The American Red Cross recommends team officials, coaches and parents take steps to help ensure the safety of their players during the recent excessive heat.

“Keeping athletes safe is crucial,” said Janienne Bella, central and western Oklahoma regional CEO.

“Make sure athletes stay hydrated. Have everyone drink plenty of fluids like water or sports drinks with electrolytes before, during and after activities.”

Team practices should be scheduled for early in the day and later in the evening to avoid exposing players to the hottest times of the day.

The start of each semester is always filled with excitement and optimism, but those feelings can fade quickly as the demands of classes and life in general kick in. Students can help themselves keep their focus and move forward successfully by remembering just a few tips for success.

First of all, it is very important for students to take good care of themselves. Staying hydrated, eating nutritious meals and getting enough sleep are essential if they want to do their best with the least amount of struggle.

The Injury Prevention Service of the Oklahoma State Department of Health will host “Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance” instructor training workshops across Oklahoma. Those who successfully complete the two-day workshop are qualified to lead “Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance” classes.

Participants will be expected to help expand this program by teaching classes in their communities to help prevent injuries from falls. Free instructor training will be held in Norman with a limited number of spots available.

To enroll in a workshop, contact Avy Redus by phone at 405-271-3430 or at AvyD@health.ok.gov. The training schedule is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 25 and 26 at the Norman Senior Citizens Center.

This is in response to “Pornography has its Good Points,” Jake McMahon, June 7.

I am aghast any paper would choose to print the ramblings of a guy who thinks porn actually decreases sexual assaults on women.

The insensitivity expressed in McMahon’s piece was truly shocking and shows just how clueless some men evidently are regarding sexual violence.

Recently, I completed one of the most challenging tasks I’d been assigned since entering OCCC. It was a speech; a group debate in which the teammates were chosen at random, and the topics of debate and the teams’ stances were chosen blindly out of a hat.

Some students found themselves arguing for things they’d never heard of before. I found myself arguing in favor of something that I have studied well and have stood passionately against for a long time. I took to the task with great gusto and gave the best speech I could, or really a performance rather, and I nailed it.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health urges parents to get their children’s birth certificates now, rather than early to mid-August, which is typically the busiest time to obtain birth records as parents prepare to get their children back to school.

Birth records are available at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th Street.

Birth certificates are issued between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for legal holidays.

To obtain a copy of a birth certificate, qualified applicants will need to provide the child’s full name, date of birth, place of birth, parents’ full names (including the maiden name of the mother), and furnish a government-issued photo I.D. Applications, as well as a complete list of authorized applicants, are available online at http://vr.health.ok.gov.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health reports that each year, Oklahoma ranks among those states with the highest number of cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever as well as other tickborne illnesses such as ehrlichiosis and tularemia. In 2014, 34 cases of tickborne diseases have been reported to the OSDH, with two individuals hospitalized.

The symptoms of a tickborne illness may include fever, chills, muscle aches, vomiting and fatigue. Other symptoms may include a skin rash or painful swelling of lymph nodes near the tick bite.

June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month and is the perfect time to enjoy the season’s bounty. From fresh peaches to homegrown tomatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful throughout the summer months.

During Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month, “Shape Your Future,” the Oklahoma State Department of Health along with the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, is encouraging Oklahomans to visit local farmers markets to support local farmers, and to also enjoy the taste and benefits of homegrown fruits and vegetables.

A woman’s health before, during and between pregnancies can have a profound impact on the health of both mother and baby.

For this reason, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and more than 20 partners of the “Preparing for a Lifetime, It’s Everyone’s Responsibility” initiative are working to improve birth outcomes and prevent infant mortality in Oklahoma.

The American Red Cross is now offering Advanced Child Care Training, a course for people 16 years and older who are or plan to become nannies, sought-after babysitters or who are caring for kids for the first time in a residential setting.

Parents value a well-trained sitter, as more than 80 percent of parents say they would pay more for a sitter who is trained in CPR, first aid and child care skills, according to a 2012 Red Cross survey. The course also is a good option for grandparents and other relatives who might want a child care refresher before watching young children.