Trick or Treat Safety Tips for Your Ghosts or Goblins!

“Trick or Treat!”

A familiar phrase uttered with enthusiasm by almost all children as they arrive at the door on Halloween night. But before your ghosts and goblins trick or treat this year, keep in mind these safety tips to make sure the only howls heard are those of fun!

1. Have each child carry or wear something lit, such as a flashlight, glow bracelet, necklace or flashing attire for visibility. Light-up shoes are also practical and so noticeable on a dark Halloween night.


2. Trick or treat in familiar neighborhoods or areas.


3. Make sure your princess or prince wears well-fitting shoes, preferably running shoes.


4. Avoid costumes that drag on the ground. While initially cute, costumes that drag can easily trip up little feet or get caught up in bushes.


5. Be sure a child’s mask allows full visibility and breathing. Don’t hesitate to cut out larger openings for comfort and safety.


6. Children should walk, not run and should never cut across lawns or driveways. Obstacles might not be readily visible at night.


7. Carry only flexible props that can’t cause injury if your child falls.


8. Only trick or treat at houses that are lit.


9. Be sure kids don’t get over-heated and keep hydrated. Plan costumes according to weather.


10. Keep track of time and don’t trick or treat after 9 p.m. That allows ample time for children to trick or treat and enjoy the goodies of the night

Happy Halloween!

Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), we are organizing a “Get Your Pink On” event on Oct. 26 to promote Breast Cancer Awareness.

Click Here for Grand Ave Campus Event
Click Here for Sydenham Campus Event

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance will be hosting an event where staff, volunteers, physicians and the public are invited to create a human ``pink ribbon`` in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month and CKHA`s Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). An aerial photo will be taken and will be used to demonstrate our collective support for breast cancer prevention, diagnosis and most importantly, for survivors and their families.
Please come out, wear your pink and be part of the human pink ribbon photo in Chatham! We want to fill in that pink ribbon for the aerial shot - I look forward to seeing as many people as possible! Or join us in Wallaceburg at the Sydenham Campus for a pink-themed celebration. Both events offer refreshments and take-away material for participants.

About CKHA`s Ontario`s Breast Screening Program (OBSP)
OBSP is a comprehensive, organized breast cancer screening program. Its mission is to reduce mortality from breast cancer by delivering high-quality breast screening to Ontario women between the ages of 50 – 74. This program is operated by Cancer Care Ontario and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. CKHA`s OBSP satellite site opened in 1997 and is one of 19 hospitals in Ontario to be chosen to pilot a High Risk Breast program.

Breast Cancer Facts
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer).
In 2011:

• An estimated 23,400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,100 will die of it.


• An estimated 190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 55 will die of it.


• On average, 64 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer every day.


• On average, 14 Canadian women will die of breast cancer every day.

Probability of developing or dying from breast cancer
One in 9 women is expected to develop breast cancer during their lifetime and one in 29 will die of it.

Trends in breast cancer
Breast cancer incidence rose steadily from 1980 to the early 1990s, partly because of increased mammography screening. Breast cancer death rates have declined in every age group since at least the mid 1980s.

References: Canadian Cancer Society retrieved from http://www.cancer.ca

Help us raise awareness of the importance of early screening to detect and treat breast cancer and help us demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s support for breast cancer survivors and their families.

I got the shot!!! CKHA is making strides to reduce influenza in patients and staff

Influenza is a respiratory illness that is easily transmitted between people in the community, patients, and healthcare providers. There are between 500 and 1500 deaths in Canada per year attributed to influenza. The best way to reduce the transmission of influenza is through vaccination. At Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA), we are making strides to increase the vaccination rate for both patients and staff. Occupational Health and Safety and Infection Prevention and Control have teamed up to improve awareness and protect patients and staff.

In October, influenza vaccination clinics start for staff which will include a travelling clinic occurring during the Influenza vaccination blitz. Staff members at CKHA have the potential to carry the flu without showing symptoms. Our goal is for the majority of staff to be vaccinated, to protect our patients and healthcare workers from getting the flu.

We will also continue our vaccination for in-patients. In 2008 only 31.7% of Canadians over 12 were vaccinated. Our hospital feels a responsibility for our community, and helping our patients get vaccinated will improve the health of Chatham-Kent.
I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, seek out vaccination clinics, go to your doctor’s office, or if in hospital ask for the vaccine to ensure that we protect others, our families and ourselves from Influenza

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance wins Award for Environmental Stewardship!

At a ceremony held in Winnipeg September 25-27, Chatham-Kent Health Alliance was awarded the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES) Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence for our Environmental Stewardship Program. Beth Hall, Director of Support Services, Harrie Bos, Supervisor of Engineering Services and Carrie Sophonow, Manager Housekeeping/Linen accepted the award on behalf of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) as they have led the many initiatives under this program, in partnership with the Green Team.

Sponsored by Honeywell, the award was named in honour of Wayne McLellan, who worked at CKHA for over 10 years as the Director of Engineering, and pays tribute to his outstanding contributions to CHES and to Green Healthcare. It was Wayne’s vision and leadership that started CKHA`s Green Team and Environmental Stewardship Program. CKHA was honoured to have been recognized for their accomplishments and for carrying out Wayne`s vision.

Congratulations to the Green Team for winning this prestigious award.

Shown in the photo holding the award
(L-R): Beth Hall, Harrie Bos and Carrie Sophonow.

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Celebrates Success

On September 26th, 2011, at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance we took the time to celebrate the re-designation of our hospital as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO), as awarded by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO). It was nice to take a couple of hours from a very busy schedule to meet with members of the team and celebrate one of our successes.

As one of the original 21 healthcare organizations in Ontario to receive this designation we are especially proud to have been able to maintain this prestigious status. Being a Best Practice Spotlight Organization requires CKHA to implement and sustain evidence based “Best Practices” in the care we provide to our patients. CKHA has been successful in implementing and sustaining a number of RNAO Best Practice Guidelines including but not limited to: Client Centred Care, Assessment & Management of Pain, Nursing Management of Hypertension, Prevention of Falls and Fall Injuries in the Older Adult, Risk Assessment and Prevention of Pressure Ulcers, and Stroke Assessment Across the Continuum of Care.

We have heard a number of stories from patients and families advising us of how knowing CKHA as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization has provided them assurances that CKHA does provide safe, quality evidence based care. Awards like these are a reminder we are meeting our vision: An Exceptional Community Hospital: Setting Standards - Exceeding Expectations. Follow the link below to see the video.

I have several body piercings with jewelry…now I need surgery. What do I need to do?

The popularity of body piercing has presented new challenges for health care providers, especially those in an operating room setting. Any area of the body can be pierced; however, commonly pierced areas include eyebrows, nose, ear, lip, tongue, navel, nipples and genitalia. Body piercing jewelry in the operating room can present challenges such as electrical burns, dislocation of the jewelry, pressure injuries, and tissue injury due to interference or catching of the jewelry and difficulty in passing a urinary catheter.

All jewelry should be removed prior to any surgical procedure. Jewelry includes traditional jewelry (rings, watches, necklaces) as well as body piercing jewelry (barbells, beaded closure, labret or monroe, nose screw/stud, eyelet tunnel).

If the piercing has been well established, body jewelry can be removed without much concern. On average, body piercings take 6 months to one year to become well established and healed, though every individual may heal differently.

Please let your surgical team know about all locations and types of body jewelry and your concerns. If you are unable to remove the body jewelry, the attending physician will evaluate the risks and benefits before proceeding with the procedure.