Palmetto State Extra: Your Health and You

**RAPID Care Of Stroke**

A stroke happens when blood flow to an area in the brain is cut off. If not caught early permanent brain damage can occur. That is why every minute counts for a stroke patient when it comes to treatment. The most effective stroke treatment can only be implemented once the stroke is diagnosed.

McLeod Health has installed new software that expedites stroke care for patients. The RAPID Imaging technology quickly analyzes a head CT scan of patients experiencing acute strokes. The software is fast and automated with results being viewed on any computer or handheld device by the McLeod Neurology Medical Team. Within minutes, scans with stroke test results are being sent to McLeod Neurologists, the Interventional Neuroradiologist, Emergency Physicians, Anesthesiologists, and Critical Care Specialists.

RAPID quickly provides these McLeod specialists with patient information, allowing them to rapidly assess the severity of the patient’s stroke and determine the most appropriate treatment. The faster patient information is delivered, the sooner treatment can begin and that can potentially be brain saving or even life saving for the patient.

Dr. Timothy Hagen is a McLeod Hospital Neurologist who is board certified in Neurology and Sleep Medicine. He received his medical degree from Western University in Pomona, California.

Dr. Hagen completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Neurology Residency at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio.

**SC Thrives on Mental Health Awareness Month**

May is mental health week and our Judi Gatson sat down with Eva Shockey from SC Thrive.

Eva Shockey is the Training and Veteran’s Manager at SC Thrive.

SC Thrive is an organization who provides life resources to help South Carolinians.

The resources include food security, healthcare resources, and financial wellness through work support.

**Harnessing Big Data To Achieve Health Equity In South Carolina**

With $1.2 million in funding from the National Library of Medicine, researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Clemson University will establish a new training program that aims to make future data scientists more aware of health inequities. It will also build career development pipelines in biomedical data science for students from underrepresented minorities. The program will place special emphasis on using data science to address the toll chronic illness takes on rural communities.

South Carolina is the ideal location for a training program focused on addressing health inequities. Forty-three of its 46 counties, many of them rural, are designated as completely or partially medically underserved by the Health Resource and Services Agency (HRSA). South Carolina ranks 42nd for life expectancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), due in part to its high levels of chronic disease. The state has the eighth highest rate of diabetes (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control) and sixth highest rate of stroke deaths (CDC) in the nation.

The leaders of the SC BIDS4HEALTH training program believe that harnessing big data could help to change that. The new program will help to guard against bias in AI by raising awareness about racial disparities in trainees and teaching them techniques for minimizing them, said Dean. The close collaboration with community organizations will enable trainees to see firsthand the consequences of health inequities and apply their newly developed skills to address them.

The SC BIDS4HEALTH program will enroll its first trainees on July 1.

**DHEC Supports CDC Recommendation On COVID-19 Boosters For Ages 5-11**

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday, May 19 it is recommending COVID-19 booster shots for ages 5-11 at least five months after their initial vaccine series. The recommendation came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized booster shots for the age group earlier this week. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) supports the recommendation and is encouraging parents across the state get their children in the age range vaccinated and boosted according to the recommended timelines.

“This is great news and will serve as a major step in our ongoing efforts to keep South Carolinians safe from severe cases of COVID-19,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, DHEC Director. “As we approach the summer months, we know our kids will be participating in various activities and spending more time around other people. That makes this added layer of protection even more important for our children and their family members and others they come in contact with.”

Here are more details from the CDC recommendation:

CDC is reaffirming is recommendation for second boosters for individuals ages 50 and up, as well immunocompromised individuals who are 12 and up

Most older Americans received their primary shot or first booster several months ago, leaving them vulnerable as cases begin to increase

Nationwide, more than 15,000 children ages 5-11 have been hospitalized due to COVID-19, and more than 180 have died from the virus

“A major part of approaching COVID-19 as an endemic virus is taking the proper steps to ensure we don’t experience heightened levels in our communities,” Simmer added. “That includes an updated vaccination and booster as recommended. We need our entire state on board if we’re going to stop severe cases from damaging our communities.”

An initial COVID-19 vaccination series and updated boosters if eligible remain the No. 1 way to prevent severe cases of the virus. For more information on vaccinations and other COVID-19 preventative measures, please visit DHEC’s endemic page and talk with your child’s primary care provider.

**DHEC Reminds South Carolinians Swim Safely This Summer At Pools, Lakes And Beaches**

Healthy and Safe Swimming Week is May 23-29, 2022

COLUMBIA, S.C. – In recognition of Healthy and Safe Swimming Week (May 23-29), the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reminds South Carolinians how important it is to practice safe swimming when enjoying a private or public pool, lake, river, ocean, hot tub or splashpad.

The week before Memorial Day, which is considered by many to be the unofficial start of summer, is recognized as Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, an initiative led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to focus on the health benefits of water-based physical activity while minimizing the risk of recreational water-associated illness and injury.

While DHEC has key roles in water safety – inspecting public pools and hot tubs across the state to ensure quality and safety standards are met and monitoring ocean water and natural swimming areas for harmful bacteria and algal blooms – it’s up to individuals to help keep themselves and their children safe during water activities.

“The number one rule of swimming safety is to never let children play near water unattended because drowning can happen quickly and quietly. Adult supervision is essential,” said Kevin Poore, program coordinator with DHEC’s Division of Injury and Substance Abuse Prevention and Director of Safe Kids South Carolina. “Another important step people can take is to prevent germs from getting into public swimming areas by not entering the water if you’re sick with diarrhea and taking kids on regular bathroom breaks and checking diapers. People can get very sick if they swallow just a mouthful of contaminated water.”

The CDC and DHEC also recommend the following tips:

Pools and hot tubs

When you first arrive at a pool, take a rinse in the shower, then dry off and apply sunscreen. The amount of dirt and oil on your skin can throw off the balance of chemicals in the water keeping you safe.

Don’t go to the bathroom or let children go to the bathroom in a pool, and try not to swallow any water. Germs in the water can make people sick if they swallow just a mouthful of contaminated water.

Read and follow all directions on product labels of chemicals for treating pool water, and wear safety equipment ― such as masks, gloves, and goggles ― when handling chemicals. Mishandling pool chemicals can cause serious injuries.

Don’t swim if you have diarrhea, and apply the same rule with children. Some parasites, like the diarrhea-causing Cryptosporidium, can survive in properly treated pools.

Know the risk of Legionnaires’ disease associated with hot tubs. While Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, known cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been linked to hot tubs that didn’t have proper control measures in place.

Beaches, lakes, rivers and streams

Use the CheckMyBeach webpage or DHEC’s Beach Monitoring webpage for any long- or short-term swimming advisories due to elevated bacteria levels in ocean waters. DHEC monitors ocean water quality at more than 120 locations along South Carolina’s beaches.

South Carolina lakes, rivers, streams and the coast are great places to cool off, but there is always a potential risk when swimming in natural water bodies. Natural waters are not sterile environments, and the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses and other organisms that can cause illness is always a possibility.

It’s always recommended individuals evaluate a waterbody before entering in it. If a waterbody looks discolored, has a foul odor, noticeable algal mats, or dead fish or other animals, it’s advisable to not enter the water or allow pets or animals near that water. Algae blooms can be very fast growing and become an issue before the Department has been made aware of them.

When visiting a beach, pay attention to local reports about rip currents or other potential risks. Ocean currents present an added threat to safe swimming. Learn about rip currents and other ocean safety tips from the American Red Cross.

The CDC reports that more children 1 to 4 years old die from drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects. While children are at highest risk, anyone can drown. Every year in the United States, 3,960 fatal unintentional drownings – an average of 11 drowning deaths per day – and 8,080 nonfatal drownings – an average of 22 nonfatal drownings per day.

According to the same CDC report, there are also some racial and ethnic disparities among drowning deaths. Drowning death rates for Black people are 1.5 times higher than the rates for White people. Disparities are highest among Black children ages 5-9 (rates 2.6 times higher) and ages 10-14 (rates 3.6 times higher)

Learn more about safe any healthy swimming at cdc.gov/healthywater.