Canadians Unaware of Staggering Cost of Spinal Cord Injury and Paralysis National Survey finds

VANCOUVER, January 24, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Twenty-five years after the historic Rick Hansen Man in Motion World Tour to raise awareness about spinal cord injury research, accessibility and inclusivity, Canadians vastly underestimate the costs of treating and caring for people with spinal cord injury and other chronic illnesses that result in paralysis, according to a wide-raging survey conducted for The Rick Hansen Institute by Angus Reid Public Opinion.

Despite the widespread lack of knowledge about SCI indicated by this poll, Canadians still attribute high levels of importance to healthcare and scientific research, acknowledge that continued investment in this research is important, and feel positively towards organizations working to improve quality of life of individuals while reducing healthcare costs.

"Spinal cord injury continues to be one of the most expensive initial and ongoing health care costs in the entire medical system, yet most Canadians are largely unaware of SCI's impact on individuals and society as a whole," said Bill Barrable, CEO of the Rick Hansen Institute.

An estimated 86,000 Canadians have an SCI, with more than 4,300 new cases reported each year.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SURVEY

...The majority of those polled (87%) vastly underestimated the cost of SCI on Canada and its healthcare system, guessing the figure to be no greater than $100 million a year (about 3% of the actual figure of $3 billion a year)

...Only 7% were able to identify the approximate number of Canadians who develop paralysis each day from stroke and spinal cord injury (estimated at 60 Canadians each day).

...89% of Canadians support continued investment to spur research that investigates new treatments applicable to multiple diseases and medical conditions.

"The survey shows that Canadians are undeniably supportive of scientific research, and are aware of the fact that many advances have arrived when science is supported by the public," said Mario Canseco, of Angus Reid Public Opinion.

Infographics and other charts illustrating polling results are available here: http://bit.ly/ptQ3c7.

About the Rick Hansen Institute:

The Rick Hansen Institute's goal is creating a world without paralysis after SCI. It works towards this goal by accelerating research and translating clinical findings into practical solutions to develop new treatments, improve care and reduce the cost burden on taxpayers.

Canadian Skier Takes Skiing to the City, Catches Bus for his Next Run (Video)

© Sherpas Cinema

from TreeHugger.com
by Jeff Nield - Living / Culture January 19, 2012

Barcelona's proposed indoor ski hill got me thinking about whether skiing could be considered a green activity at all.

Typical ski hill infrastructure significantly alters the local ecosystem where it is built, not to mention all the fuel needed to haul people up to the base of the slope and to keep the lifts running, the runs groomed, and the lodge heated. Heading to the backwoods is always an option, but not for everyone, and while you can snowshoe, hike, or cross-country ski in, it's more likely that you'd catch a ride on a helicopter or snowmobile.

But, there is another way, which one avid skier proves in this amazing video: Urban Skiing.

I live in Nelson, BC. Here, it's an unwritten requirement of residency that in the winter everyone must ski or snowboard at one of the local mountains. But, for the adventurous staying in bounds gets boring quick.

JP Auclair is one such local skier who, instead of looking for a first descent out in the wilderness, brought his skis into town and rode the streets of Trail, Rossland, and Nelson, BC. Sherpas Cinema filmed him in action and the results are stunning. Watch for yourself.

JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo.

I love the ending when he gets on the bus for his next run. And yes, that is the city bus on its regular route, there is an area in town called Uphill. Check out Sami's review of the film that this excerpt is from. It's called All.I.Can. and is available for purchase at the Sherpas Cinema website.

If you know of anywhere else where you can actually ski in the city, let us know about it... read the full story at TreeHugger.com

U of G Gets $1.5-Million Gift for Upgrades to Alumni Stadium

GUELPH, Ontario January 19, 2012 - University of Guelph News Release

The University of Guelph’s Alumni Stadium is getting a facelift. A $1.5-million donation is paying for a new synthetic turf field and jump-starting renovations of the track around the football field and lighting as part of the Athletics Master Plan to upgrade all the University’s athletic facilities.

It was approved by the University’s Board of Governors Wednesday.

The gift — from a local family who wishes to remain anonymous — is the largest single donation to U of G’s Department of Athletics.

“This is wonderful news,” said president Alastair Summerlee. “While the donors do not play to the spotlight, they have been key supporters of our BetterPlanet Project and already made major gifts to support academic and athletic programs at the University. This latest gift is another example of their humble generosity.”

The total estimated cost of the improvements is $4.9 million. The University is seeking additional funding from private donors, grants and other sources. The University is working closely with Friends of Gryphon Football and other alumni groups to raise further financial support through the BetterPlanet Project campaign.

Tom Kendall, director of athletics, said:

“The renovations to Alumni Stadium combined with the recent installation of the rugby field, soccer complex and new field house mean that U of G now has one of the best outdoor and indoor field facilities in Canada. Not only will it be a welcome addition to Gryphon athletics, but it also will benefit the community. The synthetic turf means that we can use the facilities more extensively for University and community events, regardless of weather.”

The artificial field surface will also accommodate non-sporting events such as concerts and Orientation Week events, Kendall said.

Construction will begin as soon as possible. Officials hope to have the new facilities ready for fall semester, including for the Gryphons' first home football game Sept. 15.

U of G’s Athletics Master Plan also includes installing artificial turf on outdoor playing fields — a project that was completed last fall — and building and renovating a student fitness and recreation complex. Student fees for athletics improvements approved in a 2010 referendum will generate about $75 million over 30 years.

The plan will be implemented in phases as funding permits.

Noting the importance of athletics in attracting and retaining students, Kendall said these and related improvements are essential for the University’s future.

“We also recognize the importance of a healthy lifestyle for student success. These changes will allow us to continue to be leaders in student support.”

More than 5,600 Canadians seriously injured every year from winter activities

Skiing and snowboarding lead to twice as many hospitalizations as hockey

OTTAWA, January 17, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - While hockey hits have been getting a lot of attention in Canada, skiing and snowboarding injuries are more than twice as common, according to new data released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). In 2010-2011, there were 2,329 hospital admissions for a skiing or snowboarding fall or crash, compared with 1,114 hockey-related hospitalizations. Other seasonal activities also led to hospital stays: ice skating (889); snowmobiling (1,126); and tobogganing (171).

"There is a lot to enjoy about Canadian winters, but safety and precautions are important across all age groups," explains Greg Webster, Director of Primary Health Care Information and Clinical Registries at CIHI. "Every year, more than 5,000 Canadians get seriously injured—requiring at least one night's hospital stay—due to a winter sport or recreational activity. These numbers do not include visits that involve only the emergency department (ED) or a doctor's office, or deaths at the scene, so the total number of injuries is actually much higher."

In terms of total ED visits for these seasonal activities, Ontario (where complete data is available) alone saw a total of 45,270 in 2010-2011. That averages out to 285 ED visits for every day of winter.


Most often hurt while playing: boys age 10 to 19

Half of all hospitalizations during 2010-2011 for hockey injuries (542 out of 1,114) and close to one-third of all those for skiing and snowboarding (689 out of 2,329) were for people age 10 to 19. When looking at all winter activities in this age group, boys accounted for 81% of those hurt.

Children younger than 10 were hospitalized most often for injuries related to skiing and snowboarding (87 cases) and tobogganing (56 cases).

Of the activities studied, snowmobiling was the only one not over-represented by younger Canadians in terms of hospitalizations: two-thirds (752 out of 1,126) of serious snowmobile injuries occurred in adults age 20 to 49.

Past five years see little change in number of serious injuries

The total number of hospitalizations related to seasonal activities has not changed much since 2006-2007. As well, in 2010-2011, 415 Canadians were hospitalized for head injuries related to a winter sport or recreational activity; this number has remained relatively stable since 2006-2007.

Last year, nearly one-third (135) of these serious head injuries occurred while skiing or snowboarding. Over the past five years, a total of 759 head injury hospitalizations were related to ski hill activities in Canada.

"When it comes to winter, it's important that Canadians get outside to play and enjoy our slopes," says Dr. Natalie Yanchar, Associate Professor of Surgery and Emergency Medicine at Dalhousie University, and Medical Director at IWK Trauma Care in Halifax. "Wearing a helmet is important for all ages to prevent a fun day in the snow from ending in tragedy—without question, it reduces the risk of serious head injuries in case of a crash."

Older Canadians most often hurt by falls on ice

For all winter-related causes of serious injuries (excluding motor vehicle collisions), falls on ice were by far the most common cause: they led to 7,138 hospital admissions in 2010-2011, more than for all winter sports and recreational activities combined. About half of these cases occurred in people age 60 and older and about 70% were among those 50 and older.

More than half (56%) of those hospitalized for falls on ice were women.

Is it true that no two snowflakes are exactly alike?

Snowflake Physics at Perimeter's Public Lecture on February 1st

WATERLOO, Ontario, January 11, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - We shovel them, we hide from them, and we rejoice when they give us an extra day's holiday. In a Canadian winter, the snowflake is everywhere. But how do they form? What do their complex and striking shapes tell us about nature? Looking back to our childhood, is it true that no two are exactly alike?

On Wednesday, February 1, as part of Perimeter Institute's Public Lecture Series presented by Sun Life Financial, Kenneth Libbrecht, Physics Professor at Caltech, takes us on a visual journey to expose the secret life of a snowflake. Explore how the intricate, symmetrical and magnificent patterns emerge in nature's frozen art through a series of scientific data and spectacular photographs.

Kenneth Libbrecht knows perhaps more than anyone should about the science of snowflakes. Libbrecht is a professor and Chairman of the Physics Department at Caltech, following his PhD in physics from Princeton University. In the mid-1990s, Libbrecht's extensive research of the molecular dynamics of crystal growth led him back to his roots in North Dakota for a detailed study of how ice crystals - the snowflake - quite literally appear out of thin air.

Kenneth Libbrecht's lecture, entitled "The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Science and the Splendour of Nature's Frozen Art" will be held Wednesday, February 1 at 7:00 PM ET in Waterloo, Ontario. Tickets will be available starting Monday, January 16, 2012.

Further details can be found at www.perimeterinstitute.ca

About Perimeter Institute

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI) is an independent, non-profit, scientific research organization working to advance our understanding of physical laws and develop new ideas about the very essence of space, time, matter and information. Located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, PI also provides a wide array of research training and educational outreach activities to nurture scientific talent and share the importance of discovery and innovation among students, teachers and the general public. In partnership with the Governments of Ontario and Canada, PI is a successful example of public-private collaboration in scientific research, training and outreach. www.perimeterinstitute.ca

Men three times less likely than women to protect their skin in the winter

Survey finds just four per cent of men wear sunscreen in the winter

OAKVILLE, Ontario, January 11, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - While many Canadian men are layering up in flannel shirts and long johns this winter, results from a recent survey commissioned by the Melanoma Network of Canada show they are forgetting one important layer of protection: sunscreen. Just four per cent of men wear sunscreen in the winter, putting them at risk of developing skin cancer from winter sun exposure.

Ninety per cent of melanomas, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are caused by exposure to UV radiation from light and sunlight. Winter conditions create a particularly advantageous environment for intensifying UV radiation. Snow reflects as much as 80 per cent of UV radiation, which is much higher than the amount reflected by water or dry beach sand (10 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively) even in summer. Melanoma is the second most common cancer in young adults aged 18-34. The incidence of melanoma has more than tripled over the last thirty years and continues to increase.

Julia Murray, a Canadian Olympic Ski Cross athlete, is all too familiar with the consequences of not protecting your skin in the winter. Julia lost her father Dave Murray - a two-time Olympian and member of the infamous Crazy Canucks - from an advanced form of skin cancer when she was very young. As a result, Julia is doing everything she can to help raise awareness of this cause, including teaming up with the Melanoma Network of Canada to educate Canadians on the dangers of UV radiation in winter months.

"My father wasn't aware of the risks of UV radiation in winter," says Julia. "The winter sun is just as dangerous as summer sun. As a skier myself, I take precautions against winter sun, and I encourage all others who are outside enjoying the slopes or other outdoor activities to do the same this winter."

Survey results show that men are more relaxed in their attitudes and behaviours towards sun awareness and protection. Men are less likely than women to:

...Accurately identify melanoma as skin cancer (80 per cent vs. 86 per cent);

...Wear sunscreen in all situations, regardless of the season; and

...Consider environmental effects as factors in changing the intensity of UV rays.

Furthermore, when men aged 18 to 34 were asked about their greatest skin-related concern, they ranked moisturizing, preventing pimples and acne and preventing skin cancer equally. This is particularly disconcerting as the lifetime risk of melanoma for men is higher than in women. In fact, men will account for 56 per cent of all new cases of melanoma this year and 62 per cent of deaths.4

Canadians spend a lot of time outdoors in the winter and may not realize they are putting themselves at risk by not wearing sunscreen.

"Over exposure to winter sun is dangerous because UV radiation can't be seen or felt," says Annette Cyr, chair of the Melanoma Network of Canada. "UV radiation levels are influenced by the sun's elevation, cloud cover, altitude and reflection - not temperature of the air, which means that sunscreen is required year-round. If skin is left unprotected, the risk of melanoma increases."

Exposed skin is at risk of more than frostbite

Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadliest form of skin cancer. An estimated 5,500 Canadians will be diagnosed with melanoma this year and 950 will die from it.5 The survival rate for melanoma is high if it is detected early and, unlike many cancers, melanoma is clearly visible on the skin.

"Many Canadians are unaware that winter sun is strong enough to put their skin at risk of damage. In Canada the sun is strong enough to cause skin cancer," says Dr. Teresa Petrella, medical oncologist and head of the melanoma group at Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Centre. "UV reflection from snow and ice should not be underestimated and Canadians need to take steps to protect themselves before it's too late."

Winter sun safety tips:

...Melanoma Network Canada urges Canadians to protect themselves from UV radiation by wearing sunscreen in the winter.

...Wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on all exposed areas, and apply just before going outside.

...Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after excessive sweating.

...Protect yourself with clothing, a hat with a brim, and sunglasses year-round.

...Check your skin monthly to detect malignant melanoma early.

More information on winter sun safety is available at www.melanomanetwork.ca

About the Melanoma Network Canada (MNC)

Melanoma Network Canada (MNC) is a patient-led organization dedicated to the prevention and elimination of melanoma. Established in 2009 by a small group of patients and caregivers, the MNC works in collaboration with medical professionals, health care agencies and other stakeholders to educate, advocate and fund for early diagnosis and effective treatment of melanoma, education, prevention and awareness programs, relevant and innovative research, support for patients and an improved quality of life for those living with melanoma.

About the Survey

From December 13, 2011 to December 14, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey on behalf of the Melanoma Network of Canada. One thousand and three Canadian adults were surveyed. The margin of error for a sample of this size is 3.1+/- %, 19 times out of 20. The sample is representative of the national population and the results have been statistically weighted according to the most recent age, gender and region census data.