3-14-2008

FILE OF LIFE TO BE INCLUDED IN HEALTH FAIR 2008

 

The upcoming Greenville Regional Hospital Health Fair 2008 will include a new service this year called File of Life.  The objective of the program is to provide rescue personnel with pertinent medical information about a patient, in case that person has been rendered unconscious by an injury or other medical condition.  The File of Life program is part of the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy service learning project for the spring semester.  Student pharmacists, in partnership with the Area Agency on Aging of Southwestern Illinois and the Illinois Visiting Nurse’s Association, will assist health fair attendees in filling out medical information forms that will be included in the File of Life magnet pocket, to be placed on the front of a refrigerator, along with a wallet size card to be kept with participants at all times.

 

Health Fair 2008 will be held today, Friday, March 14^th from 7am to 5pm at the Greenville First United Methodist Church.  Those interested in participating in the File of Life program should bring their medication bottles or a listing of their medication with them to the Health Fair.  For more information, call 664-2777.

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GC PROFESSOR HONORED BY ILLINOIS JAYCEES

 

A Greenville College professor was recently honored by the Illinois Jaycees.  Dr. Will Boyd has been named a 2008 Outstanding Young People Award or TYOP honoree.  The award recognizes young Illinoisans who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve humanity.

 

Dr. Boyd said he was truly surprised to have been nominated and even more surprised to find out he was one of eight being honored. He was recognized for his leadership and accomplishment and was nominated by the Youth Workshop Ministries.  Dr. Boyd is the Associate Dean for Student Success and Instructor of Management at Greenville College.  He also serves as founder and senior pastor to a local church in Greenville and an Archbishop to churches in eight different countries.

 

The 42^nd annual TYOP ceremony will be held May 3^rd at the Decatur Hotel and Conference Center.

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ILLINOIS EPA STRENGTHENS DRINKING WATER PROTECTIONS

 

Following reports of trace amounts of pharmaceuticals found in the nation's drinking water, the Illinois EPA is expanding its current monitoring of water quality to include sampling of Illinois waterways.  They are also promoting alternative methods of disposal of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and personal care products.  Illinois EPA will continue collecting unused pharmaceuticals at its household hazardous waste collections events, held across the state each spring and fall.  Residents are advised to save unwanted medications for such an event rather than flushing pharmaceuticals down the toilet or pouring them down the drain where they can end up in drinking water supplies. 

 

If you cannot take unused medications to a collection site and want to dispose of them in the trash, be sure to follow these guidelines:

 

- Remove or mark over all labels

- Mix drugs with coffee grounds or kitty litter

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- Put them in a small plastic bag and hide them in your trash.

ILLINOIS ADOPTEES COULD FINALLY RECEIVE ORIGINAL BIRTH RECORDS

 

Legislation was recently unveiled that could enable Illinois adults, who are adopted, to obtain copies of their original birth certificates.  Since 1947, those documents have been sealed, under Illinois law, and available only via court order.  The new legislation House Bill 4623 would undo that law.

 

This measure will now allow access to original birth certificates for persons born prior to 1946, upon Governor Blagojevich's signature.  Those born after January 1, 1946 will have to wait until April of 2009, to begin requesting documentation.

 

The bill also allows for confidentiality of parents who seek it.  There will be a six-month waiting period for birth parents, of those born after 1946, to indicate their wishes regarding the release of identifying information.  Birth parents will be allowed to request their names be taken off any copies of the certificate issued to the children during the parent's lifetime.

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