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Most radon exposure comes from being indoors, whether at home, work, school or other buildings. The levels of radon depend on the characteristics of the rock and soil that have been built on. Radon levels can vary greatly due to these variations in environment, sometimes even within a neighborhood. Elevated radon levels have been found in every state.
Radon gas can enter buildings through cracks in floors or walls; construction joints; or gaps in foundations around pipes, wires, or pumps. Radon levels are usually highest in the basement or crawl space. According to the EPA, the average indoor radon level is about 1.3
picocuries per liter (pCi/L). People should take action to lower radon levels in the home if the level is 4.0 pCi/L or higher.
The EPA estimates that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels. Based on soil, numbers in the Midwest are above the national average. In
Plymouth County, many studies show that nearly three out of every four houses have elevated levels. Prolonged exposure to radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking. Scientists estimate that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year are related to radon.
Your first step in checking your exposure is to get a test kit. Test kits are simple to use and can be purchased at local retailers or by contacting
Floyd Valley Community Health at (712) 546-3335 or (800) 642-6074 x3335. Additional information including licensed measurement and mitigation specialists can be found at
www.idph.iowa.gov/radon.
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Blood donations are typically low in the winter due to the holidays, travel, inclement weather and illness. In order to keep up with the demand, donor turnout needs to remain consistent every month. If you are making New Years' Resolutions, taking time to roll up your sleeve can save as many as 3 lives with just one donation!
LifeServe Blood Center provides the blood product supply at Floyd Valley Healthcare. It is estimated that one in seven people entering a hospital will need a blood product.
LifeServe also hosts
donation drives throughout the area including every other month at Floyd Valley Healthcare in the Conference Center. The next scheduled drive is Thursday, February 15th from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
You are eligible to donate if you:
- Are in general good health.
- Are 16 years of age or older. Individuals under the age of 18 must provide a signed parental/guardian permission form.
- Weigh at least 120 pounds.
- Have not made a whole blood, double red cell, platelet or plasma donation prior to becoming eligible.
- Have normal blood pressure, pulse, temperature and hemoglobin screenings.
- Are not pregnant.
- Do not have a cold.
- Are not under a doctor's care for any serious illness or injury.
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Floyd Valley Auxiliary Provides Gifts
for Patients
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The
Floyd Valley Auxiliary is very generous to FVH and its patients each and every year. As much as we try to highlight their accomplishments, many are still unaware of the great things that the Auxiliary does. But of course, it also takes great support from our community to help reach their goals.
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This year, one of their priorities was to help add to the patient wheelchair fleet with a new item called a StaxiChair. In addition to stacking in the entry ways to conserve space, their light, non-foldable frames also can handle patients of varying weights and sizes plus additional personal belongings and/or medical equipment. They have higher |
handles, so it also creates leverage for those pushing the chairs. They have been a great addition for our patients.
Another item purchased by the Auxiliary for the
Emergency Department was a GlideScope. While most of us know little about this advanced piece of equipment, the ED was very excited to receive
this donation. The GlideScope helps staff establish airways in patients due to trauma, with limited mobility of the neck, for those that have airways that are swollen due to allergic reactions and pediatric patients with smaller airways. W
hen minutes count, the GlideScope provides a quicker means to get a stabile airway for patients.
If helping others or helping with projects like mentioned above seems like something you might be interested in, please consider joining our Auxiliary.
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