A new Canadian study shows that radon exposure is on the rise. The study, led by Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, found that almost one in five homes in Canada has radon levels above the Canadian radon guideline of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³). In the Interior of B.C., it’s one in three.

*Trigger warning: This story deals with suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Orion remembers everything about the day the tsunami struck Thailand on December 26, 2004. He remembers what he was wearing, what he ate at every meal, and every person he interacted with. “I saw a lot of people die,” Orion recalls. “And on that day, I saw devils and angels. But sadly, it was mostly devils. Some people were kind and positive. But I’d say most – and by most, I mean the tourists – behaved poorly and selfishly. People were scared. People were raw.” Orion returned home to Calgary, awash with survivor’s guilt. For two months, friends and family members called or visited. “It was emotionally overpowering.  Everyone wanted to tell me something they always meant to say to me. It was like hearing your own eulogy every day,” shares Orion. Long before, he had learned to suppress his emotions, and soon stopped talking about his experiences. “I was always known as the calm one in my family,” he says. “I never freaked out. I never got angry.” He developed a severe sleeping disorder and couldn’t get more than four to five hours of sleep a night. Two years later, in 2006, he started to contemplate suicide. “Counselling back then was almost non-existent. I was a successful businessman and thought I could power through,” he shares. “I don’t recall being depressed or anxious. But I was just so exhausted and couldn’t figure a way out.”

From herbs that "cure" Alzheimer’s, to ”cancer causing” sunscreens, to microchips in vaccines, health information can range from the absurd to the downright dangerous. Whether you call it pseudoscience, junk science or just bad fact checking, health misinformation abounds. Most is designed to either make you click a headline, or part you with your money. We sat down with Rebecca Johns, a librarian with Interior Health Library Services,* who teaches how to understand, spot and address health misinformation.

Foundations in the Interior region raise funds that support medical equipment, care needs, and innovative local initiatives in their communities. Each organization includes respected community leaders, volunteers and staff who are passionate about meeting the needs of patients and families in Interior Health. Thanks to the generosity of their supporters, we all have a stronger health system.  In this next story of our series on the incredible health-care and hospital foundations throughout our region, we interviewed Ian Lindsay, chief executive officer of the South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Medical Foundation.

Name: Emma Klassen (she/her/hers) Job Title: Recreation Activity Worker Years of service: 1 Worksite: Apple Valley & Hawthorn Park Adult Day Services Community: Kelowna Ancestral territory: syilx Nation Favourite Quote /Advice to Live By: “Do better, be better.” Emma is a daughter, sister, auntie, social worker, counsellor and recreational therapist, and a mother to five children. Before joining Interior Health (IH), Emma worked as a counsellor for children and youth for six years with the Westbank First Nation. She loved her counselling career, and helped people and families with addiction, suicide and their day-to-day struggles. She also served as a bail supervisor for young offenders for several years. When she was a counsellor, she and her team created a memorandum of understanding in partnership with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to create transparency in youth care.

If you’re hit by a vehicle doing 30 km/hr, your chance of survival is approximately nine out of 10. At 50 km/hr? Your chances drop to about two out of 10. In other words, the human body is no match for 2,500 kg of steel. Road users like pedestrians, cyclists and riders on wheels (e.g., scooters and skateboards)—anyone who isn’t protected by a vehicle—are at the greatest risk of being injured. Safety experts call these people “vulnerable road users.”

Moving to a new place often marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in one's life. For Ben Zygarlicki, relocating from Manitoba to the Interior Health (IH) region was more than just a change of scenery—it was a significant step towards building a life centered around personal and professional fulfillment. Ben's decision to move to the Interior was primarily influenced by personal reasons, particularly to be closer to his partner who resides in the region. However, it wasn't just matters of the heart that drew him here; the allure of the region's natural beauty played a pivotal role. "I have really enjoyed living in the region so far," Ben shares. "I love the mountain ranges and lakes. The people are also a pretty good bonus to the area. Everyone has been so welcoming and eager to help in my transition."

Halloween can be an exciting time for children, but, with the distraction of candy and costumes, safety rules can easily be forgotten. As we approach the Halloween season, the IH Healthy Schools team has put together some tips including tips from Food Allergy Canada to keep children safe and healthy during their trick-or-treating adventures.   

Name: Suzie Kinnunen (she/her/hers) Job Title: Respiratory Therapist/Respiratory Patient Educator Years of Service: 3 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: syilx Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “It doesn't cost you anything to be kind.” Suzie Kinnunen was born in Winnipeg and raised in West Kelowna, where she has lived most of her life. Suzie has been a respiratory therapist and respiratory patient educator with Interior Health (IH) at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) for the past three years. Another fun fact about Suzie is that at the age of four, before moving to West Kelowna, she lived in India for two years.