Iditarod History and Overview of The Last Great Race

Each year in March, men, women, and dogs from around the world converge on the state of Alaska to take part in what has become known as the Last Great Race on the planet. This race is, of course, the Iditarod and though it doesnt have a long official history as a sporting event, dog sledding does have a long history in Alaska. Today the race has become a popular event for many people throughout the world. Iditarod History The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially started in 1973, but the trail itself and the use of dog teams as a mode of transportation has a long and storied past. In the 1920s for example, newly arrived settlers looking for gold used dog teams in the winter to travel along the historic Iditarod Trail and into the gold fields. In 1925, the same Iditarod Trail was used to move medicine from Nenana to Nome after an outbreak of diphtheria threatened the lives of nearly everyone in the small, remote Alaskan town. The journey was nearly 700 miles (1,127 km) through incredibly harsh terrain but showed how reliable and strong dog teams were. Dogs were also used to deliver mail and carry other supplies to the many isolated areas of Alaska during this time and many years later. Throughout the years, however, technological advances led to the replacement of sled dog teams by airplanes in some cases and finally, snowmobiles. In an effort to recognize the long history and tradition of dog sledding in Alaska, Dorothy G. Page, chairman of the Wasilla-Knik Centennial helped set up a short race on the Iditarod Trail in 1967 with musher Joe Redington, Sr. to celebrate Alaskas Centennial Year. The success of that race led to another one in 1969 and the development of the longer Iditarod that is famous today. The original goal of the race was for it to end in Iditarod, an Alaskan ghost town, but after the United States Army reopened that area for its own use, it was decided that the race would go all the way to Nome, making the final race approximately 1,000 miles (1,610 km) long. How the Race Works Today Since 1983, the race has ceremonially started from downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday in March. Starting at 10 a.m. Alaska time, teams leave in two-minute intervals and ride for a short distance. The dogs are then taken home for the rest of the day to prepare for the actual race. After a nights rest, the teams then leave for their official start from Wasilla, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Anchorage the next day. Today, the route of the race follows two trails. In odd years the southern one is used and in even years they run on the northern one. Both, however, have the same starting point and diverge approximately 444 miles (715 km) from there. They join each other again about 441 miles (710 km) from Nome, giving them the same ending point as well. The development of two trails was done in order to reduce the impact that the race and its fans have on the towns along its length. The mushers (dog sled drivers) have 26 checkpoints on the northern route and 27 on the southern. These are areas where they can stop to rest both themselves and their dogs, eat, sometimes communicate with family, and get the health of their dogs checked, which is the main priority. The only mandatory rest time however usually consists of one 24-hour stop and two eight hour stops during the nine- to twelve-day race. When the race is over, the different teams split a pot that is now approximately $875,000. Whoever finishes first is awarded the most and each successive team to come in after that receives a little less. Those finishing after 31st place, however, get about $1,049 each. The Dogs Originally, sled dogs were Alaskan Malamutes, but over the years, the dogs have been crossbred for speed and endurance in the harsh climate, the length of the races they participate in and the other work they are trained to do. These dogs are usually called Alaskan Huskies, not to be confused with Siberian Huskies, and are what most mushers prefer. Each dog team is made up of twelve to sixteen dogs and the smartest and fastest dogs are picked to be the lead dogs, running in the front of the pack. Those who are capable of moving the team around curves are the swing dogs and they run behind the lead dogs. The largest and strongest dogs then run in the back, closest to the sled and are called the wheel dogs. Before embarking on the Iditarod trail, mushers train their dogs in late summer and fall using wheeled carts and all-terrain vehicles when there is no snow. The training is then the most intense between November and March. Once they are on the trail, mushers put the dogs on a strict diet and keep a veterinary diary to monitor their health. If needed, there are also veterinarians at the checkpoints and dog-drop sites where sick or injured dogs can be transported for medical care. Most of the teams also go through a large amount of gear to protect the dogs health and they usually spend anywhere from $10,000-80,000 per year on gear such as booties, food, and veterinary care during training and the race itself. Despite these high costs along with the hazards of the race such as harsh weather and terrain, stress, and sometimes loneliness on the trail, mushers and their dogs still enjoy participating in the Iditarod and fans from around the world continue to tune in or actually visit portions of the trail in large numbers to partake in the action and drama that is all part of The Last Great Race.

Genetic Engineering Is the Human Race Ready Essay

It is incredible to see how far genetic engineering has come. Humans, plants, and any living organism can now be manipulated. Scientists have found ways to change humans before they are even born. They can remove, add, or alter genes in the human genome. Making things possible that humans (even thirty years ago) would have never imagined. Richard Hayes claims in SuperSize Your Child? that genetic engineering needs to have limitations. That genetic engineering should be used for medical purposes, but not for â€Å"genetic modification that could open the door to high-tech eugenic engineering† (188). There is no doubt that genetic engineering can amount to great things, but without limits it could lead the human race into a future that no one†¦show more content†¦These pest resistant plants yield higher quantities of food. Manipulation of plants has also made it possible for food to last longer. But just because there is more of it and it lasts longer, does not mean tha t it is better. Many people are concerned about what genetic engineering will do to the food that they eat, causing them to choose to buy organic because organic foods are naturally grown. As well as having the ability to alter plant life, this technology is also said to be able to alter or manipulate human genes. Scientists are finding ways to manipulate certain genes to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, as well as depression. In the essay, Richard Hayes writes, â€Å"Last year Science magazine reported that a variant of the human 5-HTT gene reduces the risk of depression following stressful experiences† (185). By inserting the variant of that gene into embryos, some babies could have a chance at never experiencing depression. This would be an amazing feat, to be able to give a child a chance to never have to feel the devastating effects depression can have on a person. 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Education Plan Patient Caroline Morris

Question: Discuss about theEducation Planfor Patient Caroline Morris. Answer: Patient Assessment Patient Caroline Morris is a postoperative patient recovering and has ulcers condition. The patient is admitted at the GI ward and is schedule for discharge in less than a week. The education plan will adopt health belief model. The model has seven components which all will aid in providing appropriate education guide. Severity of the stoma to the patient will be discussed, the susceptibility of the condition to develop other medical conditions. Patient Morris will be guided through the benefits of adhering to proper care in managing the stoma. Expected barriers will be discussed with Morris and how to overcome them. On cues to action, the patient is advised in case of nay complication to returns to hospital for check up with the doctor. The patient will be motivated on how she can manage this and take care of her condition while at home. Condition Patient is recovering from ileostomy, this is a medical condition which part of the small intestine is brought outside and brings about an opening. This opening creates a pouch like bag which collects its content and can be emptied form to time. The hole created is referred to as a stoma. The stoma collects stool and it empties to the pouch. More modified advances have been devised in which and a pouch which dont permit odour is placed on the skin. Ileostomy have been utilised in medical conditions which part of the rectum or whole is needed to be removed or creation of an outside extension. Activities to Engage on Light work should be done as the patient stills feels weak and not able to do heavy work patient Morris should be able to continue with her social life with minimal interference but to stick on bed rest at home. Miss Morris should be in a position to be changing her pouch upon demonstration while at the hospital facility. Wearing of clothes at this stage is not prohibited. Clothes serve as protective measure and hide the pouch from being noticed outside. While or during showering, there is no adjustments made as the pouch remain in its place. Usually you are given an adhesive material or tape, to protect water from entering inside, normal procedure is usually followed for placing the tape inside. The skin is dried with a warm material which is water free. In most cases a hair drier is used, it should be held 6 inches away from the body surface. The duration of usage should not exceed 5 minutes. However the condition of the sore or stoma determines its application, red like stoma sores should not be treated with the heat. If you are a fun of swimming, the stoma pouch is not used, the only procedure done is to empty or being removed before entering the water as the water dont affect the stoma. Minimal sporting activities should be engaged to allow the stoma to recuperate well. Avoidance of driving is recommended for 3 weeks and heavy lifting of heavy materials or equipment which might strain the stoma sore. Medicine Prescribed medicines will be absorbed in the intestines, though all may not be absorbed you may still encounter some difficulty and pains, when you experience this feelings notify your doctors immediately for further advice. As for the personal injection the nurse guides the patient on how to personally inject herself through the right way. Enaprin drug should not be used if on an active ulcerative disorder, symptoms need to monitored and encase of any discomfort clarify with the doctor, however there is need to notify the doctor on the history of ulcers with patient Morris. This drug should not be mixed with others which have anticoagulant effects, and inhibit platelets like aspirin, sulfypyrazone. Adverse reactions may include bleeding due to interference platelet inhibitors, diarrhoea, nausea, fever, edema, pneumonia among others . Any discomfort need to be consulted with the doctor. oxycodone drug is used for pain management to ease the pain. Patient Morries needs to observe respiratory behaviour upon consumption within the 72 hours of usage. This is in line with paracetamol which patient Morris needs not to worry as it eases pain from stoma. General Dietary Guidelines Ileostomy patients are required to follow strict dietary guidelines as prescribed upon before and immediately after surgery. However as the patients progress on diet changes from liquid foods to bland diets and then foods rich in low fibre and residue so as not be complicated and harm the healing wound. It might be noticed that the contents of the pouch might contain fiber which is not digested, dietary care should be followed on low fiber diet to avoid this. Patient Morris is advised to consume food moderately and drink good amounts of liquid. This is essential especially in how climate as body losses a lot of fluids and the resection of the intestines reduces its ability to reabsorbed liquid consumed in the diet. General dietary recommendation for the patient is to consume a balanced diet and eating meals at the right time, as missing of food increases flatulences and development of gases and eventually diarrhoea which causes loss of water in the body. Summary for the Patient Education Plan: Patient Morris presented in the GI Ward, after post operative procedure and received treatment. An assessment of family and medical history was reviewed and appropriate method of education was adopted the patient was taken trough the disease condition. The kind of life the patient has been living was assessed, and this brought about her quality of life, as this needed to assist in the recovery plan of the patient. Educational needs were then determined and Patient Morris was given resources that were needed in guiding her throughout the recovery, which included leaflets and bronchures on general guidelines for recovery. After being discharged, a nurse will pay her a visit and review progress; his education plan done at the hospital set up and given doctors appointment for a visit. References Burch J (2014) Stoma care in the community. British Journal of Community Nursing Aug 19(8): 396,398,400 Rust J (2009)Understanding the complexities of the clinical nurse specialist: A focus on stoma siting.Gastrointestinal Nursing 7(4): 18-25 Stephen-Haynes J (2008) Skin integrity and silicone: Appeel 'no-sting' medical adhesive remover. Br J Nurs 17 (12): 792-5 Breckman B (2005) Stoma care and rehabilitation. Oxford, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone Ghorob A. Health coaching: teaching patients how to fish. Fam Pract Manag. 2013(3):40-42. PMID: 23939739 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23939739. Faldo DR. Communicating effectively in patient teaching: enhancing patient adherence. In: Falvo DR, ed. Effective Patient Education: A Guide to Increased Adherence. 4th ed. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2011:chap 8.