Thursday, February 25th  5:00pm  (english)

Thursday, March 4th  5:00pm  (english & spanish)

Harms Memorial Administration Annex- 488 Highland Ave.

Heart Disease & Stroke are the 1st & 4th leading causes of death for Idahoans…don’t become a statistic! Join us for this free opportunity, during American Heart Month, to learn about limiting your risk of heart disease & stroke, plus learn the basics of CPR with the CPR Anytime class for friends and family!

Refreshments, educational tools, & gift items for all participants- seating is limited!  Please call Jackie at 208-226-3200 to reserve your spot today!

• FREE Weight Loss Workshops with Clinic Provider, Kris Babb NP-  Harms Family Clinic (502 Tyhee Ave) Every Thursday evening in January from 5:30-6:30pm.

• American Falls Health Fair- Hillcrest Elementary School Gym on Saturday, January 16th from 9:00-1:00pm.

• Aberdeen Health Fair- Aberdeen Middle School Gym on Wednesday, January 20th from 8:00-2:30pm.

• Senior Fit & Fall Proof Classes- Harms Memorial Physical Therapy (592 Gifford Ave) on Tuesday, January 26th or Thursday, January 28th from 3:00-4:00pm.

Senior Healthfair

Friday, November 6th    9:30-12:00pm

AF Senior Citizens Center

FREE Lunch for all Seniors who come!

Receive valuable information & services from:

• Harms Memorial Hospital & the Idaho Heart Disease & Stroke Program
• Rockland Pharmacy & Rod Tucker
• The ISU Foot Mobile
• Serenity Day Spa Massages

Saturday, October 31st

6:00-7:30pm

Hospital Front Entrance

Join us Halloween night for our Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest. We welcome everyone in the community to bring and showcase their creativity with the funniest, scariest, or craziest pumpkin carvings! The public is welcome to come and judge for a winner from 6:00-7:30pm. We will also have Trick-or-Treating for Children under age 12.

A cash prize will be awarded for 1st place in each category. All pumpkin entries must be submitted to the Hospital front office by Friday, October 30th by 5:00pm. Please call Jackie at 226-3200 for questions!

Wedesday, October 7th

7:00-10:00am in the AF City Park

Make plans to drive thru & pick-up your 2009 Brake for Breakfast packet. Complete with a free breakfast, gift item, and information about breast cancer.  This is a special regional event sponsored by Harms Memorial Hospital District and The Hospital Cooperative’s 13 regional partners to promote awareness in our communities about breast cancer and screenings.  See you there!

A special thank-you to the United Dairyman of Idaho for their generous donation of yogurt & milk for the event!

Harms Family Clinic is offering Free Breast Screenings on Thursday, October 8th from 9:00-5:00pm!

Come in to receive a screening by a clinic provider, a special gift, and information about women’s health and breast cancer.  Please call 226-1057 to schedule your appointment today. Remember that it only takes a moment for a lifetime!

By Denise O’Farrell

Public health has received its share of good news about the H1N1 vaccine in the last week. The Department of Health and Human Services announced that only one H1N1 vaccination may be needed to provide immunity and small vaccine shipments will be distributed earlier in October than expected. Good news, yes; but visits to doctors for influenza-like illness are increasing nationally and some areas in the nation are reporting widespread activity.

The messages being promoted by public health and healthcare officials are to wash your hands frequently, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve, get plenty of rest, and if you get sick, stay at home.  It bears repeating, please stay home if you are sick. This message is even more important in light of new reports that people with H1N1 may be contagious for up to one week.

Caring For Someone with Influenza

People with influenza who are cared for at home should:

 • Check with their healthcare provider about any special care they might need if they are pregnant or have a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema

• Check with their healthcare provider about whether they should take antiviral medications

• Keep away from others as much as possible

• Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is gone, except to seek medical care or for other necessities (Fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medication.)

• Get plenty of rest

• Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants)

• Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others

 When to Seek Emergency Medical Care

If you have questions or concerns regarding signs and symptoms related to influenza, contact your primary healthcare provider. Get medical care right away if the person sick at home:

 • Has difficulty breathing or chest pain

• Has purple or blue discolorations of the lips

• Is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down

• Has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry

• Has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)

• Is less response than normal or becomes confused

 The message about emergency medical care is one that hospitals have expressed concerns about. By all means, if you or someone you know is exhibiting these symptoms, seek medical care immediately.  However, if there is an increased burden of illness on hospitals, it is possible they will become overwhelmed.

Hospitals have been planning on this type of scenario for a number of years, but it is still possible that personnel shortages and scarce resources could increase wait times and limit patient care options.  For more information on how to care for yourself or your loved ones at home, go to www.sdhdidaho.rog for a booklet called Your Health is In Your Hands.

Denise O’Farrell is the MRC Chairman and the Emergency Preparedness Healthcare Liaison for the Southeastern District Health Department’s Public Health Preparedness Program

Please call Harms Family Clinic at 226-1057 to schedule your appointment today! We are located at 502 Tyhee Ave.

Saturday, August 8th

10:00-3:00

AF City Park

Join us on American Falls Day to pick-up one of our homemade Pink Lady pies. They go fast, so stop-in early to get the best selection.  Also at 3:00pm they will be raffling their homemade Quilt made for this year. Tickets can be purchased for $1 each or $5/6 up until the time of the drawing. All proceeds go towards scholarships for area students and equipment needs in our Nursing Home.

Thursday, September 17th

6:00pm

Power County Fairgrounds Community Building

Make plans to join us for the Harm’s Foundation Annual Scarecrow Auction & Chili Feed. There will be plenty of food & an assortment of great scarecrows to bid-on in a silent auction. For information on submitting a scarecrow entry or information about the event, please contact Susan Barger at 226-3203 ext. 136