Health

You've probably heard it before: washing your hands is one of the most important steps you can take to keep from getting sick or spreading germs to others. While it may seem like common sense, you might be surprised to learn that research found, on average, only 82 percent of adults were observed washing their hands after using a public restroom.
Just a quick rinse under water won't do. According to Jessica Everman, PA-C, physician assistant at the Gundersen Waukon Clinic, “To really get the germs off your hands, you should wet your hands with warm running water, and then lather them up with soap - front and back and between your fingers. Continue rubbing your hands for 20 seconds. (Sing "Happy Birthday" twice in your head - or out loud if you like. That's about 20 seconds). Rinse your hands and dry them off, preferably with a paper towel or hand dryer.”

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be holding its regular Weekend Clinic over the New Year holiday. The New Year Weekend Clinic will be held Friday, January 1, 2016, from 1 to 5 p.m. for all non-emergencies.
Weekend Clinics are held every Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Memorial Hospital, all year round, from 1 to 5 p.m. each day for non-emergencies. Non-emergencies are considered ailments that could be seen by a physician in a clinic and do not require an emergency room visit, such as minor injuries, sore throats and/or ear aches that cannot wait until regular clinic business hours. These Weekend Clinics save families the cost of regular emergency room fees on the weekends when the other local clinics are closed.
Anyone needing to utilize these special weekend clinics over the holiday is asked to enter the hospital through the main entrance and register with the receptionist. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call VMH at (563) 568-3411.

Flu Shots are still available at the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care. Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season.
Flu shots are available without appointment each Wednesday afternoon during the weekly immunization clinic in the Community and Home Care Department located on the upper level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. These immunization clinics are held from 1 to 6 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month, and from 1 to 4 p.m. all other Wednesdays.
Flu Shots are also available by appointment from a Community and Home Care Nurse, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Anyone interested is asked to call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Office at (563) 568-5660 to schedule an appointment.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be offering special Christmas Weekend Clinics Friday, December 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. and again Friday, January 1, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Weekend Clinics are held every Saturday and Sunday year-round at Veterans Memorial Hospital for non-emergencies and help save families the cost of regular emergency room fees on the weekends when the other local clinics are closed.
Anyone needing to utilize these special weekend clinics over the holiday is asked to enter the hospital through the main entrance and register with the receptionist. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at (563) 568-3411

Veterans Memorial Hospital will begin the next Prepared Childbirth Education classes, formerly called Lamaze, Monday, January 11, 2016, and will continue for two consecutive Monday evenings beginning at 6 p.m. in the Large Conference Room.
The Prepared Childbirth Education classes at VMH are offered in three sessions that allow the expectant parents to choose which topics they wish to learn in depth. 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.  
These Prepared Childbirth Education classes are free to any expectant parents delivering at VMH, and $10 per session for those delivering at another facility. These classes will be offered every three months.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 7, 2016, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held the first Thursday of every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with their blood and blood products.
The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa is seeking donors to ensure a safe and plentiful blood supply in Iowa. Because there is no substitute for human blood, the need for donors is continuous. Many Iowans are encouraged to make donating blood on a regular basis their New Year’s resolution this year.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will be offering special Christmas Weekend Clinics Friday, December 25, from 1 to 5 p.m. and again Friday, January 1, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Weekend Clinics are held every Saturday and Sunday year-round at Veterans Memorial Hospital for non-emergencies and help save families the cost of regular emergency room fees on the weekends when the other local clinics are closed.
Anyone needing to utilize these special weekend clinics over the holiday is asked to enter the hospital through the main entrance and register with the receptionist. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital at (563) 568-3411

Veterans Memorial Hospital, in cooperation with Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions, will be offering an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course in Waukon. This 138-hour course will begin Monday, January 11, 2016 at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.
Areas of study include an introduction to emergency medical services systems, roles and responsibilities of EMTs, anatomy and physiology, medical emergencies, trauma, special considerations for working in the pre-hospital setting, and providing patient transportation.

from the Iowa Department of Public Health and Veterans Memorial Hospital

In the midst of the hustle and bustle, it’s important to take a moment and remember that some of the best gifts that have the most profound impact on the community don’t cost anything.

LifeServe Blood Center relies on volunteer blood donors to give a small amount of their time to ensure lifesaving blood products are on the shelf for hospital patients in need. In less than one hour, a blood donor can help save the lives of up to three different hospital patients. Additionally, after giving blood, donors can gift their reward points back to be used on teddy bears and other gifts for children in local hospitals.