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Features

New study on alcohol consumption is wake-up call to underage drinking problem

[APRIL 20, 2002]  When young people make up a significant percent of alcohol consumers, it is clear that America has a problem with underage drinking. A study released by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University further illustrates the nation’s complacent attitude about underage drinking and the fact that alcohol is simply too easily obtainable for youth.

Although many communities, including parents, turn their backs on underage drinking, accepting it as a "rite of passage," startling statistics show that this is a dangerous approach to an issue that likely touches every teen. For too many, alcohol is the forgotten and ignored drug problem. Alcohol kills more young people under the age of 21 than all the other illicit drugs combined. 

Today we know more than ever about the serious effects of underage alcohol use. The earlier children drink, the more likely they are to become alcoholics later in life and the more likely they are to drive drunk and suffer unintentional injuries. As many as eight young Americans die in alcohol-related traffic crashes daily. Underage drinking also costs America more than $52 billion every year.

It is time for parents and communities to wake up and start working together to address an issue that is killing our kids. Alcohol remains the leading drug problem among our nation’s youth. You love your kids and want what is best for them, but sometimes it can be hard to demonstrate how much you love them, particularly as they grow up and become more independent.

Research shows that one of the best ways you can help your kids avoid alcohol use is by spending time with them. Here are some helpful suggestions for knowing what is going on in your child’s life:

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•  Be a good role model for your kids. There is no such thing as "do as I say not as I do" when raising children. If you abuse alcohol, your children are observing and learning from your behavior. On the other hand, if you are a living, day-to-day example of your value system, your children will learn and emulate the honesty, generosity and openness that you want your children to have.

•  Create "together time." Start a tradition or fun, weekly routine to do something with your child, such as going out for ice cream or to the movies.

•  Eat meals together as often as possible. Mealtime is a great opportunity to talk about the day’s events, unwind and reinforce a family bond. Studies show that kids whose families eat together at least five times a week are less likely to be involved with drugs and alcohol.

•  Try to be home after school. The "danger zone" for drug use and other risky behavior is between 4 and 6 p.m. If you can, arrange to have flextime if it is available at your workplace. When your child will be with friends, make sure there is adult supervision.

If you would like more tips on communication and parenting, visit www.theantidrug.com, a website designed to help parents learn how to talk to their children about staying clean, safe and drug-free, or you can call Kristi Lessen at Logan-Mason Mental Health, (217) 735-2272.

[Press release]

Community-based blood drive
scheduled for Tuesday

[APRIL 20, 2002]  Heroes needed! Patients in local hospitals need heroes to donate blood and help save their lives.

Blood is our life force. No one can live without it. It is a gift of life from one human being to another. Blood donation is the sharing of one person’s health with another who is less fortunate. A blood donor is, unquestionably, a hero in the community. Many community members believe that "someone else" will step up and fill this need. Unfortunately, less than 5 percent of the eligible population donates blood for the other 95 percent.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center, in conjunction with Lincoln Immanuel Lutheran Church, is offering the community the opportunity to step up and help replenish the blood supply for our local hospitals, on Tuesday, April 23, from 3:30 until 7:30 p.m. at the church. Food and baby-sitting will be available for donors. There will also be a drawing for all donors to win a VCR donated by Sam’s Best Brands in Springfield. The blood center’s new double red cell technology will also be available.

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Central Illinois Community Blood Center provides all of the blood and blood products for patients in 11 area hospitals located in Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville, Jacksonville, Carrollton, Pittsfield, Hillsboro, Pana and Taylorville. These patients are our friends, neighbors and family members.

Donating blood is safe and easy. If you are at least 17 years old (or 16 years old with signed permission of parent or guardian), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health, you can help save lives. For more information, call Carol Sheley at 947-2761 or Cherie at 753-1530.

Be a hero. Save lives. Please donate blood.

[Press release]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

April 1-5 is Public Health Week

[APRIL 2, 2002]  Traditionally, we take this opportunity to recognize the "nurses in blue" — public health nurses — who are employed by local health departments. Though the traditional blue cape and starched white uniform of the public health nurses of yesteryear are no longer visible, public health nurses continue to be on the forefront of preventive health services in Logan County. Through tax support and money received from grant funding, client services are provided for a reduced fee.

Public health nurses carry a caseload of clients in a range of ages and conditions across the health-illness continuum. These nurses are challenged to deliver health services in many settings — the school, the home, the workplace and clinics. Public health nurses draw from a broad base of nursing knowledge, as well as community resources. The goals of public health nursing are health maintenance and client independence.

Logan County Health Department nurses work in a variety of program areas. Women, Infant, Children, or WIC, is one such area. WIC is a federally funded supplemental food program for pregnant women, breast-feeding women, infants and children up to age 5. WIC nurses provide participants with specific nutritious supplemental foods and education on nutrition.

The communicable disease investigator is the nurse who conducts the investigation and control of communicable diseases. There are presently over 70 diseases and conditions that the Illinois Department of Public Health requires to be followed.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is not a disease of yesteryear. Clients who have positive TB tests receive education, counseling, treatment and follow-up by the nurse working in that program.

There is a Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at Logan County Health Department. Lead screening and prevention activities, as well as follow-up of children with elevated blood lead levels, are the responsibilities of the nurse involved.

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The maternal-child health nurse works in several programs designed for parents and infants. A pregnant woman may have no physician. The maternal-child nurse helps those clients access services that are available in our county. Two types of visits may be made for infants. Special Delivery visits provide an in-home nursing assessment and teaching for any new parent and infant living in Logan County. Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Reporting System, or APORS, visits allow the maternal-child health nurse to follow high-risk infants for a prolonged period of time. If mothers have questions with breast-feeding, a certified lactation counselor is on staff to answer those questions. In cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, the maternal-child health nurse can provide support and education to the family.

Carrying out general educational activities in the area of preventive health is the role of the health educator. She assists in planning, organizing, presenting and evaluating programs designed to promote public awareness of good health practices. Individual and community needs for health education are assessed.

As you can see, the "nurses in blue" continue to provide a wide variety of services throughout the Logan County community.

For more information on services provided at the Logan County Health Department, phone (217) 735-2317 or stop by at 109 Third St. in Lincoln.

[Logan County Health Department]

Red Cross

Events

April 2002

Monday, April 22
SPONSOR: U of I Extension
WHO: Preregistered participants
WHAT: “Dining with Diabetes,” presented by Jananne Finck, nutrition educator; second of three sessions
WHERE: Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive
WHEN: 7-8:30 pm

WHAT: Meeting of support group for Parkinson's disease patients and their caregivers
WHERE: ALMH Room A, lower level
WHEN: 7 pm

Tuesday, April 23
SPONSOR: Central Illinois Community Blood Center
WHO: Public
WHAT: Blood drive
WHERE: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lincoln
WHEN: 3:30-7:30 pm

Sunday, April 28
SPONSOR: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Lincoln Junior Woman's Club
WHO: Public
WHAT: Special Deliveries sibling class; free
WHERE: ALMH Education Room in the Family Maternity Suites, third floor
WHEN: 1-3 pm

Monday, April 29
SPONSOR: U of I Extension
WHO: Preregistered participants
WHAT: “Dining with Diabetes,” presented by Jananne Finck, nutrition educator; last of three sessions
WHERE: Extension office, 980 N. Postville Drive
WHEN: 7-8:30 pm

May 2002

Wednesday, May 1
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: Public
WHAT: Blood drive
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon-5 pm

Wednesday, May 15
SPONSOR: American Red Cross
WHO: Public
WHAT: Blood drive
WHERE: Lincoln Sports Complex
WHEN: noon-6 pm

Honors & Awards

Announcements

Parkinson’s support group

[APRIL 9, 2002]  A support group for Parkinson’s disease patients and their caregivers meets on the fourth Monday of each month at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, 311 Eighth St.  Meetings are in Room A on the lower level of the hospital at 7 p.m.

For more information contact Dr. Dean Hauter, (217) 732-3368.

The Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile health unit for 2002.

For more information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.

Community resource list

This family resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities Partnership and the Healthy Families Task Force, 732-2161, Ext. 409.         

(updated 2-15-02)

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