Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are a public health threat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A national survey using the most recent data on the subject found that 19.3 percent of women and 1.7 percent of men had been raped in their lifetimes. In all, 1.6 percent of women said they had been raped in the past year.

“Consistent with previous studies, the overall pattern of results suggest that women, in particular, are heavily impacted over their lifetime. However, the results also indicate that many men experience sexual violence, stalking, and, in particular, physical violence by an intimate partner,” CDC noted in their recent report. “Because of the broad range of short- and long-term consequences known to be associated with these forms of violence, the public health burden of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence is substantial.”

Additionally, CDC found that many women and men had experienced sexual violence at a young age. An estimated 78.7 percent of women who had reported being raped, experienced this sexual violence before age 25 and 40.4 percent were raped before age 18.

Women of all races and ethnicities experienced high levels of sexual violence and the sexual abuse was a two way street, meaning both men and women were impacted. Other forms of sexual violence were also prevalent in the study–an estimated 43.9 percent of women experienced some other form of sexual violence including sexual coercion, stalking, unwanted sexual contact, and non-contact unwanted sexual experiences.

It’s worth noting that Time.com found that the statistics were skewed because of the way the questions were asked:

“CDC survey respondents are not asked whether anyone has used physical force or threats to make them engage in a sexual activity, but ‘how many’ people have done this (in their lifetime and in the past year). This wording removes the extra hurdle of admitting that such a violation has happened, and thus encourages more reporting. But could it also create “false positives” by nudging people toward the assumption that the default answer is affirmative—especially when preceded by a battery of other questions and statements about sexually coercive behavior?”

However the questions were asked, the statistics are startling both for women and men. CDC points to a culture of sexual violence that starts young. Changing this culture is no easy task but the realization that so many young women and men are dealing with sexual violence is difficult to swallow.

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It’s true: For most dogs, their barks are worse than their bites. However, according to the CDC, 4.5 million Americans get bitten each year. And each year, the number of dog bites spikes during the summer months. Both people and dogs spend more time outdoors during this time of year, which is likely the cause of the increase in bites.

The good news is that, with a little common sense and some safety strategies, dog bites are preventable. As you’re outside enjoying the warm summer air, here are five dog-bite prevention tips to remember:

1. Never, ever leave a child unattended with a dog, especially an unfamiliar dog. It seems so basic, right? But unsupervised children receive the majority of dog bites every year.
2. Most dog bites occur when a dog is frightened. So don’t approach an unfamiliar dog. Don’t get down on a dog’s level; this can be seen as threatening. Don’t run and scream and don’t ever look a dog directly in the eyes.
3. Teach children not to interrupt a dog who is eating, sleeping, or chewing on a toy. While not all dogs guard their resources, it’s better to teach children the general rule for safety.
4. Report stray dogs to animal control. I extend this rule to include reporting dogs displaying unusual or aggressive behavior. For instance, if you see a neighbor’s chained-up dog snarling and lunging at everyone who passes that part of the sidewalk, it might be worth placing a call to an animal control officer. Chains snap, and if the dog is truly aggressive, that could spell disaster. Animal control officers can educate owners and help them plan for safety.
5. Check out this video from CBS News: Dog Bites 101, which demonstrates the proper way to greet an unfamiliar dog.

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Getting Purelled is the growing phenomenon of sanitizing one’s germ-infested mitts with the alcohol-based, Johnson & Johnson product known as Purell.

What’s in the name, William Safire students might ask?

Pure, I imagine, denotes the opposite of tainted, which in flu terms translates into ralphing, the runs and the unpleasant sensation of having been poisoned by Satan. Elle is French for she, as in, she is cruel that H1N1 Virus, widespread in 47 states now. Elle also is a swank Fifties ad-on, like ette for dinette. It sounds real classy.

I first heard the term the other day after ordering my teenage daughter to wash her hands after school. She’s a nail biter, more susceptible than most.

“I just got purelled,” she explained, exhibiting a jellyfish-like, residue bubble in her palm, which she kept afloat because she was undoubtedly fascinated by its staying power.  She has been studying chemistry in school. And I believe pathogen is one of her SAT terms.

Sydney and her peers happily take advantage of the economy, vat-sized, plastic dispensers of the waterless germ fighter stationed in every nook and cranny of her school, from the bathrooms to the cafeteria, library and gym.

At the campus’s recent Grandparents Day buffet breakfast, I watched an elderly dude mistake the jug O’Purell for carbonated water, carelessly pumping a shot into his cup with a puzzled visage. I gently intervened to set him straight. “You don’t want to drink that, Mister.”

The sanitizer, albeit refreshing upon contact with the skin, is not desirable as a beverage, no matter how much the Dunder Mifflinaholic, Meredith Baxter, of The Office fame ingests it for its alcohol content.

Getting purelled sounds ironically similar to getting paroled. In fact, a link exists when you consider hand purifying might prevent weeks off from school, a form of prison for parents who can’t do squat during the duration of the relatively mild but ubiquitously feared illness. I know as a mom who recently emerged from the trenches with her Swine Flu-infected youngest.

“Mommy, I’m bored! Mommy, stop working, I’m bored! ” I call it Purell hell.

In an aggressive no-tolerance approach, our school armed itself with endless stockpiles of the weapon at the beginning of the year hoping it might slow what it cannot prevent. While the CDC says there are  plenty of the H1N1 vaccines to go around, many parents apparently prefer that surefire killer, Purell.

“I definitely think it has slowed down the spread since contact between these kids is so constant, maybe each child is contacting 20 others throughout the day,”  says Dr. David Abusch-Magder, the head of middle school at Brandeis Hillel Day School in San Francisco.

At least the school, which has an impressive recycling and composting program, is using refillable containers. If you must invest is this much plastic, you might as well maximize its shelf life.

In addition to schools,  I’ve spotted the dispensers just about everywhere these days, from Trader Joe’s checkout counters to business offices, exercise studios and even in the cup holder of my own car.  The truth is there is no place to avoid the risk of contamination. Many organisms continue to thrive in my car despite the Purell.

Another truth is that we are creating a population of Purelled humans immune to the small percentage of bacteria resistant to the liquid. Bacteria that don’t die simply reproduce.

Let’s just hope we can conceive of  a way to upcycle all of those plastic dispensers once we are restored.

This is the latest installment in Luanne’s column, Life in the Green Lane.

Top image: The Local

Image One:Upyernoz

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The flu is already spreading like a Malibu wildfire in my Bay Area community with dozens of kids out the first few weeks of school and contaminated parents unable to play nurse.

It’s going to happen, no way of avoiding it all together, but there are some simple steps to build immunity and combat the spreading of germs at home.

Some people opt for the influenza vaccine, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says protects against the three main flu strains causing the most illness during the season. This year’s vaccine contains three new virus strains: A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus and B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens.

The government says it is believed the 2009-10 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different influenza virus strain.

For those choosing not to get the shot, most methods of fighting and containing the enemy involve keeping your hands and surroundings clean and lying low when you know you’re not well and can infect others. The good news for the planet is that none of the hygiene practices require harmful chemicals to kill the enemy.

1. Hand Washing

Discovered only 150 years ago, frequent hand washing is the most effective way to keep germs from making you sick and spreading to your pals. According to Every Day Health, it doesn’t matter what kind of soap is used as long as the water is warm and the soap lathers and spreads over the hands sufficiently to trap the germs. Soap and water works best (meaning you don’t have to use a chemical-doused sanitizer that can actually lead to worse viruses). Here are the steps recommended by the CDC:

– Wet your hands with clean water – warm, if available – and apply soap.
– Lather by rubbing hands together; be sure to cover all surfaces.
– Continue rubbing hands together for 15 to 20 seconds – sing “Happy Birthday” twice in your head.
– Thoroughly rinse hands under running water to ensure removal of residual germs.
– Use paper towels or an air dryer to dry hands and then, if possible, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

2. Sponge Duty

Sponges used to wash dishes and wipe down counters harbor massive amounts of bacteria, at times even salmonella.  While we are urged to replace them often to keep our kitchens clean, many sponges are made from plastics which means even more petroleum waste in our environment.

According to Living Green, the added environmental danger with many synthetic sponges is that they often contain Triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent banned by Canada in household products this past August. Even though it’s registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as being a pesticide, it is frequently used in many antibacterial soaps, deodorants, toothpastes and cosmetics. The chemical is linked to health problems and harms fragile aquatic ecosystems and waterways.

While replacing sponges regularly is a good hygienic practice, stick to buying ones made from cellulose fiber (cellulose is sourced from plantation forests or recycled). Read the label carefully as some cellulose sponges are impregnated with polyester, a form of plastic. Keep your green cellulose sponge as dry as possible between uses, to avoid bacteria.  Sterilize them by soaking for a few minutes in boiled water, or try a dilute bleach/hydrogen peroxide solution.

The U.S. Dept of Agriculture also recommends killing bacteria and mold by microwaving a damp sponge or dishwashing a sponge with a drying cycle (the method my family uses).

3. Stay Home When you are Sick

Take cover when you are sick (just like covering your cough) by keeping away from other students, workers and friends. State health departments urge employees to stay home when they are infected for good reason. It’s the right thing to do for you and your community. Ask a friend or a loved one to make a nice pot of organic chicken soup, crank up the vitamins and heal thyself. Work can added undue stress that undermines a quick recovery. Work can wait.

4. Resist Sharing Personal Items

You don’t share brushes to avoid lice. And you don’t share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items if you want to avoid flu and colds. While sharing is a good gesture, there is a big exception when it comes to hygiene.

5. Love Yourself More

An excellent reference guide by Our Home Remedies follows the non-nonsense Farmer’s Almanac approach of boosting your immune system with rest, healthy foods like fresh leafy veggies and organic fruit, Vitamin C, garlic and thyme, and beneficial teas. We know when we are not loving ourselves because we don’t sleep and become run down, dehydrated and tend to reach for high sugar foods to revive us, rather than what we really need.

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Anyone interested in exploring the environmental causes of illness might want to check out the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network, a new website created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Integrating health, exposure and hazard information and data from the CDC, the U.S. Geological Survey and local hospitals, the site aims to become a one-stop shop to bridge the “fundamental gap in knowing how environmental contaminants affect people’s health.”

But according to The Daily Green, the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network has a long way to go to fulfill this ambition.

Currently, only six conditions – asthma, cancer, carbon monoxide poisoning, childhood cancers, childhood lead poisoning and heart attack, and four environmental conditions – air quality, community water, homes and well water – are covered.

But as Dr. Michael McGeehin, director of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects at the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, says, this is just the first phase of growth and we can expect more data to appear on the site in the coming months.

Sounds like the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network is a site to bookmark for future reference. We’ll keep you updated.

Image: EclecticBlogs

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A 22-year-old social worker in Mexico told reporters the series of catastrophes plaguing her country and the world are adding up to “the Apocalypse.” It’s easy to understand the gloom and doom outlook, especially after a 7.8 earthquake shook up people already gripped with fear from the swine flu outbreak, killing at least 29 and injuring more than 160. The Mexican Red Cross says many of those killed in Colima lived in fragile adobe buildings that collapsed, while two others died of a heart attack.

Mexico’s President Vicente Fox visited Colima on Wednesday to assess the damage and federal authorities pledge to rebuild the hardest-hit areas by establishing of a $2 million reconstruction fund. Many houses have fallen and bridges have been damaged.

It’s pretty Mexico needed a break, not a quake, as the death toll from the swine flu outbreak rose to 150 with 2,500 illnesses reported. According to CNN, The World Health Organization says at least 105 cases have been confirmed worldwide, including 64 in the United States; 26 in Mexico; six in Canada; three in New Zealand; and two each in Spain, the United Kingdom and Israel. WHO has confirmed deaths only in Mexico, where seven people have died from swine flu.

Many of the flu victims otherwise healthy teens and young adults with strong immune systems. Apparently, it’s the body’s response in those with strong systems that can cause a fatal reaction due to the body’s build up of antibodies fighting the flu in the lungs. As a result of the crisis, much of Mexico City has shut down and armed police are guarding hospital entrances to control the population.

The World Health Organization has raised its pandemic alert level from three to four on a six-level scale in response to the outbreak of the flu that originated in Mexico but has since spread to the United States, Canada, Spain and Scotland. In New York, a group of kids who visited Cancun have become ill and we keep hearing similar stories of Americans coming back sick from Mexico.

Here in the U.S. the CDC is letting us know what we can do to best protect ourselves from the flu. First and foremost, we should frequently wash out hands. Here is a list of guidelines posted on the CDC web site to help the public prevent and treat the flu:

As we wash, hide from crowds and get treated fast, Fox News quoted CDC head Richard Besser promising the government is doing its part, as well, by screening for the flu at U.S. borders. “What we’re going to be doing at the borders starting today is doing passive screening, asking people about fever and illness, looking for people who are ill and handing out cards that let people know what’s going on in Mexico and what’s going on here so people can take action to protect and prepare,” Besser said.

It appears they are doing the same thing in Tokyo, using heat sensors at airports to detect fevers in travelers, a pro-active approach to keep the flu from spreading there as well.

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