Facts for Features Halloween

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Halloween

Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts and vampires. Today, Halloween has evolved into a celebration characterized by child-friendly activities, such as costumes, trick-or-treating and carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns.

Dressed to Thrill

A sampling of occupations that one may dress up as for a Halloween costume:

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The estimates of athletes, coaches, umpires, and related workers and detectives and criminal investigators are not statistically different from one another.

Spooktacular

 

4,471 The number of motion picture theaters (except drive-ins) in the U.S. in 2013 where one could possibly enjoy a horror movie. California (495), Texas (310), New York (273) and Florida (203) had the most of such establishments. There were 219 drive-in motion picture theaters in 2013 — Ohio had 21 and Pennsylvania had 20 drive-in motion picture theaters. Click here for table.

50,900

Acres of pumpkins harvested in the U.S. in 2013, with a total estimated production value of $149.9 million. Of the top six pumpkin-producing states, Illinois led the country by producing an estimated 547.6 million pounds of this vined gourd, followed by California, Ohio, Michigan, New York and then Pennsylvania. Pumpkins are frequently carved as decorations around Halloween.

$820 million

The estimated construction spending on theme/amusement parks in 2014. Halloween events at theme/amusement parks can be frighteningly fun. For more information about construction spending, please visit: <http://www.census.gov/constructionspending>.

1,148

The number of costume rental and formal wear establishments; they had a total of 6,574 paid employees across the nation in 2013 (for the pay period including March 12, 2013). Click here for table.

302

The number of broomstick and casket manufacturing establishments (for the more authentic witches and vampires); combined, these two industries employed 12,627 people and had a total value of shipments of $3.6 billion in 2012. Click here for table. $1.1 billion Dollar value of U.S. fresh apples exported in 2014. Whether bobbing for or dipping in caramel, apples can be a fun treat around Halloween. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade Statistics, Commodity Code 080810 https://usatrade.census.gov/

Who You Gonna Call?

89% Percent of households that had a cellular phone in 2011, compared with only 36 percent in 1998. The percentage of households with a cellular phone only (no landline) rose from less than 1 percent in 1998 to 28 percent in 2011. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p70-136.pdf> Click here for PDF.

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Today is #WorldStrokeDay!

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www.strokeassociation.org

Today highlights the importance and awareness of stroke. By being more knowledge in what stroke is, we can better understand how it affects people afflicted with stroke. According to http://powertoendstroke.org/, “stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die.” What can you to spread the knowledge:

  • Share, tweet, and tell your friends about #WorldStrokeDay
  • Tell Congress that stroke survivors on Medicare deserve better. If Congress does not act before next spring, stroke patients on Medicare will face limits on the outpatient therapy needed to regain vital skills, like walking and talking. The typical Medicare beneficiary has a $1,900 therapy cap. On average, that amounts to a single evaluation and just 19 outpatient therapy sessions. However, stroke survivors often need 3-5 therapy sessions a week, which means they’d reach the caps in less than two months. We must do better for these survivors! Tell Congress to remove this harmful cap on stroke patients once-and-for-all! (http://www.strokeassociation.org/)
  • Symptoms include sudden numbness, severe headaches, and troubles with walking, and seeing. The faster you call for help, the quicker it can be helped!
    • If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T.1 and do the following simple test:F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
      A—Arms:       Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
      S—Speech:       Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
      T—Time:       If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Here are some quick facts about stroke (www.cdc.gov):

  • Stroke kills almost 130,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 out of every 20 deaths.
  • Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.
  • On average, one American dies from stroke every 4 minutes.
  • In 2009, 34% of people hospitalized for stroke were younger than 65 years.
  • The country’s highest death rates from stroke are in the southeastern United States.2 Below is a map showing the prevalence of stroke across the United States.

stroke_death_rates

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Online Resources for Community Health

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Need a reliable search engine for topics related to health, wellness, and more? The official site of CDC has many resources that are available to the public. CDC hosts more than just health information as there are scientific data, current events, and other great topics!

“This searchable database, available to the public, is populated with practice-based resources to help you implement changes to prevent disease and promote healthy living in your community.

The resources include Webinars, model policies, toolkits, guides, fact sheets, and other practical materials which are organized by the following content areas:

  • Active Living
  • Clinical and Community Preventive Services
  • Foundational Skills
  • Healthy and Safe Physical Environments
  • Health Equity
  • Healthy Eating
  • Schools
  • Social and Emotional Wellness
  • Workplace Health

Each area has subcategories to make it easy for you to find the information you need. Start your search today!”

Access the CDC resources here!

References belong to CDC.

Team Building Ideas

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Week7Blog2Get to know your peers, co-workers, and people around you better by doing activities and sharing experiences together! Most of time, it involves unhealthy food and alcohol for people to relax and come together, but there are other healthier options that can still provide the same entertainment. Here are some ideas that can help break the ice and have everyone’s active participation:

  1. Volunteer together as a group! The best part about this option is that there are so many different kinds of volunteer opportunities that are available and locally nearby. Have everyone make a vote of which cause you all want to support and do it together to build relationships and contribute to the community.
    1. Walk or run a marathon!
    2. Build a community garden!
  2. Host a potluck! Encourage people to bring healthy snacks and dishes! It will allow people to be creative and try to create healthy foods to bring. And the best part is that it is a sharing event!
    1. Vegan Dishes
    2. Organic Foods
    3. Gluten Free Dishes
  3. Plan a field trip/event! Being able to share experiences together is a great way to bond with other people. It will allow everyone to learn a bit more about each other in a informal setting.
    1. Camping
    2. Fitness class
  4. Organize a club! If many people share similar interests such as sports, books, or foods then have a club dedicated to organizing group events for those topics.
    1. Book club
    2. Sports league team
    3. Cooking club

 

This Month in Japan | October

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Kannazuki, the old name for the month of October, is often translated as “month of no gods.” There is an interesting story behind the meaning of Kannazuki. In October, all of the gods throughout Japan gather at Izumo Shrine and forgo their responsibilities for the month. Conversely, in the town of Izumo where the shrine is located, the month is known locally as Kamiarizuki, or “the month of gods.”

In Japan, the second Monday of October is Taiiku no hi (Health and Sports Day). This year it is set on Oct 12. Typically, schools and some businesses host field days to encourage both physical and mental health. Popular activities include track, field events, and tug of war. This event allows students to bond and work together as a team. Mid-autumn is the best season for sport events as it isn’t too cold or too hot.

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October also includes lots of festivals that occurs all around Japan. Click here to learn about information about the events.

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Walk to School Day, Oct 7th!

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“International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record breaking participation – each October. Today, thousands of schools across America – from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico – participate every October.” – http://walkbiketoschool.org/

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www.walkbiketoschool.org

This event occurs each year and serves to remind everyone to live a healthier life. Walking can be exercise too if you do it enough! “Walking briskly for 2 hours and 30 minutes each week— easily broken up into 5, 30-minute walks—helps you meet the Physical Activity Guidelines and gain health benefits.” (http://www.cdc.gov/). If you don’t enjoy running or intense exercise, this is another option. Encourage your community to start walking more often by:

  • Walking with friends and family! It is a great way to spend time and exercise together.
  • Walking outside allows you to be part of the community because you are interacting with environment and people around you. The more people that are outside, the more it will encourage other people to come out.
  • Try to walk to your destinations as often as possible. If it’s close enough, take your time to walk there. Not only will it help you exercise, but help you save transportation money.

October 6: Join Us on Twitter for a Chat on Breast Cancer Awareness‏

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join the conversation on Twitter this Tuesday October 6th at 1 PM (ET). We’ll be discussing prevention, warning signs and more. The chat will be in English and Spanish.

Join @USAgov on October 6 for a chat on Breast Cancer Awareness

Follow the hashtag #SaludTues to submit questions in advance or join the conversation on Tuesday. You can also follow these Twitter accounts for more information: @USAgov@GobiernoUSA, @FDAWomen @FDAenEspanol and @SaludToday.

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MN’s Obesity Rate Rises

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“MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Obesity rates across the country are still high despite the billions of dollars being spent on programs aimed at lowering than number, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control.

Minnesota is one of only five states that saw an increase in adult obesity rates last year – just shy of 28 percent.

Despite the rise, Minnesota’s rate is the 15th lowest in the U.S.

Overall, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.

The average American today is 24 pounds heavier than his or her counterpart in 1960.” – http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/

Obesity is a real health issue arising in Minnesota. Sometimes, it is about the choices of a unhealthy lifestyle that affects people’s. So what can we do as a community to lower the rates of obesity?

  • Encourage your family, friends, and community to exercise! Whether it’s a daily or once a week, it is much better for your health than not being physical at all.
  • Buy groceries and foods from your local farmers and markets! There are actual organic and affordable food on the market. One just have to research a little bit to get information on where to get healthier food alternatives.
  • Stray away from fast food as much as possible. Although they’re cheap, fast, and easy to get, fast foods have more fat and sodium than you need on a daily basis. You can try to reduce the amount you eat fast food as you go on.
  • Join community marathons! These opportunities are a great way to exercise, support organizations, and meet new people. You will learn that there are many people out there who share the same cause as you do.
  • Living healthy is making smart choices! Being obese is a physical struggle and a mental challenge. Anyone can be healthier just by making healthier choices. It is always hard in the beginning, but once you make it a habit to life it won’t seem as difficult as before.

The Truth About Restaurant Food‏ & Eating Out Tips

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AMA’s STEP UP Youth 2015

Eating out can be a fun and social activity thing to do. But of course, it is not always healthy and cheap to eat out. Be aware that restaurant food can be just as unhealthy as fast food. Here are some reasons why:

  • Dishes can contain up to the same or more amount of salt, fat, and calories like fast food. Think about the total intake that comes from the appetizers, main dish, and side dishes.
  • Sometimes, it’s best to skip out on appetizers. Often time, people can’t finish their main course because they’re already full from the appetizers.
  • Are the food cleaner? This can vary from restaurants to restaurants. If you’re interested where the restaurants you eat at source their foods from, you can always ask the owner or do your own research.
  • Try not to order anything to drink besides water. Water is your body’s best friend and is an essential part of your diet. It’s free and keeps you hydrated.
  • Big plates equals big servings. Psychologically, when you have a big plate you feel like you need to fill it up with food. It relates to the old saying “your eyes can eat more than your stomach”. So it’s wise to portion your food and not over eat.

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and Fruits & Veggies

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“One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.” – http://healthfinder.gov/
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Children obesity is a real problem and still exist. There are reasons why obesity is still common in the U.S. Such as organic and healthy food tend to be more expensive so lower income families tend to buy lower quality food. Fast food and high calorie snacks are very cheap to buy and widely available everywhere. And many people are still not informed or knowledgeable on how food can affect their health. As much as it is a financial and informative issue, it is also a mental struggle. People have to change the way they think about food within themselves, their family, their friends, and so on.
But no worries, obesity can be prevented! September is the National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and organizations hope to spread the word of helping others! Here are so helpful resources that you can use and please share with others on social media:
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Fruits and Veggies – More Matters Month