Grace’s Health Care Ministry is offering a monthly blood pressure screening on the third Sunday of the month following each morning service at both locations.  We need the assistance of parish nurses who are able to volunteer for 30-40 minutes following the service they attend. If we have enough volunteers it may only require assisting with the screening once every two months. All services need volunteers.   If you are able to assist with these screenings please call Martha Pedersen at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

As a member of the Health Care Ministry team and in response to many concerns and questions, I put together some information regarding the Swine Flu outbreak.  Much of the information contained in this article is available at www.cdc.gov.  As of this publication, the World Health Organization has placed a pandemic alert of "phase 5" meaning, "there is a strong signal that a Swine flu pandemic is imminent."  What does this mean to our Church community and to you as an individual?

First, what is Swine flu?  It is a respiratory disease found in pigs caused by a type of Influenza A.  Swine flu virus usually does not occur in humans; however, it has and is spreading now from human to human.  The mode of transmission is through droplets, spread when someone coughs or sneezes.  People can also be infected when they touch a surface that has the virus on it and then touch their mouth or nose.  You can not get Swine flu from eating pork.  Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F kills the Swine flu as well as other bacteria and viruses.

The symptoms of swine flu are similar to other flu symptoms:

Those with underlying medical conditions, the elderly, and children are typically those at risk of complications related to flu infections.

I recommend the following:

• Eat well, get plenty of rest, and exercise to stay healthy and to increase your ability to fight an infection of any sort.
• If you have an underlying medical condition, work with your provider to be sure it is controlled as well as it can be (diabetics should aim to keep their blood sugar in normal range, people with hypertension should try to keep their blood pressure controlled, etc).
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze, then throw it in the trash can.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer (especially after coughing or sneezing).
• Do not touch your hands to your face.
• Stay home (do not go to work, school, church) if you or your children, spouse, or other household member are sick.
• Follow Public Health advice.  If schools in our town are closed, do not gather at public meetings places (parks, grocery stores, etc).
• Develop a family emergency plan (see the CDC's web site for recommendations).
• If you develop symptoms of the flu or are in direct contact (family member, caretaker) with someone who has the swine flu, contact your doctor.  Antiviral medications are largely effective in treating this type of flu.  They are also somewhat effective in preventing this flu (or limiting it's severity of illness) for those who have been exposed.
• Go to the hospital if you develop complications (difficulty breathing or other health concerns)

• The World Health Organization is now recommending people avoid nonessential travel to Mexico.
• Go to www.cdc.gov/travel for up-to-date information

I hope this helps.  The most important things I would like to reiterate is:  remain calm, seek reliable information from trusted sources, keep yourself and family healthy, and practice good hygiene.  If sick, stay home.

Sincerely,  Shelley Spencer, RN, MSN, APRN-BC