FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 8, 2023 2:00 p.m.

Media Contact:

Chris Newbrough, PIO/Emergency Planner

573-581-1332

cnewbrough@audraincountyhealth.org

            The Audrain County Health Department (ACHD) will be participating in the National Farm Safety and Health Week during September and invites Audrain County farmers and their families to participate as well. The recognition week is set for the week of September 17th through the 23rd and will be highlighted by several programs offered through the ACHD.

            “Audrain County depends on agriculture for its viability and so, we’re more than happy to help make sure our area farmers and their families are the healthiest they can be as they go about providing for their families, Audrain County residents and the world through their production of various crops and livestock,” ACHD Administrator/CEO Craig Brace said. “We will be offering several different programs and screenings throughout the week to highlight farmer and producer health because, if they’re not healthy to do the work, the county’s overall well-being suffers.”

            Brace says the ACHD will be reaching into the community through the offering of screenings and programs throughout the week.

“We will be sending our Outreach Nurse Jennie Beamer to several agriculturally-based businesses to take blood pressures of those requesting it,” Brace said. “We’ll also be offering educational materials at these sites to customers that stop by the businesses.”

            Beamer will be at the Laddonia MFA from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and the Martinsburg Elevator from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. She will also be at Sydenstricker Nobbe in Mexico on Friday at 11 a.m. to take blood pressures there.

            “And, we will be offering a free Stop The Bleed program on Tuesday, September 19 at the ACHD at both 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.” Brace said. “This program will teach average residents how to stop severe bleeding by using a tourniquet on a person that may save their life in an emergency situation.”

            The ACHD will also be partnering with the Audrain Ambulance District to offer a hands only CPR class as well. That class will be offered on Thursday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Audrain Ambulance District offices at 440 Kelley Parkway in Mexico.

            To sign up for either class, you can call the ACHD at 573-581-1332 to register. 

The ACHD will also be offering during the week certain health screenings that will be available at the ACHD. These screenings will be related to cancer screening, heart health and an overall health risk

assessment with lab work. There is a cost associated with each offering and, to find out prices, contact Beamer at the health department.

For more information on activities through the week and, for more information on health and safety on the farm, check out our web site at www.myachd.org/national-farm-safety-and-health-week.

“National Farm Safety and Health Week is an important week for us to recognize,” Brace concluded. “Without our farmers and their families being as healthy as possible, we would have a harder time accessing nutritious and healthy foods as a whole. For that we thank them and, this is one way we, as an organization, can show our appreciation.”