Archive for category: General Information

The fourth of July holiday is often filled with lots of family fun including activities such as pool parties, barbecues, outdoor games and fireworks.

Amid the holiday festivities parents may overlook important safety precautions. By keeping a few key Fourth of July safety tips in mind, parents can help keep children safe while still enjoying the holiday fun.

Leave the Fireworks to the Experts

The National Safety Council (NSC) advises everyone to stay away from all consumer fireworks and to only enjoy fireworks at a public display conducted by professionals.

Fireworks can result in burns, scars, disfigurement and even death. A new report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) finds a 50 percent increase in deaths and injuries from fireworks-related incidents in 2020, compared to 2019. At least 18 people died from fireworks-related incidents in 2020, compared to 12 reported for the previous year.

Every year, sparklers can be found in the hand of children along parade routes and at festivals, but they are a lot more dangerous than people think. Many parents don’t realize that they burn at about 2,000 degrees-hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing and many children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.

• Families should attend community fireworks displays run by trained professionals rather than using fireworks at home.
• Be sure to stay at least 500 feet away from the show.

Be Vigilant About Water Safety

Another common fourth of July activity is swimming in pools and lakes. It is important to remember to never leave children unattended around bodies of water. According to the NSC approximately 19 children drown during the fourth of July holiday each year.

• Children should always be monitored while in the water. Adults should take turns watching the children in 15-30-minute intervals.
• Sign your children up for age-appropriate swimming lessons, but keep in mind even with swimming lessons children should still be monitored closely.
• Never use floatation devices or water wings when swimming or teaching your child to swim.
• Learn CPR and rescue techniques.
• Establish and communicate clear rules for the pool such as:
  • Do not push or jump on others, no diving or running, etc.
• Children should always wear life jackets while on a boat, personal watercraft and in open bodies of water.
• Never consume alcohol when operating a boat, and always make sure everyone is wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
• Sunblock, hydration and supervision are all essential water safety precautions that help keep the day fun and safe.

Barbecue Grill Safety

Nothing beats a barbecue with friends and family.  Just remember these tips to keep everyone safe.

• Create a barbecue only zone. Children and pets should not come within three feet of the barbecue grill once it is turned on. Remind your children that the barbecue is just like the stove, it gets extremely hot, and they can be burned. Keep pets contained away from the grill while it is in use.
• Grill in a well-ventilated area, away from your house and deck. Every year grills and smokers cause thousands of fires, hundreds of injuries and deaths and millions of dollars in damage.
• Be prepared for an emergency by keeping a fire extinguisher and a spray bottle of water nearby.
• Use long handled barbecue utensils to keep the chef safe.
• Always follow manufacture’s instructions when using grills.

Protect Your Skin and Avoid Dehydration

• Limit your sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30 which will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply sunscreen often.
• If you are swimming you should reapply sunscreen hourly or at least every two hours.
• Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid drinking beverages that are caffeinated or contain alcohol.
• During hot weather, watch for signs of heat stroke-hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; rapid shallow breathing. If it’s suspected someone is suffering from heat stroke:
  • Call 9-1-1 and move the person to a cooler place.
  • Quickly cool the body by applying cool, wet towels to the skin (or misting it with water) and fanning the person
  • Watch for signs of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.

By Sharon Trongaard, RRT, MS, MPH, Clinic Director/Risk & Compliance Officer and Respiratory Therapist at Health Partnership Clinic

Sleep is vital to our good health. Studies now link a lack of sleep to increasing the risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and dementia. Over time, a lack of sleep is even associated with a shortened lifespan. So even though it may be tempting to give up a few hours of sleep to get stuff done, in the long run prioritizing your sleep will improve your health and ability to enjoy life.

Getting enough sleep is as important to your health as a good diet and exercise.

Getting good sleep can become more difficult as we get older (Abbasi, 2012). Sleep is of course important for our brains, allowing us to be focused and alert, but it is during deep sleep that your brain also “takes out the trash” of byproducts and toxins that build up. A recent study by the National Institutes of Health found that impaired glymphatic clearance (the brains waste removal system), which occurs primarily during sleep, contributes to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease (Reddy, OC, 2020).

As a Respiratory Therapist and Sleep Educator, I know that everyone experiences trouble sleeping occasionally. But if you routinely have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep more than one night a week, you should consider a few small changes recommended by the Harvard School of Sleep Medicine that could improve the quality of your sleep (Harvard, 2019).

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, chocolate, soda and some pain relievers four to six hours before bed. These substances can make falling asleep and staying asleep more difficult.
• Make your bedroom a welcoming space for sleep by creating an environment that is:
  • Comfortable – Your bed should be supportive with a good mattress and inviting with cozy pillows, sheets and blankets.
  • Dark – Keep out light from windows with black out curtain and make sure that clocks and other electronics in the room have the display turned off or set very dim. Even small amounts of light can disturb sleep.
  • Well ventilated – Generally people sleep longer in cooler environments with temperatures between 65-85°F.
  • Quiet – if you have a pet that wakes at night, you may consider having them sleep outside your bedroom. If your partner snores or there are other noises, consider using earplugs or a white noise machine.
• Use light to your advantage.
  • If you have problems waking in the morning, get some sunlight as soon as possible. Open the blinds as soon as you get up to let some light in. Each day try to get at least 20 minutes in the sunlight. Exposure to the sun helps regulate your circadian rhythm by turning melatonin production off when it is light and turning it on when it is dark to help you fall asleep.
  • Limit exposure to blue light from computers, tablets and phones, especially two hours before bed. Blue light can turn off melatonin production.
• Have a bedtime routine. Remember when you were little and your parents would give you a bath, read you a book and tuck you in? These routines let your body know that it is time for sleep. Create your own routine by reading, meditating, or listening to music. Avoid activities that are stressful or energizing as these can increase the production of cortisol (the fight or flight hormone) that can keep you awake.
• Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Sleeping in on the weekends may seem like a great idea, but it can lead to trouble falling asleep the next night. On the weekends wake up at your normal time and use the extra times for some selfcare. Go for a walk, watch the sunrise, read the paper, or cook a healthy breakfast!

Implementing one or several of these changes in your life may help improve how easily you fall asleep and your ability to stay asleep. If you have frequent problems sleeping, snore or experience excessive daytime sleepiness, you should visit your provider who can look for sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or insomnia. At Health Partnership Clinic, our providers know that sleep is key in our approach to whole person health, and we encourage our patients to talk about any sleep issues so we can partner with them to find solutions.

References:

Abbasi B, Kimiagar M, Sadeghniiat K, Shirazi MM, Hedayati M, Rashidkhani B. The effect of magnesium supplementation on primary insomnia in elderly: A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. J Res Med Sci. 2012;17(12):1161-1169.

Harvard Medical School.  Improving Sleep: A guide to a good night’s rest. 2019. Accessed June 23, 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/improving-sleep-a-guide-to-a-good-nights-rest#table-of-contents

Reddy OC, van der Werf YD. The Sleeping Brain: Harnessing the Power of the Glymphatic System through Lifestyle Choices. Brain Sci. 2020;10(11):868. Published 2020 Nov 17. doi:10.3390/brainsci10110868

By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach

During the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping hands clean is especially important to help prevent the virus from spreading. It’s one of those everyday precautions besides wearing a mask and social distancing.

With the spike of COVID cases across our country, including Kansas and Missouri, it never hurts to remind ourselves about proper handwashing. At Health Partnership Clinic, we have instituted several proactive steps to ensure the safety of our staff and patients—frequent handwashing is at the top of the list. At home, it is equally important. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides several useful tips and reminders to keep you and your family healthy.

Remember, handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick—that goes for COVID, the flu and colds!

How Germs Spread

Washing hands can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections from one person to the next. Germs can spread from other people or surfaces when you:

• Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Prepare or eat food and drinks with unwashed hands
• Touch a contaminated surface or objects
• Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into hands and then touch other people’s hands or common objects

Key Times to Wash Hands

You can help yourself and your loved ones stay healthy by washing your hands often, especially during these key times when you are likely to get and spread germs:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick with vomiting or diarrhea
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

According to the CDC, during the COVID-19 pandemic, you should also clean hands:

• After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.
• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth because that’s how germs enter our bodies.

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from your home and workplace to childcare facilities and hospitals and clinics.

Follow these five steps every time.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. You can tell if the sanitizer contains at least 60 percent alcohol by looking at the product label. Remember to keep hand sanitizer out of reach of young children and supervise their use. Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning. 

Get the whole family involved in handwashing.

HPC has developed an easy-to-follow tip sheet for children. Check it out!

Post by Iveth Alvarado, Enrollment Specialist

The Health Insurance Marketplace (also known as the “Marketplace” or “exchange,” opens Nov. 1, and there’s only 45 days to #GetCovered in 2020! The Marketplace provides health plan shopping and enrollment services through websites, call centers and in-person help.

At Health Partnership Clinic, we offer free, in-person help with the health insurance application. Open enrollment is from Nov. 1-Dec. 15.

We are now scheduling appointments by calling 913-730-3653. A certified application counselor is available to help you in English or Spanish.

When you apply for individual and family coverage through the Marketplace, you’ll provide income and household information. You’ll find out if you qualify for:

• Premium tax credits and other savings that make insurance more affordable
• Coverage through the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in your state

We’re here to help you renew your health insurance or explore your options! Call us today at 913-730-3653.