Volunteers of America Alaska ARCH
(907) 694-3336
www.voaak.org
8012 Stewart Mountain Drive
Eagle River AK 99577

Rehabilitation Services

Primary Focus: Substance abuse treatment services
Services Provided: Substance abuse treatment
Type of Care: Residential long-term treatment (more than 30 days)
Special Programs/Groups: Adolescents, Residential beds for clients' children

Surgical Cosmetic

Cosmetic surgery enhances one's appearance through surgical and medical techniques by maintaining normal appearance, restoring it or enhancing it beyond the average and towards the aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic surgery reshapes normal structures of the body in order to improve the appearance and self-esteem of the patient. Reconstructive surgery corrects abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It improves functions, but may also approximate a normal appearance. Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are non-surgical treatments used to reduce the appearance of facial lines, remove unwanted hair and even out skin pigmentation.

Crash in Bed, Not on the Road

Most people are aware of the hazards of drunk driving. But driv­ing while sleepy can be just as dangerous. Indeed, crashes due to sleepy drivers are as deadly as those due to drivers impaired by alcohol. People do not have to be asleep at the wheel to be in danger. Both alcohol and a lack of sleep hamper the ability to react quickly to a suddenly braking car, a sharp curve in the road or other situations that require rapid responses. Just a delay of a few seconds of reaction time can be a life-or-death matter when driving. When sleep deprived people undergo a test using a driving simulator, these people perform as badly or worse than people who are drunk. The com­bination of alcohol and lack of sleep can be especially dangerous.
Of course, driving is also hazardous if people fall asleep at the wheel, which happens surprisingly often. One-quarter of the drivers surveyed in New York State reported having fallen asleep at the wheel at some time. Often, people briefly nod off at the wheel without being aware of it. These people just cannot recall what happened over the previous few seconds or longer. In addition, people who lack sleep are more apt to take risks and make poor judg­ments, which can also boost chances of getting in a car crash.
Here are some potentially life-saving tips for avoiding drowsy driving:
Be well rested before hitting the road. After multiple nights in a row of having fewer than seven to eight hours of sleep, the reaction time of the body slows. Restoring that reaction time to normal often takes more than one night of good sleep because a sleep debt accumulates after each night of lost sleep. It may take several nights of sleeping good to repay that sleep debt and ensure that the body is ready for driving on a long road trip.
Avoid driving between midnight and 7 AM. Unless the body is accustomed to being awake then, this period is when people are naturally the most tired.
Do not drive alone. A companion who can keep the driver engaged in conversation might help keep the person awake while driving.
Schedule frequent breaks on long road trips. If the driver is feeling sleepy, pull off the road and take a nap for 15 to 20 minutes.
Do not drink alcohol. Having one beer while being sleep deprived affects the body as much as two or three beers when the body is at its best.
Do not depend on caffeine. Although drinking a cola or a cup of coffee might help keep the body awake for a short time, it will not help overcome excessive sleepiness or relieve a sleep debt.
Opening a window or turning up the radio while driving will not help the driver stay awake while driving. Be aware of these warning signs that a person is too sleepy to drive safely: trouble keeping the eyes focused; continual yawning; and being unable to recall driving the last few miles. Remember, if the body is short on sleep, stay out of the driver's seat!