Health

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will again be offering a pain control presentation for the public January 23 and 24. Dr. Dave Schwartz will be hosting these informative pain control presentations which will both detail the two new pain control options he offers at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Both presentations will include the same information but are being offered on two different days at different times to try to suit more schedules.

The Wednesday, January 23 presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. The Thursday, January 24 presentation will begin at 10 a.m. and will also be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

Individuals can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at the next Waukon Community Blood Drive. The next blood drive will take place Monday, February 4 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.

Donating blood is safe, simple and it saves lives.  Blood donors have a unique opportunity to contribute to their community by making a life-saving blood donation.  Everyone who registers to donate blood goes through four simple steps during the donation process: registration, donor history and mini-physical, blood donation and snacks.

New blood donors who are not familiar with the blood donation process are encouraged to ask questions before, during and after their blood donation. Below are a few tips for ensuring a successful donation:

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Mary McCabe by Mary Waters and Cori Waters and in memory of Herb Schmidt by Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Dean and Juanita Thorstenson, Roy and Vicki Shurtleff, Dennis and Sandy Deal, Jan Pfiffner, Trish Holt, Roger and Vicki Gamm and Torrie and Jessie Moses.

Memorials were also received in memory of Clara Ebner by Leotia Flage, Robert and Linda Lawrence, Lyle and Cindy Leikvold, Marlys Leiran, Betty White, Marcella Selbert and Jane Dietrich.

In addition, a donation was received from Gary and Connie Tilleros in honor of David and Suzanne Hahn’s 50th wedding anniversary.

Memorials are 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 Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

The dry air experienced during the winter months is an integral factor in creating dry skin problems. Heating systems to warm homes and offices, most commonly forced-air heat, wrings even more moisture out of the already dry air. This dry air can take moisture right out of the skin and causes the top layer, which is made up of dead skin cells, to flake.

What can a person do?

1. Use a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier to replace the moisture in the air. Fewer static electricity shocks will be given off of light switches, and clothes, especially sweaters, won’t crackle or stick to the body.

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 work-out:

- 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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon will again be offering a pain control presentation for the public January 23 and 24. Dr. Dave Schwartz will be hosting these informative pain control presentations which will both detail the two new pain control options he offers at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Both presentations will include the same information, but are being offered on two different days at different times to try to suit more schedules.

The Wednesday, January 23 presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held in the Large Conference Room located on the lower level of Veterans Memorial Hospital. The Thursday, January 24 presentation will begin at 10 a.m. and will also be held in the hospital’s Large Conference Room.

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.
 

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.