93Q Ted & Amy Blog
8:00AM January 29, 2013

YIKES! That was a fun ride in this morning! Snow, ice AND fog? Thanks Mother Nature! The transition from snow to freezing rain to ALL rain has been taking a little longer than first predicted plus throw in some dense fog and you have the perfect formula for crappy commuting here in Central New York. Parking lots and sidewalks, in particular, are VERY slippery this morning, so we talked to our good friend Dr. Arthur Vercillo regional presiedent of Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield, who discussed the dangers of falling and what we can do to lessen the risk. Falling can happen at any age, but it’s especially worrisome for the elderly, who are at higher risk and are more likely to suffer serious complications and lose their independence than younger fall victims. About 130,000 older adults in upstate New York reported falling during a three-month period, risking serious injuries, hospitalizations and even death, according to a new Excellus BlueCross BlueShield report. According to the report:

 

·        Older adults in the Central New York region were the least likely to be hospitalized or make an emergency room visit because of a fall, while those 65-years-old and older in the Utica region were more likely to do so. On average from 2008 through 2010, 180 fall-related hospitalizations and 377 fall-related emergency room visits occurred per 10,000 older adults in Central New York, compared to 226 hospitalizations and 461 emergency room visits per 10,000 older adults in the Utica region.

 

·        The fall-related death rate and total number of fall-related deaths among adults 65 and older in Central New York was second-highest of all upstate New York regions studied. On average from 2008 through 2010, 6.0 fall-related deaths occurred per 10,000 adults age 65 and older in Central New York, compared to the lowest death rate, 3.6 fall-related deaths per 10,000 older adults in Western New York.

 

·        About 19 percent of men age 65 and older in upstate New York said they fell during a three-month period in 2010, compared to 15 percent of women in the same age group. Of those who reported a fall, men were more likely than women to report a fall-related injury (38 percent versus 33 percent, respectively).

 

·        The average annual cost of fall-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits made by upstate New Yorkers 65 and older was an estimated $352 million from 2008 through 2010.  

 

To help older adults avoid falls, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield launched a Get In Step initiative with Betty Perkins-Carpenter, Ph.D., a falls prevention expert and former Olympic diving coach. Perkins-Carpenter travels throughout upstate New York, teaching a unique and fun fall-prevention approach to members, caregivers, medical professionals and others in the community. The initiative links patients to home assessments and a six-step program created by Perkins-Carpenter, whose  book — How to Prevent Falls: Better Balance, Independence and Energy in 6 Simple Steps  — helps adults avoid injuries and overcome their fear of falling.  Perkins-Carpenter teaches fun moves, such as “Dancing with a Pillow,” “Stretching in Bed” and “The 10 Martini Slump.” Her program includes the following fall prevention tips:

·        Practice “The 10 Martini Slump” by always relaxing into your chair or bed. “You are mastering the art of falling through practice,” Perkins-Carpenter said. “A stiff body breaks. A limp body bends.” Too often, seniors stiffen when they fall, increasing their chances of an injury. This exercise trains adults to relax if they accidentally fall.

 

·        Turn on your radio or sing a favorite song and dance around the room while holding a pillow as if it was your partner. Dancing forward, backward and sideways helps strengthen your legs and improves your balance, which can help adults avoid a fall.

 

·        Stretch in bed to improve your flexibility and mobility and help relieve your fear of falling. 

 

To view the report, Fall Incidence and Costs Among Adults 65 and Older in Upstate New York, go to excellusbcbs.com/factsheets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FIVE QUESTION QUIZ

We play the 5 Question Quiz EVERY Tuesday and here's how it works. We have five questions that you have to guess the answers to. But, we don't tell you WHICH questions you get right, only HOW MANY. So, you have to listen to the other players answers and figure what's right and what's not. One out of five and gets a prize, then two out of five, etc. Here are this morning's questions...

 

 

1.  A survey says this food sells better in January than any other month...

2.  There used to be just 24 of these in the world, but now there are 40...

3.  Good news for ladies – these are twice as big as they were 30 years ago on average...

4.  A person gets one of these 100,000 times every day...

5.  In online dating surveys, women are most likely to lie about their weight. What do men lie about the most?

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANSWERS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STRONG WOMEN STRONG HEARTS

Heart disease is the number one killer of women and 42 million American women live with some form of it. To educate all women about those dangers and provide support for those already affected, the cardiovascular nursing staff at Upstate Uniersity Hospital will present “Strong Women, Strong Hearts,” in conjunction with State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College, Saturday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., at HealthLink OASIS Learning Center, 6333 Rt. 298, East Syracuse (next to DoubleTree Hotel off Carrier Circle). The day will be filled with fun activities including Zumba, belly dancing, reiki, massage and yoga. There also will be shopping areas with jewelry, food and other vendors. Admission is free. Attendees should register for the presentations they wish to attend. The speaking program features experts Dr. Luna Bhatta, Dr. Robert Carhart, Dr. Michael Costanza, Dr. Kaushal Nanavati, Andrew Heffner, J.D., Dr. Mike Gillespie, Peggy Lynn, M.A., Marie Pennucci, M.A. and Jennifer Orlowski, N.D. Registration for the event is currently open. For more information or to register, call Upstate Connect at 315-464-8668. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BANK ROBBERS SOUGHT

Town of DeWitt police are looking for two men who they say robbed theChase Bank on East Genesee Street Monday night. According to investigators, the men walked in the back of the bank around 5:30 p.m., and passed a teller a note demanding money. No weapon was shown and no one was injured in the robbery. The suspects fled toward the city of Syracuse with an undisclosed amount of cash. The first suspect is described as a white man, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a medium build and in his mid to late 20s. He was seen wearing a dark jacket with a hood and a dark, tight-fitting winter hat. The second suspect is described as a white man with a similar build. He was seen wearing a dark jacket, dark pants and a dark, tight-fitting winter hat. Anyone who was in the area and saw the two men or any vehicle that seemed suspicious is asked to contact DeWitt police at 315-449-3640. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW ON DVD
Here's a look at some of the new titles arriving Tuesday on DVD:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MALARKEY FOR TODAY:

 

A new survey says 17 percent of us throw this away daily, but about ten percent daily give it to their pets.  What is it?

 

1)       *****leftover cereal and milk at breakfast

2)       restaurant leftovers

3)       any bones left from dinner