HomeArchives May 2012

HEALTH SYSTEM NURSES BECOME CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIANS

Offer car seat education to new parents

Three Orange City Area Health System nurses recently completed certification as Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Erica Wheeler, Lauren Moerman, and Jessica Gesink are now trained to help educate parents and the public on current regulations, the appropriate devices for their children, and the steps necessary to ensure the correct installation of car seats in their vehicles. According to seatcheck.org, child safety seats can reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers, ages 1-4. However, an awareness gap exists when it comes to child passenger safety; while 96 percent of parents and caregivers believe their child safety seats are installed correctly, research shows that 7 out of 10 children are improperly restrained. Orange City Area Health System car seat technicians are available to assist parents of the 200+ babies born each year at the health system as they go home from the hospital, and also to provide education to the public during events like the health system’s bi-annual Family Safety Fair.

Orange City Home Health & Hospice hosted a day camp on Saturday, April 28 for children TK through sixth grade who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Camp Hope’s mission is “to provide a safe place where children have the opportunity to share their feelings and experiences with other children who have also experienced death and to equip parents and caregivers with education and support.” According to social worker Kim Jansma, “Orange City Home Health & Hospice cares about grieving children. Our hope is to educate them about the grief process and give them tools for coping with their loss. We do this by working with the kids as a group while focusing on their individual needs.” Camp Hope, held at Orange City Area Health System’s downtown campus,  included games to encourage expression of feelings, a puppet show, crafts including decorating a memory box, peer support, and grief education. Comments gathered from the 14 participating children indicated that they learned that “It’s okay to cry,” and “I need to remember my grandma.” The children also wrote about activities they enjoyed, including “turning lemons into lemonade.” According to social worker Michelle Vaas, “Facing grief is not easy at any age. Camp Hope provides an encouraging environment where children can begin to accept the death of their loved one, reflect on their relationship, and begin to understand grief and loss.” For more information about services offered by Orange City Home Health & Hospice, visit ocHealthSystem.org or call 712-737-5279.

Area bikers can join the ride to Sioux Falls at noon

The sixth annual Children’s Miracle Network “Bikes and Babes” motorcycle run is set for Saturday, June 2 — sponsored by J&L Harley Davidson, Sioux Falls, in collaboration with Sanford Vermillion, Vermillion Wal-Mart, Sanford Clinic Beresford, and Orange City Area Health System. The ride — the proceeds of which are donated to the Children’s Miracle Network — starts at the Vermillion Wal-Mart. Registration is from 9-9:45am. Area bikers can join up in Orange City during a lunch at the new Prairie Winds Event Center on Highway 10 East; registration and lunch are from 12:15-1:15pm. Cost for the run is $25 and includes a poker/map card, lunch (provided by Orange City Area Health System and the Orange City Chamber of Commerce), a T-shirt, and a post-bash party at J&L including a RibFest ticket. The post-bash includes prizes, entertainment, and many food vendors. For more information contact Lisa Burg, Orange City Area Public Relations, at 737-5367.