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Health Notes

BEWARE THE SCARE ... So-called "novelty" or cosmetic contact lenses may be a favorite way for California teens to spice up their Halloween costumes, but using them without first visiting an optometrist could result in eye infections, scarring and permanent eye damage, the California Optometric Association recently warned. Assembly Bill 1382 now makes it unlawful to distribute plano (non-corrective) contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription. Despite the law, novelty lenses can be found at some retail outlets, the Internet, open-air markets, swap meets. For more information, visit www.eyehelp.org.

ACUPUNCTURE AND STROKE ... is the topic of an educational forum at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital on Oct. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. Samuel LeBaron, M.D., director of the Center for Education in Family and Community Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, and Meili Xu, a licensed acupuncturist, will discuss how acupuncture can help stroke survivors. The forum is free and takes place at the Palo Alto VA, Building 101, Auditorium, 3801 Miranda Ave., Palo Alto.

NURSES' STRIKE ... As of press time, a 13-hospital strike by nurses at Sutter Health hospitals was scheduled to begin on Oct. 10 at 7 a.m. and end on Oct. 12 at 7 a.m. It would be the largest nurses' strike in California in nearly10 years, according to the California Nurses Association. On the Peninsula, only California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco and Mills-Peninsula Health Services in Burlingame would be involved in the strike. A Stanford Medical Center spokesperson said Stanford nurses belong to a different union and would not join the strike. They had not yet received a contingency plan from the nurses' union. No backlog of services was anticipated as of last week, the spokesperson said. The Sutter Health nurses report they are striking over patient-care safety, adequate staffing and nurse healthcare-coverage protection.

FLU-SHOT CLINIC ... Sutter VNA & Hospice will host two flu-shot clinics for children ages 9 and older, adults and seniors at Andronico's on Oct. 20 and 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost is $25 each. Pneumonia shots, recommended for seniors, will be available for $35. No appointment is necessary. Andronico's is located at 500 Stanford Shopping Center (corner of Quarry and Arboretum roads).

Health Notes is a monthly feature announcing health and fitness events and news. Send news to Health & Fitness Editor Sue Dremann at sdremann@paweekly.com.