August 2025, Rehoboth Nurse’s Notes

Hello to you all!
I thought that this month, I’d start my Nurses Notes with the services we offer here at the Public Health Nurse’s office:

We have a BP screening clinic every Monday from 11:45am to 1:15pm, which coincides with the Senior Luncheon at the Senior Center (27 Francis Farm Rd.)

I run a Bereavement Group every Wednesday morning from 9:30am-10:30am and all are welcome.

We also offer home visits for those who have an exacerbation of a health problem or need a wellness check. The visits are designed to assess a town resident for safety needs and to provide referrals to other services if needed. Our visits are different from, for example, visiting nursing in that we provide a physical and emotional assessment, but the service is not an ongoing service, but rather to evaluate and provide information on services that are available to a town resident. We try to schedule these visits for Tuesday or Thursdays in the afternoon.

We will be looking at ordering ‘flu and COVID vaccinations in the early fall. In order to schedule a vaccine, it would be so helpful if you would call us to schedule that appointment @ 508-252-5947, ext. 3127

We continue to offer Healthy Living presentations on the first Wednesday of the month. For August the topic is Breast Health and will be August 7th in the Arcade Building @ 27 Francis Farm Rd. The presentation begins at from 11:00am-11:50am. In September (September 10th) we are offering a “Hands Only” CPR and Choking First Aid class. This particular class if offered from 10am-11:30am. We expect a lot of interest in this class, so you’ll need to register @ 508-252-5947 ext.3127

The podiatrist will visit again on Thursday September 4th. I have some appointments available. Please call the number above to make an appointment.

Now, on to infectious disease monitoring. As I write I have received a report from the DPH indicating we have the following positive mosquito tested samples:

West Nile Virus, 44 positive mosquitos

EEE, 2 positive mosquitos

There have been no positive human cases to date.

I strongly advise minimizing outdoor activities during dawn and dusk time periods, and using an appropriate insect repellant when you and your family are outside. You can minimize the mosquito population around your home by emptying any still water in containers around your home. I know we have had extended periods of heat advisories, but as I write, we are forecast to have some significant rains as this cycle of heat breaks. So, be sure to empty any containers that fill with water after these rains.

I am still getting reports of tickborne diseases, particularly the more serious forms of Lyme disease: Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. So, please continue to be careful and cautious. You’ll find weekly arbovirus reports from the DPH via the link posted on the Public Health Nurse page within the town website.

Can you believe it’s almost back to school time?! I’m sure all our young families have received information on what health assessment and immunization are required. We as a community are very conscious of our children’s safety and the safety of those children around us. I know we are also a community in which both parents are working outside the home. Please have a plan in place as our little Petri dishes head back to the classroom, for when your child becomes ill. Many of the viral illnesses that our children ‘share’ in the classroom are really contagious. If your child becomes ill, particularly when accompanied by a temperature, please keep them home. This will help mitigate the rapid spread of the virus, particularly to those children who are immune compromised. It will also protect your child from getting sick again as it travels around the classroom

Another consideration is bus safety. As you come upon children waiting for, or getting on the school bus, be aware, be safe, be careful. To those highschoolers who are new drivers, please be particularly aware of the school buses on your way to school. By the same token please review road safety with your young school age children as they wait for and board the school bus. Be sure the child is aware of the rules for boarding the bus and that they remain aware of their surroundings as they cross the road to board the bus.

On that note, we’ll chat again n September, and in the meantime,
Be safe, be kind and be healthy!
Sincerely,
Geri
Geri Hamel,
Public Health Nurse
508-252-5947 ext. 3127
ghamel@rehobothma.gov