Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital hosted its semi-annual Safety Day Camp Thursday, June 13 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. This day camp drew a large crowd of 138 children, ages seven to 14, from throughout Allamakee and Clayton counties for a day-long session on how to take responsibility for their own safety, respect parents’ safety rules and share safety tips with their family and friends.

According to hospital personnel, the camp was a huge success, noting the children that attended really listened and watched all of the demonstrations and speakers at the event. They were told to remember all of the safety lessons they learned and to follow them, and to share the safety rules they learned with others, including their parents and siblings.

The children were divided into 10 different groups and spent 20 minutes at each of the ten safety stations. These 10 stations and their instructor(s) included:

Congratulations to the numerous students who completed the recent Veterans Memorial Hospital Babysitting class. The class, which was held Saturday, June 1,  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.

After a cool spring, it’s time to get outside and enjoy summer activities! Protecting our skin should be a priority all year, but now is a good time to make sure we have the necessary items needed to keep our skin safe from the sun’s harmful rays.

Apply sunscreen. Once, twice, and again! “When applying sunscreen make sure to choose a brand with an SPF 30 or above,” advises Jessica Everman, PA-C, family medicine, Gundersen Waukon Clinic. “In addition, make sure the brand you choose has UVB and UVA protection and contains the following ingredients: ecamsule, avobenzone, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, sulisobenzone or zinc oxide.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, July 8, and those classes will continue for two more consecutive Monday evenings, beginning at 6 p.m. for each session, in the Large Conference Room.

The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at Veterans Memorial Hospital are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn more about. They may choose to attend one, two or all three sessions.  Session 1 covers labor, delivery and the postpartum period following delivery; Session 2 includes relaxation, breathing and pain management; and Session 3 covers infant care. Tours of the OB Department are available with each session as well.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, June 20 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital in the Large Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This diabetes class is open to everyone who has diabetes or has a friend or loved one with diabetes. For more information on the Diabetes Support Group, call  Angie Mettille, RN at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, June 20. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. The Euchre marathons are held the third Thursday of each month at the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner, if chosen.  Call Northland Agency on Aging at 877-838-8077 if choosing to eat dinner. Card playing will follow at 12:30 p.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to stay and play cards following the Senior Citizens meal is more than welcome to do so. All proceeds go towards the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

Anyone interested in attending, but preferring to play Bridge is also welcome to join in. It is asked that they come with their own table of four players.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Janet Kuhse by Marian Smedsrud, Joan and Romandus Gisleson, Lois Evans, Darrell and Alice Baumgartner, Gayle Evans, Jean Berge, Patsy Kerndt and family and friends of Janet Kuhse.

Memorials were also received in memory of Gordon Gilbertson by Jim and Jill Kiesau, John and Sheryl Prestemon, Mary Ann Hager, Jane Dietrich, Carol Moe,  George Pickett, Elsa Hager, Ernie and Donnalee Osland, Rick and Cathy Larson, Scott and Cheryl Livingston and the family of Gordon and Donna Gilbertson.

Memorials and donations are greatly appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation.  The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation annual Three Person Best-Shot Golf Tournament will be held Monday, June 17 at the Waukon Golf and Country Club.  Teams of three will begin the day with a shot gun start at 9:30 a.m. and play 18 holes of golf.  Breakfast rolls, lunch and dinner and prizes for everyone will all be provided for the donation of $75.

This 26th annual tournament will be sponsored by the following businesses who have committed to being hole sponsors:  Avadyne Health, Casper Plumbing and Heating, Coverys/MHA Insurance, Eide Bailey, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Freedom Bank, Gundersen Waukon Clinic and Vision Center, Hartig Drug, Henkel Construction-Accord Architecture, Kerndt Brothers Bank, LC Signs, LaMair-Mulock-Condon Company, Mayo Clinic Health System-Waukon, New Albin Savings Bank, RW Pladsen, Inc., Systems Equipment, Torkelson Motors of Waukon, Waukon Dental and Waukon State Bank.

Again this year, in lieu of exchanging gifts at Christmas time, the students at St. Patrick School all chose to donate an item for a new family in honor of Jesus’ birthday. Many packages of diapers, infant clothing, toys and supplies were all collected and divided into the family baby bundles pictured above. The school then donated these goods to Veterans Memorial Hospital for families who may have quickly arrived at the hospital without everything they need or other families who could really benefit from these items. Pictured are the St. Patrick School Kindergarten classes who made this special, generous delivery during their Kindergarten Hospital Tour in May. Submitted photo.
 

by Sheryl Darling Mooney, RN, Veterans Memorial
Hospital Community and Home Care

It’s great to get out and enjoy the outdoors here in Allamakee and Clayton counties, but remember to be vigilant about checking yourself and others with you for ticks. Examine your skin as best you can and use a hand-held mirror, if available. Fine-toothed combs can also be used in helping to check your scalp. “I’d Like to Check You for Ticks” isn’t just the catchy title to a country song, but a good idea to have someone else check the areas you can’t easily see.

There are ways to help decrease the likelihood of a tick bite or attachment:

- Treat dogs and cats for ticks
- Wear insect repellant containing the ingredient DEET (not recommended for children under two months of age)
- Wear permethrin treated clothing
- Check yourself for ticks after being outdoors, especially after being out in the woods
- Shower soon after coming indoors.