Phone:

(403) 823-3345

Address:

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

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

Steps 5 – 8 of Anxiety Canada’s – Our 12-step back to school checklist for parents

Follow these simple tips to help students minimize their anxiety on the first day back.
A couple of days before school:
5. Do a dry run
• Go to school several times – walking, driving, or taking the bus
• For young children, describe and draw out the route and include how long it will take
• For younger children, go to the schoolyard and play a few times before the first day of school
6. Tour the School
• For new students, take a tour of the school
• Show your child the classrooms, the cafeteria, and the bathrooms
• Meet your child’s teacher with your child present, if possible
7. Plan the Outfits
• Ask your child to help choose the outfits for the first week of school
• Let your child pick out his or her favorite outfit for the first day
8. Pack the Backpack
• Together with your child, pack the backpack the night before, including non-perishable treats
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Steps 1 – 4 of Anxiety Canada’s – Our 12-step back to school checklist for parents

Follow these simple tips to help students minimize their anxiety on the first day back.
One week before school:
1. 💤 Start your School Sleep Routine – Routines can be relaxed in the summer, so a week prior to school is a good time to adjust the family schedule to get everyone back into morning and bedtime habits.
• Establish bedtimes for the school year and start following them
• Ensure the entire family is up when they would be for school
• For older children, give them their own alarm clock and let them practice using it
• Ensure that the entire family get involved so that your child doesn’t feel alone with these changes
2. 🍎 Promote Healthy Eating Habits – Nutrition is extremely important; it’s hard to cope well when you are tired or hungry, so provide your child nutritious and frequent snacks and build in regular routines.
• Start having your meals around regular mealtimes
• Ask your child to help you create a school lunch menu for the first week of school
• Allow your child to pick out his or her favorite snacks
• Allow your child to help you plan your dinner meals; this way they will have a yummy dinner to look forward to
3. 📚 Shop for Supplies – Make picking out school supplies a fun task!
• Create a list of school supplies with your child
• Plan a fun shopping trip to pick out supplies
4. ❤️ Encourage Your Child to Share His or Her Fears – Talk to your child about his or her worries and practice coping skills
• Touch base with your child at a regular time each day to discuss your child’s worries and encourage him or her to problem solve and plan
• Role-play with your child
• Focus on the positive aspects – ask your child to list the three things that they are most excited about on the first day
• Practice calm breathing with your child – they can learn to use this when her anxiety rises
• Develop cognitive coping cards that your child can use to help cope with anxiety a couple of days before school
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Insect Stings

Stings and bites from bees, wasps, ants, and other insects often cause pain, swelling, redness, and itching.
 
How can you care for yourself at home?
▪️ Do not scratch or rub the skin where the sting or bite occurred.
▪️ Put a cold pack or ice cube on the area. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. For some people, a paste of baking soda mixed with a little water helps relieve pain and decrease the reaction.
▪️ Take an over-the-counter antihistamine to help relieve swelling, redness, and itching. Calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream may also help. Do not give antihistamines to your child unless you have checked with the doctor first. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
▪️ Your doctor may prescribe a shot of epinephrine to carry with you in case you have a severe reaction. Learn how and when to give yourself the shot and always keep it with you. Make sure it has not expired.
▪️ Go to the emergency room anytime you have a severe reaction. Go even if you have given yourself epinephrine and are feeling better. Symptoms can come back.
 
When should you call for help? You have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction. These may include:
▪️ Sudden raised, red areas (hives) all over your body.
▪️ Swelling of the throat, mouth, lips, or tongue.
▪️ Trouble breathing.
▪️ Passing out (losing consciousness). Or you may feel very light-headed or suddenly feel weak, confused, or restless.
▪️ Severe belly pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
 
Call your doctor or 811 or seek immediate medical care if: You have symptoms of an allergic reaction not right at the sting or bite, such as:
▪️ A rash or small area of hives (raised, red areas on the skin)
▪️ Itching
▪️ Swelling
▪️ Mild belly pain or nausea
▪️ You have a lot of swelling around the site (such as your entire arm or leg is swollen)
▪️ You have signs of infection, such as:
▪️ Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the sting.
▪️ Red streaks leading from the area.
▪️ Pus draining from the sting.
 
Health, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Measles

Measles is an extremely contagious virus that spreads easily through the air when someone who has measles coughs or sneezes. Measles is sometimes called rubeola or red measles. Measles tends to be more severe in babies and adults.
It can cause:
– High fever
– Cough
– Runny nose
– Red eyes
– Blotchy, red rash that appears 3 to 7 days after the fever starts, beginning behind the ears and on the face and spreading down to the body and to the arms and legs
If you or a loved one is showing symptoms of measles, stay home, avoid contact with others, and call Health Link at 811 before visiting any hospital, clinic, or healthcare provider. The registered nurse who answers your call will guide you on the next steps.
The MMR-Var vaccine is given as part of Alberta’s routine immunization schedule for children and is free. It protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (varicella). Contact your local public health to book a vaccination appointment. If you have any questions about measles or immunizations, please contact a primary care provider including your doctor, pharmacist, midwife, nurse practitioner, or public health nurse.
Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

#DYK – Guardian Radiology

Guardian Radiology is a community-based radiology provider with multiple locations throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Access and availability are a primary focus for Guardian Radiology, negating unnecessary commutes to larger centres and decreasing wait times are major components to our practice philosophy.
Supported by Canada Diagnostic Center; Canada’s largest teleradiology provider, Guardian Radiology provides outpatient ultrasound imaging services to rural communities.
Our Drumheller location is a teleradiology site offering ultrasound services. Ultrasound scanning uses sound waves to image soft tissues. Ultrasound evaluation for vascular disease, abdominal pain, or obstetrical care are common studies performed.
Guardian Radiology is located inside of the Drumheller Associated Physicians Clinic, 140 Riverside Drive East, Drumheller, AB.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Local Giant Water Fight Event

What better way to have fun in the sun than with a Giant Water Fight?
Join the fight on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at the Drumheller Aquaplex.
Everyone is invited to bring their water guns, play water safety games and learn all about drowning prevention at the Drumheller Aquaplex.
There will be precautions to ensure that safety is at the forefront for every participant, including staff:
🌊 Water guns will need to be emptied and rinsed in a bleach water solution before entering change rooms; water guns can only be filled with pool water or water from the taps at the Aquaplex
🌊Water safety games will happen throughout the swim, focusing on drowning prevention and layers of protection for aquatic activities
🌊Safety reminder that staff supervising the pools are not to be sprayed
No preregistration required.
Join us for an exciting afternoon of fun, games, and safety education! Don’t miss out!
Regular admission pricing applies.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Sunscreen Safety

Choose a sunscreen with…
Broad-spectrum (protects against both UVA and UVB rays)
SPF 30+ and water resistant
* ALWAYS CHECK THE EXPIRY DATE *
Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside.
Re-apply every 2 hours or more often… especially if swimming, toweling off, or sweating heavily
Keep babies out of the HEAT & DIRECT SUNLIGHT whenever possible.
Ask a health professional about using sunscreen on babies less than 6 months old
Use a wide-brimmed hat
Use loose, lightweight clothing
Keep babies well hydrated
Consider testing your sunscreen on a small patch of skin. If your skin develops a rash, becomes itchy, or otherwise reacts: Stop using the product and choose a product with different ingredients
For an ADULT – Use about 7 tsp (35ml) for the entire body. 1tsp for:
Face and neck
Each arm and leg
Front
Back
DON’T FORGET often missed areas: tops of ears, nose, shoulders, feet, scalp (if hair-challenged)… Use a sunscreen lip balm to protect your lips, too!
Health, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

What is hand-foot-and-mouth disease?

It is caused by a virus (enterovirus), it is an illness that causes sores or blisters in or on the mouth and on the hands, feet, and sometimes the buttocks and legs. They may be painful. Children are most likely to spread the disease during the first week of the illness. The illness usually doesn’t last more than a week or so.
How is hand-foot-and-mouth disease treated?
Hand-foot-and-mouth disease usually doesn’t need treatment. Offer your child plenty of cool fluids to help with sore throat. Cold foods such as flavored ice pops and ice cream also may help. Don’t give your child acidic or spicy foods and drinks, such as salsa or orange juice. These foods can make mouth sores more painful.
For pain and fever, ask your doctor if you can give your child acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil). Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
To help prevent the disease from spreading:
If your child goes to daycare or school, talk to the staff about when your child can return.
Wash your hands frequently. It is especially important to wash your hands after you touch a blister or change the diaper of an infected child.
Teach all family members to wash their hands often. It is especially important to wash your hands after you change the diaper of an infected child.
Don’t let your child share toys or give kisses while your child is infected.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Heat Wave Tips

We may think of Canada as the winter capital of the world, but summers can get very hot. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can result in heat-related emergencies, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Follow these steps to protect yourself and your family during a heat wave:
– Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
– Stay hydrated and cool. Drink plenty of cool fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty, and check in with children and seniors to make sure they are drinking regularly.
– Avoid caffeine and alcohol because they can cause dehydration, which stops your body from controlling its temperature properly.
– Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day (typically between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.).
– Dress for the heat and for your activity level: Wear light, loose clothing to let air circulate and heat escape.
– Always wear a hat and apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher before going outside.
– Slow down your activities as it gets hotter. Move indoors and don’t work, exercise, or play outside for an extended period of time.
– Take frequent breaks in a cool or shady area and use the buddy system if you need to be outside when it’s hot.
– Check on your pets and animals frequently – make sure their needs for water and shade are met.
– Pay close attention to how you and those around you feel. Check on vulnerable family members, friends and neighbors (such as children, the elderly and ill) who may require assistance.
Anyone who experiences a sunburn should immediately move out of the sun, move to a cool area and consume extra fluids for the days following.
A severe sunburn may require medical attention if it results in display blisters, facial swelling, nausea, fever or severe chills, rapid pulse or breathing, signs of dehydration, etc.
Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, can happen to anyone who stays in the heat and sun for too long.
Blog, Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Staff Immersive Dementia Experience

Our Big Country PCN nurses Amanda and Kim gave the staff the opportunity to try an immersive dementia experience. Staff watched an engaging video following a patient with dementia trying to navigate their day.
Staff were then given items to wear that would reduce their dexterity and vision and had to try and complete regular daily tasks while in a loud environment:
– Buttoning a shirt
– Sorting medication
– Finding ID
– Completing a form
This experience was incredibly valuable in order for our staff to provide support for patients living with dementia.
10 Warning Signs of Dementia
– Memory changes that affect day-to-day abilities
– Difficulty doing familiar tasks
– Changes in language and communication
– Disorientation in time and place
– Impaired judgment
– Problems with abstract thinking
– Misplacing things
– Changes in mood, personality and behavior
– Loss of initiative
– Challenges understanding visual and spatial information
Information regarding dementia support can be found here: https://alzheimer.ca/en/help-support/im-living-dementia
Dementia Advice is available Alberta Wide through 811 Health Link, this telephone service, provides free specialized dementia advice, is available through Health Link by dialing 811 and selecting the option to speak with a dementia specialist.
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