Blood Drive at Fauquier Hospital February 17

Roll up your sleeve and roll away this winter with a cool convertible and a free T-shirt. Donate blood January 1 through February 28 and you will be automatically entered to win a Pontiac Solstice convertible.

For a complete list of blood drives, visit http://www.weneedblood.org/ or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Fauquier Health will host a blood drive:
Tuesday, February 17
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sycamore room in the Fauquier Hospital Patient Tower

Let’s Dish! is Dishing Up a Fundraiser!

Want to save time and money, eat healthier and help support your community hospital? Visit Let’s Dish! in Warrenton during March and April, and a portion of the proceeds will support the Fauquier Health Foundation.

Let’s Dish! is owned and operated by Deana Travis and is located at 251 W. Lee Highway, Suite 163 in the Warrenton Center shopping center. It’s an innovative store where you can make (or pick up) family-friendly dishes designed to be frozen and cooked when you need them.

For more information or to start dishing today, visit www.letsdish.com or call 540.347.4429. Be sure to use the promotion code HELPFHF when registering for your session.

Junior Volunteer Applications Due April 15

Applications for Fauquier Health’s Junior Volunteer program are now available online and in Fauquier County schools; they will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through April 15. (Students must be at least 13 years of age by September 30.) Students will serve in one of Fauquier Health’s many participating departments. Summer and year-round programs are available.

Volunteers aged 12 to 15 are also eligible to attend a special medical camp where they can try their hand at suturing, starting an IV, harvesting a cornea and more. To learn more about either program, call Lynn Lauritzen at the Volunteer/Auxiliary office at 540.316.2910.

Fauquier Health Teaches Safety at KidSafe

Fauquier Health will host KidSafe — a health and safety event for children ages 4 to 11 — on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Highland School in Warrenton. In addition to fun activities, the event will provide important health and safety lessons that will last a lifetime.

KidSafe is a community service sponsored by Fauquier Health, Fauquier Hospital Auxiliary and Highland School. The booster seat raffle that will take place at the event is sponsored by Carr & Hyde, Inc., Puffenbarger Insurance Agency, Wal-Mart and Joe Runion, State Farm.

KidSafe will offer the following health and safety classes:
• Home alone safety (Warrenton Pediatrics): Kids who spend time alone need to know what to do in a variety of potentially dangerous situations. Learn important safety advice from the experts.
• First aid (Piedmont Pediatrics): Do you know what to do if you or someone else gets hurt? Sometimes you need more than a bandage. Come and learn how you can help people and when you need to call an adult to help.
• Bike safety (Warrenton Police Department): Whether you’re on a bike trail or zooming around your neighborhood, knowing some good rules can help keep you safe on your bike. This class will go over the basics.
• Fire safety (Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company): No one wants to think about their home catching fire, but you should have a plan nonetheless. Firefighters will teach important lessons about preventing fires and getting out of harm’s way if there is a fire.
• Gun safety (Corporal Mike Miller, Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office): Every year, preventable accidents happen when children play with guns. Even if there are no guns at your house, you should still learn about gun safety.
• Body safety for kids (Fauquier County Sheriff ’s Office and Fauquier County Social Services): This class will help you understand the difference between “good” and “bad” touch and how to say no when you want someone to keep their hands off.
• Weather safety (Mike Eckert, National Weather Service in Washington): Tornadoes, thunderstorms, floods and hail — find out what causes them and how you can keep safe.
• Animal safety (Piedmont Pets Veterinary Clinic): How do you know when petting an animal is safe? Dog bites and cat scratches aren’t fun, so come learn the best way to introduce yourself to unfamiliar animals.
• Self-defense for kids (Grand Master Ron Jenkins, Karate Sports Academy): Learn some smooth moves to help if you’re ever in a dangerous situation.
• Safety with electricity (Dominion Virginia Power): Electricity is very helpful and important — but it can be dangerous. Let a professional show you the ins and outs of staying safe with things that use electricity.

Register Early for a Free Backpack
Be one of the first 600 kids to preregister for KidSafe, and you’ll get a FREE backpack, thanks to a generous donation from the Fauquier Hospital Auxiliary.
Call Fauquier Health at 540-316-3588 or visit www. fauquierhealth.org.

Just for Parents
KidID
Members of the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office will be offering free child fingerprinting at KidSafe. It’s the best tool to help find your child if he or she is ever lost.

Safe Kids Buckle Up
A recent study showed that more than 70 percent of car safety seats are installed incorrectly. Learn about the right safety gear for every ride and take the opportunity
to consult with a certified car seat safety technician from the Safe Kids USA organization. He or she can inspect your child safety seats.

More cool stuff
Live Music for Kids
Peter McCory, the One-Man Band for Kids and Families, plays many instruments — all at the same time!

Dash, the Drug Detective Dog
Check out the highly trained drug detective dog and his owner from the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office. They’ll show you how they sniff out drugs in crime investigations.

Fire and Rescue Units
Meet some of our local heroes with the fire department and rescue squad. Check out the emergency vehicles they use to help people in the community.

Furry Friends
Visit with Safety Pup, Fauquier Health’s big, cuddly puppy who helps kids learn about safety.

CSI Germ Glo
Not enough can be said about the importance of cleanliness, proper hand washing and infection control. Using an ultraviolet light, our CSI Germ Glo investigators will cast a new light on your hand-washing effectiveness.

Face Painting
This fun and magical experience will add excitement and fantasy to your day.
End box

Get a Free Booster Seat
To help ensure that more children are safe in their parents’ cars, Fauquier Health will raffle a limited number of booster seats at KidSafe.

The Road to Good Health, A Step at a Time

In the continued search for ways to improve my health and fitness, I’ve been thinking a lot about the advice Dr. Jorge Minera gave on fitting exercise into an ever-busier schedule. (See http://www.viewfromhospitalhill.org/2008/12/key-to-womens-health-is-education.html)

Dr. Minera encourages his patients to snag opportunities for movement whenever possible: walking to the store instead of driving; bypassing the car wash in favor of scrubbing it yourself; using a push mower on the lawn, etc.
I decided to spend last weekend being more aware of this advice. On Saturday, my 12-year-old daughter and I strapped on matching pedometers and headed out to do errands. By the time we hit Wal-mart, I had logged a few hundred steps and she was looking at more than 1,000.

“Oh no,” I thought, “one of the pedometers must be broken.” I was hoping it was mine. I had heard you are supposed to aim for 10,000 steps and at this rate, I was going to run way short. We ran a little experiment: we both walked 100 steps, counting as we went. Each of the pedometers had counted out a hundred steps, too. Darn, both pedometers were working just fine.

For the next couple of hours, I watched my little girl as we continued our rounds. All became clear.

First of all, her legs are shorter. One hundred of her steps didn’t get her as far as 100 of my steps. But there was something else. My daughter never just walks anywhere. She skips, she bounces, she spins and twirls, and she runs. When she needs something upstairs, she tears up the flight and comes down with one sneaker. Then a minute later has to go up and get the other one, then a sweatshirt, then a pair of socks, then a book. By the time she’s assembled herself in the living room, she made six trips up and down the stairs. On the other hand, in an effort to save time, I go up stairs and collect everything I’ll need for the next four hours before I descend. I’ve trained myself to save steps – now I see maybe not such a good idea.

Now I know why my daughter is a skinny little thing and I’m … not so much.

On Sunday, we left the car parked in the driveway and did our errands on foot -- post office… library … pharmacy … grocery store … Dairy Queen (I know what you’re thinking, but I just had water. Little Miss 10,000 Steps had an ice cream sundae.) We explored the creek behind our house and played a little soccer. By the end of the day, my pedometer read a couple of thousand steps. Way behind my goal, but better than Saturday. If I was a less bitter person, I would tell you my daughter’s total – but I’m not.

After the revelation of the weekend I spent the week incorporating Dr. Minera’s advice in other ways, as well. I bought one of those exercise balls recently, blew it up and rolled it around to my desk at work. I retired my desk chair in favor of the ball and by the time I went home that first afternoon, I could already feel that new muscles were being employed. I was sore after only a few hours and was encouraged. The next day, I found myself, between paragraphs, rolling back and forth on the ball. It was fun, and I felt like my back and stomach muscles were definitely being used.
OK, Dr. Minera, I thought, this idea is working.

While at the Fauquier Health LIFE Center the next day, I tried out a balance disk. It’s flat on the bottom and makes a soft and squishy semicircle that comes up off the floor. You stand on the semicircle and try not to fall off. At least, that’s what I did.

I’d been reading about how important to fitness your balance is, and that this funny half-ball was a good tool for improving balance. I bought one to use at home. I tried standing on the disc one night while watching television and it was pretty challenging. The next day at the LIFE Center, I had to cut my workout short because my legs were so tired. Another good sign.

The best part of these changes is that they don’t cost me any time at all. They are gentle ways to fold exercise into my daily routines.

When I work myself up to 10,000 steps, I’m having a hot fudge sundae.

For the Caregivers

This link is a gift to all the caregivers out there who spend their time and energy taking care of those who need a little extra help.

http://www.fauquier.com/blogs/confessions-single-mom/2009-02-10/911-predicament/

Calendar of Events for Fauquier Health

Here are some events offered at Fauquier Health through the end of March.

Tuesday, February 17

Red Cross Blood Drive
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Sycamore room
When: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Details: Call 540-316-3588 or 800-322-7500

Support Group for New Moms
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Call to confirm class time.)
Details: Discussion group for new mothers of infants between the ages of 2 days and 6 months old
Cost: Free
Register: 540-316-3588

Cancer Support Group
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Chestnut room
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Register: 540-878-2136

Wednesday, February 18

Stroke Awareness
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Sycamore room
When: 7:00 p.m.
Details: Neurologist George Ringholtz, M.D., will discuss the treatment and
prevention of stroke.
Cost: Free
Register: 540-316-3588

Saturday, February 21

Your Childbirth Experience
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: Weekend class -- February 21 and 22, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Details: Discussion-oriented class goes over anatomy, labor and delivery, breathing
and relaxation techniques, medical interventions, cesarean delivery and postpartum concerns. Expectant parents should attend this class during the second trimester of
pregnancy.
Cost: $120 per couple.
Register: 540-316-3588

Tuesday, February 24

Breastfeeding Made Simple
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Details: Obstetrical nurse lactation consultants will teach about breastfeeding benefits
and techniques. Dads are welcome.
Cost: $20
Register: 540-316-3588

Wednesday, February 25

Massage for Couples, Level I
Where: Fauquier Health LIFE Center, Holiday Court, Warrenton
When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Details: Therapeutic massage, taught by Heidi Leavell, C.M.T. Level I focuses on the neck, shoulders and upper and lower back. Bring two pillows and a sheet and wear comfortable clothing. Ladies are requested to wear a halter or bathing suit top.
Cost: $45 per couple.
Register: 540-316-3588.

Growing Healthy Babies
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Details: Taught by childbirth educators, this class is for those thinking of becoming
pregnant or in their first trimester. Topics include nutrition, exercise, physical and emotional challenges, stages of growth, warning signs and preterm labor. Also hear from obstetrician Jeffrey Bell, M.D.
Cost: $45 per couple
Register: 540-316-3588

Babysitters’ Training Course
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Sycamore room
When: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Details: American Red Cross-certified babysitting course teaches leadership and
caregiving skills, how to prevent and manage emergencies, first aid, how to interview for babysitting jobs and more. The class is for kids ages 11 to 16. Bring a bagged lunch; drinks and cookies will be provided.
Cost: $40.
Register: 540-316-3588

Monday, March 2

Your Childbirth Experience
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: Four sessions – Mondays, March 2, 9, 16 and 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m
Details: Discussion-oriented class goes over anatomy, labor and delivery, breathing
and relaxation techniques, medical interventions, cesarean delivery and postpartum concerns. Expectant parents should attend this class during the second trimester of
pregnancy.
Cost: $120 per couple.
Register: 540-316-3588

Tuesdays, March 3

Support Group for New Moms
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Call to confirm class time.)
Details: Discussion group for new mothers of infants between the ages of 2 days and 6 months old
Cost: Free
Register: 540-316-3588

Diabetes Self Management Training
Where: Fauquier Health LIFE Center, Holiday Court, Warrenton
When: March 3, 10, 17 and 24, from 10 a.m. to 12:00 noon; or Saturdays, March 7 and 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Details: Covers diet, exercise, medication
Cost: Covered by Medicare and most insurance plans
Register: 540-316-2652; diabetes@fauquierhealth.org

Tuesday, March 10

Baby Care Essentials
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower, Sycamore room
When: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Details: Taught by childbirth educators. Topics include diapering, bathing, cord care, circumcision care, feeding methods and infant safety. Also hear from pediatrician Suzanne Hayes, M.D.
Cost: $20 per person. Grandparents are also welcome to attend this class at $20 per person
Register: 540-316-3588

Thursday, March 12

Diabetes Support Group
Where: Fauquier Health LIFE Center, Holiday Court, Warrenton
When: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Details: Topic will be “Understanding Insulin — The Truths and Myths.”
Cost: Free
Details: Call 540-316-2652 or e-mail diabetes@fauquierhealth.org for more information

Looking Good, Feeling Good
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Sycamore room
When: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Details: Program helps women overcome the appearance-related effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Participants must be undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Cost: Free
Register: 540-878-2136.

Saturday, March 14

First Aid; Adult, Infant and Child CPR; and AED
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower, Chestnut room
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Details: Includes adult, infant and child CPR; basic first aid; and automated
external defibrillator (AED) training. Registration is required.
Cost: $65.
Register: 540-316-3588

KidSafe
Where: Highland School, Warrenton
When: 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Details: Children’s health and safety event
Cost: Free
Register: 540-316-3588

Tuesday, March 17

Support Group for New Moms
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Call to confirm class time.)
Details: Discussion group for new mothers of infants between the ages of 2 days and 6 months old
Cost: Free
Register: 540-316-3588

Cancer Support Group
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Chestnut room
When: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Register: 540-878-2136

Thursday, March 19

Joint Replacement Lecture
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Sycamore room
When: 6:00 p.m.
Details: Those considering a knee or hip replacement will learn about the entire process
— from the initial doctor’s consultation through postsurgical rehabilitation — from speaker David Snyder, M.D. Dr. Snyder will also discuss nonsurgical alternatives and treatment options for arthritis.
Cost: Free
Register: 540-316-3588

Saturday, March 21

Big Brother/Big Sister Class
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Details: Class acquaints expectant brothers and sisters ages 3 to 10 with the changes that commonly occur when a new baby arrives.
Cost: $10
Register: 540-316-3588

Your Childbirth Experience
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: Weekend class – March 21 and 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Details: Discussion-oriented class goes over anatomy, labor and delivery, breathing
and relaxation techniques, medical interventions, cesarean delivery and postpartum concerns. Expectant parents should attend this class during the second trimester of
pregnancy.
Cost: $120 per couple.
Register: 540-316-3588

Tuesday, March 24

Breastfeeding Made Simple
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 12 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Details: Obstetrical nurse lactation consultants will teach about breastfeeding benefits
and techniques. Dads are welcome. Class includes lunch.
Cost: $25.
Register: 540-316-3588

Wednesday, March 25

AARP Driver Safety Program
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Sycamore room
When: Wednesday, March 25 and Friday, March 27, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Details: Taught by AARP representatives for motorists ages 50 and older. Participants must attend both days of the class.
Cost: $12 for AARP members: $14 for nonmembers. Participants are welcome to purchase lunch in the hospital’s Bistro on the Hill restaurant. Registration required.
Register: 540-316-3588 or 800-322-7500

Wednesday, March 25

Massage for Couples, Level II
Where: Fauquier Health LIFE Center, Holiday Court, Warrenton
Details: Therapeutic massage, taught by Heidi Leavell, C.M.T. Level II assumes
you have a basic knowledge and will include more deep-tissue strokes, Trager
techniques and shiatsu. Bring two pillows and a sheet and wear comfortable clothing.
Ladies are requested to wear a halter or bathing suit top.
Cost: $45 per couple.
Register: 540-316-3588.

Saturday, March 28

Babysitters’ Training Course
Where: Fauquier Hospital Tower Chesnut room
When: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Details: American Red Cross-certified babysitting course teaches leadership and
caregiving skills, how to prevent and manage emergencies, first aid, how to interview for babysitting jobs and more. The class is for kids ages 11 to 16. Bring a bagged lunch; drinks and cookies will be provided.
Cost: $40.
Register: 540-316-3588

Tuesday, March 31

Support Group for New Moms
Where: Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center
When: 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Call to confirm class time.)
Details: Discussion group for new mothers of infants between the ages of 2 days and 6 months old
Cost: Free
Register: 540-316-3588

Tea -- and Chocolate -- for all

To celebrate great patient satisfaction results achieved by Fauquier Health employees this quarter, two special teas were held for staff members this week.

Vernon Rhea and the Bistro staff pulled out all the stops,providing small tempting
sandwiches, homemade cookies and a very popular chocolate fountain with cut fruit,
pretzels and marshmallows for dipping. Oh yes ... there was tea, too.

The fountain created a bit of a traffic jam, but no one seemed to mind, as all used
the time to relax and chat with their coworkers.