Happy Thanksgiving Day!

This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day! Time to get together with the extended family or immediate family and feast around the dining room table. Some families make long-standing traditions like listing three things that each family member is thankful for. Movies all around and watching the Parade on television.

Or maybe you would like to go downtown and see the parade in person. this year the Little Couple stars Bill and Jennifer and their kids Will and Zoey will be on the featured float. 

     Happy Thanksgiving To You and Your Family!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

8:00am-10:00am

Westfield High School

Athletic Complex

Ella Blvd 77090

We want to get the community out for some fun, heart healthy activity, meet the neighbors, learn tennis, improve your tennis game, join a team, make new friends and just get out of the house.

GET YOUR TICKET TODAY!  Only $5.00 per person.

Your generous funds will be used towards energy drinks, towels, balls, granola bars, bananas, bottled water and shade cabanas while waiting for team members. 

All you need to bring is your racket, a friend and a winning attitude! :) 

**Remember to save your ticket. It will save you $10 off your next CPR class with us!**

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

  PINK-A-THON: Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer is an uncontrollable growth of breast cells. To better understand breast cancer, it helps to understand how any cancer can develop.

Cancer occurs as a result of mutations, or abnormal changes, in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy.  The genes are in each cell's nucleus, which is the "control room" of each cell. Cells should ordinarily replace themselves over time, however, mutations can "turn on" and "turn off", certain genes producing more cells which can form into a t
umor.

 A tumor can be benign (not dangerous) or malignant

(potentially dangerous to one's health). Benign tumors are considered cancerous. The term "breast cancer" refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast.

 Over time, cancer cells can invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way to the underarm lymph nodes, small organs that filter our foreign substances in the body. If cancer seeps into the lymph nodes, they have a pathway into other parts of the body. 

There are steps every person can take to help the body stay as healthy as possible, such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol and exercising regularly.

According to the American Cancer Society, any of the following unusual changes in the breast can be  a symptom of breast cancer: 

* swelling of all breast parts      *skin irritation      *breast pain   *redness, thickening (nipple)

So, remember to get tested early if you discover any of these symptoms. And wear pink to show your support of women with breast cancer.

WEAR PINK ALL MONTH TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT & RAISE AWARENESS!!

Inspiration

Wealth stays with us a little moment if at all: only our characters are steadfast, not our gold.

Euripides

The Key To Weight Loss Is......

Did you know that losing weight is more about the foods you consume than it is the intensity of your workouts? It's remarkable and refreshing news!

So I went in for an initial consultation at my local gym because I want to get back in shape for personal reasons, promotion of healthy living and for the competitive fitness arena. The personal trainer told me that I needed to undergo an evaluation of my current fitness and began to ask me what my fitness goals where. After telling him that I wished to be a competitive figure athlete and increase my overall health, considering my husband and I will be starting our family shortly, he shared a shocking dynamic to weight loss and toning diet approach with me.

It looked like this :
Losing 30-50 lbs           60-75% Diet                15-30% Exercise         10%  Commitment
                                  No processed foods      30 min Mid-intensity     3 week+ dedication  
                                  X Sugars, white rice

Then I started looking into the Paleo Diet option, which incorporates more raw natural foods that our bodies are derived from and thrive more efficiently using coupled with exercise. The foods that are recommended also spark overall healthy choices, which removes the disease plagued regimen of the foods we consume today due to the manner in which we prepare the foods and the high intake of the processed foods so readily available to us and grossly marketed as "the convenient good food".

There is a saying out there that, "If it were easy everyone would be doing it", holds true in this circumstance. Fast food is the easy wrong choice along a road to sedentary lifestyle patterns and stagnation to personal goals followed by quitting due to no results. It takes a determined population to step out on health and wellness believing and driven to make a stand and do the opposite of the norm, by choosing to do something challenging to achieve greater results in a short time frame. 

Everything you need to know is found here  on the Paleo Diet plan. 

Your renewed health and strength is so worth it!

Public Service Announcement "Waiting...30"

Please share this one.

Are You National Preparedness Month Committed?

In addition to Labor Day festivities, September is National Preparedness Month. This year's theme is 

"Be Disaster Aware, Take Action to Prepare"

Disasters are never planned, however, we should plan for disasters and unpredictable emergency always. The Ready.gov campaign for this month and each coming year, is structured to designate a week towards preparation which culminates in the ultimate plan to activate at the alert of any disaster, evacuation, flood, fire, tornado, or pandemic outbreak.

Week Two: Knowing How To Plan for Specific Needs Before A Disaster

     ~Here are two links to help families, businesses, organizations and communities~

• Prepare for Emergencies Now---People with Disabilities Guide
• Prepare for Emergencies Now---Pet Owners Guide

Week Three: How To Build An Emergency Kit

   ~Here is a link to help everyone put together business kits, auto kits and home kits~

• How to Build An Emergency Kit

For more details on disaster awareness and preparation for special population, visit www.ready.gov/september 

Stay tuned for the weekly preparedness news......

CPR in Schools: The Edmund Kuempel Act

In an effort to make a difference in saving lives, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law the HB 897, which was later renamed Edmund Kuempel Act June 2013.
 The Act requires Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation instruction for students in grades 7 through 12 for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools. The instruction may be provided as a part of the health education program or a general knowledge course at least once before graduation. The training must be in accordance with the American Heart Association using nationally recognized, evidence-based guidelines for emergency CPR which incorporates psychomotor skills "hands-on," to support the training.
   Texas may immediately begin implementing this new standard in school districts all around, helping America double or even triple the chances of survival for those suffering from heart disease or an emergency heart attack. Please take a few moments to review the two options for initiating the "CPR in Schools Initiative" in your district this New School Year, and call us to schedule a 15-minute decision making meeting with your health education coordinator and principal today.

Option One                                                                    Option Two
Facilitated Training  (40 minutes)                                     Self-paced, Video Training (30 minutes)

10 Manikin Training Kit (inflatable)                                 10 Manikin Training Kit (inflatable)
30 minute Training Video                                                30 minute Training Video
American Heart Association Instructor
with real world experience and training

The life you save may be your own. Get your kit and train your students in an assembly, in health education classes, or in small groups at a time. Let us help guide you through the process by calling 281-893-0060 or email us info@encorecpr.com when you've made your decision.

Eye Injury Prevention Month

   During the summer months, there are a lot of moving pieces when scheduling flights, packing, and attending summer camp, family vacation and more importantly...firework theatrical productions.  Imagine all these variants, coupled with the entire extended family, co-located in the same central time period for longer stents than any average school day..............DANGER!

   So parents and young adults (in charge of minors), please ensure that all tasks take into consideration eye injury hazards.Keep sharp objects out of reach, toddler-proof sharp edges such as on the tables, keep sharp pens and pencils up high and always keep a bottle of water near to flush the eyes or any irritants that may get into the eyes. Keep dangerous liquids and cleaning products locked away and out of reach, as they may be poisonous and/or toxic if ingested or consumed into the human body.

---Excerpt from Blindness and Eye Injury, Law Offices of Kevin Krist  (Houston,TX)----

While the majority of cases of legal blindness are caused by eye disease, an estimated 4 percent of individuals who are blind suffered their vision impairment as a result of trauma or injury to the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology compiled statistics on eye injuries and vision impairment from 2004 to 2008 and determined that an estimated 2.5 million eye injuries occur each year, causing 50,000 people annually to lose all or part of their vision.

Causes of Eye Injuries and Blindness

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has provided detailed information on common causes of eye injuries, as well as facts and figures on what age groups are the most at risk of suffering an injury to the eye that causes vision impairment. According to figures collected from 2004 to 2008:

• 44.1 percent of reported eye injuries happen in the home.
• 14.7 percent of eye injuries happen during sports and recreational activities.
• 15.6 percent of eye injuries occur in a work environment.
• 11.4 percent of eye injuries happen as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
• 14.2 percent of eye injuries occur on farms, at schools or in other unspecified locations.

These eye injuries can be caused by projectiles or flying objects; blunt objects such as construction tools; fingers, fists or body parts; or sharp objects such as wood splinters or glass shards. In a vehicle accident, not only can flying debris damage the eyes, but the airbag itself can also cause eye injuries. Chemical burns or exposure to toxins can also result in damage to the eye, especially in work or industrial environments. Fireworks are the cause of 1,500 eye injuries each year.

  Let's help Houston keep the statistics low this year and our family members safe. Stay Safe and remember to protect your eyes  by wearing safety goggles during rigorous sporting events like racquetball, paint ball and rock climbing.

Healthy regards,

Yolanda Williams

Blaklight Run

Date

Start: Saturday, July 12, 2014

Address

Reliant Stadium Reliant Pkwy
Houston , TX 77054

Registration Closing Date

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Celebrating our 4th Anniversary by Offering you Savings

Serving the Community has been our mission through education, resuscitation and healthy living since May 10, 2010. It is our pleasure to extend the joy and savings on to you...our loyal patrons.

April 3, 2014-May 10, 2014
BLS classes are only $45, ACLS classes are a mere $200

Call us today to schedule your class. Limited time offer. Bring family, friends and neighbors too.
281-893-0060

Massage is Powerful!

Received a massage today from Janet at Natural Gifts Holistic Center! So overdue. They are running a March Madness Special where you receive $25 off your session...wooohoo! You should schedule your massage today. 

FM 1960 St. Patrick's Day Parade 5k

DATE

Start: Sunday, March 16, 2014

ADDRESS

FM 1960 and Champion Forrest 5503 FM 1960 West
Houston , TX 77069

REGISTRATION CLOSING DATE

Saturday, March 15, 2014

ORGANIZER'S WEBSITE

http://www.1960parade.com

ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY

We invite you to participate in the FM 1960 St. Patrick's Day Parade 5k. This course is flat, straight, and fast, so be ready to chase down the Leprechaun and a PR. The race is down a closed off FM 1960 parade route, so no turns. It is a Point A to Point B course, so plan a head and park in the middle to avoid long walks to the start and finish.

Packet Pick up: Saturday March 15, from Noon - 5pm, and Sunday from Noon - 1pm @ Sun & Ski Sports 5503 FM 1960 West, Houston Tx. 7769

Event schedule and times

Start: 1:45pm @ Sun & Ski Sports (corner of FM1960/Champion Forest)

We start the race as soon as the road is cleared by traffic control, so be at Sun & Ski by 1:30pm.

Finish: FM1960/Kuykendahl

Packet Pick up: Saturday March 15, from Noon - 5pm, and Sunday from Noon - 1pm @ Sun & Ski Sports 5503 FM 1960 West, Houston Tx. 7769

Running-5K
Run	$25.00	$30.00
Walk	$25.00	$30.00

2014 Heart Health Facilities Collaboration for Houston

• Tri-Fold Power in Houston: Changes for the Better in 2014
  Read the article below to see what's in store for Houston Advancements in Heart Health Innovations 

• Baylor College of Medicine
• Baylor College of Medicine News
• Expansion
• Bold new alliance among Houston’s leading health care providers to transform care delivery in the region

Lori Williams
713-798-4710

Houston, TX - Jan 7, 2014

 share 

Bold new alliance among Houston’s leading health care providers to transform care delivery in the region

Future home of Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center on the McNair Campus.

Three of the region’s leading medical institutions – Baylor College of Medicine, CHI St. Luke’s Health and the Texas Heart® Institute – have significantly expanded and enhanced their long-standing educational, clinical and research affiliations in conjunction with Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives, which sponsors and operates the newly named CHI St. Luke’s Health. 

Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the nation’s largest health systems, announced today that CHI St. Luke’s has partnered with Baylor College of Medicine in a joint venture for the new hospital on Baylor’s McNair Campus which will eventually replace the current CHI St. Luke’s hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

At the same time, Catholic Health Initiatives announced a new, strengthened affiliation with Texas Heart® Institute which calls for a significant, 10-year investment in the renowned institution to expand education and research into cardiovascular diseases.

The announcements were made by leaders of Catholic Health Initiatives, CHI St. Luke’s, Baylor and Texas Heart at a news conference in the Texas Medical Center. The agreements signal the continued expansion of the TMC, with venues in place to accommodate that growth.

CHI St. Luke’s and Baylor signed a joint-venture agreement to open a new, acute-care, open-staff hospital on Baylor’s McNair Campus in the central area of the Texas Medical Center, which is currently home to two outpatient facilities owned by the college -- the Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center and the Lee and Joe Jamail Specialty Care Center. Baylor and CHI St. Luke’s will jointly operate the new hospital.

In addition, together, CHI St. Luke’s Health, Baylor and THI will work to develop a state-of-the-art cardiovascular program on the campus of the new hospital that will be capable of transforming cardiovascular medicine through leadership in areas such as regenerative medicine and the development of next-generation medical devices.

“These agreements will bring to bear new capabilities and resources in an alliance that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the region,” said Kevin E. Lofton, president and chief executive officer of CHI. “This is a clinical, educational and research-focused enterprise that we think will be capable of creating miracles.”

Quote of the Week

"If we ignore our pasts and try to create a Godless society where things like money or ambition or property are worshipped, then the society loses. ... It is a battle we are fighting at the current time."

Rocco Buttiglione

Running Cowgirls & Cowboys

Rodeo Run

• Tell a friend 
• Share

• Saturday, March 1, 2014

  9:15 AM
• Downtown Houston

  Intersection of Bagby and Walker St. , Houston, TX (map)

  Will announce via email one week before event
• The 27th Annual ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run on March 1, 2014 is one of the most popular 10k events in Houston with 15,000 participants.    A non-competitive 5k run/walk is also included in the program.   Immediately after the run, you enter a humongous post-race party and shortly after, the Houston Rodeo kicks off their parade, so you can see all the cowboys, cowgirls, trail riders, and horses passing through downtown.  $30 before February 8th, $35 thereafter. 

  Expect springtime weather.  A terrific event if this is your first 10k.   Likewise, competitive runners who are not running one of the several half/full marathons scheduled during the first week of March will certainly participate.

  

  REGISTRATION: 

  http://www.conocophillipsrodeorun.com/registration/Pages/default.aspx 

  Packet Pickup:

  You must pick up your packet prior to the event. 
  Wednesday, February 26 - $35
  10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 
  Luke's Locker
  1953 West Gray (River Oaks shopping area) 
  Store phone number: [masked] 
  
  Thursday, February 27 - $35
  10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  Luke's Locker
  1953 West Gray (River Oaks shopping area) 
  Store phone number: [masked] 
  
  Friday, February 28 - $35 
  10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
  Luke's Locker
  1953 West Gray (River Oaks shopping area) 
  Store phone number: [masked]
  
  NO BAGGAGE DROP-OFF/PICK-UP
  NO Race Day registration
  NO Race Day packet pickup
  NO switching events
  NO refunds or exchanges
  NO roller skates
  NO baby joggers
  NO pets 

Activate your Heart!

No Excuses Houston. Get Out & Run. Beautiful weather, huge park, new people, great track, and.....It's Free!

Wellness Run

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• Share

• 
  

  Sunday, February 23, 2014

  8:00 AM
• Soccer Complex- George Bush Park

  20150 Westhiemer Parkway, Houston, TX (map)
• The Houston Wellness Project is a non-profit organization that sponsors free monthly 5k runs celebrating wellness! All runners and walkers welcome. All paces are accommodated! Want to test your speed, assess where you are with your training, race your buddies or just start running or walking for better health, then come join the Run For Wellness 5K Series.

  Pre-Registration is required for the event and is done online. It is completely free! When you arrive on race day, check in at the pre-registered table and receive your bib. No waiting, no hassle!

  Click on the following link to pre-register: http://thehwp.org/5k.php

  The race is held at George Bush Park. Start/Finish is at the soccer fields off of Westheimer Parkway. The course is on the hike/bike trail. It is closed to vehicular traffic, asphalt, flat, shady and scenic.

  New medals will also be awarded for the top 3 male/female finishers.

Give the Gift Of Heart this Valentine's Day!

Both men and women deserve a gift on Valentine's Day. This gift should include peace of mind in knowing that both hearts are healthy and free of ventricular fibrillation. Stop by your cardiologists for a regular checkup and for rare instances where you experience these warning signs:

* Heavy pressure in the chest or center of the back

* Recurring indigestion lasting more than a few days (especially women)

* Pain in the neck, upper extremities and headaches

* Family history of heart attack or heart disease 

And for that special Valentine's Day Dinner, choose wisely. Check your restaurant for the American Heart Association heart approved meals. Show how much you truly love your special someone.

Enjoy your loved ones longer by eating healthy and being heart active.

If you know someone with heart disease, be sure to encourage them to wear a medical bracelet that alerts medical response teams what to look for FIRST in an emergency situation, eliminating delays.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

A New Year... A New Look.

Out with the old and in with the new! 

Our New Year's Resolution has you and the community at heart. Our modern new website is slim and trimmed to best navigate you to the training, emergency supplies and heart healthy guidelines with ease.  

OUR SERVICES:
Healthcare Classes
-Courses designed for the healthcare professional caring for ill patients in a hospital or clinical setting. 
                   BLS Cert/ BLS Renewal/BLS Heart Code(eLearning)/BLS Skills
                   ACLS Cert/ACLS Update/ACLS Heart Code (eLearning)
Workplace Classes
-Courses designed for non-healthcare professionals in the executive and industrial workplace.
        Heartsaver CPR AED/Heartsaver First Aid/Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED/Bloodborne Pathogen
             Pediatric First Aid CPR AED/eLearning option of the previously mentioned courses
CPR Store
 AEDs, First Responder Kits, First Aid Kits, Student Manuals, and more available for any emergency. 
Continuing Education
         CPR         ACLS Heart Code (eLearning)/ BLS Cert/ BLS Renewal/Adult Learner Course 
     MASSAGE    Hybrid Aromatherapy/Medical Massage/Acupressure/Orthopedic Massage
                                  Deep Tissue-Neck&Shoulder/ Deep Tissue-Torso & Back      
Community Awareness Events
 -5K Walk events, 5K Run awareness, Go Red for Women.org events, Hike and Bike Trail events

Find an event in your area and get active so you can change your look with us! Log on today.