National Awareness Month

This April marks the 43^rd annual National Autism Awareness Month, which has been kicked off by the World Autism Day every April 2 since 2007. As we celebrate autism awareness issues this month, its important to understand some key statistics about the state of autism in 2013:

• Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability with a 1,148% growth rate.

• Every 11 minutes, a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

• 1 in 88 children in the United States is on the autism spectrum; 1 in 54 boys.

• 1 percent of the population of children in the U.S. ages 3-17 have an autism spectrum disorder.

• Prevalence is estimated at 1 in 88 births.

• 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder.

The Autism Awareness Month kicked off with the World Autism Awareness Day. World Autism Awareness Day is one of only three official health-related United Nations Days with the goal of bringing the world's attention to autism. On April 2, countries all over the world participated in a dramatic “Light It Up Blue” campaign in which buildings and landmarks across the word were lit up in blue to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. Here's a great image from the Autism Speaks Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/worldautismawarenessday) The National Autism Awareness Month gets off to a great start with the Autism Speaks, "Light it Up Blue” campaign because it’s a dramatic way “shine a light” on Autism issues by driving international awareness for the disorder.  People are encouraged to  show their support throughout the month of April and join the cause by becoming a member of Autism Speaks on www.autismspeaks.org. While the World Autism Day featured a global day of  “lighting it up blue,” individuals, businesses, schools and government groups are encouraged to display “Light It Up Blue” merchandise and blue lighting wherever possible as well as to participate in various activities related to the campaign. You can download all kinds of great artwork, tools and reources to show your support for autism awareness on the Tools & Resources webpage of AutismSpeaks.org. CLICK HERE Here are great samples of artwork you can access: The April campaign also encourages people from all over the country to join the petition: “Give Hope. And Take Action!" This petition calls on President Obama to develop a comprehensive national plan to address autism. As of April 5^th, 75, 948 people have signed the petition (the goal is to receive 180,000 signatures!). To sign the petition,  go to: http://action.lightitupblue.org/c.arKQI4MBIgI4E/b.8566551/k.66A7/Give_Hope_Take_Action/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx Meanwhile the Autism Society (http://www.autism-society.org/), which is officially in charge of organizing all National Autism Month activities in the US, is driving the Put on the Puzzle! Campaign. The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. The Autism Society is encouraging people to display the Puzzle Ribbon on their Facebook pages, pinned to their clothes, as badges on websites, to wear Puzzle Ribbon bracelets and more. Learn about the  origins of how the puzzle design became the core symbol representing  autism and be sure to make a donation to purchase the Puzzle Ribbon by visiting: http://www.autism-society.org/about-us/puzzle-ribbon.html At N-Style ID, in honor of National Autism Awareness month, we will conduct some Facebook contests/giveaways. BE sure to check out our Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/NStyleID. N-Style ID makes attractive medical alert jewelry for kids, teens, and adults.Since its founding, N-Style ID’s core vision is to make the lives of all those dealing with conditions such as Autism that requiring medical ID's less stressful by providing fun and fashionable medical jewelry. www.n-styleid.com Continue reading...

At N-Style ID, many of the medical ID and medical alert jewelry we make is created for men, women and children with Epilepsy or other seizure disorders. As November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, we thought we’d wrap-up November with an overview of what you should know and how to react if a loved one or a stranger has a seizure in your presence. Many of us have never had to provide help and assistance for someone having a seizure. Because of this there are a few misconceptions about providing the correct care for seizures. Aside from some basic steps to follow, most of the time, a person having a seizure requires no assistance other than a caring and calming presence. If you have never seen someone having a seizure, it can be a somewhat scary experience. Just remember to stay calm at all times. Seizures will end within a couple of minutes. Seizures can be very confusing to those experiencing them and your reassuring presence is extremely comforting while the person is in “recovery mode” immediately following a seizure. Now that you know the importance of staying calm and focused in the presence of someone having a seizure, he’s a list of the top do’s and dont’s for providing care in the event of a seizure:

WHAT TO DO:

• Stay calm!
• Look for medical alert jewelry to confirm that the person has a Epilepsy or a seizure disorder
• Create the safest surrounding environment possible for the person seizing
• Remove sharp objects from around the person to prevent injury
• If possible, try to cushion their head with your hands, a pillow or any soft object to help prevent head injuries
• Try to loosen clothing around their neck
• Try to pay attention to the length of the seizure
• When the seizure is over, be sure to slowly move the person onto their left side. This is VERY important to help open their airway as any swelling of the tongue from the seizure or post-seizure vomiting could obstruct their breathing
• Recovery from the seizure will take a few minutes, but confusion and fatigue is sure to follow. Remain with that person until they are sufficiently recovered

WHAT NOT TO DO:

• Do not attempt to restrain the person’s body while convulsing. – This can cause injury to both yourself and the person suffering the seizure
• Do not put anything in the person’s mouth – This is a major misconception that stems from the concern that a person with a seizure might swallow their tongue. They will not swallow their tongue
• Do not give the person water, food or pills until they are completely recovered
• Do not leave someone alone following the seizure until they have fully regained their bearings

Cal 911 if you are a loved one and the seizure lasts more that five minutes or if you are a stranger and helping someone who is without family or friends. For those suffering from Epilepsy or a seizure disorder, always carry medical identification in the form of medical alert jewelry and medical ID card. In the event of an emergency, this will enable the people around you, especially strangers, to provide the appropriate treatment and maintain your safety in the event of a seizure. For more information about Epilepsy and seizure disorders, go to: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org http://www.epilepsy.com Continue reading...

Juvenile Diabetes directly affecting our family was the driving force behind starting a company focused on fun, fashion-focused medical alert jewelry for children and adults. At N-Style ID, we take the American Diabetes Month seriously and our grateful for an organization that drives so much awareness to the cause of ending Diabetes in America. For November 2012, there are a variety of nationwide events and programs planned to support the cause of Diabetes. You can also check your local diabetes organization to find out about events close to home. To kick-off the month, we’d like to provide an overview of the major events and programs included in the Month’s activities. From a national Diabetes Awareness Month program view, the American Diabetes Association will be launching an interactive campaign in partnership with the Awareness month’s title sponsor CVS Pharmacies.  The program theme is “A Day in The Life of Diabetes” and is intended “to demonstrate the increasing impact diabetes has on our families and communities nationwide.” - ADA The campaign is centered on social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Per the ADA, “The campaign is a call to action for individuals to take a public stand, via our social media channels…. to support the movement to Stop Diabetes®.” From October through November, the American Diabetes Association will encourage people to share photographs or imagery on the ADA Facebook or Twitter accounts to illustrate what “A Day in the Life of Diabetes” means to them and how Diabetes impacts their lives. The beautiful part of this social media campaign is that all of the imagery posted will be woven into a spectacular “mosaic” representing people across the country living with or affected by diabetes in their lives and casting light on the inter-connectedness of this disease in people’s lives. To get people to participate in the program, CVS will be donating $1.00 for every image shared on Facebook or Twitter. To share you experience and learn more about the program go to: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanDiabetesAssociation Along with the social media ADA programs, here are some annual events and programs to participate in: STEP OUT Walk to Stop Diabetes http://stepout.diabetes.org/ Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes is the signature nationwide fundraising walk of the American Diabetes Association. 20 years strong, this event has raised more than $150,000,000 to Stop Diabetes. Be T1D for a Day For November 2012, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will launch a campaign designed to illustrate and raise awareness for what people with Type 1 Diabetes experience on a daily, hourly basis.  The campaign is done via text messaging. Participants will receive text messages hourly throughout the day that “simulate the constant blood sugar testing, insulin injections, and dietary decisions that confront people with T1D.”  Learn more about this program: http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=117942 Become a Diabetes Advocate American Diabetes Month is a great time to become an advocate for diabetes. ADA Advocates are a critical part of the overall American Diabetes Ass goal of increasing funding for research, stopping discrimination in schools and at work, and improved access to health care among other things. Learn more about becoming an advocate at: http://www.diabetes.org/advocate/ The Safe at School Campaign The Safe at School Campaign’s mission is to promote safety and fairness for children with diabetes and is dedicated to “making sure all children with diabetes are medically safe at school and have the same educational opportunities as their classmates.” This campaign relies heavily on the support and donations of others. To learn more about his awesome program and make a November donation, visit: http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/parents-and-kids/diabetes-care-at-school/ Tour De Cure The final stop for the 2012 Tour De Cure will take place in Santa Barbara, CA on 11/10/11. The Tour De Cure is a series of diabetes awareness fundraising cycling event with participates riding for themselves, friends or families. Visit the Tour De Cure website for information the Santa Barbara tour and 2013 Tour dates. http://tour.diabetes.org/ The Risk Test November is the time to take The Risk Test for Type 2 Diabetes and learn whether you are at risk for getting Type 2 Diabetes. This is a free test and it could be the most important test of your life. Go to http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/diabetes-risk-test/ Continue reading...

This long period of economic hardship in the U.S. has been accompanied by at least one positive trend: an increasing mood of charity among Americans. Many people are volunteering their time and energy to positive causes. If you wish to contribute personally, there are many ways to provide assistance to those in need. One way to offer support to the well-being of the community is to participate in fundraisers like awareness walks and events. Below are a few suggested activities. To help raise awareness for mental health issues and reduce the stigma of mental illnesses during May--Mental Health Month--local chapters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) across the country are holding fundraising walks. NAMI offers a guide to the walks online. Continue Reading Continue reading...

April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn more about the disease, to help raise public awareness, and to seek out ways to help the cause. April 11, Parkinson’s Disease Day, is the birthday of James Parkinson, the English doctor who first described the disease in an 1817 essay. The red tulip was adopted as the symbol for Parkinson’s disease (PD) when a Dutch horticulturalist with PD, J.W.S. Van der Wereld, developed a red and white tulip after Dr. James Parkinson. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system most common in people over 50. The disorder is caused by the death of dopamine-containing cells in the brain, though what causes the cells to die is unknown. Movement related symptoms present themselves early in the onset of the disease. Among the most apparent symptoms are shaking, rigidness, slowed movement, and difficulty walking. Cognitive and behavioural problems usually arise as the disease progresses. Dementia often occurs in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease. Continue Reading Continue reading...