THE CONWAY DAILY SUN, Thursday, April 19, 2012— Page 13
DAVID A GOTJEN LCMHC
Memorial Hospital golf tournament to benefit local emergency responders CONWAY — The Memorial Hospital is bringing back its golf tournament this year. The tournament will be held July 19, with proceeds from this year’s tournament going to support the purchase of Carbon Monoxide monitors that Memorial Hospital will donate to emergency responders within the hospital’s immediate service area. “We are extremely excited about receiving the RAD-57 and cannot thank the hospital enough for their generosity!” said Stephen Goldsmith, Chief Seated left to right: Steve Solomon, Chief Conway Fire Department; Dave Aibel, Madison Fire & Rescue; of Fryeburg Rescue. Ray Leavitt Jr., Head of Service, Center Conway; Pat Preece, Chief, North Conway Fire Department “We are looking for- Rescue; Steve Goldsmith, Fryeburg Rescue ; and Scott McKinnon, Memorial Hospital President & CEO. ward to bringing back Standing left to right: Brian Johns, Operations Manager, Lifestar EMS; Rick Swaim, Rescue Captain the area’s premier golf Center Conway Fire, Rick Murnik, Bartlett Jackson EMS; and Michael Johns, Lifestar EMS. tournament, and we are particularly pleased that the proceeds from this year’s tournament will go “We believe the choice of distributing carbon towards the purchase of life saving carbon monmonoxide monitors is in the best interests of our oxide monitors for emergency responders. They community. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorare among our most important community partless, and tasteless gas — slightly lighter than air ners,” said Scott McKinnon, President & CEO — that can be toxic to humans and animals. Emerwho recently met with emergency personnel to gency responders will use the monitors to meaannounce the hospital’s plans to distribute the sure carbon monoxide levels in homes as well as monitors and also provide training in how to use in individuals in distress,” said Solomon. “There the equipment. are between 30 and 50 carbon monoxide incidents “We were very excited to learn about this very in Mount Washington Valley each year. Symptoms special partnership opportunity between Memoof carbon monoxide poisoning can mimic a cold or rial Hospital and local emergency services that flu and are often ignored.” will help save lives,” said Stephen Solomon, chief see GOLF page 17 of Conway Fire Department.
Home Care Matters
Sandra Ruka, RN MSN and Sharon Malenfant
Watch out! The serious consequences of falls It happens in the blink of an eye. You catch your foot on the chair leg, you get up from bed and lose your balance, you misjudge the distance of the curb. It doesn’t matter what causes it, falls — especially in older people — are serious and can have devastating health consequences. Falls can result in all kinds of fractures, including broken hip, arm, leg, ankle and pelvis; in the elderly, they are responsible for a high number of brain injuries. According to the American Geriatrics Society, falls are the number one cause of hospital admissions for injuries in older adults and the related increased use of medical services. Falls and the resulting complications are the leading cause of both non-fatal and fatal injuries in adults over the age of 65. One of the most frequent and serious fractures are broken hips, which are a leading cause of loss of independence. The older you are, the more likely it is that a fall will result
SANDRA RUKA
in death, or admission to a long-term care facility or nursing home for at least a year. Each year, up to a third of adults over the age of 65 living at home experiences a fall, and 30 percent of them require a trip to the emergency department. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, this translates to more than two million older adults going to the emergency room in the United States because of fall-related injuries annually and half a million needing hospitalization. The good news is that because most falls happen at home, you can assess potential risks in your own environment. You can take simple and cost effective steps to significantly reduce the possibility of falls. You can also help older family members and relatives make some of these changes so they can continue to live on their own, safely and independently. see HOME CARE page 16
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor CHILD, ADOLSCENT, AND ADULT Individual and Family Counseling for Behavior, Anxiety, Depression and Bereavement
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATES OF JACKSON 7 Goodrich Falls Road • Glen NH • 383-9183
A Better Body
603-447-1824 with Marylou Dow ~ A Complete Wellness Experience ~ This is a lifetime fitness and nutrition program designed and customized for the client to make lifestyle changes. If you want to lose weight, lose BMI, lower cholesterol, and/or blood pressure, build a stronger back, knees, or shoulders you need this program. Get A Better Body for Life and the Education you deserve! Let me help you achieve your goals. Call Marylou Dow, Exercise Physiologist/ CPT Nutritionist 447-1824 for Free Consult