Health briefs: SIDS Awareness Month stresses ABCs of safe sleep for babies

        October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month in Ohio.
        SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and accidental suffocation are the leading cause of death for infants between 1 month and 12 months of age, most commonly occurring among infants who are 1-4 months old.
        Sleep-related infant deaths are among the most preventable infant deaths by practicing the ABCs of Safe Sleep. The ABCs stand for Alone, on the Back and in a Crib.
        Sandusky County Public Health is committed to promoting optimal health and safety for all Sandusky County infants and to reducing infant mortality by offering a Welcome Home Visit to all new mothers. A home visit is provided to offer safe sleep education as well as referrals to community resources as needed. A free Pack-n-Play Cribette is offered for those in need of a safe place for their infants to sleep.
        For more information on the Welcome Home Program and the Cribs for Kids Program, call 419-334-6377.
 
Seasonal flu clinics
        Sandusky County Public Health is announcing the 2019 seasonal flu clinics.
        Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu, including older adults, pregnant women, young children and those with chronic medical conditions.
        Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.
        During the last flu season, 41 Sandusky County residents were hospitalized with the flu, with an average length of stay of nearly four days. While the vaccine cannot prevent all cases of flu, it is still the most effective way to prevent infection.
        It’s best to get a flu vaccine before the flu begins spreading in the community. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
        Sandusky County Public Health accepts Medicare and Medicaid; cards need to be brought to the clinic. Some private insurances are also accepted including Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medical Mutual, Paramount, Summa Care, Aetna, Health Scope, United Health Care, and Cigna. All insurance cards need to be brought to the clinic.
        For more information and to follow the flu locally throughout the season, visit to www.scpublichealth.com or find Sandusky County Public Health on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
ProMedica October events
        ProMedica will offer the following community events in October:
        • Aromatherapy, Oct. 16, 1-2 p.m. at The Victory Center, 5532 W. Central Ave., Suite B, Toledo. Discuss the special ways that essential oils can be used for everyday health and wellness. The program is free to people with a cancer diagnosis and is sponsored by ProMedica Cancer Institute. It is offered the first and third Wednesday of each month. Call the Victory Center at 419-531-7600 for details.
        • Browse-n-Buy Gift Shop Holiday Open House and Flower Ladies Show, Oct. 20, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., ProMedica Memorial Hospital, 715 S. Taft Ave., Fremont. Sponsored by the Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the event will be held in the hospital the lobby area in front of the Browse-n-Buy gift shop. Twenty-five percent discounts will be given on merchandise purchases and on all beautiful holiday creations shown by The Flower Ladies. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Debbie Koebel at 419-332-7321, ext. 323304.
 
Free gun locks
        Free gun locks are available at no charge for Lake Township residents.
        The locks are being provided by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, as part of its Child Safe Program. Locks may be picked up during regular business hours at the police department, located at 27975 Cummings Rd., Millbury.
 
Magruder Hospital offering adult flu shots
        Adult flu shots will be given in The Pharmacy at Magruder Hospital, 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton. The Pharmacy, located at the end of the same building as Urgent Care, is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
        No appointment is required, and the Pharmacy can bill insurances.
         For pediatric flu vaccinations, consult your child’s primary care provider or the Ottawa County Health Department.
 
Blood donors needed
        The American Red Cross urges people of all races and ethnicities to give blood or platelets to help increase the diversity of the blood supply.
        The vast majority of blood types fall into one of the major blood groups. However, for patients with rare blood types or those who receive regular blood transfusions, blood must be matched closely – beyond the primary A, B, O and AB blood types – to reduce the risk of developing complications from transfusion therapy. The best match may be someone of the same racial or ethnic group.
        Eight-year-old AJ Torres requires blood transfusions to treat complications from sickle cell disease, the most common genetic disease in the U.S. The disease is most common among people of African descent or Latino descent, like AJ, and can sometimes cause small blood vessels to become blocked. Diverse donors are important to ensuring AJ has the blood products he needs to regain his health.
        “Within minutes of receiving a blood transfusion, I watch his strength be restored, pain vanish and energy return. Soon he transforms back to himself – a rambunctious little boy,” said his mom, Caira Torres. “If an 8-year-old can withstand a needle, so can you.”
        Donors of all blood types, as well as all races and ethnicities, are needed to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse patient population. Appointments can be made by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
        A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
        Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
        As a thank-you, those who come to give blood or platelets during the month of October will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five $500 gift cards redeemable at hundreds of merchants, courtesy of Tango Card. Terms apply; see rcblood.org/game.
 
Toledo Walleye hosting Love Your Melon Night
        The Toledo Walleye are again teaming up with Love Your Melon for two special nights at the Huntington Center to help support children battling cancer.
        The team is offering a limited number of Love Your Melon ticket packages, available now, for the Friday, Dec. 27 and Sunday, Dec. 29 games that includes a ticket to either game and a Love Your Melon beanie. This year, it’s a black and yellow speckled cuffed beanie with the real fish logo on it.
        Fifty percent of net profits from the sale of Love Your Melon beanies will go go to the Love Your Melon Fund, which supports their non-profit partners in the fight against pediatric cancer, creates therapeutic experiences and funds charitable programming initiatives for children and families battling cancer.
        Only 375 specialty Walleye/Love Your Melon Beanies are available for each game.
        Those who already have a game ticket must purchase the package and the Walleye ticket will be donated to ProMedica Children’s Hospital.
        For tickets, visit ToledoWalleye.com/lym, call the box office at 419-725-9255 or contact Matthew Snider at msnider@toledowalleye.com.
 
Halloween at Hensville, is a party with a purpose
        Heart & Soul: Caring for our Community is having its 16th Annual Benefit to raise awareness of mental illness and help erase the stigma associated with it on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6:30-10 p.m. in The Roost at Hensville at Fifth Third Field.
        Proceeds raised will go toward patient facility upgrades for the Wellness Management & Recovery & Education Programs at NOPH (Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital) and the Thomas M Wernert Center, a community center for those living with mental illness that offers programs which address recovery through education, peer support, advocacy, art classes and socialization.
        Admission is $40 per person in advance and $50 at the door, which includes dinner, live entertainment and free parking.
        Ramona Collins and the band Distant Cousinz will entertain. A silent auction will take place, along with a live auction by Karen Rose. Costumes are encouraged but not required. There will be a costume contest with prizes awarded to winners.
        Honorary Chairpersons are Dr. David and Mrs. Heather Billian. Emcee for the evening is Shaun Hegarty from 13abc Action News.
        To purchase tickets, visit heartandsoultoledo.com or contact Abbey Riley at heartandsoultoledo@gmail.com or 419-764-4387.
        Those wishing to may also support the event by donating an auction item or becoming an event sponsor. Learn more on the website or on Facebook at Heart & Soul: Caring for our Community.
        Event history
        Tony Rasczyk and Sally Binard started Heart & Soul 16 years ago as a way to raise awareness for mental illness and help erase the stigma associated with it. Having family and friends that live with mental illness, they wanted to show support for them as well as all people living with mental illness. They also wanted to bring more people to see the exciting and vibrancy of downtown Toledo, since they both live in the area.
        Since its inception, the event has raised more than $400,000.
 
Free floats for veterans
        True REST Float Spa will offer free 60-minute floats to active-duty military members and veterans on Monday, Nov. 11.
        Additionally, True REST Float Spa is running a Veterans Day “One for One” promotion for civilians. For every float therapy session purchased between Oct. 21- Nov. 11, an active duty personnel or veteran will be gifted a free floatation therapy session at participating True REST Float Spa locations.
        Locally, a True REST Float Spa is located at 5140 Chappel Dr., Perrysburg. To find additional locations, visit www.TrueREST.com/Locations.
        In addition, to show support and appreciation for the sacrifices made by men and women who serve the U.S. military, True REST Float Spa has designated every 11th day of the month, every month, as U.S. Military Appreciation Day and offers a free, 60-minute float to any active duty personnel and/or veteran.
        Since 2015, True REST Float Spa has given away almost 3,000 complimentary floats to U.S. active-duty military and veterans.
       
Kroger Health, Toledo Clinic announce new partnership
        A strategic partnership between Kroger Health (the Little Clinic) and The Toledo Clinic is part of a growing trend that impacts where the people of this region go when they seek medical care.
        Last month, Dr. Marc Watkins, chief medical officer of Kroger Health, and Mike D’Eramo, chief administrative officer of The Toledo Clinic, announced their strategic partnership and what it means to the region’s patients.
        A recent eight-year study by the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that visits to retail health clinics for low-acuity conditions increased 214%. That’s a larger increase than urgent care saw (119%), while emergency room visits fell 36%.
        Not so long ago, when people needed to see a doctor, they went to the doctor’s office or the emergency room.        The reasons for the popularity of retail clinics reflect the lifestyles and preferences of today’s consumers. Retail clinics offer on-demand service at convenient times, and they help consumers in high-deductible plans save on their out-of-pocket costs while offering transparent pricing.
        The strategic partnership between Kroger Health (The Little Clinic) and The Toledo Clinic will provide:
        • Improved access to care for patients, especially in the evenings and on weekends, or those that need a primary care physician/specialist referral
        • Continuity of care, as patients of The Toledo Clinic who access care at The Little Clinic will now have their records shared, for treatment purposes, with their Toledo Clinic provider.
 
ProMedica welcomes new breast surgeon
        ProMedica Physicians welcomed Jessica Burns, MD to ProMedica Physicians Breast Surgery and Surgical Oncology, located at 5308 Harroun Rd Suite 160, Sylvania.
        Dr. Burns’ special interests include breast conservation surgery/oncoplastic techniques, nipple-sparing mastectomy, high-risk surveillance, cancer exercise and nutrition, lymphedema prevention, and social determinants of health.
        She received her medical degree from The University of Toledo College of Medicine, completed an internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan Health System and completed her residency at the University of Toledo Medical Center.
        Dr. Burns also continued on to complete a Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit.
        To schedule an appointment, call 419-824-5668.
 
 

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