Health

Waukon Economic Development, Lansing City Clerk Office, Postville City Clerk Office and Monona Chamber of Commerce have all received a variety of home-made face masks that have been shared with their local grocery stores and handed out to those at risk, especially elderly customers. More donations are still needed in an effort to help keep the community healthy.

Masks can be dropped off at the following locations:

· Waukon Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Office (place in tote at front door between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.  M-F)
· Lansing City Office (place in tote at front door between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. M-F)
· Postville City Office (Place in tote in front of police station door anytime)
· Monona Chamber of Commerce (place in drop-off slot in front door anytime).

Waukon is one of the cities in Iowa that has received the Abbott ID Now instrument for rapid COVID-19 testing from the State of Iowa. This machine will only be used for testing in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and residential care facilities within a 30-mile radius of Waukon. These tests must still be ordered by a provider or the State of Iowa Epidemiologist. Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon received the machine because testing is not widely available in this area.

These tests are designated to be used for high priority specimens requiring rapid result and when action will be taken based on the results in these facilities. At this time, this machine will not be used for any other reason than testing at the above facilities.  The current COVID-19 tests for people outside of these facilities are still sent to the State of Iowa or Gundersen Health Center for results.

The need for blood does not stop, especially during COVID-19. Blood is currently in high demand, so local blood drives will continue to be held. Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood.

Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19.

The next local blood drive will be held Thursday, May 7 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

The regular Caregiver Support Group meetings held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital have been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. However, this support group is now being held through conference calls. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847#.  You will then be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers in the meeting.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Irene Stock by Randy and Karen Loeb, Stephanie and Eric Palmer, Ed and Edith Nowicki, Ron and Nancy Brandt, Darlena Herman, New Century Club, Linda and Jerry Siegrist, Elsa Hager, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, Shirley Colson, Lee and Rachel Moser, Dean and Lynn Sorenson, Joan Moody, Dr. David and Suzanne Hahn, Theresa and Ron Snitker, Bob and Marilyn Bulman, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Bobbi Jo and Kollin Berg, Ardys Kuhse, Nancy Sprecher, Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Jane Dietrich, Patsy Kerndt, Shirley Schneeberger, Dave and Laurie Martin and the family of Irene Stock.

by Tami Gebel, Occupational Therapist, Veterans Memorial Hospital

April is National Occupational Therapy Month, which is supposed to be a time to reflect on the past, present and future of the profession of Occupational Therapy.  However, this April is like no other April since occupational therapy began as a profession over 100 years ago. In actuality, this April is like no other time in our history!

The human race is being attacked, but not by animals or aliens as movies portray.  We are all fighting a war against something we can not see. We are all doing our part to fight off the virus. We are all washing our hands for at least 20 seconds, we are social distancing, and wearing masks.

Waukon Economic Development, Lansing City Clerk Office, Postville City Clerk Office and Monona Chamber of Commerce are all accepting homemade face mask donations. They are each then supplying these masks to some of the grocery stores to hand out to those at risk, especially elderly customers.  These four entities are currently accepting donations of sewn face masks.

Once someone in this high risk category receives a mask, they should keep laundering it and wearing it anytime they have to enter public places. They are now reaching out to ask even more volunteers to begin making masks for the high risk in the area communities.

More volunteers are needed to make masks. Many patterns and videos are available online. Masks can be dropped off at the following locations:

Veterans Memorial Hospital recently received a generous donation of children’s books from Abigail Moore, daughter of Andy and Emily Moore of Waukon. For her sixth birthday, in lieu of presents for herself, she requested that her classmates bring a book to be donated to the hospital for children of any age to enjoy. Abigail’s older brothers, Jackson and Maxwell, have both performed this generous act of kindness for a couple of their birthdays as well. Abigail is pictured above with many of the books her friends so generously gave her in honor of her birthday. These books will soon be placed in every department of the hospital to ensure each waiting room and department has a few new books for young patients to enjoy while visiting the hospital. Submitted photo.
 

The LifeServe Blood Center reported a very successful blood drive was held in Waukon Monday, April 6. The Waukon community was given a goal of 37 units of blood. A total of 43 units were collected, surpassing that goal by six units. Thirty-nine returning donors were able to give blood and four new donors joined the donor list. These 43 units of collected blood will save 129 lives!

The local blood drives will continue to be held during COVID-19 since the need for blood does not stop. Life Serve team members only report to work if they are healthy and only healthy donors are eligible to give blood. Blood drives are essential medical services and not considered mass gatherings. The number of donors is limited to ensure donor separation and staff has strict cleaning and disinfection schedules. Other measures are also in place to ensure the safety of the blood supply so these lifesaving donations can continue during COVID-19.

The regular Caregiver Support Group meetings held monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital have been canceled due to the COVID-19 virus. However, this support group is now being held through conference calls. Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) is offering weekly Caregiver Support Group conference calls every Monday from 10-11 a.m.

To join a call, just dial 1-800-264-8432. Then enter the participant code 961847#.  You will then be connected to the support group conference call, joining other caregivers.