 1/3 Of Newaygo County Moms-to-be are still smoking
Part 2 of 5: The Great American Smoke Out – Start Fresh and Quit Tobacco! Giving birth to a healthy baby is a joyous occasion, one that all moms hope and pray for. And fortunately moms are great at doing what is best for her and her unborn child while she is pregnant. But the addiction of nicotine, whether from smoking cigarettes or vaping, can cause that dream and prayer to become a nightmare. The reality is when a pregnant mom smokes, her unborn baby smokes too. Nicotine addiction can affect anyone, and even the desire to grow a healthy baby can be undone because of this disease. In Newaygo County, at least one third of our pregnant moms smoke. That number may be more as often the new mom does not want to admit smoking or vaping to her physician. So how does smoking or vaping affect a mother’s unborn child? Nicotine, whether from cigarettes or vaping, causes less blood to flow to the growing baby, leading to an underdeveloped and underweight newborn. Plus the thousands of toxins in tobacco are absorbed by the baby through the mother’s blood. These can affect the baby’s brain and lungs, and can cause premature birth of the baby with weeks spent in a neonatal intensive care unit that could have been prevented. As the child grows they can have learning disabilities, higher incidences of painful ear infections, asthma and other illnesses. Plus they grow up thinking that smoking is ok, because mom does it. The good news is there is a great program right here in Newaygo County called SCRIPT: Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy Treatment. That long title is simply a step by step program that is offered by Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial and District 10 Health Department. The program is free, and both Sally Wagoner and Karen Ripke are eager to help a pregnant or new mom get a Fresh Start and Quit Tobacco for her and her baby! For more information about SCRIPT for pregnant moms, as well as other tobacco quit programs, contact: Sally Wagoner, RN, 231.924.7589; Karen Ripke, TTS, DHD 10, 231.689.7300; or email [email protected] People interested in learning more about quitting tobacco, chew or vaping are encouraged to attend one of the free “Great American Smoke Out- Start Fresh ” programs in November. Those who attend will receive a free “Tobacco Quit Kit” which will include information on how to quit for the day or quit for good on November 16, the Great American Smoke Out, along with resources about local classes and coaching programs. The free Great American Smoke Out - Start Fresh Programs will be held: Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.; and then at 12 noon - 12:30pm at The Stream, 1 State Road, Newaygo.
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 At Girls’ Night Out, local women speak out on range of health situations that can affect every woman
FREMONT – Depression. Menopause. Breast cancer. Incontinence. Cigarette addiction. A heart disease. These are just some of the health conditions that can – and in the case of menopause, will – affect women. On Thursday, Nov. 2, local women from the community will share their individual health journeys, their challenges, their hopes and ultimately their path toward healing in brief 5-minute onstage talks that are the feature of Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial’s annual Girls’ Night Out. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts in Fremont.
“These are just some of the health situations that women will likely encounter at some point in their lives,” said Meleah Mariani, Gerber Memorial Chief Nursing Officer and moderator of the event. “We’re so grateful to these brave women for stepping up to share their stories, which isn’t always an easy thing to do. Their stories all have a few things in common, and that’s women don’t have to go through their challenges alone, that we all have strength in the face of adversity, and that knowledge and information is the best way to begin our journeys of hope and healing.” Joni Erlewein, RN, will also speak about how to mobilize body, mind and spirit through mindfulness in the face of a health challenge, and share other tips that will be helpful to women. A nurse practitioner and women’s health expert, Erlewein also works at the Cancer Center at Gerber Memorial, walking women through their cancer journeys as a nurse navigator. .. The free event is open to the public from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gerber Memorial invites the community to attend the event, which will feature free screenings, useful information about health and wellness for the family, free nutritious appetizers, and fun activities. Attendees will get the chance to win door prizes that include a Vitamix blender and other items, and receive Yeti-inspired tumblers as free giveaways at the door. Health professionals will be on hand at Girls’ Night Out to provide the following:
The Skincare Center and Spa will also offer make-up demonstrations.  First of a five part series
The Great American Smoke Out (GASO) is Thursday, November 16, and BreatheWell Newaygo County, along with the Headway Coalition and Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, are going all out to help people quit smoking once and for all! GASO is an annual American Cancer Society event that inspires thousands of people to quit for the day or quit for good. By quitting tobacco and nicotine use, even for 1 day, smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk. “The Great American Smoke Out is the perfect time to make a plan and get the help you need to quit smoking, stop vaping, or be through with chew,” says Sally Wagoner, RN and Tobacco Treatment Specialist at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial and Chairperson of BreatheWell Newaygo County. “BreatheWell will be hosting several planning events before November 16 to get people ready to take this giant step toward a healthy tobacco free life.” Tobacco continues to be the single largest preventable cause of chronic disease and premature death in the world. Tobacco and nicotine use, whether from cigarettes, cigars or smokeless tobacco like chew and snus, all cause dozens of kinds of cancer, lung disease, heart attacks, circulation problems and even gum disease, cavities and tooth loss. “Most people who successfully quit tobacco get support from a specialist who has been trained in how to help people break their nicotine addiction and smoking routines. The GASO Start Fresh planning events will help people learn about the best medications, nicotine replacement products, tools and professional help so this time they can quit for good,” added Ms. Wagoner. People interested in learning more about quitting tobacco, chew or vaping are encouraged to attend one of the free “Great American Smoke Out- Start Fresh” programs in November. Those who attend will receive a free “Tobacco Quit Kit” which will include information on how to quit for the day or quit for good on November 16, Great American Smoke Out, along with resources about local classes and coaching programs. “The free ‘Start Fresh’ program is a great way to get all the information you need to help you quit when you are ready, even if it is not on the Great American Smoke Out day itself,” said Sally Wagoner, RN. The free GASO Start Fresh Programs will be held: Wednesday, November 1, from 6 p.m. - 6:30pm at Family Health Care in Grant. Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.; and then at 12 noon - 12:30pm at The Stream in Newaygo. Tuesday, November 7, from 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Hesperia Library. Thursday, November 9, from 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Family Health Care in White Cloud. Registration is not needed to attend. For more information about these programs, call Sally Wagoner, RN at 231.924.7589, or email: [email protected]. Next week: Part 2 of 5 – SCRIPT: A Program to Help Pregnant and New Moms Quit Smoking  Gerber Memorial streamlines lab locations, patients can walk in for tests at their convenience
FREMONT– Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is streamlining its lab operations and offering walk-in services at its three locations. Patients can get tests done with no appointment necessary. The three lab sites are:
Patients who may have a previously scheduled appointment at Gerber Memorial’s Family Medicine Clinics in Grant, Hesperia and Fremont (Main Street) will have those appointments canceled, affecting only scheduled lab work appointments at these locations. Those affected patients can then choose to go to the hospital, Newaygo and the Multispecialty Clinic at their convenience during operating hours. For more information, patients are encouraged to contact the main lab at 231.924.1363.  Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office taking back unwanted prescription drugs
White Cloud– On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 14th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the lobby of the Sheriff's Office, 1035 E. James St., White Cloud, MI. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Last April Americans turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds—more than 4,050 tons—of pills. Locally, 2,854 pounds of prescription drugs have been turned in and disposed of in Newaygo county drug drop boxes. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. If you can’t dispose of your medications during the Take Back Day times the drug drop box is also available 24/7. Other sites available, during their operating hours, are all the police departments in Newaygo County, TrueNorth Community Services in Fremont, Hometown Pharmacy in Newaygo, and the Commission on Aging in White Cloud. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.  Grant Elementary students kick off health, wellness program
GRANT – Students from Grant Elementary School’s 2nd through 4th-grade classes participated in a kick-off event for the nationally recognized CATCH program (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) on September 15, led by Principal Carol Dawson. During the 20-minute assembly, students participated in Zumba and practiced a few of their many fitness deck card activities, which were purchased for all classroom teachers to help support them in incorporating physical activity breaks during class time. Grant Primary Center students experienced their CATCH kickoff during gym class while playing CATCH MVP (“Move and stay active,” “Value healthy eating” and “Practice healthy habits”) games that introduced common language used to teach health and wellness. The students refueled with a healthy apple snack provided by Nelson’s Farm Market. The CATCH program is having a large impact on Grant Elementary School and Primary Center. After the initial kick-off week, students are already seeking out low-fat white milk in the lunchroom as opposed to chocolate. They enjoy the challenge of discovering which foods fit in the “GO” (or “eat anytime”) category and which ones fit in the “WHOA” (or “eat once in awhile”) category. Students are bringing in healthy fruits and vegetables as their snacks. Staff is also well on their way to walking the talk, quite literally. Staff and students will be participating in a Walk across America Challenge throughout the school year. Students in grades K-4 will be receiving educational lessons to reinforce healthy nutrition and increased physical activity and they will be exposed to healthy food through taste testings. Grant Elementary and Primary Center are working to create a healthier environment for staff and students alike.  An education program for moms-to-be.
Baldwin-There are many important choices to make for you and your baby. Making sure you are eating right and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be one of the hardest! That is why Family Health Care has partnered with Michigan State University Extension to offer Today’s Mom. Today’s Mom is a nutrition education program that will help moms-to-be make the right choices when it comes to nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices. The class focuses on healthy eating for you and baby, importance of reading food labels, making healthy choices and staying active, and easy menu planning. “This program really focuses on the best ways to keep our expecting moms healthy,” says Tammy Burrell, community health worker at Family Health Care. “Finding out you are pregnant can be overwhelming and we hope this program can help make some of those lifestyle choices easier.” This free program will be held at Baldwin Family Health Care located at 1615 Michigan Avenue in Baldwin, MI. Sessions will take place on October 31, November 7, 14, 21 and 28, and December 5 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Participants are encouraged to attend all six sessions. If you are an expecting mother and want to make sure you and your baby are healthy, register for this program by calling Tammy Burrell at (231) 745-5052 or Kendra Gibson, RD, at (231) 845-3363.  Gerber Memorial’s Girls’ Night Out on Nov. 2 will feature local women’s stories of hope, healing
FREMONT– Local women from diverse backgrounds will share their individual health journeys during Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial’s Girls’ Night Out on Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts in Fremont. The free event is open to the public from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gerber Memorial invites the community to attend the event, which will feature free screenings, useful information about health and wellness for the family, free nutritious appetizers, and fun activities. Attendees will get the chance to win door prizes that include a Vitamix blender and other items, and receive Yeti-inspired tumblers as free giveaways at the door. The centerpiece of Girls’ Night Out 2017 is an onstage coffee-table conversation and discussion with local women from diverse backgrounds about their individual health journeys and situations that could affect women at any age. “Gerber Memorial is excited that Girls’ Night Out this year will put the spotlight on women who live and work right here in our community as they share their stories of hope and healing that will inform and inspire all of us,” said Gerber Memorial Chief Operating Officer, Shelly Johnson. “Gerber Memorial is committed to our community and to partnering with the people we serve to share information that can help promote health and wellness for everyone in the family. Girls’ Night Out is one opportunity for us to connect with our community, and we invite everyone to join us for fun, food and the journey toward greater wellness.” Women who will speak live include Danielle McCabe-Arbogast, Lisa Soueidan and Joni Erlewein. Other local women will also share their stories via video. Personal stories range from discussing journeys through cancer, post-partum depression, quitting tobacco, pelvic health and mindfulness.  Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial Beards for Babies “ambassadors” From left: Gerber Memorial President Randy Stasik; Clark Patton, systems engineer; Terry Lennen, respiratory care services manager; Azlan Ibrahim, communications manager; and Josh Gustafson, community health director. Gerber Memorial fundraiser invites community men to skip shavers, support babies
FREMONT, Mich. (October 11, 2017) – This November, growing a beard is more than a fashion statement. It’s an easy, no-effort way for men to support babies and for the entire community to give to a fundraiser benefitting Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial’s Family Birth Center. During the month of November, the “Beards for Babies” fundraiser encourages men to grow a beard and mustache, and ask supporters to give to their efforts as part of a friendly competition. On Nov. 29, the participants will show off their beards during a showdown at Lakes 23 Restaurant and Pub. Participants of the “Beards for Babies” event can sign up at give.spectrumhealth.org/beardsforbabies and use their custom page to raise funds, by sharing the link and their efforts with friends, family, coworkers and others. “Gerber Memorial’s Family Birth Center does phenomenal work bringing more than 500 young lives into the world every year, and ‘Beards for Babies’ is a fun way men can skip shaving for a month while supporting mothers and their children,” said Spectrum Health Foundation Gerber Memorial Director Paul Bedient. “We encourage men to give their razors a break, let their facial hair go and show off their whiskers for the community to admire on Nov. 29. At the end of the day, families and babies across Newaygo County and beyond are the ones who will benefit.” A panel of judges will pick the best facial hair based on the following categories:
The fundraiser will help purchase items such as: safe sleep books, safe sleep sacks, diapers and wipes, and other much-needed items. In addition, funds raised will help certify another lactation consultant for the Family Birth Center. Participants will use Gerber Memorial’s TeamUp! fundraising website to raise $50 or more to earn free entry into the event and beard contest. Men wishing to sign up as participants can go to: give.spectrumhealth.org/beardsforbabies. Registration is now open. Participants are encouraged to register now to create their own page and start sharing their efforts. Those who wish to donate but not participate in the beard growing can also visit the website to make a general donation or find a participant to support. For more information or questions, call 231-924-3681.  2016 Fire Prevention Open House Newaygo Fire Department holds open house to educate residents on fire prevention
NEWAYGO, Mich., 10-06-2017 – Consider this scenario: Its 2 o’clock in the morning. You and your family are fast asleep when you awaken to the smoke alarm sounding and the smell of smoke. What do you do? If you and your family don’t have a plan in place, it could jeopardize your safety, or even prove deadly.In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds. That’s why home escape planning is so critical in a fire situation. It ensures that everyone in the household knows how to use that small window of time wisely. “Developing and practicing a home escape plan is like building muscle memory,” said Carlos Escalante, Captain at the Newaygo Fire Department. “That pre-planning is what everyone will draw upon to snap into action and escape as quickly as possible in the event of a fire.” This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme, “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” works to better educate the public about the critical importance of developing a home escape plan and practicing it. The Newaygo Fire Department is working in coordination with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of the Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, to reinforce those potentially life-saving messages. Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14, 2017. “Home escape planning is one of the most basic but fundamental elements of home fire safety, and can truly make the difference between life and death in a fire situation,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. In support of Fire Prevention Week, Carlos encourages all Newaygo County households to develop a plan together and practice it. A home escape plan includes working smoke alarms on every level of the home, in every bedroom, and near all sleeping areas. It also includes two ways out of every room, usually a door and a window, with a clear path to an outside meeting place (like a tree, light pole, or mailbox) that’s a safe distance from the home. NFPA and the Newaygo Fire Department offer these additional tips and recommendations for developing and practicing a home escape plan:
For more information on fire prevention and the open house, visit newaygofire.com. |
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