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December 9, 2021
December
Complete Service Of Cars & Light Trucks
We Carry
See Our “Pros” For
• Brakes & Suspension • Wheel Alignment • Shocks & Struts • Air Conditioning
• New Tires • Roadside Tire Service • Small Engine Sales & Service
R. J. Daniels Fuel & Tire Fairgrounds Rd., Belvidere, IL 815-544-2118 8094Open Daily 7-5; Sat. 7-Noon
BOONE COUNTY
SENIOR LIVING A MONTHLY FOUR PAGE SECTION FOR SENIORS
give AS IF A LIFE DEPENDS ON IT ...because it does. MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT
Navigate Around These Four Winter Hazards Fresh snowfall can bring a hush over any landscape &, temporarily at least, create a perfect picture scene. As idyllic as such landscapes can be, snow-covered sledding hills can pose various threats to outdoor lovers’ health & safety. Frostbite - Frostbite occurs when the soft tissues of the body start to freeze. It most commonly affects the fingers, toes & nose. The Cleveland Clinic says single-digit Fahrenheit temperatures are cold enough to cause frostbite. Frostbite affects skin cells & tissues & can cause severe damage. Frostbitten skin turns black as cells die from freezing. Numbness & a painful feeling of “pins & needles” occurs in areas that are exposed to the cold or cold water for too long. Dressing appropriately for weather, limiting time spent outdoors in very cold temperatures & maintaining strong blood flow can reduce risk for frostbite. Falls - Winter weather can lead to slippery conditions. Falls on snow, ice or wet floors are common. When walking, wear shoes with sufficient traction, avoid icy patches & invest in walking poles or microspikes. Promptly wipe up melting puddles in the home to avoid slipping inside as well. Thin ice - Winter activities may include fishing on a frozen body of water. But it can be challenging to determine just how frozen a lake or a pond might be. Safety experts advise against going out onto the ice alone, & to heed any thin ice signs posted. If you fall through ice, try to gain a grip to pull yourself up (ice picks are a good investment) & spread out on your belly once you get out of the water. Anyone who ventures onto ice can carry a whistle to signal for help, which is louder than yelling. Hypothermia sets in within 10-15 minutes, so acting fast is key. Ropes, boards, a spare tire & other items can be used to save someone from ice without going onto the ice. Depression - The lack of sun & short days of winter can affect individuals’ mental wellness. Those with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, find winter challenging, according to the Cleveland Clinic. SAD surfaces in late fall or early winter & may not subside until early summer. Make time to get outdoors, even when it’s cold, to take advantage of at least 30 minutes of morning light. Doing so can improve mood. Exercise & find ways to engage in social activities to stave off depressive feelings. Do not turn to food or alcohol to address depression. Winter brings great beauty but also potential hazards that should be kept in mind & addressed.
815-965-8751 or rrvbc.org We are proud to serve Boone County and surrounding communities as the only provider of blood and blood products.
Holiday Greetings from the
Boone County Council On Aging 2141 Henry Luckow Lane, Belvidere 815-544-9893 l www.keenage.org
Preventing Spread Of Germs With Hand Washing The importance of hand washing was never more apparent than in 2020. As the world spent much of 2020 confronting the COVID-19 virus, public health organizations like the CDC noted the importance of hand washing. There’s no denying the role that clean hands can play in stopping the spread of various illnesses, including respiratory viruses like COVID-19. But what exactly is the relationship between clean hands & germs? According to the CDC, germs can spread from other people & surfaces when people: • touch their eyes, nose & mouth with unwashed hands • prepare and/or eat food & drinks with unwashed hands • touch contaminated surfaces or objects • blow their noses, cough or sneeze into their hands & then touch other people’s hands or common objects before washing their hands While the CDC acknowledges that COVID-19 is believed to spread less commonly through contact with contaminated surfaces than it does through close contact with infected persons, it’s still possible to get the virus in this way. So it’s vital that people wash their hands after touching potentially contaminated surfaces, such as grocery carts, door handles, or other surfaces that may have been touched by infected persons.
• All-On-4 Implants • Dental Implants • Implant Support Dentures • Bone Grafting • Cosmetic Dentistry • General Dentistry • Sleep Dentistry
2nd Opinions & Complimentary Consultations 140 N. State St., Belvidere, IL 61008
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