ruralspotlight

A publication of the

Missouri Department

of Health

and Senior Services

this issue includes:

Summer 12

Summer offers many types of outdoor activities. In this publication learn about sun protection, electronic health records, lead in your tackle box, ticks and disease prevention, disaster planning, oral health, great posture and a quick healthy recipe. Sun Protection

Electronic Health Records

Tackling Lead

Ticks & Disease Prevention

Flooding

Better Your Posture

Kids Health Tip

Recipe

Have a Suntastic SummerSunburns are more than painful; they can lead to skin cancer. Remember:

•Coverup!Coverasmuchskin aspossiblewithloosefitting, tightly-wovenclothinganda hat with a 2–3 inch brim or a shade cap. A hat with a brim thatshadesyourface,earsand neck works best.

•Useasunscreenthatprotects againstbothUV-AandUV-B sunlightspectrumswithanSPF of15orhigher.Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before goingoutside.Don’tforget sunscreen lip balm.

•Reapplysunscreenregularly. Sunscreen,regardlessof strength,shouldnotbeexpected toremaineffectivelonger than two hours without reapplication. Apply more frequently if you are in the water.

•WearsunglassesthatblockUV rays and protect your eyes. Checkoutmoretipsonsummer safety at health.mo.gov/atoz/ pdf/summersafety.pdf or call tollfree(866)628-9891.

a

OnMay1,2011,justafewweeksbeforethetornadostruckSt.John’sRegionalMedicalCenterinJoplin,MO,thehospitalanditsphysicianpracticesbeganusingthesameelectronic health record (EHR) system used by other Mercy hospitals and clinics in four states. Access to the EHR helpedMercygetthehospitalbackonlinequickly,andalso helped patients who were transferred to other Mercy hospitals after the storm.

ForPaulJohnson,78,ofJoplin,hisfocuswastogettoahospital where doctors and nurses could access his medical records.JohnsonhadbeenhospitalizedwithpneumoniafortwodayswhenMercy’sSt.John’swashitbythetornado.Aspatientsweretransferred,Johnsonexpressed

Photo courtesy of mo.gov.

Electronic Health Records

by Lisa Cox, media relations specialist, Mercy Springfield Communities

hisdesiretogotoMercy’ssisterhospitalinSpringfield,knowinghisrecordswouldbeeasilyaccessible.

“Iknewthattheywouldwanttoknowmymedications,dosagesandwhattestshadbeendone,andIknewthatIcouldn’trememberallofit,”hesaid.“ThedoctorsinSpringfieldwereabletopullupmyrecordsandaskmequestions.Itworkedoutbeautifully.”

Alongwiththeaccesstopatientrecords,Mercywasamongthefirstorganizationsintheareatore-establishcommunicationservicessuchasphone,networkaccess,laptops,printers,etc.,whichhelpedprovidethecriticallinkbetweenMercy’scommandcenterinJoplin,themobile

Make a Difference in Disaster Recovery

Eight months after an EF5 tornado devastates Joplin, St. John’s Regional Medical Center opens its new facility.

hospital(constructedjustsevendaysafterthetornado)andphysicianofficesinthecommunity,andotherlocationsacross Mercy.

“Ifthetornadohadhitamonthearlier,beforeinstallingtheelectronichealthrecordsysteminJoplin,St.John’swouldnothavebeenabletobringupourmobilehospitalwithinaweek’stime,”saidMikeMcCrearyofMercyTechnologyServices.“Today,patientshavecontinuityofcareacrossall of our physician locations and the new Mercy Hospital Joplin,andconnectiontotheentireMercyhealthsystem,becauseofourEHRandourabilitytoquicklyre-establishcommunicationservices.”

Joplinhasanewhospitalasofmid-April,andthisoneisn’ttentsortrailers.Thenewfacilityisofferingpatients

allthecomfortsandmostservicestheywouldexpectfromaMercyhospital.WithsteelconstructionthatissturdierthantheoldSt.John’s,thenewMercybuildingisatestamenttomoderntechnologyandovertimeworkerscomingtogethertobuildacompletehospitalineightmonths.

“It’sremarkablethatwewereabletogetthistopnotchfacilityupandrunningwithineightmonths,”saidLynnBritton,presidentandCEOofMercy.“Earlyintherecovery,weknewthecommunitywouldneedatruehospitalwhilewebuildforthefuture.Sowechallengedtheteamtodoit.WehaveourSistersofMercytothankwho came to Joplin in the late 1800s and showed us whatabiasforaction,determinationandtruegritcanaccomplish.”

ASTHMAAir pollution, dust mites, mold, secondhand smoke and even cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks. Learn your triggers and avoid them in your home and neighborhood. For more information go to www.epa.gov/.

Know your Asthma Triggers and Avoid Them

Photo courtesy of Mercy Springfield Communities

Itistimetogetoutthefishingpolesandheaddowntoyourfavoritefishinghole.Inpreparationforthe2012fishingseason,theFishConsumptionAdvisoryforMissourianshasbeenreleased.ThisannualreportprovidesavarietyofusefulinformationtopeoplewhoconsumefishcaughtinMissouri waters.

Thisyear’sadvisoryquestionis,“Isthereleadinyourtacklebox?”Leadisfoundinmanyconsumerproductsfromtoystojewelrytowaterhoses.However,yourtackleboxmayhavemoreleadthananyoftheseconsumerproducts.Useofthese products may allow lead to enter your body. Leadaffectsthenervoussystemandcanresultinbehavioralproblemsandlearningdifficulties,especially in children.

Sinkers,weights,shots,weightedhooksandjigheadsallweremadeoflead.Fishingtackleisnowbeingmadewithnon-leadalternatives.Replacingfishingtacklemadeoutofleadwithtacklemadeoutoflesstoxicmaterialslikebismuth,tungsten,tinandceramicwillgreatlyreduceleadexposureto you and your family.

Ifyouareacollectoroffishingtackleyoumaynotbewillingtopartwiththeweightsandluresyouhavestockpiledovertheyears.However,exposuretoleadcanbereducedbynotputtingleadweightsinyourmouthandwashingyourhandsafterhandingleadedtackle.Startyourchildren’sorgrandchildren’stackleboxeswithnon-leadedfishingtackle.Theywillenjoyhavingtheirowntackleboxesandyouwillhavethesatisfactionofknowingyoureducedyourlovedonesenvironmentalexposuretolead.

REMEMBER!Meltingleadisalsoverydangerousandshouldn’tbedone.Thefumesfrommeltinglead to cast your own sinkers and the dust from thisprocesswillcontaminateyourhome,yard,garageandclothing.

Visit www.health.mo.gov/living/environment/fishadvisory/index.php or call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at (573) 751-6102 for more information.

Whetheryoudecidetogohiking,camping,orarejustplayinginyouryardwithyourfamilypet,don’tforgetaboutticks.IntheUnitedStates,theselittlecrittersareresponsibleformorehumandiseasethananyotherinsect.Tickscancarryinfectiouszoonoticdiseasesthatcanbetransmittedbetweenanimals and humans.

Mosttickstakebloodfromalargevarietyofsmallandlargemammals,birds,andevenreptiles.Beforeatickisabletomoveontothenextstageintheirlifecycletheymustingesta“bloodmeal”sothatmoltingoregg-layingcantakeplace.Ifatickfeedsonaninfectedmammalorbird,theyarethenabletopassbacteriaorvirusesontothenextmammal,birdorreptiletheyattachto,whichmaybeyourhouseholdpetorevenyou.

Themostfrequentlyencounteredtick-bornediseasesinMissouriarethetick-bornespottedfevers.ThisincludesRockyMountainspottedfever,ehrlichiosisandtularemia.ThebacteriathatcauseLymediseaseandhumananaplasmosis are carried by a type of tick that does not tolerateMissouri’shot,humidsummerswhichiswhythosediseases are uncommon here.

WhetheryouareenjoyingthegreatoutdoorsinMissouriorsomeotherpartofthecountry,beawareofthepossibilityofdiseasestransmittedbyticks.Toavoidtickbites,applyinsectrepellentswith20-50percentDEETtoexposedskinandclothing.

Formoreinformationonzoonoticdiseasesgoto:www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html.

1 Using tweezers, grasp tick near the mouthparts, as close to skin as

possible.

Pull tick firmly, straight out, away from skin. Do not jerk or twist the

tick.

Do NOT use alcohol, matches, or petroleum jelly to remove

tick.

Wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water after the tick is removed. Apply an antiseptic to the bite site.

Tell your doctor you had a tick bite if you develop symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue or rash.

RemovalTick

2

For more information visit the Department of Health and Senior Services at health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/tickscarrydisease/index.php or contact your local health department.

3

Prompt removal of ticks can help prevent disease. Ticks can infect in 10 hours or less.

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Ticks & Disease Prevention

FloodinginMissouriisacommonhazard.Floodscanhappenoveraperiodoftimegivingindividualstimetoprepareorfloodscanoccurwithinminuteswithlittleornowarning.Eitherway,oneshouldknowthedangersandbealerttoweatherconditionswhereyoulive,orwhereyouwillbetravellingtohelpwardoffpotentiallylifethreateningcircumstances.

Tipstohelpyouprepareforaflood: • Buildanemergencykitandmakeafamilycommunicationsplan. • Avoidbuildinginafloodplainunlessyouelevateandreinforceyourhome. • Elevatethefurnace,waterheaterandelectricpanelinyourhomeifyouliveinanareathathasahighfloodrisk. • Considerinstalling“checkvalves”topreventfloodwaterfrombackingupintothedrainsofyourhome. • Iffeasible,constructbarrierstostopfloodwaterfromenteringthebuildingandsealwallsinbasementswith waterproofingcompounds.

Disaster Supply KitFollowingisalistofemergencysuppliestokeeponhandincaseoffloodsandotheremergencies.

• Water,onegallonofwaterperpersonperdayfor atleastthreedays,fordrinkingandsanitation• Food,atleastathree-daysupplyofnon-perishable food• Battery-poweredorhandcrankradioandaNOAA WeatherRadiowithtonealertandextrabatteries for both• Flashlightandextrabatteries• Firstaidkit• Whistletosignalforhelp• Dustmasktohelpfiltercontaminatedairand plasticsheetingandducttapetoshelter-in-place• Moisttowelettes,garbagebagsandplastictiesfor personal sanitation• Wrenchorplierstoturnoffutilities• Manual can opener for food• Localmaps• Cellphonewithcharger,inverterorsolarcharger

• Prescriptionmedicationsandglasses• Infant formula and diapers• Cashortraveler’schecksandchange• Important family documents such as copies of insurancepolicies,identificationandbankaccount recordsinwaterproof,portablecontainer• Sleepingbagorwarmblanketforeachperson• Completechangeofclothingandshoes• Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper. Whendiluted,ninepartswatertoonepartbleach can be used as a disinfectant. You can also use ittotreatwaterbyusing16dropsofregular householdliquidbleachpergallonofwater.Do notusescented,colorsafeorbleacheswithadded cleaners.• Fireextinguisher• Matches in a waterproof container• Femininesuppliesandpersonalhygieneitems• Messkits,papercups,plates,papertowelsand plastic utensils.

PhotocourtesyoftheMissouriDepartmentofPublicSafety

Are You Prepared?DANGER!

Findasamplefamilyplanatwww.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Family_Emegency_Plan.pdf. Source: FEMA at www.ready.gov/floodawareness

Better Your

Pad Your Chair – Add lumbar support toyourofficechair.Thiswillmeanlessroom on your chair but better posture.

Sit Toward the Back of Chair–Whensitting,shiftbutttowardsbackofchair.

Exercise Ball–Replaceyourofficechairwithanexerciseball.Thiscanbeusedforstretchingoutyourbackwhileyouaretakingabreak.

Use a Timer/Take A Break – If you sit alot,setatimerandgetupevery30-40minutes and stretch. Alternate this with takingashortwalk.

5 Tips for Daily Oral Care

Formoreinformation,gotohealth.mo.gov/liv-ing/families/oralhealth/index.php or www.ada.org.

Brushyourteethtwiceadaywithfluoridetoothpaste.

Flossdaily.

Drinkfluoridatedwatertopreventtooth decay.

Eatabalanceddietandlimitsugarydrinks and snacks.

Visityourdentistregularlyforprofessionalcleaningsandoralexams.

Goodoralhealthisnecessaryforbetterover-allhealth.Takingpropercareofyourmouth,teethandgumsisimportantinpreventingtoothdecay,gumdiseaseandbadbreath.

Healthy Smiles....Healthy Teeth

POSTURE

Missouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesOffice of Primary Care and Rural HealthPO Box 570Jefferson City, MO 65102

SummerA HEALTHY RECIPE FOR

Campfire Peach Cobbler

You will need one clean ripe peach for each person.

• Cutpeachinhalfandremovepit.• Placegroundcinnamonwherepitwasremovedand placebothhalvestogetheragain,andwrapinfoil.• Placefoilwrappedpeachesincampfirecoalsuntilsoftontheoutside.• Peeloffthefoilandremovethepeach.Enjoyyourcampfirepeach cobbler!!!

4 Easy Steps to a