Health

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.

Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee County Public Health continue to hold Friday vaccine clinics for COVID-19 booster immunizations. The COVID-19 booster dose is now available for anyone who wishes to receive it, ages five and up, as long as it has been at least six months since their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Everyone will need to wear a mask and bring along any insurance cards. Also bring along your vaccination card for updating.

General immunizations and flu shots are available the first and third Wednesday of each month between the hours of 1:30-5:30 p.m. by appointment only. Make an appointment for these clinics by calling 563-568-5660. COVID-19 vaccine is also available at the Waukon Gundersen Clinic, Hartig Drug, Nightingale Pharmacy and the Veterans Memorial Hospital Medical Clinic.

by Diane Allison, R.N., Certified Lactation Consultant at Veterans Memorial Hospital   

Choosing whether to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is only one of the many decisions expectant parents will make. It takes time to make such an important decision because it will not only affect your baby’s life but also the lives of the entire household. Breastfeeding is a commitment that both parents are involved in as it takes support from the partner to be successful.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) joins other organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in recommending breastfeeding as the best for babies. Breastfeeding helps defend against infections, prevent allergies, and protects against a number of chronic conditions.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is shortening the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to five days (if asymptomatic) followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the one to two days prior to onset of symptoms and the two to three days after. Therefore, people who test positive should isolate for five days and, if asymptomatic at that time, they may leave isolation if they can continue to mask for five days to minimize the risk of infecting others.

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Thursday, January 6, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Blood drives are held every month in Waukon. The LifeServe Blood Center of Iowa supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its 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.

Helping Services for Youth & Families’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center has implemented a Domestic Abuse survivor chat line, which can be reached at HelpingServices.org/chat. There is also the option to call a 24/7 resource phone line at 800-383-2988, but during the time of social distancing Helping Services advocates noticed a decline in calls.

The agency responded by implementing a secure chat option for anyone in need of reaching a local advocate. Whether chatting or calling, a trained Advocate will be available to respond 24 hours a day.

Helping Services’ Domestic Abuse Advocates work alongside survivors to achieve their best outcome. All services provided are at no cost to the survivor and are confidential.

For more info about Helping Services’ Domestic Abuse Resource Center call 800-383-2988 or chat with someone at HelpingServices.org/chat to reach an advocate.

A free legal clinic program has been in operation since 1982 for residents of Allamakee County. The Allamakee County Bar Association, an organization of local lawyers, provides the services. The purpose of the Legal Clinic is to help people decide if they have a legal problem for which they need a lawyer’s help.

Depending upon the nature of the problem, referrals can be made to private attorneys, Legal Aid Service, law enforcement or other government agencies for help. This service is primarily intended for those people who feel they cannot afford to consult with a lawyer, and do not know if a lawyer is required.

The Waukon West Elementary School, from Preschool through second grade, recently donated over 200 gift items to Veterans Memorial Hospital in lieu of a gift exchange this year. Donations included stuffed animals, picture books, fleece blankets and puzzle books. These items were all given by the students and their families to be handed out to the patients at the hospital in the ‘spirit of giving’ to help brighten their stay and keep them entertained and comfortable. All of these gifts have been made available in a variety of departments around the hospital such as the patient floor, Surgery, Emergency Room, Maternity and Ambulance. Pictured above are the West Elementary students and their teachers with some of the Veterans Memorial Hospital Nurse Managers accepting their boxes of donations. Submitted photo.
 

Veterans Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care is held every Monday-Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and each Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Urgent Care will not be available on New Year’s Day, Saturday, January 1.

This week, the Urgent Care will be offered at the following times and days:
December 31, New Years Eve - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
January 1, New Years Day - Closed, no Urgent Care available.

Urgent Care is designed for treating injuries or illnesses requiring immediate care, but not serious enough to require an emergency department visit.

Veterans Memorial Hospital is once again able to allow visitors but with some restrictions. All visitors to the hospital must wear a mask at all times, even when in the room with the patient. Patients will be allowed up to three visitors in one day.

Only visitors who are feeling well and not experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days will be allowed to visit.

The Veterans Memorial Hospital Birthing Center will continue to only allow the significant other and siblings of the infant in to visit, again remaining masked at all times.

All visitors to the hospital must enter through the main front entrance of the hospital and complete the screening before visiting.