Health

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, September 21. 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. The cost is $3.00 per person with all proceeds going 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, however.

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Betty DeBuhr by JoAnn Peake, Marv and Marge Strike, Roger and Jeanette Ruegnitz, Jim and Margo Sweeney, Jim and Linda Ryan, Dave and Laurie Martin, Carl and Betty Christianson, Richard and Joan Leiran, Timothy and Camille Helgeson, Jane Butler, Marlys Leiran, Gayle and Carol Decker, Dale and Ann Rademaker, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Bill and Beth Shafer, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Kay Zimmerman, Bill and Shirley Schneeberger, Tom and Karen Regan, JoAnne Larson, Marian Smedsrud, Lois Evans, Russ and Mary Jo Meyer, Dean and Lynn Sorenson, Bob and Julia Rotach, Mary Anne Otting, Bernice Thies, Dr. Bill and Libby Withers, Jane Dietrich, Lucille Hanson, Jan Helgeson, RC Trucking-Bob and Carol Christianson, Dennis and Nancy Sweeney, Rick and Joni Voshart, Ed and Chris Laurerman, Jr., Roger and Lynn Ellefson, Dr.

An exciting new pilot project is bringing more fresh, local veggies and fruit to northeast Iowa preschoolers while supporting local farmers in the region. Three preschool sites participating in the Fresh Local Snack pilot project are NICC Child Development Center in Calmar, Rainbowland Preschool and Daycare in Fayette, and Waukon West Preschool and Waukon Headstart.

From August 21 to December 4, the Iowa Food Hub will deliver a fresh, local snack once a week to the sites (such as cucumbers, pictured at right). Teachers will serve the snacks and report on what fresh fruit and veggie items work best in the classroom. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will evaluate the results and see if the program can be continued and expanded in the future.

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital, together with Elliott Jewelers of Waukon, will be hosting the 13th annual Women’s Health Day wellness event and luncheon Tuesday, September 26 at the Waukon Banquet Center.  All ages are invited to attend any part of this educational event, beginning at 11 a.m. with a wellness fair offering a variety of free health tests and information, and a salad luncheon and program held from Noon to 1 p.m.

Over 110 people participated in the “Get Your Walk On In Waukon” annual family fun walk and 5K Saturday, August 19, in conjunction with the Waukon Corn Days celebration. The event was sponsored in part by the Healthiest State Initiative which strongly encourages everyone to walk at least 30 minutes per day. That is the reason the hospital offered a 1.5 mile walk and the optional 5K this year as well.

The hospital would like to invite the public to continue to enjoy the event routes anytime. Maps of the 1.5 mile and 5K (3.1 mile) routes are available to be picked up at the main entrance of the hospital. In addition, orange painted arrows on the streets outline the 1.5 mile course that ends at the east side of the hospital or they can choose to continue on to complete the 3.1 mile course that ends at the south side of the hospital.

For questions, call Erin Berns, Public Relations Director, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

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, September 11, 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.
 

The Auxiliary of Veterans Memorial Hospital will be holding its monthly Euchre Marathon for all individuals of the community interested Thursday, September 21. 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. The cost is $3.00 per person with all proceeds going 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, however.

Anyone can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. Blood donations are desperately needed right now with the recent devastation in Texas. The next blood drive will take place Thursday, September 7, from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

· Get a good night’s sleep before your blood donation.
· Eat a good meal before donating blood. Do not donate on an empty stomach.
· Drink plenty of fluids.
· Bring a photo ID or Blood Donor ID Card to your appointment.
· If you are 16 or 17 years old and you’ve never donated blood with LifeServe Blood Center, be sure to get a signed Parental/Guardian Permission Form.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate blood at the next Waukon blood drive scheduled for Thursday, September 7, from Noon to 5 p.m., call 800-287-4903.
 

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital Wednesday, September 13 at 2 p.m.

This informal meeting is open to anyone suffering from any type of loss, whether it be death, divorce, illness or some other grief.

Feel free to attend and bring a friend. This grief support group meets the second Wednesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.
 

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Norbert “Bud” Duffy by Marv and Marge Strike, Jim and Linda Ryan, Dave and Rita Newton, Dale and Ann Rademaker, Dan and Traci Byrnes, Wayne and Nona Sawyer, Marcella Hansmeier, Carol Krumme, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Dennis and Sandy Deal, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Joan Bieber, Paul and Wendy Ebner, Gary and Joan David, Dave and Laurie Martin, Jeff and Joan David, Brad and Erin Berns and the family of Norbert Duffy.

Memorials were also received in memory of Richard Hanson by Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Betty Troendle, Carol Moe, Tim and Vicky Phipps, Sheila Snitker, Chuck and Maxine Bloxham, Neil and Darlene Barth, Mavis Berns, Brian and Denise Wullner, Lillian Larson, Wayne and Kim Klocke, Bob and Linda Thompson, Brad and Erin Berns and the family and friends of Richard Hanson.