The Holden Image

After being asked to come down from the stands and assist in a cardiac medical emergency during one of last season’s basketball games at Holden High School, parent and registered nurse Marise Quick began a process that would end in ensured medical emergency preparedness for the staff of the Holden R-3 school district.

It was shortly after the forementioned incident in which a boys’ basketball player experienced a heart arrhythmia that Quick contacted Holden R-3 Activities Director Kelli Spies and suggested it would be beneficial for the district to purchase automated external defibrillators (AED’s) for each of the schools as well as have the staff trained in CPR.

The automated external defibrillator (AED) is a computerized medical device that can check a person’s heart rhythm. It can recognize a heart rhythm that requires a shock and will advise the rescuer when a shock is needed. The AED uses voice prompts, lights, and text messages to tell the rescuer the steps to take.

According to the American Heart Association, the use of an AED strengthens a victims chances of survival. They can restore a normal heart rhythm in sudden cardiac arrest victims. Also, new portable models allow more people to respond to a medical emergency where defibrillation is required. When a person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, for each minute that passes without defibrillation, their chance of survival decreases by seven to ten percent.

Spies agreed with Quick, and after presenting the idea to school officials, two AED’s were purchased for the Holden School District. In addition, Quick, along with Johnson County Ambulance District employees Amy Summers-Kendrick, EMT and Lt. Doug Kenney, EMTP, has held four classes so far to instruct coaches and administration in CPR and the proper use of AED’s. “We will train the coaches, assistant coaches, sponsors and administration first,” Spies explained. “Then, we will start training the regular staff.”

In addition to the purchase of two AED’s by the district, another AED was donated by the Warrensburg Rotary Club and Johnson County Ambulance District.

Farmers and Commercial Bank, Bank of Holden, American Family Insurance Agent Ted Guinn and Jack Phelps donated additional funds to purchase cabinets to house the units and CPR books for staff attending the classes. Siebert Quick hung the cabinets in his personal time at each of the schools.

“The students and the people in the stands are important,” Spies said. “We hope we never have to use one of these (AED’s), but now we have them and have people trained who can use them if we need to.”

In addition, Spies said she and the school district are grateful to Quick for her concern and the hard work she has done to see to it the school received the AED’s and the staff is properly trained. “She did all the leg-work,” Spies said. “She really worked hard on this.”

There are costs associated with maintaining the AED’s such as replacement batteries and further training. Anyone who wishes to donate funds for this purpose may do so at the Farmers and Commercial Bank through the “Save a Life” fund.

By Christi Stowe
News Editor

Americans have been devastated by the recent chaos caused by Hurricane Katrina in the gulf states, and a number of organizations and businesses in the area have stepped up to help.

The Johnson County chapter of the American Red Cross is in the process of organizing shipping efforts so donated items may be shipped to the communities affected by Katrina. According to Gloria Michalski, director of the Johnson County chapter, the Warrensburg office has received an influx of phone calls from individuals who wish to donate items to the relief efforts, but the office does not currently have the resources to ship the items. Michalski said the office is currently working with a large Warrensburg-based company to organize a way to ship donations. In addition, monetary donations are being accepted both through that office and on the American Red Cross’s official website www.RedCross.org.

Monetary donations are used to provide victims with a card that can be used to purchase needed items such as clothing, food and other items.

Individuals who would like to donate their time and talents by traveling to the gulf states to assist in the relief efforts may do so by attending training at the Johnson County chapter of the American Red Cross. Deployments are offered in three-week increments. For more information, contact Michalski at (660) 747-5173.

Farmers and Commercial Bank will be donating $1,000 from the employees’ “jeans fund” to the Salvation Army for use in relief efforts. The fund is raised entirely by employees who pay $3 every Friday for the privilege of wearing jeans to work. In addition to the $1,000, employees are in the process of gathering and donating additional funds. The bank will also be making a donation of a non-specified amount through the Missouri Bankers’ Association to assist in relief efforts.

In addition, the Bank of Holden is in the process of organizing a donation for use in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and a fund is being established at the branch in which monetary donations for this purpose will be accepted.

Holden Small Engine is offering free blade sharpening to anyone who drops off a donation of food, water or clothing for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Holden Small Engine is owned by Mike and Kimberly Jones and is located on East 58 Highway in Holden. For more information, call 732-4830.

In addition, the Holden R-3 School District is in the process of collecting donations that will be sent to hurricane ravaged areas in the south.

All Affordable Cellular Stores are drop-off points for “Heart to Heart,” a charitable organization assisting victims of Hurricane Katrina. Those who wish to help may purchase items and take them to the drop-off points, where they will be picked up and transported to the hurricane ravaged areas of the United States.

In addition, Walker Tire, Truck and Tow Services, an Odessa based company, will be using their fleet of trucks, as well as drivers, to deliver supplies to small towns in Mississippi that have been ripped apart because of Katrina. Items may be dropped off at Walkers Tire, Truck and Tow Service at 403 Action Road in Odessa, Sargent’s Sinclair at 1201 NW Highway 7 in Blue Springs or Holden Community of Christ Church.

Donations will be accepted at Holden Community of Christ between 1 and 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 8. Walkers has also established a Hurricane Katrina fund at B&L Bank in Odessa and Farmers and Commercial Bank in Holden for monetary donations.

The following is a list of items desperately needed in the gulf states that can be donated to any of the forementioned locations:

Personal Care Items- shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, tooth paste, feminine napkins and tampons, shaving cream, disposable razors, combs and brushes.

Infant Items- diapers and baby wipes.

First Aid Items- band aids, antibiotic ointment, ace bandages, gauze, insect repellent, sunscreen, Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Aspirin.

Other Items- tarps, work gloves, flashlights, batteries, trash bags, rubber gloves and sponges.

In addition, Walkers Tire, Truck and Tow will accept donations of non-perishable food, juice, baby food and baby formula.

By Christi Stowe
News Editor

Due to the hard work of members of the Holden VFW, a portion of Second Street in Holden that spans from the intersection of North 131 Highway to the intersection of U Highway will now be designated “Veterans Memorial Parkway.”

According to Jesse Padgett, a member of the VFW, the group has been working on the project for about two years, and with the recent assistance of Missouri State Representative David Pearce, the VFW has been able to see their idea become a law in the Missouri Legislature.

According to Pearce, the project had to be passed through the legislature because Second Street is part of State Highway 58. It is law in Missouri that name designations for all state highways must be approved by the state legislature and signed by the governor.

“It has been on my mind for a long time to have a street named for the veterans who’ve sacrificed their lives,” Padgett said. “It’ll be good for our town. Second Street has been looking better. The businesses are maintaining their store fronts. It will look nice for this parkway to be on our main drag downtown.”

According to Padgett, after contacting Pierce, he also spoke with officials at both local banks and members of the Johnson County Commission, who sent letters to Governor Matt Blunt urging him to sign Senate Bill 233, which included legislation that would allow the name designation.

After reviewing the bill, it was signed into law by Blunt earlier this summer. The VFW has purchased road signs, and they are expected to be installed by MODOT in the very near future.

“I am just thrilled about this name designation,” Representative David Pearce said. “This gives proper recognition to the veterans in Holden and Johnson County. It is long overdue, and I am glad to have played a role in it.”

By Christi Stowe
News Editor

The Johnson County Commission has set the annual Household Hazardous Waste collection for Saturday, October 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Begin now to set aside old paint, pesticides and cleaning products so everyone can take advantage of this opportunity to safely dispose of household hazardous waste. The collection day is a joint effort of the Johnson County Commission and University of Missouri Extension. There will be NO CHARGE for households dropping off hazardous waste products. Materials which will be accepted include: Pest control products-pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, roach and ant killers, rat and mice killers, arsenicals, botanicals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, carbonates, organic phosphates. Household cleaning products-oven cleaners, toilet cleaners, drain cleaners, disinfectants, photographic chemicals, rug cleaners, floor cleaners, abrasive cleaners, ammonia based cleaners, furniture polish, bleach cleaners, mothballs, pool cleaners. Paint and hobby supplies-enamel or oil based paints, rust inhibiting paints, furniture strippers, wood preservatives, stains and finishes, thinners and turpentine. Miscellaneous-fluorescent light tubes and tires.

Materials not accepted-unknown materials, infectious wastes (medical), radioactive wastes, explosives, ammunition, smoke alarms, asbestos, appliances, computers and compressed gas cylinders.

Only small quantities of items associated with residential homes will be accepted.

The household hazardous waste collection is possible through funding from a grant from Region F Solid Waste District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. For information, contact Eastern Commissioner, Scott Sader at (660) 747-2112 or Georgia Stuart-Simmons, Extension Community Development Specialist at (660) 747-3193.

More than six cases of viral meningitis have been reported in Johnson County recently, according to Ray James of Johnson County Community Health. The cases have been found in patients with addresses in Holden, Warrensburg and Knob Noster.

According to Holden R-3 School District nurse Beth Schuler, there have not been any cases reported in the school district. However, instructors were given information regarding the symptoms and prevention of the disease.

Meningitis is an illness in which there is inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord. Viral meningitis, which is the most common type, is caused by an infection with one of several types of viruses. Viral meningitis is serious but rarely fatal in persons with normal immune systems. Usually, the symptoms last from seven to 10 days, and the patient recovers completely.

The more common symptoms of meningitis are stiff neck, fever, severe headache, bright lights hurting the eyes, drowsiness or confusion and nausea and vomiting. Often, the symptoms of viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis are the same. Bacterial meningitis is a much more serious often fatal disease. For this reason, if you think you or your child have meningitis, see your health care provider as soon as possible.

Viral meningitis is diagnosed by laboratory tests of spinal fluid obtained with a spinal tap. The specific cause of viral meningitis can be determined by tests that identify the virus in specimens collected from the patient, but these tests are rarely done.

No specific treatment for viral meningitis exists at this time. Most patients completely recover on their own. Doctors often will recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids and medicine to relieve fever and headache.

The viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious. Enteroviruses, for example, are very common during the summer and early fall, and many people are exposed to them. However, most infected persons either have no symptoms or develop only a cold or rash with low-grade fever. Only a small portion of infected persons actually develop meningitis. Therefore, if you are around someone who has viral meningitis, you have a moderate chance of becoming infected, but a very small chance of developing meningitis.

Enteroviruses, the most common cause of viral meningitis, are most often spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) of an infected person. This usually happens by shaking hands with an infected person or touching something they have handled, and then rubbing your own nose or mouth. The virus can also be found in the stool of persons who are infected.

The virus is spread through this route mainly among small children who are not yet toilet trained. It can also be spread this way to adults changing the diapers of an infected infant. The incubation period for enteroviruses is usually between 3 and 7 days from the time you are infected until you develop symptoms. You can usually spread the virus to someone else beginning about 3 days after you are infected until about 10 days after you develop symptoms.

Because most persons who are infected with enteroviruses do not become sick, it can be difficult to prevent the spread of the virus. However, adhering to good personal hygiene can help to reduce your chances of becoming infected. If you are in contact with someone who has viral meningitis, the most effective method of prevention is to wash your hands thoroughly and often (see "Hand washing" in: "An Ounce of Prevention: Keeps the Germs Away" at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/handwashing.htm).

Also, cleaning contaminated surfaces and soiled articles first with soap and water, and then disinfecting them with a dilute solution of chlorine-containing bleach (made by mixing bleach with 1 gallon of water) can be a very effective way to inactivate the virus. In childcare centers this solution is stronger than normally used for routine cleaning. Childcare centers should allow the disinfectant to completely air dry and then rinse with clear water. This stronger solution should only be used in childcare centers if there has been a viral meningitis case. (See more about cleaning and disinfecting in general at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/op/cleaning.htm).

In summation, viral meningitis is a serious but rarely fatal disease. Symptoms of stiff neck, fever, severe headache, bright lights hurting the eyes, drowsiness or confusion, and nausea and vomiting should be evaluated by a health care provider as soon as possible. Hand washing is the single most effective means of preventing Viral Meningitis.

More information is available on the Centers for Disease web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/enterovirus/viral_meningitis.htm or by contacting JCCHS at 1-660-747-6121.