Show Me Health - Holiday Travel

Many of us travel for the holidays, be it ten miles or a thousand.  Just like any time of the year, we should all keep our safety and the safety of others in mind.  This, as you probably know, can be challenging, especially if you’re transporting a carload, preoccupied with holiday stress or otherwise distracted from driving. 

The months and weeks leading up to Christmas are often a time of great excitement, but also more activities to attend, presents to buy, grocery lists to add to, cards to fill out, pictures to take, cookies to deliver and so on.  All this stress on our minds can sometimes cause us to go on autopilot. 

That being said, any time you are on the road, you should be vigilant about your own driving-as well as looking out for dangers you might encounter.   Keep these tips in mind to deliver your family safely to its destination and back:

Whenever you're on the road this holiday season, remember to always buckle up. Wearing your seat belt can reduce your risk of dying in a crash by about half. Also, make sure your young passengers are buckled into appropriate safety seats. The safest place for children of any age to ride is properly restrained in the back seat. Data show that child safety seats reduce the risk of death in car crashes by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages one to four.

During the holiday season, and year-round, take steps to make sure that you and everyone you celebrate with avoids driving under the influence of alcohol. Following these tips can help you stay safe:

   Plan ahead. Always designate a non-drinking driver before any holiday party or celebration begins.

    Take the keys. Don't let friends drive if they are impaired.

    Be a helpful host. If you're hosting a party this holiday season, remind your guests to plan ahead and designate their sober driver; offer alcohol-free beverages; and make sure all of your guests leave with a sober driver.

Each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,153 people are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver.  Distracted driving is driving while doing another activity that takes your attention away from driving. Distracted driving can increase the chance of a motor vehicle crash.

There are three main types of distraction:

    Visual: taking your eyes off the road;

    Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and

    Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving.

Distracted driving activities include things like using a cell phone, texting, and eating. Using in-vehicle technologies (such as navigation systems) can also be sources of distraction. While any of these distractions can endanger the driver and others, texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines all three types of distraction.

I seriously can’t figure out why any auto interior designers would put a DVD player in the front seat of a car, but I’ve seen them.  I’ve also passed drivers on the interstate holding their smart phone at the top of the steering wheel and watching a movie.   This would probably be an okay plan if there were no other cars on the road, but then again, probably not.

This past week, I followed a car texting and driving on Hwy 65 from Trenton.  To give you an idea of how horrible this person’s driving was: she spent more time on the rumble strips of the road than in between them, tailgated, regularly slammed on her brakes and so on.  If it hadn’t been around 8 in the morning, I would have presumed she was snot-slinging drunk. 

It definitely wasn’t the first time I’ve followed just such a person, and I’m sure you have, too.  Maybe you can explain to me why this type of driver isn’t as dangerous as a drunk driver?  Or why our state texting law only applies to teenagers.  (I would guess 99% of teenagers are much more proficient at texting than any adult I know.  Years of driving experience just doesn’t bridge that gap.)  We all know people who do this, and probably think they do it well.   If you are one of these people… give the world a gift and put your phone down.  You are very likely going to kill someone one day.   On that note…

Merry Christmas and safe travels to you and yours!

Source: CDC

Show Me Health - Depression

Depression.  To say it’s a real drag is the understatement of the century.   Most people have periods in their lives where they feel overwhelmed, sad, grouchy and despondent—but they usually pass when the circumstances of life improve.

This is not true of clinical depression.  With depression, the black cloud hanging over your head follows you everywhere and doesn’t go away on its own.  Sometimes you are bombarded by an emotional downpour of epic proportions that makes you wonder if you really are going to survive this black period in your life. 

I say this because I know firsthand.  I have struggled with periods of depression--first diagnosed in my twenties-- throughout my life.  The depression hasn’t been constant since that age, but it has reared its ugly head more than once in the past twenty years.

I would like to share a couple of things with you from my experience.  First of all, having depression doesn’t mean you are ‘weak-minded,’ or a ‘cry baby’ or seeking attention.  It is a serious illness caused by changes in brain chemistry.  Second, don’t ignore or brush off treating the disorder because of some stigma attached. Imagine if you were diagnosed with high blood pressure.  You wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) ignore doctor’s advice to control that condition with medicine or other treatment would you?  While you may be resentful or feel so bad you don’t even care if you get better or not, you just have to take the steps to care for yourself.  You owe that to the people in your life, and you owe it to yourself.

Clinical depression keeps a person from leading a normal life, and can interfere with sleep, appetite, and energy. The depression symptoms include:

•     Feeling extremely sad or empty
•     Feeling hopeless, worthless, or guilty
•     Feeling very fatigued and slow or anxious and irritable
•     Loss of enjoyment in things, which were once pleasurable
•     Lack of energy
•     Difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
•     Changes in appetite that lead to changes in weight
•     An increase or decrease in the need for sleep
•     Thoughts of death or suicide, or attempting suicide (if you are thinking of acting on ideas about suicide, it is important to get help or call your local 24-hour suicide hotline right away).

Depression is classified as major if the person has at least five of these symptoms for two weeks or more. However, there are several types of depressive disorders. Someone with fewer than five of these symptoms who is having difficulty functioning should still seek treatment for his or her symptoms. Tell your doctor how you are feeling. He or she may refer you to a mental health care specialist.

No one knows for sure what causes depression, but research tells us several factors contribute to the onset of depression, including genetics, changes in hormone levels, certain medical conditions, stress, grief or difficult life circumstances. 

Treatment choices for depression depend on how serious the illness is. Major depressive disorder is treated with psychotherapy (counseling, or talk therapy with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or licensed counselor), medications, or a combination of the two.

The most effective treatment for depression is often a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Drugs tend to work more quickly to decrease symptoms while psychotherapy helps people learn coping strategies to prevent the onset of future depressive symptoms.

Some of the most effective types of psychotherapy for depression are cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy. With cognitive-behavioral therapy, patients learn to change negative thinking patterns that are related to feelings of depression. Interpersonal therapy helps people to understand how relationship problems, losses, or changes affect feelings of depression. This therapy involves working to improve relationships with others or building new relationships.

If you’ve made it to the bottom of this article and think you or someone you love may be suffering from depression, give yourself the gift of self-care.  This is your one shot at life, and you deserve to be in a mental place where you can experience and enjoy it.  It may take awhile to get better, but things will improve with treatment.  Trust me.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Show Me Health - Halt the Epidemic of Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. One in 11 Americans has diabetes. This is hard to think about, but according to the experts, almost 600 million of us may be living with type 2 diabetes by 2035. Already some 387 million adults were living with diabetes in 2014. Worse, a delay in diagnosis means that many people with type 2 diabetes will suffer from at least one complication by the time they are diagnosed with diabetes. 

This past Saturday, November 14^th was World Diabetes Day, an event to draw awareness to the epidemic of diabetes spreading across the world.  World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes:  The “Epidemic of Diabetes.”  WDD is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries.

Diabetes is the result of the body not creating enough insulin to keep blood glucose (sugar) levels in the normal range. Everyone needs some glucose in their blood, but if it's too high it can damage your body over time.

Symptoms may include: 

·         Feeling tired and lacking energy

·         Feeling thirsty

·         Going to the toilet often

·         Getting infections frequently

·         Getting infections which are hard to heal

·         Poor eyesight or blurred vision

·         Often feeling hungry

·          

If you are overweight, have high blood pressure, or are age 45 or older, you are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is that making healthy changes can greatly lower your risk. World Diabetes Day is designed to reflect the realities of people living with diabetes.   This year the focus will be on healthy eating as a key factor in the fight against diabetes and a cornerstone of health.  It is well known that healthy eating can help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and is an important part of the effective management of all types of diabetes to help avoid complications.    In fact, a healthy lifestyle could prevent up to 70% of type 2 diabetes, and healthy eating is a big part of that. 

To help prevent type 2 diabetes:  

Watch your weight.  Lose weight and/or maintain your weight within a healthy range.

Eat healthy. Meal planning around leafy vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, lean meats, fish, eggs, lower fat and sugar dairy products as well as healthy oils and nuts and reducing your overall sugar intake is an essential part of healthy eating.  Eating the right quantities of different foods is also important for your overall health.  The portions on your smaller plate should be based on dividing your plate into portions of foods:  ¼ of your plate should be one serving of protein, ¼ of your plate should be one serving of carbohydrates (pasta, rice, bread, for example) and vegetables to fill the other ½ of your plate.

Get more physical activity. Stay physically active and get regular exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. Brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing and mowing the lawns all count. Remember you don't have to do all of your daily activity at once.  For example, three brisk walks for 10 minutes in the day may be more manageable than one of 30 minutes. 

As always, remember to always check with your doctor before making any changes in your eating or activity habits.

The Livingston County Health Center provides free diabetes counseling and diabetes screening for a small fee by appointment.  The center is proudly participating in World Diabetes Day to raise awareness about diabetes and healthy living. The year-long diabetes awareness campaign draws attention to issues of importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public and political spotlight.  The aim is to improve access to healthy food, save lives, reduce the global burden of diabetes and save billions in lost productivity and healthcare costs.

To learn more about the diabetes services that the Livingston County Health Center offers, visit our website at www.livcohealthcenter.com, or call 660-646-5506.

Show Me Health - Stroke Prevention

Strokes afflict 700,000 people per year in this country, killing 157,000 of them.  Stroke is also a leading cause of long-term disability.  Stroke does not discriminate, and although some people are at higher risk than others due to lifestyle and family history, anyone can have a stroke. Most of us think “Oh, that will never happen to us!” The thing is, none of us know when a stroke could strike one of our loved ones, young or old.

 

My husband, David, had a stroke at the age of 44. He was always active, working on the farm, hunting, fishing, gardening and always “on the go.” Until one day, out of the blue, as they say, things changed- he had a stroke. He had a blood clot go to the left cerebellum of his brain, affecting his eye sight, stomach, and balance. He is one of the lucky ones, with no long-term side affects from his stroke.

 

A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happens, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke affects a patient depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

 

A small stroke may leave a person with only minor problems, such as weakness of an arm or leg. People who have a larger stoke may be paralyzed on one side or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from a stroke, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of permanent disability.

 

Anyone at any age, race, or sex can have a stroke. In the U.S., stroke is the third leading cause of death, killing 160,000 people each year, and the leading cause of adult disability.

 

Everyone has some stroke risk.  A few stroke risk factors are beyond your control, such as being over age 55, being a male, African-American, having diabetes, or having a family history of stroke. If you have any of these risk factors listed, you should learn more about lifestyle and medical changes you can make to prevent a stroke.

Medical stroke risk factors include: previous stroke, mini strokes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and carotid artery disease. These medical risk factors can be controlled. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about your health.  

 

Know your stroke prevention guidelines:

 

Keep your blood pressure under control; stop smoking if you smoke; know your cholesterol numbers; control your diabetes if you have it; exercise for at least 30 minutes a day to improve your health; enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet; limit your alcohol consumption; and have a yearly check up.

 

Time lost is brain lost: A one-minute delay could cost you two million brain cells.  Knowing stroke's symptoms and acting fast can make the difference between life and death, for you or someone you know. Symptoms of a stroke include, sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg-especially on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, severe headache with no known cause.

 

If you think someone is having a stroke act F.A.S.T, these four letters stand for:

 

FACE – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

 

ARMS – Ask the person to raise both arms? Does one arm drift downward?

 

SPEECH – Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?

 

TIME – If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

 

All services of the Livingston County Health Center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

 

Source: http://www.stroke.org/site

Flu Shot Fridays Suspended

Livingston County Health Center would like to announce the suspension of Flu Shot Fridays.  Remaining adult vaccine will be administered through our regular Tuesday walk in clinics, until the supply is exhausted.

County residents can walk in and receive their immunization from 8:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays.  Those with private insurance or Medicare should bring their card to the clinic.  Those without insurance will also be able to get vaccinated at no out of pocket cost, until the purchased supply is diminished. 

Residents are encouraged to call 646-5506 to make sure vaccine is available before making the trip. Those seeking children’s vaccine should call the health center at 646-5506 to make an appointment.

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Health Center WIC Program Receives Enhancement Grant

The Livingston County Health Center was selected to receive the WIC Program Enhancement Funding earlier this year.  The special funding from the USDA for Local WIC Provider projects to meet the goals of improving the WIC participant’s experience, increase participation in the program and retention in the program. 

After the application was submitted, reviewed and approved by the MDHSS Bureau of WIC and Nutrition Services, plans were made for purchase and development of the additions to the program.

With the enhancement funds, the waiting area was improved to be more child friendly with the addition of Giant Building Blocks, a Physical Activity Softzone Corner Tunnel, and a child size table and 4 chairs as a book nook.  All are in bright primary colors.  New easy to use infant scales replaced outdated models.  “Hush” walls were added to the check-in area to allow for more participant privacy.  Baby Changing Stations were added to each of the 3 public restrooms in the building.  A new One Call Now phone system was initiated to help to reach WIC participants for reminders of appointments, or other important events. 

It is with these enhancements the Livingston County Health Center WIC program anticipates that the children visiting the clinic will feel less threatened and more comfortable, by providing an atmosphere that is colorful, fun, stimulating and safe and hopefully make the WIC visit “brighter” and less tense for the parent and the child.

“We hope that through these small changes, our clients will be assured that we value their time, their efforts for creating a healthy family, and their privacy when checking in for their appointments therefore adding to an overall more positive experience in our clinic.”WIC program’s Co-Coordinator, Anita Perry.

Show Me Health - Home Fire Safety

It’s the middle of the night. You’re sound asleep when suddenly the smoke alarms in your house go off. It’s dark. The house is filling with smoke. Fire experts say you have about two minutes to get out safely. Would you and your family know what you should do?

The American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri is teaming up with the Livingston County Community Wellness Committee and the Chillicothe Fire Department to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires by installing smoke alarms in the homes of local residents and encouraging all families to practice a Home Fire Escape Plan.

Sixty percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.  The campaign aims to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years.

The Red Cross Home Fire Prevention campaign comes at a time when a new national survey shows many Americans have a false sense of security about surviving a fire.

The survey, conducted for the Red Cross, shows that people mistakenly believe they have more time than they really do to escape a burning home. Fire experts agree that people have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home. But most Americans (62 percent) mistakenly believe they have at least five minutes to escape, more than twice the amount they actually have.

Fire Safety Tips

• If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
• Test smoke alarms once a month, if they’re not working, change the batteries.
• Talk with all household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

So how do you make that plan – what should it include? Every household should develop a fire escape plan and practice several times a year, at different times of the day. The Red Cross has a printable worksheet (www.redcross.org) households can use to plan and practice home fire evacuations.

The plan should include the following:

• All members of the household should know two ways to get out of every room.
• Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas or homes on the second floor or above. Learn how to use them and store them near the window.
• Pick a place outside for everyone to meet and make sure everyone knows where it is.
• Practice your home fire drill until everyone in the household can do it in less than two minutes.
• Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside. Make sure everyone knows how to call 9-1-1.
• Teach household members to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.

If your home does not have working smoke detectors, the Red Cross Home Fire Prevention program provides free 10 year lithium battery smoke detectors.  There is no ‘catch,’ except that the alarms must be installed by the Chillicothe Fire Department or other volunteers.   The only requirement is filling out a very short application available at the Livingston County Health Center, or by calling the Health Center at 646-5506, the Chillicothe Fire Department at 646-2139 or the American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri at (816)232-8439. 

Take a few minutes to increase your family’s chances of surviving a fire in your home. 

Source: American Red Cross

Health Center to Offer Hands-Only CPR

Livingston County Health Center is offering free “Hands-Only” CPR at their office on Thursday, October 22nd, over the noon hour.   Those interested should call to reserve a spot, as there is limited space per session. 

Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by people who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an “out-of-hospital” setting (such as at home, at work or in a park). It consists of two easy steps:

•          Call 9-1-1 (or send someone to do that).

•          Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

Every five years, the American Heart Association publishes updated guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. These guidelines reflect a thorough review of current science by international experts. The 2010 guidelines reported that in studies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, adults who received Hands-Only CPR from a bystander were more likely to survive than those who didn’t receive any type of CPR from a bystander. In other studies, survival rates of adults with cardiac arrest treated by people who weren’t healthcare professionals were similar with either Hands-Only CPR or conventional CPR.

When interviewed, bystanders said panic was the major obstacle to performing CPR. The simpler Hands-Only technique may help overcome panic and hesitation to act.

Learning basic CPR skills may help save the life of a loved one in case of heart attack.

Call 646-5506 to find out more, or reserve your spot.

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Show Me Health - Strengthening Families through WIC

Parenthood is wonderful and rewarding, but raising thriving, healthy kids is a big job.  When you become a parent it seems like you have a ton of questions and not a lot of answers.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place you could go that helps prepare you to become a parent?  You would learn what to eat (and not to eat) during pregnancy, talk about challenges you may face during breastfeeding and receive support along the way, learn how to read food labels so you actually understand them—and then have classes on how to cook healthy foods so your kids love them.  Have other health concerns?  You would be connected to the health care resources you need.

Since 1974, WIC, the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Education Program for Women, Infants and Children has been vital in helping parents give their children a healthy start—last year marked the program’s 40^th year of strengthening families.  WIC is one of our country’s most important public health programs and has enriched the lives of millions of families over the years. 

When you think WIC, you may think “milk and cheese.” In reality, it’s now much more than that.   The U.S. Department of Agriculture just last year was applauded for making some positive changes in the WIC program that included expanded access to fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy for mothers and young children. This science based decision was implemented in part to help reduce the childhood obesity rates by encouraging healthy food choices and making those choices attainable.  The recent study, ‘Prevalence of Childhood and Adult Obesity in the United States, 2011-2012,’ published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) on February 26 showed that public health efforts, including those within WIC, may be helping to reduce childhood obesity.  The obesity rates among children aged 2 to 5 years has already shown a 43 percent decrease.

WIC is a federal nutrition program, but, it is so much more than just food.  The cornerstone of the program is nutrition education.  Registered dietitians, nutritionists and nurses help families develop lifelong healthy eating habits and healthy behaviors through one-on-one counseling and group classes, social-media, and on-line tools where they can find the answers to those same questions that come up every day:  Is this meal healthy?  Is it okay to eat this food while I breastfeed?  Will the kids like this food?  What can I make for dinner?

The truth is, parenthood undoubtedly poses challenges for all of us, but having a trusted place to find answers helps empower us to become the confident mothers and fathers we want to be. This is the heart of WIC services.  Millions of moms have found a safe haven in WIC.

“WIC helped shape me, support me, and guide me as a young mother. The various staff members empowered me as a young woman, encouraging me to continue my education, plan for my children’s futures, and mentor those in similar situations. With the help of WIC, I was able to become a successful mother!”  - WIC Participant, NE

Locally, the Livingston County Health Center has been providing WIC services in Livingston County since 1979.  So, for the last 36 years, we have potentially helped and guided 3-4 generations of our own residents!  It is estimated nationally through WIC, which is again, funded through the USDA, nearly 9 million moms and kids (under 5) got the nutrition they needed just last year.  In fact, statistics show that WIC touches the lives of approximately 53% of all infants born in the United States.  The program has a proven track record of improving healthy pregnancies and birth outcomes, reducing infant mortality, and preparing kids to be ready to learn. 

If you have any questions about the WIC program or would like to see if you qualify for the program, visit our website at www.livcohealthcenter.com or call 660-646-5506.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Ensuring All Homes in Livingston County Have Working Smoke Alarms

Photo 1

The American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri and the Livingston County Community Wellness Committee are teaming up with the Chillicothe Fire Department to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires by ensuring all homes in Livingston County have working smoke alarms. 

Photo 2

The City of Chillicothe and Livingston County at large are the targeted area for October as part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.  Local residents can receive smoke detectors with 10 year lithium batteries, installed by the Chillicothe Fire Department and county Volunteer Fire Departments.   The process involves filling out a short application form, available through the Livingston County Health Center, located at 800 Adam Drive or the Chillicothe Fire Department at 700 Second Street.  Those interested can also call the Red Cross of Northwest Missouri at (816)232-8439 to access the program.

There is no ‘catch’ to receive these free smoke detectors, other than they must be installed by a partner of the project-most likely a local fire fighter.  The program is targeted for vulnerable populations, such as disabled, elderly and low-income, but there are no financial guidelines. 

The Home Fire Campaign aims to save lives, reduce injuries and build more resilient communities through raising awareness, facilitating preventative actions and fostering community participation.  The national goal is a 25% reduction in home fire deaths over the next five years.

“Last year, the American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri responded to over 100 home

Photo 3

fires”, states Karla Long, Disaster Program Manager, with the American Red Cross.  “The good news is that you can help protect your family by installing and maintaining smoke alarms throughout your home and teaching your children what to do if they hear it.”

Families are encouraged to take these three steps to help minimize their risk:

•Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and check them monthly by pressing the test button

•Create a fire escape plan identifying two escape routes from every room of the home and identifying a meeting place a short distance from the home where family members can meet after escaping

•Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, paying particular attention to children or older adults who many require extra time and care

If you are in a need of smoke alarms, one will be provided for you free of charge by calling the Livingston County Health Center at 646-5506; Chillicothe Fire Department at 646-2139 or the American Red Cross at 816-232-8439.  Installation will be done by members of the Livingston County Fire Departments in your area.   

Photo: 1 :  The Chillicothe Fire Department will be installing free smoke detectors as part of a Red Cross campaign to reduce home fire deaths by 25% in the next 5 years.  Chillicothe and Livingston County are the featured communities in October through the program.

Photo 2:  Chillicothe Firefighter/Paramedic Jonathan Nolan installs one of several 10 year lithium battery smoke detectors provided by the Red Cross of Northwest Missouri as part of their Home Fire Campaign. 

Photo 3:  Eric Reeter, Assistant Chief and Paramedic at the Chillicothe Fire Department, shows local resident Amy Hobbs the 10 year lithium battery powered smoke detectors being installed in her home through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. 

 

       

Would you like to help in an Emergency?

The University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute in cooperate with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will be hosting a training that will provide attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to support Point of Dispensing (POD) operations during a local public health emergency.  

The training will be Friday, November 6th at Grundy County Health Department.  It will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  Training materials will be provided.  Lunch you will be on your own. 

Topics covered will be:

Strategic National Stockpile Program Overview
Incident Command Structure and POD Operations
State Statutes
Administering Medications
 - Universal Precautions
 - Procedures for Dosing
 - Injection Techniques
Related Topics
Show Me Response Registration. 

Registration is limited and required:  Link to Register

If you have any questions call 660-582-2690

Flu Shot Fridays

Livingston County Health Center would like to announce “Flu Shot Fridays,” beginning this Friday, October 2^ND.

County residents, aged 19 and older, can walk in and receive their immunization from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on any Friday.  Those with private insurance or Medicare should bring their card to the clinic.  Those without insurance will also be able to get vaccinated at no out of pocket cost. 

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

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Adult Blood Draw Clinic Wednesday, September 30th

Livingston County Health Center is offering its Adult Wellness Blood Draw Clinic this coming Wednesday, September 30th from 7 to 10 a.m. at their office, located at 800 Adam Drive.  The clinic is an effort to encourage adults to get recommended preventive screenings conveniently and at an affordable charge.  

It is the aim of public health to promote health and prevent disease-this service encourages our residents to take charge of their own health before problems arise.

 

The health center is offering several basic blood tests for those 18 and older at the Adult Wellness Clinic, most of which require fasting the night before.  (To achieve the most accurate results, it’s best to not eat or drink anything but water after midnight the day before a blood test.)  A light snack will be available at the clinic, as well as water.  If you know you are a challenging draw, it might help to drink water when you get up in the morning and until your blood is drawn.

The CBC/Chem Profile is offered for $30. The CBC/Chem Profile is the most comprehensive blood test , measuring 35 different blood parameters that can have a powerful impact on the state of your health, including complete blood panel, cholesterol profile including lipids, thyroid function and more; a PSA prostate cancer marker for $10; the Hemoglobin A1C, a test that gives diabetics a picture of average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months, for $10; or Vitamin D (25[OH]D, which is short-hand for 25-hydroxyvitamin D) for a cost of $15. Current research is revealing connections between vitamin D deficiency and a myriad of health concerns, including cancer, depression, osteoporosis, immune dysfunction, diabetes, heart disease, and more.

 

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Show Me Health - Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. Sudden cardiac arrest usually results from an electrical disturbance in your heart that disrupts its pumping action, stopping blood flow to the rest of your body.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the number one killer in the United States.

Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, it causes sudden cardiac death. With fast, appropriate medical care, survival is possible. Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — or even just rapid compressions to the chest — can improve the chances of survival until emergency personnel arrive.

Fatalities associated with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) affect 1 in 1,000 and can affect any age group.  Based on population, Livingston County could have approximately 15 fatalities per year due to SCA, 95 percent SCA incidents are fatal.

Sudden cardiac arrest symptoms are sudden and drastic:

·   Sudden collapse

·   No pulse

·   No breathing

·   Loss of consciousness

Sometimes, other signs and symptoms precede sudden cardiac arrest. These may include fatigue, fainting, blackouts, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations or vomiting. But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning.

When to see a doctor

If you have frequent episodes of chest pain or discomfort, heart palpitations, irregular or rapid heartbeats, unexplained wheezing or shortness of breath, fainting or near fainting, or you're feeling lightheaded or dizzy, see your doctor promptly. If these symptoms are ongoing, you should call 911 or emergency medical help.

When the heart stops, the lack of oxygenated blood can cause brain damage in only a few minutes. Death or permanent brain damage can occur within four to six minutes. Time is critical when you're helping an unconscious person who isn't breathing.

Take immediate action:

·   Call 911, or the emergency number in your area, if you encounter someone who has collapsed or is found unresponsive. If the unconscious person is a child and you're alone, administer CPR, or chest compressions only, for two minutes before calling 911 or emergency medical help or before using a portable defibrillator.

·  Perform CPR. Quickly check the unconscious person's breathing. If he or she isn't breathing normally, begin CPR. Push hard and fast on the person's chest — about 100 compressions a minute. If you've been trained in CPR, check the person's airway and deliver rescue breaths after every 30 compressions. If you haven't been trained, just continue chest compressions. Allow the chest to rise completely between compressions. Keep doing this until a portable defibrillator is available or emergency personnel arrive.

·  Use a portable defibrillator, if one is available. If you're not trained to use a portable defibrillator, a 911 or emergency medical help operator may be able to guide you in its use. Deliver one shock if advised by the device, and then immediately begin CPR starting with chest compressions, or give chest compressions only, for about two minutes. Using the defibrillator, check the person's heart rhythm. If necessary, the defibrillator will administer a shock. Repeat this cycle until the person recovers consciousness or emergency personnel take over.

Portable automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are available in an increasing number of places, including local churches, schools and some businesses. You can also purchase them for your home. AEDs come with built-in instructions for their use. They're programmed to allow a shock only when appropriate.

Grand River Heart Restart (GRHR) is a group of concerned citizens and medical professionals from the Chillicothe area that are united in the mission of “Reducing the fatal incidence of sudden cardiac arrest through increased awareness, training and strategic placement of automated external defibrillators.” The group is a member of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association and is affiliated with Take Heart America. 

Coming up Saturday, October 3rd, Grand River Heart Restart is sponsoring the annual 5K Zombie Walk/Run to raise funding for one Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to be placed locally and to raise awareness about the issue.    Registration and packet pick up at 4:30 at Chillicothe Fire Station and a zombie costume contest at 5:30 p.m. Entry forms can be picked up at the Fire Station or the Lobby of Hedrick Medical Center. You can also register online at active.com.

For more information about Grand River Heart Restart, contact Fire Chief Darrell Wright at the Chillicothe Fire Station (646-2139) or one of two registered nurses at Hedrick Medical Center (646-1480) Bev Shaul or Jennifer Dixon.

 Source: Mayo Clinic and Grand River Heart Restart