Healthy Ansonians
Anson County, North Carolina

MISSION

UPCOMING EVENT: Free Training on
Safe Surrender Law
Click HERE for details

A hurried, hectic pace can leave you wishing you had more hours in your day. Saving time may be easier than you think.

1. Now what NOT to do. A daily must-do list is a visual aid that can keep you on track and identify tasks to skip or delegate. Allow time for meetings, e-mail and phone calls. Leave a free hour each day for unplanned urgent tasks.
2. What's the rush? Moving in the fast lane hour after hour, you can miss details, burn needless energy and become stressed in the process. Don't push so hard -- slow down and focus on one thing at a time.
3. Add breaks to your to-do list. Take a walk or relax in a quiet place. The greatest barrier to effective work is fatigue. Even a brief rest can break the tension and allow you to return to work refreshed and mentally charged.
4. Disrupt interruptions. Unnecessary meetings and e-mail, chitchat, long phone calls and tardiness can chip away at your day. Find a distraction-free work period for priority tasks.
5. Communicate to cut confusion. Listen, learn and keep others in the loop. No matter what form it takes, good communication can save time, prevent errors, and boost morale and quality of work.

      Camp Summer Breathe 2008 was a huge success! June 16th – June 20th was full of excitement with 38 campers attending this years five-day asthma camp. In addition, this was Camp Summer Breathe’s first year to utilize the Junior Counselor program. The Junior Counselor’s program was designed for former campers, who have exceeded the required age limit, to attend and assist in the activities. Junior counselors not only help with the camp, but earn community service hours for school. In addition to the junior counselors, we received assistance through the Stanly Community College’s Respiratory Care Program. At least six students from Stanly Community College’s Respiratory Care Program attended each day with a total of nine students volunteering to return on Friday and assist campers with a review of the entire week.
     Each year local physicians play a major role in the education of asthma. They provide information about symptoms of asthma, asthma triggers, and treatments of asthma. Dr. Sarah Elliott, Dr. Lacy Hobgood, and Dr. Lisa Bracey-Cash attended 2008 Camp Summer Breathe with education, games, and excitement. On Monday, Melinda McDonald with the Alcohol and Drug Service of Rockingham, a United Way Member Agency, spoke about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Melinda provided displays and mannequins to demonstrate the damaging effects drugs, smoke, and alcohol have on our lungs, teeth and mouth. She provided and distributed goodie bags to each child. Also on Monday, Eric Peterman from Sepracor, stopped by to help kick off our camp. He brought Xopenex backpacks filled with give-away items.
     Tuesday, Rena Dixon, a public health educator from UNC-Greensboro, talked to campers about healthy eating and exercise. She shared a nice asthma workbook with the children and provided goodie bags.
     On Wednesday we took a field trip to B V Hedrick Gravel and Sand in Lilesville. Jason Connor, geologist, gave our group a wonderful tour of the rock quarry. The kids enjoyed having their picture taken on “retired” heavy equipment, playing on rock piles and receiving refreshments.
     Among other activities the campers enjoyed swimming, making picture frames for their picture made at B V Hedrick, and making “mucus,” a craft provided by the SCC students.
     On our final day of camp while picking up their children, parents were asked to observe what their children had learned. Campers demonstrated how to use a Peak Flow Meter and MDI with a spacer. They talked about asthma triggers, the five warning signs of an asthma attack, and skits were performed about children with asthma. A great time was had by all who participated.
     The staff of Camp Summer Breathe and Anson Community Hospital would like to thank the following for helping to make Camp Summer Breathe 2008 the best year ever.      Thanks go to our local physicians, the students of Stanly Community College Respiratory Care Program, Jason Connor with B V Hedrick Gravel and Sand, Eric Peterman, Erin Sadler, Melinda McDonald, Rena Dixon, Anson County School Nurses, Sara Smith, Judy Morris, Kay Eckersley, Jeania Martin for our wonderful advertising, and Print Plus for T-shirts and bags. We also want to thank McDonalds, Burger King, Domino’s Pizza, Papa Joe’s Pizza and local business that made donations through the Foundation of Anson Community Hospital.

Summer Breathe campers visit B V Hedrick Gravel and Sand

Leon Gatewood, president of HOLLA! (Helping Our Loved ones Learn and Achieve), made a presentation at the July 14 Healthy Ansonians Task Force meeting. Gatewood said a HOLLA!-sponsored summer camp is in its fourth week at Harvest Ministries. He said the camp provides information on nutrition, math and English tutoring and Bible study, plus recreational opportunities and field trips. The camp is for ages 6-13 with youth volunteers ranging in age from 10 to 15 years old. The eight-week camp is open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and has over 100 participants. Breakfast and lunch are served each day. Gatewood said a grant from United Way helped HOLLA! to purchase food for the camp youngsters.