Archive for November, 2010

 Gingerbread Jubilee, an annual event benefitting Children’s Miracle Network, took place November 20-22 at the Rivermill Event Centre. Children and adults of all ages were treated to a wonderland of sweet creations. Attendees also listened to Christmas music, shopped at various vendor booths, created gingerbread houses, and sat in on some tasty presentations. The event was even visited by Santa! 

Over the course of three days, 900+ gingerbread houses were constructed! The public was then invited to vote on their favorite house. Over 3,000 people attended this year to admire the houses, watch live cooking demos by Jamie Keating and congratulate the winners. Categories for the gingerbread houses included amateur, celebrity, professional and school. 

Celebrity entries included Dr. Tim Mescon from CSU, Ed Bostic from PMB Broadcasting, Janet David from TIC Federal Credit Union, Jerome Bechard from the Columbus Cottonmouths, Lisa Rowe and Richard Bishop from Uptown, Sandra Okamoto from the Ledger, Tammy Terry from WRBL, and Billy and Olivia Blanchard from CB&T. 

Though the event may have ended, some attendees left with houses won in the silent auction.  All proceeds benefited Children’s Miracle Network. The next CMN event will be Reindeer Run on December 11, so be sure to attend!

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In a recent presentation, Columbus Regional’s Wellness/Fitness consultant Dayton Preston offered advice on how to avoid gaining weight over the holiday season. On average, Americans gain 10 pounds over the holiday season. This can be attributed to larger portion sizes, higher calorie/higher fat foods, and leftovers. We also tend to take in more liquid calories, in the form of sweet tea, eggnog, and alcoholic beverages. Another key contributing factor is a lack of activity. As the weather gets colder, we tend to bundle up and avoid outdoor activities. We postpone our exercise, as we can make this our New Year’s resolution.

In order to combat these contributing factors, Dayton offers some sound advice. First, exercise at least 30 minutes a day. This will start you in the right direction. You should also make sure to get cardiovascular exercise. The key is to find an exercise you enjoy, one that will keep your interest. Use the winter months to slowly build up and establish your base.

Over the holiday, food will be in abundance. Families often gather for large meals and fellowship. Dayton recommends centering the family gathering around something besides food. Don’t make the focus the meal. Plan activities, play board games, or make a fun game outside. Food can be present, but you do not want to focus on it. When the meal starts and you finish your first helping, wait 30 minutes before you go back for seconds. You will be surprised at how full you feel after giving your body time to realize how much food you have eaten. Be sure to eat slowly. Try putting your fork down between bites. Also, avoid taking home large amounts of leftovers. Take home a small plate with a little bit of your favorites.

For more information and to see the presentation in its entirity, here is part one, part two, part three, and part four.

As we all gear up for the holidays, we should take time to protect ourselves from getting sick. In order to avoid getting the flu, Susan Harp, Columbus Regional’s Infection Control Coordinator, offers a few tips.

When someone is ill, it is best to avoid being around that person (if possible). If someone is sick, there is a good chance that they can pass this sickness to you. If you must be around someone who is sick, remember to take the proper precautions.  This includes providing the sick person with tissues and a trash bag for disposal.  Avoid contact with moist body substances.  Wash your hand immediately after caring for the sick person. 

If you do become ill, stay at home. Though you may hate to miss work or class, you are doing everyone a great service. By staying home, you allow your body to rest while preventing the spread of the disease to others.  You should stay home until you are fever free for 24 hours.

Remember to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. A simple concept that often gets overlooked. Use a tissue to capture germs or sneeze/cough into your elbow, rather than your hands. Be sure to promptly discard used tissues and then wash or sanitize your hands.  This will cut back on the spread of germs, as you tend to touch things with your hands, even after a sneeze or cough.

After sneezing or coughing (or touching something a lot of people have been touching), and before eating, it is important to clean your hands. This will kill the germs and prevent you from spreading the disease or infecting yourself.

If you have touched common surfaces or someone else, it is important not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. By doing so, you are greatly increasing your chances of catching a disease. If you must touch one of these areas, wash your hands first.

Practice other good health habits. Susan Harp recommends eating right, getting plenty of fluids, and staying well rested.

The best way to prevent getting the flu is to get a flu shot. Be careful out there and enjoy the holidays germ free!

Scott Ressmeyer, vice president of Country’s Barbecue and founder of Scott’s Ride for Miracles, was presented with a Friend of Children Award from the Georgia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (GaAAP) in Atlanta on Oct. 22 for his creative and outstanding support of sick and injured children in our region. He was nominated by Dr. Joseph Zanga, Chief of Pediatrics at The Medical Center, on behalf of Columbus Regional Healthcare System and The Medical Center.

Scott has twice ridden the contiguous 48 States on his motorcycle, last year alone and this past summer with ten fellow riders, calling attention in communities large and small to the health care needs of children and raising more than $138,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) at The Medical Center. In addition, he hosts the annual Reindeer Run, which also benefits CMN at The Medical Center and Country’s Midnight Express, a 5K run that raises money for the blind.

“Scott,” says Dr. Zanga, “is one of those rare people who sees even adventure as an opportunity to help. On his Harley or walking the halls of the hospital to learn more about children, his heart shines brightly as he works tirelessly to help the littlest citizens of our community.”

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On Tuesday, November 9th, the Columbus Regional Lactation Center and Boutique will host an Open House from 1:30PM-5:00PM. Guests are invited to come tour the new facility, meet the staff and find out more about the services provided at the Center. Drop by anytime and take a look around. This will be a great opportunity for expectant mothers to take walk around and get a sneak peek at the facility. Be sure and stop by the Boutique after the tour.

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