A Message
From The
CEO

Ah...the promise of summer: sunny days and lazy evenings, barbecues and picnics, getaways and good times. To make sure those times really are good, heed the seasonal safety tips below.

Sun smarts
A great tan may look good, but staying pale is definitely better for your health since skin cancer is directly related to sun exposure. If you do get a sunburn, apply aloe vera gel right away and take acetaminophen to ease minor discomfort. You'll probably be a little dehydrated so be sure to drink lots of water. Cool showers, baths or compresses can soothe the burn and prevent it from worsening. Call your health care provider if your skin blisters or if you develop chills, fever or nausea.

Sting savvy
If a bee, wasp or hornet stings you or your child, remove the stinger and venom sac by scraping it with your fingernail or a credit card. Do not squeeze and pull or you'll release more venom. Wash the site with soap and water and apply an ice pack to stop the swelling. Be alert for signs of allergic reaction, such as wheezing, labored breathing, nausea or vomiting. Go to an emergency room should any of these symptoms develop. (If you or your child is allergic to bees, ask your health care provider about prescribing an emergency kit and keep it handy when you are outdoors.)

Plant patrol
The best way to avoid contact with poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak is to know what they look like. The distinctive feature of poison ivy is that its smooth, shiny leaves always occur in groups of three. Poison oak is similar; however, it grows in shrubs and its leaves more closely resemble oak leaves. Poison sumac is far less common but far more toxic. It resembles a shrub or a small tree, and its leaves are arranged in groups of seven to 13 pointed leaflets. From late summer to early spring, the plant has clusters of white berries. If you come into contact with any of these plants, wash immediately with soap and water. Rhuligel, an over-the-counter preparation, may help ease itching, and Benadryl, an oral antihistamine, may also bring relief. Always follow the information provided on the package for proper dosage.
Note: Wash in chlorine-based detergent any clothing that comes in contact with the plants.

Lyme elimination
If you're planning a family hike, find out if the wooded area you'll be traveling to is Lyme disease country. Deer ticks carrying the virus hang out on plants and leaves close to the ground, so it's easy to pick one up without realizing it. To avoid doing that, wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck pants legs into knee socks. If you develop a red, bull's-eye rash after an outing in a wooded area or develop flu-like symptoms, see your doctor immediately. A course of antibiotics within the first 72 hours will stop the progression of Lyme disease, but left untreated it can cause heart, joint or nervous system problems.

Perham Memorial Welcomes Judy Bellanger-Dahl

Judy Bellanger-Dahl, Certified Physician Assistant, became the newest member of the PMHH medical staff team last month, just in time to help lighten the load of the physicians during the busy upcoming summer months. Her presence also offers women an additional option for their health care needs.

Judy provides health care services under the supervision of a physician and is trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive health care services, as delegated by the physician. Working as a member of the PMHH health care team, she can take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x-rays, make diagnoses, and prescribe medication.

A native of Mahnomen, Minn., she received her surgical technician degree while attending Mira Costa College in San Diego, Calif. She continued her training in health care at Northland Community College in Thief River Falls where she received her RN degree, then graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks where she completed the physician assistant program.

For the past two years, Judy has served as a PA at Altru Clinic in Warroad, Minn. Her past work experience also includes Mahnomen Hospital and First Care Home Health, both in Mahnomen; and Bridges Hospital in Ada as the clinic nurse manager. Judy, along with her husband John who farms in the Mahnomen area, have three children; Melissa, 12, Ryan, 4, and Anthony, 3.

Appointments with Judy can be made at MeritCare Clinic Perham by calling 346-4040.

Otter Tail Township resident joins Hospital Board of Directors

Mary Hanson has joined the Perham Hospital District Board of Directors, filling the term vacated by Betty Cordes who resigned from the board following her move from Otter Tail Township.

Mary brings over 18 years experience in health care to the board. She is a registered nurse currently employed as a consultant with Beverly Health Care. Previously, Mary was the director of nursing at Henning Health Care Center. She and her husband, Dave, have three children. Dave is employed with Jim Ahlfs Construction and Hanson Welding.

The Perham Hospital District Board consists of elected representatives from Otter Tail, Edna, Dora, Star Lake, Perham, Pine Lake, Dead Lake, Gorman, Rush Lake, and Corliss Townships and the cities of Perham, Dent, and Richville, and an at-large position.

New restrictions to the tax rebate program have caused the PMHH board of directors to opt not to renew the plan. The rebate program allowed taxpayers in the Perham Hospital District to receive a rebate on their hospital district taxes when they used PMHH services. This year, we have learned that to continue the program, we must restrict it so severely that it would be of little benefit to anyone. The rebate would be limited to overnight hospital stays only with a $10 cap on the rebate amount.

After careful consideration, the board agreed the amount of work a taxpayer would need to go through to apply for the rebate, then only receive $10, it was time to eliminate the program.