Consumers advised not to use any skin products by Clarcon, marketed under several other brand names listed here

June 8, 2009 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. of Roy, Utah, is voluntarily recalling some skin sanitizers and skin protectants marketed under several different brand names because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found in the product during a recent inspection.

May 17, 2009 ()San Diego) -- Advanta Home Care's owner Rick McKee is now partnering with leaders of local organizations to present an exclusive and innovative Elder Care Community Education Series. Representatives from local faith based organizations, retirement communities, health care facilities, physician groups, HOA’s, civic organizations and employers are encouraged to contact Rick directly to schedule any or all of this timely and informative series for their membership, free of charge.

May 6, 2009 (San Diego)--May is Mental Health Month--and County of San Diego officials decided to kick it off highlighting the connection between the economic crisis and suicide.

In San Diego County, the number of suicides increased 17 percent during the last five years, reaching 366 in 2008. The biggest increase took place in 2007 when the number of suicides reached 356 compared to 313 the previous year. Preliminary data for the first two months of this year indicates that about one suicide is taking place in San Diego County every day.

May 3, 2009 (San Diego)—Health authorities have traced origins of the H1N1 swine flu outbreak to a 10-year old son of a military family in San Diego, UPI reports today. The Centers for Disease Control conducted tests on samples from the boy, revealing the never-before-seen strain of flu virus on April 15, though his brother had symptoms two weeks earlier. Today, the County Health & Human Services Agency confirms four new cases of the flu, bringing the total of cases locally to 15, with several more suspected.

May 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission are alerting the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. The agencies are also advising operators of offending web sites that they must take prompt action to correct and/or remove promotions of these fraudulent products or face enforcement action.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARES PHASE 5 EPIDEMIC

April 29, 2009 (San Diego)—Eight cases of people infected with swine influenza have been confirmed in San Diego County, confirms Tom Christensen, Health & Human Services media spokesman. Details on new cases will be released later today. Several other local cases are suspected, including an SDSU student. President Barack Obama today said that schools with an infected student should close down, raising the possibility that SDSU could shut down shortly before final exams scheduled May 4-8.

By Miriam Raftery

April 27, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – At least 50 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the U.S. with confirmed cases in many other countries today, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise its pandemic alert level to Phase 4 for the first time ever. Locally, Christian Cornerstone Academy in Mira Mesa has closed after six teachers fell ill following exposure to a student with swine flu.

By Miriam Raftery

ECM intern Marissa Kerizan also contributed to this story.

April 1, 2009 (Washington D.C.) – The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced recalls on the following items:

1. Brave Products Reannounces Recall of Log Splitters; Additional Incidents Prompt Urgent Warning of Amputation Hazard

2. May 1, 2009 Deadline Approaching for Remedy Change in Recall Program; Consumers Urged to Replace Dangerous Home Heating Vent Pipes

3. Lakeshore Learning Materials Recalls Children's Toy Boxes Due to Choking Hazard

Please scroll down to read press releases with details on each of these three items, as well as how you can report a dangerous product to the CPSC and/or subscribe to receive all recall notices. 

Funds will go toward purchase of high-tech medical mannequins

March 24, 2009 (El Cajon) – Included in the federal appropriations bill signed  by President Barack Obama is a slice totaling $190,000 for Grossmont College’s nursing program to help equip the high-tech simulation labs central to the new health/physical sciences complex currently under construction.

March 30, 2009 (San Diego) – Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company), a subsidiary of Sempra Energy in San Diego, is encouraging customers to “call 811 before they dig” to avoid damaging buried natural gas lines when pursuing projects in their yard, such as putting up a new wall or fence, planting or re-working landscaping, putting in a swimming pool, or other yard renovations. 

By Janelle Eckardt

March 1, 2009 (El Cajon) — Hello friends! Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? The answer to all your problems is in this little needle. Really! Acupuncture just might be your ticket to feeling better and living better. I've discovered a respectable acupuncture facility right here in the East County that actually serves the community without milking it dry. Just for reading this article you get a brief history of acupuncture, my personal account of a session, and a one-on-one interview with the owner of Healthy Community Acupuncture, in El Cajon.

Get the point?

By Miriam Raftery

February 1, 2008 (El Cajon) — Healthy Community Acupuncture is offering free acupuncture treatments for stress reduction on the first Friday of every month, starting Friday, February 6, 2009. Appointments are required at the clinic, which is located at 277 E. Lexington Ave Ste B in El Cajon.

By Carole Carson

January 1, 2009 (San Diego) — Who hasn't sat down on New Year's Day and come
up with changes--such as losing weight and exercising more--they'd like to make?

Our good intentions, though, can pass as quickly as the weeks on the calendar.
Before we know it, we're facing yet another New Year with the same old list.
As Oscar Wilde cynically points out, "Good resolutions are simply checks
that men draw on a bank where they have no account."