Stop the Bleed Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over 60 Lackawanna Trail teachers participated and were trained in a Stop the Bleed Initiative on Friday, October 11, 2019 during a teacher in-session day. The initiative is a collaborative effort amongst the Wyoming County Community Health Foundation (WCCHF), Commonwealth Health Tyler Memorial Hospital and Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Trauma Services. Together these organizations are continuing to train and certify organizations, schools and students in Wyoming County and other parts of the northern tier.

An informational presentation with hands-on training and certifications was provided to all. Research has shown that bystanders, with little or no medical training, can become heroic lifesavers. Uncontrolled bleeding injuries can result from natural and manmade disasters and from everyday accidents. Providing bystanders with basic tools and information on the simple steps they can take in an emergency situation to stop life threatening bleeding can save lives.

Funding for this initiative at Lackawanna Trail was provided by the WCCHF from a modest grant through Peoples Security Charitable Foundation. WCCHF’s Executive Director, Shealynn Shave, noted “Providing teachers at the Lackawanna Trail as well as the entire 9th grade student body with the basic tools and information on the simple steps they can take in an emergency situation to stop life threatening bleeding can save lives. We are thankful to partner with funders such as People’s Charitable Foundation so we can not only complete the training today but will also be able to train the entire 9th grade class and equip each classroom of the school with emergency medical packs. We are very fortunate to continually partner with Commonwealth Health Tyler Memorial Hospital and Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital Trauma Services on this important initiative to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and community.”

For additional information on the Stop the Bleed Initiative, please contact Shealynn Shave at the WCCHF at 570-996-1645.

FoodPlay is coming to town!

foodplay

 

foodplay800pixSchools around the country are teaming up with FOODPLAY to empower children with the skills they need to take charge of growing up healthy and fit. FOODPLAY, a national award-winning theater show promoting healthy eating and exercise habits, will be bringing its cast of colorful characters, fantastic feats of juggling, motivating messages, music, magic, and fun to Wyoming County thanks to a grant from Wyoming County Community Health Foundation.

FoodPlay will be at two area elementary schools, Tunkhannock and Lackawanna Trail, during the week of September 24th through September 30th of this year. It will be a program during the day for all students in Kindergarten to 5th grade.

While FOODPLAY makes good eating great fun, its messages are very serious. So serious, in fact, that First Lady, Michelle Obama, has launched the nation’s first childhood obesity task force, designed to tackle the alarming rise in the number of overweight children. In the last 25 years, childhood obesity rates have doubled among elementary school children and tripled among teenagers. One in three children are overweight, and less than two percent of the nation’s youth are meeting their daily nutritional requirements. Kids on average are drinking over 600 cans of soda and consuming more than 150 pounds of sugars a year, missing out on recommended levels of fruits, vegetables and whole grains needed for optimal health.

During the fun-filled performance, children follow the antics of Johnny Junkfood, whose dream is to become a national juggling star, but keeps dropping the balls. The problem – his poor eating habits! With the help of the “Coach” of the National Junior Juggling Team and the audience of enthusiastic elementary school children, Johnny learns how to juggle the foods he eats to wind up with a balanced diet.

Children learn how to see through TV commercials, decipher food labels, and make choices that are good for their health and good for the health of the planet. As the children walk away to the beat of “Treat Your Body Right! ” FOODPLAY’s message comes in loud and clear – feed healthy foods to your body, positive messages to your mind, and have fun being active every day!

“We have to fight fire with fire, ” says FOODPLAY creator and Executive Director, Barbara Storper, MS, RD. A leader in children’s nutrition, Storper has reached over three million children at schools across the country with FOODPLAY, using the power of live theater to make nutrition come alive.

“We need to use the same techniques advertisers use in order to get kids excited about healthy foods and healthy practices! ” says Storper. “And, schools are the perfect setting to model healthy behaviors and educate students on how to make their choices healthy ones. Once kids get the facts, they become the most effective health advocates, bringing the message back home!”

Learn more about FoodPlay online.

Shingles Vaccination Clinic Donation

The Wyoming County Community Health Foundation, formerly Tyler Health Partnership, donated $6,000 to Tyler Memorial Hospital for confuting a shingles vaccination clinic for Wyoming County residents. Approximately 40 local residents received the vaccination at no cost during the one-day clinic, which was a follow-up to a two-day clinic held in November 2013 where more than 60 residents participated.

By partnering with Tyler Memorial, the foundation covered the cost of the vaccines as well, for a total donation of more than $10,000.

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Photo: From left: Raleigh Bloch, chairperson (Tyler Health Partnership, now Wyoming County Community Health Foundation); Shealynn Shave, partnership assistant; Denise Gieski, CEO Tyler Memorial Hospital; and Gayle Gipson, director of education and volunteers, Tyler Memorial.