Features

Common Misconceptions About Flu Vaccines

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CDC News:

Can a flu shot give you the flu?

No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness.

Flu vaccines given with a needle are made in two ways:

  • the vaccine is made either with
    • a) flu vaccine viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ and are therefore not infectious; or
    • b) with no flu vaccine viruses at all (which is the case for recombinant influenza vaccine).

The most common side effects from the influenza shot are soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot was given. Low-grade fever, headache and muscle aches also may occur.

In randomized, blinded studies, where some people get inactivated Read More

Special Blood Drive Slated For Tuesday

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Staff Report

Although blood supplies in Las Vegas, Nev., have been replenished, United Blood Services is once again sending its Bloodmobile to Los Alamos Tuesday, Oct. 10 in response to the requests and generosity of this community.

The Bloodmobile will be in the Smith’s Marketplace and community members can donate blood 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last week’s blood drive in the same location, which also was hosted by Smith’s received a huge response and members of the community were still offering to donate blood so UBS decided to host a second one.

Appointments may be made by calling Read More

Free Legacy Planning Workshop Oct. 21

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LACF News:
 
Animal Protection of New Mexico, Animal Protection Voters, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, and the Los Alamos Community Foundation are teaming up to offer a Practical Legacy Planning Workshop 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 21 at the Nature Center. The workshop will be presented by Susan M. Morrison, JD, CFP®, APMA®

RSVP to elizabeth@apnm.org or 505.933.1123.

 
The workshop will offer an opportunity to discover answers to estate planning questions and to begin the process of writing your own last will and testament.
 
Issues
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LAMC Launches ‘Pink It Out Tuesday’ Campaign To Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Los Alamos Medical Center launched its first ‘Pink It Out Tuesday’ campaign today to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To honor those whose lives have been touched by this disease, not only are staff and officials wearing pink each Tuesday but they also painted all the speed bumps pink in the parking lot. Courtesy/LAMC

Dressed in pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, from left, Los Alamos Medical Center CFO Steve Winegeart, Chief Nursing Officer Lisa Wallace and CEO John Whiteside. Courtesy/LAMC Read More

STDs At Record High

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CDC News:

More than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2016, the highest number ever, according to the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The majority of these new diagnoses (1.6 million) were cases of chlamydia. There were also 470,000 gonorrhea cases and almost 28,000 cases of primary and secondary syphilis – the most infectious stages of the disease. While all three of these STDs can be cured with antibiotics, if left undiagnosed and untreated, Read More

More Scenes From Saturday’s Relay For Life

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A special team joined their friend Jan Sander at the Relay for Life event Saturday at Ashley Pond Park. Photo by Nina Thayer

Cancer Survivors Jan Sander and Nancy Lemons at Saturday’s event. Photo by Nina Thayer

Some of the 25 members of Jan Sander’s Happiness Team participate in the rain in the Relay for Life event at Ashley Pond Park. Photo by Nina Thayer

Kathy Bjorklund and Lori Elton partcipate Saturday in the Relay for Life event. Photo by Nina Thayer

The Survivors Lap begins Saturday at Ashley Pond Park. Photo by Nina Thayer

The Hillstompers entertain the relay participants. Photo Read More

Scenes From Los Alamos Relay For Life

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Scene from the Los Alamos Relay for Life annual event Saturday at Ashley Pond Park. Courtesy photo

Scene from Los Alamos Relay for Life. Courtesy photo

Staff Report

The 2017 Los Alamos Relay for Life Saturday at Ashley Pond Park raises money for the American Cancer Society.

The community was invited to participate in a number of ways. In former years, Los Alamos Relay for Life teams have walked throughout the night, however, this year participants began at 10 a.m. and walked for whatever amount of time they wished until the 9 p.m. closing ceremony.

Called the most important event of the day, the Survivors Read More

Scenes From LAFD Resuscitation Academy

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Representatives of EMS agencies from throughout the state attend the classroom portion of the Resuscitation Academy hosted by Los Alamos Fire Department Friday at the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos campus. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Fire Department EMS Division Chief Ben Stone, left, and LAFD EMS Training Coordinator Donna McHenry chat with Chief James Brothers of Maryland Resuscitation Academy at the LAFD-sponsored Resuscitation Academy Friday at UNM-LA. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Capt. James Benson of Abiquiu Volunteer Read More

Letter To The Editor: Thank You Community

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By CATHERINE FRY, RPh
Los Alamos
 
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful people of the Los Alamos community who donated money and items for Elizabeth Hargreaves and I to take to the Friends of The Children of Haiti medical clinic in Cyvadier, Haiti this past week. 
 
Our trip was delayed due to Hurricane Irma but we eventually made it to our destination Sunday, Sept. 17. The good news was that our awesome Haitian staff was able to see more than 1,000 patients prior to our arrival and our final team of 11 Americans were able to see more than 1,000 patients in
Read More

Just One Thing To Do This Week: Honor Your Bette

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By MARY BETH MAASSEN
Los Alamos

For many, many years Bette was my best friend. We were together during a particularly drama-filled era of our lives.

We were going through angst-filled ups and downs, as both of our marriages fell to pieces while we were trying to meet the never-ending demands of raising children. We took turns holding each other up and holding each other together when necessary. On the day Bette’s divorce was final she found out she had advanced-stage breast cancer.

I was at home with her when the doctor’s office called wanting her to come in so they could discuss her biopsy results. Read More