airmen and Guardians about having a plan to reduce the risks associated with their holiday weekend activities.”

Ballard emphasized safety as a top priority while participating in this year’s celebrations and the use of sound risk management to help prevent injuries and mishaps.

Whether you’re planning a family gathering or attending one, or perhaps you’re heading out to a bar or restaurant, or maybe you’re venturing to a holiday-related function, you may find yourself amid a mixed crowd of vaccinated and unvaccinated people. With that, it is inevitable to face some health risks. in

Tips to Remember this 4th of July in regards to COVID safety for everyone, not just vaccinated or nonvaccinated people.  Looking at everyone here are a few tips:

• All of our experts following COVID agreed that one of the best modes of protection would be to avoid crowded spaces and large gatherings. If you find yourself in a crowded space or with a lot of people – whether you are vaccinated or not – it’s still best to wear masks, especially if indoors. That is particularly true for individuals who live with people who are ineligible for the vaccine, such as children under 12, some immunocompromised patients and other adults with certain health conditions.
• It is also a good idea to keep track of all attendees. That way, if anyone gets sick, there is an idea of who needs to be contacted and warned of a potential exposure.
• It is important to continue to wash or sanitize your hands. The ideal holiday event would include handwashing stations and plenty of hand sanitizer, suggested Elizabeth Delery, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Marion University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Food is a very important aspect of the holiday season to consider keeping safe. This could include minimizing the number of people responsible for preparing the food for your holiday event. Additionally, Delery recommends that those responsible for preparing and distributing the food be vaccinated, as well as avoiding certain food setups, such as buffets. That style “is a bit riskier because people will be walking past the food and will be breathing on it,” Delery warned. “If there is a buffet style event, it might be better to allow vaccinated individuals to get their food first. However, individual plates or servings that are pre-portioned and that have been prepared by a vaccinated individual would be even better.”
• Delery also proposed serving less finger foods and having more foods that require utensils. The less eating with your hands, the fewer opportunities for “putting germs into your mouth.” Let’s try swapping the barbequed chicken for pulled chicken instead. This especially goes for children. Don’t forget to make sure they are washing their hands and not sharing drinks or utensils with others.
• With COVID in mind, Dr. Amy Beth Kressel points out that outdoor activities for this holiday season will be safer. That’s because “there’s an enormous amount of air moving, plus the humidity helps degrade the virus more quickly,” said Kressel, the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Antimicrobial Stewardship at Eskenazi Health. Kressel still stressed the importance of avoiding crowded areas, even outdoors, especially if unvaccinated. She said maintaining six feet distance and limiting maskless contact with others is crucial. If this is difficult, be mindful of the amount of time spent unmasked or in a crowd, as the exposure time is key.

Many of these COVID safety practices can also keep individuals protected against even against other illnesses such as a common cold, the flu or stomach viruses, and worse.  The less restricted you are at home for many the better.  Most people in percentage don’t want to be stuck home again.

“Trimethylaminuria is a rare disorder in which the body’s metabolic processes fail to alter the chemical trimethylamine. Trimethylamine is notable for its unpleasant smell. It is the chemical that gives rotten fish a bad smell. When the normal metabolic process fails, trimethylamine accumulates in the body, and its odor is detected in the person’s sweat, urine and breath. The consequences of emitting a foul odor can be socially and psychologically damaging among adolescents and adults.”.

National Organization for Rare Disorders  NORD

What is this disease actually?

Trimethylaminuria causes the body to produce a fishy odor that is released in the sweat, urine, breath, and reproductive fluids. People with trimethylaminuria are unable to break down trimethylamine. Trimethylamine comes from specific chemicals (choline, carnitine, TMAO) found in certain foods. The excess trimethylamine builds up and is the source of the odor. There are no other physical symptoms from trimethylaminuria, but people with this condition may experience serious psychological and social distress. Trimethylaminuria is due to a FMO3 gene that is not working correctly. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. It is diagnosed based on the symptoms, clinical exam, urine analysis, and can be confirmed by genetic testing. Treatment for trimethylaminuria mainly includes diet modification, acidic soaps and lotions, and vitamin B12 supplements. Other treatment options include antibiotics, activated charcoal, and probiotics.

Trimethylaminuria does not cause any other physical symptoms. However, the odor can interfere with many aspects of daily life, leading to social and psychological problems.

Trimethylaminuria is caused by the FMO3 gene not working correctly. DNA changes known as pathogenic variants are responsible for making genes work incorrectly or sometimes, not at all.

What is the cause of  this disease?

Trimethylaminuria is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Some conditions are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. All individuals inherit two copies of each gene. Autosomal means the gene is found on one of the numbered chromosomes found in both sexes. Recessive means that both copies of the responsible gene must be altered to have the condition.

People with autosomal recessive conditions inherit one alteration from each of their parents. The parents, who each have one gene alteration, are known as carriers.  Carriers of an autosomal recessive condition typically do not have any signs or symptoms (they are unaffected). In some cases, carriers of trimethylaminuria may have mild or occasional symptoms. When two carriers of an autosomal recessive condition have children, there is a 25% (1 in 4) chance to have a child with the condition.

How is this even diagnosed?

Trimethylaminuria is diagnosed based on the symptoms, a clinical exam, and a test to measure the level of trimethylamine in the urine. Genetic testing can also help confirm the diagnosis.

How is it treated?

Treatment for trimethylaminuria is focused on removing and preventing the bad odor. Options for treatment include diet modification, vitamin B12 (riboflavin) supplements, antibiotic treatment, and probiotics. Other supplements such as activated charcoal can help remove extra trimethylamine from the body. In addition, some people with trimethylaminuria may benefit from behavioral counseling.

Keep in mind the consultants that get involved in the treatment are: Nutritionalist, Medical Geneticist,  Pharmacist, and Psychologist and or Psychiatrist.

The exact number of people with trimethylaminuria is unknown. It has been estimated that about 0.5 -1% of people in the British population are carriers for trimethylaminuria. A carrier has one copy of a gene variant for trimethylaminuria.

Helen’s ideals found their purest, most lasting expression in her work for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Helen joined AFB in 1924 and worked for the organization for over 40 years.

The foundation provided her with a global platform to advocate for the needs of people with vision loss and she wasted no opportunity. As a result of her travels across the United States, state commissions for the blind were created, rehabilitation centers were built, and education was made accessible to those with vision loss.

Helen Keller was as interested in the welfare of blind persons in other countries as she was for those in her own country; conditions in poor and war-ravaged nations were of particular concern.

Helen’s ability to empathize with the individual citizen in need as well as her ability to work with world leaders to shape global policy on vision loss made her a supremely effective ambassador for disabled persons worldwide. Her active participation in this area began as early as 1915, when the Permanent Blind War Relief Fund, later called the American Braille Press, was founded. She was a member of its first board of directors.

In 1946, when the American Braille Press became the American Foundation for Overseas Blind (now Helen Keller International), Helen was appointed counselor on international relations. It was then that she began her globe-circling tours on behalf of those with vision loss.

American Foundation for the Blind-AFB

“Helen Keller taught us that “impossible is nothing.” She taught us new ways of seeing ourselves, and each other. She did this not only by overcoming extraordinary obstacles in her own life, but also by founding organizations and leading movements that, to this day, fight for the powerless by changing laws, improving lives, and defending human rights. She not only unlocked doors to improve the lives of underrepresented people, she removed the doors from their hinges.”

Helen Keller Intl  (https://www.hki.org)

 ^“Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a type of cancer that hides from the immune system to progress unchecked^1-3   MDS, a heterogeneous group of blood malignancies, occurs when the blood-forming hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow become abnormal^4-6″

GILEAD https://www.mdsinfocus.com/

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a group of disorders that gradually affect the ability of a person’s bone marrow to produce normal blood cells.

Bone marrow is a semi-liquid tissue located inside many bones such as the backbones, shoulder blades, ribs, pelvis, and stomach. The blood-forming cells within the bone marrow are responsible for producing and forming new red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells to help fight against infections, and specialized clotting cells that help control bleeding and bruising.

Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of disorders caused by blood cells that are poorly formed or don’t work properly. Myelodysplastic syndromes result from something amiss in the spongy material inside your bones where blood cells are made (bone marrow).

People with myelodysplastic syndromes have a risk of the disease progressing to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is a bone marrow malignancy. Some studies suggest that AML is a natural progression of MDS and not a separate disease. In some people, MDS may gradually progress over a period of many years while in others it progresses rapidly to AML.

The risk of myelodysplastic syndromes increases with age as the disease commonly affects older people between the ages of 58 and 75. It is estimated that MDS affects 15 to 50 people per 100,000 Americans who are over the age of 70. Up to 20,000 new cases of myelodysplastic syndromes are diagnosed each year. However, since there are no actual registries listing the incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes, some researchers estimate that the numbers may actually be much higher. For example, anemia in older individuals may be ascribed to “old age” without consideration of the possibility of myelodysplastic syndromes.

The incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes in children is only 5% to 7% of all pediatric hematologic malignancies. It has been reported that up to 17% of childhood AML may result from a prior myelodysplastic phase. About 2% to 3% of all cases of juvenile leukemia are associated with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

Knowledge is Critical when Dealing with a Life-Altering Condition such as Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Overtime, myelodysplastic syndromes might cause:

• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Unusual paleness (pallor), which occurs due to a low red blood cell count (anemia)

• Easy or unusual bruising or bleeding, which occurs due to a low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia)

• Pinpoint-sized red spots just beneath the skin that are caused by bleeding (petechiae)

• Frequent infections, which occur due to a low white blood cell count (leukopenia)

Management of myelodysplastic syndromes is most often intended to slow the disease, ease symptoms and prevent complications. Common measures include blood transfusions and medications to boost blood cell production. In certain situations, a bone marrow transplant, also known as a stem cell transplant, may be recommended to replace your bone marrow with healthy bone marrow from a donor.

Risk Factors:

Factors that can increase your risk of myelodysplastic syndromes include:

• Older age. Most people with myelodysplastic syndromes are older than 60.

• Previous treatment with chemotherapy or radiation. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy, both of which are commonly used to treat cancer, can increase your risk of myelodysplastic syndromes.

• Exposure to certain chemicals. Chemicals, including benzene, have been linked to myelodysplastic syndromes.