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ADPH cautions public to protect themselves from mosquito-borne illnesses

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, August 13th, 2012, 10:44am
ADPH cautions public to protect themselves from mosquito-borne illnesses

The Alabama Department of Public Health reports that four cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been reported in the state this summer.

Approximately 1 in 5 people who are infected with WNV will develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash. Less than 1 percent will develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis (inflammation of the brain or surrounding tissues).

When a person is infected, early recognition and prompt supportive treatment for these illnesses can substantially lower the risk of developing severe disease. About 10 percent of people who develop neurologic infection due to WNV will die.

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LifeSouth in need of all blood types

Submitted by JoBeth Davis, Community Web Producer
Wednesday, August 8th, 2012, 4:03pm
LifeSouth in need of all blood types

LifeSouth Community Blood Center is in need of all blood types at this time.  The areas of East Alabama and right here in Montgomery are behind in collections of needed types for our hospitals.  All collections stay local for our community. 

 

East Alabama Region supplies the Opelika, Auburn, Alex City, Valley, Roanoke, Lake Martin areas and etc.

 

Montgomery supplies Montgomery County, Crenshaw County, Elmore County, Autauga County, Chilton County and etc.

 

Information Source: LifeSouth

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McMillan advises horse owners to vaccinate for EEE and West Nile Virus

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, July 16th, 2012, 2:45pm
McMillan advises horse owners to vaccinate for EEE and West Nile Virus

Agriculture & Industries Commissioner John McMillan announced that since June, several positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been found in Alabama in birds and horses.

“We are entering into the time of year that makes us extremely vulnerable to the spread of mosquito-borne viruses and we need to protect our livestock and ourselves” stated McMillan. “I want to encourage horse owners to vaccinate their horses for both EEE and West Nile Virus as soon as possible.”

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Red Cross offering First Aid and CPR/AED courses in August

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, July 16th, 2012, 10:53am
Red Cross offering First Aid and CPR/AED courses in August

Learning basic first aid, how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) can quite possibly mean the difference between life and death for someone suffering from sudden cardiac arrest or other medical emergency. People in the Montgomery and Opelika areas can learn these skills by taking an American Red Cross course. 

The Red Cross offers courses where people can learn how to perform CPR, how to use an AED, what to do if someone is choking, and how to prevent and respond to other emergencies until advanced medical help arrives. Course participants also learn how to control bleeding as well as how to care for seizures and other sudden illnesses.

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Students ages 11 an older required to have Tdap vaccine

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Thursday, July 5th, 2012, 10:17am
Students ages 11 an older required to have Tdap vaccine

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious and sometimes fatal bacterial disease which has increased alarmingly in the past decade. To help provide protection, all students 11 years of age and older entering the sixth grade in Alabama schools during the 2012-2013 school year are required to have a tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine.

Students entering the seventh and eighth grades during the 2012-2013 school year who did not receive the Tdap vaccination during the 2011-2012 school year are required to have the vaccination.

All students including those 11 years of age or older entering the sixth, seventh and eighth grades are required to have an up-to-date certificate of immunization.

The Tdap vaccine helps to protect adolescents from pertussis which will prevent spreading the disease to family members, other students and school staff. The Tdap school requirement will go up by one higher grade each school year.

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First Aid and CPR/AED courses offered in July

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, July 2nd, 2012, 2:17pm
First Aid and CPR/AED courses offered in July

Each year, more than 5 million people learn how to save a life in American Red Cross training classes and people in Central Alabama can join the ranks of these everyday heroes by taking a class now.

The First Aid and CPR/AED course teaches people how to perform CPR and use an AED, what to do if someone is choking, and how to prevent and respond to other emergencies until advanced medical help arrives.

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LifeSouth donor centers will be open on the 4th of July

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, July 2nd, 2012, 1:25pm
LifeSouth donor centers will be open on the 4th of July

LifeSouth community blood centers is in need of all blood types and donor centers will be open on the July 4th holiday. 

You can give the gift of live in just 30 to 40 minutes.  You must be 17 years of age or older (16-year-olds can donate with parental consent).  All you need to do is bring a photo ID to one of the donor centers listed below:
 

  • Montgomery @ 4139 Carmichael Road next to Henig Furs
  • East Region in Opelika, Al. @ 505 East Thomason Circle (behind EAMC)
  • Wiregrass @ 3833 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan-  next to Jim Skinner Honda

For more information, visit LifeSouth's website.

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