Student athletes can take steps to avoid injury
As young athletes in the Inland Northwest prepare for a new year of competition, they should take care not to leave conditioning to the last minute, according to independent physical therapists in Washington.
A few simple guidelines will help student athletes avoid injury and improve performance, said Shannon O’Kelley, president of the Private Practice Group of the Physical Therapists Association of Washington.
•Begin with stretching – Gradually stretching muscles before a workout increases circulation in muscles and joints and reduces the chance of injury.
•Build endurance gradually – Follow the coaches’ advice, of course, but remember not to do too much, too soon. It takes time and effort to build strength.
•Stay hydrated – The early days of fall are often as warm as summer. Athletes need to remember to drink plenty before they’re thirsty. Human bodies are mostly water; when they become dehydrated, muscles and joints don’t work as well.
•Watch your diet – Foods high in fat and salt have no place in an athlete’s diet. It’s important for all athletes, especially growing adolescents, to eat a balanced diet that includes low-fat protein, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Sacred Heart announces new medical officer
Dr. Jeff Collins has been named chief medical officer at Sacred Heart Medical Center and Providence Health Care in Spokane, effective Sept. 18.
Collins, 51, succeeds Dr. G. Thomas Miller, the hospital’s first chief medical officer, who will retire Oct. 13.
Miller, 66, has held the position since 1998. During his tenure, he has worked to foster communication and continuity between Sacred Heart administration and the hospital’s 800-member medical staff. He has focused on ongoing quality measurements and has overseen several departments, including medical staff services, risk management, performance improvement, case management, epidemiology and research.
Before coming to Sacred Heart, Miller was a partner for 27 years with Spokane Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic.
Collins, who specializes in internal medicine, has served as president of the Spokane County Medical Society and as president and a board member of the Washington State Medical Association and has been an alternate delegate to the American Medical Association, hospital officials said.
In his practice with Physicians Clinic, Collins has been a pioneer in the treatment of AIDS patients in the Spokane region.
Shellfish harvest closed in Puget Sound
Toxic substances that can cause potentially life-threatening shellfish poisoning have been detected at dangerously high levels in the Puget Sound.
Marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning have forced closure of recreational shellfish harvests in the region. Commercially harvested shellfish from the area have been tested and remain safe, according to Washington state Department of Health officials.
Warning signs have been posted at high-use beaches warning people not to collect shellfish from the closed areas. The closure includes oysters, mussels, scallops, geoduck and other mollusks. Crab is not included in the closure, but only the meat should be eaten.
The contaminated shellfish can sicken or even kill people. The marine biotoxins are not destroyed by cooking or freezing. Symptoms of PSP can appear within minutes or hours and usually begin with tingling lips and tongue, followed by tingling in hands and feet, following by difficulty breathing, and even death. The illness requires immediate medical attention.
For more information, visit the marine biotoxin link on the agency Web site: www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.htm or call the hotline at (800) 562-5632.