How To Volunteer At A Healthcare Establishment

Volunteering is a fulfilling experience that requires you to commit to a good cause for free. What you get in return are many benefits and a content heart for having made a stranger smile. It is a much better and more fruitful way of spending your extra time than wasting it scrolling through social media for hours.

Studies have shown that volunteering is especially a beneficial practice for people prone to poor emotional and mental health.

But the benefits are not limited to this. You are likely to connect with like-minded people, explore career opportunities, and gain tangible benefits.

Keep in mind that volunteering is unpaid and can prove dangerous depending. Take 9/11 for example. The volunteers who came to the rescue of of individuals lost in the rubble, or those who took part in clean up efforts were exposed to harmful toxins at Ground Zero. These heroic individuals were never paid for their helpful actions, however may have paid the ultimate price in helping.

Side note: There is currently compensation for 9/11 volunteers who stood up to rescue and cleanup when crisis struck, and it’s advised to reach out to an attorney if you believe your medical condition is a direct result of your volunteering during 9/11 efforts.

So, if you choose to use your goodwill in situations of emergency, be assured that you will be compensated if the need arises.

When it comes to volunteering, we mostly think of shelters, campaigns, and cleanup drives.

Do you know where else you can volunteer? A hospital or other healthcare establishment. If you wish to pursue a career in the medical field, you should open a window to volunteering at the nearest hospital. Here is how you can do it.

Make a list of healthcare establishments.

Volunteering at hospitals will require you to give ample time to patients. Therefore, choose a location that is accessible and convenient to reach. You can also look for clinics and nursing homes. They may be small, but they will allow you to connect with your patients better. Though, remember not to get attached to the patients.

Once you have looked through the potential options and called them to ask for volunteering opportunities, you should have a list of shortlisted healthcare centers.

Check requirements and eligibility.

You want to check the healthcare establishment’s volunteer requirements, opportunities, and eligibility criteria. Most hospitals will require you to be 16 years or older. Also, ask them about the time commitment. You might have to see if the time commitment matches your availability if you are a student.

Let them also ask questions to clarify if you are a good fit to volunteer with them.

If all goes well, they might want to take you through a short training with their staff. It is a good idea to clarify all doubts before proceeding with the training.

Check positions available.

There are many things that a volunteer can do. Depending on what the establishment allows you to do, you can work with the hospital staff, spend time with patients, help with administrative tasks, help doctors during surgeries, etc.

There will be jobs for you even if you are not from a medical background. These include reading to patients, bringing them treats, running the front desk, and helping older patients get around. Highlighting your volunteer work on resume can also boost your career prospects.

Feel free to ask the staff for more positions if none fit you. Start thinking about the age group of patients you want to work with or entertain visitors and staff.

Get a health clearance certificate.

Before you start working, you will be required to get a health clearance certificate from the hospital to certify that you are fit to do your job. This will consist of your medical record, immunization history, and maybe even the doctors you have been to for your treatments.

Attend orientation.

You must attend an orientation training to know the workings of the staff, how things are done and what the SOP is for most duties.

Orientation will brief you about the expectations that have been kept on you, the history and mission of the hospital, and the rules and procedures you must take care of. This should be your priority because you want to do things right. Ask any doubts without hesitation.

Be professional.

Even if you are not a full-time employee, you must carry yourself professionally throughout your duties because you represent the organization as a volunteer. Listen to your patients, be respectful, maintain boundaries, but ensure they are taken care of.

However, such helping jobs can get exhausting and drain you of your energy. Do not lose your calm if it happens. Work on building a healthy mindset so you can be fresh and happy while attending to patients.

Conclusion

If you have never given volunteering a chance, it is time you do. There are only a few things as fulfilling as this, and yet it is one of a kind experience. There are plenty of places that are open to volunteers. Look around, and choose your organization.

Build Your Health by Building a Better Lifestyle

As it is always said that health is wealth, you should always try your best to keep your body healthy. A healthy person looks confident, good, and puts their wellbeing first.. Those who do not practice self care often have mood swings and aren’t able to maintain their body weight. A healthy body generally means a body maintained with good nutrition and regular exercise, unlike the one stuffed with harmful food and supplements.

People try various types of healthy foods and supplements to keep their body fit, and also if a person has a healthy body there are various benefits like –

• Helps reduce weight – A person who is overweight may have various types of diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, poor bone density, cancer, etc. A person with overweight should always eat healthy food that includes vegetables, fruits, beans, and foods that are low in calories.

• Improves heart health – If you don’t include healthy food in your diet, then it may lead to high blood pressure or hypertension. This can further lead to diseases like heart failure, heart attack, or stroke. So it is necessary to eat healthy food and supplements to keep your body healthy.

• Reduces the risk of cancer – Eating oily food daily can increase the risk of cancer. In contrast, daily exercise and eating food containing antioxidants can reduce a person’s risk of diagnosing cancer. If a person is overweight, then there are many chances that he could be diagnosed with cancer. So a person should have balanced body weight to reduce the risk of cancer.

• Better mood – Tempermant matters and a healthier person has an improved mood and confidence. An unhealthy person often deals with low self-esteem. He or she feels shy and under-confident in public and always thinks that others will make fun of him. All such thoughts may lead to depression, irritation, and sadness in a person.

• Improves memory of a person – A healthy diet helps in maintaining brain health of a person. A person should include vitamin D, vitamin C, Vitamin E, fish, omega – 3 fatty acids, flavonoids, and polyphenols to improve his memory.

• Strong bones and teeth – If a person includes calcium and magnesium in his diet, it will keep his bones and teeth strong. Healthy bones of a person reduce the risk of bone issues in later life like osteoporosis.

• Helps in diabetes management – Healthy diet manages blood glucose level, keeps blood pressure and cholesterol level within target ranges, prevents complications of diabetes, and maintains moderate body weight. A person with diabetes should limit the intake of sugar and salt in their diet. They should also avoid fried foods that are high in saturated and Trans fats.

As health is one of the most important parts of human life and everyone should try something or the other to keep their body healthy, which is free from diseases. People should also try to have glowing skin that is pimple-free as it can easily enhance their looks.

Some people try various types of food supplements that include diverse food items recommended by websites to maintain their body weight. They also try different types of oils and products to get glowing and healthy skin. But in the end, what happens is that they don’t get the desired results because of which they feel dissatisfied, and it also causes irritation in a person, which results in negative health of a person.

On the internet, you can find a number of sites that will give you various types of health advice. But the best one you should always go for is Nifty Lifestyle as they provide you advice related to natural supplements, healthy nutrition, and general wellness. If you choose Nifty Wellness Lifestyle, you will get the right and accurate information regarding what type of foods and supplements you should eat to keep your body healthy.

Here are some tips that you can follow for a healthy and fit lifestyle:

Exercise Daily:

Make sure you exercise daily for at least an hour. You don’t have to be tough on yourself by running, cycling, etc., but you should have some type of moderate-level physical exercise. If you want to lose some weight quickly, then you need to do a higher-level exercise. For example, you can walk at a brisk pace for at least an hour or jog and set specific intervals to spring during that hour.

Keep in mind that the exercise doesn’t harm or cause pain to your muscles. Also, remember that when you start high-intensity exercise for the first time, it will cause a little ache in your muscles. It may be irritating at times, but it also shows that your body is changing for the better. Make sure to keep yourself hydrated, stretch at regular intervals, and eat food with a decent amount of protein after your workout.

Consume Right Food and Portion Each Meal:

No matter how badly you are tempted to eat candy or sweets, try to stay away from them. This is because the sugar in candy or sweets will not help you to get in shape. Even it is just a single candy, one will lead to another. If you want to get in shape, you will need to focus on fruits and vegetables as they provide the right amount of nutrition to your body. For example, apples are great at keeping your stomach full for up to three to four hours. Additionally, greens vegetables like broccoli and green beans keep your digestive system clean and running.

Track your calories and food intake per day:

Knowing the number of calories you eat will help you plan the exercise for the day. Have you ever wondered why body builder’s masses are so big? That is because they are serious about their meals and healthy calorie intake. Contrarily, if you want to lose weight and get in the right shape, then you need to exercise more than your calorie intake.

Get enough sleep:

It is essential to get enough sleep to recharge your body’s batteries, so make sure you get at least eight of sleep daily. Besides, if you feel tired after coming from work, you can take a small nap before exercising. Make sure you nap for only half an hour as it will prevent you from staying up later at night.

8 Natural Ways To Boost The Immune System

Health is everything. It is the foundation of a successful life, and the basis of happiness, and fortune. However, good health is one of those things that people tend to take for granted until something threatens it.

When it comes to protecting your health, a thriving, stronger, and active immune system is essential. Here are a few natural ways to keep your immune system healthy.

1) Exercise Regularly

Regular exercise can help boost the immune system. As per this study regular exercise mobilizes immune system cells and protects a person against viral and flu infections. In fact, it takes just a small amount of exercise to help boost immunity. Therefore, attending a yoga class a few times a week, or going for a short run or stroll regularly, can help keep you both physically fit and help strengthen your immune system. Another benefit of regular exercise is that it can flush bacteria out of the lungs by allowing the immune system to detect illness early on.

2) Stress Reduction

Chronic stress is harmful to the immune system. As per the same study, prolonged exposure to stress can wear down the immune system and increase a person’s vulnerability to illness. This is why if a person is suffering from chronic stress, it is important to address that stress head on. To keep your stress levels in check, try incorporating regular meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises into your daily life. These mindful methods can help minimize the stress by evening out your emotional landscape.

3) Sound Sleep and Hygiene

It may seem obvious to some, but lack of sleep can weaken the immune system and its responses to vaccines. Therefore, try getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep. A good nights rest helps regulate immune function. So if you are having some trouble falling to sleep, try listening to some relaxing music before bedtime.

Another healthy habit to prevent sickness is good hygiene. This may seem obvious too, but its important to practice good personal hygiene by washing your hands for 15 to 20 seconds before preparing food and eating. Wash hands after using bathroom, coughing, sneezing or touching public surfaces. And avoid sharing personal hygiene items such as a toothbrush, comb, or razor with others.

4) A Balanced Diet

Food is thy medicine. And a nutritious diet is essential in order to support a strong immune system. A diet that is rich in antioxidants is a healthy diet for the liver. The liver is the first line of immune defense and its role is to clear, capture and detect bacteria, viruses and macromolecules. An antioxidant rich diet includes fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. And foods, such as garlic, has virus-fighting and bacteria-killing properties, and ginger has a natural anti-inflammatory property. Additionally, remember to stay hydrated, which helps every cell in the body operate at its best.

5) Herbs and Supplements

There are several vitamins and minerals that support the immune system. Taking zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin C regularly help boost immunity when suffering from chronic infections and illnesses. Natural herbal supplements such as astragalus, echinacea, and elderberry are known to help reduce the duration and severity of sickness. However, those should be taken as soon as you start to experience cold or flu symptoms.

6) Soak Up Some Sun

A little bit of Vitamin D is an immunity supercharger. It takes only 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure to get more than enough daily vitamin D that a person needs for a strong immune system.

7) Moderate Alcohol Consumption

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to serious health issues. It can damage liver cells and scar the liver. So drink in moderation.

8) Stop the Habit of Smoking

Smoking impairs the immune system. Smoking can create a negative impact on both adaptive and innate immunity. By smoking, you reduce the effectiveness of your immune system and increase the risk of cancer.

Age more gracefully by taking these natural steps to boost your immune system through diet, exercise and a more mindful daily routine. A strong immune system will help prevent the development of life-threating diseases. So, take good care of yourself, live long and prosper.