Health

from the American Institute for Cancer Research and Veterans Memorial Hospital

Most skin cancers are linked to sun exposure, a risk factor that almost everyone can control by heeding a few common-sense precautions. While many have seen or heard these “sun safety” tips before, the fact remains that there will be approximately one million new cases of  skin cancer this year in America. This means that not everyone’s listening yet.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, July 10, and will continue those classes for two more consecutive Monday evenings, beginning at 6 p.m. 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 on. 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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital will be offering a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for health care providers (those working in health related fields such as physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) Monday, July 10, beginning at 5:30 p.m. This “Health Care Professional” CPR class 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 and all registrants should bring along their own pocket mask. The card received with the course does certify attendants in CPR for two years.

Pre-registration plus a minimum of three participants is required. For more information and to register for the “Health Care Provider” CPR Course, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Helen Storbeck by family and friends of Helen Storbeck; in memory of Dan Otting by Carl and Betty Christianson and Dave and Laurie Martin, and in memory of Erma Williams by Carl and Betty Christianson, Rick and Cathy Larson, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Jim and Patty Clarke, Brian and Denise Wullner, Bob and Marilyn Bulman, Mary Schulte, Dave and Laurie Martin, and the family of Erma Williams.

Memorials were also received in memory of Don Leppert by Randy and Janice Ellis, Bob and Marilyn Bulman and Dave and Laurie Martin; in memory of Rosie Smith by Kevin and Kathy Stanford; and in memory of Ellen Thiele by Betty White.

In addition, memorials were received in memory of Remington (Remi) Whalen by Kennedee Pearson and Brad and Erin Berns and in memory of Margaret Eaton by Bob and Marilyn Bulman.

Veterans Memorial Hospital hosted its semi-annual Safety Day Camp Thursday, June 8 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. This day camp drew a record crowd of 144 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 Jeff Mitchell, EMS Coordinator and coordinator of this event, the camp was a huge success. “All of the children that attended really listened and watched all of the demonstrations and speakers at the event. We told them to remember all of the safety lessons they learned and follow them. We even told them to help teach others the safety rules they learned today, including their parents and siblings,” he said.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, June 15. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if not a member of the Auxiliary. The Euchre marathons are held by the Auxiliary the third Thursday of each month in the Senior Citizens Room at the Waukon Wellness Center.

The Auxiliary’s Euchre Marathons begin at 11:30 a.m. with dinner, if desired. 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. The cost is $3 per person with all proceeds going toward the Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital. Prizes will be awarded.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Diabetes Support Group will hold its next meeting Thursday, June 15 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 in Waukon.

This diabetes 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 Teresa Myers, RN, C.D.E., Diabetes Educator, or Angie Mettille, RN, at Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes (formerly called Lamaze) Monday, July 10, and will continue those classes for two more consecutive Monday evenings, beginning at 6 p.m. 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 on. 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.

by the Iowa Department of Public Health

The summer cookout season is officially underway in Iowa. Along with it comes the danger of under-cooked meat or meat that has been improperly prepared and the illnesses it can bring. Last year, over 1,000 Iowans got sick either directly or indirectly from food items that hadn’t been properly prepared.

One of the major dangers when meat is improperly prepared is E. coli 0157. Iowa State Epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Quinlisk said there is one simple rule that can cut down on the number of E. coli 0157 illnesses. “Cook all ground meat patties and poultry until the center is gray or brown. All juices running from the meat should be clear, with no trace of pink or cloudiness.”

Other tips included the following:

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s 24th annual Three-Person Best-Shot Golf Tournament will be held Monday, June 19. The tournament will be held at Waukon Golf and Country Club, beginning with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m.

Thanks to Wade Bucknell and Andy Moore, agents of Farm Bureau Financial Services, Waukon, the first person hitting a hole-in-one during the first round at the tournament will be awarded a new Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Also, thanks to Waukon Implement, anyone hitting a hole-in-one during the second round at the tournament will be awarded a new John Deere riding lawn mower.  As always, many other gifts and prizes will be awarded to all the golfers participating.

Teams of three will play 18 holes of golf. Breakfast rolls, lunch and dinner and prizes for everyone are all provided for the donation of just $75.  All those interested are asked to pre-register their team by calling the Waukon Golf and Country Club at 563-568-9939.