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The Daviess County Health Department will be offering a drive thru flu clinic this year at the Dockery Park in Gallatin. You may be wondering; what is a drive thru flu clinic? Exactly what it implies, you actually drive to a designated area and a nurse gives you your flu shot while you sit in the car. The reason we are doing a drive thru is to test our ability to do mass vaccination in a setting outside the health department. We will be utilizing our mass vaccination guide and using volunteers from the community to assist us. We will also be giving flu shots in our office every Tuesday starting September 28th 8AM to 4PM if you are not interested in doing the drive-thru. During October at our regular out of town blood pressure clinics we will also offer flu shots to adults.
We will not be doing anyone under 18 years of age outside of our office, they will only be done in the Gallatin office on Tuesday or by appointment. The children’s flu vaccine is provided to us thru a state contract called “Vaccine For Children” and we plan to start those also in our office on Sept. 28th but call first for availability.
You can pick up the flu vaccine form before coming to the drive thru at The Daviess County Health Department, the Gallatin Senior Center, or you may wait and fill it out as you drive thru. At the end of the drive thru we request you complete a short survey.
As you may recall last year we had difficulty obtaining seasonal flu vaccine due to the large demand on manufacturers to make H1N1 vaccine, but we already have this year’s flu vaccine on hand. This year’s flu vaccine will protect you from three flu strains of influenza including H1N1 so only one shot is needed unless you are 6 months to 9 years of age and have never had one before, always check with your healthcare provider.
Every year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to influenza with about 36,000 deaths. The best way you can protect yourself against influenza is to get a flu shot every year. In addition to the important role that health care providers play in recommending influenza vaccination for their patients, influenza vaccination of health care personnel is important to protect themselves, their patients, their family, and the community from influenza. Even if you cannot come to one of our clinics please be sure to see your healthcare provider for a flu shot.
Be safe and healthy.
Cheryl Alexander, RN-Administrator
| Published Sep 01, 2010 - 12:00 AM |  |
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The Daviess County Health Department is offering sports physicals beginning June 10th 2010. We are offering one full day and 2 half days by appointment only for those ages 6 yrs. to 18yrs of age. We are asking a $15.00 donation to cover cost or Medicaid will be billed if available. Parents need to accompany their children to fill out the paperwork and bring the child’s shot/vaccine record. There is a new requirement for adolescents entering the 8th grade to have a TDap (Tetanus/Diphtheria booster with Pertussis booster), which can be given during their physical appointment. Dawn Estes FNP will complete all the physicals. The following dates for physicals are as follows:
June 10th 2010 8:30am to Noon-1:00pm to 3:30
June 24th 2010 8:30am to 11:30am
July 15th 2010 1:00pm to 3:30pm
| Published May 11, 2010 - 12:00 AM | |
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The Daviess County Health Department recieved a $1,000 grant from the Pamida Foundation for its carseat safety program for Daviess county residents. The funds will be used to purchase car seats. The car seats will then be installed by a certified car seat installer, Jackie Nichols or Kristie Smith along with the safety seat education for the families. The staff at the health department wished to express their gratitude to the Pamida foundation for their generosity.
| Published May 06, 2010 - 09:17 AM | |
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Using the Pyramid Menu Planner
It has been proven it is easier to lose and maintain weight loss when you keep track of everything you eat or drink. The website mypyramid.gov is a very viable site to use for various reasons, but the menu planner takes the guesswork out of everything you consume. All you need to do is register by answering a few questions then once registered the planner shows you the daily goals of each food group based on your designated calorie pattern. It can be used as a menu planner or to track what you have eaten each meal. There are various reports you can print and helpful tips to get more foods in the food groups where you need to. Check it out and see how it can be beneficial for you.
| Published Apr 15, 2010 - 12:00 AM | |
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Annual Health Fair a Great Success
The Daviess County Health Department held its annual health fair on April 8th. The health fair was a great success and we would like to thank the community for their continued support of this event. We started 1 hour earlier so the working public would have a better chance of participating. We did 117 lab draws in 6 hours. I would like to thank Quest Diagnostic Lab for doing the labs at such a reasonable price. We could not do these labs at this price without their continued support. These labs are important screening tools to identify diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, anemia, thyroid disease and prostate cancer.
The Daviess County Health Department would like to thank Debbie Loxterman for doing the blood pressures and pulse Oximeters and Elizabeth Webb for assisting with the lab centrifuge; and a thank you to volunteers Mary Lee Froman-Ellis and Jean Fales for assisting with the entrance, beverage, and snacks. A big Thank You to The Active Aging Resource Center, American Family Insurance, Barton Hardware, Breadeaux Pizza, Daviess County Nursing and Rehab Center, Dungy’s Market, Maxicare, Pamida Pharmacy, Second Choices, and State Farm Insurance for the wonderful donations. The Health fair could not be a success without our dedicated staff, volunteers and donations.
Cheryl Alexander, Administrator
| Published Apr 15, 2010 - 12:00 AM | |
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Health officials urge Daviess county residents to help build a healthier community
National Public Health Week is April 5-11
By eating right, exercising more and maintaining a healthy weight, communities across Missouri and Daviess County are changing habits to stay healthy and improve their quality of life.
The Daviess County Health Department officials are urging the Daviess County residents to embrace healthy lifestyles. Smart choices improve the lives of their families, their communities and themselves. And they help prevent Missouri’s leading causes of premature death and disability – heart disease, stroke, diabetes and certain types of cancer.
April 5-11 marks National Public Health Week, with the theme, A Healthier Missouri: One Community at a Time.
“Healthy communities start with healthy individuals,” said Cheryl Alexander RN-Administrator. “We all need to do the things that not only improve our health and add years to our life, but add to the health of our community as a whole.”
To do our part and provide our residents with ways to prevent, promote and protect our county The Daviess County Health Department will be hosting our annual health fair April 8, 2010 from 7AM to 1PM to help celebrate public health week.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and The Daviess County Health Department promotes the idea of building healthy communities by encouraging individuals with its Live Like Your Life Depends On It program. Here’s what each person can do:
· Eat smart. A healthy diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products.
· Move more. Health experts recommend 30 minutes or more of physical activity on most days of the week.
· Be tobacco free. Avoid smoking and breathing secondhand smoke, which can contribute to lung cancer, heart disease, asthma and other health problems.
· Get recommended health screenings. When problems are detected early, they can be more easily and successfully treated. Recommended screenings include tests for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, colorectal cancer, and – for women – breast and cervical cancer. A health-care professional can recommend the right time for each screening.
· Maintain a healthy weight. Eating right and being physically active can help prevent obesity, which contributes to many chronic diseases.
“Right now, America’s health system ranks 37th in the world. We believe that by building the health of our communities through what each individual does, we can improve that ranking to first within a generation,” Cheryl Alexander said.
More information about healthy choices and the Live Like Your Life Depends On It program can be found at: www.lifedependsonit.com.
| Published Mar 23, 2010 - 12:00 AM | comments? |
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Annual Health Fair is slated for Thursday April 8, 2010 7:00am to 1:00 pm!
The Daviess County Health Department will host their Annual Health Fair in celebration of Public Health Week. Activities planned are special priced labs including Chem. 12, CBC, Lipid Panel, TSH, PSA. Also planned are Blood Pressure, Oxygen Saturation, H1N1 Information, Nutrition Information, and Door Prizes! The lab costs are $30 for females and $40 for males (because of the extra test of prostate specific antigen). Insurance and Medicare will not be billed and the lab packages cannot be divided. Individuals interested in the labs need to drink lots of liquids and to be fasting after midnight the night before. Must be 18 or older to have lab drawn. Below is an explanation of all the labs included in this screening.
PSA-Prostate Specific Antigen (Screen for prostate cancer)
TSH-Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Chem 12-Glucose,Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium, Protein, Albumin Globulin, AST, ALT, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase
CBC- White and Red Blood Cell Count, Hemoglobin, MCV, Hematocrit, MCH, MCHC, RDW, Platelet Count, MPV, Absolute Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Absolute Eosinophils, Absolute Basophils, Nutrophils.
Lipid Panel-Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Cardiac Risk Ratio.
We Hope To See You There!
| Published Mar 23, 2010 - 12:00 AM | comments? |
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It is not to late for a flu shot!
The Daviess County Health Department recommends still getting a flu shot because the flu season is just getting started and goes into early spring. We still have plenty of seasonal and H1N1 vaccine available.
Vaccines are the best way to prevent influenza. All members of the public are encouraged to receive vaccines to protect them against both the seasonal flu and the new H1N1 flu. The H1N1 vaccine is now widely available and is appropriate for almost everyone. Remember, the seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the H1N1 virus. So people should get both vaccines for the most complete protection.
You can receive both vaccines at the same time. Children under 10 require two doses of the H1N1 and/or seasonal vaccine given about a month apart. For more information about flu vaccines and to find a vaccine clinic near you call The Daviess County Health Department at 660-663-2414 or toll free at 1-866-663-2414.
By taking preventive measures -- washing hands, covering one’s cough and staying home from work or school if you are sick – you can help limit the spread of infection to others while also protecting yourself. If you catch the flu or come down with flu like illness, you should remain at home except when necessary to seek required medical care. You should remain at home until you have been free of fever exceeding 100° F [37.8°C] for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. In health care settings the exclusion period should be 7 days from the onset of symptoms or until the resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer.
| Published Jan 19, 2010 - 12:00 AM | comments? |
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The Daviess County Health Department will continue to offer the H1N1 flu vaccine every Tuesday from 8AM to 4PM according to availablility. Watch the ad pages and listen to the radio for other clinic days offered. We are striving to vaccinate those in the high risk categories in our county. Those would include children 6 months to 18 years old, people who care for children under 6 months of age, EMS and health care workers and 19 to 64 year olds with chronic health conditions. Those people ages 2-49 that are healthy in these categories are eligible to recieve the flu mist. Supplies for all H1N1 vaccine is limited but CDC states vaccine will start increasing and when this happens we will broaden our target groups.
Please keep in mind that everyday prevention is the best practice. Cover your cough and sneezes, frequently wash your hands, and stay home when sick. Call the health department for any questions.
| Published Nov 10, 2009 - 12:00 AM | comments? |
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Daviess County Health Department (DCHD)has implemented another important service for our community which is a Car Seat Inspection/Installation Program. In March 2008 two DCHD employee’s Jackie Nichols and Kristie Smith attended a three day training to become certified child passenger safety technicians (CPST’s). The Health Dept. collaborated with Blue Print for Safety and the Child Safety Council to bring the training to Daviess County. There were 20 participants from several counties that received their certification including Mark Richards, David Franken of the Gallatin Police Dept. and Cindy Boles Gallatin’s Parents As Teachers representative along with Kristie and Jackie of the Health Dept. The Health Dept. will be listed on a national fitting station website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/cpsfitting. This website is sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To find a car seat fitting station nearest you, bring up this website and enter your zip code. The goal of our new program is to make sure infants and children are in the correct seat, with correct installation, and in the safest position in the vehicle and to teach the parent how to do all of these very important things. Our job is to make sure that the infant or child leaves safer than when they arrived! This is not a car seat give away, but if you receive an inspection/fitting and we find that your child’s seat needs to be replaced the state has supplied us with some car seats to do that. We also plan to have organized car seat inspection events throughout the county in collaboration with the other mentioned CPST’s in our county. Inspections will be done by appointment and for Daviess County residents only. The DCHD would like to thank all who helped in making this training a success and a special “Thank You” to Chris Baker and all of the Gallatin MODOT crew for the use of their building for the training.
A Few Important Facts:
All car seats have an expiration date, after 6 yrs. the seat should be replaced and destroyed.
If a car seat has been involved in a crash it should be replaced and destroyed.
NHTSA advises consumers not to purchase used car seats because you would not know the crash history on that seat.
CPST’S are instructed not to install purchased used car seats.
Never place a car seat in front of an air bag!
Always check the manual that comes with the car seat and your car for proper installation.
The safest position for and infant is the center of the back seat in a rear facing position.
For questions regarding this program please call Kristie or Jackie at the DCHD at 660-663-2414.
Other Web Sites:
NHTSA’s home page www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Car Seat Recalls: www.odi.nhtsa.dot.gov./cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm
| Published Jan 21, 2009 - 09:11 AM | |
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Health Department Survey
A goal of The Daviess County Health Department is to assist the residents of this county to be as healthy as possible. However to achieve this we need to know what you think is a health problem in our community. We have put a survey on our website and would appreciate your input. We would like to know what you think so we can compile that information with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services statistics to reach our conclusion. Once we know what the health issues are we can decide on a plan of action. Please go to www.daviesshealthonline.com to cast your vote for the health issue most important to you. Once you go to the web site click on “vote” which will take you to the page you need to vote on. All you have to do is click on the health item most important to you such as diabetes, cancer, or air quality. If you do not have access to a computer please call the health department at 660-663-2414 or toll free at 866-663-2414. Your vote is greatly appreciated.
| Published Jan 16, 2009 - 02:42 PM | |
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Don’t wait until the last minute!
The Daviess County Health Department is available for back to school immunizations on Tuesdays 8am to 4pm or on any other day by appointment. We encourage parents not to put this off until the last minute because as soon as school starts we will be out of the office and into the schools doing head lice screenings! Many times we have had parents show up the day their school opens only to find all of the nurses are out of the office doing health screenings. If you are unsure whether your child is in need of shots before they start school, feel free to call or stop by and let us check for you. If we have never given your child immunizations you will need to bring a copy of their shot record with you. Vaccines for Children (VFC) the state entity that supplies us with our vaccine would prefer any child that has insurance receive their immunizations from their primary care physician. For questions call 660-663-2414
| Published Jul 30, 2008 - 11:30 AM | |
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Daviess County Health Department to host screenings to detect your risk for stroke in less than ten minutes!
Stroke Detection Plus, a mobile ultrasound service that does preventative health screenings throughout the Midwest will be conducting stroke and vascular screenings in Gallatin on Wednesday, August 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Daviess County Health Department.
The service specializes in identifying the third leading cause of death, the number one leading cause of nursing home admission, and the number one leading cause of disability, which is stroke.
The goal of Stroke Detection Plus’’ is to prevent disease before it disables. Using ultrasound for early detection, 75-80% of strokes can be prevented. Furthermore, the condition of plaque buildup that leads to stroke can be reversed.
Of the 750,000 strokes that occurred last year, 2/3 of those people showed no signs or symptoms prior to having a stroke. It is estimated that 97% of people would not recognize a sign or symptom if they were having one. This can be a silent disease until it disables.
"Going to Stroke Detection Plus is probably the most important thing I have ever done. You found an Aortic Aneurysm. Two days later I had surgery and I am doing fine. It was 7.8cm and my doctor said in three days I could have been gone. My wife and I are so grateful. Some of my friends have already come in to your screening." Larry Morley - Trenton
It is very important to know the warning signs of a stroke. They are:
1) Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body.
2) Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
3) Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
4) Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
5) Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
If someone has one or any combination of these warning signs it is critical to dial 911. Also, important to know, are the risk factors that are a predictor of stroke. They are:
1) Over the age of 40
2) More than 20 pounds overweight
3) Family history of stroke or heart disease
4) Diabetes
5) Smoking
6) High cholesterol
7) High blood pressure
8) Not exercising at least three times a week for 20 minutes
9) Hypertension
10) Irregular heartbeat
"Early detection is key to living a long and healthy life," said Gina Richmond, wellness coordinator for Stroke Detection Plus. "Being proactive rather than reactive is a great way to avoid in becoming a statistic."
Richmond states, "The majority of stroke victims could not name a warning sign and 75-85% of strokes could have been avoided."
Stroke Detection Plus screens the carotid arteries looking for plaque buildup or blockage. The vast majority of strokes occur because of a lack of blood flow to the brain. This test can determine the percentage of blockage restricting that flow. The second test looks for aortic aneurysm, which is an enlargement of the vessel that feeds the lower extremities with blood. The third test is for peripheral vascular disease, which is blockage in the arms and legs. An abnormal result here puts people at a 4-6 times greater risk of coronary artery disease. The final screening is for Osteoporosis, which looks for low or abnormal bone mass.
All four tests are $115, or any three tests are $95 and each individual test is $35. The screening will be held at Daviess County Health Department in Gallatin on Wednesday, August 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are necessary and can be made by calling toll free 877-732-8258.
| Published May 21, 2008 - 11:51 AM | comments? |
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A Healthy Heart: The Numbers to Know
When it comes to keeping your heart healthy, it's all about the numbers. Virtually every heart-disease risk factor you have can be represented by a number, and to keep your heart healthy, you need to know what those numbers are, as well as how to move them. Do you know your numbers?
Four Key Numbers
Four of the most important numbers for you to know and track regularly are
Read more...
| Published Mar 28, 2008 - 12:53 PM | comments? |
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New FoodChamps.org Fun Way to Educate Children about Fruits and Vegetables
Wilmington, Del. - There is an exciting new addition to the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) website family, FoodChamps.org! This a tailored site for children, joining PBH's industry site, pbhfoundation.org, their catalog site, pbhcatalog.com, and their consumer site, fruitandveggiesmorematters.org.
"Our new website, FoodChamps.org, gives us the opportunity to interact directly with children and show them fruits and veggies can be fun," said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of PBH. "The games and activities found on the site are age appropriate and designed to educate children about fruits and vegetables and encourage them to eat more."
FoodChamps.org is part of the new Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® health initiative. The new site is designed with children ages two through eight in mind and will educate and encourage them to eat more fruits and veggies while they play games, fill in coloring pages, and enjoy other fun, online activities. The website features PBH's Fruit and Veggie Color Champions™. Kids learn about the Champions and then choose one to show them around the site. While on the site, children can have fun with fruit and vegetable math, play a fruit and veggie matching game, and even print out recipes to cook with an adult helper. They can also print out pages from the site to color with their own crayons or color special online coloring pages to print for Mom or Dad. The site also features an area that directs adults to the consumer site for more information about Fruits & Veggies-More Matters.
FoodChamps.org is a collaborative project with Imagination Farms, Kidzsmart, and PBH and was made possible by a generous donation from Imagination Farms and an in-kind contribution from Kidzsmart. The site offers age appropriate activities for kids two through eight years old, but may be appropriate for kids a little younger or a little older depending on the individual child. User testing conducted on the new website with kids two through eight years of age yielded positive initial results. Phase I of the new site is up and running now, and look for even more fruit and veggie fun to come later this year in Phase II.
"We know it can be difficult to get children to eat fruits and vegetables when there are so many other choices available, but we hope to help moms by offering a fun way for kids to learn how to make mealtime enjoyable and healthy," said Pivonka. "This new website features great games and activities to get kids excited about fruits and vegetables and help them start eating more. Look for more features to be added soon."
The "Get Kids Involved" section of fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org will link to the new kids' site and offer a quick preview of what kids will find there. Downloadable games and coloring pages on the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters site will remain available there.
About Produce for Better Health Foundation:
Produce for Better Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead the way to achieving increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables by leveraging private industry resources, leveraging public sector resources, influencing policy makers, motivating key consumer influencers, and promoting fruits and vegetables directly to consumers. PBH, together with CDC and other national partners, recently launched a new national health initiative- Fruits & Veggies-More Matters®, the next generation of the 5 A Day campaign. To learn more, visit www.pbhfoundation.org and www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org.
| Published Feb 27, 2008 - 01:23 PM | comments? |
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08 Jan 2008
Autism spectrum disorders continued to rise in the state of California, US, even after mercury-containing thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines, suggesting that exposure to the compound is not a cause of autism, as claimed by some groups.
These are the findings of a study published in the January issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry that was carried out by Drs Robert Schechter and Judith K. Grether of the California Department of Public Health, based in Richmond.
Read more...
| Published Jan 17, 2008 - 11:37 AM | |
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When winter temperatures drops significantly below normal, staying warm and safe can become a challenge. Exposure to cold temperatures, whether inside or outside, can cause other serious or life threatening health problems.
Plan Ahead
Preparing for extremely cold weather is very important. There are steps you can take in advance for greater wintertime safety
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| Published Jan 14, 2008 - 02:43 PM | |
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MRSA a growing concern
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is becoming more prevalent in the area. Since it is resistant to common antibiotics, it is a staph infection of some concern.
What is MRSA? MRSA is a type of staphylococcus (staph) that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactums. Beta-lactum antibiotics include methacillin and other more common antibiotics such as penicillin and amoxicillin. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria is present, but not causing an infection) with Staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.
Who Gets MRSA? Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities who have weakened immune systems. Although now we are seeing an increase in MRSA not related to a recent hospitalization. MRSA infections in the community (CA-MRSA) are usually
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| Published Oct 25, 2007 - 12:05 PM | comments? |
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Lyme Disease, Protect Yourself from Tick Bites
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted from an infected Blacklegged tick. It can only transmit the bacteria after it has been attached to the skin (feeding on blood) for about 24 hours. It can be prevented by avoiding Blacklegged tick bites, and is treatable with antibiotics.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
In most cases the first symptom for Lyme disease is a rash near the tick bite that may look like a bull’s eye target. The bite is often painless, so you may not even know you have been bitten. The rash usually appears between 7-10 days after the bite, but the range is between 3 and 30 days. You may also develop flu like symptoms, such as fever, headache, tiredness, stiff neck, soreness all over and pain or swelling in the joints. These symptoms may appear in stages and may appear over a period of months.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Cover as much of your skin as possible.
Wear enclosed shoes.
Tuck your shirt into your pants
Tuck your pant legs into your socks.
Use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.
Follow directions on the label.
Do not use DEET on children under 6 months of age.
Check yourself, your children, and your pets.
Include armpits, groin, and scalp.
Remove ticks from skin promptly and carefully using tweezers.
The Blacklegged tick does not always have black colored legs. Dog ticks usually have white or silver colored spots.
| Published May 22, 2007 - 08:54 AM | |
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WATER
#1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (Likely applies to half the world population.)
#2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.
#3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
#4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
#5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
#6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
Read more...
| Published Apr 24, 2007 - 01:31 PM | |
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