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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (April 6, 2006)
Page 8 The INDEPENDENT, April 6, 2006 How to help in poisoning prevention According to the Oregon Poison Center, an estimated four million poisonings occur in the United States each year. During 2003, approximately 45,000 poisonings were report- ed in Oregon. The majority oc- cur in children. A poison is anything that a person eats, breathes, or gets in the eyes or on the skin that can cause sickness or death. Most are accidental. Medicine is the number-one poisoning agent, followed by cleaning products, personal care prod- ucts, and plants. People may come in contact with poisons without knowing they are harm- ful. This happens when a harm- ful item looks like something that isn’t harmful, like candy or beverages. Sometimes harmful items are not stored in their original containers but in a food container such as a milk jug or butter tub. Here are some steps you can take to keep your family safe from accidental poisonings. • Keep products in their orig- inal containers with labels. Never store poisonous items in empty food containers. Store poisons away from food items. • Read product labels and fol- low directions for safe and effec- tive use, storage, and first aid. • Use hazardous products away from children, toys, food, and pets, as directed. Since children tend to imitate adults, avoid taking medications in children’s presence. • Keep household products and medicines out of children’s reach, preferably in a locked cabinet or closet, even if you don’t have small children. Keep purses containing medication or cosmetics and pill dis- pensers out of children’s reach. Many poisonings occur in homes where children are just visiting. • Properly dispose of any un- used or unnecessary house- hold products. Throw out any unused or expired medicines. Call you local pharmacist for safe methods of disposal. • Refer to medicines by their proper names. Always turn on the light when giving or taking medicine. • Ask for and use household substances that are available in child-resistant packaging. Insist on safety packaging of pre- scription medication. Remem- ber that child-resistant caps are not child- proof . Once a child learns to open these caps, they will not keep a child safe. Al- ways close caps tightly after each use. • Clean up after working with potentially poisonous materials around the house, car, and gar- den. Properly dispose of left- over cleaners, sprays, and kerosene right away. Prevention is best. However, keep the poison emergency HELP number (1-800-222- 1222) handy in case of an emergency. Visit the Oregon Poison Center website, www.oregonpoison.org, for more information. April was proclaimed Child Abuse Prevention Month The Columbia County Board of Commissioners, at the April 5 meeting, proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention and Sexual Assault Prevention Month, The Board urged all cit- izens in Columbia County to work toward the elimination of abuse and neglect. In 2004, 94 children in Co- lumbia County were victims of child abuse, said Jan Spika Kenna, Director for the Com- mission on Children & Families. The major causes were unem- ployment and alcohol and drug abuse, particularly metham- phetamines. In recent years, Columbia County’s child abuse rate (victims per 1,000 children) had been declining, however due to the increase in the use of methamphetamines abuse has increased from 5.8 per Got Yoga? (503) 429-2103 New session starts April 3 www.CedarMistStudios.com 20960 Scappoose Vernonia Hwy ñ 5.5 miles from Vernonia. Monday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Saturday Saturday 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Level 1 5:30-6:30pm 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Level 1 Level 1-2 9:00-10:00am Level 1-2 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. Posture Posture Workshop 6:00-6:30pm Workshop 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Level 1-2 Level 1-2 6:30-7:30pm 9:00-9:30am Workshop 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. Posture Posture Workshop 9:30-10:30am Level 1-2 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Level 1-2 5:30-6:30pm 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Level 1 Level 1 9:00-10:00am Level 1-2 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Level 1-2 Level 1-2 6:30-7:30pm 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. April 8 & Level 1-2 10:00-11:00am 22 only 10:00 -11:00 a.m. April 8 & 22 only 1,000 in 2002 to 9.9 per 1,000 in 2003. During the month of April and throughout the year, the Commission on Children and Families, the Department of Human Services and Oregon State University Extension are dedicated to raising awareness about child abuse and neglect and what we can do to help keep children safe. Some things all of us can do, says Kenna, are: raise the is- sue with elected officials and ask them to support funding for programs and policies that sup- port children and families; vol- unteer for programs like Healthy Start; report suspicious drug activity to law enforce- ment; make your neighborhood your extended family. Reach out to children and parents. Be F E E R Health Notes By Audeen Wagner Allergy: A hypersensitivity to a specific substance (such as pollen, dust, etc.) which in similar amounts or degrees is harmless to most people. Hay Fever: An allergic reaction to pollen that is usually seasonal and is marked by sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion, and itching and watering of the eyes. However you define it, spring allergies affect many of us and can be pretty annoy- ing. So, what to do about it? Here are some suggestions from Providence Family Medicine: • Oral antihistamine medicine. Symptoms clear up faster if an- tihistamines are given at the first sign of sneezing or sniffing. The main side effect of antihistamines is drowsiness. This may not be a problem if a dose at bedtime is all you need. Some “non-sedat- ing” antihistamines are available that usually don’t cause drowsi- ness. You may also need to take decongestants for relief. It is safe to take antihistamines and decongestants together • Nasal sprays and drops may be prescribed. A nonprescription nose spray containing a medicine called cromolyn is also avail- able. For some, the nose spray may be the first and only medicine you need. • Allergy shots? If symptoms persist despite taking medication, your health care provider may suggest allergy shots. Skin tests may be done to identify the allergens, and a serum prepared to be injected over a period of time to reduce the allergic response. Over time, the shots should make you less sensitive to the aller- gens. • Pollen removal: Pollens tend to collect on exposed body sur- faces, especially in the hair. Frequent showers and hair washing every day helps. There is much more information available than can fit in this space. So don’t hesitate to call the clinic for help. Message to Parents and Sitters: Mom and Dad, if you leave your children with a sitter (or rela- tives) any time during the day or night, please make sure that you leave information regarding medical care, should there be an ac- cident or sudden illness. This should include permission for treat- ment of illness or injury, as well as insurance information. The clinic is concerned about the legality of seeing minors without par- ents there or with no written authorization for treatment proce- dures. Remember to keep the paperwork in a file that is easily ac- cessible. If there are questions about this process, please call Cathy Rozinek, RN, Clinic Manager, at 503-429-9191. Mammovan: The Tuality Mammovan will be in Vernonia on Wednesday, April 19. This is a reminder to call the clinic to make an appointment for a mammogram. positive and point out what chil- dren and parents are doing right. Make a donation to pro- grams that support child abuse prevention, or help a family un- “Skills for Life” Classes for seven weeks. 2nd Class on Perception, April 12 3rd Class on Choices, April 19 at 7pm at Heather’s Health Haven, 56449 Nehalem Hwy. S. 503-429-2564 The public is invited to attend. der stress. Learn how to recog- nize and report signs of sus- pected abuse or neglect and fi- nally get educated, request a speaker. Child Abuse Prevention Month includes many activities targeted to raise abuse preven- tion and awareness, says Ken- na. These activities include • An open house at the Com- munity Action Team (CAT) Head Start on April 6, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., 2750 Columbia Blvd., St Helens. • Community Action Team, Caring Options event, on April Please see page 21