Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital and the Iowa Department of Public Health wishes to remind the community of these facts and ways the public can help during this COVID-19 challenge.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Norma Svendson by George Pickett, Dennis and Julie Herman, Dave and Laurie Martin, Ron and Kim Winters, Joan Moody, Gary and Toni Kolsrud, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Diane Regan.

Memorial donations were also made in memory of Betty Steiber by Jean Huffey, Patsy Kerndt and Harold and Shirley Marti; in memory of Ivy Althoff by Marv and Marge Strike and Dave and Laurie Martin; in memory of Roger and Janet Kuhse by Darrell and Alice Baumgartner; in memory of James “Tony” Urell by Dan and Sue Schlitter, Jane Dietrich, John and Lorna Kerndt, Rick and Cathy  Larson, Ernie and Donnalee Osland and the Urell family.

In addition, a donation was received in honor of Ernie Lubahn’s 90th birthday from Nyles and Ruby Herman, and a donation was also received from George Pickett.

by Tami Gebel, Occupational Therapist, Veterans Memorial Hospital

by Jill Fleming, MS, RD/LD

In today’s fast-paced society, with people eating on the run and not planning ahead, eating has become a mindless act. Distractions have shifted our attention away from the actual act of eating and more towards televisions, computers and smart-phones. This can be problematic, since it takes your brain up to 20 minutes to realize you are full.

When we are dividing our attention, we usually eat faster and often overeat. If you eat too fast, the fullness signal may not arrive until you have already eaten too much.  This is one of the contributing factors to our obesity crisis today.

Mindful eating is a technique that helps you gain control over your environment and eating habits.  Mindful eating is about using mindfulness to reach a state of full attention to your experiences, cravings and physical cues while eating. Using mindful eating has been shown to promote weight loss, reduce binge eating and help you feel healthier.

Veterans Memorial Hospital has changed the hours of Urgent Care services during this COVID-19 challenge.  Monday through Friday, the hours will now be reduced to 5-7 p.m.  Saturdays, Sundays and holidays will still hold the same hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Urgent Care is still available seven days a week and designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.  During COVID-19, all patients with any respiratory symptoms are required to call the hospital at 563-568-3411 before coming in. Urgent Care patients enter through the Veterans Memorial Hospital main entrance and register with the receptionist. Emergency patients are still asked to come to the Emergency Room (ER) entrance of the hospital.

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 next blood drive will be held Monday, April 6, from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Ray Burke by David and Karla Hammel, Lester and Lockie Sass, Jim and Marilyn Kann, Dave and Jane Siegel, Jim and Mary Winters, Susan Hall, Mavis Berns, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Mary Beth Regan, Orrin and Nan Grangaard, Joel and Teresa Sommer, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Marlys Leiran, Jane Dietrich, Cyril and Shirley Larkin, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, and the Ray Burke Family.

Memorials were also received in memory of James “Tony” Urell by Fred and Geralyn Smith, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Dan and Sue Schlitter, Jane Dietrich, John and Lorna Kerndt, Rick and Cathy Larson, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, and Kate Urell.

by Jill Fleming, RD/LD, Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

During influenza season, and especially now with the COVID-19 virus emerging so strongly, the following steps are highly recommended by dietitian Jill Fleming of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon for staying healthy:

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Stay hydrated with water                                                                                            
• Limit intake of sugar, sweets and soda
• Supplement with vitamin D (2,000-5,000 iu/day)
• Swab inside of nostrils with sesame seed oil (non-toasted)
• Wash hands often and keep hands away from your face.
 

The annual “Family Wellness Fair,” which was scheduled for May 6 at Veterans Memorial Hospital, will be canceled this year. This is due to the current COVID-19 virus situation.

Any local agencies or vendors who were planning to attend this year’s fair will be contacted again next year for the 2021 event.

For any additional information or questions, contact Erin Berns, Public Relations Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

A wide array of students completed the recent Babysitting class hosted by Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

The class, which was held Saturday, March 14,  was instructed by Corinne Cook, RN and consisted of teaching the qualities of being a good babysitter including basic child care, accident prevention and first aid. These new babysitters learned CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and the Heimlach Maneuver, to be used in the case of a choking infant or child, and also learned about fire safety.