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The INDEPENDENT, October 6, 2005
Reduce your chances of catching flu
Health Notes
By Audeen Wagner
The Board of Directors for the Vernonia
Health Center has announced that there is
a vacancy on the Board. Anyone interested
in serving should contact Carolyn Keasey
by phone at 503-429-2021, or by mail at
14426 Keasey Road, Vernonia, OR 97064,
with a short note about your ability and de-
sire to serve, and personal information.
The main mission of the board is two-
fold; to support the local clinic’s needs in all
matters other than healthcare operations, and to serve as liaison
between the clinic and the general public, in an effort to help im-
prove services to patients.
The Vernonia Health Center Board of Directors meets quarter-
ly at the clinic.
The next monthly Mammovan visit will be on October 19, 2005.
Call the clinic 503-429-9191 to make an appointment.
There’s a lot that you can do
to stay healthy this season.
These simple steps can go a
long way to reduce your
chances of catching a cold, flu,
and other viruses.
• Get a flu shot. The best
protection you and your loved
ones have against the flu is to
get an annual flu shot each fall.
Early vaccination gives you
better protection all season
long. Most locations start giving
flu shots in mid-October.
• Wash your hands often.
Hand washing is the most im-
portant thing you can do to
keep from getting and spread-
ing colds and the flu. Using just
plain soap and warm water is
as effective as using antibac-
terial products. Carry an alco-
hol-based hand gel (such as
Purell) to use when you can’t
wash.
• Cover your cough and
sneeze. Cold and flu viruses
are spread by airborne parti-
cles. Cough or sneeze into your
sleeve or a tissue instead of
your hands, if possible. If you
do use your hands, wash them
as soon as you can.
• Avoid touching your face.
Cold and flu viruses are often
spread by touching something
or someone that is contaminat-
ed with germs and then rubbing
your eyes or nose, or touching
your mouth.
• Clean surfaces (counter
tops, telephones, toys, cups,
bathroom sinks, etc.) that sick
children or adults may have
contaminated.
• Stay healthy. Eat a healthy
diet and exercise to keep your
immune system working its
best.
• Get plenty of rest. Sleep
helps build your body’s natural
defenses for fighting off infec-
tion.
• Reduce stress. Chronic
stress can compromise your
immune system.
Free Jazzercise class offered to Hands On Art Hip Hop classes were well attended
breast cancer survivors in October
Hip Hop Classes held in Au-
In honor of National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, Ver-
nonia Jazzercise instructor,
Penny Costley, is offering
FREE Jazzercise classes at
The First Baptist Church, 359
“A” Street, during October to
new customers who are breast
cancer survivors. Statistics
show that breast cancer is the
leading cause of cancer death
in women between the ages of
40 and 59. The American Can-
cer Society predicts that in the
year 2005, there will be about
211,300 new cases of invasive
breast cancer in this country
and about 39,800 deaths from
the disease.
Engaging in a moderate
amount of physical activity,
such as taking a brisk, 30-
minute walk, on most days of
the week is recommended to
prevent the onset of health
problems, including breast can-
cer. “Jazzercise offers a fun
and effective workout including
a warm-up and aerobic, mus-
cle-toning and cool-down seg-
ments that nurture a great
mind-body connection,” said
Costley. “We are thrilled to in-
vite breast cancer survivors to
join us with this special offer to
celebrate fitness and life! Sim-
ply show up at class or call
503-429-0196 to make an ap-
pointment.”
The FREE class offer falls in
line with the Jazzercise tradi-
tion of “giving back to the com-
munity,” as every year instruc-
tors and students rally to sup-
port a variety of charitable
causes. Since 1997, Jazzer-
cise instructors and students
around the world have raised
nearly $4 million for breast can-
cer research alone.
Now celebrating its 35th
year, Jazzercise is designed to
enhance cardiovascular en-
durance, strength, and flexibili-
ty for all ages and fitness lev-
els. Local classes are held at
6:25 a.m. Monday and Wed-
nesday (Cardio Quick), 9:30
a.m. Monday and Wednesday
(Lite), 9:30 a.m. Tuesday,
Thursday and Friday, 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday, and
7:15 p.m. Monday through
Thursday. For more information
on Jazzercise, call Costley at
503-429-0196. For worldwide
class information, go to
<jazzercise.com> or call 1(800)
FIT-IS-IT.
gust by Hands On Art were well
attended.
Taught by renowned Hip
Hop Instructor Lisa Robertson
from Hillsboro. Six one-hour
classes were held at the Scout
Cabin and the girls who attend-
ed performed for guests after
the last class.
If there is enough interest,
Hands On Art will hold classes
again next summer. For more
information, call Carol Sawyer
at 503-429-4748 or Sally Harri-
son at 503-429-8425.
Salmon can be hazardous to dogs health
Dogs that eat even a small
amount of uncooked Salmon,
Trout or Steelhead are at risk of
getting potentially fatal Salmon
Poisoning disease.
A microscopic organism, Ne-
orickettsia helminthoeca, the
cause of Salmon Poisoning,
sometimes lives in a parasite,
Nanophyetes Salmoncola, that
can infect the Salmon family.
The germ is killed by cooking,
freezing or hot smoking fish.
If a dog eats infected fish, or
even licks up infected fish
blood, symptoms start from a
few days to five days later.
Symptoms include:
• Decreased energy level
• Increased temperature
• Swollen lymph glands
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (turning bloody
within a day or two)
If untreated, 90 percent of
dogs with symptoms will die
within 7-14 days from dehydra-
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Vernonia, Oregon 503-830-6057
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159353
tion and blood loss.
Fortunately, if caught early
enough, Salmon Poisoning is
treatable with antibiotics. In se-
vere cases, intravenous fluids
may be needed. Get the dog to
a veterinarian as soon as
Salmon Poisoning is suspect-
ed. The longer before treat-
ment starts, the harder and
more expensive the treatment
will be and the greater the
chance that treatment will not
be successful.
If your dog is seen eating
fish, talk to your veterinarian
about a preventive shot of an-
tibiotics to avoid Salmon Poi-
soning.
Most dogs are immune to fu-
ture Salmon Poisoning once
they have survived it. Special
emphasis on MOST, not all
dogs develop immunity.
Preventive measures in-
clude disposing of raw fish
waste in a can with a tight fitting
lid, leaving dogs home when
fishing, or leashing dogs when
near water.