23 January 2014
Dental Interventions Make A Difference
For the past 12 years a pair of mobile dental clinics have provided free dental care at Siuslaw and Mapleton elementary schools. Dr. Brian Holmes, along with the staff at Florence Dental Clinic, and many of their suppliers provide care with the aid of two mobile labs provided by Medical Teams International.
The results have been profound.
Brian Holmes – “Mapleton, we went from about 87 percent major problems only to seven percent. And then, this year was a good year for Siuslaw, we went from about, you know, the same thing about 75 to 80 percent. This year we’re down to about 30 percent.”
Dental screenings, cleanings, sealants and even major repairs are undertaken…all at no cost to the students or their families.
The staffing and much of the supplies are donated and the vans are funded through the efforts of a couple of private donors and the Florence Kiwanis Foundation.
The next two-day clinic is set for Florence February 6th and 7th. The vans will be in Mapleton in March.
Exclusion Day Approaching
Children without required immunizations will not be allowed in classrooms beginning February 19th. State law requires all children in public and private schools, preschools, head start and certified child care facilities to have up-to-date documentation on their shots… or have a religious or medical exemption.
Stacy de Assis Matthews with the Oregon Health Authority says immunizations are effective in keeping schools and even the entire community healthy. One aim of the Public Health Division is to be sure children are fully protected against vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough.
Parents and guardians are required to submit proof of immunization to their school or day care center before the so-called “exclusion date”.
No matter how early or often authorities publicize the requirement there are always students who miss some school each year because of a failure to provide that proof… de Assis Matthews said nearly 42-hundred students last year in Oregon were held out of classes.
Having a Heart to Heart
The National Institute of Health says one-in-four women die of heart disease. That’s a number that local health experts say can be much lower; and, they say, one way to reduce that number is through education.
Peace Harbor Medical Center will be hosting their annual “women’s heart health event” February 8th.
This year’s theme is “Every Woman Tell a Woman” and it will feature best selling northwest author Susan Levy who will talk about “Your Well Fed Heart”.
The morning program will also feature a cardiologist’s viewpoint, some tips on a healthy diet and even a fashion show.
A “heart-healthy” lunch will be included.
Tickets are only ten dollars and can be purchased in advance at Peace Harbor Medical Center.
Rolling Out Relay for Life
The annual kick-off party for this year’s American Cancer Society Relay for Life is coming up Monday evening at Best Western Pier Point Inn just south of Florence.
The 14th Florence Relay for Life will be August 8th and 9th at Miller Park and organizers are in the midst of recruiting teams, sponsors and volunteers for the event.
Monday night’s kickoff party starts at six… it will feature all the regular components of any good party… food, music and even a keynote speaker.
That will be Dr. Joseph Fiorillo from the Willamette Valley Cancer Institute in Eugene.
