Stroke has a new indicator

I’m not big on sending on those “did you know” type messages, but I thought this one was worthwhile.

Blood Clots/Stroke - Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue

Stroke: Remember The 1st Three Letters..... S. T. R.

Stroke Identification:

During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) ......she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.

Jane's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Jane passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

Recognising A Stroke

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR. Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)

(i..e. It is sunny out today.)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

Read and Learn

www.stroke.org.uk

USA continues with nuclear power generation

Countries across the world are reflecting upon their civil nuclear power aspirations following in the wake of the Fukushima incident.  Strategic reviewing of the safety case for the generation of electricity by nuclear reactor is being undertaken, with a small number of Governments already deciding that the perceived risk attached to nuclear generated power being too great to continue to support.  Switzerland has determined to phase out nuclear power generation by 2034, in 2011 Germany shut down 8 nuclear reactors and recent actions by overseas companies have seriously dented the UK’s plans for new build power generation.

However the USA is continuing with its plans to expand the output capacity of its plants.  The Real Deal, South Florida Real Estate News, reports discussions there revolve around the costs of upgrading existing facilities and who will pay for it.  In Florida, Florida Power & Light’s plans to expand four of its nuclear reactors at its plants in St. Lucie, on Hutchinson Island north of Palm Beach and its Turkey Point plant in Miami-Dade County, south of Miami have seen the projected costs rise to $3 billion.  This reflects a significant rise in the original cost plan, roughly double the original estimated rise.  To help pay for this FPL is seeking $151 million in advance nuclear from customers in 2013, equating to a contribution of between $1.50 & $2.50 a month, a strategy yet to be ratified by the Florida Public Service Commission.

Interestingly, an FPL spokesman attributes some of the uplift in cost to increased requirements from the USA’s nuclear governance organisation, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This potentially reflect an even greater awareness of the worldwide focus on nuclear power generation and perhaps recognising the proximity of Turkey Point to Homestead, the town decimated by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.  FPL is also promoting the other beneficial effects of the upgrades, stating that it is estimated the upgrades will save customers a total of $3.8 billion in fossil fuel costs over the units' lifetimes, with $114 million in savings in the first full year of operation. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by an estimated 32 million tons.

As reported in the Palm Beach Post, Jerry Paul, a former reactor engineer and the former deputy administrator of the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration, "The low operating costs make nuclear the cheapest base load form of energy even though construction costs are higher. If you want cleaner air and you want cost effective electricity, nuclear power has to be part of the mix."

How big a part is clearly the question?

Time to review and reassess?

James Alexander Consultants are helping bring clarity to the challenges the asset portfolio’s of their clients bring.  Determining the relevance your owned or leased assets has to your business and its long term effect is fundamental to ensuring you have the correct profile in place.  Planning and managing the utilisation of those assets and their place in your business is our speciality.

James Alexander Consultants are expert in assessing your portfolio and, with you, determining a strategy to develop the correct balance of assets, their relevance and performance for you.  We develop, plan and implement the strategy, leaving you to focus on core activity and opportunity.

Our focus is to maximise the opportunity your built and land assets brings to your business whilst minimising the liabilities.  Get in touch with us to see how we can help you address lease related problems, acquisitions or disposals and help bring your portfolio into line for your business needs.

eMail us on innovation@jaltd.co.uk or see our contact page for our numbers.  We look forward to speaking with you.

It’s Flexible Working Week!

It’s been Flexible Working Week this week and that hasn’t meant you can choose whether to work or not (hard luck!) but this week acknowledges that the office based working week of today is able to be so much more adaptable than ever before.

It is the technological advances that have been made which have enabled the office to come with you wherever you may be.  Mobile devices are pocket sized and, with a generous sprinkling of Apps, can enable work documents and information to be with you wherever you are and to bring the ability to receive and send communications in any number of forms;  eMail, texts, social media, Internet, Intranet all available to put to use.  However, these can only be effective if there are a number of non technological elements brought into play.  These revolve around organisational will and processes.  If the tools are on place, but the supporting structure is not there, things are not going to go well.

www.londonlovesbusiness.com in association with Microsoft has produced a guide to effective, flexible working (download it here: http://bit.ly/JmeaA3 )

To the organisation there exists the opportunity to increase productivity from an existing resource but there are additional advantages to both the workforce and the organisation:

·         It is estimated that 83% of companies are already offering some form of flexible working arrangement to staff.

·         Collaborative working has become easier and more accessible

·         Flexible working can lead to more flexible working hours, no need to be tied to the usual 9-5.

·         New working practices are developed for efficiency and a faster take up by staff.

·         Staff wellbeing increases, with a more equitable work life balance.

·         Reductions in travel in terms of time and cost are significant benefits to the employee, the company, and the planet.

The successful introduction of new working practices that allow for more flexible working patterns rely on a number of factors working in concert.  The employer has to provide the right tools, environment and encouragement, the employee has to adapt and develop new disciplines of their own.  Most will embrace the opportunities, some may need more encouragement but the potential exists to have a significant impact on the company as well as the individual.

Broadgate heads for a facelift:

London’s iconic Broadgate development is to get a spruce up if a planning application submitted by the owners, British Land and Blackstone Group, is approved the London Office Database blog from Estates Gazette reports.

The 32-acre (13 ha) office and retail estate in the City of London was built in the 1980’s and as well as providing some 4 million square feet of mixed usage real estate it is also home to some of the City’s most iconic public art, including Richard Serra’s Fulcrum, a 55ft tall installation.  The application will see more shops and restaurants as well as outdoor seating and new canopies to create more usable outdoor space.  It is understood that the application also includes for the conversion of certain basement areas into gyms, not a bad idea given that approx. 25,00 work in the estate.

It is assumed that the planning application is timed to dovetail with the current redevelopment of numbers 4 & 5 Broadgate.  No. 4 was at one time home to the late Security Pacific and no. 5 is to become the new UBS HQ in the City.

It is hoped that the new design will also include for more viewing areas for the outdoor ice rink, as, in the winter months, it is usually very difficult to get a decent spot to see the antics of those skaters who have recently left Corney & Barrow!

Normal service has been resumed, time for a coffee

Costa expands the brew:

Our friends at Move Hut (www.movehut.co.uk) report that the Whitbread owned Costa Coffee brand is on the expansion trail with a worldwide doubling of outlets to over 3,500.  The programme will cost in excess of £350 million.  The availability of quality high street locastion in the UK has helped the decision making process for Whitbread Chief Executive Andy Harrison.

Just when you thought the High Street couldn’t accommodate any more Cappucinos or Lattes, you can now look forward to a fresh one coming to a site near you!