Health
- Details
- Written by: OFFICE OF SEN. MIKE MCGUIRE
NORTH COAST, Calif. — Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire, along with Cal Poly Humboldt President Tom Jackson Jr., College of the Redwoods President Keith Flamer and local health care and elected leaders gathered Wednesday to announce a $10 million investment in the creation of a healthcare education hub that will become the epicenter of healthcare career training on the North Coast.
McGuire secured the $10 million in this year’s state budget. The funding will transform a 30,000 square foot dusty warehouse in Arcata into a state-of-the-art learning lab focused on the development of a healthcare workforce in Northern California.
This is a historic investment that will help grow healthcare career programs at both Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods.
“We’ve made so much progress over the last four years thanks to this innovative partnership with the College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt. We restarted Cal Poly Humboldt’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, we expanded the College of the Redwoods nursing program and now we’re launching the Healthcare Education Hub, which will become the epicenter of healthcare career training for our region,” McGuire said. “This $10 million will help buildout the most modern healthcare learning lab between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Oregon border and will train thousands of healthcare professionals, from multiple career tracks, in the years to come.”
The Healthcare Education Hub will be used to train health professionals such as nurses, psychiatric technicians, EMTs, scrub technicians, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, and more.
College of the Redwoods President Keith Flamer said, “We are very aware that our future depends on a strong partnership between College of the Redwoods, Cal Poly Humboldt, Senator McGuire and our community partners. We clearly understand that we can better help all students on the North Coast by working together rather than separately. This Healthcare Education Hub is another example of what we can do if we dream and work together.”
“We’re grateful to Sen. McGuire for his commitment to deliver on the health care needs of the North Coast. We’re looking forward to collaborating with College of the Redwoods to transform this building into a center where the next generation of health care professionals will be educated,” Cal Poly Humboldt President Tom Jackson, Jr. said. “This investment in CR is also an investment in our region – one that will help our entire healthcare system become more resilient while providing new opportunities for students and professionals.”
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Public Health
These products look similar to common candies and baked goods, like gummies, lollipops, and brownies.
As a result, these products can be attractive to children, and when consumed, can cause adverse reactions such as becoming ill, or in extreme cases, result in death. These products should not be eaten by children.
Children exposed to hemp-derived manufactured food products, such as cannabidiol, or CBD, candies, has increased and parents should be aware of the dangers.
These products may be mislabeled as hemp-derived and contain varying amounts of intoxicating cannabinoids (for example, unknown levels of THC).
The number of children who are eating these products is increasing, with higher frequencies of incidents in states where the use of these products is legal.
Children who eat these products may exhibit the following symptoms:
• Sleepiness;
• Fatigue;
• Diarrhea;
• Seizures in toddlers;
• Uncoordinated movements and decreased psychomotor activity;
• Slurred speech;
• Vomiting;
• Low blood pressure;
• Difficulty breathing;
• Sedation; and
• Coma.
Measures people can take to keep these products out of the hands of children include:
• storing products out of reach and/or in locked locations, similar to medications;
• not using these products in front of children; and
• checking your children’s candies, especially as Halloween approaches, and if anything looks suspicious, throw them out.
Additional resources on the dangers to children caused by unintentional consumption of these products and recommendations for prevention are provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Capital Poison Center and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
If you suspect or know that a child has consumed one of these products, immediately dial 9-1-1, or call your physician or the Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222).
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Public Health
“Wildfires, and the resulting smoke and ash, can be particularly unhealthy for vulnerable people, including children, older adults, those with respiratory illness or asthma, and pregnant people,” said Dr. Aragón. “Californians should be aware of the risks of wildfire smoke and ash inhalation. Vulnerable people, especially children, older adults, and those who are pregnant should reduce outdoor activity and stay indoors, if possible.”
Wildfire smoke contains fine particles which are respiratory irritants, and when inhaled deeply, can affect the lungs and the heart. Exposure to high concentrations of fine particles can cause persistent cough, runny nose, phlegm, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.
Smoke from wildfires can also cause eye irritation, reduced lung function, and bronchitis. Breathing smoke can also make asthma symptoms worse. People with underlying lung or heart problems should limit their exposure by staying indoors.
People who must work outdoors for long periods, in areas with heavy smoke, or where ash is present, should wear a well-fitting N95 or P100 respirator mask. Since wearing a respirator can make it harder to breathe, those with lung or heart problems should ask their doctor before using one.
Wildfires can also lead to emergency evacuations and it's important to follow the direction of local officials when evacuations are ordered. Current evacuation information can often be found through monitoring local news outlets as well as official social media channels of emergency responders such as a sheriff’s office, police department, and fire department.
“During a wildfire event, you should prioritize your safety and the safety of your loved ones. If you are ordered to evacuate your home or the area, please do so immediately,” said Dr. Aragón.
Tips to reduce smoke and ash inhalation
To avoid possible health problems, CDPH recommends taking the following steps:
Stay indoors. The most common advisory during a smoke episode is to stay indoors, where people can better control their environment. Whether at home or in a public space, indoor environments that have filtered air and climate control can provide relief from smoke and heat.
Adjust AC to avoid drawing in smoky air. If you have a central air conditioning system in your home, set it to re-circulate or close outdoor air intakes to avoid drawing in smoky outdoor air. Be sure to change your air filter on a regular basis.
Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution. Smoking cigarettes, using gas, propane and wood-burning stoves and furnaces, spraying aerosol products, frying or broiling meat, burning candles and incense, and vacuuming can all increase particle levels in a home and should be avoided when wildfire smoke is present.
Reduce physical activity to reduce inhalation of smoky air. During exercise, people can increase their air intake as much as 20 times from their resting level.
Be ready to evacuate. Monitor wildfire activity in your area and be prepared to evacuate if advised.
Avoid getting ash into the air as much as possible. Avoiding sweeping it up dry, use water and wet cloth or a mop to clean items and surfaces. Do not use leaf blowers or take other actions that will put ash into the air.
Use PPE. Wear a well-fitting respirator mask, gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants when cleaning up ash. Avoid skin contact. If you do get ash on your skin, wash it off immediately. Some wet ash can cause chemical burns.
Vacuums don’t filter small particles. Shop vacuums and other common vacuum cleaners do not filter out small particles. They blow such particles out the exhaust into the air where they can be inhaled. The use of shop vacuums and other non-HEPA filter vacuums is not recommended. HEPA filter vacuums could be used, if available.
Monitor children and young adults. Do not allow children to play with ash or be in an area where ash-covered materials are being disturbed. Wash ash off toys before children play with them. Clean ash off pets. Monitor children and young adults as they may be more susceptible to the health and emotional effects of fire recovery.
Prepare emergency supplies. Make sure you have an emergency kit, complete with medications, copies of prescriptions and medical supplies.
Locate nearby shelters, including ones that take pets.
Medical care. If you experience chest pain, chest tightness or shortness of breath, seek medical care immediately.
For more information on how you can protect yourself during extreme heat, visit the CDPH Extreme Heat site, or the California Office of Emergency Services for resources and information about wildfire recovery. Local public health officials can review guidance for local governments in the CDPH publication, “Wildfire Smoke Considerations for California’s Public Health Officials (August 2022).”
- Details
- Written by: Cal NORML
The bill was sponsored by Cal NORML and co-sponsored by Americans for Safe Access.
“Many physicians are under the mistaken impression that they can’t prescribe medication to patients who test positive for cannabis,” said Dale Gieringer, director of Cal NORML.
The new law clarifies that physicians cannot be punished for treating patients who use or test positive for cannabis, notwithstanding its illicit status under federal law.
Cal NORML regularly hears from patients who are terminated from pain management medications on account of their use of medical cannabis.
An online survey with nearly 600 respondents found that 18.5% have been denied prescription medications by a doctor due to their cannabis use.
A great many studies have shown cannabis is effective for pain, and can help patients reduce their use of opiates. The survey showed that 24 to 30% of respondents have increased their use of opiates or other medications due to drug testing by their doctor or employer.
The California Medical Association House of Delegates adopted a resolution in 2019 condemning the automatic elimination of patients who use medicinal cannabis from pain management programs.
AB 1954 would specify that a positive drug test for cannabis should not in itself be the sole basis for denying medical treatment to a patient absent a medically significant reason.
“It is irresponsible and unethical for pain management programs to eliminate patients who are using medical cannabis for their chronic pain, because there is conclusive scientific evidence that cannabis is a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain,” said Larry A. Bedard, a Marin-based physician who authored the CMA resolution.
"I’m so happy this bill has passed. Patients can’t wait any longer,” said Yami Bolanos, a patient and advocate from Los Angeles who was instrumental in the passage of AB 258 (Levine; 2015), ending discrimination against organ transplant patients who use cannabis in California.
AB 1954 passed the legislature with bipartisan support. Many thanks to Asm. Bill Quirk for sponsoring and to Gov. Newsom for signing it.
Founded in 1972, California NORML, the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, is a nonprofit membership organization that advocates for the rights of cannabis consumers in California.
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