Preventing children’s injuries during the holidays

The holidays are upon us and we all know what that means: chaos. The holidays are a great time to bring family and friends together but it’s important to make sure everyone is safe—especially children. Travel, trees, decorations, fireplaces and new toys will all place our kids at risk.  The newest post on Doernbecher’s Healthy Families blog explains how the OHSU effect can mitigate holiday hazards.

Feeling slow on Turkey Day–The OHSU Effect

We’re all familiar with post-turkey lethargy, but for those with Parkinson’s it’s more than the tryptophan at work.

 

Are we prepared for a natural disaster? – The OHSU Effect

With Hurricane Sandy on everyone’s minds, it’s a good time to look locally at how we are prepared for an unfortunate event such as a natural disaster. Not only is it important to make sure our friends and family are prepared, it’s important that our hospitals are prepared for a crisis as well. While we may not get hurricanes in Portland, we are still at risk for adverse weather, earthquakes, and biological crises that we need to be ready for.

Progress At A Cost

"I guess that's progress." A grocery checker said that the other day while I was in line at the store.  A group of checkers was standing a few feet from us appearing as though they were receiving some sort of training. 

"What's that?" I asked the checker. She said the group was being taught how to operate machines that will allow customers to check their own groceries. Self-serve checking hadn't come to this store until now.

I'm usually among the first to appreciate how technology makes our lives easier. The checker told me the store will have to let six people go-- all replaced by a machine. 

Airlines have been doing this kind of thing for years. They want you to electronically check-in instead of talking to a ticket agent. They want you to use their website to book flights and vacations and in some cases, they'll even charge you fees to talk to someone on the phone when you can't get the website to work. 

So, should we feel sorry that 6 grocery store clerks are losing their job. Maybe not but when we think of them as symbols to our society, it begs our attention. 

Is this progress? Are we just being old fuddy duddies? What do you think?

　

~Steve and Rebecca (currently your live morning show anchors.)

Rock the Vote!

It's time to rock the vote! Do the kids still say that these days?  Well, even if they don't, Tuesday is a very important day for America.  It's a day to make our voices heard.  It's a day to make some very important decisions that will effect us for years to come.  And I'm not just talking President, there are dozens of state and local measures that are just as crucial.  It's way too late to mail your ballot in Oregon so make sure you drop it off by 8:00 Tuesday night.  You can use this tool on the Secretary of State's office to find the ballot drop box closest to you.  Happy voting!-Lacey

Super Storm Sandy Felt Across the Country

As the east coast cleans up from Hurricane Sandy, the west coast is feeling the impacts as well.  Dozens of Red Cross and FEMA volunteers from the Portland area are headed back east to help.  Hundreds of travelers have been delayed because of the hurricane, including people going to the east coast and people coming home from the east coast.  Here at KXL we've been in touch with a few Portlanders who were forced to ride out the storm in a hotel because planes weren't flying.  It seems like we all know someone who lives in the storms path too.  Scott our traffic producer is from New York and still can't get through to his sister, although Facebook tells him she's just without power, nothing more serious.  Eric, our traffic reporter, has family in parts of New Jersey that was hit by the storm.  I have family in Pennsylvania and friends in North Carolina but fortunately they were hit by a lot of rain and nothing more.
Sandy really grabbed our attention.  I know a lot of people who sat and watched storm coverage all day long Monday.  My aunt was so enthralled you would've thought Sandy had hit here!  For me, it's got me thinking about an emergency preparedness kit.  I always say I'm going to get one, but I still haven't.  And hearing that people in New York and New Jersey may be without power for a week, I think, what would I eat and how would I keep warm if that were me?
If you know someone back east effected by the storm, my thoughts are with them. -Lacey