Freezing To Death

We've published this before, but it bears repeating....


It seems like every year, we hear of a young person, usually a college student, who is found outside, dead from exposure to the cold. Frequently, if not every time, there is alcohol involved. The person drank too much, tried to walk home, fell or passed out while walking, and lay in the snow until he or she died by freezing to death.

How does that happen?

There is a reason there is a "legal" age to drink alcohol: when you're too young, you don't know how to handle it. In fact, plenty of people much older don't know how to handle it, either.

Once people graduate from high school and begin college, the game changes in a lot of ways. For many, they will live at the college they attend, whether in a dorm or in off-campus housing. Even students who commute will have much less parental involvement in their lives: they will be making their own decisions, since there aren't parents hovering around. There will be underage drinking, and there will be first-time drinkers.

*The 'legal' age for drinking in Minnesota is 21.

There's also sometimes a 'crowd mentality' involved: Everybody else is doing it, I don't want to be different. We're just having fun, that's all.


Because this is all new and exhilarating, sometimes people will overdo things they have not done before. One thing they'll overdo is drinking: they may drink more than they ought to because they don't know how it affects them. They've never felt what it's like to be drunk, not to mention the 'hangover' the next day. Alcohol is a poison, or toxin, that our bodies don't need and don't want. We have to get rid of these toxins so the body can return to normal, and the process isn't fun.

 

 *Did you know that your alcohol level actually rises after you stop drinking?

 

When you live on campus, it's likely you don't have a car, although students who commute often go to parties with friends who will give them a ride. Once a party's over or if you simply want to leave, you'll walk, or try to walk, to get home or to the next party. Maybe you don't know a lot of people there and feel stupid asking someone to walk with you. Maybe you don't think simply walking home is going to be a big deal. The problem is: you're carrying a lot of poison/alcohol in your system and you're not your usual self. You set out walking towards your home/dorm/apartment and think, I know where I'm going, I'll be fine. I'm doing the right thing by not driving. If I drove I'd be endangering myself and others. You may think: It's cold outside, that will sober me up fast.

 

Yeah, not really.

 

What happens sometimes is that a person will start walking, find himself confused, and stumble and fall, or pass out and fall, or slip and fall in the snow, and not get up. Here is how fast tissues freeze:

This chart shows what the wind chill is when you figure the temperature plus the speed of the wind, and how many minutes until you would have frostbite.

Here is what the Mayo Clinic says about alcohol and hypothermia:

"Alcohol and drug use. Alcohol may make your body feel warm inside, but it causes your blood vessels to dilate, or expand, resulting in more rapid heat loss from the surface of your skin. The use of alcohol or recreational drugs can affect your judgment about the need to get inside or wear warm clothes in cold weather conditions. If a person is intoxicated and passes out in cold weather, he or she is likely to develop hypothermia."

 Read more about this at their website:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothermia/basics/definition/CON-20020453

And that's how you can also lose fingers and toes to frostbite: Your body figures you don't absolutely need fingers and toes to live, but you do need your heart, lungs, and internal organs. it shuts off blood supply to the hands and feet and tries its best to keep your organs warm.

 

At first, your fingers, toes, nose, and ears will feel numb or tingly. A bit later, the skin will turn white, and after that, it will swell, bleed, and develop blisters. It will eventually turn color as the damage presents itself. Frostbite causes irreversible damage to your tissues and blood vessels; it is similar to a burn, ironically. It can go deep into the bones of the tissue as well. If the tissue dies, there may be amputation involved. 

 

From the National Institutes of Health:

Cold weather can affect your body in different ways. You can get frostbite, which is frozen body tissue. Your body can also lose heat faster than you can produce it. The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. It can make you sleepy, confused and clumsy. Because it happens gradually and affects your thinking, you may not realize you need help. That makes it especially dangerous. A body temperature below 95° F is a medical emergency and can lead to death if not treated promptly.

Remember, alcohol is a depressant, that is, it slows down your body including reflexes such as reaction time as well. Notice where it says "hypothermia can make you sleepy, confused, and clumsy." These are the same as signs of having too much to drink . Imagine combining the two, and you can see the danger of drinking and going out into the cold.

And so if you've been drinking, whether 'binge drinking' or less, and head out into the cold, you have two things working against you.

 

Another danger in our area is the rivers and lakes we all enjoy. They are fun to play on and in, but are easy to fall into. Let's say you lose your way and wander into the river, break through some thin ice, and can't move well enough to get back out. You may drown, die from alcohol poisoning, or die from exposure to the cold, or some of all three. Maybe you think it's fun to skate in your shoes because you've lost your good judgment....but it turns out the lake you're on isn't really frozen, and you fall in.

 

So, what can we do to avoid it?

• First, of course, would be not to drink at a party, or to have one drink and then stop. It's a bad idea for anyone to take in too much at any time. It helps a bit to eat some food to help the alcohol take longer to process in your body, but it won't prevent you from being drunk.
• Establish early who will be your 'walking home buddy.'
• Before the party, do a search online for taxis or Sober Cabs in your area. Put a few of their numbers in your Contacts list. Better to pay a driver and get home safely.
• If you drove, then definitely don't drink. If you see someone too drunk to drive, offer to drive that person home so he doesn't get into his car and drive.
• Consider having one drink of alcohol and then only soda the rest of the evening.
• Drinking coffee after too much alcohol, does not make a person sober.
• Of course, you should speak up if a friend is getting too carried away. That's easier said than done while everyone is partying, of course.
• ALWAYS (did I mention always) go with at least one friend. Let another person know where you're going and when you expect to get there. Then call or text when you arrive. A simple "I'm home now" is more than sufficient. If you have 'dropped off'' your friend and you will be continuing to your home, make sure your friend goes into his building, before you walk away.
• When you arrive at your destination, you should also call or text back that you have safely arrived.
• Watch for someone that's in trouble. Offer to be his/her walking buddy. If you need to, ask around at the party for people to give a dollar or two-take up a collection-and call a taxi to take the person home. 
• See if you can just spend the night at the host's house. If you host the party, offer that as an option to anyone who needs it.

SoberCar is a service that has drivers to get you and your car home safely. There is a fee. https://www.sobercar.com/ or call 651 788 9118. You could put this number in your phone in case you ever need it.

We just want you to be safe this winter. We want you to get home after a party, warm up, and live to enjoy your life.

Hawaii*

This time of year, when you live somewhere with highs in the single digits above and below 0, it's easy to daydream about warm temperatures, blue ocean, and sandy beaches. Like Hawaii, for instance.

 

*Which is correct? Hawaii, or Hawai'i? Either is acceptable, but in the Hawaiian language, they always include the okina, which is supposed to look like a reverse apostrophe and indicates how to pronounce the word correctly, with a little pause for the last "I."


It's thought there were people living on the Hawaiian islands (called the Kingdom of Hawaii) since about the year 400 and probably earlier. An explorer named James Cook 'discovered' the islands in 1778, although Spanish explorers may well have been there in 1542. Hawaii had its own Polynesian religion which included gods and goddesses, and was ruled by kings -and one queen- down through the years.

Until people from the outside the islands arrived, there were approximately 300,000 native Hawaiians living there. Once white men came to settle there, they began to grow sugar cane on large farms, and there was need for huge numbers of workers. As has always been the case, people from other countries came to make money, in this case from Japan, China, and the Phillipines. As other people settled in the area, the native Hawaiians diminished to 24,000 by 1920.

                                                             Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii
Missionaries came to convert the islanders to Christianity, and since it was such a long journey by ship, most missionaries simply stayed. As the number of white people increased, their political control of the islands increased as well. Not allowing people of Asian or Hawaiian descent to vote made their takeover much easier, and finally they overthrew the traditional Hawaiian government in 1893. In 1898, the United States declared Hawaii one of its territories. In 1959 it became a state. The last monarch of Hawaii was Queen Lili'uokalani, who was forced out in 1893. She was the first and only queen of Hawaii, there had only been kings till that point. Read about her here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lili%CA%BBuokalani

 

The Hawaian language is different than many others; for instance, all words end in a vowel, and there are only 13 characters in it (12, and an expression mark like a dash or apostrophe). There was no written language until people from outside the islands arrived. Since outside settlers had overtaken the islands, the native language began to dwindle until immersion schools (where students are immersed in a culture or language) began in the 1980s.

From Wikipedia:
Hawaiians had no written language prior to Western contact, except for petroglyph symbols. The modern Hawaiian alphabet, ka pīʻāpā Hawaiʻi, is based on the Latin script. Hawaiian words end only^[52] in vowels, and every consonant must be followed by a vowel. The Hawaiian alphabetical order has all of the vowels before the consonants,^[53] as in the following chart.

Aa	Ee	Ii	Oo	Uu	Hh	Kk	Ll	Mm	Nn	Pp	Ww	ʻ
/a/	/e/	/i/	/o/	/u/	/h/	/k~t/	/l/	/m/	/n/	/p/	/v~w/	/ʔ/

Traditional Hawaiian dance is called Hula, specifically Hula Kahiko or Hula Auauno, and is performed by both men and women for a number of reasons, such as honoring the gods, telling stories, or acknowledging a volcano. Hand and arm movements illustrate the lyrics of the song. Learn more about traditional Hawaaian dances here:
https://dance.lovetoknow.com/types-dance/traditional-hawaiian-dances

Hawaiian Trivia:

Former President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii

About a third of the world's pineapple is grown in Hawaii

Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that grows coffee

Queen Lili'Ouokalani wrote the song "Aloha Oe" (Until We Meet Again) in 1878.

There are three universities in Hawaii

It is 3,930 miles from Minneapolis to Hawaii

The largest ranch in the United States is located on the island of Hawaii. It has 480,000 acres.

The Hawaiian islands are actually the tops of a mountain range

King's Hawaiian Rolls started in the 1950s in Hawaii, but in the 1980s they moved their headquarters to California. The sweetness in the rolls comes from pineapple juice.

 

Lava flowing down a hillside

• Hawaii has several volcanoes, and the ones currently considered active are:
• Haleakal
• Maunalo
• Kilauea-active since 1983
• Maunake
• Liohi-active since 1996

But just so you know, it does snow in Hawaii, mostly on the mountains... Except in March 2017 when they actually had a blizzard!! https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/03/02/snowed-hawaii/98631858/

How To Adult: Random Stuff You Should Know How To Do

Some basic skills people can use to get through life:
How to tie a tie: Here is a way to tie a tie without having it on your neck yet. https://www2.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+tie+a+tie&&view=detail&mid=1F3F4864AF0BF65167481F3F4864AF0BF6516748&&FORM=VRDGAR's

                                                                                    OK, well maybe not...
How to protest a bad grade:
Do not cry. Do not call your mom so she can talk to the professor (because of privacy rules and because you are legally an adult, your professor can't discuss your grades with your parents without written consent). This is your problem. You need to handle this on your own. Calm down and ask for an appointment when you can talk to your professor about it. Be mature. It's important, but it's just one grade. See if anything can be done.

How to write an email that at least sounds like you're an adult:
Sometimes you will need to email someone to communicate what you need. Here are some suggestions:
First, be sure you have an email address that doesn't make you look silly. Open a new email if you'd like, simply using your name and a couple of  numbers (such as AndrewPancake3323@gmail.com).
Be sure you have the correct email of the person you're talking to.
Start with 'Hello, I have a question I was hoping you could answer.' Then express what it is in a well-mannered tone. 'I am having trouble understanding ___________. I would really appreciate it if you could explain this better for me.' Don't use abbreviations like U for You or LMAO or emojis as you would in a text to a friend, and keep to the subject without other remarks. After your message, double-space (hit Enter twice), and end with 'Thank you,' and write your name and anything that would help identify you, such as which class you are in, if you are emailing a professor, for example. See? Not so hard. Then be sure you check your email for a response.

                                                               This is so NOT how to email an instructor...









How to use an ATM:
You'll have a plastic card that is essentially the same as a credit card. If it has a 'chip' in it, you'll need to have a password. You go up to an ATM and follow the directions it tells you. It will ask your password, and how much cash you want. You can only get cash in multiples of $20. The cash comes out underneath the keypad. It will probably print a receipt. Make sure you're aware how much is in your account. You can't take out money if the account is empty. Be aware of your surroundings so no one is likely to see you enter your password. Also, be aware of scamming devices sometimes put on an ATM. A good rule of thumb is, if you can grab the place where you insert your card and it doesn't seem loose, you're good to go. *See Triogenius 3/26/2018 on how ATMs work.

How to give First Aid to yourself or someone else:
This is for minor situations, of course...
Cuts: Clean it off with soap and water. Dry it with something clean. Apply pressure to stop bleeding. Put on a bandage. Keep it clean at all times. If it just won't stop bleeding, you may need a medical professional to see it in case you need stitches. If it starts to look like it has pus on it or is oozing, or if it feels hot to the touch, it might be infected. Have it checked.
Burns: Ice or cold water first thing to stop the burning process. NEVER put butter or grease on a burn. An ointment that has Xylocaine in it will help it stay clean and relieve some pain.

Punctures: Same as cuts: Keep it clean, cover it initially, then leave it open.
Nosebleed: Whether for no known reason or because the nose was hit, nosebleeds aren't often serious. Don't panic. Try a cold compress on your nose to constrict blood vessels. Try leaning forward and pinching the soft end of your nose. Don't stick wads of tissue up in the nose, it will probably make the bleeding last longer.
If you need an ice pack, any kind of ice can be applied: Ice cubes or blue ice wrapped in a washcloth work well, as do bags of frozen peas, corn, or other small frozen vegetables or fruits. Of course, throw the food out after you've used it for an ice pack.




How to change your bed sheets:


Take the dirty sheets off. It's your call if you want to wash the mattress pad. If you do, you'll need to wait till it's dry and can be put back on. When putting the bottom 'fitted' sheet on, it can help to do the fitted sheet like an "X"....Opposite corners, then the other opposite corners. Take the clean flat sheet and arrange it on top of the fitted sheet. Leave enough at the foot of the bed to tuck under. Top with blanket or blankets. Tuck blankets and sheet under the foot of the mattress. Grab the corners and tuck those under. Top with bedspread, quilt, or top blanket. Don't forget a clean pillowcase. 

https://www2.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+change+your+bed+sheets&&view=detail&mid=CA0281443D622B3A745BCA0281443D622B3A745B&&FORM=VRDGAR


How to have less hassle about your Social Security Number: Memorize it and don't share it with people or companies unless there is a very good reason to. That's all.


How to tip, such as in a restaurant, at the salon, etc:
The general amount is 15%, and if it's a meal that cost $20 or less, simply tip $3.00. Most phones have a calculator on them. It would be the same for other services, such as a hair cut or if you would be lucky enough to have room service at a hotel. You can always tip more than 15%, of course. Remember that some people in these service industries depend a lot on their tips for income. In some cases, that's their only income: If you don't tip, then they aren't getting paid. Other places can pay their employees $2.00 an hour because they are confident that tips will bring them to a reasonable income. If you really, really think you got horrible service, tip less or not at all. But this should be rare. If you feel you got poor service in a restaurant, sometimes the problem is in the kitchen, not with the server. You can always speak to the server or a manager in a civilized way and say why you're unhappy with the experience.

That's the latest installment of #HowToAdult. Keep tuned for more later!

Have a Heart

February is Heart Health Month... What do you know about the heart?

• The 'heart' shape we use now was probably an effort to draw the heart before people knew what it looked like inside the body. 

                Cross-section, human heart. All mammal hearts look very similar.... such as:

                                        This is a pig's heart

                                         This is the heart of a dog

• A human heart beats about 70 times a minute in men, 78 times a minute in women.
• A transplanted heart beats about 100-110 times per minute.
• The left lung is a little smaller than the right so there is enough room for the heart.
• The heart weighs about 11 ounces and is about the size of your fist.
• Your heart beats 100,000 times a day and 2.5 billion times in a lifetime.

• It pumps 2000 gallons of blood every day.
• All mammal hearts have four chambers.
• That  'thump-thump' sound the heart makes is due to the four heart valves opening and closing.
• The only organs in your body that do not receive blood are the corneas in your eyes.
• Cocaine interferes with the heart's electrical activity and can stop the heart.
• There are some prescription drugs that can affect your heart rate.
• Methamphetamines affect the heart.
• Caffeine can make your heart rate speed up, as can decongestants and being dehydrated.
• Anxiety can make your heart beat irregularly (the mind/body connection).
• 30% of people who die of heart disease are smokers, and at least 20% of people die from smoking-related disease that may not be of the heart: Emphysema, for example. Stop smoking!

• In 2006, death rates due to heart disease were the worst in Mississippi and the fewest in Minnesota.
• Heart disease kills 500,000 women a year and 450,000 men a year.
• CT scans of ancient Egyptian mummies show that they had heart disease....and this was long before fast food diets and people not having enough activity, which is known to cause heart disease now.
• Women's heart attack symptoms are more likely to include a feeling of nausea, indigestion, and pain in the jaw or the shoulder.
• Men's heart attack symptoms are typically sweating, pain down the left arm, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
• A panic attack can mimic a heart attack.

Someone with an irregular heartbeat may be fitted with a pacemaker that will regulate his or her heart. Learn about pacemakers here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pacemaker/basics/why-its-done/prc-20014279

An EKG:

 

 

Take Care Of Your Heart!!