Nurses Week showcases a vibrant profession with unlimited potential

Nothing on calendar here at Scrubin gets us as revved up as Nurses Week does! Simply put, we love nurses. And happily, they love us right back. Our premier lines of scrubs and medical apparel make us an online shopping destination for nurses around the country, and it is always an honor every year to celebrate a week that recognizes the contribution these amazing professionals make all day, every day. So how about you join us May 6-12 to toast the nursing industry!

This year’s theme is Culture of Safety: It Starts with You. It all kicks off May 6^th with National RN Day. This is the first and foremost occasion for honoring our nurses. Festivities and recognition will be going nationwide, with a variety of community outreach programs and seminars.

Nursing is consistently ranked near the top of most trusted professions in America, and for good reason: their services are invaluable, not just in the tangible care they provide, but in morale and reassurance for the patient. There are 200,000 more RNs than there were 15 years ago, which tells us all we need to know about this fast-growing, vital field.

How can you help honor our nurses? Well, the American Nurses Association has a bevy of suggestions and resources, so they’re a great place to start. You also can give a shout out on your social media platforms on May 6. Also, if there are any nurses in your life, be sure offer a warm thank you for the service they render us all!

Because there are so many career paths for nurses now, from Chief Nursing Officers to Chief Nursing Informatics Officers at the administrative level all the way through Med-Surg, Emergency and other hospital departments, Nurses Week has several sub-categories these days. Here’s a few of those:

On May 8, it’s National Student Nurses Day. If you know a hardworking student nurse, take the time to tip your hat. Again, post on social media. Learn more about the National Student Nurses Association and discover the ways our student nurses are helping to create a culture of safety and good health.

Every Wednesday within Nurses Week brings National School Nurse Day. School nurses are on the front lines, tending daily to our most precious natural resource, our students. Giving flu shots and other immunizations, administering screenings, monitoring dietary needs, and dealing with the various accidents and bumps and scrapes kids have been known to sustain are just some of their duties. Furthermore, student nurses often serve double duty, contributing to the mental and emotional care of disadvantaged students, kids from broken or abusive homes. They are kind caregivers and in some sad cases the only health-care professional a child ever sees. Please remember these generous souls and mark May 11^th on your calendar this year. School nurses are most definitely worth it!

And as in every year, Nurses Week wraps up with Florence Nightingale’s birthday on May 12. Florence Nightingale is known as the mother of the nursing profession, and is every bit to nurses what George Washington is to presidents. As such, May 12 also marks International Nurses Day, marking the contributions nurses make the world over, on every continent. Nurses are particularly vital, and needed evermore, in impoverished and developing regions of the world, places susceptible to rampant malnutrition, viruses and disease. The work they perform in these areas cannot possibly be overstated.

We could go on for pages about nurses, but instead we’ll stop here and get to the good stuff: Giveaways! Every day during Nurses Week, you can enter for a chance to win a gift bag or scrubs on our Facebook page. Here’s a sneak peak of what we’ve put together for you, check out facebook each day for more!

Celebrate Occupational Therapists and their work during April!

Occupational therapy as a practice and treatment doesn’t get anywhere near the recognition that it should, so April seems a fine time to change that. Every year, Occupational Therapy Month is a time devoted to educating the general public about the work OC's do, what occupational therapy consists of and a look at all the people they treat and help. Scrubin is excited to do our part to highlight this invaluable aspect of public health.

OK, so just what is occupational therapy? A surprisingly high percentage of people don’t know the answer to that question. In a nutshell, occupational therapy involves treating people of all ages through the therapeutic and holistic use of daily activities. Occupational therapists help disabled kids meet the challenge of schoolwork, assist people who have been in accidents return to a full, productive life and work with seniors coping with the changes brought on by age. Occupation therapists, in short, help quality people lead quality lives.

Their treatments cover a gamut of options, centered on respectful care and homeopathic methods: developing new skill-sets, furthering cognitive awareness, always accenting the individuality and needs of the particular patient.

So much of what OCs do depends upon comprehensive evaluation, not only to determine the patient’s needs and maximize treatment solutions, but also to know the patient’s goals. That is one of the unique things about occupation therapy — the patient is a collaborator in the process, always informing and guiding the practice rather than simply being administered to passively.

Are you an occupational therapist? If so, click here for a quick rundown of 10 things you can do to get the word out about your profession this month. Do you have a testimonial about how occupational therapy helped improve your life, or the quality of life for someone close to you? Share it with us this month on social media!

Community organizations — perhaps your local YMCA, or a service club like the Kiwanis or Rotary— may well have events for Occupational Therapy Month. Check them out and see if you can plug in. And if you discover centers and places offering occupational therapy as a free service — serving the children of lower-income families, for instance, who have learning challenges — think about make a financial contribution to help continue the invaluable work, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

And if you’re interested in occupational therapy as a career, this is a great time to dive into the numerous educational forums and outreach opportunities offered by the American Occupational Therapy Association and learn more. This is a challenging and fast-growing field, where the potential for fulfilling careers abounds.

Autism Awareness Month shines a needed spotlight on this complex condition

There are few health topics as prevalent in the public mind these days than autism. It is a condition for which we are only beginning to finally glean some much-needed awareness. The rate of autism in children is a particularly wide concern, and parents, educators, physicians and researcher all looking for answers. Now add to the fact that there is a lot of misinformation out there, and you can see how this is an issue where greater public awareness and education are of particular importance.

That’s why we’re spreading the word that April is Autism Awareness Month. Nationwide there will be a host of activities, ranging from congressional and presidential recognitions to online events to community programs. A particular emphasis this year is not only education and awareness, but also acceptance, to make sure those with autism are welcomed and integrated into society as a whole.

Do you know someone on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or who has been affected by autism, and is making a difference? If so, how about nominating this certain someone online for some attention through social media? The 1Power4Autism initiative promotes individuals who make a difference for autism. There are also walks, races, triathlons, silent auctions, etc., to raise public interaction and awareness.

There doesn’t have to be any gloom and doom about Autism Awareness Month. Put on the Puzzle Ribbon, a festive, multi-colored ribbon to be worn in April, reminding us not only of spring and rebirth but also that autism is a part of every community, every ethnicity and creed and level of society, and all individuals touched by it deserve a voice. Scrubin also has some great scrubs to let you show your support as well. Check out the Rainbow Puzzle and Au-Some scrubs for medical professionals, and add dash of springtime color that also promote autism awareness and acceptance to your work wardrobe!

Autism now affects one in 68 children. Research, guided care, special education and outreach can go a long way toward a positive impact in the lives of these children. So make a donation to the Autism Society, which has more than a hundred affiliates across the nation, offering a bevy of services and programs. With so many ways to show support and encouragement to those with ASD and the people who love them, it’s easy to find a way to get plugged in.

 

A double dose of gratitude for National Dentist's & National Doctor's Days

It is nice to every now and then take time out of our chronic busyness and give a big thank you to some men and women in the healthcare profession who really deserve it. March brings us both National Dentist’s Day (3/6) and National Doctor’s Day (3/30), so join us this month in showing our appreciation!

Perhaps not high on anyone’s list of favorite things, regular visits to the dentist’s office are necessary to insure healthy teeth and gums and to keep our smiles sparkling. And for anyone who’s ever experienced an abscess tooth or oral pain, the dentist comes as a godsend. Dentists help us look our best and feel the best about ourselves. We’re proud here at Scrubin to take chance to say thanks!

So, outside of a hearty “job well done” and a kind word, what is the best way to show gratitude to all the dentists out there? The best way to appreciate their work is to honor it, and that means making sure to practice good habits for oral health care. That means what we all think it means: thorough brushing every day (more than once a day is preferable), flossing and regular visits to the dentist. Laying off some of those other, not so healthy habits would be nice too (ditch the tobacco, and do any of us really need ANOTHER cup of coffee?). On the treatment side, if you’ve had any dental discomfort — bleeding gums, or undue sensitivity to hot or cold — delay no longer in getting it checked out.

And rather than restricting appreciation to just your own dentist, post on social media to say thank you to all the dental professionals out there, and contribute a little to everyone’s mindfulness about good oral health. Get those hashtags ready!

And now to the physicians. The doctor is a figure associated with some foreboding, some frustration, probably lots of emotions at once. None of us perhaps like seeing them per se, even if they are the kindest person we know. But we all can be thankful and grateful that they are there when we need them. Our physicians are literally our go-to people for our healthcare needs, from primary care to specialized treatments, from routine checkups to complicated surgeries and innovative treatment options. March 30^th is National Doctor’s Day, an excellent opportunity to take one day out of the year and show our doctors how much we appreciate them outside of some health scare.

There are numerous ways to say thank you, from a nice card to a thoughtful e-mail. Again though, the best way to honor their contributions is to spread the word about good health habits. Practice what you preach: if you’ve been procrastinating, go ahead and schedule that physical!

Also, there are some materials and items, from coffee mugs to stickers to stamps that put the word out there about National Doctor’s Day. Browse here!

To our dentists and doctors, thank you for your service and here’s to many more years of helping all of us with our health!

National Nutrition Month Offers the Opportunity for a Healthy-Diet Reset

March brings warmer weather, Daylight Savings Time (Sunday, March 13^th, in case you were wondering), and National Nutrition Month. In each case, it hasn’t come a moment too soon!

Particularly National Nutrition Month. Let’s face the facts: the holidays are way back in the rear-view mirror, and the grace period on eating whatever we want is up. Spring is in the air, and with that, it’s a good time to take stock of our cabinets and pantries and see what steps are needed to make 2016 a healthy and nutritious year.

Scrubin is really getting behind National Nutrition Month this year, because we see it as a great time to hit “reset” and get back into some healthy habits. There are many ways to get involved, choices ranging from education for better dietary choices for yourself to events and promotions to help make March a fresh start for nutritional awareness nationwide.

Most of us know that our diets are closely tied with our well-being, physically and mentally. Eating foods rich in vitamins, high in protein, low in saturated fats and sugars, not only is a long-term practice to insure against many health issues — heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers — but we all just feel better if we’re providing ourselves with the proper fuel. We reap the benefits in terms of more energy, more stamina, improved focus and overall better mood.

Sure, we all crave the cookies and the carbohydrates, and some splurging is natural. But the fact is that the human body and human brain works optimally when they are well fed with the important staples: Vitamins A – C, antioxidants, proteins, Omega-3’s. We are doing ourselves a big favor when we make proper dietary choices.

And we also need to keep in mind just how important good nutritional choices are for kids. If you don’t learn to eat well when you’re young, it’s much harder to develop those habits as an adult. Unfortunately, too many kids are fed non-nutritious lunches at school cafeterias, and way too many rely on a diet of fast food and pizza. Vegetables and fruit too rarely make an appearance during meal times. We live in an era of heightened awareness about these issues, but we also live in a time of record-high childhood obesity and early-stage diabetes. This stuff is important. Check out how to help and what we all can do. (There’s even Kids Eat Right Month, every August.)

And, it’s not just what we eat. This year National Nutrition Month is putting emphasis on how and when we eat. The body doesn’t like binge-eating, at least not for optimal performance. A proper diet consists of a healthy breakfast, a good lunch high in important nutrients and a sensible dinner. Avoid second helpings, particularly at night when too much food can interfere with a night’s rest (during sleep is when the metabolism slows down and cannot process larger quantities of food).

There is much more, from educational materials on eating disorders, to the importance of clean drinking water. Find out more and let’s all make this National Nutrition Month a time when we “Savor the flavor of eating right!”

World Cancer Day highlights the ongoing battle against this elusive foe

Here at Scrubin we regularly highlight many days of the year concerning public health and related issues, days to raise awareness, advocate for preventative treatment, raise funds for research and treatment.

None is bigger than Feb. 4, 2016. This is World Cancer Day — and this is a big deal. There is hardly a life on this planet that hasn’t been or won’t be touched by this most dreaded of diseases, in one of its many manifestations. This is the most personal of health issues, and the most global.

An estimated 8.2 million people worldwide die of cancer every year. Imagine if half these lives could be saved. Or 2 million, or 1 million. What a difference it would make for global health and societal impact the world over.

And seemingly lofty goals like these are easily within reach. The focus of World Cancer Day is to raise education and awareness, and to save millions of preventable deaths every year. There really is no larger health issue than this.
That brings us to, what can we do to help? When it comes to awareness of this special day, it’s all about outreach. Spread the word about World Cancer Day, share it on social media, link to the website, download materials and add or link a World Cancer Day event in your local area to the Map of Impact.

http://www.worldcancerday.org/map

There are currently 242 activities across the globe World Cancer Day 2016. So far, they are as diverse and inspirational as the countries who are hosting them:

·      Fundraising events in Baltimore and Calgary
·      The Concert of Hope in Poland
·      The Mass for the 13^th Anniversary of the League Against Cancer in Peru
·      South Africa has Women Against Cancer events
·      Events promoting healthy lifestyles for cancer prevention in China

A global disease demands global actions, and this is what World Cancer Day is all about.

In addition, there are dozens of packets of promotional materials to spread the word about not only World Cancer Day but the constant battle against the disease. These range from logos expressing solidarity with cancer victims, stirring stories from cancer survivor, and online packets detailing healthy lifestyle choices, anti-tobacco campaigns and the urgent need for worldwide cancer screenings, which alone could save millions of lives every year.

In this technological age of ours, when information can be disseminated in the blink of an eye via Facebook and Twitter and social media platforms, there is an amazing opportunity for everyone, everywhere to be as educated as possible concerning steps to prevent and treat cancer of all types. Medical science and research has made great strides but the most immediate impact most of us can make is to educate ourselves and inform our friends, family and associates about how we can take the fight to cancer.

So from all of us here at Scrubin, have a productive and impactful World Cancer Day! Let’s all do our part! It could make all the difference.

#ScrubinandSave Shop Now! www.scrubin.com

American Heart Month offers the chance to take stock of cardiac care

A new year often means a renewed focus on health, and so February is a fitting time for American Heart Month. This year, let’s all take a moment to stop and think about not only heart disease and how to prevent it, but what we’re doing in our own lives to ward off potential cardiac issues. This is a biggie for anyone who has a heart — and that of course means all of!

What is American Heart Month? Glad you asked. This is the time when organizations around the nation, spearheaded by the American Heart Association, raise awareness in the community and in our personal lives to make healthier heart-centered choices. These include

·      concentrated efforts to promote better cardiovascular exercise;
·      better dietary choices;
·      regular checkups; and
·      a push to eliminate tobacco use of all kinds.

These outreach programs are being done in schools, hospitals, gyms, community centers and anywhere else folks gather, so they should be easy to find.

Heart disease still ranks as the No. 1 cause of death in America, so it needs to be combated on all fronts. There are lots of online materials, a downloadable PDF and other resources to help you get involved. Send out your own American Heart Month newsletter. Or link up from your Facebook account. Send tweets throughout the month of February to spread the message.

And, this year, there is a red-letter day to highlight on the calendar. This is National Wear Red Day, an offshoot of Go Red for Women, on Feb. 5. What’s it all about? Glad you asked! National Red Wear Day is devoted to fighting heart disease for women in America. It is important to remember that heart disease or strokes are responsible for one out of every three deaths for American women every year.

This is an urgent issue, deserving our best efforts. Be among one of many you’ll see sporting red this Feb. 5, a visible and colorful way to proclaim solidarity and support.

Of course February has lots more days in it — 29 this year, thanks to Leap Year — to support American Heart Month. Take part in community events, but also dedicate this month to making better, heart-healthy choices for you and your family (20 minutes a day on the treadmill, substituting spice for salt, a brisk walk after dinner). From all of us to all of you, let’s make February 2016 the best American Heart Month yet!

Nursing is like real estate: For the best places, it’s all about location

There are few fields growing in America like healthcare. Projections have it as one of the fastest growing sectors of job growth in the United States over the next 15 years. And of professions in healthcare, registered nurses are near the top in terms of potential and demand. Just how rosy is the outlook? Employment for RNs is expected to expand by 19 percent till 2022.

Higher demand will likely mean higher wages and better benefits. But where will the RN jobs be the most desirable? Let’s take a look around the nation and find the best spots for these lucrative jobs.

Wages: California, unsurprisingly, is in the lead here, as it tends to be in wages for healthcare workers overall, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s the most populous state in the union, so it stands to reason that California has the highest number RNs overall. Other states in the top five are Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska and Massachusetts.

One thing to remember: Alaska, Hawaii, and California are three of the six states in America with the highest cost of living. So that has to be factored into any judgment call on desirability: how much bang is the RN, especially one just out of school, getting for her/his buck?

On the flip side, here are the bottom five states for RN wages: South Dakota, Iowa, West Virginia, Alabama and Arkansas. (But just like above, these states are also among the lowest in cost-of-living figures, so the percentages come close to evening out.)

High wages don’t mean much, however, if there are no jobs to be had. As attractive as the Golden State might seem, it also has among the lowest open nursing jobs. That could be a boon in the future: more people means more healthcare means more need for nurses. But right now, better bets are Missouri, West Virginia, Mississippi, South Dakota and Rhode Island.

Also, more specifically even than a state breakdown, there is the rural/urban question. Here the tilt seems to go to urban areas, generally home to the larger hospitals and clinics. RNs grade out considerably higher as a percentage of the healthcare workforce here. And urban medical facilities tend to pay a higher wage. Again, the drawback is that urban living tends to be costlier.

All in all, a nursing career does not look to be a bad bet, wherever you may be looking. Like any other career though, you’ll want to do your research, then factor in all the elements to find the best opportunity for you. And once you’ve landed that dream nursing job, let us help you get properly outfitted!

National Influenza Vaccination Week: Have You Gotten Your Flu Shot?

Influenza. Sounds kind of exotic, at least until you know better: It’s the flu. Not exotic at all, but something quite common, and a potentially deadly illness we’ve all dealt with either ourselves, or as we’ve cared for someone who’s come down with it.

Even though the flu remains common, it really shouldn’t, because of the widespread availability of a little thing called the flu shot. Most every pharmacy has them on offer, as well as major store chains and even grocery outlets — pretty much anywhere that has pharmacy services. And yet far too many people still refuse to take advantage of the inoculation, come down with the dreaded flu (or influenza), and simultaneously expose those who are vulnerable to a higher likelihood of contracting it as well.

Flu season kicks off during October and is approaching its peak during the holidays, which is the absolute worst time to be flat on your back for a week or two. So this is a fitting time of year to get the word out: Dec. 6-12^th brings us National Influenza Vaccination Week. As healthcare professionals, we have a duty to educate the people around us, so here are some talking points for those cases who don’t think they need a shot, or are afraid of the vaccine because of all the misinformation that’s out there.

The Centers for Disease Control recommendation is that everyone older than six months get a yearly flu vaccination. There are deaths from the flu every year in America; children are especially vulnerable. It’s more than just a bad couple or three days of fever and a sore throat — it can be, and often is, fatal.

Speaking of children, and to repeat: infants under the age of six months, fragile and susceptible to just about anything that comes along, are not eligible for the flu vaccination. They depend upon the rest of to ward it off, thus limiting their exposure.

Now there are criticisms of the flu vaccination, the main one being that it doesn’t always prevent the flu. There is some truth to this. The 2014 flu vaccination was considered not as effective as it could have been. The reason is that there are several strands of influenza, and different strands spring up all the time. The vaccination takes several months to prepare, and the compound is based around strands the CDC early in the year predicts will be most prevalent once flu season rolls around. No batch of the flu vaccination can take care of them all, and there is some educated guessing involved.

But it remains the medical consensus that the flu vaccination makes a huge dent in the population of flu sufferers every year. And a healthier person means a healthier chance for the people around him or her. So if you haven’t gotten vaccinated yet, by all means do so. And if you’re still shopping for that hard-to-buy-for person, a flu shot may not be a conventional stocking stuffer, but a healthy and happy winter season vs. a stretch in bed, or even a few days in the hospital, is a very nice present to receive.

Don't Let Holiday Eating Pack On The Pounds

The very idea of eating healthy around holiday time sounds not only impossible, but also pointless. For many of us, food is one of the great pleasures this time of year — unless you are going to be subsisting on a diet of candied yams, stuffing, and honey-banked hams in the balmy summer months.

We like our holiday treats, we like the big meals, the buttered rolls, the desserts … and then the other desserts. Yes, we know it perhaps isn’t the best stuff for us, but c’mon already, ’tis the season. We’d no sooner do without Thanksgiving leftovers than we would autumn foliage, and Christmas dinner is just as eagerly anticipated as opening gifts.

OK, fair enough. Nonetheless, we also definitely don’t like the feeling of being sluggish and dazed from too much grub, and none of us like the post-holiday hangover that comes crashing in right around Jan. 2: some extra pounds, and pants that if they fit at all, do so rather snugly.  So begins the next season: one of harsh New Year’s resolutions — involving pricey gym memberships, personal trainers, and meals portioned out to the gram. (“Another sliver of kale, anyone?” “No, no, I couldn’t possibly!”)

So feasting at this time of year leads unfortunately to famine tomorrow. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We could all enjoy the holidays, and the foodstuffs that come with them, if we just practiced a modicum of restraint and balance.

Rotate out some of the more caloric-busting dishes with healthier alternatives. Instead of cream-based soups or heavy stews, do a soup that is broth-based, done with vegetable stock. Avoid undue snacking from the chip or nuts dish, and pass on the cheese ball. There will be plenty to eat — no need to gorge on the starters.

At the same time, don’t use the holidays as an excuse to come off your normal eating routine. If you are one to wake up and eat a grapefruit or bowl of bran cereal, continue to do that. You’ll find your appetite is subtly sated when the main event comes around and you are less likely to stuff yourself to the breaking point if you aren’t ravenous when the turkey touches the table.

Also go easy on the alcohol; booze is loaded with empty calories and nothing is so sure to bring on the bloat as a couple too many beers or cocktails.

And finally, don’t just sit there. Get up, take a walk after a meal (or before), introduce some holiday dancing to the festivities. Make those calories work for you, and in the process work them off a little.

Just a few small adjustments can make a world of difference in staving off post-holiday blues for your body. Tailor your holiday festivities accordingly, and it might save you from having to tailor your favorite trousers afterwards.

One more thing: Happy Holidays from all of us at Scrubin Uniforms! We greatly appreciate your business, and look forward to serving you in 2016!

November Is American Diabetes Month — Get Involved

At Scrubin, we are involved with getting the word out about many great causes and organizations. One of the biggest for us is American Diabetes Month.

This is a disease which has been forefront of the public consciousness for some time, and with good reason. Diabetes numbers 30 million Americans among its sufferers, both adults and children. And it is estimated that more than 80 million more are “pre-diabetic” and at heightened risk to develop type 2 diabetes. If the disease is not at epidemic levels, it is not far from it.

Our diets are all too often composed of an excess of sugars, fats, cholesterol and sodium. While public awareness seems to be rising in this regard, it is still a widespread fact that much of our food is packaged and processed, and therefore potent as delivery systems for excesses of sugar. This is to say nothing of our affection for sodas and sugar-laden energy drinks.

Now, while a healthy, informed diet is not enough to stave off diabetes in every case, the simple fact is that eating healthier — limiting sugars, basing meals around protein and essential vitamins and roughage — would slash the percentage of our population who have type 2 diabetes by a tremendous degree. This is a particularly urgent matter in regards to our young people. The rate of growth for the disease in children has burgeoned by more than 33% in the past couple of decades.

Sure, there are several factors at work in this rising figure, but most researchers agree that the majority of the growth is directly tied to the rapidly escalating rates of childhood obesity. Healthy diet, regular exercise: these are the enemies of Type 2 diabetes. Make sure your kid has both!

Another unfortunate fact about our food consumption and diabetes: it is often more expensive and more difficult in the United States to eat healthy. Cheaper foods are typically mass produced, therefore usually have a lower price tag. And these are the very foods prevalent with trans-fats, sodium, high fructose corn syrup, dyes and excess sugars. As such, our more impoverished communities have been particularly hard hit by the growing rate of diabetes in the society. American Diabetes Month has a variety of outreach effortsintended to educate all our communities communities about the very real dangers of the disease.

Think you might be at risk? Your doctor can ease your fears, or get you on a path of treatment if there’s a problem.  He or she will perform a simple glucose test. If diabetes is indicated, then immediate steps can be taken: regular monitoring, insulin treatment, strict diet and life-style changes.

If you rate as pre-diabetic, then you and your health-care professional can design a firm plan to tackle the potential risk before it becomes a difficult reality.

Diabetes in America is on the rise, unfortunately, but we can make November of 2015 the moment when we turned back the tide!

National Epilepsy Awareness Month Has Arrived!

National Epilepsy Awareness Month kicks off with a new campaign by the Epilepsy Foundation, a year long effort to attack the condition on multiple fronts. Education, research, fighting discrimination for people with seizures and highlighting stories of survivors of epilepsy.

The campaign is called #DareTo, and it’s going to be pretty easy to spot. Public service announcements will feature spokespeople and celebrities with epilepsy. There are campaign features showcasing the work of artists who are epileptic.

#DareTo is tailored to reach those afflicted with epilepsy. Regrettably, there is still some stigma attached to people who have seizures: they live in anxiety of when/if a seizure might occur. In addition to the dangerous nature of the condition itself, there is the potential for embarrassment, public humiliation and inopportune timing. Seizures can scare people besides those who are stricken with them.

#DareTo seeks to eliminate that. No one should be ashamed of an illness. Public awareness is key, and there are numerous outreach programs on offer. Learn how those with epilepsy have turned what could be construed as a handicap into the source of great strength and resolve!

For those afflicted with seizures, management is key. There are numerous medical and cognitive treatment options available. Everyone who is epileptic, or has a loved one who is, deserves to avail themselves of all the information at their disposal.

For some medication is the answer. Others have found success with a VNS, vagus nerve simulation, the applying a device that sends electrical pulses to the vagus nerve. Still others find results from a careful diet, good exercise and various techniques designed to minimize stress.

Even if you are not yourself an epilepsy sufferer, there are many ways for you to get involved. The Epilepsy Foundation has an extensive list of volunteer activities, forums, and fundraising opportunities. Check it out and make a difference this November!

National Chiropractic Health Month

Sure, it’s rarely life and death. But the fact remains that back and neck pain is a huge, well … pain for millions of Americans. Latest estimates have right around 1 in 2 Americans experiencing back pain sometime during the year. About 31 million suffer from lower back pain alone. And at some point, 80 percent of us will be bearing, or bending, under the strain of a pulled muscle, bum alignment or the excruciating pain of sciatic nerve pinching.

For lots of us, this will be an unpleasant or inconvenient interlude, putting a crimp on the quality of life for a bit and then hopefully going away. For others, back and neck pain is a chronic condition, debilitating and insufferable. Regardless of which camp you fall into, a qualified chiropractor can bring hope and healing.

That’s why Scrubin is taking this opportunity to alert you to National Chiropractic Health Month. A chiropractor is a trained health professional who generally uses manual adjustments of the spine to treat neuromuscular disorders. Chiropractors examine the patient, make the diagnosis, apply the appropriate treatments and then detail a continuing plan of action for the patient. That can involve stretches, exercise or ergonomic fixes as simple as recommending a new desk chair or back support. Through chiropractors, millions of people have found relief from back and neck pain without having to resort to risk-laden surgeries or a regimen of medications.

And when it comes to that last benefit, a chiropractor’s care can really make a difference, because dependency on pain killers is becoming a real public health crisis. For many the addiction to pain killers begins legitimately, often as a result of attempts to treat back pain. These might mask the pain for a while, but do nothing to treat the condition itself. The cycle begins where more pills become necessary to combat pain that refuses to stay gone for good. This unfortunate by-product of a legitimate attempt to treat back and neck pain sufferers is a particular focus of this year’s National Chiropractic Month.

Chiropractic treatment is drug-free and surgery-free, as well as an organic and lifestyle enhancing treatment option. Learn more about it this October, and click here to find a doctor of chiropractic in your area. Maybe you yourself will find the relief you deserve!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month means Awareness and Advocacy

This is the big one. Scrubin is a committed, long-term supporter of breast cancer research, and we look forward to the day when a cure is found. Just page down through our product lines and you are sure to find that many of our nurses’ scrub sets, tops, pants and lab coats, not to mention accessories, are adorned with themes concerning women and the fight against this disease. The pink ribbon means something to us, and we hope it means a lot to you too.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been a cornerstone event in women’s health issues since its founding in 1985. Over the years it has grown in stature and impact. The NFL now decorates its fields and uniforms with pink for the month. Tokyo Tower is lit up in pink every year. The National Race for the Cure, an event begun in Dallas with participation of less than 1,000 people, now has about 1.5 million runners and walkers yearly, spread over 100 cities. The Susan G. Komen 3-day “For the Cure” walk, an event to raise funds to find the cure, takes place in countries the world over. Every year the events and public outreach during October grow, which is good news for those advocating not only for research, but also for self examinations, annual mammograms and other preventive measures.

In fact, the awareness month was originally started to promote mammography to foster earlier detection of the disease. That is still at the core of educating the public: women need to be tested early and often. Mammograms can show pre-cancerous conditions and allow women and their doctors to take appropriate steps from there. Mammograms can detect the cancer in its earliest, localized stages, greatly improving the rates of successful treatment and full recovery. This is a disease that will eventually strike more than one in 10 women, so every edge is necessary in fighting it.

This year, we have some good news to report: The rates for breast cancer have been dropping in the new millennium, after rising for the previous two decades. Clearly smarter health decisions and the rise of awareness on the part of women for early screenings (sign up for a screening reminder here, thanks to the American Cancer Society) and tests have had a big impact. And with improved treatment options, breast cancer has a better survival rate than it once did.         

But this is still a disease that strikes nearly 300,000 women a year in the United States alone. And, more than 40,000 women are expected to die of breast cancer this year in America. That is simply unacceptable. We cannot stop until we find the cure!

The widespread popularity of Breast Cancer Awareness Month means there are more outlets than ever for you to make a difference. So whether its running a marathon, signing up for a fundraising walk or helping out at a women’s health clinic, be sure to do your part to stop breast cancer in its tracks!

Here’s some more info about how you can get involved: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month

Show your support by wearing Breast Cancer Awareness scrub tops and accessories: http://www.scrubin.com/breast-cancer-awareness

WonderWink

We all have a "go-to" brand when it comes to scrubs. If you haven't tried WonderWink scrubs, you're missing out! Here are three different collections, with very different styles and details, that make us happy!

WonderWink WonderWORK is great for groups. There are many styles and colors available for men and women and come in a broad selection of sizes including extended sizes and petites. WonderWink WonderWORK scrubs are basic, classic style scrubs with an improved fit and function.


The Fabric: Active Twill 65% Polyester / 35% Cotton enhanced with a mechanical Motion Stretch. Using the industry favorite 65/35 Poly/Cotton will provide you long lasting durability with the movement of a stretch fabric. 

The Fit: Each size individually tailored. Plus sizing designed for a fuller figure. All styles have slight shaping to flatter but also provide a modern, relaxed fit. 

The Function: Innovative fabric, fit and styling. Utilitarian details provide storage but maintain a clean, professional appearance.

  



Everyone is looking for stretch scrubs these days; WonderFLEX is our go-to when our customers are looking for fashionable, functional and comfortable scrubs. Offering high-end, eye-catching details in a one of a kind scrub collection you’re sure to be noticed in.

The Fabric: Premium stretch, cotton-rich, durable fabric with just the right amount of stretch for comfortable and polished appearance. 52% Cotton / 45% Polyester / 3% Spandex.

The Fit: Supremely comfortable with just enough stretch that allows your uniform to maintain its shape all day long.

The Function: Premium fabric, fit and design. Choices of dye-to-match or contrast stitching, signature pockets, triple-needle stitching and printed logo drawstring offer you a one of a kind collection you’re sure to love. 





WonderWINK brings the basics of fashion to you, in a collection called Origins. Origins scrubs are another favorite in our closet and getting them at such a great value, you’re sure to add them to your closet too!

The Fabric: Crisp, professional and easy going poly/cotton blend. 65% Polyester / 35% Cotton.

The Fit: Shorter sleeves and slimmer fit offers a crisp, clean lines and shape to your uniform.

The Function: It’s all in the details! Styling includes brilliant utility features such as bungee cords, signature pockets, accessory loops and secret hidden pockets to keep you organized. 





Are you always cold? Need Layers? We have those too and they are selling like crazy! The cold weather will be here before you know it – so stock up now! These feather-light tees with superior softness are a must-have! Add them to your wardrobe and pair with your favorite WonderWINK scrubs for a perfect match.




WonderWINK has so many options you will definitely be able to find something to fit your style and your budget!  So, what are you waiting for?  Shop WonderWINK uniforms with Scrubin Uniforms and save! 

Milestone Month for Many Kinds of Cancer Awareness

September is a major month in the fight against cancer, with three main offenders of the disease highlighted: childhood cancers, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer. All take too many lives every year, and all have the potential to be stopped in their tracks if we band together to do our part.
Here at Scrubin we are committed to fighting the good fight, and we know you are too! Read on to find out how you can help.

Childhood Cancer
Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing or hearing about a young child battling a life-threatening illness. Sadly, more than 260,000 children have to do just that every year. Some form of cancer will afflict one in 330 children before the age of 30. Childhood cancers spare no ethnic group, no demographic, makes no class distinction. And unlike some other forms of cancer, there are currently few paths to prevention.

The solutions are early detection, effective treatment, and overall public awareness. And there is good news: significant progress continues to be made. The mortality rate for many childhood cancers have been cut in half in recent years, and the survival rate for many childhood cancers is now as high as 86 percent. There has been considerable success with certain clinical trials, and studies show a greater efficacy in treatment options.

But this is a fight still far from being won.  As always funds for additional research are needed. And then there is the more personal support, volunteering to help in your community and let these little heroes know they are not alone.

Ovarian Cancer
This cancer is particularly insidious form of the disease. If detected in its earliest stages, the survival rate is close to 90 percent. Unfortunately, less than 20 percent of cases are detected this early. Why? The disease usually presents few symptoms in its early stages, and it is a disease for which we still do not have adequate early screening.

The key is prevention, and catching the as early as possible. Know the risk factors. Educate yourself, and all the women in your life about what steps can be taken.

Become an advocate today in the fight against Ovarian Cancer!

Prostate Cancer
Next to skin cancer, cancer of the prostate is the most common form of the disease in the United States., and the most common among American men. Older or elderly men especially are vulnerable: the rates of prostate cancer are as high as 80 percent for men who live beyond the age of 80.

But it is, thankfully, a slow-growing form of cancer, and the success rate is very high if it’s caught early enough. Again, the key is early detection. All men — let’s repeat  this, for good measure — ALL MEN, need to be screened. The examination is quick and easy, and there’s no reason not to be conscientious about it.

That compares very favorably to the side effects of prostate removal which can be painful or discouraging for the patient. So again, let’s stress early detection and screening. This is a cancer that can actually be stopped for good!

A diagnosis of cancer, any kind of cancer, is terrifying for the person who’s hearing that news. By doing all we can to advance research, and also taking the time to get screened ourselves, hopefully we can soon end this terrible disease in all its forms so those affected can lead happy, healthy lives.