By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com
MOUND CITY – In a world where accidental overdoses and fentanyl poisoning have become all too common, the Linn County Health Department is hoping that a program it is sponsoring on Sept. 17 will help make Linn County students and adults aware of the dangers of opioids.
Health department Director Amanda Snyder told the Linn County Commission at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, that a mother who lost two sons to accidental overdoses in a single night will be making presentations at all three Linn County school districts as well as an evening presentation open to the public.
Becky Savage, the guest speaker, will give a presentation for all county residents at 6 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the Prairie View Performing Arts Center, 13731 Kansas Highway 152 west of La Cygne. The evening event is open and free to the public.
Savage and her husband, Mike Savage, founded the 525 Foundation after their two sons, 19-year-old Nick and 18-year-old Jack, overdosed on alcohol and oxycodone during parties on June 14, 2015. Named after the numbers 5 and 25 on their sons' hockey jerseys, the foundation's goal is to prevent similar tragedies through education and awareness.
In her comments to the commission, Snyder reported that the department handled 148 appointments in August. She told the commissioners that the health department nurses had gone to the Prairie View district to administer student vaccinations in August.
Since Sue Russell, the receptionist at the health department, was officially retiring at the end of September, Snyder said she was in the process of interviewing people for that position and would probably have a recommendation by next Monday.
This week, Snyder said the nurses would be doing vision and hearing screenings at the Jayhawk school district.
Snyder reported that last week her staff had met with the Alzheimer’s Association. She said they came and talked with the health department staff about what they offer as an association and things that they could provide for the department and for community members.
She said they also talked about education that the health department could go through themselves to be able to provide some of these classes. There are communities that offer monthly caregiver support programs for family members of people who have Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Snyder reported that the education and training was something free provided by the Alzheimer’s Association, and she was looking into that because it would be something they could pass on to members of the community.
Snyder told the commissioners that starting on Nov. 1, the department would be offering remote Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) programs at the theater in Blue Mound. She explained that people living at Blue Mound and Parker were struggling with transportation or funds for gas to get to the Pleasanton clinic for WIC appointments.
She said that a WIC nurse and WIC clerk will go to Blue Mound that day for appointments with people that were already scheduled, however, staff would also have time for people to come in and apply for WIC benefits.
Snyder added that she and Vicki Brown would be attending certified lactation counselor classes. This certification requires 95 classroom hours and an exam.
She asked about whether the commissioners had decided to do a resolution to dissolve the health advisory board. The commissioners did not have a resolution ready.
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