Healthy Living

Break the Stigma Seattle: The Importance of Talking About Mental Health During Mental Health Awareness Month

Published on May 6, 2024

Encourage those struggling or in crisis to call 988 for help.

By Dr. Carl Janzen, Associate Director of Primary Care, for Optum located in Seattle.

Seattle, known for its coffee culture, great restaurants and vibrant tech scene, is also home to a growing concern: mental health. As Seattleites confront life’s challenges, like all Americans, they face unique obstacles that impact their well-being.

Many are struggling with mental health issues such as increased anxiety and depression. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during late June of 2020, 40 percent of U.S. adults reported they were struggling with mental health issues or substance use. These abnormally high numbers have disproportionately affected younger adults, racial and ethnic minority groups, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers.

Locally, like adults, youth are struggling too. Although a Washington State Healthy Youth Survey in 2023 shows that the number of youths in King County struggling with mental health issues is on a slight decline, there is still room for improvement. According to the survey, the number of 10th graders feeling like they have no one to turn to when depressed in King County is still 9.6% compared to 12.3% statewide.

Furthermore, those with depressive feelings is 23.5% locally compared to 29.9% statewide, and those feeling nervous, anxious and on edge are 60% compared to 61.7% statewide. Data Dashboard – Healthy Youth Survey (askhys.net)

Poor mental health among adolescents can impact many areas of a teen’s life and increase stress on families. Making sure teens feel connected to school and family is very important in helping them grow into healthy adulthood.

May is recognized as Mental Health Month, an opportunity to learn about mental health conditions and treatment options. Although exploring mental health treatment options, which includes psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy), medication, or self-care, can be confusing or difficult, is an important part of mental health care. Some important messages to remember this Mental Health Month are:

You are not alone. Millions of people in the U.S are affected by mental illness each year. By acknowledging how common mental illness is, we can better understand its impact and reduce the stigma.
Self-care such as practicing yoga or meditation, eating well-balanced meals, staying physically active and getting plenty of sleep, are healthy ways to help cope with stress so you can better take care of yourself and in turn, be in a better position to help take care of others.
Connect with others by talking to people that you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Conversation is a powerful coping tool that may help manage stress and help promote resilience.
Consider talk therapy, which may be an appropriate option for you. Telemedicine can be a tremendous help to people particularly for people who are unable to get in-person treatment.
Educate yourself by talking to your doctor or using online resources. The more you know, the more you can dispel misinformation or myths that can increase the stigma around mental illness and hold people back from receiving the treatment they need.
Talk to your child about mental health. Feeling connected to family and school can have a significant impact on their mental health, so communicating openly and honestly with your child provides them with a sense of connectedness.
If someone you know needs help, listening to them in a comfortable and non-judgmental way can be a good place to start. It’s important to genuinely express your concern and avoid blaming, criticizing, minimizing or assuming things about their experience.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988, or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Optum Disclaimer: If you or someone you know have thoughts about suicide, seek help right away. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room.

Mental Health Month is a good time to have discussions about mental health and do your part to break the stigma.

Optimizing Your Health With Dr. Sean O’Mara

Published on October 14, 2023

If you don’t take care of your most important asset, your body, you will not have good health or a good quality of life. Unfortunately, our country has a huge problem with chronic disease, and millions of people are struggling with several health issues.

Instead of simply treating these issues, Dr. Sean O’Mara focuses on the source of chronic disease – visceral fat. After 13 years of researching, working with clients, and assessing MRIs, he has developed over 45 strategies for optimizing your health.

Dr. Sean O’Mara is the world’s leading health and performance-optimizing doctor. Optimizing your health means taking a deep look into your current health status, allowing you to make healthier choices to obtain your best health. Dr. Sean O’Mara defines it this way: “The best for the best.”

Reaching optimal health means being extremely conscious of what goes into your body. When you put junk in your body, you will only feel unhealthy and have poor performance. Eating healthy is essential as well as the proper advice. When you pay attention to what you eat and make healthy choices, you are much more likely to achieve better health and a better quality of life.

Taking charge of your health takes a lot of work and effort. But it can result in the best version of yourself. This is why Dr. O’Mara offers health-optimizing plans. With these plans, you will have the chance to speak with people from all over the world who are also looking to optimize their health and can encourage you to optimize your health.

When you become part of an optimizing health plan, you can speak with the members of your group about why you want to optimize your health and the goals you hope to achieve and provide your history. The opportunity to be a part of these groups offers a unique experience. You will have time to speak personally with Dr. O’Mara and receive helpful strategies on how to optimize your health.

For those interested in achieving optimal health, there are different plans available.

The first plan is the standard introductory plan. This involves three MRI scans with a consultation to go over the scans. Four 15-minute sessions with Dr. O’Mara are also available to help you stay on the path to health optimization.

You’ll also learn the 46 strategies that help you optimize your health, better your appearance, and improve your body’s performance. Share with other clients in Dr. O’Mara’s online group.

The second plan is specifically for improving cardiovascular health. It is a great option for those who wish to stop heart issues from occurring or slow down the progression of a heart issue.

Included in this plan are four MRI scans and a two-hour session with Dr. O’Mara. Also included are six 15-minute sessions with Dr. O’Mara to ensure that you are sticking to your optimization plan. An optimized physical exam and a membership to the optimized health online community will also be given to you.

Another option is the Alpha High-Performance Plan, where you will focus on your appearance and performance to achieve the best health. Named for the Alpha individual, or someone who wishes to be the best version of themselves, it is a great option for those wanting to become the “best biological version of themselves.”

Along with this plan are five MRI scans and a complete physical examination. Additionally, you will have three hours of consulting from Dr. O’Mara. You will also receive a personal trainer who will guide you through a one-hour workout session.

To make sure that you are staying on track with your optimal health plan, you will have eight 15-minute private sessions with Dr. Sean O’Mara. You will also have a membership for the community online as well as access to the smaller Alpha High Performer online chat group.

The last plan is called the Senior Executive Plan. This plan is great for those who need their bodies to be at peak performance as a part of their livelihood. Also included is an intense workout plan, an MRI scan of your whole body, and a complete body exam. You will also have an eight to twelve hour-long consultation and eight 10-to 15-minute sessions a week with Dr. O’Mara.

One major benefit of this plan is having daily access to Dr. O’Mara for all health-related questions. Other benefits offered with this plan include two 45-minute workout sessions and a paid three-day trip to an MRI diagnostic center with accommodations and healthy meals provided.

By addressing the root cause instead of just treating the symptoms, health optimization can improve your health so you can grow better and not just older. It is a mindset that will help you achieve a longer life and a better quality of life. If you are interested in improving your body’s health, consider working with Dr. Sean O’Mara to achieve optimal health. You can follow him on his LinkedIn or Instagram.

Dr. Sean O’Mara: Helping Everyone Achieve Their Highest Biological Potential

Published on October 13, 2023

Before Dr. Sean O’Mara became a doctor, researcher, and expert in health optimization, he lived in Virginia, where he served as a police officer, discovering that he enjoyed working in traumatic situations. He went on to graduate from Penn State University with high honors, then later decided to receive his law degree from Villanova University School of Law. For some time after he graduated from law school, he served as a criminal prosecutor in the city of Philadelphia. [LinkedIn]

Determining that he had a passion for helping people, Sean decided to study medicine at Temple University. As he liked working in trauma and emergency situations, he decided to focus on emergency medicine to become an emergency medicine doctor.

He joined the U.S. Army Medical Corps as an emergency physician, later being chosen to treat several presidents, secretaries of state, and other government officials. Dr. O’Mara received the U.S. Army’s Outstanding Physician of the Year Award for his dedication and service.

As an ER physician, a patient approached him, admonishing him that he should consider cutting out carbohydrates and the many health benefits that go along with the paleo diet. At the time, Dr. O’Mara had not heard of that diet and became intrigued by the potential health benefits.

He was then struggling with some health issues of his own, suffering from an enlarged prostate, having difficulty sleeping at night due to restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, cardiovascular issues, and heartburn that resulted in lesions in the esophagus that had to be screened every three months to make sure that cancer hadn’t developed, and skin conditions such as eczema.

Curious, he decided to do more research on the paleo diet. He then stopped eating processed food and only ate meat and vegetables. After making these changes in his diet, he noticed that all of his health issues went away. However, despite these positive changes, he was angry that the issues were not resolved with medications or other medical procedures but rather were resolved with diet changes. This made him question his medical education, as this was not part of it.

Dr. O’Mara decided to move his family from Washington D.C. to Minneapolis, where he joined a research practice that studied visceral belly fat. This is not part of the material covered in medical school. However, Dr. O’Mara soon discovered that chronic disease is one of the largest issues in the country and that eating meat and vegetables is the best way to treat chronic disease, removing the harmful visceral fat in the body.

Other foods that are good for the body are fermented foods, as they are historically what our ancestors would have eaten. This includes kefir, kombucha, kimchi, blue cheese, other fermented cheese, and fermented beets. Fermented foods contain microbes, which are beneficial for our health.

It is also important for us to look for the healthiest source of meat, just as our ancestors would have done. This means that we need to purchase lean meat that is grass-fed with golden fat around the edges instead of white fat, as that is a sign of being fed grains.

After extensive research with MRI scans, meat that is marbled is the muscle that is inflamed in the animal. Cows that have been fed grain, corn, and even molasses have inflamed muscles as they have been fed a diet of processed foods. Processed foods result in inflammation in the body, as well as causing harmful visceral fat.

Dr. O’Mara strongly believes that getting MRI scans is the best way to discover your health status. It shows you how much visceral fat your body holds. Dr. O’Mara believes that these scans are the most effective way to persuade an individual to make drastic changes to their health, even more so than just seeing numbers on a screen. When a person can see the visceral fat inside of their body, it demonstrates their need for dietary changes.

With all of his research and developing plans for preventing and reversing chronic diseases, Dr. O’Mara was recognized on a national level and received a research grant from the National Science Foundation in 2016 for learning more about reversing chronic health issues.

His optimization techniques are designed to help people prevent and reverse chronic issues. They can help a person look and feel younger because it is treating the underlying cause and not just the symptoms.

Dr. Sean O’Mara is a non-profit doctor who is dedicated to putting all proceeds received back into research for natural ways to optimize health. As he has been in law enforcement and has also served in the military, he is especially dedicated to helping emergency first responders and the military in achieving better health.

He is the world’s first, and possibly only, health optimization physician. He has worked with several high-profile clients in his health optimization plans; however, they are available to everyone. His goal is to help everyone obtain their highest biological potential.

Sir Andrew Witty Biography

Published on June 13, 2023

Sir Andrew Philip Witty, born on August 22, 1964, is a distinguished British business executive currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UnitedHealth Group since 2021. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated is a leading American multinational corporation that focuses on providing health insurance and healthcare services. Headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, the company operates under the UnitedHealthcare brand for insurance products and the Optum brand for healthcare services.

Witty graduated from Malbank School, formerly known as Nantwich and Acton Grammar School, located in Nantwich. He then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Nottingham.

In 1985, Sir Andrew Witty began his tenure at GSK, where he eventually rose to the position of CEO after serving as president of GSK Europe. In addition to his role at GSK, Sir Andrew Witty has held the prestigious position of chancellor at the University of Nottingham, a renowned British public research university. He also contributes his expertise as a member of the Singapore Prime Minister’s Research, Innovation, and Enterprise Council. Furthermore, Sir Andrew Witty serves as an advisor to 8VC, Hatteras Venture Partners, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. [Soci.org]

Sir Andrew Witty was appointed as President of UnitedHealth Group in November 2019, while also serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Optum. Optum, Inc. is a leading American healthcare company that offers a wide range of services including technology solutions, pharmacy care services (including a pharmacy benefit manager), and direct healthcare services.

In his role as President of UnitedHealth Group, Sir Andrew is tasked with developing enterprise business strategies, fostering business development and partnerships, and overseeing research and development as well as clinical capabilities within the organization.

From 2010 to 2015, Witty served on the business advisory board of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron. From 2013 to 2015, Witty served on the UNAIDS–Lancet Commission for Defeating AIDS and Advancing Global Health, which was co-chaired by Joyce Banda, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and Peter Piot. Following this, he was a member of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines from 2015 to 2016, under the leadership of Ruth Dreifuss and Festus Mogae.

In March 2018, Witty was appointed as the Executive Vice President of UnitedHealth Group and Chief Executive Officer of Optum. He is a member of the Office of the Chief Executive and has previously held the position of company director at UnitedHealth Group.

From April 2020 to December 2020, Witty took a leave of absence from Optum to support the World Health Organization in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. In May 2020, he was appointed to the expert advisory group for the UK Government’s Vaccine Task Force, led by Patrick Vallance.

These accolades are a testament to Witty’s global impact and leadership in the pharmaceutical sector. His innovative strategies and dedication to advancing healthcare have not only benefited the UK economy but have also made a significant impact on a global scale. Being recognized as an Honorary Citizen of Singapore further solidifies his reputation as a respected figure in the international business community. Witty’s achievements serve as an inspiration to future generations of leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, showcasing the importance of innovation, collaboration, and commitment to improving public health worldwide.

Sir Andrew Witty is married to Caroline Hall. The couple has two children.

FAQ About Sir Andrew Witty

1. Who is Sir Andrew Witty?

Sir Andrew Witty is a British business executive known for his leadership in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. He is currently the CEO of UnitedHealth Group and the former CEO of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

2. What is Sir Andrew Witty’s background in the pharmaceutical industry?

He spent over 30 years in the pharmaceutical sector, including serving as the CEO of GSK from 2008 to 2017, where he focused on expanding global healthcare access and restructuring the company’s operations.

3. What role did he play during the COVID-19 pandemic?

In 2020, Witty took a leave of absence from UnitedHealth Group to serve as a special envoy for the World Health Organization (WHO), helping to accelerate COVID-19 treatments and vaccine distribution efforts.

4. What is his current role?

Since February 2021, Sir Andrew Witty has been the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, overseeing one of the largest healthcare and insurance companies in the world.

5. What recognition has he received for his contributions?

He was knighted in 2012 for services to the economy and the UK pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, he has received the Public Service Medal and Public Service Star from Singapore for his contributions to the country’s healthcare and economic development.

6. Where did Sir Andrew Witty study?

He studied economics at the University of Nottingham, where he later served as Chancellor from 2013 to 2017.

7. What initiatives did he implement at GSK?

During his tenure at GSK, Witty focused on increasing access to medicines in developing countries, reducing drug prices, and shifting the company’s research focus toward vaccines and consumer healthcare.

8. How has he contributed to global health initiatives?

Apart from his work with WHO, he has been actively involved in policies aimed at improving healthcare affordability and innovation, especially in lower-income countries.

9. Has Sir Andrew Witty worked outside the UK?

Yes, he has worked extensively in Asia, including serving as an economic advisor to the governor of Guangzhou, China, and holding leadership positions in Singapore, where he contributed to the country’s economic development.

10. What is his leadership style?

Witty is known for his collaborative and strategic approach, emphasizing long-term innovation, corporate responsibility, and healthcare accessibility.

11. How has he influenced the healthcare industry beyond pharmaceuticals?

As CEO of UnitedHealth Group, he has focused on integrating technology with healthcare services, improving patient access, and expanding data-driven healthcare solutions.

12. What are some lesser-known facts about Sir Andrew Witty?

He was named an Honorary Citizen of Singapore in 2017, one of the country’s highest honors for non-citizens. He also took an unpaid leave from UnitedHealth Group to assist the WHO during the COVID-19 crisis, demonstrating his commitment to public health.

13. What is Sir Andrew Witty’s Salary?

In 2023, he received a total compensation of approximately $23.5 million. This package included a base salary of $1.5 million, a bonus of $1.8 million, stock options valued at $5 million, stock awards worth $15 million, and other compensation totaling $233,852. These figures reflect his role as the highest-paid CEO among U.S.-listed health insurance companies during that period.

14. Why was Sir Andrew Witty knighted?

Sir Andrew Witty was knighted in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to the UK economy and the pharmaceutical industry. His leadership at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) played a significant role in expanding access to medicines in developing countries, promoting ethical business practices, and driving economic growth in the UK.

During his tenure at GSK, Witty focused on reducing drug prices in low-income nations, increasing vaccine production, and investing in research and development. His commitment to making healthcare more accessible and his contributions to the global pharmaceutical industry were key reasons for his knighthood.

Managing Mental Health Around the Holidays

Published on November 22, 2022

When it comes to attending therapy around the holidays, clients often fall into one of two camps: “I’ll be fine without a session next week. It’s the holidays.” or “Oh yes, I’ll definitely need a session next week. It’s the holidays.”

While the song tells us that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” the reality can be much more complicated. For some, the holidays can be incredibly lonely. For others it means returning, however briefly, to old and problematic family dynamics, or even to places where unresolved trauma looms near the surface.

Whatever the holiday season may hold, there are things you can do to make the most of this time of the year.

Plan Ahead – Be intentional about your plans. Avoiding decisions gives the decision to others, so be proactive and choose how you’d like to spend your holidays. If you’ll be on your own, how would you like to spend the time? Grant yourself the gift of doing something fulfilling. Solitude can be a true pleasure, so think about your needs and desires, and lead with self-compassion. While some may gather with relatives, others will gather with chosen family. Reach out to those who have earned your trust and friendship and plan a special holiday gathering.

There are few things so fulfilling as sitting around a table with good food, good drink, and good souls. If you are heading home to be with relatives, it’s still good to plan ahead. Returning to our family of origin can be extremely fulfilling, but it can also bring up a lot of difficult emotions. Think about where the troublesome areas are in those relationships and how you’ll manage them during your visit. Preparing a plan ahead of time can keep you from being overwhelmed and reacting poorly in the heat of a conflict.

Know Your Boundaries and Your Backup Plan – Despite the growing up we’ve done in our personal lives, family has a knack for bringing us back to our old ways. We may tend to blur our boundaries and over-tolerate behavior from family members that we would never put up with in our daily lives. Decide early where your boundaries are. Keep in mind that boundaries are not about controlling others. Instead, they are a clear definition of how you need to be treated and what you will and won’t do.

Some family members may be accustomed to your lack of boundaries, so be sure to state clearly and calmly what you need. It may be uncomfortable, but it will be worth speaking up. You’ll also want to know your backup plan. Some people may be unwilling to respect your boundaries, so be ready to remove yourself if needed. It’s better to step away than to power-struggle, and people may come around if given time to cool down and think. If the disrespect or unkindness merits it, however, give yourself permission to leave. You do not owe your company to anyone who mistreats you.

Savor the Good – Whether on your own, with friends, or with family the holidays are an opportunity to slow down, return to the present, and savor the good in life. Collectively, it’s been a particularly difficult few years for many of us. We should make room to honor the pain and struggle, but we should also allow ourselves to feel joy and be grateful for the good in our lives, whether big or small. Gratitude has a direct link to happiness and life satisfaction, so take the opportunity to choose positive holiday plans and let the joy sink in.

Lead with Compassion – No matter how we spend our holidays, we should lead with compassion for ourselves as well as for others. It is easy to become overly critical or impatient, to jump to conclusions or to blame, but these things do little good. They rarely accomplish anything, and they certainly don’t leave us feeling any better for it. Instead, taking a deep breath and having some patience, including for ourselves, will take us further.

The holiday season is a mixed bag for many, but we can choose how we spend this time and who we spend it with. May we grant ourselves the kindness to meet our own needs without judgment and grant others a gentle word and a grateful smile.

Nick Norman, LICSW, is the Business Relationship Manager at Mindful Therapy Group, a diverse and collaborative network of licensed, independent mental health clinicians serving Washington and Oregon.

Why Seattle Experienced the Worst Global Air Quality This Week

Published on October 20, 2022

The Space Needle in Seattle, neighboring mountains, and the skyline were all obscured by a dense mixture of smoke and fog on Thursday when Seattle experienced the worst air quality in the whole globe.

The city got the worst air on earth for the second time in a row, surpassing notoriously filthy places like Beijing and Delhi. The air quality index, or AQI, in Seattle exceeded 240 on Wednesday and Thursday, which is considered to be “extremely harmful” for all age groups.

A block away, it was difficult to discern the summit of a structure, and many people donned masks to shield their faces from the noxious smoke smell and airborne particles.

On Thursday afternoon, Seattle’s level of PM 2.5, or microscopic particles fewer than 2.5 microns in diameter, was 38 times higher than the yearly level advised by the World Health Organization, according to the air quality monitor site IQAir.

Cause of Poor Air Quality

The reason was weeks of exceptionally dry and hot weather mixed with forest fires burning in the Cascade Mountains. Seattle set a record for the warmest day this late in the fall on Sunday with a temperature of 88 degrees.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington has received remarkably little precipitation before June, and 56 percent of the state is currently experiencing a drought.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle, Maddie Kristell, called it a “shocking fact” that Seattle has the worst air quality in the whole globe. She stated that a continuous high-pressure ridge that has prevented storms from passing over Seattle is contributing to the issue.

She stated, “That ridge was so powerful and it was really blocking a change in weather patterns from coming through.” This, along with warmer-than-normal temperatures, made it possible for the flames to burn longer than they normally could have.

The city’s poor air quality comes as scientists work to determine whether wildfire smoke is getting worse and how it’s damaging people’s health on the West Coast and elsewhere. Research released last month found that over the past ten years, the number of Americans who experience an excessive smoking day has dramatically grown.

As one of the study’s co-authors and a professor of earth science at Stanford University, Marshall Burke, a Stanford University professor of Earth Sciences, recently stated that, “If you live in the West, you know that things have changed and it’s grown smokier. The objective, however, is to measure how much.”

Effects of Poor Air Quality

Less than 500,000 individuals annually, from 2006 to 2010, were exposed to significant levels of PM2.5, according to the researchers’ findings. However, that number increased to more than 8 million between 2016 and 2020.

There are more Americans who are exposed to suffocating, acrid air in summer and fall due to a hotter, drier environment and a lack of planning on how to avert massive wildfires.

In addition to aggravating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, regular high exposures to PM2.5 have been proven to have negative effects on children’s test scores and memory.

However, according to Burke, no one truly understands how short bursts of very high air pollution influence people’s health and intelligence.

The current Seattle air quality advisory ends early on Friday. Rain is anticipated Friday afternoon through Saturday, and the National Weather Service stated the rain could significantly improve the city’s air quality.

Bloodworks Northwest Unveils New Donation Center in Renton, Serving South Seattle Communities

Published on September 21, 2022

Located directly across from Bloodworks’ processing lab, the new location will create better efficiencies between the two facilities by delivering blood within minutes.

SEATTLE (September 21, 2022) – Bloodworks Northwest has opened a new blood donation center in Renton in place of its previous one in Tukwila. The new center is located in Time Square Business Park at 660 SW 39^th Street #100, directly across the street from Bloodworks’ testing and processing lab and two blocks from IKEA. This convenient location will provide better efficiencies between the two facilities and allow for faster processing times. The goal of the new, vibrant, modern donation center is to attract younger donors and serve the region.

The Bloodworks Renton Donor Center will operate seven days a week and increase the number of available donor beds by 10%. As a result, Bloodworks expects to collect more than 18,000 donations at the new center in the next year. The organization provides 95% of the blood supply to hospitals in Western Washington and Oregon, including nearby Valley Medical Center. It takes approximately a thousand people each day to provide a safe and reliable blood supply for those in need of transfusions for cancer, trauma, and surgeries in the Pacific Northwest.

“We are thrilled to bring a bigger and better donation center to our community,” said Bloodworks Northwest President and CEO Curt Bailey. “Blood donation is vital to the health and well-being of our community. Our new donor center in one of Washington’s ten largest cities will make it easier for people to donate blood, encouraging them to step up and save lives.”

Bloodworks is also trying to make the experience more donor friendly, with an outlet for cell phone charging behind every bench. There will also be free parking, and the center is near shopping outlets and freeways.

“We wanted something close to our center in Tukwila, which closed in August after 52 amazing years, but also looked at the possibility of adding some efficiencies by being located right across from our lab space,” said Executive Vice President of Blood Services Vicki Finson. “Traffic delays in getting blood processed can be a concern. A unit of blood donated at the new Renton Donor Center will now be in our laboratory within minutes and starting its journey toward helping a patient in need. We look forward to our loyal Tukwila center donors following us 1.2 miles to our new location in Renton and welcoming many new donors as we grow.”

The new donor center will also facilitate employee training of blood collection specialists since it is directly connected to the Bloodworks Northwest Training Suite. It’s also just steps away from the mobile hub, from which staff and mobile collection vehicles are drawn for blood drives within an approximately 50-mile radius.

On September 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Bloodworks Northwest will have a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new donation center. President and CEO Curt Bailey, Executive Vice President of Blood Services Vicki Finson, Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone, Renton City Councilmember Ed Prince, and CEO Valley Medical Center Jeannine Grinnell will be on-site to celebrate the occasion, as will local blood recipient Mack Bell, who owes his life to transfusions from donors in his fight with a deadly condition called aplastic anemia.

To book a donation appointment at the new Renton Donor Center, please call 800-398-7888 or schedule online at www.bloodworksnw.org/donate.

About Bloodworks Northwest

Bloodworks Northwest is backed by 75 years of Northwest history and 250,000 donors. It is local, nonprofit, independent, volunteer-supported and community-based. A recognized leader in transfusion medicine, Bloodworks serves patients at hospitals in Washington, Oregon and Alaska — partnering closely with local hospitals to deliver the highest level of patient care. Comprehensive services include blood components, complex cross-matching, specialized lab services for organ transplants, care for patients with blood disorders, and collection of cord blood stem cells for cancer treatment. Bloodworks Research Institute performs leading-edge research in blood biology, transfusion medicine, blood storage and treatment of blood disorders. Patients with traumatic injuries, undergoing surgeries or organ transplantation, or receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders all depend on our services, expertise, laboratories and research. Blood donation appointments can be scheduled at bloodworksnw.org.

Seattle Residents Advised to Brace for an Imminent Heat Wave

Published on July 26, 2022

In the next few weeks, Seattle and the surrounding areas of Western Washington will see the highest temperatures of the year. Temperatures in Puget Sound may soar into the 90s for four days in a row. Sadly most people in the affected areas do not have access to air conditioning, making the current heat wave a serious threat to their health.

Currently, the highs are in the middle 70s, so take advantage of the nice weather while we have it. The weather is expected to remain the same in the next few days. It will be mostly bright in Puget Sound on Monday morning since clouds will be confined to the inland areas and the coast. Weather forecasters predict that Seattle will reach the mid-80s in the coming days.

The Pacific Northwest will see stifling temperatures beginning on Tuesday. High pressure, a “thermal trough,” and north/northeasterly winds all combine to create searing temperatures. From Tuesday through Friday, highs might reach into the 90s, approaching record highs. This implies that sleeping conditions will be quite unpleasant, and on top of that, the danger of heat-related diseases will increase dramatically.

Be very careful with the young and the old; they are most susceptible to harm. Never leave anybody, including dogs, in a parked automobile while the sun is out. Remember that the water in local rivers, creeks, and lakes is still too cold to swim in.

Keeping Cool and Safe During a Heat Wave

The United States, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom are among the nations now experiencing severe heat waves. As Americans struggle with the heat, experts have shared their advice on how to stay cool and protect yourself and your loved ones without breaking the bank.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

Seek Cover. A word of caution: don’t spend too much time outdoors. If you’re trying to beat the heat, getting inside a cool building is your best bet. More than 700 individuals every year lose their lives to what may be avoided heat-related ailments, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Eric Goldberg, medical director of NYU Langone Internal Medicine Associates, says that the body’s capacity to regulate heat is diminished by exposure to heat or high temperatures over an extended period of time. This has the potential to ultimately render sweating, the body’s principal cooling mechanism, useless.
Use Fans If You Can. However, A/C capacity should not be exceeded. Box fans or ceiling fans may give additional respite for homes that wish to preserve energy during hot days but do not want to utilize air conditioning. According to Hippo’s resident home care expert Chris Janiak, spinning ceiling fans counterclockwise may generate a cooler breeze by forcing air to the floor.
Dress in Light Airy Garments. The clothes you wear may make a big difference if your job requires you to spend time outdoors or in high temperatures. Although it goes against common sense, shedding extra layers when facing the sun won’t help you feel any cooler.
Keep Internal Doors Open. It is possible to reduce the amount of heat entering the house via the windows by closing the blinds and drapes. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that by carefully controlling the amount of sunlight that enters a home via its windows, you may save heating and cooling costs by as much as 77 percent.
Hydrate Regularly. Staying hydrated is crucial for your health and safety in hot weather. Additionally, consume alcohol in moderation at this time.

There are cooling centers and other buildings in Seattle where you may get out of the heat and relax while your air conditioner is running if you don’t have one at home.

Remember to drink plenty of water. Extreme heat can be potentially lethal. Residents are urged to prioritize their health and that of their loved ones.

Photo: “water sprinkler” by Leonard J Matthews is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Wet and Cold Seattle Gaining the Admiration of a Drought-Stricken World

Published on May 26, 2022

Seattle is indeed the admiration of a globe afflicted by a severe water shortage. Everyone in this area is aware of the chilly months of June through January and the fact that the official start of summer is on July 5.

However, this year is just rainy and chilly. We’ve apparently passed through spring completely. Long underwear during Little League games or a down jacket in the backyard are obvious targets for grouses. However, given the alternative, it may be appropriate to show some appreciation.

Excessive heat and a lingering drought are wreaking havoc throughout the globe, including in parts of California. Franklin County, for example, is located in southeast Washington.

There is now a severe drought that affects all inhabitants, 62,999 acres of wheat, and 34,623 livestock in the area. This has resulted in stunted crops, more wildfires, and greater difficulty feeding cattle. According to the United States Census Bureau, Franklin County has a population of 98,000.

Even in the worst-case scenario of drought, no one in King County will be affected. Actually, it’s been a great season for skiers. To put this into perspective, in King County there are only 14 acres of wheat compared to 11,000 cattle.

Heat isn’t an issue in the Seattle region, at least not just yet. We’ve already absorbed more rain than is average for the month of May, and it’s still raining. On the 13th of April, Olympia had its lowest temperature ever recorded: 28 degrees.

Others are envious of our ability to get rain. Drought conditions have gripped large swaths of California and the Southwest. Hydropower production is at risk as reservoir levels fall to unprecedented lows. People with backyards are being urged to turn off their sprinklers by water regulators. This isn’t a big deal in Seattle, where yellow lawns seem to be a staple of summer for decades.

Although summer officially begins on June 21, parts of the southern Plains and the Midwest are already seeing temperatures that are approaching record highs. Much of the Western United States is on fire. This was a year without spring for both India and Pakistan.

While May and June are often the hottest months of the year, this year saw record-breaking temperatures in March and April. Recognizing the atmospheric dangers of the rest of the globe will not make it easier around here to ruin your BBQ or damp outdoor wedding.

For the second time in as many years, we’re experiencing a La Nina year. It’s hard to say what the weather might be like following this chilly period. On June 28 of last year, the temperature reached an all-time high of 108 degrees. According to the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group, human activity has caused the area to continue to warm.

The heat won’t be an issue for long. Now, let’s be grateful for the cool weather and rain. It is a blessing to be working and living in Seattle at this time of the year.

Puget Sound Wood Stove Program – No Thank You

Published on January 14, 2022

I’m not sure how many people have a wood stove but considering the way things are going with the government and more regulations you should in my opinion. First of all Puget Sound Clean Air Agency doesn’t have money to buy people’s old stoves. Taxpayers furnish them with their money. They have decided that they want everyone to go electric, that way we are completely under their control and at their mercy. They are going to use Windmills to make the electricity.

First of all the scenic country will be rows of UGLY windmills. The vast spaces of open land will be gone. Birds will be killed by the millions and the other animals will suffer. It will do absolutely nothing to improve the environment. Puget Sound Energy says the windmills will generate enough power to run themselves. But New York is at least being honest. New York is going to take natural gas out of a bunch of apartments and they say they will use this “dirty fuel” to power the windmills they put up. WHAT EXACTLY WILL BE GAINED?

There was a study done in 1989 by the EPA that promised the use of wood to battle the “greenhouse effect”. They recommended the use of more wood and they planted plantations to grow it.

They learned that to naturally let forests die and decay yielded as much carbon dioxide without the energy benefits. When burned wood properly, fuel is better for the environment than fossil fuel because it is renewable.

With all the building going on (come look at Georgetown) and the piles of nice clean 2 x 4 ends, why is it better for the environment to haul it in a big truck to the South Park dump and burn there vs me just heating my house with it 3 miles away. I get my fuel for free and not only does it warm my house but it is so relaxing and comforting just to sit in front of my country stove.

Here are some more reasons for keeping my wood stove. Last winter we continually lost power. Big trucks would go through here, hook into the lines and/or 9 rotten light poles blew down about a mile from my house. We were without power time after time. I have little lanterns for light but OMG with no gas furnace this old house gets mighty cold. I have lived in this same house for 76 years. No heat ducts in any bedrooms so giving up this wood stove was a no-no for sure. I couldn’t even heat myself a pan of water for coffee. I am 98 and don’t drive so I can’t jump in the car and head for the coffee shop. So when someone from the government says we are here to help you – find out how they intend to do that.

The Puget Sound Wood Stove Program can be found here: https://pscleanair.gov/409/Wood-Stove-Program

Photo: “Morning fire to take the chill off.” by Counselman Collection