Winter weather safety: Frigid temperatures can increase hypothermia risk

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 12/18/2010

When the weather outside is frightful, people turn to various sources to try to keep their homes warm.

Sometimes those sources can be just as frightful as the weather. According to the Kentucky Outreach and Information Network, the drop in temperatures can raise the likelihood of people incorrectly using alternative heating sources – such as generators or kerosene heaters – in their homes. It can also raise the risk of people developing hypothermia when they go outside.

Local experts say people can survive cold weather by following a few safety tips. For instance, before using any type of heating source, read the directions, said Chip Kraus, public health services coordinator at the Barren River District Health Department.

“Your (heating source) may not be like your neighbor’s,” he said.

Those who use alternative heating devices in their homes should install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors and monitor them to make sure the batteries work, Kraus said.

“Test them twice a year when the time changes,” he said. “That way you’ll know the battery is working.”

Those who use kerosene heaters should use the appropriate type of kerosene for the heater, Kraus said. Kerosene should be stored in a container intended for kerosene.

“Gasoline can gum up a wick, and that can cause problems,” he said. “Kerosene comes in a blue container. Gasoline comes in a red container.”

Kerosene heaters should be used in well-ventilated areas and should be several feet away from combustible materials. They should never be refueled indoors, Kraus said.

“Take it outside to fill it up,” he said. “It could spill.”

Generators should be used outside, Kraus said.

“They should be at least 25 feet from the house or any other structure,” he said. “This is so you don’t have gas fumes and carbon monoxide coming into the house.”

Fireplaces are a good way to keep warm, but they should also be used with caution, Kraus said.

“Make sure the vent is open,” he said.

When people are dressed improperly and go outside to do things, such as chop firewood, they run the risk of developing hypothermia.

“It’s basically decreased body temperature,” said Jim Williams, The Medical Center’s Emergency Medical Service field operations manager. “People try to maintain a normal body temperature to carry on normal body function.”

Hypothermia usually happens over time and can result in death, Williams said.

“Once it gets started, a person may start shivering. Shivering is one way the body tries to keep its temperature from sudden heat loss,” he said. “If the heat loss continues, the shivering can’t keep up with the loss, so you will stop shivering even if you’re still cold.”

Other symptoms range from confusion to becoming completely unconscious. The person may feel cool to the touch and complain of feeling sleepy, Williams said.

“They may have trouble walking or doing anything coordinated,” he said. “When in doubt, seek medical assistance. Call 911 or come to the emergency room.”

To prevent hypothermia, people should stay as dry as possible and dress in layers – an underlayer to wick moisture away from the body, a fleece or wool layer to hold the heat close to the body and an outer layer that is wind and water resistant, Williams said.

“This keeps you from overheating,” he said. “The heat loss can keep up with the heat generation.”

Avoid drinking alcohol to keep warm because it can speed the loss of heat from the body, Williams said.

“You think the warm feeling is warming you up, but you’re really losing heat,” he said. “Drink hot drinks.”

People should take care of each other when the temperatures drop, Williams said.

“Even if you’re a healthy adult and think you’re OK, it’s important to check on other people as well,” he said. “Older people and very young people are more susceptible (to hypothermia). People who are on a fixed income may try to decrease the heating bill by keeping the heat too low.”

— For more information about cold weather preparedness, visit www.healthalerts.ky.gov.

Guidelines for carbon monoxide safety:

•Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline- or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, garage or near a window.

•Don’t run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.

•Don’t burn items in a stove or fireplace that isn’t properly vented. Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.

•Don’t place a portable heater within reach of children or pets and don’t use a power strip or extension cord. Look for the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) label and carefully read instructions before use.

•Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home and replace batteries as required. If the detector sounds, leave your home immediately and dial 911.

•Seek immediate medical attention by calling 911 if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Early symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Carbon monoxide poisoning is treatable.

•If you are experiencing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning or if you have questions, call the Kentucky Poison Control hot line at 800-222-1222.

Source: Kentucky Department of Health

Copyright 2010 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Medical Center respiratory therapist named Ambassador of the Month

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 12/11/2010

Ask a patient at The Medical Center about Warren Casada and you might get a blank look.

But ask for “Doogie Howser” and there may be a glimmer of recognition.

“A guy I went to respiratory school with started calling me that,” said Casada, who bears a resemblance to the show’s star, Neil Patrick Harris, and wears a stethoscope with a small tag that reads “Doogie.”

Casada has worked at the hospital as a registered respiratory therapist for nearly 20 years. He helps people who have problems related to the respiratory system. The number of patients he sees can vary from 15 to 20 when he’s working on the floor to one-on-one when he’s running tests.

“Anyone we see here has a breathing problem, but other things can come into play, like automobile accidents or cancer,” he said.

Casada was recently named Ambassador of the Month, which is nominated by the hospital staff.

“This is the second time I’ve received it,” he said. “The first time was in 1993.”

His desire to study something related to medicine started in high school.

“I wanted to do something to take care of everybody,” he said. “I started at (Western Kentucky University) for the pre-physical therapy program.”

A conversation with a friend who was working at The Medical Center changed his mind.

“(Respiratory therapy) seemed like an interesting thing to do,” Casada said.

Casada graduated from Bowling Green Technical College in 1991 and got certification. He worked part time at T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow and The Medical Center before landing a full-time job at The Medical Center. There was also a period of time where he worked in home health.

“I went to people and took care of their medical equipment,” he said. “I got to see patients at home. I did it for eight years.”

Over the years, there have been various changes, especially in technology, Casada said. Now, many types of information can be sent with the push of a button.

“Everything was on paper. You had to walk everything over,” he said. “Now the hospital has gone to mostly computers.”

His favorite aspects of his career are the patients and his co-workers.

“I enjoy the patients. Everybody has a story. I really enjoy taking care of people. I have a great bunch of people to work with. You’ve always got people to call on.”

Copyright 2010 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Starting young: Local health experts working to tackle childhood obesity problem in Kentucky

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 12/11/2010

When David Nuckols says he wants to see people exercising, he isn’t talking only about adults.

It isn’t unusual to see children go into his studio, Get Toned Fitness, to do high intensity interval training three or four days a week for about 50 minutes at a time.

“I change it to where I can accommodate any type of kids, any age and size. We have eight who come pretty regularly,” he said. “I usually have ages 10 and above. We focus on nutrition and exercise and body awareness. The kids bring their parents off and on. It’s fun when kids can do the same stuff as mom or dad.”

The need for this type of information is especially important for children in the Bluegrass State. According to the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified policy agenda for child advocates across the state, self-reported surveys show that Kentucky has the third highest rate of childhood obesity in the nation. One of three children is considered overweight or obese in the state.

“We’re automatically set back because we’re poor, uneducated and dying of obesity, heart attacks, strokes and cancer,” Nuckols said. “I want to make sure kids have the opportunity to work out with their friends and family. If you give a child an activity or ball, they will play.”

Nuckols isn’t the only person concerned about the future of Kentucky’s children. The Medical Center’s Health and Wellness Center is working with local physicians on a new program called the Healthy Weight Program for Kids. The program is modeled after a program that has been successful in other parts of Kentucky.

“We can refer anyone who has an issue with their weight and/or cholesterol issues. We’re seeing a lot more high blood pressure, in teens in particular, and Type 2 diabetes. We have children who are being referred for lap-band surgery,” said Graves-Gilbert Clinic pediatrician Dr. Debra Sowell. “Obesity is a nationwide problem. Schools have cut back on play time and P.E. to cram in academic things they need to get in. We’re trying to do something locally so kids will have something easy to access at their own pace.”

The patients can get referred to the Health and Wellness Center for one-on-one nutritional counseling, the Walking Program and The Medical Center Healthy Kids Club. In the Walking Program, children log in their miles and get monthly incentives and, annually, are entered in a drawing for a bike. The Healthy Kids Club promotes physical activity, healthy eating, safety and wellness.

“The children have to be referred by a doctor so that we can bill their insurance,” said Andrea Norris, registered dietitian at The Medical Center.

So far there hasn’t been a big response to the Healthy Weight Program for Kids, Sowell said. More than 40 families have been referred, but that doesn’t mean everyone follows through. Still, she hopes more children will get on board.

“We hope to offer quarterly prizes once we get more kids involved. We want them to get the benefit of being healthy and have a chance at health-conscious prizes,” she said. “We also want to offer quarterly classes for kids, such as a cooking class on how to make healthy snacks and healthy meals.”

Norris hopes that the program’s support group will also begin to gain more momentum.

“We’re trying to start up a support group that would be free for the kids and the families,” she said. “It has started, but it’s slow. We’re meeting quarterly.”

Norris said when she counsels the children, it’s not necessarily about losing weight.

“It’s more about a healthy lifestyle. I teach the kids and the parents about healthy kids and snacks,” she said. “I talk to the kids about going to the grocery store with the family and picking out things that are healthy.”

Many issues with food come because of food choices, Norris said.

“A lot of kids and parents don’t know what’s healthy. What we see on TV is what we think is good,” she said. “Fast food plays a huge part. It’s so easily accessible and inexpensive. A lot of fast-food restaurants are offering healthier food choices for kids, though.”

It’s OK to have treats, but it should be in moderation, Norris said. For instance, it’s better to offer healthy foods before offering anything else when it comes to the holiday season.

“I wouldn’t deprive your child of something, but allowing the child to have access all the time is not healthy,” she said. “That way, the child can have self-control.”

Nuckols agreed.

“It boils down to the parents. (Children) are products of what their parents are giving to them, and it’s not fair to the children,” he said. “We are responsible for our children, and our children will be responsible for our future.”

— For more information about the Healthy Weight Program for Kids, call 745-0942. For more information about Get Toned Fitness, call 791-3154.

Copyright 2010 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

A warm and fuzzy operation: Students donate stuffed animals to EMS

by Jenna Mink, The Daily News, originally published on 12/9/2010

Many of a school’s tiniest students spend the holidays keeping an eye out for Santa Claus. But preschoolers at Cumberland Trace Elementary School are filling Santa’s shoes.

Each year, students bring stuffed animals from home and teachers donate them to organizations that work with less fortunate children. This year, 23 preschool students donated about 40 stuffed animals to The Medical Center’s Emergency Medical Services.

“They go into calls sometimes, even if their grandmother had a stroke and a child there is scared, they give them stuffed animals,” said Beth Schaeffer, preschool consultant for Warren County Public Schools. “They have these toys to share, and it’s a great time for them to learn about other people needing things.”

The program goes back 10 years, when Schaeffer was trying to develop a new type of Christmas tradition for students. At that time, she asked students whether they had toys at home they no longer played with and would be willing to donate. The response was overwhelming.

“Because we’ve become such a diverse population, we don’t have Christmas parties anymore,” she said. “We decided it was a good time to start children with community service.”

The recipients have differed over the years. Students have donated animals to the Bowling Green Police Department, which gives stuffed animals to children who are taken from bad homes.

This year, emergency medical technicians have toys on hand when they’re called to a scene. They give them to children who are sick or injured, who have been involved in a fire or car accident or whose parents need medical attention.

“Anything that we can do to get on the level of the child to make them feel more comfortable, it helps us handle the situation better,” said Randy Fathbruckner, director of The Medical Center EMS. “And it makes it less stressful.”

Other volunteers also have donated stuffed animals to EMS for the past 10 years. It’s not just a Christmas event for the medical team, but it’s a year-round project.

“We work with fire departments, and sometimes people have lost everything and we can give them a stuffed animal,” Fathbruckner said. “They might have lost all of their toys, and they have this one thing they can latch on to.”

Schaeffer decided to work with Fathbruckner’s team after a parent, who works for EMS, suggested the preschoolers donate their stuffed animals to EMS.

“They decided to give stuffed animals so that emergency workers can give them out to children in need,” Fathbruckner said. “That really has a nice touch to it. It’s a real human interest story right there.”

Most children are enthusiastic about the project and are more than willing to give up their toys. Several former students still donate stuffed animals, Schaeffer said.

“Sometimes, they come in with price tags on them,” she said, “which lets me know they’ve gone out and done this just for this occasion.”

One year, a girl who had been in and out of foster care wanted to donate her one, favorite possession: a tattered, purple purse.

“She said, ‘Ms. Schaeffer, I want to give this to somebody who needs this and is sad,’ ” Schaeffer said. “I knew she had nothing at home. She was willing to give up this one little, tiny purse to somebody else, not realizing that she herself could be a recipient.”

Copyright 2010 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

A tough start: Mother says premature son's survival is 'testimony of the Lord's miracles'

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 11/20/2010

Loretta Helmes remembers the first time her son Trey, now 3, called her “Mama.”

“He was in the hospital right after his first birthday,” she said. “I was laying on the sofa bed, and he was in the crib. He leaned over looking over me and said ‘Ma-Ma.’ ”

It was a priceless moment for the Scottsville woman – one that some of the medical professionals who cared for Trey in his early years didn’t necessarily think would happen. Trey was born Sept. 6, 2007, at Helmes’ 29th week of pregnancy. The average pregnancy is 40 weeks.

“After I had him, doctors told me most likely he wouldn’t survive the night,” Helmes said. “Through God, my little boy is here.”

According to the March of Dimes, “one in eight babies born in the (United States) is premature. The rate of premature birth in America is higher than that of most other developed nations.” While premature births can be caused by illnesses such as preeclampsia and illicit drug use, most of the time the cause is unknown, said Dianna Karoffa, a registered pediatric nurse with The Medical Center Home Care Program.

“The babies sometimes have to stay in the hospital until their due date or until they reach a weight goal,” she said.

Karoffa visits the families once the baby goes home, sometimes making several visits in the first week to assess the baby as well as teach the parents how to take care of their baby.

“I teach them what I’m looking for. I reinforce infant and child CPR,” she said. “If they haven’t had a baby before, they learn from the top to the bottom.”

Complications that may afflict premature babies include respiratory problems, nutrition and feeding issues, developmental delays and neurological problems, Karoffa said.

“If they have a brain hemorrhage, they can go into seizures,” she said. “Sometimes they don’t have those reflexes to suck.”

Prenatal care is important so that doctors can watch for signs of preterm labor and catch problems, Karoffa said. She also encourages parents to take their babies to follow-up doctor appointments and to bond with their babies even while they are in neonatal intensive care.

“If parents aren’t there to learn things, they won’t know what to do,” she said. “It makes a difference if you’re involved.”

Helmes said her water ruptured when she was 17 weeks pregnant. She was given the option to abort her baby, but she wouldn’t do it.

“They said he could come out missing limbs, have club feet, club hands or could very well not live,” she said. “I could not because it’s not in me to abort my baby.”

Helmes said she was angry at God and couldn’t pray because she felt it was unfair. Then one day she fell to her knees and gave it to the Lord. She felt as if a boulder had been lifted from her shoulders.

“I knew Trey was going to be OK,” she said.

Helmes was admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville when she was 24 weeks pregnant. At 29 weeks, she gave birth to Trey by emergency cesarean section. He weighed 2 pounds, 2 ounces. From the beginning there were complications, including chronic lung disease, hemorrhaging in the brain, problems with his suck, swallow and gag reflex, and plummeting of his oxygen and heart rates.

“His lungs were the size of quarters and the right one collapsed completely. He was on maximum life support for two to three weeks,” she said. “He coded on them several times while he was at Vanderbilt. Being at Vanderbilt and being the parent of a premature baby is a scary thing.”

Trey was two weeks old before Helmes got to hold him, and then it was brief because touch was painful for him and he was hooked to so many machines.

“All I could do was gently touch him,” she said. “It’s hard to look at your son and know there’s nothing you can do but pray. He was so small and fragile it seemed like the world had just stopped, but God didn’t.”

Helmes continued to pray, and Trey was a fighter. He was discharged from the hospital after 89 days. While he had to be readmitted soon afterward, his stay was much shorter and he was released to go home on Christmas Eve.

“I believe that Trey’s testimony is a wonderful testimony of the Lord’s miracles that he still performs today,” she said. “If it wasn’t for God my son would not be here.”

Today, Trey has some complications, including chronic lung disease, secondary pulmonary hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease and speech and developmental delays. He has developed a suck and swallow reflex, but he has to eat through a feeding tube for 16 hours continuously. He walks a little without support, but most of the time he uses a walker. He has had four surgeries and various procedures. He has different types of therapists from The Medical Center Home Care Program who come in to help him regularly.

Despite his challenges, though, he is still very much like any other toddler.

“He loves trucks, tractors, Disney’s ‘Cars’ and ‘Toy Story.’ He says ‘Mama,’ ‘Dada,’ ‘go,’ ‘wow,’ ‘oh yeah’ and ‘hi.’ He’s a fun-loving, rowdy little 3-year-old.”

That doesn’t mean there aren’t times when Helmes is frightened.

“The scary times are not over just because you leave the hospital,” she said. “I still have a suitcase I keep packed just in case I have to run out the door. It’s like a roller-coaster ride. You strap yourself in and hold on for dear life.”

Helmes said she appreciates the support she has gotten from the medical professionals, friends, family, church and community.

“I feel very blessed,” she said. “When you have children, it’s life changing. When you have one with special needs, it’s not what you or anyone else in the family wants. It’s about that baby.”

vHelmes believes that God has something big in store for Trey.

“The Bible tells us that God does not make mistakes. That tells me that my son is absolutely perfect. He is a blessing,” she said. “I believe Trey is exactly the way the Lord wanted him to be. Trey still amazes me every day.”

Copyright 2010 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Program honors others at holidays

by Alyssa Harvey, The Daily News, originally published on 11/18/2010

Commonwealth Health Foundation is offering people the chance to remember, honor or celebrate loved ones and help others in need with the “Make the Season Bright” program.

“ ‘Make the Season Bright’ is an event we have every year on the campuses of The Medical Center in Bowling Green, Scottsville and Franklin. The highlight is the lighting of special trees for the holiday season,” said Laura Holderfield, executive director of the Commonwealth Health Foundation. “Individuals purchase lights to remember your loved ones, honor a loved one or celebrate a birth. It’s all about honoring or remembering your loved ones during the holiday season.”

The Medical Center lighting ceremonies will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 in Bowling Green, Dec. 7 in Franklin and Dec. 9 in Scottsville. All ceremonies begin inside the hospital, and the tree lighting will happen briefly outside. The evenings will include refreshments, live holiday music and a visit from Santa.

Types of lights available include star lights for a donation of $100 or more, green lights for $50, red lights for $25 and white lights for $10. The deadline to reserve lights is Nov. 26. All proceeds benefit the Commonwealth Health Free Clinic, which offers medical services to the working uninsured and discounted dental care to patients who don’t have private pay dental insurance.

Last year, “Make the Season Bright” raised $15,000 for the Free Clinic, Holderfield said.

“The gift you’re giving during the holiday season is to help someone who’s in need,” she said.

The Free Clinic’s medical program is celebrating its 15th year, clinic Executive Director Carla Reagan said.

“It’s almost entirely volunteer driven – doctors and pharmacists,” she said.

Dental services were available when the clinic first opened and were also volunteer driven. The dental program became full time with the addition of the dental team that was formerly at Fairview Community Health Center. It offers low-cost dental care for the uninsured on a sliding fee scale.

“Most patients are paying $10 to $20 per service,” Reagan said. “It gives them ownership in services they’re receiving and encourages them to take care of themselves.”

Donors help keep the Free Clinic operating, Reagan said.

“The Free Clinic is a worthy cause,” she said.

Free Clinic hours are 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday walk-in for the medical clinic and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday by appointment only for the dental clinic.

— For more information about “Make the Season Bright,” call 745-1543 or visit www.commonwealthhealthfoundation.org.

Copyright 2010 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

The Medical Center at Franklin expansion project will include two surgical suites

The Daily News, originally published on 11/17/2010

The Medical Center at Franklin announced plans Tuesday for a $4 million expansion to enhance surgical services, according to a news release.

The 9,400-square-foot project will include the construction of two operating suites, an endoscopy suite and a six-bed recovery unit.

Construction will begin in December with completion expected in August. The current ambulance entrance for the emergency department will relocate to accommodate the expansion. Stengel-Hill Architecture of Louisville will serve as architect, while Wittenburg Construction of Louisville will serve as general contractor.

Since Commonwealth Health Corp. acquired Franklin-Simpson Memorial Hospital in April 2000, more than $17 million has been invested in The Medical Center at Franklin.

Copyright 2010 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)