Health Care Ministry

Trinity's health and welfare ministry includes:

Screening for elevated blood pressure the first Sunday of every month, between services. Come and get your blood pressure checked!
Information on general health-related issues.
Transportation for medical appointments or other needs for members and friends who are temporarily or permanently unable to drive.
Meals for members or friends of our church who are in need due to surgery, illness, family loss, etc. We will deliver complete meals to the recipient’s home on a short term basis.

If you would like to help with the transportation or meals projects, please contact Gail Brunson 724 941 3863

Our Water Supply Has a Drug Problem

You most likely have heard on the news lately that drugs have been found in drinking water supplies. The discovered drugs, (including antibiotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers, and hormones) are in miniscule amounts. You would have to drink 120 Olympic size pools of water to get a therapeutic dose of any of the drugs detected. But long term chronic exposure to this mixture may not be safe. Do we just want to wait and see if humans are harmed?

What can we do to lessen this problem?

-Purchase drugs in small amounts so you won’t end up with leftovers.

-Try to reduce your need for medications by developing a healthy life-style.

-Dispose of unused drugs properly following Federal Guidelines:

Take unused, unneeded or expired drugs out of their original containers and throw them in the trash.
Mix drugs with an undesirable substance, such as coffee grounds or kitty litter, and put them in impermeable, non-descript containers, such as empty cans or sealable bags.
Flush prescription drugs down the toilet only if the label or information specifically instructs doing so.
Take advantage of community pharmaceutical take-back programs that allow the public to bring unused drugs to a central location for proper disposal. (Where these programs exist, they are a good way to dispose of unused pharmaceuticals. At present there do not seem to be any of these in our area, but with the increasing interest in this problem, there probably will be some soon.)

Into New Hands

Individuals who need home medical equipment and who have limited insurance coverage and/or financial resources are able to obtain the necessary devices through a RECYCLING program called “INTO NEW HANDS.” Into New Hands was started by several Pittsburgh area social service agencies and health care institutions. Their goal is to recycle equipment from those who have it and no longer need it to those who need it and do not have it. Individuals who donate equipment to the system receive a receipt for a tax deductible charitable donation. Individuals who do not have insurance coverage for devices are eligible to receive pre-owned equipment. Items are distributed on a first come-first served basis. Types of equipment distributed include walkers, reachers, elevated toilet seats, hospital beds, wheelchairs, Tub Rails and over-the-bed- tables. For more information contact the Washington Office: TRCIL-Washington Office, 150 W. Beau Street, Suite 217, Washington PA, Phone 724 222 2910, Toll-free 1-866 401 2910, E-Mail washoffice@trcil.org

I highly suggest you take all medical equipment to your health care provider to insure you are correctly sized for the equipment---and know how to safely and correctly use it. Gail Brunson, R.N.