February 2014

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What's New at Guardian Nurses?

Winter Safety Tips

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What's New at
Guardian Nurses

South Jersey NAWBO Awards Betty Long its Heroine of the Year

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) of South Jersey announced last month that Guardian Nurses Founder, Betty Long, will be honored on Thursday, February 27th at its annual "Beyond the Glass Ceiling" Awards Gala at The Mansion in Voorhees, NJ.

The annual gala honors extraordinary individuals for their contributions to women and women business owners, as well as their commitment to excellence and community.

Long, who is receiving the "Heroine of the Year" Award, was nominated for her work changing the healthcare system---one patient at a time!

We Can Help.

On occasion, patients write to express how grateful they are for our help. This past week, we got this email:

"To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure what to expect when I was referred to Guardian Nurses. My neck and back pain had been so longstanding that I thought, "What are they going to be able to do for me? All I wanted was to have my procedure paid for by my insurance company."

He continued, "I am thrilled, though, with what happened. You found a doctor who was willing to partner with me on conservative treatment and avoid surgery."

Guardian Nurses' guidance and support was "a game changer" for him.

We can be game changers for you, too. If you need help navigating the healthcare system, give us a call.

Raise your hand if you're tired of winter! I just finished clearing off my very long and steep driveway again and sadly, I have a feeling that it is likely not the last time this year. (sigh...) It has been a difficult winter with frigid temperatures and way too much snow and ice accumulation. Power outages. Slips and falls. Flooding. Though we might all like to think that spring is 'just around the corner,' we still have several weeks of potentially bad weather.

Now the LAST thing I want to do is be "Debbie Downer," but in anticipation of another power outage or more snow and ice accumulation, this issue of The Flame addresses personal safety---more specifically, how to avoid injury when you slip and fall and what to do if your electrical power goes out.

Please take a few minutes to review so that you'll be better prepared for the last few weeks of winter. And who knows, maybe now that I've written about snow and ice, it will never snow again!

Be Safe Out There!!

Spring IS coming!

Betty

Betty Long, RN, MHA

President/CEO

Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates

Winter Safety Tips

Slips and Falls.

Falls account annually for more than 1 million injuries in the US. The "slip and fall" is a specific type of fall that happens when you fall due to a surface not cleared of snow or ice. With all of the remaining snow, and freezing temperatures, you need to be extra careful that you don't hurt yourself.

Wear proper footwear. Avoid smooth soles. Your foot should be able to be entirely on the surface of the ground.
Plan ahead. Instead of looking down, like most of us do, look up and see where your feet will move next to anticipate ice or an uneven surface.
Anticipate ice. Be wary of "black ice," thin sheets of ice that appears as wet pavement---especially in the morning as things freeze overnight.
Use steps carefully. When walking down steps, grip handrails firmly and plant your feet securely.
Enter buildings carefully. Be sure to look at the floor as you enter as it may be wet with melted snow and ice.
Be careful when shifting your weight---like when you're stepping off a curb or getting into a car. You can lose your balance and fall.
Avoid taking shortcuts. The shortcut path may be treacherous because it's likely to be located where snow and ice removal has not happened.
Accessorize! You want to see and be seen! Wear sunglasses so that you can see in the reflective light of snow.

Power Outage Safety.

Snow and ice can cause power outages by weighing down tree limbs and power lines. Ice creates particular challenges because it is heavier and more prone to accumulate on limbs and lines.

Prepare a list of essential items you need if you need to leave your house. This list might include: medications, insulin, contact lenses/supplies, eyeglasses.
If someone in your home is dependent on medical equipment requiring electricity, make arrangements in advance for an alternative power source in emergencies.
Have plenty of fresh batteries for flashlights and radios. Keep at least one battery powered flashlight where you can easily retrieve it in the dark.
If you have a gasoline-powered generator, use it in well-ventilated areas and only plug in individual appliances. Never connect a generator to a wall outlet or a building's electrical system. Have adequate fuel and manage consumption by running it a few hours at a time.
When your power goes out, report it to your local power company. If you can see a downed power line, report that as well, but don't go out looking for them!
Avoid driving over downed power lines. Avoid puddles near downed lines as well.
If the power is out for a long time and you need to leave your home, turn on a porch light to make it easier for power company crews to see when power has been restored and for your safety if arriving when it's dark.

Clearly there are PLENTY of other safety tips to heed during the winter months, as there are during the summer months. But given my druthers, I will take summer anytime! A little more sun, a little higher temperature, and no more shoveling!

And since Major League Baseball's pitchers and catchers reported to spring training camp last week, I know spring is not far away!

Be careful out there!

Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
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