Health calendar published Sept. 26

Support groups

Caregiver

NEW LONDON -- The New London Caregiver support group will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Peace Lutheran Church in New London. The topic will be "Dealing with caregiver guilt." For more information call Jan Novotny, Lutheran Social Service, 222-9271.

Health classes

Adult grief support

REDWOOD FALLS -- The Adult Grief Support group will have a six-week series at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 4 through Nov. 8, at the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls.

Topics to be explored include identifying and expressing feelings, exploring unfinished business, recreating memories, and managing self care. Discussion and sharing groups will be led by licensed social worker Joleen Johnson. For more information call Johnson at 507-637-4616.

Youth grief support

REDWOOD FALLS -- The Redwood Area Hospital will have a fall retreat "Bridging the Gap" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 22 for children and teens who are grieving the loss of someone special in their life.

The one-day camp allows children in grades K-12 who have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives to connect with others "who have been there." All participants should bring a photo of the person who has died and previous participants should bring their journals.

To register for this free retreat call Joleen Johnson at 507-637-4616 before Oct. 20

Health clinics

Kandiyohi County

WILLMAR -- The Kandiyohi Public Health Service will hold an immunization clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 3 and from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building, 1900 Highway 294 NE, in Willmar.

All childhood vaccinations are available. The Minnesota Vaccine for Children program, school required vaccinations and immigration vaccinations/Mantoux are al $10 for the first and $5 for each additional per person. An infant/child flu shot is $20 and child FluMist is $25.

Medical Assistance (MA), and MinnesotaCare numbers are accepted as payment. Your Medical Assistance, BluePlus, UCare or MinnesotaCare card must be presented at the clinic. However, no one will be denied their immunizations due to inability to pay. If financing is a problem, call 231-7810.

A tetanus booster for adults that is recommended every 10 years is also available along with other adult vaccinations. Fees vary from $15 to $36.

If children who are normally healthy and currently have a minor illness such as a cold, low grade fever, diarrhea or teething discomfort, it is not necessary to delay their shots. Even if a child is currently on antibiotics and recovering from an illness, it is safe to proceed with their immunizations.

Parents are asked to bring immunization records to the clinic for accurate record keeping.

Bloodmobile

The American Red Cross conducts blood drives in the west central area. To give blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are encouraged to eat iron rich foods in the week before donating. You can give blood every 56 days.

All donors need an acceptable I.D. The preferred ID is a government-issued picture ID, such as a driver license or a Red Cross blood donor card. Otherwise you will need to provide two other forms of ID, such as a work ID, social security card, personal check or credit card. Personalized mail such as a utility bill will not be accepted.

While all blood types are needed, type O and type B-negative donors are especially encouraged to give.

Blood that's collected will be used by patients in 140 hospitals in the upper Midwest. Between 900 and 1,000 units of donated blood must be collected each day to meet regional needs.

Blood drives scheduled for the Tribune area are:

Oct. 3, Granite Falls: 1 to 7 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church

Oct. 4, Granite Falls: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Minnesota West Technical College

Oct. 6, Clarkfield: 1 to 6 p.m., Clarkfield Lutheran Church

Oct. 7, Dawson: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Community Center

Support groups, clinics and health classes are published on Monday with the health news for all groups meeting within the next seven days (through the following Monday). The deadline is noon Thursday. Submissions may be faxed (320) 235-6769 or mailed to: Support Groups, Newsroom, P.O. Box 839, Willmar, MN 56201.