LEWISBURG, TN — About 4,000 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in the United States. About half of these deaths are attributed to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). 

SID is defined as the sudden unexpected and unexplained death of an infant less than one year of age. It is the leading cause of death for infants one to 12 months old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 Marshall Medical Center (MMC) has some tips on how to keep babies safe while sleeping: 

• Place babies on their back, not on tummy or side
• Keep the baby’s head and face uncovered on a firm sleep surface covered by a fitted sheet
• Babies should have in their own safe sleeping place in the same room with an adult caregiver for the first six to twelve months
• Give your baby a dry pacifier that is not attached to a string for naps and at night
• Keep soft objects, toys and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area
• Do not let your baby get too hot during sleep
• Your baby should not sleep in an adult bed, on a couch, or on a chair alone, with you, or with anyone else 

MMC also wants you to know studies have shown that the last few weeks of gestation are vitally important in a baby’s development because major organs including the brain, lungs and liver are in the final crucial stage of growth. For more information, contact your OB/GYN or pediatrician. 

“Electing to carry a baby to 39 weeks greatly improves the infant’s chances for good physical and developmental health. Infants delivered before they reach a term of 39 to 41 weeks have a greater risk of respiratory and other complications,” said pediatrician Dr. William See III, a physician on the medical staff of Marshall Medical Center.

App helps dog and cat owners provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is available

NASHVILLE, THURSDAY, January 16, 2014 — Pets are an important part of many families, and a new Red Cross Pet First Aid App puts lifesaving information right in the hands of dog and cat owners so they can provide emergency care until veterinary assistance is available.

The 99 cent Pet First Aid app gives iPhone and Android smart phone users instant access to expert information so they learn how to maintain their pet’s health and what to do during emergencies. 

Additional topics include burns, car accidents, falls and what to do for cold- and heat-related emergencies. 

Other features in the app allow pet owners to:

• Create a pet profile including tag identification number, photos, list of medications and instructions.
• Use the list of early warning signs to learn when to call their veterinarian.
• Use “click-to-call” to contact their veterinarian.
• Find emergency pet care facilities or alternate veterinarians with the “animal hospital locator.”
• Locate pet-friendly hotels.
• Test their knowledge with interactive quizzes and earn badges that they can share on their social networks along with their favorite picture of their pet. 

History shows that people have not evacuated during disasters because they did not want to leave their pets behind. The Red Cross app also contains resources to help owners include pets in their emergency action plans. 

Pet owners may also take a Red Cross Pet First Aid course so they can practice the skills and receive feedback. In Middle Tennessee, the Red Cross partners with Nashville K-9 to offer the course.  For more information on the next available training opportunity, people may contact Nashville K-9 directly at 615.438.2602. 

The Red Cross has made great strides in making emergency information available whenever and wherever people need it. The Pet First Aid App and other Red Cross apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps. 

The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is also proud to be partnering with The Bobby Bones Show to help promote the new app to listeners to help keep their pets safe in emergencies. 

 

Chapel Hill Town Administrator, Mike Hatten, who was recently arrested and charged with a felony and a misdemeanor, was terminated as Town Administrator at the Monday evening meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman. He has been on paid administrative leave since the arrest. Mayor Carl Cooper was voted in to act as interim Administrator. According to a Town representative the job will be posted at a later date. No further details were given about the time line or the qualifications needed to apply for the open position.

COLUMBIA, Tenn.— Maury Regional Medical Center (MRMC) has been named among the 100 Hospitals with Great Orthopedic Programs by Becker’s Hospital Review for 2013. 

“We have an outstanding group of orthopedic physicians and staff members who provide exceptional care for our patients,” said CEO Alan Watson. “Our performance, utilizing best-practice treatment measures, has resulted in Maury Regional joining an impressive group of hospitals across the nation recognized on this list.” 

Becker’s Hospital Review recognized orthopedic programs that had received considerable recognition for quality based on patient outcomes. MRMC was named to the list based on recognition received for quality of care and patient outcomes for joint replacement patients. Also noted in the recognition was average length of stay for all orthopedic procedures and complication rates below the national average. 

MRMC has 10 orthopedic surgeons on the medical staff, providing a full range of orthopedic services from minimally invasive procedures to total joint replacement surgeries. These surgeons have been among the first in the state to conduct innovative procedures such as anterior hip replacement, the Delta reverse shoulder implant and gender-specific knee replacement. 

Based on quality of care and clinical outcomes, MRMC has attained Joint Commission certification for knee and hip replacement and been designated as a Blue Distinction Center+ by BlueCross Blue Shield of Tennessee for knee and hip replacement. The medical center also has a program in place to identify those at risk for fractures associated with osteoporosis in an effort to further protect patients. 

For more information about orthopedic care at MRMC, visit mauryregional.com. For additional information regarding this award, visit beckershospitalreview.com.