Mom of the Month - Janae Copelin

Breastfeeding, what a wonderful gift to give to your child, but oh so frustrating and disappointing when that natural God given method doesn't work.

My first child wouldn't latch and was formula fed & has turned into a healthy beautiful little girl, but this second time I was determined to make it work.

What could be better (and let's be honest, cheaper) than breastfeeding? Problem was my precious baby boy wasn't interested in latching on either.

Thankfully I had the support of the Livingston County Breastfeeding Counselor, Rachel!!

This time around I chose to pump & while it's time consuming and a bit of work I'm so very glad I made that choice. Those early days were hard, I won't lie, I felt like that machine was sucking out my soul every 2-3 hours & it can be disheartening to pump for 20 minutes and only get an ounce or two, but I pushed through and now we are in our 9th month of pumping!!!

I've learned over the past nine months that the key for me is consistency...the more often I pump the more milk I produce.

My advice to mommas out there that are thinking of pumping, just do it!! You'll be in a group of your own & no doubt some will think you crazy (especially when you mention you've pumped in parking lots & other odd places lol) but is it really that much different than regular breastfeeding? ...I think not!!



Holiday Travel Safety

With the Christmas holidays fast approaching, many of you are making plans for trips to see relatives and friends.  While fitting all your luggage into the car and still leaving room for the presents you’ll bring home is important, there is an even more important concern: your safety and that of your passengers. 

When planning holiday travel, it’s important to follow a few driving-related precautions to help ensure your family’s safety.

Plan your route before you get on the road. Check for things like weather, construction, or severe traffic that may force you to detour from your normal path (in which case it would be good to have a GPS or map handy). Be aware of any tolls you might encounter and have plenty of cash on hand.
Take your car to a mechanic or service it yourself to make sure it is in top operating condition. Check all fluid levels and tire pressure, including the spare. Know phone numbers for roadside assistance in case your vehicle breaks down.
Make sure your cell phone is fully charged, and then leave it alone while you’re driving.  Any activity that distracts your eyes from the road is dangerous.  Cell phone use is the number one distraction.  You may not believe it, but the amount of time it takes to send an average text takes your eyes off the road for the length of a football field.  Let your co-pilot check your messages, decipher the GPS and help you watch for road hazards. 
If you are traveling with children, have plenty of activities to occupy them, as distracted parents can be a danger on the road. Make sure electronic devices are fully charged. Try to stop every two to three hours to stretch your legs and give yourself a break. The most important thing to remember is that every person in your vehicle should be wearing a seatbelt, no matter the age. It is especially important to make sure children are in proper seats corresponding to their size/age. Seatbelts increase your chance of surviving an accident by 75%.
Keep an emergency kit on hand, including flares, duct tape, a flashlight, bandages, water, snacks etc.  I always pack a blanket or two in the car just in case.  They may come in handy if you get stranded in cold weather.
When traveling with pets, they should be in a secured crate or special “pet seatbelt.”  That may sound ridiculous, but it is as important as making sure children are buckled. If you are in an accident your pet can become a projectile, not only injuring themselves, but possibly injuring yourself or passengers. Just like children, pets can be severely injured by airbags. They also can be a danger if left running loose in the car by distracting the driver, or (in the case of small pets) getting down by the gas and brake pedals, with the potential of causing an accident.
If your holiday travel involves parties including alcoholic beverages,  please, please get a designated driver or stay put until you are sober. 
Try to plan your travel when you are wide awake and alert.  Driving at night when traffic is lighter and kids can sleep can be convenient, but make sure you take turns driving and keeping each other awake if you have a partner.  If you don’t, even a short nap takes away some of the risk of driving when you’re too tired.  Exhaustion is a distraction, too!
Don’t let heavy traffic, impolite drivers or the possibility of being late stress you out. Remain calm, obey all traffic laws, and get to your destination safely!
All services of the Livingston County Health Center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

 

12 Ways to Health

Show Me Health

Christmas is a special time to celebrate and be thankful for family and friends. Give the gift that keeps on giving this season, the gift of health and safety to yourself and others.

Here is a rewrite of “12 Days of Christmas.” I think you will like the creativity shown. Sing along with the words to remind you to keep using healthy behaviors during the holidays and throughout the year.

1. The first way to health, Public Health said to me:

Wash hands to be safe and healthy.

2. The second way to health, Public Health said to me:

Bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

3. The third way to health, Public Health said to me:

Manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

4. The fourth way to health, Public Health said to me:

Don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

5. The fifth way to health, Public Health said to me:

BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

6. The sixth way to health, Public Health said to me:

Fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

7. The seventh way to health, Public Health said to me:

Get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

8. The eighth way to health, Public Health said to me:

Get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

9. The ninth way to health, Public Health said to me:

Monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

10. The tenth way to health, Public Health said to me:

Practice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

11. The eleventh way to health, Public Health said to me:

Prepare dinner safely, practice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

12. The twelfth way to health, Public Health said to me:

Eat well and get moving, prepare dinner safely, practice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

Have a Healthy & Safe Holiday Season!

Source: Centers for Disease Control

Livingston County Health Center Receives Report of First Confirmed Case of Influenza

December 5, 2013:  Livingston County Health Center has received its first surveillance report of a confirmed case of influenza in the county, coming two months earlier than past flu seasons.  

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Over a period of 31 seasons between 1976 and 2007, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. During a regular flu season, about 90 percent of deaths occur in people 65 years and older. The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May.

During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population. An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.

It’s important to remember that everyone plays a key role in limiting the spread of influenza and other “bugs” going around this time of year.  

Handwashing , next to vaccination, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of flu.  Don’t just say you’re doing it, make sure to do it.  Don’t just tell your kids to be sure to wash their hands, make sure they are doing it.  Have hand soap and towels, preferably paper towels, readily available in every bathroom and at every sink. 

Teach yourself not to touch your face: eyes, nose, mouth will prevent a lot of germs and viruses that might be on your hands or on surfaces you touch, from getting into your body and making you sick.  This sounds easy, but old habits are hard to break. 

Routinely wipe down your work surface, phone, computer keyboard, doorknobs, etc. with sanitizing wipes or a bleach/water solution. 

Grab those handy wipes for your cart at the grocery store.  They don’t make you look like a nerd, they remove the residue of probably thousands of grimy paws that have touched the handle of your cart. 

Stay home if you are sick, if at all possible.  Keep your kids home from school, even if they have to miss a game or a school party or program.  Avoid large crowds like sports events, church, community events, etc. if you or someone in your family is sick.  It seems like common sense, but how many times have you sat by someone hacking and coughing during one of these gatherings?   A sneeze can travel up to twenty feet. 

The flu shot does not protect from all types of illnesses going around in the winter.  Each year, the vaccine chooses 3-4 of the deadliest strains of flu in the world and creates a vaccine to prevent hospitalizations and death.  The vaccine is not 100% effective, but it provides way more protection than not getting the shot. 

County residents can walk in and receive a flu shot at our office from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on any Tuesday or Friday.  We have a good supply of vaccine right now, come get your shot while it’s still available. 

Adult vaccine will be given out until the supply is exhausted.   Those residents seeking children’s vaccine should call the health center at 646-5506 to make an appointment.