Footwear‑Related Skin Breakdown: First Aid & Prevention for Medical Staff
Footwear Problems That Lead to Skin Breakdown Shoes That Chafe Chafing occurs when shoes rub repeatedly against the skin, usually at the heel, ankle, or top of the foot. Common causes: stiff materials, synthetic linings, poor fit, or new shoes not yet broken in. Chafing can quickly progress to blisters, cuts, and pressure injuries. Shoes That Are Too Tight Tight shoes compress the toes, forefoot, and sides of the foot. This leads to: Redness Pressure points Skin shearing Nail trauma Blisters between...
Read MoreFirst Aid & Protective Solutions
Loose Wool for Rubbing & Pressure Points Place a small tuft of loose wool: Over bunions Under toes Around heels On top of the foot Inside hiking boots Wool reduces friction, absorbs moisture, and prevents heat buildup. Merino Wool Strands Between Toes A 12” merino strand prevents: Moisture accumulation Skin maceration Toe‑to‑toe rubbing Ideal for diabetics, athletes, and people with toe deformities. Wool Insoles for Synthetic‑Surface...
Read MoreFootwear‑Related Skin Breakdown: First Aid & Prevention for Medical Staff
Footwear‑Related Skin Breakdown: First Aid & Prevention for Medical Staff Footwear Problems That Lead to Skin Breakdown Shoes That Chafe Chafing occurs when shoes rub repeatedly against the skin, usually at the heel, ankle, or top of the foot. Common causes: stiff materials, synthetic linings, poor fit, or new shoes not yet broken in. Chafing can quickly progress to blisters, cuts, and pressure injuries. Shoes That Are Too Tight Tight shoes compress the toes, forefoot, and sides of the foot. This leads to: Redness Pressure points Skin shearing Nail trauma Blisters between...
Read MoreFor most authors, the writing process is a labour of love.
Cowichan Valley writer Teresa Schapansky knows how joyous and painful the chore of writing a book based on a true-life tale of abuse and survival can be. The recent release of Don’t Tell, Troy Eklund’s poignant story of a childhood marked by sexual, physical and emotional abuse, was the culmination of a four-year process that had intense ups and downs. Work on the book began in 2019 when Eklund, a former classmate of Schapansky in Lake Cowichan, contacted her and said it was time to tell his story. “I had an immediate flashback to 1987, our Grade 10 year together at L.C.S.S. in Lake...
Read MoreSheep’s Wool: An Old‑World Solution Poised to Transform Modern Healthcare
For more than a century, sheep’s wool quietly served as one of the most effective, accessible, and humane tools in medical care. From the 1850s through the 1950s, nurses, midwives, and physicians relied on wool for wound protection, pressure relief, moisture management, and infection prevention. It was trusted because it worked, naturally, consistently, and without the complications that accompany many modern synthetics. And then, almost overnight, wool disappeared from clinical practice. Not because it failed. Not because new evidence disproved its effectiveness. But because the world...
Read MoreThe Giving Season
“What if Christmas doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!”” Quote from the Grinch, Dr. Seuss1957 December… synonymous with Christmas for me. So a couple of weeks ago I started asking some friends about their happiest recollections of this festive season and every time someone would hark back to a special moment it set off another lightbulb in the ol’ brainola. Gotta tell some tales. Sheesh, I could write a book! Family was the common thread to my friends’ memories of Christmas. Me too. But more specifically it...
Read MoreSchool Daze
For the last month my mind has been filled with end-of-summer stuff, like harvest, canning and all things farm-like. That is until I see the school buses & the kids on their way to, what many would term as, their own private slice of Hell. That wasn’t the case for me when Dad made his last army transfer to London, Ontario & the wonderful public highschool of Sir Adam Beck. Before that it was Catholic elementary in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland & my first (& last) introduction to schooling with nuns. I have a clear memory of registration day. My sisters & I were almost at...
Read MoreDiabetes is a disease that we all must keep a careful eye out for.
Our modern diet and sedentary ways are making it difficult for many of us to steer clear of this disease that in Canada impacts approximately 10% of our population (Pre-diabetes account for 6%). Diabetics struggle to produce insulin effectively, which impacts their circulation and immunity, and often causes damage to the sensory nerves in the hands and feet. Due to numbness, a diabetic may not feel a foot injury, blister or cut on their feet or legs (called peripheral neuropathy). This poor circulation and nerve damage can further prevent ulcers and wounds from healing properly, which in turn...
Read MoreHeart on the road: Meet Shirley Vaux, a volunteer driver lighting up lives across Vancouver Island
When Shirley retired from a successful career in real estate, she wasn’t ready to slow down. Instead, she was ready to give back. After decades in leadership roles, she felt a growing desire to connect with her community on a more personal level. In May 2022, she traded business meetings for long road trips and became a volunteer driver for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Wheels of Hope program. Shirley, who radiates empathy and generosity, embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly. It was just a perfect fit. Now serving as the “Van Captain” for the Nanaimo Wheels of Hope...
Read MoreNo hats at the dinner table young man!
A recent social media post depicting Donald J. Trump in a casual setting invited comments on the candid picture of the U.S. president, specifically his appearance. Predictably and perhaps appropriately, many of the comments were nasty. Some viewers noted that the president appears to have aged dramatically. Other sharp-eyed commenters marvelled at how well Trump’s right ear appears to have healed. It’s almost as if a bullet never grazed his lobe. Hmm. Meanwhile, one person suggested “a gentleman never wears a hat indoors.” Trump, of course, was wearing one of his infamous Make...
Read MoreThe Unsung Hero of Skin Health
How Sheep’s Wool Protects Against Moisture and Breakdown For individuals who are wheelchair-bound or bedridden, managing moisture is not just a comfort issue—it’s a matter of health. Prolonged exposure to dampness can lead to skin maceration, pressure ulcers, and infections. But one natural material has quietly proven itself to be a powerful ally in the fight against skin breakdown: sheep’s wool. Sheep’s wool, particularly in its raw or medical-grade form, offers a unique combination of properties that make it ideal for pressure relief and moisture control. Its fibers are naturally...
Read MoreSpring to Summer in a Flash
Well we’re halfway through Spring and heading at breakneck speed into summer.At least that’s the case for most of Canada. Here on our Pacific Island paradise most bulbed flowers like snowdrops, daffs, and tulips are long gone and my hands are just itching to start getting all my veggie garden seeds in the warm earth, regardless of the age-old rule of waiting for Victoria Day. That’s for the rest of this country. I know I should have been concentrating earlier on pruning the grape vines, and as I ramble into the orchard that goes for the bloom’in plum, cherry & peach trees...
Read MoreAs I’m sure the readers of Island Woman magazine would agree,
we all love Vancouver Island! We are so fortunate to live in a place so rich with culture, diversity and natural beauty, and one that provides so many options for fresh, local food and beverages I am thrilled to be back as the Minister of Agriculture and Food and be part of a government that is working full steam ahead to strengthen and diversify our economy. Although there is currently some uncertainty about what is going to happen with tariffs and how that will impact our longstanding trading relationship with our neighbours to the south, one thing we do know is the B.C. government and...
Read MoreSupporting Local Farmers & Food Sources
Seniors101.ca has always been committed to supporting local farmers and agriculture. We take immense pride in Vancouver Island’s communities,and we’ve written often about local food security and the ‘100-mile diet’. We’ve shared Lana Popham thoughts, (who we are pleased to see is stepping back into the role of Minister of Agriculture and Food), and we list and feature local food and farmers. Now, with ongoing trade uncertainties, there is a renewed social and political push to prioritize shopping locally. The Importance of Supporting Local Agriculture Choosing local produce...
Read MoreBuying Local and Canadian is Key to Canada’s Economic Prosperity
If you’ve been following the news, you saw over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, except for energy, which was set at 10%. He has also reiterated his stance that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state In response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a series of Canadian tariffs on U.S. goods, set to take effect on February 4, with additional measures to follow. Provinces and territories have also acted, including halting the purchase of alcohol imported from certain U.S. states. You can read Premier David...
Read MoreDying From or Living With: Cancer Reimagined
My first awareness of cancer as something to fear was when I was eleven and visiting my mother’s parents in New Zealand. We traveled from Montreal, Canada, to spend the holidays with my mother’s parents. It rained a lot during that visit, and my younger brother had a cold. Because he had a cold and because my grandfather was dying from cancer, my grandfather stayed in his room, and we were not allowed to see him, “In case you get him sick,” the adults told us. My grandfather was an engineer with Boeing Airlines, and he, along with the other engineers, was exposed to various...
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