During my years here at BYU, I have noticed a surprising trend. People not locking up their houses, cars, etc. To me, this just seems ridiculous. I have always made sure all my doors are locked and I am safe before I go to bed each night. Maybe it’s because I love watching shows like CSI, and Law & Order, so sometimes I get a little paranoid if I watch too much of it.

Studies have shown that in Utah, Provo ranks number 10 on the safest neighborhood list, but that doesn’t mean that we should trust everyone else in the area. I know we live very close to BYU where the church standards are put into place, but that doesn’t mean that everybody lives with those standards, and that everybody is a member. I have had somebody steal money from my wallet while I was at work on BYU campus, and other people had not only money, but ipods, zunes, and a lot more money than me.

And even if you aren’t worried about burglars, you still have to face people like sex offenders who live in the area. Pretty scary, if you ask me.

Better be locked up an safe, rather than sorry. Your safety matters! Be sure to lock up your belongings, because one day you might not be so lucky ! And please be safe walking to and from school, especially at night!

Held at BYU put on by BYU public health.

Tuesday November 10th, in the Garden Court from 9sm-5pm

Check it out!

In the state of Utah, that is. In an article released by Deseret News, Utah has the highest rates for depression, and also  ranks with the lowest number of people seeking help for depression. Why is this? Utah has a low amount of mental health resources, less resources to help those in need. Also, mental health issues usually aren’t covered by insurance companies, therefore, people don’t usually seek help for them. Having these facilities would not only help the people, but help the economy of Utah. Depressed people tend to miss more work, and when they do work, they tend to be less productive.

The CDC made the graph below showing rate of depression amongst the states.

An interesting study The Journal of American Epidemiology found in their study, “using active (high religious commitment) LDS as the reference group, the less-active (low religious commitment) LDS group had relative risks of suicide ranging from 3.28 (ages 15–19 years) to 7.64 (ages 25–29 years); nonmembers of the LDS church had relative risks ranging from 3.43 (ages 15–19 years) to 6.27 (ages 20–24 years). Although the mechanism of the association is unclear, higher levels of religiosity appear to be inversely associated with suicide.”

People who have more religion in their life, have lower suicide rates. Because of the high density of Latter-Day Saints in Utah, we are probably causing the rates of depression to decrease. What is this link between religion and depression? Could believing in a higher power cause one to be happier, see a future, think positively and help a person stay away from a lifetime of depression?

No one should have to suffer depression, especially when it is treatable. Are we ever going to get more resources to help those in need?

Around Utah, I often times see people riding bikes, mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles, all without helmets. I know if I rode one, I would have to wear a helmet because I am so clumsy, I would most likely crash at some point. But to most people, wearing a helmet isn’t a necessary thing. Why? It is a good question to ask. A lot of young people feel like they are invincible to getting hurt. Or some of them think that they are a skilled rider, so why should they have to wear one if they’ve never been in an accident?

Many scientific studies have “proven” the positive benefits of helmets. One of these studies for example (Thompson et al, 1989) predicted that helmets reduce the chance of head injury by 85%. They reached the conclusion that almost all deaths and most head injuries would have been prevented by helmet use. (Bicycle helmets and bicycle helmets legislation)

Helmets are highly effective in preventing brain injuries, which often require extensive treatment and may result in lifelong disability. In the event of a crash, unhelmeted motorcyclists are three times more likely than helmeted riders to suffer traumatic brain injuries  (Q&As: Motorcycle helmet use laws)

For me, I think I would take the chances of having helmet hair than risk the rest of my life with serious brain damage.  So next time you get on a bike, moped, motorcycle, or other device, think twice about pulling out and dusting off that helmet that is buried somewhere in your room.

Ever notice that when you go to get gas, you are faced trying to fight off those horrible fumes that are coming from the nozzle? I hate it too.

Utah does not have a vapor recovery nozzle, like much of the other states, that prevents not only you from inhaling these fumes, but from the fumes escaping into the atmosphere. These gases are harmful, and are pollution causing.  Vapor recovery nozzles take the hazardous fumes and returns them to the gasoline storage tank underground (More info here).

I found an interesting video that is in thermal view, as to let you see the fumes that are normally invisible to the naked eye.  I thought it was a bit scary seeing as how, we probably breathe in all those fumes as well!!

In a report of the ingredients as well as the effects of Chevron Regular Unleaded Gasoline the following is stated”The vapor or fumes from this material may cause respiratory irritation.  Symptoms of respiratory irritation may include coughing and difficulty breathing.  Breathing this material at concentrations above the recommended exposure limits may cause central nervous system effects. Central nervous system effects may include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness, loss of coordination, blurred vision, drowsiness, confusion, or disorientation.  At extreme exposures, central nervous system effects may include respiratory depression, tremors or convulsions, loss of consciousness, coma or death.DELAYED OR OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS:
Reproduction and Birth Defects: This material is not expected to cause birth defects or other harm to the developing fetus based on animal data.
Cancer: Prolonged or repeated exposure to this material may cause cancer.  Gasoline has been classified as a Group 2B carcinogen (possibly carcinogenic to humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).”

Without a vapor recovery system, getting gas just got a little more dangerous.

And close the loop !

I know I reference a lot to my home, but I’ve lived in one place my entire life, and it’s the only way I can compare and contrast different states. With that said, in California, we are very adamant on recycling. I honestly don’t know one person who doesn’t recycle in the state. In San Diego, and Cambridge, Massachussets, it’s mandated that residents recycle.

Here in Utah, I have a few roommates from California, and it bugged them that Utah doesn’t have a prominent recycling program, so we called into the waste management office and set up our house for recycling and have a garbage can devoted to recycling- which only cost about $5 a month. The catch that I noticed, is that there are many restrictions on what you can and cannot recycle. They told us we can recycle cardboard, newspaper, and only plastic with a triangle on the bottom with the number “1” or “2”. At home we are told to recycle as much as we can, and we even have a green waste recycling for leftover foods and yard trimmings. Do you think recycling is important? Does your state recycle at all?

Here are some economical and environmental benefits of recycling that may have you change your mind about it !

I am a public health promotion major, and when I started this semester, I was surprised to realize that all of my classes are really focusing on one topic: Texting while driving. I didn’t realize how big of a problem this was, until all my classes were talking about it. I have to admit, that I text while I am driving too. Mostly at red lights, and when I am by myself in the car. But if I am with somebody else and they are driving, I usually offer to text for them because it frightens me to watch them text while they are driving me and putting my life more at risk.

As young adults, we often feel young, vivacious and that we can take on the world. We don’t think that we can get hurt; like we are super humans. But we are just as mortal as everyone else. Sue Tibbs, Oklahoma State Representative says ““Young people don’t think of themselves and death in the same sentence,” Tibbs said. “They don’t think about dying or killing somebody. They are young and invincible, and so if people will not police themselves, sometimes they need a little help.” I watched a video from Zero Fatalities where a young man was put into jail for causing a car accident and death of two men in Logan, Utah. The young man never did anything terrible in his life: He ran track, was a good student, and only left home to go on positive experiences. He is now in jail with people who have violent criminal records, history of drugs, and abuse, for the rest of his life, which will seem like an eternity. (To watch more of his story please visit this site)

I am pretty sure most of you, if not all of you have heard of Britain’s PSA texting while driving commercial. (Warning: If you haven’t seen it, it is pretty graphic and violent) but it makes a big impact.

Texting while driving is actually more dangerous than driving with a blood alcohol level above twice the legal limit.

David Strayer, a psychology teacher at the University of Utah says: Drivers who are text messaging or even talking on their cell phone suffer from something called inattention blindness where something as obvious as a gorilla walking across the street, you’re blind to it; you don’t see it because your mind is so preoccupied or absorbed with the phone conversation or text message that you just don’t see the obvious thing that everybody else could see. About 80% of accidents on our highway are due to some form of driver distraction where your mind is taken off the road for some period of time and given that we have upwards of 40,000 fatalities on the highway every year, it’s a significant problem”.

I do commend Utah for passing one of the strictest laws when it comes to texting and driving; Since May, the new law punishes a texting driver who causes a fatality as harshly as a drunk driver who kills someone. It is not considered an accident anymore, but reckless driving. When will the other states step up and adopt this policy as well? Should it become a nation wide law?

Will it take a near death experience, or having somebody close to us die from texting while driving or being hit by somebody who was texting and driving to finally stop being distracted while we drive?

Here are a few political cartoons about texting while driving for your enjoyment:

Back at home I enjoy the fresh sea breeze and blue skies; on very rare days do we have smog alert days because of pollution. I have noticed that in Utah, sometimes it seems like there are more pollution days than there are not. I even have a sister with chronic upper respiratory disease that can’t stay in this state because there is so much pollution for her lungs. Sometimes I wonder how much the polluted air is going to affect my health, or if it is going to take years off my life. But most of the time, I don’t even think about it, probably like most of you.

It turns out that Utah has the sixth poorest air quality in the world.


Not only is pollution a hazard to healthy people, but it is a bigger risk for people with asthma, the elderly, and pregnant women. Pollution has a big impact on health: It can cause respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, throat inflammation, chest pain, and congestion, just to name a few.

Surprisingly, The Utah Division of Air Quality in its 2008 Annual report, states that they have drastically improved their air quality from 25 years ago.

Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action blog says that Utah “Utah suffers some of the worse particulate pollution in the region , most of it concentrated along the Wasatch Front and eve up to Cache County and Logan. In the last several years, fine particle pollution has exceeded federal health standards on several occasions.”

Here are a few small suggestions that you can do to help lower the rates of pollution wherever you live.

Everybody knows that Utah is highly populated with Latter-Day Saints, and with that comes the Mormon culture. For some reason, people are more likely to go to events such as church dances, Relief society or Priesthood events, and firesides, if refreshments are involved. Refreshments usually include rich, delicious sugary treats. Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are on the rise, no thanks to our glorious high sugar, fat, and caloric treats. We may not pay for that package of Oreos we ate last week right away, but one day it will catch up to us.

Recently, I went to a fireside that provided some mouth watering treats, but also fresh fruits and vegetables – grapes, tomatoes, strawberries, and carrots. What I observed is that most people went for the fruits and vegetables as opposed to the sweets. So if there is an alternative present, people will sometimes go for the alternative to unnatural sweets. The best way to change behavior is to strengthen alternatives.

What can we do to stop this? Well for starters, you can still have treats, just spread them out. We can’t always control what is being served at church activities, but we do have the choice of what we eat. No need to always have desserts or goodies everyday of the week- that just takes away from the fact that it’s a treat and makes it more of an everyday expected thing. You can always try to make your favorite treats into healthier ones. I have to admit that cookie dough is my weakness. But I found a recipe that is a healthier alternative to cookies (Tip: Whenever a recipe calls for oil, you can always substitute for applesauce instead!). You might not notice the differences now, but when you get to spend a longer life with your loved ones, you’ll be thanking yourself for choosing healthier alternatives.

Seat Belt Laws

I am a Californian, born and raised my entire life in the state. My mother drilled it into my brain that when driving in a car, you always have your seat belt on. The one time that I didn’t, I ended up cutting my leg open, and now have a scar. I lived in a state where the laws were strict and when the “Click it or ticket” campaign came out, I was sure to obey it. Now presiding in Utah, I am alarmed to find out that there is no seat belt law.

I was driving in a car with a friend, and I put my seatbelt on and my friend started laughing. Did I do something wrong? He said “ I think it’s funny that you always put your seatbelt on” , puzzled, I ask “Don’t you wear one?” still chuckling he replied “No. I never wear one!”. It never occurred to me that people willingly choose to never wear their seatbelts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a helpful visual chart that will tell you if a seatbelt law is enforced in your state, who is covered, fees for being caught, etc. Utah, only requires people under the age of 19 to wear seat belts. Looking at the data, it surprised me to see that other states were more lenient on wearing seat belts; Idaho only requires children 7 and younger to wear seat belts. If a person were to get into a an accident, a seat belt could be the fine line between whether they live or die. Who knew that such a thin piece of material could save lives?

Here is a  fun way to show kids the importance of seat belts with a catchy tune.

How hard is it to put on a seat belt? It could save your life or a the life of somebody you love.

Have more questions? The Utah Department of Public Safety has a helpful Q&A about seat belt laws in Utah. They also have information about car seats, and how to properly use seat belts.