» • 4 - '. • .• • . • ’■• . / y cX ; ; . t ; . y . P age B4 J uly 19, 1995 • T he P ortland O bserver HEALTH When Someone Lies Bleeding, Help Without Risking Infection Northwest summers see a jump in gashes, cuts and other bleeding wounds as people head outdoors to hike, ride bikes and play softball. So now’s a good time to review how to help accident victims while avoiding exposure to any possible blood-borne diseases. According to Michael Blahnik, MD, chiefof emergency medicine at the Bess Kaiser Medical Center in Portland, the two most common in­ fectious blood-borne viruses in Ore­ gon are AIDS and hepatitis B Peo­ ple often carry these viruses without being aware they are infected. “You can't tell just by looking whether someone has an infectious disease," says Dr. Blahnik. “So treat every bleeding person with the same cau­ tion. Avoid getting blood on your skin.” To do that. Dr. Blahnik offers these suggestions: If the injured person is awake and not hurt too badly, ask him or her to raise the bleeding wound above the heart. This greatly slows the flow of blood. Give the victim a tissue, a towel or piece of clothing and have him or her apply firm pressure to the wound. If the injured person can't stop the bleeding, you may need to raise the wound and apply pressure. To keep from touching the blood, Dr. Blahnik suggests apply ing pressure using layers of clothing, such as a balled up t-shirt. “Grab a piece o f rubber, plastic oreven aluminum foil to put between the cloth and your fingers,“ he says. “If clothing becomes blood soaked, place another piece o f clothing over it. For serious bleeding, make sure that 9-1-1 has been called ’’ Dr. Blahnik further advises: As soon as possible wash thor­ oughly with soap and water. Take care not to touch clo th ­ ing or objects that have become spattered or soaked with blood. Give param edics every thing that has been in contact with blood for safe disposal. If som eone else's blood does get in your eyes, mouth or on an open wound or sore, seek m edi­ cal advice. Moose Helps Developmentally Disabled Group An organization serving people with developmental disabilities has honored PoliceChiefCharles Moose and others for their community ser­ vice. Moose was singled out by the Arc of Multnomah County for his commitment and support of a train­ ing project to educate all police per­ sonnel in matters pertaining to indi­ viduals who are mentally challenged. A task force facilitated the train­ ing and continues to meet and with Moose's endorsement, develops cri­ sis intervention teams. A total of 17 awards were made to outstanding volunteers, parents, employers, professionals and others at a recent annual meeting of the organization . The others honored included Educator of the Year Sly Martin, a Police C hief Charles M oose special education teacher at Roosevelt High School where she designed a comprehensive commu- nity based curriculum for students in her life skills classes; Volunteer of the Year Roberta Gould of St. Vincent DePaul Eman­ uel Plaza; and FosterCare Providers of the Y ear Lequata and Willie Mont­ gomery. Recognized posthumously for her service as a foster care provider was Margaret Irons. Duane Cleary, a resident of the St. Vincent DePaul Emanuel Plaza, was honored as Cit­ izen of the Year, an award which recognizes an individual who has a developmental disability and who has made unusual personal gains and contributions to the community. The Arc o f Multnomah Coun­ ty is a non-profit advocacy org a­ nization serving children, adults and fam ilies through an array o f program s. Hot Weather Dangerous For Pets High temperatures can be dead­ ly to unprotected animals. The Ore­ gon Humane Society urges pet own­ ers to take precautions to safeguard their pets. During a heat wave, the society receives dozens of calls daily about animals in distress. Pets that live outdoors are par­ ticularly at risk and need large quan­ tities of fresh water and to be able to rest in shade throughout the day. When animals cannot be brought in­ doors to a cool garage or basement it may be necessary to construct a tem­ porary shelter for protection from the sun. The society also asks pet owners not to take their animals on trips where they will have to be left in the car even for a few minutes. “You never know when that two- minute dash into the grocery store will take 10 or 15 minutes,” said Karen Brittain, a spokesperson for the human society. “The inside of a car can reach 120 degrees within five minutes, even with the windows left cracked. You may come back to your car to find your pet dead or dying. This is just a good time to leave Bowser at home for his comfort and your peace of mind," Brittain said. Anyone finding an animal in distress is asked to immediately call the Oregon Humane Society at 285- 7722. Should pet owners see that their animals are suffering from heat­ stroke. they should take immediate / X n n i \s TTP ( ¡ J o r ila n h <©b s e m e r R e a l W orld Life presents a lot of chal­ lenges. steps to lower the animal's body tem­ perature and call a veterinarian. The Oregon Health Plan The Oregon Health Plan was created to provide medical and den­ tal care at no cost to low-income Oregonians. A public information session on the Oregon Health Plan will be held on Thursday, July 27, 1995 at 2.30 pm The session is to be held at Portland Community Col­ lege 2850 SE. 82nd St. (Room C2) You can get angry, and let your fear separate you from your ambition. Or you can do something about it. For fifty years the Urban League of Portland has helped people of every age, sex and color take the steps necessary to live their dreams. Question: Does medicare cov­ er mammograms? Answer: Medicare medical in­ surance (Part B) helps pay for X-ray screening for the detection o f breast cancer, if they are provided by a Medicare-approved supplier. Wom­ en 65 or older can use the benefit every 24 months. Some younger women covered by medicare can use the screening benefit more frequent­ ly. Your Medicare carrier can tell you how often Medicare will pay for a screening mammogram for you. Medicare also pays for diagnostic mammograms as needed when symp­ toms are present. Question: My son applied fora drivers license recently and they asked for his Social Security num­ ber. He said they actually checked with Social Security to see if it is correct. Is this true? Answer: Probably. State motor vehicle agencies can now verity the Social Security numbers provided by applicants fordrivers licenses with the Social Security Administration under a new rule effective recently. The provision is aimed at persons who use fraudulent Social Security numbers to get drivers licenses to use as false identification for various il­ legal activities, I E., to cash checks. T he urban league of P ortland E àucation, E m ploym ent, E q u a lity B <£lp' Ü J u r tla n ô ( D b s e r u r r We're working for you, so you're always connected. Sometimes, building a successful business means you have to do it all. You work into the wee hours o f the yet again, just so you can make the most important connection—that first soccer game or that sixth birthday party. And one day your hard w ill pay off—for you, and for those w ho w ill follow. U S WEST understands w hat goes into building a tradition o f excellence that lasts for generations—because w e’ve been w orking hard at it ourselves for more than 100 years Today we offer you unparalleled reliability in products and services that helps your business run just that much easier. And so is your business. liehest 10 N . R u u e ll S tre e t, P o rtla n d . O R 9 7 2 2 7 (5 0 3 ) 2 80 2600 • 1995 U S WEST, Inc use credit cards, avoid child support purchase or service for which your payments. number was requested Question: Will my retirement Question: I started receiving pension from my job reduce the Social Security retirement benefits amount of my Social Security bene­ this year. Will I have to pay taxes on fit? my benefits? Answer: If you get a pension Answer: About 20 percent of from work where you paid Social people who get Social Security have Security taxes, it will not affect your to pay taxes on their benefits. This Social Security benefits. However, if provision affects only people who you get a pension from work that was have substantial income in addition not covered by Social Security-for to their Social Security. example, the federal civil service or At the end of each year, you will some state or local government em- receive a Social Security Benefit Statement (Form SSA-1099) in thè ployment--your Social Security ben­ efit may be lowered or offset. mail showing the amount of benefits Question: I applied for a charge you received You can use this state­ card and the company asked for my ment when you are completing your Social Security number. Isn’t it federal income tax return to find out against any kind of law to ask for if any o f your benefits are subject to someone’s Social Security number? tax. J Can I refuse to give it to them? For more information, call thic Answer: The law generally does Internal Revenue Service's toll-free not prohibit any use of Social Secu­ telephone number, I-800-829-36 7