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

Show Me Health - Make A Plan

Families can cope with disasters by preparing in advance and working together as a team. If something were to happen, how would you contact one another, how would you get to a safe place, and what would you do in different emergency situations? Planning what to do before a disaster strikes provides the best protection for you and your family.

Be Informed

There’s no shortage of information and good ideas on how to prepare in the case of a disaster. Find out what evacuation routes are near you, how your community broadcasts emergency information and what emergency plans exist in places you and your family frequently spend time. Learn how other people and their families are preparing, and share your own thoughts.

Because you and your family may not be together when a disaster hits, it’s important to create a communication plan to help you and your loved ones connect and get help.

The Livingston County Emergency Planning Commission is leading an effort to educate the residents of our county about being prepared for any emergency.   The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has provided Ready in 3 informational booklets “Planning for Emergencies: Three Steps to be Prepared, A Family Safety Guide,” including a hard copy Family Plan.  The handouts have been distributed to five locations in the community for your convenience.  You can pick up a copy at the Health Center, Livingston County Library, CMU, City Hall or the Courthouse at the County Clerk’s office. 

Make a Plan

Once you’ve gathered some information, it’s time to put it to use. Make a plan for you and your family, and make sure you all can connect in case of an emergency. Test your plan with some questions, like:

•Who’s counting on me, and who can I count on?

•Where should we all meet?

•Who could I contact to check in, especially someone far from the area of an emergency?

•Does anyone I know depend on electrically-powered medical equipment? Do we have a fully-charged back-up battery?

•If I get regular care for a chronic health condition, where could I go if the facility nearby closes?

Because different disasters may require you to go to different places, make sure you identify a meeting place in your neighborhood, a meeting place just outside your neighborhood, and a meeting place out of town. Review these plans with all members of your family and don’t forget to consider what you would do with your pets who may not be allowed in emergency shelters.

More Tips:

Identify an out-of-town contact, such as a friend or relative, who family members can call to let them know they are safe. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, because phone lines can be jammed. An out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.

Teach your family members how to text. It may seem like second nature to some of us, but not everyone texts. During an emergency it’s often easier to get a text message delivered rather than a phone call. 

Subscribe to an emergency alert system. Sign up for the Textcaster Emergency Alert program through our website at www.livcohealthcenter.com, or the City of Chillicothe website under Public Safety Information.  Post emergency telephone numbers by home phones or save them in your cell phone (fire, police, ambulance, etc.).

A thorough plan could save your life and the lives of your loved ones. You don’t have to build it alone. Pick up a physical copy of “Planning for Emergencies” at one of the Chillicothe locations listed above, or visit the National Library of Medicine website to find free mobile apps, Ready.gov or the Missouri Department of Health website at http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/.

Sources: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and US Department of Health 

Show Me Health - Preventing Falls

We all want to protect our older family members and help them stay safe, secure, and independent. Knowing how to reduce the risk of falling, a leading cause of injury, is a step toward this goal.

Each year, one in every three adults ages 65 or older falls and 2 million are treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries. And the risk of falling increases with each decade of life. The long-term consequences of fall injuries, such as hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can impact the health and independence of older adults. Thankfully, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, many falls can be prevented. Everyone can take actions to protect the older adults they care about.

You can play a role in preventing falls. Encourage the older adults in your life to:

Get some exercise. Lack of exercise can lead to weak legs and this increases the chances of falling. Exercise programs such as Tai Chi can increase strength and improve balance, making falls much less likely.

Be mindful of medications. Some medicines—or combinations of medicines—can have side effects such as dizziness or drowsiness. This can make falling more likely. Having a doctor or pharmacist review all medications can help reduce the chance of risky side effects and drug interactions.

Keep their vision sharp. Poor vision can make it harder to get around safely. Older adults should have their eyes checked every year and wear glasses or contact lenses with the right prescription strength to ensure they are seeing clearly.

Eliminate hazards at home. About half of all falls happen at home. A home safety check can help identify potential fall hazards that need to be removed or changed, such as tripping hazards, clutter, and poor lighting.

Steps for Home Safety

• The following checklist can help older adults reduce their risk of falling at home:
• Remove things you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
• Install handrails and lights on all staircases.
• Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
• Keep items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
• Put grab bars inside and next to the tub or shower and next to your toilet.
• Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
• Improve the lighting in your home. As you get older, you need brighter lights to see well. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
• Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.

Take the time to assess the living environments of your older loved ones.  Think of all the countless hours they spent leading you away from danger and picking you up time and time again when you fell.  Now may be the time they need you to look out for them.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

August Mom of the Month - Gina Jenkins

Mom of the Month

Gina Jenkins

Mom to Remi

My breast feeding experience?

I won't lie. It's not all sunshine and rainbows; it's a big commitment and something you have to take day by day.

However, it is the best thing I could ever do for my child and it makes me feel so proud to be able to supply her with what she needs to survive.

When I breastfeed I know exactly what is being put into my baby’s body and I don’t have to worry about any "recalls" or milk that has been tampered with.

Breastfeeding is definitely something I support and suggest to all expecting mothers! Nothing beats what is made especially for your baby!

World Breastfeeding Week

World Breastfeeding Week, now in its 22^nd year, takes place the first week of August.  This is a time when the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Livingston County Health Center joins with mothers and families, health organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, and countries around the world to provide education and promote the numerous health benefits of breastfeeding for infants, families, and society as a whole. It is celebrated in more than 170 countries worldwide.

This year's theme is “Breastfeeding and Work - Let's Make it Work.” Balancing work and family life, including breastfeeding, is increasingly necessary for women’s rights and a strong, healthy and vibrant workforce—and better society. According to Lactation Matters, the official blog of International Lactation Consultant Association, “today’s global economic and labor conditions are changing rapidly, with some positives but many negative implications on women’s health and livelihoods, as well as that of their children and families. By supporting breastfeeding in the workplace, all sectors of society will benefit. Benefits include productivity, family income and job security, women’s and children’s health and well-being, employers’ long-term profits and a nation’s socio-economic health and stability!”

Helping to encourage businesses to support breastfeeding, was the passing of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (“Affordable Care Act”) amended section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) that requires employers to provide reasonable break times for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for one year after the child’s birth, each time such employee has the need to express the milk. Employers are also required to provide a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.

 

Technically speaking, the needs of breastfeeding employees can be met through simple changes, and implemented inexpensively.  It is a known fact, that employers who provide lactation support to help mothers continue breastfeeding after returning to work reap benefits that impact the business’s bottom line, a few of which are:  cost savings, reduced absenteeism, lower health care costs, improved employee productivity and retention, and a family friendly worksite image for attracting new employees!

The last few years, in the Chillicothe/Livingston County area, the Livingston County Health Center, led by Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, Rachel Snider, assisted at least 7 local businesses to receive a Missouri State designated “Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award.”  These businesses met goals set by the Missouri Department of Health showing that they provide excellent support for their breastfeeding employees, by providing: 1) a private place to express milk that is not a bathroom, 2) a flexible work schedule that allows time for expressing milk, and most importantly 3) a supportive staff and supervisor.   Along with these awarded businesses, we have seen at least 8 other businesses participate in becoming designated as a “Breastfeeding Welcomed Here Business.”  These businesses confirm that they have a welcoming and friendly attitude toward mothers who come into their business or store and need to nurse their baby/child.  They also state that they are willing to provide a quiet, private area where the mother can nurse her child.  For a list of these local businesses or if you are a business wanting more information on participating,  check out the Livingston County Health Center’s website at www.livcohealthcenter.com and follow the tab under “breastfeeding.”

Breastfeeding provides the ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their healthy growth and development. Babies who are breastfed have fewer illnesses, mothers have fewer sick days to care for their infants, and companies benefit from decreased employee turnover and lower health care costs.  This year’s theme “Let’s Make it Work” involves EVERYONE. When working moms can continue breastfeeding, everybody wins!

For more information about the Livingston County Health Center’s breastfeeding support services call 660-646-5506.