Online Testing

In December we took our Regional online qualification tests for Health Science and Knowledge testing events.  A few of our members took multiple tests while most members took one. The tests that were picked by our HOSA members for Regionals were Behavioral Health, Biomedical Debate, CPR/First Aid, Dental Science, Dental Terminology, Forensic Medicine, Medical Law and Ethics, Human Growth and Development, and Transcultural Health Care Knowledge tests as well as Medical Assisting, Medical Math, Medical Spelling, Medical Terminology, Nursing Assisting, Sports Medicine, and Veterinary Science. Each test was pretty lengthy with 40 questions or more. These were sort of like pretests because we didn’t know which events we wanted to compete in at State yet, but over all they went pretty well for everyone. We also took State qualifying tests in January for members who wanted to compete in those events. The results helped us decide which events would be best for us to continue studying and practicing our skills for to compete in at SLC. In the State qualifying tests we had two people qualify in the top to attend SLC, Juan Rodriquez in Transcultural Healthcare and Alise Hulford in Medical Spelling. 66 members also took the Healthcare Issues exam. We will be attending SLC in Reno in March to use our studying and practicing skills for competition. We will also find out the results of the Healthcare Issues Test.

National Service Project

This year's HOSA National Service Project is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The Elko chapter raised $498 towards the cause through fundraising during HOSA Week and basketball games. We held a chicken drop where students could purchase a square on a numbered board to guess where the chicken would poop. We also had 50/50 raffles at the basketball games along with other small fundraisers throughout the year.
-Kacie Bell

Polar Plunge

Elko HOSA teamed up to jump into ice cold water and raise money for Special Olympics. Together our chapter raised over $560 towards the Nevada Special Olympics. On February 11, 2017 our members jumped into the freezing waters of the Elko Pool. It was a great experience to come together as a chapter and raise money toward a good cause. Members who participated were: Madi Harris, Juan Rodriguez, Kaprice Rolland, Jordan Pollard, Kacie Bell, Alondra Talamantes, Alec Wall, Alise Hulford, and advisor Hilary Kohntopp.

Giving Tree

The holidays are a time with many opportunities for our HOSA chapter to do things for the community. This year we partnered with our school's student council and participated in an annual project called The Giving Tree. The Giving Tree is an event where names of students in need from the local elementary and intermediate schools are collected. The names are then written on ornaments and people are able to rally together in purchasing these children gifts. Elko HOSA adopted 7 children and we assigned items for each of our members to bring from the children's wants and needs. The event took place throughout the month of December and we wrapped the gifts and turned them in to be delivered by Christmas to go under their trees at home. 
-Kacie Bell

Bodybuilder Injects Coconut Oil, Damages Arm Muscle

The pressure in todays society to look great is rising and one gentle men went as far as to inject himself with coconut oil in attempts to increase the size and definition of him arm. Rachel Reltner released on December 1^st an article about an amateur body builder form the United Kingdom who took extreme and dangerous measures for enhance him physical appearance.

            The body builder also used steroids in addition to the coconut oil for increase his muscle definition. The coconut oil lead to the development of cyst inside of the gentlemen’s arm muscles revealed by an ultrasound. While the gentle men also ruptured a tendon from the steroids. After these finding the doctor suspected the man was injecting himself and the man admitted to using coconut oil.

            The mans doctor also pointed out how “alarmingly, this practice, used for the short-term enhancement of muscular appearance, seems to come at a significant cost.” Practices such as injecting oneself with coconut oil may be common due to the fact that they are inexpensive but they are also extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening. No one should take dangerous measures just to make themselves look better. Everyone should put their health first by not only being healthy physically but also having healthy practices in every aspect of life.

-Daisy Uribe

 http://www.livescience.com/57062-bodybuilder-coconut-oil.html

Hydroflask Raffle

Elko HOSA held a fundraiser to purchase a water bottle filling station for the school. To do so, we raffled five Hydroflask water bottles. We wanted to promote healthy habits and the importance of hydration throughout Elko High School. Tickets were sold for $5 per ticket or $20 for five tickets. We raised $700 dollars and will be implementing the filling station this spring!
-Kacie Bell

Colors for Cancer

Colors for Cancer is an annual fundraiser in the month of October at Elko High School. This year our HOSA chapter joined in the activities by selling t-shirts and spreading cancer awareness. Each week is a different cancer/color. We rasied a total of $660.
Week 1: Pink- Breast Cancer
Week 2: Blue- Prostate Cancer
Week: 3: Gray- Brain Cancer
Week 4: Purple- Pancreatic Cancer
Week 5: Orange- Leukemia and Lymphoma
Our HOSA chapter tie dyed t-shirts for each week and sold them for $10 each for students to wear on Wednesdays. The total came to selling nearly 150 shirts. We also hung up posters and handed out information weekly to spread awareness of the signs and facts of each cancer type.
-Kacie Bell