Take Precautions Due to Excessive Heat Warning

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning effective today and the rest of the week looks equally as hot and humid.  Livingston County is officially in the midst of a heat wave.

Do you have a heat wave plan? Heat ranks among the top weather-related killers in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Missouri Department of Health advises residents to expect more heat waves in the upcoming month, when temperatures exceed 95 degrees. Climate change is causing the average high temperature to increase and for there to be longer and more frequent periods of extreme heat. Our bodies have less chance to recover during hot days and warm nights, placing everyone at risk for heat illness. When temperatures and humidity are high, sweat ceases to evaporate and the body's natural cooling system slows down or shuts down completely. Very hot weather can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and severe respiratory conditions, which can be fatal.

Extreme heat especially endangers seniors, young children, people with disabilities, and individuals with breathing conditions and other chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Those without air-conditioning, fans, or access to cooling shelters are also at risk.

Livingston County Health Center recommends that every household have a heat wave plan in case of power outages. Have air conditioners serviced and obtain electric fans now. Keep cases of bottled water on hand. Listen to news reports of the location of community 'cooling centers' -- often public libraries or churches -- so household members know where they are located if the power goes out.  In our county, the following locations serve as cooling centers during daytime hours: Livingston County Health Center, Grand River Multi-Purpose Center (Senior Center), Livingston County Library, Grand River YMCA, Calvary Baptist Church, Community Resource Center, City Hall Walking Track and RSVP/Threads.  For more specific hours, call the health center at 646-5506.  During extreme heat days, people should check on their vulnerable family members and neighbors.

Locally, many will be exhibiting and visiting the Livingston County Fair this week.  The Health Center would like to encourage everyone to keep themselves and their animals hydrated this week during extreme temperatures and weather conditions.

Tips to prevent heat illness:

Do not leave a child or pets alone in a parked car, even for a minute. Call 911 if you see a child left unattended in a vehicle. Carry water with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks containing sugar, alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. (Check with a doctor before increasing fluid intake if you have epilepsy, heart, kidney or liver disease, or if you are on a fluid-restrictive diet. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.

Stay indoors on the lowest floor possible. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Wear a hat or use an umbrella. Use sunscreen. Sunburn slows the skin's ability to cool itself, and has been linked to skin cancer. Avoid extreme temperature changes. Be careful trying to cool down too quickly; a cold shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can lead to hypothermia, particularly for the elderly and children. In these cases, cool water is better than ice cold water.

Limit outdoor activity, especially mid-day when the sun is hottest. Work out or hold team practices early in the morning, or in the early evening.  

Heed the following heat danger warning signs and take suggested actions:

Heat cramps occur in the muscles of the limbs or abdomen occurring during or after physical activity in high heat. Sweating results in loss of fluids and salts that cause muscle cramps. Address heat cramps by resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water.

Heat exhaustion is more severe, occurring when a person is overheated along with reduced or unbalanced intake of fluids. Symptoms include dehydration, fatigue, weakness, clammy skin, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, rapid breathing, irritability, and fainting. Take these simple steps to reduce heat exhaustion: Move the person indoors or into shade. Loosen or remove the person's clothing. Encourage the person with heat exhaustion to eat and drink. Get the person to a cool shower or bath. Call your doctor for further advice.

Heat stroke occurs when the body can no longer cool itself, and can be a life-threatening event. Prompt medical treatment is required. Symptoms include: flushed, hot and dry skin with no sweating; high body temperature (above 103 F, taken orally); severe, throbbing headache; weakness, dizziness, or confusion; sluggishness or fatigue; decreased responsiveness; and loss of consciousness. If heat stroke occurs, take these steps: Call 9-1-1 immediately. This is a medical emergency. Get the heat stroke victim indoors or into shade. Get the person into a cool shower or bath, or wipe them down with continuously soaked cool washcloths while awaiting emergency responders.

Extreme heat should be taken very seriously.  Often people are already in the midst of a crisis when symptoms become evident-stay hydrated and cool.

Registration Deadline for Back to School Bonanza Coming Up

The registration deadline for the annual Back to School Bonanza is looming for Livingston County students entering grades Kindergarten through 5^th grade for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year.  Families wishing to take part should get their students registered by Wednesday, July 15^th. 

Due to the success of the program, families must register for the event online, or submit a paper application, in order to receive the free backpack and school supplies. Online applications can be found at http://extension.missouri.edu/livingston or at www.livcohealthcenter.com.  Paper applications are available at the MU Extension Office, Livingston County Health Center and the Salvation Army.  Applications are due on July 15th. 

Any student in Livingston County is eligible to receive a free backpack and school supplies through this event, including children who are homeschooled, or may attend a school in another county, but reside in Livingston. 

Besides the backpack full of supplies, students get to take home even more freebies and educational information thanks to local businesses and organizations.  This year kids can look forward to new booths from Chillicothe Hy-Vee, Hometown Pharmacy, Walgreens, Green Hills Community Action Agency, North Central Missouri Children’s Advocacy Center, Shoes from the Heart, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Livingston County Library.  Also on hand: 4-H, Northwest Health Services, Premier Eyecare, Hedrick Medical Center, Chillicothe Police Department, Chillicothe Fire Department, Livingston County Sheriff’s and Grand River YMCA.  If you are a non-profit organization or healthcare provider and would like to have a booth, please call Mary Taylor at 646-5506. 

Donations of school supplies or money to purchase supplies are also still greatly needed this year.   Anyone interested in donating may call Jessica Trussell at 646-0811 or mail their donation to the University of Missouri Extension Office at 2881 Grand Dr., Suite 2 in Chillicothe. Checks should be made payable to MU Extension.

Free Skin Cancer Screening at Livingston County Health Center

Livingston County Health Center will be the site of a free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic on Wednesday, June 17^th by appointment only. 

Cleaver Dermatology of Kirksville will be providing screenings at the clinic.

You must have an appointment to attend this screening, as space is very limited.  If you receive an appointment and later need to cancel, please let us know, so we can fill your slot.

It’s important to remember that skin cancer can happen at any age, it doesn’t just affect seniors after years of damage.  Skin cancers like melanoma are deadly, and need to be treated sooner rather than later.  If you have never been checked for skin cancer, or have some spots, moles or other areas on your skin that concern you, come to this free clinic.

To make your appointment for the June 17^th Skin Cancer Screening Clinic, call the health center at 646-5506. 

Keep Your Picnic Safe

Summer is the time for barbecues and picnics. Picnics can take on many forms, such as the community picnic, friends and neighbors, tailgate parties, or ball games. There is also one sure thing at every picnic-lots of good food and good company.  The one guest you don’t want to invite is food borne bacteria. You can't see them, you can't taste them - but you sure can feel them if illness occurs hours or days later.

Each year, about one in every ten Americans has an illness caused by food. Most of these cases result in simple stomachaches or diarrhea. If you prepare and then store foods properly, they will never leave their calling card behind. It's up to you to select, store, prepare, and then serve safe foods for you and your family.

    * As always, wash hands and work areas before preparing food.

    * Plan your menu with an eye to safe food handling. Cook foods in plenty of time to thoroughly chill them in shallow containers in the refrigerator.

      

    * Have enough coolers with ice or frozen gel packs in which to store the perishable foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs and salads. You want to keep the food at 41 degrees F. Pack foods right from the refrigerator into the coolers.

      

    * Don't put the cooler in the car trunk; carry it inside an air-conditioned car. At picnics, keep the cooler in the shade and keep the lid closed. Replenish the ice if it melts.

      

    * Use a separate cooler for drinks so the one containing the food won't constantly be opened and closed.  Don’t use the ice in your food cooler for drinks, there is a risk of cross contamination by leaking raw or packaged foods like hot dogs.  Always use clean ice for drinks.

      

    * Find out if there's a source of safe drinking water at your destination. If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning; or pack clean, wet, disposable cloths or moist towelettes and paper towels for cleaning hands and surfaces. Cross-contamination during preparation, grilling, and serving food is a prime cause of food borne illness.

    *   Pack raw meats, poultry, or seafood on the bottom of the cooler. This will reduce the risk of them dripping on other foods. Pack coolers until they are full. A full cooler will stay cold longer than one that is partially full.

    *   If you plan on getting takeout foods such as fried chicken, eat them within an hour of pick up.

    *   Do not partially grill extra meat or poultry to use later. Once you begin, cook until completely done to assure bacteria are destroyed. Grill raw poultry until the juices run clear and there is no pink. Hamburger should not be pink in the center.

    *   When taking food off the grill, don't put the cooked items on the same platter which held the raw meat unless you have washed the platter in between uses.  This cannot be stressed enough, and it is a very common mistake made in many households.  It doesn’t take that long to wash the plate and bring it back out to serve the meat.

      

    * Two Hour Rule.  Don't leave perishable food unrefrigerated for more than two hours. Put perishable foods back in the cooler or refrigerator as soon as you finish eating. Don't leave them out while you go for a swim or a hike, and don't leave them out all afternoon to nibble on.  If something has been left out and you’ve lost track of time, either toss it as a precaution, or check it with a food thermometer.  Again, cold foods should be 41 degrees or below.

    *   Chances are some picnic leftovers will have been sitting out for more than an hour or two. Discard these leftovers. Cold foods that were kept in a cooler that still has ice may be safe. If the ice has melted, the food should be discarded.

Be sure to enjoy your summer and take part in as many outdoor celebrations as you’d like. The important point is to have safe and healthy food at these get-togethers, not food that can cause food borne illness. Always prepare and store food properly!

Source: USDA

Children’s Wellness Committee Hosts Event for Livingston County Kids K-5

The Livingston County Children’s Wellness Committee will host the 7th Annual Back to School Bonanza on Tuesday, July 28th from 3:30-6:00 p.m. at the North Gym of the Grand River YMCA.  The event is designed to empower parents and kids to learn to make healthy lifestyle choices in the areas of nutrition, physical activity, safety and overall wellness.   All Livingston County students in grades K-5 who register for the event will receive a backpack with free school supplies donated by local business and organizations after visiting all of the booths.

“We’re excited that this is the seventh year we have been able to offer this great opportunity for the kids in Livingston County,” said Jessica Trussell, University of Missouri Extension. “Each year we are able to pass out more supplies and help more families than the year before.” Due to the success of the program, families must register for the event online, or submit a paper application, in order to receive the free backpack and school supplies. Online applications can be found at http://extension.missouri.edu/livingston or at www.livcohealthcenter.com.  Paper applications are available at the MU Extension Office, Livingston County Health Center and the Salvation Army.  Applications are due on July 15th. 

Many local organizations will have booths at the event, including the Livingston County Health Center; Salvation Army; Livingston County 4-H; MU Extension Nutrition Program; and Hedrick Medical Center. Also, the Chillicothe Fire Department, Chillicothe Police Department and Livingston County Sheriff’s Office will all be on hand with vehicles for kids to explore.

Donations of school supplies or monetary donations to purchase supplies are still being accepted.  Anyone interested in donating may call Jessica Trussell at 646-0811 or mail their donation to the University of Missouri Extension Office at 2881 Grand Dr., Suite 2 in Chillicothe. Checks should be made payable to MU Extension.

Students in Livingston County who are entering Kindergarten through fifth grade and their parents are encouraged to attend this fun event, there is no fee for admission and everyone is welcome.   

May is Asthma Awareness Month

May is asthma awareness month.  That may be perfect timing, especially for those who welcome spring with a box of Kleenex in one hand and an inhaler in the other.  With pollen counts through the roof and mold spore blowing in the wind, May in Missouri can be challenging for those with asthma.

Asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and night time or early morning cough.  The symptoms occur when the air passages in the lungs hyper-react to a stimulus, become inflamed, swell, produce thick mucous, then are obstructed.  These symptoms can happen very quickly and can be very frightening.  If you are tempted to discount the validity of asthma or think it’s an “emotional” illness, try this test.  Jog in place until you are winded, then pinch your nose shut and breathe through a regular size drinking straw.  That will give you a small simulation of an acute asthma attack.

Asthma is a treatable condition with properly used medication and awareness and avoidance of triggers, the stimulus that starts the hyper-reactive response of the airways.  For some, allergens are triggers.  It may be springtime tree and grass pollen or ragweed in the fall.  Mold spore is always in the air unless the ground is covered with snow.  Avoiding these triggers can be as simple as closing the windows in your home and running the furnace or air conditioner, depending on the season.  Allergy shots can also be a long term help.

Major indoor triggers include dust mites that live in our carpets, mattresses and upholstered furniture, cockroaches and their droppings and second-hand tobacco smoke.  Dust mites can be contained by putting mattresses and pillows in zippered plastic covers.  Roaches need food and water, so sweep up crumbs frequently.  Traps will also help. Because asthma is the most common long term disease in children, it is vital that homes and vehicles be smoke-free.  I once heard an asthma specialist state that smoking around a child with asthma is child abuse.

Outdoor air pollution from industry and car exhausts can be triggers.  Air quality forecasts for big cities mention asthma suffers all summer.

Coaches and school nurses are aware of exercise-induced asthma.  One jog around the gym will bring on a round of hacking coughs.  Breathing in cold air with outdoor activity can be a trigger too.  Wear a face shield if you’re going to take part in cold weather sports, or work (or play) outdoors.

Animal dander can be a problem for some.  If you can’t part with your pet, keep them out of the bedroom.   Bathing the pet weekly will also help.  Strong smelling odors, even perfume, can set off twitchy airways, as can weather changes.

Because asthma is treatable and acute attacks are reversible, some think it is a disease you outgrow.  The Center for Disease Control reminds us,  “If you have asthma, you have it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only if something bothers your lungs.“  Diagnosis can be difficult, especially in kids under 5.  But your asthma doctor will check your lung function, check for allergies, ask lots of questions about your activities and when you cough and when you  don’t , when you’re short of breath or wheezy and will take a family history.

Then together, your doctor and you will develop an asthma action plan that allows you to control your asthma.  This plan outlines your daily treatment and the steps to follow when you experience worsening of your symptoms.  These plans allow people with asthma a way to follow steps that can avoid emergency room trips.  Avoiding ER trips by controlling asthma symptoms is not only a successful treatment plan, but allows people to live their lives without symptoms.  They sleep better, don’t miss work or school and can participate in physical activities.

Acute asthma attacks are frightening for the whole family.  But asthma is a treatable condition you can control.  New medications work to prevent acute problems, not just slow down an acute episode in progress.  See your doctor, use your medication correctly and stop asthma from controlling your life.

For more information about asthma, visit www.cdc.gov .   All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Breastfeeding Mom of the Month - Holly McCracken

My name is Holly McCracken, I am the mother of 3 handsome boys and I am currently breastfeeding our newest addition, Soren.

He is by far my easiest baby to nurse, I had a very difficult time with my oldest due to him never latching, so I pumped for him but unfortunately when I started working again I switched to formula. Luckily our 2nd and 3rd love the boob:)

Our bodies provide our babies with what they need, and that's a great feeling to be able to give him that. I can't imagine doing anything other than breastfeeding Soren even though it's not always easy.

Finding bras that fit, finding clothes that allow easier breast feeding, dealing with leaky boobs... It's all worth it because it's how we give our babies what is best. I'm very thankful for all of the support that I have been given in my different breastfeeding journeys. My mom for one has been amazing to me. But I have been given great advice from many!