January Nurse's Note

 Give Kids a Smile 2014

Give Kids a Smile is a charitable program coordinated by the Minnesota Dental Association to provide free care to low-income children in need. The two-day, statewide event is Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2, 2014. A few clinics plan to provide care on later dates in February.  The Association is committed to doing

what it can to make quality care accessible to every child in Minnesota.  By clicking the link below, find the clinic that best fits your needs and location, then call to make an appointment for your child(ren).

http://www.mndental.org/public_home/about_us/give_kids_a_smile/what_you_need_to_know/

Protect Yourself from Frostbite & Hypothermia

Signals of frostbite include—

• ·         lack of feeling in the affected area;
• ·         skin that appears waxy, is cold to the touch, or is discolored (flushed, white or gray, yellow or blue).

What to do for frostbite—

1. Move the person to a warm place.

2. Handle the area gently; never rub the affected area.

3. Warm gently by soaking the affected area in warm

    water (100–105 degrees F) until it appears red and

    feels warm.

4. Loosely bandage the area with dry, sterile dressings.

5. If the person’s fingers or toes are frostbitten, place

    dry, sterile gauze between them to keep them

    separated.

6. Avoid breaking any blisters.

7. Do not allow the affected area to refreeze.

8. Seek professional medical care as soon as possible.

Signals of hypothermia include—

• ·         shivering, numbness, glassy stare;
• ·         apathy, weakness, impaired judgment;

What to do for hypothermia—

1. CALL 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

2. Gently move the person to a warm place.

3. Monitor breathing and circulation.

4. Give rescue breathing and CPR if needed.

5. Remove any wet clothing and dry the person.

6. Warm the person slowly by wrapping in blankets or    by putting dry clothing on the person. Hot water bottles and chemical hot packs may be used when first wrapped in a towel or blanket before applying. Do not warm the person too quickly, such as by immersing him or her in warm water. Rapid warming may cause dangerous heart arrhythmias. Warm the core first (trunk, abdomen), not the extremities (hands, feet). This is important to mention because most people will try to warm hands and feet first and that can cause shock   http://www.redcross.org