health

Gloucester Health Department Invites the Public to Attend Today’s Flu Clinic

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Gloucester Health Department
Karin Carroll, Public Health Director
3 Pond Road
Gloucester, MA 01930

 

For Immediate Release

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Gloucester Health Department Invites the Public to Attend Today’s Flu Clinic

GLOUCESTER — Public Health Director Karin Carroll is pleased to announce that the Gloucester Health Department is hosting a flu clinic today.

WHEN:

Thursday, Nov. 14 from 3-6 p.m.

WHERE:

Bank Gloucester, Community Room, 160 Main St. 

WHAT:

Anyone ages six-months-old and older is invited to attend a flu clinic today to obtain a flu shot that can help them to fend off the effects of influenza, which can cause severe symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffed nose, aches and pains, headaches, chills and fatigue.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an extremely contagious respiratory illness that occurs mostly in the winter or early spring. It attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract. 

The flu vaccine is updated every year based on which influenza viruses are expected to make people sick each season. According for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the flu vaccine has been found to reduce the risk of seeking a doctors appointment for the flu by 40-60 percent during seasons when the vaccine viruses are similar to the circulating viruses. 

“Obtaining an annual flu vaccine is the best way to prevent getting the flu, and we encourage anyone who hasn’t yet gotten their flu shot to attend the clinic,” Carroll said. 

Those planning to attend the clinic are asked to bring their health insurance and new Medicare cards. No co-pay will be charged at the clinic.

Residents with questions about the clinic can contact Public Health Nurse Kelley Hiland at 978-325-5266.

The Gloucester Health Department also wishes to share the following recommendations from the CDC to help residents avoid contracting the flu:

  • It is recommended by the CDC that everyone six-months-old and older should obtain an annual flu vaccine. Those who are at a high risk for flu complications, including adults 65-years-old and older, pregnant women, young children, children with neurological conditions and those with asthma, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and cancer, are especially encouraged to get vaccinated prior to the start of their region’s flu season.
  • Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
  • Limit contact with others while sick. Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone if you have a flu-like illness — except to get medical care or for other necessary activities.
  • When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with tissue. Afterward, throw away the tissue and wash your hands.
  • Frequently wash your hands with soap and water. When soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand rub may be used.
  • Refrain from touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Clean and disinfect any areas or items that may be contaminated by someone who has the flu.

To learn more about the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm. 

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(Courtesy Image Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
(Courtesy Image Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Greater Lowell Tech Receives $381,000 Grant to Support Health Services Programs

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Greater Lowell Technical High School
Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola
250 Pawtucket Boulevard,
Tyngsborough, MA 01879

For Immediate Release

Friday, Aug. 30, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Greater Lowell Tech Receives $381,000 Grant to Support Health Services Programs

From left: Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy; Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta; Greater Lowell Tech Director of Cooperative Education Stacy Bezanson; Greater Lowell Tech Director of Technology, Enrollment and Information  Lisa Martinez;  Greater Lowell Tech Superintendent-Director Joe Mastrocola; and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. (Courtesy Photo Greater Lowell Tech)

TYNGSBOROUGH — Superintendent Joseph Mastrocola is pleased to share that the Massachusetts Workforce Skills Cabinet (WSC) awarded a $381,000 Skills Capital grant to Greater Lowell Tech yesterday.

The grant was presented to school officials including Superintendent Mastrocola at a ceremony at Worcester Technical High School on Thursday. Skills Capital grants are awarded to organizations that offer and are looking to expand skills training opportunities that are in high demand in the Commonwealth. 

As a result of the grant, administrators hope to nearly double the number of senior students graduating from several Allied Health Services Programs at Greater Lowell Tech over the next three years, and increase the school’s number of adult graduates of Health Services Programs by 25 percent.

“This grant will allow us to expand and modernize our patient care training stations to allow for increased enrollment as well as the inclusion of simulation centers with a range of easily accessible learning opportunities,” Superintendent Mastrocola said. “We will upgrade several learning spaces with furniture and instructional equipment that will allow for better collaboration, the use of technology found in health care settings and advanced skill training for students.”

Health Services Programs at Greater Lowell Tech include its Medical Assisting, Nursing Assisting, Pharmacy Technician Certification and the Post-Secondary Nurse Program.

Funding from the Skills Capital Grant will also allow Greater Lowell Tech to launch an EMT Program during the 2020-2021 school year. The purchase of a fully functioning ambulance will allow the school to begin offering emergency medical training.

Grant funding will also allow the school to double its Patient Care Training Stations from eight to 16, and Patient Care Monitoring systems will be put at all patient bedsides. Greater Lowell Tech will additionally purchase three simulation mannequins equipped to simulate a variety of clinical situations, as well as medical record software and mobile patient documentation and medication administration carts.

Two new STEM classrooms will also be outfitted for the Medical Assistant Program as a result of the grant funding, which will allow instructors to transition quickly and seamlessly from laboratory to classroom work.

The school is also in the process of moving individual health services classes and programs to a Health Services wing, which will house all Health Services programs. The transition is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2020, and necessary renovations are being funded by the school’s operating budget through its ongoing maintenance plans.

Greater Lowell Tech is also in the process of expanding its partnership with CVS to allow more Medical Assistant students to access new Pharmacy Technician training opportunities, and the school’s also has a new partnership with Trinity Ambulance. Greater Lowell Tech is also working to develop additional community partnerships, in addition to its existing partnerships with Wingate at Belvidere and the D’Youville Senior Living Community.

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Methuen EEE Risk Elevated to Critical after Positive Test in Horse

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City of Methuen
Mayor James Jajuga
Methuen City Hall
Searles Building
41 Pleasant St.
Methuen, MA 01844

For Immediate Release

Monday, Aug. 26, 2019

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Methuen EEE Risk Elevated to Critical

Residents Urged to Use Caution and Limit Outdoor Activities after Sunset

METHUEN — Mayor James Jajuga and Community Development Director William Buckley report that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has elevated the city’s risk for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) to “critical” on Monday afternoon in light of positive mosquito testing for the virus and positive testing in a horse in Methuen.

A positive EEE test in an animal automatically raises the threat level for EEE to “critical” in a community.

As a result of this designation, the City of Methuen’s emergency management team is meeting at 3:30 p.m. today to discuss measures the city will undertake. Further information will be released after that meeting.

The City is following DPH guidelines and advising all residents to limit outdoor exposure after sundown. Residents should strongly consider cancelling or rescheduling any planned outdoor activities until further notice.

“We are very concerned about the critical EEE designation. It is not common for a community in Essex County to face this level of concern for the virus, so we feel it is extremely important to gather our leadership team this afternoon and make sure we have a strategy and messaging plan in place that will offer responsible guidelines to all Methuen residents and business owners,” Mayor Jajuga said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the EEE virus is a rare cause of brain infections or encephalitis. EEE causes very few human cases each year but can be fatal or leave victims with serious, lifelong complications.

The city and state offer the following important guidelines about EEE and mosquito-borne illness:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

  • Limit outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours. Consider cancelling or rescheduling planned outdoor evening events and activities. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellent.
  • Clothing can help reduce mosquito bites: Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long sleeves, long pants and socks while outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
  • Apply insect repellent if you do go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied directly to your skin.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

  • Drain standing water: Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.
  • Install or repair window and door screens: Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.

Information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website here.

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Randolph Police Raises $1,000 for Sgt. Chesna Family Fund During 2nd Annual Fitness Cup Challenge

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Randolph Police Department
William Pace, Police Chief
41 South Main St.
Randolph, MA 02368

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Randolph Police Raises $1,000 for Sgt. Chesna Family Fund During 2nd Annual Fitness Cup Challenge

From left: Detective Paul Smyth, Officer Duong Tran, Officer Kinnon Ryan, Lt. Anthony Marag, Officer Steven Ayers and Sgt. Jason Fisher.
(Courtesy Photo Randolph Police Department)

RANDOLPH — Chief William Pace is pleased to share that the Randolph Police Department recently raised $1,000 for the Sgt. Chesna Family Fund during the 2nd Annual Fitness Cup Challenge.

The Fitness Cup Challenge is part of a larger health and wellness initiative at the Randolph Police Department supported by Chief Pace. The 90 day challenge began in February and ended in April, and includes separate fitness and weight loss competitions. Many of the 37 members of the department competed in both the fitness and weight loss challenges.

The fitness test included a bench press, squat, one mile run and 500 meter row.

“This challenge gives us a concentrated period of time to really focus on health and fitness, which lays the groundwork to keep up healthy habits,” Chief Pace said. “In police work, fitness, health and wellness are all incredibly important, and I think prioritizing these values makes us a better department in the long run. We also had the opportunity to raise money through this initiative for Sgt. Chesna’s family, which is something we all felt strongly about and were happy to be able to do.”

Officer Trevor Clark won the fitness portion of the event and Sgt. Jason Fisher won the weight loss component of the competition.

The Fitness Cup Challenge was sponsored by Hanley Law Realty of Weymouth and Precision Fitness Equipment.

The Sgt. Chesna Family Fund was created by the Weymouth Police Department following the death of Sgt. Michael Chesna, who was killed in the line of duty in July 2018. The fund raises money for Sgt. Chesna’s family.

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