By Julie Stephenson, Occupational Health and Patient Experience Manager Remember a few months ago when cheeky posts were all over social media poking fun at all the attention handwashing was getting? The attention made it seem as though this long standing public health and safety protocol was ‘brand new’. Although the science proving the powerful [read more]
By the Safety Squad at Southwest Health. Did you know rural residents have an increased risk for death from vehicle crashes when compared to urban residents? Less than 20% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, yet more than half of the passenger/vehicle/occupant deaths occurred on rural roads in 2015. Which means, even though [read more]
By the Safety Squad at Southwest Health. The rise in the popularity of cell phones has created a safety hazard on the road. The dangers of texting and driving are well known; however, most drivers are unaware that talking on a cell phone is known to be just as dangerous. The National Safety Council estimates [read more]
By Angela Pagenkopf, RN & Infection Preventionist – On behalf of the Safety Squad at Southwest Health. With tornado season quickly approaching, now is a great time to review with your family what they should do when they see a tornado or hear a tornado warning. Educating yourself and your family is one of the best [read more]
By Angela Pagenkopf, RN & Infection Preventionist – On behalf of the Safety Squad at Southwest Health. Hand washing is one of the most important and least expensive means of keeping yourself healthy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states, “Hand washing is like a “do-it-yourself” vaccine – it involves five simple and effective steps [read more]
By Angela Pagenkopf, RN and Infection Preventionist at Southwest Health – Influenza is rapidly increasing across the U.S. and in WI. Nationwide there have been 13 pediatric deaths so far this season and 2,104 positive cases of influenza by laboratory testing in Wisconsin alone. These statistics are taken from data ending December 31st, meaning that [read more]
By The Safety Squad at Southwest Health – The rule of thumb for coats in the car seat is typically, “if you have to loosen the straps in order for the coat-wearing child to fit, then the coat is too thick to wear in the car seat.” Adjust the straps to how the child would [read more]
After months of beautiful warm weather, it seems that the first bitterly cold winter day always takes us by surprise. Watson the Watchdog and the Safety Squad at Southwest Health have prepared some reminder tips for staying safe this winter. Check the temperature and dress for cold, wet or windy weather: Bundle up in several [read more]
by Ross Laufenberg, Oncology/Infusion Tech, on behalf of The Safety Squad at Southwest Health It’s that time of the year again! The leaves have changed colors, the air is crisp, and hunting season is about to be in full swing. Last year, there were 8 gun-related hunting incidents, resulting in 1.31 incidents per 100,000 hunters. [read more]
It’s that time of the year again – the youngsters are back in school and we spend less time outside (confining germs to easily transferable indoor spaces), which means by mid-November flu season is in full swing! So should you get vaccinated? Healthcare professionals and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both say [read more]
