‘Kangaroo Challenge’, SCRCA scholarships, potent gin recalled

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Photo of the day

Shae-Lynn (L) and her daughter Emelia participate in the Kangaroo Challenge in CKHA’s Women and Children’s Program on May 2, 2017. Skin-to-skin care offers various benefits for premature infants such as improved brain development, lowers the stress hormone cortisol and helps infants’ use oxygen more effectively (Submitted photo)

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s (CKHA) Women and Children’s Program has accepted the global Kangaroo Challenge in support of skin-to-skin care and its healing benefits for premature infants and their families. The Kangaroo Challenge, facilitated by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in partnership with the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, encourages hospitals from across the globe to work with families to increase skin-to-skin care for all infants, with a focus on premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).

“We are thrilled to be participating in this fun and informative challenge,” said Jill Cousins, Clinical Manager, CKHA’s Women and Children’s Program. “Kangaroo care is quickly becoming best practice and has many proven benefits to both baby and family. We are looking forward to working with families on our unit to increase skin-to-skin time as well as educating on its positive benefits.”

Skin-to-skin care, also known as “kangaroo care”, is the practice of holding an infant dressed in only a diaper against the bare chest of a parent or family member and is beneficial and safe for almost every infant. Kangaroo care has steadily become best practice for premature infants due to its healing benefits for both infant and family. Recognized by both the Canadian and American Paediatric Societies, along with the World Health Organization as a source of healing for premature infants, skin-to-skin care fosters many positive benefits such as:

– Lowers the number of times a baby’s heart rate dips or baby stops breathing

– Helps babies breathe better and use oxygen more effectively

– Lowers stress hormone cortisol by making baby feel safe and secure

– Acts like medicine to reduce pain

– Improves the quality of baby’s sleep which helps the brain grow

– Improves brain development which affects later outcomes

– Baby gains weight faster and begins breastfeeding sooner

– Shortens hospital stay

CKHA will compete in this friendly competition among other Level 2 NICUs by reporting the number of hours of skin-to-skin care each infant staying in the NICU receives each day, from May 1 up to and including May 15, 2017. Kangaroo care will be given by a parent or a family member to eligible infants with staff on-hand to provide support and education to all families who choose to participate. The challenge also provides a learning opportunity for the inter-professional team on the Women and Children’s unit to embrace skin-to-skin care year round.

The Kangaroo Challenge wraps up on May 15, 2017 in celebration of Kangaroo Care Awareness Day. CKHA’s results will be announced internally to staff, physicians and volunteers, as well as publicly through the organization’s social media channels.

CKHA’s Women and Children’s Program provides Level 2 NICU services, allowing sick newborns to receive appropriate care close to home. As a Level 2 unit, care is provided to premature infants 32 weeks of gestational age and older. Infants in the NICU also receive treatment for respiratory difficulties, infections, addictions, jaundice and feeding issues.

Family is an important part of the care team. Parents are welcome 24 hours-a-day and are encouraged to provide as much care to their baby as they are comfortable with. Safety and security is high priority; babies are fitted with security tags and access to the nursery is secured.

SCRCA Scholarships

$3,000 in scholarships are available from the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, however, the deadline is fast approaching. The scholarships are available for graduating high school students who are continuing in post-secondary studies in a conservation field (biology, ecology, geography, forestry, agriculture, fish and wildlife etc.). Up to two $1,000 awards and up to two $500 awards will be provided to successful candidates. These scholarships are provided by trust funds established through the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation.

“These scholarships are our way to assist in the education of tomorrow’s conservationists and to encourage young people to take an active role in the important environmental issues that face our society,” Brian McDougall, General Manager of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority said.

Students living within the boundary of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority or who attend a Secondary School in the following communities qualify: Sarnia, Forest, Petrolia, Wallaceburg, Dresden, Glencoe and Strathroy.

Applications for the scholarship can be obtained from the high schools listed above; by contacting the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority at 245-3710; or by visiting our website at www.scrca.on.ca. The deadline for applications is May 31, 2017.

Potent gin recalled

Bombay Sapphire brand London Dry Gin may be unsafe due to high alcohol content, and it has been recalled across Canada.

The food recall warning issued on May 2, 2017 has been updated to include additional distribution information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Industry is recalling Bombay Sapphire brand London Dry Gin from the marketplace due to high alcohol content. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

This recall was initiated after the discovery that, during production, one batch was bottled before correct dilution to achieve the stated 40% alcohol content by volume. As a result, the affected batch has alcohol content by volume of 77%.

This recall was triggered by the company. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace.

If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.

Weather forecast for Thursday, May 4, 2017

A rainfall warning remains in effect.

Today – Cloudy. Rain beginning early this morning. Amount 10 to 20 mm. Wind becoming east 30 km/h gusting to 50 near noon. High 9.

Tonight – Rain. Amount 15 to 25 mm. Wind east 30 km/h gusting to 50. Low 7.

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