Health

Wed
28
Feb

Simple blood donation steps that saves lives

People 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 Thursday, March 1 from 12-5 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:

Wed
28
Feb

Health Care Provider CPR

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, March 12, 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.
 

Wed
28
Feb

Grief Support Group to meet

The local Grief Support Group will hold its monthly meeting at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon Tuesday, March 13 at 5 p.m. in the Education Conference Room.

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 now meets the second Tuesday of each month at Veterans Memorial Hospital.
 

Wed
28
Feb

Memorials received by Health Care Foundation

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Shirleen “Sam” Rosendahl by Pat Pettingill and Dave and Laurie Martin, in memory of Francis Bollman by Jim and Jill Kiesau, in memory of Mary Blake by Chuck and Lois Votsmier and in memory of Pat Sandry by Jane Dietrich, Nyles and Ruby Herman, Gayle Larkin, Dave and Rita Newton, Chuck and Lois Votsmier and Brad and Erin Berns.

Memorials were also received in memory of Calvin Shindoll by the Calvin Shindoll family, in memory of Alice Miller by Dave and Gail Prestemon and an additional memorial was received for Abigail Osterholm by Dr. Steve and Judy Kurth.

Wed
21
Feb

February is Heart Month: Cardiac Rehab at VMH is a highly utilized local service


Cardiac Rehabilitation at VMH ... Veterans Memorial Hospital began its own Cardiac Rehabilitation program nearly two decades ago to help fill a need in the community. Pictured, left to right, are Cardiac Rehab Nurse Dianne Weymiller, RN, with Phase II Cardiac Rehab patients Alvin Buege of Waukon on the weights and John Schild of Lansing on the NuStep machine. A Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation program is essential for fullest recovery of a victim of a heart disorder and is available at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital began its own Cardiac Rehabilitation unit nearly two decades ago to help fill a need in the community - a need that has been and continues to be well utilized.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Half a million people die each year due to this disease. Many people develop symptoms of heart disease when they are in their 40s or 50s, interrupting a most productive time of life. Cardiac Rehabilitation is an important tool in the fight against heart disease. Rehabilitation involves monitored exercise, nutritional counseling, emotional support and education about lifestyle changes to reduce risks of heart problems.

Wed
21
Feb

Blood Donor Day held every month

The next local LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, March 1, from 12-5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon, allowing for more donors to give. LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Anyone who lives to the age of 72 will have a 95% probability of needing blood or blood products at sometime in their life, so blood donors are greatly needed.

Regular blood donors may donate blood as often as every 56 days. First-time donors will find that donating blood is a safe and easy way to save lives and make a difference in the community. One single blood donation can save the lives of up to three sick or injured hospital patients. On average, 90% of first-time donors give at blood drives in their community. This is a great opportunity for first-time donors to see how easy the blood donation process is.

The donation process is simple:

Wed
21
Feb

Health Care Provider CPR to be offered

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, March 12, 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.
 

Wed
21
Feb

Memorials received by Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation

Memorials were recently received by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in memory of Abigail Osterholm by Blair and Jess Everman, Marv and Marge Strike, Pat Pettingill, George Pickett, David and M. Joy Roslien, Darci Engelhardt, Brad and Judy Herman, Jim and Jill Kiesau, Gordy and Darlene Kaeser, Jr., Jeff and Jane David, Craig and Barb Lensing, Dave and Gail Prestemon, Bob and Joyce Schorg, Gary and Joan David, Lois Evens, Arnie and June Laures, Kay Carter, Marilyn Bulman, Lillian Larson, Gladwin and Darlene Anderson, Jim and Linda Ryan, Angie Schulte, Jane Dietrich, Jerry and Linda Siegrist, Duane Gilbertson and Jill DeBoer, Chuck and Lois Votsmier, Jim and Ele Klenske, the Cerro Gordo County Dept. of Public Health in appreciation of her son, Ron, the Health Department’s Director, and family and friends of Abigail Osterholm.

Wed
14
Feb

Rehabilitation provides a great “tune up” when needed


Rehabilitation at VMH ... The Rehabilitation Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has proven to be a great place to come whenever someone feels they need to “tune up” and regain some strength in their muscle tone, work on better balance, or flexibility. Marshall Kruse of rural Lansing attends regular physical and occupational rehabilitation two times per year whenever he is ready for a ‘tune up’ to regain muscle strength and walking ability. Pictured above, Marshall with Amy Robinson, Rehabilitation Director at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Submitted photo.

The Rehabilitation Department at Veterans Memorial Hospital has proven to be a great place to come whenever someone feels they need to “tune up” and regain some strength in their muscle tone, work on better balance or flexibility.

Marshall Kruse is one of those patients. For the past five years, he has been visiting the Rehabilitation department for regular physical and occupational therapy each spring and fall. Marshall experienced a brain injury in 2005 while living in Cedar Falls. After he and his family moved to Lansing, he began having his rehabilitation at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Whenever he feels that he has declined in his abilities, he receives doctor’s orders to attend rehab to work on building his muscles back up and get walking again.

Wed
14
Feb

February is Heart Month: Learn Hands Only CPR to save the life of a loved one

February is Heart Month. Veterans Memorial Hospital is encouraging the public to learn the American Heart Association’s “Hands Only CPR.” This simple way of performing CPR is very easy to do and effective for the victim.

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death with nearly 400,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States. An average of 89% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene.

The American Heart Association has found Hands Only CPR to be as effective as conventional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest at home, at work, or in the public - doubling or even tripling a victim’s chance of survival.

Since 80% of cardiac arrests happen in private or residential settings, learn these simple steps for performing Hands Only CPR to help save the life of someone you love:

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