Phone:

(403) 823-3345

Address:

140 Riverside Dr E, Drumheller, AB, T0J 0Y4

Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Halloween Safety: Tips to Protect Little Ghosts and Goblins By Misty Harris

Good-natured frights are half the fun of Halloween—but not when it comes to kids’ safety. On Oct. 31, let’s limit the scares to haunted houses, ghost stories and overly filtered Instagram selfies. By following these Halloween safety tips, you can help protect children from everything but the inevitable sugar rush.
See and Be Seen
• Promote visibility by choosing light-colored costumes and using glow sticks, flashlights or reflective tape.
• Masks are a recipe for more spills than thrills, so try using face paint instead.
• When crossing the street, use designated intersections and crosswalks, and always look both ways.
• Trick-or-treating in a group will help drivers see you more easily. It’s also way more fun.
Spiriting Away
• If your older ghosts are flying solo, walk through the route with them early in the week, and have set times for them to check in.
• Dashing from house to house is treacherous business if a costume is too long. Be sure to choose an outfit that won’t drag or get caught on things easily.
• Reinforce to your children that if someone invites them to come inside their house or vehicle to warm up, they should say no and immediately report it to a trusted adult.
• Be sure to check your children’s candy when they come home to ensure it’s safe (this includes guarding against potential choking hazards and allergens).
Driving Diligence
• Drivers should try to make eye contact with pedestrians. Masks, costumes and ‘Candy Distraction Disorder’ can diminish a child’s view of the road.
• Avoid in-vehicle distractions such as cell phones, loud music.
• If you’re planning to party, put the keys away and ensure you have a safe ride home.
• Watch your speed in residential areas—especially near playgrounds or schools, which often serve as neighborhood meeting spots.
• Be on the lookout for kids darting out from between parked cars.
With a little preparation and extra caution, we can make this a frightfully fabulous Halloween for everyone. Just watch out for that sugar rush—it’s a bedtime-killer.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine is your best defense against the flu. The flu vaccine is recommended every year in the fall or winter, ideally before the flu season starts.
The flu vaccine protects you by:
• helping prevent serious flu-related complications
• reducing your chances of getting the flu at the same time as other respiratory illnesses, which could make you very sick
• protecting the health care system from becoming overwhelmed during respiratory illness season
Everyone is at risk of influenza. You should get the influenza vaccine if you are 6 months or older.
Influenza can make you very sick and lead to other health problems, especially if:
• You have heart or lung conditions, diabetes, a weak immune system, a lot of extra weight, or other health problems.
• You live in a care facility, like a continuing care home.
• You are under age 5 years.
• You are age 65 years or older.
• You are pregnant.
• You are an Indigenous person.
It is important to get the influenza vaccine each year, especially if:
• You have a high risk of getting very sick from influenza.
• You have close contact with someone who is at high risk of getting very sick from influenza, such as family members and caregivers.
• You are a healthcare provider. (Getting the vaccine helps to protect you and the people you care for.)
Where to get the flu vaccine
Pharmacists can give the influenza vaccine to anyone age 5 years and older.
Children under age 5 years and their families can get the influenza vaccine for Alberta Health Services influenza immunization clinics. Clinics are open from late October to the end of March.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

AHS – Pediatric Rehabilitation Services

AHS – Pediatric rehabilitation helps children and youth live the best life they can, build resilience, and take part in the activities meaningful to them and their families.
For information on the topics listed below please visit: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/…/Pediat…/Pages/default.aspx
– Behaviors, emotions & social skills
– Breathing
– Communication
– Daily living skills
– Developmental milestones
– Eating, feeding & swallowing
– Fine motor skills
– Gross motor skills
– Hearing
– Infant head & neck
– Injuries & pain
– Play & activity
– Supports for mobility & positioning
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard Jamie Gerlinger

October 20 to 26, 2024 – Canadian Youth Road Safety Week

This years’ focus is to encompass all youth road users, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, with the goal of empowering youth ages 15 to 24 to become more involved in road safety issues, to create and support road systems in our communities that are safe and equitable.
Road crashes are the third-leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 24 in Canada, making youth some of the most vulnerable on our roads.
Factors that make roads safer and proven measures to protect young people
Safe speeds
Speed is a factor in around a quarter of fatal crashes. A pedestrian hit at 50 km/h is six times more likely to die than if hit at 30 km/h.
• Keeping speeds at 30 km/h in areas where people walk, cycle and play.
• Traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, roundabouts and road narrowing to ensure that speeds remain low.
Active transport
Walking, cycling and scooting are great ways to boost our health and reduce emissions – but we need to be able to do it safely. Youth are more likely to choose active transport when roads are built to keep them safe.
• Separated bike lanes reduce injuries and deaths by up to 90 per cent.
• Pedestrian pathways and transit connections make active travel an easy choice.
Public transit access
Cars and trucks produce 53 per cent of Canada’s transport emissions – public transit can help change that. Forty per cent of low-income residents on big cities lack access to jobs, healthcare and more. For rural and northern areas, this is an even bigger challenge.
• Expanding transit options to make travel safer and more equitable for youth.
• More transit means fewer collisions, less pollution and greater access for all.
Impaired driving
Impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of preventable crashes.
• Harm reduction methods such as designated drivers, rideshare access and public transit can prevent impaired driving.
• Youth can raise awareness of these strategies and encourage their peers to choose safe options.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

AHS Pediatric Rehabilitation Webinars

Did you know that you can register for online session to learn about your child’s development, health and wellness at: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/…/pedia…/Pages/webinars.aspx
Examples of available sessions are shown in the image, most of these sessions are hosted live by pediatric rehab healthcare providers. This means you can see, hear, and ask questions during the session.
These sessions are offered at many da​tes and times and are free. Check out which ones are right for you.​
If you have trouble registering for a webinar, you can email childrenyouthhealth@ahs.ca and someone will help you.
Once you register for a webinar, yo​u’ll be sent a link to connect on the date and time of the session. You can join a webinar using your computer, laptop, or any device that connects to the internet.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Canada.
What does it take to take on cancer? It takes all of us.
As the saying goes, ‘It takes a village.’ But to take on cancer, it takes more than a village. We believe it takes a society. It takes a community rallying together around a shared cause.
It takes a society honors something that is deeply true about cancer: that it is big, and it is endlessly complex. And any kind of progress – better treatments, better care, better support – can only happen when we work together.
Profound impact is possible when we combine our actions with the actions of others.
Our goal at the Canadian Cancer Society is to inspire people of all ages, from all backgrounds and all parts of the country to come together to take on cancer’s biggest issues.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

RSV Awareness Week – October 13 – 19

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious respiratory virus that causes cold-like symptoms. It can affect people of all ages.
HOW DOES RSV SPREAD?
RSV can spread through contact with a person ill with the disease, or by touching a contaminated surface
Most people recover from RSV illness in about a week, but some people can become seriously ill. Infants and older adults are at higher risk of developing severe illness and need hospitalization
PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK OF RSV
Nearly all children will have an RSV infection before 2 years of age. Some people are at greater risk for RSV-related complications, including:
– Premature infants
– Infants 6 months of age and younger
– Children with chronic lung or heart disease
– Children with neuromuscular disorders
– People of any age with weakened immune systems
– Infants under 6 months of age living in remote communities
– Adults 65 years of age and older
RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION
RSV infection is the most common cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants requiring hospitalization. Hospitalization increases with age, particularly among adults 65 years of age and older.
PREVENTING RSV
– Wash your hands with soap and water frequently
– Clean common surfaces
– Avoid close contact with others who may be sick
– Stay at home when you are sick
– Cover coughs and sneezes
Protection is available for infants at high risk using monoclonal antibodies. Vaccination is available for the prevention of RSV in older adults, but programs vary across provinces and territories.
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