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Emergency Planning: Buy Freeze-Dried Foods or MREs?

From multiple hurricanes to major catastrophic wildfires, the United States and neighboring nations have been dealing with a string of natural disasters in recent weeks and months. Millions have been without water and/or electricity, and have had to evacuate their beloved homes. Some can never go back.

While first responders do their absolute best, government agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and charitable groups, such as the American Red Cross, instruct citizens to have at least 72-hour emergency kits on hand to sustain life until help can arrive. Given the extent of these catastrophes many say one to two weeks is better for planning.

“A family that plans ahead isn’t part of the problem when disaster strikes,” said Laurie Burkons, a Portland designer. “They are part of the solution. Let’s all be part of the solution.”

So, how to do that?

Start with the 72-hour kit, which should include at least the following:

  • Water — one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food- at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food, per person
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert
  • Flashlight
  • First aid kit
  • Extra batteries
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery

Prepared families generally store food that has a long shelf life, such a freeze dried foods, but Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) are another option to consider. The U.S. military has mastered the MRE, and outdoor enthusiasts take MREs on long hikes or camping trips.

But, what’s best for you?

MRE

MRE stands for Meals Ready to Eat.

MRE’s

According to the The Ready Store, many preparedness suppliers sell the same MREs the US military feeds its soldiers. These are top quality, delicious meals that are ready to eat. You can eat them as-is, or you can use the heater included in the packaging to heat them up to eat. This makes them a great solution for short-term food storage.

Camping/Hiking- MREs have a higher calorie count (and usually protein content) so they will keep you full longer. They are also tightly packaged, minimizing space.

Bug-Out Bag- MREs are perfect for bug-out bags. For the same reasons they are good for hiking and camping, they are good for 72 hour preparedness packs. A full meal is about 15 oz and takes up minimal space, while its 1055 calories can be spread out through the day. Two full meals can feed you for a day.

Cons of MREs

  • MREs are not as shelf-stable as freeze-dried foods. They have a shelf life of only 1-5 years, making them unsuitable for long-term storage.  (The cooler and drier the environment, the longer the shelf life.)
  • MREs are packaged to feed one person instead of multiple servings in freeze-dried packaging.

MREs are a smart emergency preparedness option that requires some rotation.

Freeze-Dried Foods

Freeze-dried foods are healthy and full of flavor. Fruits and vegetables are freeze-dried as they are picked. Meats and entrees are freeze-dried as soon as they are cooked. When freeze-dried, the foods retain almost all of their nutrition and flavor.

Where Does Freeze-Dried Food Belong in Emergency Preparedness?
Freeze-dried foods are made for long-term storage. With a shelf life of up to 30 years (in optimal cool, dry conditions), they are perfect for building an emergency reserve. However, freeze-dried foods don’t have to be used solely for long term food storage.

Daily use– A #10 can (about the size of a large coffee can) or a pouch of freeze-dried food, once opened, will actually stay good for 6-12 months, if stored covered and in a cool, dry place. That means you can use your storage food for every-day recipes.

Convenience Meals– Freeze-dried foods are just-add-water convenient. For instance, breakfast can be as easy as adding hot water to freeze-dried bacon and eggs.  Entrees, fruits, and vegetables are easy to reconstitute, making mealtime easy and fast.

Cons of Freeze-Dried Foods

The main con is that freeze-dried foods requires hot water to hydrate. While you can eat the food without the water, it is dry. Also, some foods don’t constitute back to their original form (although they constitute to original nutrition).

MREs and freeze-dried foods both have important places in your emergency preparedness. But, the key is being prepared for any emergency, and how you choose to do that is up to you.

To learn more, visit www.ready.gov

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Camas High School Drama Students Take On “The Laramie Project”

Camas Theatre students are in the middle of daily rehearsals for “The Laramie Project,” which director Sean Kelly says is the “most in-depth play we’ve ever produced here.”

The play, written by Moises Kaufman, and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project, is about the reaction to the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming gay student, Matthew Shepard, in Laramie, Wyoming. The three-act play is based on hundreds of interviews conducted by the theatre company with inhabitants of the town, interviewer journal entries, and published news reports.

The cast of 19, each of whom takes on multiple characters, spends their afternoons rehearsing their lines, and preparing themselves for a play that is causing most of them to look deep into human nature and behavior. We spent 90 minutes with the actors as they listened closely to instruction, and then had their own in-depth discussion about what causes people to behave badly.

“The play is about how people can rationalize, in general,” says Kelly. “The students are taking on some really deep material. It’s stretching them.”

Armita Aziza, who plays Zubaida Ula, among other characters, says the play addressed how the incident affected the town.

“Our characters address prejudice, hatred, and community,” she says.

Omar Shafiuzzaman is playing four characters: Dennis Shepard (Matthew’s father), police detective, Rob Debree, a news reporter, and playwright, Moises Kaufman.

“We’re all on stage for the whole show,” says Shafiuzzaman. “It’s very challenging to switch between these characters, and we’re learning a lot.”

Skylar Derthick plays Jeddidiah Schultz, Dr. Castaway (who operates on Matthew), and Reverend Fred Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church, who lead a protest at Shepard’s funeral.

“It’s tough to play all these roles,” says Derthick, who appreciates the work going into this production.

Kelly encourages the local community to turn out for their play, and welcomes a broader discussion about prejudices and attitudes. Following the play, there will be an open question-and-answer period. And, it should be known the play does contain profanity, as it reflects on real-life accounts and interviews.

“It’s easy to hate an idea,” says Kelly. “But, it’s a lot harder to hate a person once you get to know them.”

The Laramie Project Play Dates

  • November 3 @ 7 pm
  • November 4 @ 2 pm (matinee) and 7 pm
  • November 10 @ 7 pm
  • November 11 @ 2 pm (matinee) and 7 pm

Location: Camas High School Theatre

To learn more, visit www.chs.camas.wednet.edu

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Images: “Sillyheart” Play Focuses on Joy During Turmoil

Camas Theatre premiered “Sillyheart” Wednesday night in conjunction with Compass Oncology and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a fundraiser to help cure cancer.

Before the touching play began, the audience heard from Brianna Barrett, who was named “Portland’s Best Storyteller” by Willamette Weekly. She discussed being a cancer survivor and how she documented her cancer battle. Dr. Kathryn Kolibaba, who practices hematology/medical oncology at Compass Oncology in Vancouver, WA, talked about how everyday heroes find ways to raise and apply needed cancer research funds. Megan McDonald talked about her daughter’s ongoing fight with leukemia, and Janelle Hayden also shared her family’s story of how they battle the disease.

Featuring a talented youth cast, “Sillyheart” is a one-act play where tragedy meets fantasy, and myth meets reality.

From the playbook: “The fairy tale world winds itself around the real drama of one little girl’s battle with cancer and her family’s anguish. As they struggle to cope with her prognosis and desperate treatment, the fairy tale characters from the little girl’s book play out in their own drama. Will an evil sorceress and her dark creatures succeed in pulling Princess Caroline (played nicely by Genesis Martinez — on this first night) away from her beloved family and prince? Will little Cora’s experimental cancer treatment save her?”

Sillyheart

Actors Wyatt Hodgson and Genesis Martinez in the opening scene of “Sillyheart.”

“In our imaginations, the villain is always slain, the good win out, and even happily ever after is truly possible. Our fantasies, like so many blankets, can keep us warm in time when the real world is simply too dark, cold and cruel to bear. At the end we are reminded it’s not just children who need fairy tales.”

The play is written by Billie W. Boone, and directed by Sean Kelly. The stage manager is Lily Haddan; costumes and makeup and by Carol Babilon. The event is coordinated by Kylee Shafiuzzaman.

To learn more, visit chs.camas.wednet.edu

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Songs for Autumn, A Spotify Playlist by Veronica Beth Whitney

Regardless of what season you claim your favorite to be, it is hard to deny the special kind of wonderland that the Pacific Northwest becomes once autumn kicks itself into gear. I may personally be biased because October is my favorite month – but to me, there are few things lovelier than driving the backroads on a chilly autumn day, encapsulated by trees that have clapped their hands and littered the ground with gold and maroon leaves. I’m a sucker for a sunny pumpkin patch outing, a warm cup of apple cider, divine-smelling candles, and every other fall cliché there is out there. I also find autumn to be a time where the right kind of music can be so poignant and fit a mood like your favorite chilly-weather sweater. This song list includes tunes that are prone to fit any weather that this glorious season throws at us, and the moods that shift along with it. So, grab your pumpkin spice-flavored drink and enjoy this autumn playlist!

“Oh the bitter winds are coming in
And I’m already missing the summer
Stockholm’s cold but I’ve been told
I was born to endure this kind of weather…”

The opening lyrics to “Emmylou” by First Aid Kit go. A band of two sisters from Stockholm, Sweden, I believe First Aid Kit are one of the greatest folk groups of our modern day. One of the first concerts I ever attended was a show of theirs on their Lion’s Roar tour, and it remains one of the most beautiful shows I’ve ever seen.

“…But when the leaves fell on the ground
And bully winds came around pushed them face down in the snow
He got the urge for going and I had to let him go
He got the urge for going
When the meadow grass was turning brown

And summertime was falling down and winter was closing in…”

 

Joni Mitchells sings in “Urge For Going.” Definitely a more melancholy song for when autumn starts drawing to a close and the weather grows colder – especially for the people who annually dread to see the warm weather disappear for a while. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful tune and one of my favorites of Joni’s.

Included also are a couple of live acoustic versions of songs – “New Test Leper” by R.E.M., and “Kooks” by David Bowie – a song featured on Hunky Dory that Bowie had written for his newborn son, Zowie (which famous English disc jockey, John Peel, discusses briefly at the end of the 1971 recording).

Finally, this playlist also features upbeat tunes that are perfect for those beloved sunny autumn day drives – including “Oh, Mojave” by The Ruby Suns, a dreamy cover of John Lennon’s “#9 Dream” by José González (featured on the soundtrack for The Secret Life of Walter Mitty – one of the better movies I’ve seen in the past few years), and “Team Zissou” by Brazilian musician Seu Jorge from The Life Aquatic soundtrack – another fantastic film.

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Events: Downtown Washougal Pumpkin Harvest Festival Changes Date

Washougal, WA – Local families are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and receive a free pumpkin at the annual Downtown Washougal Pumpkin Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 28, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main Street.  The event has moved from its previous Wednesday afternoon to Saturday in hopes this will be a more convenient time for families. The event will take place rain or shine.

More than 300 pumpkins will be harvested from the City garden plot behind City Hall for the event.   An additional 800-900 pumpkins will be purchased with a generous donation from Columbia River Realty.  All pumpkins will be handed out free, one per child, while supplies last.

“The Pumpkin Harvest Festival is a culmination of the work of many in the community,” said Rose Jewell, event organizer and City of Washougal Assistant to the Mayor & City Administrator.  “Second grade students from Gause Elementary planted the pumpkin seeds last spring during a field trip to City Hall and the seeds were donated by Washougal True Value.  Representatives from the Washougal Library, City of Washougal, Unite Washougal, Downtown Washougal Association, Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance and Washougal Round Table each cared for a portion of the patch to ensure a bountiful harvest of pumpkins for the event.  DWA volunteers and City staff have worked together on planning.”

“It is so fun to see all the kids and parents in downtown,” said Heena, DWA president.  “After they enjoy the activities at Reflection Plaza, many stay to explore downtown Washougal.” Many merchants will have candy on hand so the kids can get a jump start on their holiday trick or treating with the popular “Halloween Hunt.”

The event is completely free and will also feature carnival games run by student volunteers, balloon animal makers sponsored by IQ Credit Union, apples donated by Washougal Family Dental, popcorn from the Washougal Fire Department, a selfie station and more.

Volunteers are still needed.  If you would like to help please contact dwavolunteers@gmail.com.

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Killer Burger: Restaurant Offers Generous Portions, Quality Beef

VANCOUVER, WA — Killer Burger, a locally-owned restaurant chain offers a simple menu of burgers and fries that come in generous portion sizes. Every burger is 1/3 pound of local grass fed beef, and each customer has nine burgers from which to choose.

Popular selections are the PBPB (Peanut-Butter-Pickle-Bacon)! and Classic Burger. The PBPB! is made with their peanut butter sauce (a customer favorite, and an ingredient that’s generated quite a bit of buzz), pickle, bacon, mayo, grilled onion, and their House sauce. The Classic comes with bacon, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, House sauce, grilled onion, and a pickle. Every burger comes with bacon and bottomless fries.

More Killer Burger Menu Items:

  • The Purist Burger: American, Mayo, Ketchup. Bacon on the side (Sold only in it’s pure form)
  • Black Molly: Bacon, Philly Steak, Provolone, KB’s Own Brined Chilies, House Sauce, Grilled Onion, & Mayo
  • Meathead: Bacon, Two Patties, Cheddar, Grilled Onion, House Sauce
  • Fun Guy: Bacon, Mushrooms, Melted Swiss, Smokey House Sauce, Grilled Onion, & Pickle
  • The Bender: Bacon, House Sauce, Grilled Onion, Cheddar, Crispy Jalapeños, Sriracha BBQ Sauce
  • Jose Mendoza: Bacon, KB’s Own Roasted Green Chilies, Monterey Jack, Smokey House Sauce, Grilled Onion, & Pickle
  • Teemah: Bacon, Melted Bleu, Smokey House Sauce, Grilled Onion, & Pickle
  • Barnyard: Bacon, Ham, Egg, American, Lettuce, Tomato, Smokey House Sauce, Grilled Onion, & Pickle

We sampled the Teemah, which is really rich, the melted bleu cheese blends in with the meat. You can subtly taste the hot sauce, and the grilled onion isn’t overbearing. The Bender has a mild kick to it, and it blends in with the bacon and the BBQ Sriracha. The Jose Mendoza has a nice flavor with the green roasted chiles and Monterey Jack cheese — it’s not too spicy and has a really good flavor. The smokey house sauce really complements their burgers.

Killer Burger opened it first store in 2010 in the Hollywood District. The Portland-based company has 10 stores throughout Portland metro, with one store in Vancouver, on 164th Street. The restaurant is known for their seared burgers. Instead of cooking the hamburger, they smash the burgers into the grill, giving it a really nice sear on one side. It makes for a very flavorful meal. Try them out! You’ll enjoy it.

To learn more, visit www.killerburger.com

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Camas Theatre Prepares For “Sillyheart” Premiere

Camas, WA — In collaboration with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Compass Oncology, the award-winning Camas High School Theater Department is preparing for their premiere of “Sillyheart,” which is a 40-minute play about a young person’s cancer journey.

“It’s a play about an 8-year-old girl with leukemia that’s been in remission, but then the cancer becomes more aggressive,” says the play’s director, Sean Kelly. “The play is about how she maintains hope through her connections to a fairy tale called ‘Sillyheart.'”

Kelly explains it’s about how this princess uses courage and good will to deal with this terrible time. “It’s how the family stays afloat,” says Kelly.

All proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night walk to help support research for blood cancers.

The Camas Theatre is located at Camas High School Auditorium, 26900 SE 15th Street — South Entrance, Camas, WA

House opens at 6:30 pm, Curtain at 7:30 pm
$10 Suggested Donation
http://tinyurl.com/LTNsillyheart

View Flyer

Upcoming Sillyheart Occurrences:

  • Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 6:30pm
  • Thursday, October 12, 2017 at 6:30pm
Sillyheart

CHS Theatre actor signatures on the stage wall.

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Dayley Dance Academy Prepares for “Moving Art Show”

The Dayley Dance Academy NW is performing The Moving Art Show on October 14th as the organization’s fundraiser. These funds are needed immediately to produce upcoming projects, cover costs for the performance company and to admit hardship students for participation in the current dance season. The Moving Art Show is one night only on October 14, at 5 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8 pm. The show will be held at Dayley Dance Academy NW on 1700 Main Street Washougal.

Audience members will move room to room to view and participate in the different exhibits, some of which are a dancer performance with a unique close up viewing experience, a walk through art gallery of the DDANW students in inspirational and creative dance photos, ballroom dance lessons, and local food, drinks, and desserts. Tickets are $25 per person.

“After nearly a decade of running a small dance studio and giving scholarships when we could, we have received many moving letters, but one stands out from the others,” said owner, Sarah Dayley.  “Upon graduation from high school, a young man wrote an impactful letter highlighting the story of how our dance studio saved him from suicide.  Mentioned were a group of instructors and peers who encouraged his artistry and gave purpose to this young man inside the refuge that has been our dance family.  This is powerful. Saving this one life in the way that we did will save countless others.”Dayley adds: “Inspired to reach out to our community on a much larger scale, we are now Dayley Dance Academy NW (DDANW), a brand-new non-profit performing arts school along the Columbia River’s Gateway to the Gorge in Washougal.”

Community Benefits

DDANW provides professional training and unique performance opportunities to youth and adults in our community, no matter their socio-economic backgrounds. Offering subsidized tuition, special education grants, and community outreach classes will expose a broader range of students in our local area to the movement arts as an alternative to unproductive activities. The academy believes that this will result in the development of emerging new artists, innovative choreographers and instructors of the future.

Benefits for Students and Instructors

DDANW continually works to provide and maintain proper studio space for their instructors and students to not only teach, learn, and cultivate safe spaces, but to create new and innovative works of art. Promoting healthy lifestyles and exposing their dancers to prestigious instructors from around the nation will give their students new vision and world perspectives that encourage growth and build character while increasing their ability to network with other artists on professional levels in the industry.

Funds raised will be used to benefit DDANW grant recipients as well as the academy’s very own Illumination Youth Dance Company for producing performances and exposure to advanced instruction and choreographers that are prominent in the performing arts community around the globe.  Funds are needed immediately to produce projects, cover immediate costs for the performance company and to admit hardship students for participation in current dance season.So many children are wandering around after school hours not knowing what to do with their free time and getting into trouble. Exposing these children to something that is lasting and positive, regardless of their financial situation, can provide a safe haven and an addition family of support, says Dayley.  Teaching them to set goals, work hard and be their best selves will strenghten our community and improve our society.

You may also contribute funds to: https://www.gofundme.com/dayleydanceacademynw
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Disney’s ‘Alice in Wonderland Jr.’ Play Coming Soon

JOURNEY THEATER ARTS GROUP PRESENTS Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr.

Youth Theater Production Runs Two Weekends – October 21 – 29, 2017 at Ridgefield High School

Travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature’s most beloved heroines, in her madcap adventures.  Featuring updated songs from Disney’s thrilling animated motion picture, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Jr. is a fast-paced take on the classic tale.

The ever-curious Alice’s journey begins innocently enough as she chases the White Rabbit.  Her adventures become increasingly more strange as she races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!

Performances are October 21 – 29, 2017 at Ridgefield High School, 2630 S Hillhurst, Ridgefield WA, 98642.   Tickets are on sale now at journeytheater.org or by calling 360.750.8550.  Pre-sale adult tickets are $12.  Youth and senior tickets are $10.   Our “family day” performance is October 21st @ 2 p.m. with all tickets $10 in advance.  Tickets for all performances will be $4 more at the door.

Public Performances

  • Saturday, October 21st @ 2:00 pm
  • Sunday, October 22nd @ 2:00 pm
  • Saturday, October 28th @ 2:00 pm
  • Saturday, October 28th @ 7:00 pm
  • Sunday, October 29th  @ 2:00 pm

About Journey Theater Arts Group

Journey is the most dynamic theater arts community in the Portland/Vancouver area, offering dozens of classes in drama, dance, voice and more, as well as producing 12 shows in four locations during the school year and a professional-level community theater musical each summer.   Journey strives for excellence, while providing a welcoming and encouraging environment where kids ages 6 to 18 and their families can build life-long skills and friendships. Journey is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization, with offices located at 1400 NE 136th Ave, Suite 201, Vancouver WA, 98684.  Contact at 360.750.8550 or www.journeytheater.org.

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Chiropractic Evaluation After Auto Collision

If you’ve ever been in a fender bender, you were probably more concerned about damage to your car than damage to your body. After all, the airbags didn’t deploy and you felt okay. You might have been a little stiff the next day, but that’s no big deal, right?

Wrong, warns Dr. Marc Davis. Even if you received a medical examination, spinal injuries could still have ensued, which only a doctor of chiropractic may detect. Symptoms might not appear for weeks, months-or even years-later.

A common result of car accidents, whiplash is an umbrella term for injuries caused by sudden flexion followed by extension of the neck. Researchers have found that this chain of events triggers a complex set of distortions throughout the spine (Chin J Traumatol 2009; 12:305-14)

Whiplash also triggers sprains and strains. A sprain occurs when the sudden hyperextension of the neck tears ligaments that support spinal bones (vertebrae). Strains occur when muscles and tendons are hyperextended. Extreme cases of whiplash can herniate disks between vertebrae and damage nerves.

Always Get a Chiropractic Evaluation

If you are in a collision, depending on the severity, you may go to the emergency room or see a medical doctor. While you might receive painkillers to mask the pain, medication does nothing to remedy the underlying problem. This is why it is critical to have a chiropractic evaluation in addition to any medical exams you receive.

Whiplash often forces spinal bones (vertebrae) of the neck out of alignment. These misalignments, called verbal subluxations, interfere with the nerves that radiate from the spinal cord. Chiropractors detect and correct vertebral subluxations with precise and gentle chiropractic adjustments. These maneuvers relieve spinal stress and ease the myriad of disorders related to vertebral subluxations.

Chiropractic is a proven therapy for whiplash. In a variety of studies following whiplash patients, up to 93 percent of those receiving chiropractic adjustments showed improvement (J of Ortho Med 1999;21:22-5).

A review of 27 investigations reveals that chiropractic care is particularly effective in alleviating pain and improving range of motion in the neck following whiplash injuries (Work 2010;35:369-94)

Sooner is Better

It is important to get checked by a chiropractor as soon as possible after a motor vehicle accident. There are two reasons for this:

First, it is essential to identify all injuries before settling with insurance companies. Since the effects of whiplash are not always evident right away, a prompt chiropractic exam is crucial to avoid paying-out-of-pocket for debilitating symptoms that may emerge later.

Secondly, evidence shows that prompt care is more effective than delayed care for whiplash. In one study, 67 percent of patients experienced improvement in their symptoms if they received care for whiplash within three months of injury. In contrast, only 48 percent of those began therapy more than three months after injury improved (Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 2009;129:973).

Better Late Than Never

Although it is preferable to seek chiropractic care immediately following a motor vehicle accident, it is vital that anybody who has ever been in a motor vehicle collision receive chiropractic evaluation-regardless of how much time has passed.

“Minor” Accidents Can Cause Major Injuries

Just because a collision occurs at a low speed and causes minimal damage to the vehicle doesn’t mean it has not seriously impacted the spines of those involved. In fact, most cases of whiplash occur at vehicle speeds below 14 mph (23kph) (J Bone Joint Surg Br 2009;91:845-50).

What’s more, research shows that motor vehicle crashes at speeds as low as 2.5 mph (4kph) may cause injury, even if vehicular damage is nonexistent (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1998;21:629-39).

A study presented at the Stapp Car Crash Conference examined people in simulated rear-impact collisions at 9 mph (14kph). Participants instinctively tensed their muscles to absorb the impact. However, they did not react until their necks (cervical spines) were flexed due to the G-force of their heads.

The average adult head weighs 10 lbs (4.5kg) and can experience forces of 17G at the speed used in this experiment. That means the head exerts 170 lbs (77kg) of force on the neck. And this is when the crash occurs at speeds less than 10 mph!

Delayed Onset of Symptoms

Even if you feel only mild pain after a car accident-or no pain at all-severe effects of whiplash can develop much later.

Studies comparing drivers who were in rear-end collisions found that those who suffered whiplash from the accident more likely to experience headaches, back pain, shoulder and neck pain, fatigue and sleep problems seven years afterward (J Clin Epidemiol 2001;54:851-6).

More Than a Pain in the Neck

The obvious effects of whiplash injury are pain and stiffness in the neck, but a range of other symptoms are also possible. For instance, chronic headaches are common.

A survey of 3,358 patients who suffered whiplash identified symptoms including low-back pain, fatigue, dizziness, numbness and nausea (Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:1337-42).

Mental and emotional disturbances associated with whiplash include poor concentration, sleep disturbances, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (Emerg Med J 2002;19:499-506).

What Else to Do

In addition to chiropractic care, the doctor may recommend additional interventions to help you recover from whiplash.

For instance, the doctor may suggest that you use an ice pack to ease pain and reduce muscle spasms.

In most case, immobilizing the neck with cervical collar is not necessary and can actually slow recovery. On the other hand, normal activity helps muscles heal with less stiffness.

Stretching or strengthening exercise are also proven effective. Ask the doctor to instruct you on the exercises that are best-suited for your individual situation (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005;3:CD004250).

Minimize Your Risk

There are ways to reduce your risk of whiplash injury. Car design is constantly evolving to improve safety. Ideal cars combine a strong seat frame with a soft seat to absorb the force of the torso in an accident.

If possible, choose a newer car. One review of nearly 2,000 car accidents showed that the newer the car, the less likely passengers were to suffer spinal injuries (Traffic Inj Prev 2009;10:560-6).

No matter how old your car is, simply adjusting the head restraints high enough to align with the back of the head protects the neck in case of an accident. The restraint should be close to your head to minimize head and neck motion during a crash (Spine 2002;27:34-42).

Know Your Rights: Talk to the Doctor

Many accident victims mistakenly assume that their insurance company can dictate what type of care they receive or even chose their doctor. This is not the case. If you have been in an accident, schedule an appointment to talk to the doctor about your rights and your care options.

 Optimal Health University™ is a professional service of PreventiCare Publishing®. The information and recommendations are appropriate in most instances. They are not, however, a substitute for consultation with a health-care provider such as Dr. Davis. Copyright, 2017.

Dr. Marc Davis and Dr. Christina Alvira and Dr. Andrew Wade adjust patients at Davis Family Chiropractic & Massage, a thriving wellness-oriented office located next to Fred Meyer in Fisher’s Landing. For FREE monthly tips and community events like us on Facebook or become a member of our website www.davisfamilychiro.com. To schedule a time to meet with Dr. Davis or Dr Christina or Dr Wade, or to get information about having them speak at your club, church group or workplace, call (360) 823-2225. Mention “LacamasMagazine” and “Free Scan” to get your Computerized Back and Neck Scan (regularly $95) for FREE (limited time offer).

 Dr. Marc Davis & Dr. Christina Alvira & Dr. Andrew Wade

DAVIS FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC AND MASSAGE, PLLC

www.davisfamilychiro.com

“For a Lifetime of Standing Tall!”

2415 SE 165TH Avenue, Suite 105

Vancouver, WA 98683

(360) 823-2225

 

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