Dale Rogers attended the United Way Early Bird Celebration/Breakfast last Friday, where we were recognized as an “Early Bird” for completing our United Way Campaign by October 29. Honors were also given to the 2010 Loaned Executives and their employers. Dale Rogers is one of the many organizations who have helped the United Way raise more than $17 million in their capital campaign. Congratulations to the United Way!
Dale Rogers attended the United Way Early Bird Celebration/Breakfast last Friday, where we were recognized as an “Early Bird” for completing our United Way Campaign by October 29. Honors were also given to the 2010 Loaned Executives and their employers. Dale Rogers is one of the many organizations who have helped the United Way raise more than $17 million in their capital campaign. Congratulations to the United Way!
There was not an empty seat in the Philips Pavilion at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday, as multiple members of the Dale Rogers team attended the Governors Disability Employment Awards of Excellence Program. Motivating opening remarks by Howard Hendrick, Cabinet Secretary for Oklahoma Department of Human Services seized the attention of the audience before News Channel 5’s Jiao Jiao Shen shared the inspiring stories of the 28 award recipients. Seven of the 28 award recipients were nominated by Dale Rogers, 5 of whom receive services in one our numerous programs. It was obvious the award winners were excited and even emotional. Congratulations to all the outstanding employees and employers in Oklahoma. Together we are making a difference.
Summer means being outside for activities and work. But it can also cause heat related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. This can be an even bigger concern for people with existing health problems, so keep these signs and tips in mind for yourself or your loved one with disabilities that may affect their physical health.
Dehydration – includes thirst and headache. It is caused when your body loses more fluids than you are taking in. Drink lots of water to maintain proper fluid balance.
Heat Exhaustion – includes dizziness, headache, feeling tired/lousy and sick to your stomach. Heat exhaustion is caused by dehydration. The remedy is to drink water and go to a cool place.
Heat Stroke – includes disorientation and a body temperature above 103 that continues to rise. Heat stroke is serious and 911 needs to be called immediately. If not treated, it can lead to death.
Never take heat stroke lightly!By the time you have any of the above symptoms, most of the fluids in your body have already been used up. There are ways to prevent heat related illness:
1. Avoid exercising or being very active during the hottest part of the day.
2. Wear light colored clothing, which absorbs less heat from the sun
3. Wear fabrics, such as cotton, that breathe and allow sweat to evaporate
4. Take a break! There’s nothing wrong with saying “I’ve had enough” and find a place that is cool.
Remember that if you are in the heat and start to feel woozy or ill, get out of the heat and go to a cooler area. And always, have a safe and fun summer!!!
By Deborah, our SNP Coordinator and LPN
As Mother’s Day came, I thought a lot about how valuable you all are. Not just mothers and fathers, but all of you who may have stepped up to the role of caregiver day in and day out in the lives of our individuals. No one knows your family member like you do and no one is better equipped at making their needs known to others. Maybe these pointers from Exceptional Parent Magazine will help remind all of us how vital a role family members play in the lives of the individuals we serve at DRTC:
I found these pointers good reminders for me. They are things we’ve heard before but are worth repeating from time to time.
By Deborah, our SNP Coordinator and LPN
As Mother’s Day came, I thought a lot about how valuable you all are. Not just mothers and fathers, but all of you who may have stepped up to the role of caregiver day in and day out in the lives of our individuals. No one knows your family member like you do and no one is better equipped at making their needs known to others. Maybe these pointers from Exceptional Parent Magazine will help remind all of us how vital a role family members play in the lives of the individuals we serve at DRTC:
I found these pointers good reminders for me. They are things we’ve heard before but are worth repeating from time to time.
Summer should be filled with fun and growth for all young people. Camp Tumbleweed, which is partially funded by United Way, is a fun-filled summer day camp program designed for teenagers and young adults with disabilities ages 13 to 21 years old in the Oklahoma City metro area.
Camp Tumbleweed offers a fun and safe environment for campers and combines the traditional elements of a camp-games, crafts, and outdoor activities-with opportunities to develop living and employment skills. A planned schedule of recreational, motivational, educational, and social activities include such past field trips as Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma Children’s Theatre, Sam Noble Natural History Museum, Incredible Pizza, the movies, and more. Incidental learning and functional academics are presented in a fun way!
Camp is run by highly experienced staff in the field of disabilities, who work in the Transition School-to-Work program during the academic year.
Camp Tumbleweed’s outdoor activities are conducted at a camp ground nestled in the wooded area located at the Dale Rogers Training Center campus, in Oklahoma City. If you are interested in more information, call (405)946-4489 and ask for the Transition Coordinator, or visit the program’s webpage.
As the weather warms up, most of us spend more time in the sun. But, sometimes, we forget that the sun and heat can cause problems… especially for people who have existing health concerns. So Deborah, our Special Needs Program Coordinator and resident LPN, is here to help us brush up on our sun safety!
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It’s time again for me to remind you to avoid sunburns and overexposure to the sun. Test your knowledge!
1. True or False: Sunscreen is most effective applied 30 minutes after you go in the sun, because it rubs in better on warm skin.
2. True or False: You can’t get burned if you have a naturally dark complexion or a “base tan” already.
3. First-Aid measures for a sunburn are:
a. Apply margarine or butter
b. Apply ice water
c. Keep it covered
d. Apply lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply burn cream
4. Which are signs of heat exhaustion?
a. nausea & vomiting
b. dizziness & fainting
c. excessive sweating
d. cool & clammy skin
e. headache
f. muscle cramps
g. paleness
h. tiredness & weakness
5. True or False: A sign that heat exhaustion is getting better is that the skin is dry, warm to touch, and has stopped sweating.
6. Which of the following increases your likelihood of burning or heat exhaustion?
a. schizophrenia
b. antidepressants / psych meds
c. birth control pills
d. painkillers
e. antihistamines
f. seizure disorders
7. What’s the best prevention from heat exhaustion?
Answers:
1. False! Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before exposure to the sun, to give the body time to absorb it thoroughly.
2. False! Everyone can get skin damage and/or skin cancer. However, having a light complexion makes it more likely.
3. D. Applying margarine/butter or keeping the burn covered are wrong for the same reason; they hold in the heat and it can worsen the burn. Applying ice water can induce shock for someone who is severely burned. Apply room temperature water instead, then treat.
4. All of them!
5. False! If heat exhaustion is untreated, it gets worse by the body shutting down. One sign of this is that the body quits sweating. If the skin is also warm to touch, it isn’t cooling itself like it should.
6. All of the above!
7. HYDRATION!! One of the best choices is water. Sports drinks are helpful, too. They replenish valuable electrolytes that your body loses when you sweat. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages. They both make you lose fluid, which your body needs when it’s hot.
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma gave some of our own individuals a shout-out on their blog for volunteering this week.
DRTC likes to be on the giving side as much as the receiving. The individuals at Dale Rogers Training Center enjoy giving back to the community by volunteering every week at various agencies throughout the Oklahoma City Metro.
The volunteer program at DRTC not only benefits the surrounding community, but also helps the individual realize the quality of their service relationship to humanity is a vital part of the success in their own lives.
It’s easy to overlook the hard work that food service requires on a day to day basis, but no one could overlook the dedication of Tinker’s and Altus’s food service employees over the holidays. With a blizzard descending on Oklahoma on Christmas Eve and barracks full of US service men and women who would need to be fed, employees started making plans to sleep in the building overnight.
“They slept overnight and some of them volunteered to work double shifts,” said Deborah Copeland, HR Manager. “They really came through for the people who needed them.” As a result, Tinker Food Services prepared a traditional Christmas feast for over 500 customers.
Altus Solar Dining Facility not only served the military men and women on base, but also families from the Altus community who had no way to prepare themselves meals. “Employees continued to come to work even after days of no power in their own homes and provided excellent service to our customers,” said Copeland.
Contact
Phone: 405-946-4489
Video: 405-445-7314
