Health

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Bertilla Barthel by Chuck and Lois Votsmier and Dr. Larry and Lin Barthel, in memory of Pastor Lynn Groe by Linda Groe, in memory of Joe O’Neill by Jim and Jill Kiesau and in memory of Norma Smrcina by Mary Axmear and Dr. Bill and Libby Withers.

Memorials were also received in memory of Ray Hildebrand by Marv and Marge Strike, in memory of Robert Cetin by Dave and Gail Prestemon, in memory of Joyce Brennan by Dr. Bill and Libby Withers and in memory of Joe Gallagher by Dr. Bill and Libby Withers and Jim and Jill Kiesau,

In addition, a donation was made to the Foundation in honor of Dr. Benjamin Nesseim by James Moritz and in honor of the Rossville Presbyterian Church by the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in cooperation with the American Heart Association is offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for lay people (those not working in healthcare), which includes child care providers, Wednesday, January 16 from 5-8 p.m.

The CPR class, which will cover adult, child and infant CPR, will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital. The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

CPR is administered when someone’s breathing, pulse, or both, stop. When both of them stop, the victim has suffered sudden death, which can be caused by poisoning, drowning, choking, suffocation, electrocution, smoke inhalation, or the most common cause, heart attack.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, January 17. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. 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. 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 four players.

For more information, call Auxiliary President Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105.
 

Exercising is important to do all year around. One should not feel that they need to stay indoors to exercise during cold weather. A good workout outdoors in the winter can be very exhilarating. Just follow the steps below for keeping it a safe outdoor winter workout:

- Warm up longer than usual before heading outdoors in cold weather.
- Keep skin dry. This in turn will keep the exerciser warmer.
- Dress accordingly using many layers. Be sure that the outer layer will break the wind. Add a fluffy layer, like fleece or wool, to trap heat in. And long underwear is good to keep the skin dry.
- Always wear a hat to prevent heat loss through the top of the head.
- Wear mittens instead of gloves to allow air to circulate better between the fingers, keeping the hands warmer.

Always be sure to exercise in a safe, well-lit area. Stay clear of any icy spots and proceed with care in snow. One never knows what may lie under those snow-covered spots.

The local Caregiver Support Group meets monthly at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. The meetings take place the third Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. The next meeting will be held Monday, January 21 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in the ICN Conference Room, located on the lower level of the hospital.

This informal meeting is open to anyone who provides care and support for a family member or friend. Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This Caregiver Support Group meets the third Monday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

The staff of Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon pledged over $16,000 this last year to the VMH Health Care Foundation’s annual appeal campaign. The total raised in personal staff contributions was used to purchase equipment and furnishings identified by the staff that is needed in the hospital to better serve the community.

“I am overwhelmed by our staff’s generosity this past year, going over and above previous year’s donations,” stated Mike Myers, hospital administrator. “Our staff members on the Culture Committee took a leadership role in identifying hospital-wide needs, setting a financial goal, and organizing this employee campaign which was extremely successful. This process is an indication of the great dedication the hospital staff has to the service of our patients.”

The flu has hit Iowa, but there is still time for immunization. Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care continues to offer flu shots every Wednesday afternoon during its regular immunization clinics.

The next flu shot clinics will be held Wednesday, January 9 from 1-4 p.m. and then Wednesday, January 16 from 1-6 p.m. and each Wednesday afternoon thereafter. The Community and Home Care Immunization Clinic is located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Immunization clinics are held from 1-6 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and from 1-4 p.m. all other Wednesdays. Flu vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, and a combination of flu and pneumonia vaccine will all be available. Tetanus shots are always offered as well.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, January 17 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 class is open to everyone who has diabetes or who 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, January 17. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not an Auxiliary member. 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. 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 four players.

For more information, call Auxiliary President Nona Sawyer at 563-568-3105.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital in cooperation with the American Heart Association is offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for lay people (those not working in healthcare), which includes child care providers, Wednesday, January 16 from 5-8 p.m.

The CPR class, which will cover adult, child and infant CPR, will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of the hospital. The cost of the class, for certification or recertification, is the same. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

CPR is administered when someone’s breathing, pulse, or both, stop. When both of them stop, the victim has suffered sudden death, which can be caused by poisoning, drowning, choking, suffocation, electrocution, smoke inhalation, or the most common cause, heart attack.