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Features

ALMH raffle sponsors Lifeline units

[DEC. 6, 2002]  Bill Haak (center) was the winner of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital fall raffle sponsored by the ALMH Auxiliary. Haak is presented his winnings by Linda Martinie (left), president of the auxiliary, and Joan Horrom (right), secretary of the auxiliary. Money raised from the raffle will help purchase additional Lifeline units for the hospital.

Barb Dahm, director of volunteer and special services, indicated that Lifeline serves over 200 people in Lincoln and surrounding towns. "We have Lifelines in every community surrounding Lincoln as well as in town," said Dahm.

Lifeline, sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, is a program that benefits citizens of the area who have health problems and are remaining in their homes.

Barb Dahm, Lifeline coordinator, stated, "While people choose Lifeline for a number of reasons, they remain subscribers largely because of the caring response they receive from the Lifeline monitors every time they touch their help-needed button. The highly trained Lifeline monitor who answers the help-needed call is aware of each subscriber's special needs. The subscriber's health and well-being is their only concern."

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Dahm continued, "Whenever a subscriber needs help, one press of their help-needed button activates a small in-house unit called a communicator. This puts the subscriber in touch with a caring Lifeline monitor who, once being in contact with the subscriber, will pursue the needs of the subscriber. The monitor will then be in contact with the subscriber's responders, who will check on the subscriber. If additional professional help is needed, the monitor will call for this immediately. In several instances where the subscriber is unable to speak, the Lifeline monitor knows exactly how to handle this special situation."

For additional information regarding the Lifeline program, please contact Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 185.

[ALMH news release]

Health Matters

A monthly feature from  Logan County Health Department

How to quit smoking

[DEC. 2, 2002]  As the New Year approaches, we all begin to make resolutions for a healthy and happy New Year. If you smoke, you may be contemplating giving up cigarettes as your New Year’s resolution. There is nothing easy about giving up cigarettes. But as hard as quitting may be, the results are well worth it. In the first year after stopping smoking, the risk of heart disease and lung disease drops sharply. Quitting will also save you money. With the average cost of a pack of cigarettes reaching $4.25, a pack-a-day smoker can save $1,400 a year by not smoking cigarettes.

Take time to think about other benefits of being an ex-smoker. This is an important first step in kicking the smoking habit — figuring out for yourself what you have to gain. And don’t just switch to smokeless tobacco — the dangers and the addiction are just as damaging as with cigarettes.

Once you decide to stop smoking, a few preparations are in order. Set a target date for quitting. Don’t choose a time when you know you will be under a lot of stress. To help you stick to your quit date, write the date on your calendar, find another friend or family member to give you special support in your efforts to quit or another smoker to quit with you, and make a list of how you’ll reward yourself for becoming an ex-smoker.

On the evening before your quit day, throw away all cigarettes, matches and lighters and give away your ashtrays. Plan some special activities for the next day to keep you busy. Ask family members and friends not to smoke in front of you. Your goal is to get through that first important day smoke-free.

To quit successfully, you need to know your personal smoking "triggers." These are the situations and feelings that typically bring on the urge to light up. Especially during the first weeks after quitting, try to avoid as many triggers as you can.

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Replace "triggers" with new activities that you don’t associate with smoking. For example, if you always had a cigarette with a cup of coffee, switch to tea for awhile.

Keep busy. Get involved in projects that require you to use your hands. When you feel the need to put something in your mouth, have low-calorie snacks on hand.

Know what to expect. You may experience some temporary withdrawal symptoms. It is important to know that these are signs that your body is recovering from smoking and symptoms will end.

Call the Illinois Tobacco Quitline 1 (866) QUIT-YES — 1 (866) 784-8937 — for help.

If you "slip," don’t worry. It doesn’t mean that you’ve become a smoker again. Most smokers "slip" three to five times before they quit for good. Get back on the nonsmoker track: (1) Don’t get discouraged. Keep thinking of yourself as a nonsmoker because you are one. (2) Learn from experience. What was the trigger that made you light up? (3) Take charge. Make a list of things you will do the next time you are in that particular situation. Reread your list of all the reasons you want to quit.

You’re on your way!

[Logan County Health Department]

Red Cross

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus links

LDN articles

• Local authorities watching WNV

Federal websites

• CDC WNV home page

State websites

• State WNV website

• Protect your home against mosquitoes
• State surveillance site
• Logan County surveillance site

Honors & Awards

Announcements

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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