Hospice of the Valley seeks volunteers
The newly forming Hospice of the Valley will begin to provide comprehensive hospice services this December. Services will be available in homes, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and hospitals throughout the valley.
Informational meetings about volunteer opportunities with Hospice of the Valley will be held on Monday, Oct. 27, at Aspen Valley and Valley View hospitals. Meeting plans are pending in Rifle.
Everyone with hospice volunteer experience and those interested in becoming volunteers are especially invited to attend. RSVPs for both events can be made by calling 544-7371 or e-mailing info@avmfaspen.org.
Volunteers who are interested in working directly with hospice patients and their family members in the future will be required to complete a 20-hour training program, which will begin in November.
Hospice services began in the valley in Aspen more than 20 years ago, and Roaring Fork Hospice operated until July of this year.
The Loving Tree, the traditional hospice event, will be held again this year on Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and Rifle. Times and locations are still being confirmed. The Loving Tree benefits Hospice of the Valley.
For more information, contact Hospice of the Valley Executive Director Markey Butler at 923-4036 or board chair Kris Marsh at 544-1377.
Health department encourages lead testing
The city of Aspen environmental health department is giving out free lead-test kits to Aspen residents throughout October in light of new lead safety measures set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission that go into effect on Feb. 10.
After the February deadline, children’s products that contain more lead than 600 ppm will be banned in the U.S. (no matter when the products were made), and retailers and manufacturers will be required to destroy any toys and products that don’t comply with new limits. Those concerned about the safety of their children’s toys can log on to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site to check the recall lis at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html, or call (800) 638-2772.
Until then, city of Aspen Environmental Health Coordinator Jannette Whitcomb offers the following tips on being aware of lead exposure:
— Most homes built before 1960 contain heavily leaded paint, and some homes built as recently as 1978 might also contain lead paint. Lead paint in good condition is usually not a problem, except in places where painted surfaces rub against each other and create dust (for example, opening a window).
— Do not buy metal jewelry (especially cheap metal jewelry) for children. Parents might believe that older children are at less risk for lead poisoning because they have outgrown habits like sucking on dirty fingers and putting toys in their mouths. However, anyone who mouths or accidentally swallows a piece of lead-laden jewelry can suffer lead poisoning.
— Avoid any product without a brand name, and be careful of toys purchased at dollar stores, thrift stores, yard sales, and vending machines.
— Do not remove lead paint yourself.
— Aspen residents can pick up free LeadCheck testers at the city environmental health department while supplies last. Non-residents are encouraged to purchase kits online or at hardware stores.
West Nile virus update
West Nile season is coming to a close, and the data show that this year is likely to have the lowest number of human West Nile virus infections in the six full seasons of the virus’s circulation in the state, with no human cases reported in the city of Aspen.
There have been 31 confirmed cases of human West Nile virus infections in Colorado during the 2008 season, but no deaths, and the majority of the cases have been characterized as uncomplicated fever
Three meningitis cases (one each from Arapahoe, Larimer and Weld counties) and one encephalitis case from Weld County have also been confirmed. This year’s numbers for Colorado are much lower than the record numbers of 2003.
In comparison with last year at this time, the number of Culex mosquitoes found (the kind that carry West Nile virus) continues to be substantially lower. Pitkin County set traps throughout the summer months, and no Culex mosquitoes were found in the Aspen traps.
By Aug. 27 of last year, a total of 6,027 Culex pools had been submitted and 493 (8.2 percent) of them were positive. As of Aug. 25 of this year, a total of 2,995 Culex mosquito pools had been submitted, along with 31 avian and 27 equine specimens. Only 41 mosquito pools (1.4 percent) have tested positive for West Nile virus, with the majority reported by Larimer and Weld counties. Only two avian species have tested positive and none of the equine specimens submitted has yielded positive results.
