Health

The next local blood drive will still he held Monday, April 6 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Individuals can make a difference by making a life-saving blood donation at this next Waukon Community Blood Drive.

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:

The annual “Family Wellness Fair,” which was scheduled for May 6 at Veterans Memorial Hospital, will be canceled this year. This is due to the current COVID-19 virus situation.

Any local agencies or vendors who were planning to attend this year’s fair will be contacted again next year for the 2021 event.

For any additional information or questions, contact Erin Berns, Public Relations Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon at 563-568-3411.
 

by Jill Fleming, RD/LD, Dietitian, Veterans Memorial Hospital

During influenza season, and especially now with the COVID-19 virus emerging so strongly, the following steps are highly recommended by dietitian Jill Fleming of Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon for staying healthy:

• Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Stay hydrated with water                                                                                            
• Limit intake of sugar, sweets and soda
• Supplement with vitamin D (2,000-5,000 iu/day)
• Swab inside of nostrils with sesame seed oil (non-toasted)
• Wash hands often and keep hands away from your face.
 

Memorials were received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Brent Johnson by Pat and Kathy McMillan, Dave and Sandy Lyons, Craig and Barb Lensing, James Moritz, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Ardie Kuhse, Wendy Bucheit, Jim and Helen Johnson, Ann Fossum, Jerry and Linda Siegrist and Ernie and Donnalee Osland.

Memorials were also received in memory of Richard Marti by Dan and Traci Byrnes, Patsy Kerndt and Annabelle Marti, and in memory of Marion Clifford “Ole” Olson by Leslie and Donna Lauritsen.

Memorials and donations are appreciated by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation and a way to honor a friend or loved one. The Foundation is a 501C3 organization. All donations to the Foundation are tax deductible. Memorials and donations can be sent to the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, 40 First Street SE, Waukon, IA  52172.
 

In light of increasing concerns around the spread and transmission of COVID-19, Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) wants to ensure the safety of employees, riders and the general public. Effective as of March 18, all Region 1 EARL Public Transit services, with the exception of those that are essential, were suspended. This includes the entire service area of Region 1 (Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties). Those essential services that will continue will only include rider dialysis appointments. Further updates can be found at www.neicac.org.

Colorectal cancer can be easily detected, yet it remains the third-leading cause of cancer in the United States.  According to the American Cancer Society, one in 24 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime. Unfortunately, only about one in three persons in the U.S. gets the recommended screening.
If found early, treatment for colorectal cancer is possible. Because of effective screening efforts, there are now more than one million survivors of colorectal cancer in the U.S.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) remind residents that the three primary ways to prevent illness and its spread, including the virus that causes COVID-19, are simple and easy:

· Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow/upper arm.
· Clean hands frequently with soap and water; if soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Contain the spread of germs by staying home when ill.

Some residents have noted availability of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is limited in some places. “This should not be a reason for undue concern,” said Lisa Moose, Allamakee County Public Health Director. “Hand sanitizers are convenient and effective, but we want everyone to remember that good ol’ soap and water is still the best way to prevent illness.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following steps for effective hand-washing:

Due to increasing influenza and flu-like symptoms in the region, Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has implemented visitation restrictions. The following restrictions are in place until further notice:

- Visitors are now limited to immediate family members only.
- Visitors must be older than 18 years of age.
- People experiencing influenza-like symptoms or colds should not visit any patients.

Veterans Memorial Hospital administration says these restrictions are being put in place due to influenza, and not due to the coronavirus causing COVID-19. For additional information, call Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon 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, March 19. Men and women are welcome to attend, even if they are 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 welcome to do so. All proceeds go 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.

The Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation recently received numerous donations for breast cancer awareness and detection from the Ness Pumping Service fundraiser last October.  Donations were received by the following for that cause:  Sigurd and Barb Ness, Dan and Lori Treangen, Ron and Kim Winters, Mike and Teresa Myers, Dave and Brenda Dougherty, Waukon Feed Ranch, Ness Ridge Nursery, Arlyn and Julie Snitker, Keith and Amy McCormick, Waukon State Bank, Jim and Linda Ryan, Classic Designs-Julie Snitker, LaVonne Hesse, Joyce Kuhse,  Andrew Schlitter and Maureen Fahey, Steve Sweeney, Deb Johnson,  Leo and JoAnn Folsom, Tammy Knudtson, Jim and Mary Winters, Dennis and Nancy Turner, Jerry and Maryann Baker, Marv and Marge Strike, Mary Fink, Bob and Karen Fossum, Janet Kruger, Brad and Erin Berns and family and friends of Ness Pumping Service.