The Trussville Tribune | Health & Wellness – June, 2020

HEALTH &

WELLNESS June, 2020

A Special Supplement to

The Trussville Tribune

Health & Wellness | The Trussville Tribune

Page 2

June, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic information from the Alabama Department of Public Health For general COVID-19 questions, call 1-800-2707268 or email covid19info@ adph.state.al.us. Telephone calls are answered from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Interpreters are available. For frequently asked questions and to check your symptoms, visit the Alabama.gov COVID-19 Information Hub at covid19. alabama.gov.

Situation Summary In December 2019, a new (or novel) human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) type emerged in China. COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, is now a pandemic affecting many countries globally. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness

with symptoms of cough and shortness of breath, along with other symptoms, appearing anywhere from 2 to 14 days after exposure. Learn more about symptoms and risk associated with COVID-19 and how to protect yourself and others online. Learn more about human coronaviruses, how they present, and how they are tested at covid19.alabama.gov.

Current Situation in Alabama Alabama is currently under an amended Safer at Home Order until July 3.

This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is providing updated information and guidance on this website, as

well as Facebook and Twitter, as it becomes available.

What to Do If You Are Sick If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and are able to recover at home. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.

• Keep track of your symptoms.

• If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.

Steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you are sick If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you

might have COVID-19, follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community.

• Stay home. Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.

• Take care of yourself.

Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.

• Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have

any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.

• Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

• As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home.

If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. If you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home, wear a cloth face covering.

• You should wear a cloth face covering, over your nose and mouth if you must be around other people or animals, including pets (even at home) • You don’t need to wear the cloth face cover-

ing if you are alone. If you can’t put on a cloth face covering (because of trouble breathing, for example), cover your coughs and sneezes in some other way. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from other people. This will help protect the people around you.

• Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2 years, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is not able to remove the covering without help.

For any additional questions about your care, contact your healthcare provider or state or local health department.

115 Watterson Parkway Trussvi lie AL 35173 www. nelmspharmacy. com 205-655-6133 @NelmsPharmacy nelmspharmacy

Family Owned and Operated • Fast & Friendly Service Serving the Trussville Community 6 years • Accepts All Insurance Providers

115 Watterson Parkway

Drive through service • Soda Fountain • Boutique Items & More

Health & Wellness | The Trussville Tribune

June, 2020

Page 3

Paul Davis Restoration protecting residents of Greater Birmingham against respiratory illnesses since 2014

By Crystal McGough

Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Birmingham has been keeping the residents of Birmingham and North Jefferson County safe from health issues related to water and fire damage since 2014. Over the last few months, Paul Davis Restoration has stepped up their game to help keep the community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, by offering COVID-related cleaning services, in addition to their regular services.

“Here lately, the COVID virus has kept us busy,” said Pat Bentley, director of business development with Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Birmingham.

Bentley said that there are a few different methods Paul Davis Restoration uses to keep their clients COVIDsafe.

“You can go in and mist a place if they know that there has been no positive exposure,” he said. “If there has been a positive exposure, then we’ll recommend that all the surfaces from 6 foot down are wiped down and misted, and that is priced out by the square foot.

“We have done several businesses. We did the Chamber of Commerce in Trussville as a courtesy to them to ensure their safety to get back

to work.”

On a regular day, Paul Davis Restoration helps their clients with anything ranging from water damage to house fires.

“The water you don’t see is usually what gets you and what makes you sick,” Bentley said.

“That’s what we clean up: the water you don’t see.

“Let’s say, for instance, you come home and you have a hot water heater that has flooded your house. If it is not properly cleaned up, you will develop mold, which will affect your respiratory system.

If you have a toilet overflow or a sewage backup that is not properly taken care of according to the highest IICRC (Institute of Inspections, Cleaning and Restorations Certification) regulations, then you would have bacteria growing all through your house, which will make you sick.”

When clients call Paul Davis Restoration with concerns over things such as a burst pipe, hot water heater burst, sewage backup or dishwasher leak, the first step is to determine which category of water damage the customer is facing.

There are three main categories that water damage falls into: Category 1 - Clean water.

This is water that is consid-

ered clean enough to drink, and can include water that is in a hot water tank or even a toilet tank before the water enters the toilet bowl.

Category 2 - Gray water.

Washing machine or dishwasher discharge typically fall into this category.

Category 3 - Sewer backup. This category can include anything from a toilet overflow with feces present to floodwater.

“Whatever it is, we have to determine whether it’s clean water, dirty water or gray water,” Bentley said.

“Each one of those types of water dictates how we clean it and what is required based on IICRC regulations. A lot of people don’t understand that flood water is equivalent to sewage. Think about it: All animals used the bathroom outside in the yard. Your field lines that are in your yard, they discharge your water from your bathrooms into the soil. So any water that has fallen on that, in a sense, is contaminated and can cause flood water to be sewage.”

Even clean water that has not been dried in a timely manner can end up in the sewage category, Bentley said.

“If you have clean water and you don’t dry it properly within three days, it starts growing microbials, which

causes mold, and that can end up making you sick,” he said.

“The microbials start appearing within 24-48 hours, so any clean water turns into dirty water, which can, in turn, be considered sewage if it’s not cleaned within a certain amount of time.”

Paul Davis Restoration not only keeps their clients safe from the hazards of water damage, but they offer restoration after fire damage, as well.

“With every fire, there’s water that’s involved, so we have to dry it out first and then we clean up after the fire,” Bentley said. “Then we rebuild after the water damages and the fire damages.”

In the six years that Paul Davis Restoration has had a presence in the North Jefferson County area, they have continuously invested in their local communities.

Owners Jeff Gilmer and Steve Dickey both live in Trussville, and their business was located in Trussville until the downtown area started

being renovated for the new entertainment district. Now, Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Birmingham is located at 3950 Pinson Valley Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35217.

The company was a sponsor for the Husky Fast Network, a livestream broadcast of Hewitt-Trussville football, and participates in local events such as the Trussville Freedom Celebration on July 4.

“We have been an avid supporter of the Trussville community in multiple aspects,” Bentley said. “We love working in the North Jefferson area and love helping out people that are in need. We’re here to help them 24/7.”

In addition to being available 24/7, Paul Davis Restoration partners with most major insurance companies, including but not limited to State Farm, Alfa, Farmers, Liberty, Allstate and Travelers.

“We work under the guidelines of what the insur-

ance companies have with their adjusters,” Bentley said.

“We have been ranked in the top percentile by most insurance carriers because of how we’ve performed and how we’ve done by their customers.”

They are even listed as a preferred contractor through the State Farm Premier Service Program.

While the Greater Birmingham franchise has been serving the local communities since 2014, Paul Davis Restoration has been in business since 1966, with its home office located in Jacksonville, Florida. The Birmingham franchise covers the majority of Jefferson County, all the way to Blount County and even Montgomery.

For information on how Paul Davis Restoration of Birmingham can help you stay safe and healthy in the face of a crisis, contact Pat Bentley at (205) 937-8544 or Kevin Gaiser at (205) 5974213.

What we do isn’t about property.

It’s about people.

If your home or business has been damaged by water, fire, mold, storm or other disaster,

CAL L PAU L !

Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Birmingham

3950 Pinson Valley Parkway (205) 687-0556

www.PDR-BHM.com

Health & Wellness | The Trussville Tribune

Page 4

June, 2020

Tots ‘N’ Teens Pediatrics

By Shaun Szkolnik, for the Tribune

TRUSSVILLE – There are few responsibilities more precious than being a parent.

You are given a gift. A bundle of wonder that fits first in your hands, then in your arms, then in your lap and then out your door. You give them love, the benefit of your years, every part of your heart where the light may shine. But is it enough? Is it ever enough?

You second guess yourself.

You often consider your mistakes and there is little comfort in your triumphs because you don’t know if they will be your children’s triumphs. You stay awake at night wanting only to take whatever hurt the world will give them. To absorb it as your own as you shelter them; in your hands, in your arms, in your lap and then, at a distance. You are given another life to live for, but you are never given instructions on how to do that.

At Tots ‘N’ Teens Pediatrics, this is understood. Their

mission is to assist parents with navigating the path that leads healthy children into being healthy adults. Part of that mission is treating illnesses. But there is so much more to it than just that.

Delinda Davis is one of the doctors at Tots ‘N’ Teens.

She has been with the organization since 1987, and it is her passion to provide the best care for children. Sometimes that care occurs long before any illness does.

“All the doctors here did residency in pediatrics,” said Davis. “So, we were just taking care of children, basically, under the age of 18. There are an awful lot of illnesses that are specific to children and other illnesses that are specific to adults. A lot of what we do is not so much treating illness, but trying to promote good health, teach kids and families good habits that will keep them healthy throughout their lifetime, and also helping with parenting, helping with school issues. We feel like it is very important for

new parents to have a place to get good information on how to take care of their children.

We provide education for parents.”

Tots ‘N’ Teens is a place where this philosophy is al-

lowed to flourish and fill out into its ultimate potential.

A loving and nurturing spot where the bonds between patient and physician can be as close as family.

“We also provide an atmosphere where the parents and the children can get to know us and feel comfortable with us, as opposed to when your child is sick and you’re worried and upset going to a place you’re not familiar with and people you’re not familiar with,” said Davis. “When you’re coming to your pediatrician’s office, you’re seeing people you have seen for years and have grown comfortable with and know that we understand you and are trying to do our best to help you take care of your child.”

Given this ethic, it is no wonder that Tots ‘N’ Teens has become a generational community.

“We have a lot of patients that are second generation,” said Davis. “We took care of the parents and now we are taking care of the kids. We have patients from all over the place…We have a lot of

folks where their families have been with us for years and for years and they follow us where ever we go. We love taking care of the kids over the long haul and then getting to take care of their kids.

“We get Christmas cards and pictures and they bring us school pictures and we’ve got folks that we get graduation cards and invitations.

We hope that we do kind of become part of their family.”

It isn’t just the philosophy that allows for Tots ‘N’ Teens to provide great care to children and great guidance to their parents. There is a functional component to it, as well. Part of that function is maintaining a practice size that provides the greatest benefit to patients.

“We are a smaller practice and though not all of our doctors are here all day, five days a week, with us being a smaller practice, even if you don’t get to see your primary doctor when you’re sick, you see somebody that you know and are at least familiar with,” said Davis.

“You want to have your

medical care where we can provide what we call ‘anticipatory guidance’ and to help you plan ahead and be healthy for the long haul rather than just treat illness,” she said.

Anticipatory Guidance is essentially a means of being proactive as opposed to being reactive. Tots ‘N’ Teens excels at this method, which allows for physicians to anticipate what kind of problems a parent might face with their child, or any questions a parent might have. This allows the staff at Tots ‘N’ Teens to provide information long before a problem may occur. It is the sort of maintenance that we apply to our homes, our cars, our careers. It is the kind of maintenance that works just as well, if not better, for our children.

There are no guarantees in life. The doors are not clearly marked. We do the best we can and hope it is all for the good. Sometimes the answers we seek to grant our children are the answers we must first find for ourselves; and for that, the doors to Tots ‘N’ Teens are open.

Babies Don’t Come with Instructions… We’re Here to Help!

Tots ‘N’ Teens wishes to remind you that WEARING IS CARING… Please wear your mask.

June, 2020

Health & Wellness | The Trussville Tribune

Page 5

Hot Dog: Trussville PD urging pet owners to avoid leaving pets in cars

By Erica Thomas, managing editor

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Police Department responds to multiple calls weekly, during the summer months, about animals left in hot cars. That’s why Chief Eric Rush is reminding pet owners to be responsible as the summer heat bears down on Alabama.

According to the ASPCA, even if the temperature outside is 70 degrees, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach up to 90 degrees in a short amount of time. The results can be deadly for animals and children.

“You’re creating a very dangerous situation for a pet

or a child,” said Chief Rush.

“If you leave your pet or child in a hot car, we are allowed to use force to remove it from that environment.”

The city of Trussville amended a city ordinance in 2018 allowing police officers who see an animal in distress to take actions necessary to save the animal.

Rush said officers have had to take action since the ordinance was amended.

“We have done it several times,” Rush said. “If it’s hot and you need to run to the store, leave your pets at home and don’t leave your kids in the car.”

Some pet owners may think that cracking a window will help the inside of a vehi-

cle stay cool, but that is not the case. Chief Rush added that pets should not be left in a car even when the car is still running.

“That’s another issue,” Rush said. “If you leave it running, you are just asking for someone to come steal it. Then they’ve got your car and your dog.”

To prevent your pet from overheating, follow this additional advice from the ASPCA: Know the signs of heatstroke in pets and how to prevent it.

Symptoms of overheating in pets can include: • Excessive panting or difficulty breathing • Increased heart and respi-

ratory rate Drooling Mild weakness Stupor Collapse Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

You’ll want to keep an eye out for these signs of distress, but you’ll also want to ensure that your pet is properly hydrated at all times.

Make sure you give your pets plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Ensure that your pets have a shady place to get out • • • •

of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them and use your best judgment to keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot. Never let your dog linger on hot asphalt.

Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during peak daytime hours to a minimum.

Also keep in mind that animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heatstroke since they cannot pant as effectively as others.

These pets, along with elderly and overweight animals,

as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

Haircuts can be helpful also.

Feel free to trim longer hair on your pets, but never shave them down to the skin.

The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat.

Be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent products you use on your pets are labeled specifically for use on animals.

6 pm - 7 am Monday - Friday 24 hours on weekends & holidays

Health & Wellness | The Trussville Tribune

Page 6

June, 2020

Don’t wait, go straight to the ER Get immediate emergency care for symptoms of a heart attack

Ascension St. Vincent’s care teams are here for you with ER care and advanced specialty heart care.

Fast action matters during a heart attack If you or a loved one is experiencing the warning signs of a heart attack, don’t wait to get emergency care.

Some heart attacks begin suddenly, while others start with mild discomfort. Taking immediate action once you recognize the symptoms is the most important thing you can do to get lifesaving care.

Pay attention to these heart attack symptoms:

Chest pain or discomfort

Lightheadedness, nausea or vomiting

Jaw, neck or back pain

Discomfort or pain in arm or shoulder

Shortness of breath

Ascension St. Vincent’s ERs offer:

Safety precautions:

• 24/7 emergency care

• Screening our caregivers and patients before

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) precautions for safety • Compassionate doctors who listen to understand • Lab and imaging services on-site • Access to the Ascension St. Vincent’s network

they enter our facilities • Performing rigorous procedures to clean and disinfect • Masks required for all who enter our facilities

for follow-up care

Find the closest Ascension St. Vincent’s hospital with ER services at GetSTVHSCare.com. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or dial 911.

St. Vincent’s East 50 Medical Park Drive E. Birmingham, AL 35235

© Ascension 2020. All rights reserved.