CO is found in fumes produced by furnaces, vehicles, portable generators, stoves, lanterns, gas ranges, or burning charcoal or wood. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned and can die from breathing CO.

When power outages occur during emergencies such as hurricanes or winter storms, the use of alternative sources of power for heating, cooling, or cooking can cause carbon monoxide (CO) to build up in a home, garage, or camper and to poison the people and animals inside.

You Can Prevent Carbon Monoxide Exposure

• Do have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year.
• Do install a battery-operated CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. If the detector sounds leave your home immediately and call 911.
• Do seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed, or nauseous.
• Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window.
• Don’t run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.
• Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented.
• Don’t heat your house with a gas oven.

CO poisoning is entirely preventable. You can protect yourself and your family by acting wisely in case of a power outage and learning the symptoms of CO poisoning.

For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/co. 

 This article is from the CDC website

      The Open Bore MAGNETOM Espree installed at Perry Memorial features a bore opening of nearly 2.3 feet in diameter and almost one foot of free space between a patient’s head and the magnet. This piece of equipment also features the shortest 1.5 Tesla magnet available. Approximately four feet long the magnet allows more than 60 percent of exams to be completed with the patient’s head outside the bore.  This feature significantly helps individuals who are not comfortable in confined spaces.

    The Espree can perform advanced clinical applications in less time, because it combines strong gradient performance with Total imaging matrix (Tim™) technology. This technology is the first whole body surface coil design that enables the highest resolution images in a shorter acquisition time. The coils are very light, making them both easy to position and tolerate when scanning patients, improving cooperation.

     The MAGNETOM Espree provides best patient comfort and high-quality images and diagnostic confidence for all types of patients.  For more information contactPerryMemorialHospitalat 815-875-2811.

 According to Celia Goers, Director of Care Management, this award demonstrates Perry’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare to the communities we serve. “Top improvers rise to the challenge every day, attempting to achieve excellence over time.  Perry measures clinical performance based on scores for key core measures that affect patient’s clinical outcomes,” said Goers. Rex Conger, Hospital CEO, stated, “Our efforts are consistent with our goal to exceed the expectations of our customers.  This recognition is due to the work that all of our staff has accomplished and we appreciate all of their efforts.”

An EMR is an electronic version of the old paper patient chart that contains your medical history and documentation regarding the care you have received.  EMRs offer many patient benefits, such as:

 Quality:  Electronic records are more efficient than paper because it makes the files easier to read, more accessible and improves the overall quality of patient files for diagnosis, patient history and research.

 Convenience:  When you get lab work, X-ray or scans done, the results or images are electronically saved in your EMR which makes it easier to find information.

 Security:  Paper files can be lost as in case of fire or flood, but EMRs are electronically stored securely in our EMR system with backup file protection.  There is additional protection of your medical information because it is password protected with multiple levels of security.  Every time someone enters your electronic record, there is documentation electronically generated showing who looked at your record.

 Portability:  Your records can be given to you electronically if you request them or in the future we will be able to send them electronically to any hospital or physician using encryption to further protect your privacy.