Latest news with #healtheducation
CTV News
24-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
U of S receives grant to develop Indigenous education program in VR
The University of Saskatchewan's School of Rehabilitation Science will be developing a virtual reality health education program targeted towards Indigenous youth. 'In speaking with communities that I work with directly and in my virtual health hub work, it became apparent that health promotion information in a way that would be useful for students would be of big interest to communities,' Lovo, who also serves as the director of Virtual Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at the Virtual Health Hub said. Dr. Soo Kim and Dr. Stacey Lovo have been working with virtual reality and laying the groundwork for the past six years. Now, thanks to a $250,000 grant from the New Frontiers Research Fund, they will spend the next two years developing a program to help engage Indigenous youth in health sciences. 'We have a responsibility to be able to use our expertise and come together as a community to come together as a team, to help them to explore different ways to learn about mental health and wellness in ways that are culturally appropriate,' Kim said. While the program is still in the early stages of development, Kim and Lovo have many ideas, thanks to the collaboration of Whitecap Dakota Nation. 'Consulting with their elders, the educators and the youth themselves to sort of bring their opinions in to build something that's really meaningful for them,' Kim said. The virtual reality program is intended to both educate youth in health sciences, and focus on Indigenous teachings which have existed for many years. Dray Bear is the former community development & special projects coordinator for Whitecap, and helped connect the U of S with the community for the project. 'Revitalization is a really strong word for it. Also, brining community together and helping others learn. Because I mean at the end of the day, this is a huge initiative that could turn into something bigger especially in terms of helping people learn and bringing the community together,' Bear said. While health science classes are offered in the Saskatchewan education curriculum, Lovo shared that there are gaps in the system when it comes to incorporating Indigenous knowledge. 'At the moment in Saskatchewan, there are not opportunities for indigenous students to take those classes from the lens of their own cultural worldview or their own language, that limits the responsiveness or applicability of that content to them.' Lovo said. This program is intended to both educate youth, and preserve the knowledge of those who existed on this land long before colonization. 'This will hopefully encourage students and youth to learn about anatomy of the brain and other parts of the body and perhaps lead them more toward health science programing if it's of interest and applicable, and can embrace the incredible knowledges that have been in their own communities for hundreds of years,' Lovo said.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
How to tell the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke
As the Pittsburgh area deals with the extreme heat, doctors are warning that there can be serious health consequences. And in some cases, heat-related illnesses can be deadly. Dr. Brent Rau, the medical director of Allegheny General Hospital's Emergency Department, said they've seen some severe heat-related cases. UPMC also acknowledged that heat-related illnesses are up at all of their hospitals. The two major medical conditions to be concerned with in this type of heat are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. "We've seen more patients over the past weekend as this heat wave has kind of stretched over the weekend, into Monday," Rau said. Difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke Between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, heat exhaustion is the less serious of the two. Dizziness, extreme thirst, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness are signs. You should quickly get to somewhere cooler, loosen clothing and sip water. Heat stroke is quite serious and can even lead to death or a permanent disability. Doctors say it can often have stroke-like symptoms like confusion, dizziness and even unconsciousness. Body temperature goes to over 104 degrees and can not cool on its own. The main thing to do is call 911 for immediate help. "Can you self-diagnose these things?" KDKA-TV's Barry Pintar asked. "I mean, you can self-diagnose in the fact that you can tell you're getting overheated and the fact that you recognize hey, I'm very hot, I am at the point now where I am nauseated, I am light-headed, I am not feeling well, I am sweating excessively. It progresses to the point where I am now not functioning right, to the point where I'm no longer sweating because I'm so profoundly dehydrated." Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are not necessarily mutually exclusive, because heat exhaustion, if untreated, can quite easily lead to heat stroke. Heat can make ordinary objects dangerous With this dangerous heat, it can be a hazard to go outside. Add in the direct sunlight and everyday objects can become dangerous for yourself and children. To no surprise, playgrounds in Pittsburgh were empty in the middle of Tuesday as the sun beat down on them and made the equipment hot to the touch. "It's hot. It's just extremely hot out here," Michael Ferguson said while taking a walk in Monroeville Community Park West. KDKA-TV's temperature gun found the slide to exceed 155 degrees. "Makes it very easy for kids to get burned," AHN chair of pediatrics Dr. Joe Aracri said. According to Dr. Aracri, this can lead to first-, second-, even third-degree burns if people are not careful. He said it's most common to see contact burns from surfaces like this on the hands, thighs and back. UPMC's Dr. Leonard Weiss said metals and dark plastics are excellent sources to retain the heat on days like this. "Those can absorb heat and retain heat to a point where they are even hotter than the temperature of the air," Dr. Weiss said. Going around the playground, KDKA-TV routinely found surfaces to be above 110 degrees, but step in the shade, and surfaces like the concrete dramatically drop to about 91 degrees. Other hazards include your car. KDKA-TV checked a car seat not even sitting in direct sunlight, and it was about 105 degrees. The interior that was getting hit by the sun was more than 160. Of course, watch out for the belt buckles too, as they tend to heat up. "Other things that can help is putting down a sheet or towel. That way, they are not directly on the hot surface," Dr. Aracri said. It's recommended you touch the surface before putting yourself or a child on it. If it's too hot for you, it's too hot for them. "Kind of like you're feeding your child milk; you check the temperature first. You check the bath water," Dr. Weiss said. "Any responsible party might just reinforce the fact that those surfaces are in fact safe to contact." Both doctors say they have not seen anyone come in yet for contact burns during this heat wave.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Modesto school district's proposed "Puberty Talk" curriculum raises concerns
A controversy is brewing in Modesto as the local school district is considering adopting a new health curriculum called "Puberty Talk" for 5th graders. There's growing pushback not just from parents but from one of the district's board members over what the children should or shouldn't be learning about sex and gender. But Modesto City Schools says this is not sex education. It is health education. School board member Jolene Daly says the plan dives too deep into matters that are too adult for children. She's a licensed family therapist who says the lessons could cause students psychological harm. "They're not really understanding the psychological impact of some of the statements that are being made on the cognitive develop of the of these young kids," she said. CBS13 reviewed the material at the district's office. It includes chapters titled "Consent Plus Boundaries," "Identity Plus Expression" and "Puberty Health and Hygiene," which include discussions about different kinds of intercourse. "The hygiene portion of it tells them to make sure that they wash their hands and their genitals," Daly told CBS Sacramento over Zoom. "These 10 and 11-year-olds don't have the capacity to understand some of the information that is in the text." The district says the curriculum meets state requirements under the California Healthy Youth Act and that parents can opt out. But one mother of a student argues these are discussions that need to be had. "I think it's important to talk about it before those changes happen," the mother said. "I think normalizing things makes it better." The board took public comment on the material Monday night, and parents were able to see the material for themselves at the district's professional development building They'll vote on this matter on June 28.
Malay Mail
16-05-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Universiti Malaya opens public access to one of Asia's most unique medical collections
Universiti Malaya's Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai Medical Museum provides a starkly educational view of human anatomy and disease through preserved specimens for public and student learning. The museum, named after a key donor, highlights both medical history and the donor's philosophy of health and societal contribution. Presenting normal and diseased specimens together, the museum aims to foster holistic understanding and empower individuals to make informed health choices. KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The first thing that greets you is a haunting sight: a pair of infant twins suspended in glass, locked in a permanent embrace. Preserved in perfect stillness, the two infants float in their glass case with tiny arms wrapped around each other. Their chest is dissected, revealing the intricate web of organs beneath translucent skin. This is no ordinary museum exhibit. These are conjoined twins, separated only in death, now serving as an unforgettable introduction to Universiti Malaya's Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai Medical Museum. This intimate glimpse into tragedy becomes the entry point to a broader, unfiltered journey into medical science. This singular exhibit sets the tone for the rest of the museum — a place where science meets history and education in an eye-opening experience. Ascaris lumbricoides infestation in a child's liver. This worm is the most common found in humans. This is one of the rarest pieces. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Tucked within UM's medical faculty, this is Malaysia's only open collection of diseased human specimens. It offers a rare opportunity for the public to confront the fragile reality of our bodies. From cancerous tumours to parasitic infestations, from malformed foetuses to organs ravaged by syphilis, the museum presents medicine's most profound lessons without filters. Visitors may view preserved organs ravaged by cancer, lungs damaged by illness, and hearts destroyed by syphilis. There are also preserved foetuses at various stages of development, showing the intricate process of human gestation. As visitors move past the conjoined twins, they encounter a historical video documenting Malaysia's first successful conjoined twin separation surgery, performed at Hospital Kuala Lumpur in 1967. This pioneering procedure marked a milestone in the country's medical history. A hand preserved in Kaiserling solution to preserve and stabilise tissue specimens. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Rare and fascinating specimens The museum is home to an array of rare and striking exhibits, including: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) Infant — A preserved specimen of a baby with a hole in the diaphragm, allowing internal organs to push into the chest cavity, compressing the lungs and shifting the heart to the right. Sirenomelia (Mermaid Syndrome) Baby — A foetus with fused legs, a rare and often fatal congenital disorder. Anencephaly Specimen — A baby born without parts of the brain and skull, showcasing the devastating effects of neural tube defects. A Liver Infested with Worms — One of the rarest specimens in the collection, featuring the remains of parasitic worms that had consumed a man's liver. A Heart Destroyed by Syphilis — A shocking display of how untreated venereal disease can devastate the body. A Massive Ovarian Tumour — A large, preserved tumour, including one removed from a child. Horseshoe Kidney — A congenital condition where the kidneys are fused together, forming a U-shape. There is a full-time curator, Rizqullah Bariq Azmi, who is knowledgeable and affable, ready to answer any question. A heart infested with syphilis causing aneurysms in the aorta. — Picture by Firdaus Latif 'This is a unique specimen of a heart and liver that have been eaten by worms. You can actually see the dead worms inside. This is one of the more unusual pieces. 'We also have a heart that belonged to someone with syphilis. The infection caused severe swelling and damage and you can clearly see the heart destroyed. We also have a seminoma of the testes, a tumour that completely replaced the testicle. You'll see it cut open in different sizes,' he said as he took Malay Mail around the museum. Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai is the founder and executive chairman of Top Glove Corporation Bhd. He donated RM2 million for this project and expressed gratitude for his personal and professional growth, attributing much of it to his time at Universiti Malaya. As an alumnus, he sees it as both a privilege and a duty to give back to the institution that shaped him. He stressed the importance of education in driving progress and believes in supporting institutions that nurture future leaders. Having the medical museum named after him is a great honour, and he hopes it will inspire and benefit generations of students to come. A room for students to examine and study the parts up close. — Picture by Firdaus Latif 'My passion for lifelong learning, promoting healthy living, and advancing healthcare drives me to support this cause. I am pleased to contribute towards the enhancement of this facility so that it can continue to educate and inspire future generations,' he told Malay Mail. 'I believe that health is the foundation for success both in business and in life, as without health we cannot work or contribute positively, and will become a liability instead.' Lim believes that sustainable success rests on mental, physical, and financial health. Mental well-being, he says, is built through integrity and transparency. Physical health stems from what he calls the 'Five Wells': clean living, balanced eating, purposeful work, regular exercise, and restful sleep. Only when these first two pillars are strong, he argues, can financial stability flourish. Beyond individual prosperity, Lim calls for corporate responsibility, urging industry leaders to invest in education, healthcare, and sustainability. 'Industry leaders should give back to society, it is an opportunity to create lasting positive change, because businesses grow alongside the communities they serve,' Lim said. 'Supporting education, healthcare, and sustainability helps build a stronger workforce and a healthier society, which benefits everyone in the long run. By leading with purpose, businesses can inspire others and contribute to a better future for all,' he added. Meanwhile, UM's Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Datuk Dr Yang Faridah Abdul Aziz, said the museum serves a purpose not only for the public but also for medical students. They have a separate room where students can hold and examine specimens up close. Pictures of old hospitals from the 1930's shows how far medicine has come. Right below the picture display are the old tools used for operating patients. — Picture by Firdaus Latif 'When we talk about teaching healthcare professionals, information should not exist in silos. You shouldn't be learning the normal state of the diseased state at a different time, it creates a break in their thinking. 'We want to create healthcare workers who think holistically. Seeing the normal form side by side to a diseased state creates curiosity which is far more powerful than learning in isolation. 'In addition, knowledge should be shared. A place like this empowers individuals to understand their own bodies, own diseases and to make informed decisions about their health. If a young person comes here and sees this they may say, 'Okay, I'm going to take charge of my health. I'm going to personalise my treatment, I'm going to be the decisions maker'. That's the future of medicine,' she said when met. Dr Yang said she hoped the museum would show how intricate the human body is and remind visitors not to take life for granted. The museum offers lessons from the past that give us knowledge to live better lives — and we should not squander it. More than a medical display, the museum stands as a reminder of life's fragility — and the power of knowledge to preserve it. A section of a foot. — Picture by Firdaus Latif The museum is open from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm. Last admission is at 3.30pm. Admission is free until May 31, 2025 and is accessible to wheelchair users. Email in advance if you are using a wheelchair so directions to a drop-off point can be arranged. The recommended age for visiting the museum is seven and above. Children under seven must be accompanied by adults. No photography or filming is allowed in the main exhibition area. This is to respect the individuals in the collections. However, photos may be taken at the museum counter, interactive learning area, the gallery, or in other zones without human specimens.
