06/04/2003
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New Hanover County Health Department
Revenue and Expenditure Summaries for April 2003
Cumulative: 83.33% Month 10 of 12
Revenues
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Current Year Prior Year
ypeol Budgeted Revenue Balance % Budgeted Revenue Balance %
Revenue Amount Earned Remalnln Amount Earned Remalnln
~~eral & State $ 1,685,731 $ 1,023,991 $ 661,740 $1,580,784 $ 834,913 $ 745,871 52.82%
C Fee. $ 587,944 $ 444,969 $ 142,975. $ 533,044 $ 483,271 $ 49,773 90.66%
Medicaid $ 1,035,386 $ 707,352 $ 328,034 $1,012,934 $ 789,811 $ 223,123 77.97% ,
Medicaid MIX" ~ $ $ '165,773 $ 165,775 100.0Q%
EH Fe.. $ 312,900 $ 239,256 $ 312,900 $ 241,583 77.21%
Health Fees $ 112,850 $ 134,529 $ 125,850 $ 134,405 106.80%
Other $ 1,799,544 $ 1,465,053 $1,531,335 $ 1,253,480 81.86
Expenditures
Type 01
Ex ndllu..
Current Year
Expended Balance
Amount Remalnln
Budgeted
Amount
Prior Year
Expended
Amount
Balance
Remalnln
%
Budgeted
Amount
%
$1,973,419 78.00%
$829,861 60.23%
$97,706 52.93%
Summary
Budgeted Actual %
FY 01..02 FY 01..02
Expenditures:
Salaries & Fringe $9,123,182 $7,086,023
Operating Expenses $2,116,700 $1,493,676
Capital Outlay $217,960 $102,691
Total Expenditures $11,457,842 $8,682,390 75.78%
Revenue: $5,534,355 $4,015,150 72.55%
Net County $$ $5,923,487 $4,667,240 78.79%
Revenue and Expenditure Summary
For the Montb of April Z003
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NEW HANOVER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF HEALTH (BOH) APPROVED
GRANT APPLICATION STATUS FY 02..03
Date (BOHI Grant Reouested Pendina Received Denied
Smart Stert- Partnership for Children: Child
sn12oo3 Care Nursing Proaram (Preliminary Approval) $203,500 $203,500
Smart Start- Partnership for Children: Health
" Check (Preliminary Approval) $41,747 $41.747
" UNC-CH: Child Care Health Consultant $62,849 $62,849
Cape Fear Memorial Foundation (through
Partnership for Children): Navigator Program $179,643 $179,643
4/312003 No acUvlty to report lor April 2003.
3/512003 No activity to report for March 2003.
2/512003 No activity to report for February 2003. "
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11812003 NC DHHS- OPH Preparedness and Response $115,950 $33,600 $82,350
12/412002 No actlvlty to report for December 2002.
NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund-Teen
Tobacco Use Prevention & Cessation Program
111612002 ($100,000 per year for 3 years) $100,000 $100,000
Safe Kids Buckle Up Program-North Carolina
101212002 Safe Kids $5,000 $5,000
Developing Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) Capacity In Local Health Department In
Eastern North Carolina-Duke University
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth
Sciences (NSEES) $18,000 $18,000
NoacUvlty to report lor 5eptember 2002.
No acUvlty to report lor August 2002.
No acUvlty to report lor JulY 2002. .
PROJECT STOP-Prenatal Health Education
and Information/Referral Services- March of
Dimes Community Grant Program (Tlll. _..on
irunt to IPfIIyfar 149,875-1h1 ectuaI appIlcaUon for this grant went
6/512002 ltvOL9I WI Odober 2OQ2-lhe amount ch8nged to $50,000) $50,000 $48,280 $1,720
1100 a, 'Ii' reporlloE
1100 aCIIY 'Ii' repOrflor .
rJfo aCDV 'lD report for arc
INo acUv 'to report lor Februa~
I No acUv ty to report for January .
Diabetes Education, Management and
12/512001 Prevention - CFMF $60,000 $30,000 $30,000
Youth Tobacco Prevention ProJect- Robert
111712001 Woods Johnson Youth Center $11,800 $11,800
Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU)-Health
Action Council of NC $350 $350
Healthv Carollnlsns- NC DHHS $10,000 $10,000
Family Assessment Coordinatlon- March
9/512001 of Dimes $16,500 $16,500
Folic Acid Prolect- March of Dimes $16,618 $3,000 $13,318
Safe Kids Coalltlon- Stale Farm"Good
Neiahbor" $500 $500
TB Elimination and Prevention - COC,
8/112001 NCOHHO, DPH, TB Control Proaram $10,000 $9,200 $800
Teen Aids Prevention (TAP\- CFMF $45,500 $25,000 $20,500
As of 5/1912003
. NOTE: Notification received since last report.
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7/1112001
Diabetes Today - Diabetes Prevention & Control
Unll, NCDHHS $10,000
Lose Weight Wilmington - Cape Fear Memorial
Foundation ' $75,000
Totals $1,032,957 $487,739
47.22%
Pending Grants 4 20%
Funded Total Request 7 35%
Partially Fund.ed 6 30%
Denied Total Request 3 15%
Number of Grants Applied For 20 100%
As of 511912003
.. NOTE. Notification rec:eMKI since last report.
$10,000
$204,730
t9.82%
$75,000
$340,188
32.93%
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.. safekids
\ coalition
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New Hanover County
Safe Communities/SAFE KIDS
2029 South 17th Street
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Wilmington, NC 28401
Geoff Zuckerman. Coordinator
(910) 343-6750 Hotline
(910) 343-6636 Office
(910) 341-4146 Fax
gzuckerman@nhcgov.com
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Kim Beaver, Project Manager
Risk Watch .
NCDOI-OSFM
PO Box 26387
Raleigh, NC 27611
Dear Madam,
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(OrnrnumtiE)
May 16, 2003
This is a grant request for the monies up to $10,000 to form a Risk Watch
Champion Team. New Hanover County is a growing and developing area of South
Eastern North Carolina and because of this we are experiencing some serious "growing
pains" in the form of injuries. Unintentional injury (trauma) is the leading cause of death
in children ages 1-14. This is one of the most pressing health problems in the US but
more specifically in New Hanover County. Despite this fact, the problem continues to go
umecognized. A more comprehensive injury prevention program with more available
resources could help to make dramatic and positive changes in our county.
A safe and healthy lifestyle is what we want for everyone in our community. By
being able to provide the Risk Watch curriculum to more children will help us reach this
goal. We have found that with this program not only do we teach and reinforce rules; we
provide the tools for the students to be able to apply them and make safe decisions. Not
only does this help make a positive lifestyle change for that child but also they integrate it
into everything they do. They tell their friends, their siblings and their parents. It is hard
to measure the impact that the children have on helping others to change from what they
learn in the Risk Watch program.
Currently, we have one elementary school with four third grade classes involved
in the Risk Watch Program and one elementary school that has all of its classes involved.
We have seen a large amount of interest from the majority of the schools in our county as
you will see with our letters of commitment.
The following proposal will show that there is a tremendous need for more of the
Risk Watch program and that there is a very strong and driven group committed to
implement and evaluate the program.
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"Protecting Your Children is Our Priority"
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Table of Contents
Risk Watch Champion Team... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... 3
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Partnership with Schools... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .n ... ... ... n. 3
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Needs Assessment n. n. n. ... ... .n n. n. .n .n n. n. ... .n ... n. n. ... on ... 'n n. .n ... n 5
Action Plan n. n. n. n. ... '.. n. ... .n n. n. ... ... n. n. on on ... on ... on ... ,n ... ... ... .... 8
Evaluation.n .n n. ... .n ... .n .n ... ... n. ... .n ... ... n. .n .n n. n. n, .., ... .n .n ... ... n 10
Proposed Budget... ... n. ... .n n. ... ... ... ... ... ... .n .n .n ... n. .n ... n. ... ... n. ... ... lQ.
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Ris~ WatCh Champion Team
Our local Ri~k Watch Champion Team will consist of the following individuals.
Education '
* Due to the changes and elimination of positions within the school system for the next
year, we have not been able to locate an individual to fill this position. However, we are
continuing to work with the principals of the schools and the Safe & Drug Free Schools
Coordinator to fill this position.
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Assistant Chief Frank Blackley, Wilmington Fire Depar'tment
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Captain Jennifer Smith, New Hanover County Fire Services
*These individuals wUl be replaced by the City/County Fire & Life Safety Educator when
that individual is hired.
Health
Injury Prevention Health Educator/Coordinator Safe Communities/SAFE KIDS Coalition
Geoff Zuckerman, New Hanover County Health Department
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Law Enforcement
Sgt. Greg Lockamy, New Hanover County Sheriff's Department
All of the people represented here are very committed to injury prevention and are
passionate about what they do.
Partnership with Schools
New Hanover County has twenty-four (24) public elementary schools and seven (7)
public middle schools. There are also approximately nine (9) private schools within the
county .
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Eaton Elementary
Principal Heather Byers
* Principal Byers mailed her letter of commitment separately to NCDOI.
6701 Gordon Road
Wilmington, NC 2840S
910-397-iS44
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Eaton Elementary is kindergarten through Sib grade. The third graders at this school are e
currently doing Risk Watch with the fire department and the principal is interested in
expanding this program to the rest of the school. There are a total of twenty-four (24)
classes in the school.
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Ogden Elementary
Principal Cindy Talbert
3637 Middle Sound Rd
Wilmington, NC 2840S
910-686-6464
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Ogden Elementary is kindergarten through Slh grade and is currently doing Risk Watch at
all grade levels through their PE teacher. This next year Ogden will be getting a new
principal and PE teacher. The Assistant Principal was interested in continuing the
program but would not commit to it until their new principal and PE teacher got into
place. Ogden has a total of twenty-three (23) classes in the school.
Forest Hills Elementary
Principal Margaret Dickens
602 Colonial Dr
Wilmington, NC 28403
910-25 1-6190
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Forest Hills Elementary is kindergarten through Sth grade. There are a total of twe~ty-one
(21) classes in the school.
Saint Mary Catholic Church and School
412 Ann Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
910-762-5491
Saint Mary's is a private school with grades kindergarten through Sib grade. There are a
total of nine (9) classes at the school.
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Needs Assessment
An analysis of the injury prevention needs for New Hanover County follows:
AccidentSl Deaths in New Hanover County 1993-1997
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Cause' 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
Unintentional 18.4 22.2 15.8 13.2 18.4
Motor Vehicle 13.0 8.9 8. 9.8 12.3
Motqrcycle 0,0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.0
Peda1 Cyclist 0.8 0.0 0.7 0.0 2.0
Accidental Poisonings by DugslMedicaments 2.3 5.9 3.6 0.7 6.1
Accidental Falls 5.4 4.4 4.3 2.8 3.4
Fire & Flames 2.3 0.0 0.7 1.4 2.0
Drowning 3.1 1.5 2.1 0.7 2.0
Suicide Total 17.6 15.6 11.5 9.8 12.3
Suicide by Fmarm 12.3 8.1 6.4 7.0 8.2
Homicide Total 9.2 5.2 6.4 2.8 9.5
Homicide by Firearm 3.8 3.0 2.9 2.8 6.1
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Rate per 100,000 population
.Injury Prevention Needs Assess~ 1999-New Hanover County
Type and Frequency of Injuryfl'rauma Admissions In
New Hanover Regional Medical Center 1994-1997
Type ofInjury 1994 1995 1996 1997
Falls 350 259 295 319
Motor Vehicle Crashes 274 228 251 260
Motorcycle Crashes 16 24 16 21
Burns 12 6 16 15
Bike 14 17 13 8
Gunshot Wounds 53 38 10 51
Stab 21 25 53 14
Pedestrians 12 27 20 29
Drowning 4 5 0 0
Assaults 49 47 49 42
Total 805 676 727 759
Includes only the rruJjor mechanisms of injury in the registry
.NHRMC TraurruJ Registry-Injury Prevention Needs Assessment 1999-New HQ1ID\Ier
County
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New Hanover County Traffic Crash Data
New Hanover County 2000 2001
Fatal Crashes 15 12
Non-Fatal Injury Crashes 3786 3539
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Fatal Pedestrian Crashes 1 3
Non-Fatal Injury Pedestrian Crashes 59 71
Fatal Bicycle Crashes 1 0
Non-Fatal Injury Bicycle Crashes 46 39
Fatal'Motorcycle Crashes 2 , 1
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Non-Fatal Motorcycle Crashes 42 69 ,
.North Carolina 2001-TrajJic Crash Facts
Reportable Bicycle Related Injuries by Town in 1997
Rural-New Carolina Wrlghtsvllle
Hanover Wilmington Total
County Beach Beach
No Injury 1 0 2 0 3
ClassC 5 0 17 0 22
(minor)
ClassB 5 1 17 0 23
(moderate)
Class A 1 1 4 0 6
(serious iniury)
Killed 2 0 0 0 2
Total 14 2 40 3 59
.Injury Prevention Needs Assessment 1999-New Hanover County
NC Reportable Helmet Usage for New Hanover County Bicyclist In 1997
Rural-New Carolina Wrlghtsville
Hanover Wilmington Total
County Beach Beach
No Helmet 22 2 54 2 80
Helmet 2 0 4 2 8
Total 24 2 58 4 88
.InJury Prevention Needs Assessment 1999-New Hanover County
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\ Fatalities
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Eight Priority Areas 0-4 5-9 10-14 All other ages
Motor Vehicle Injuries 4 5 10 104
fire and Burn Injuries 0 1 0 20
Choking, Suffocation and Strangulation Injuries 2 0 1 38
i:alI Injuries 0 0 0 55
Pirearm Injuries 0 1 5 160
Bike and Pej:!estrian Injuries 2 1 2 34
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water Injuries 4 0 1 29
. Deaths from Injuries-A Data Book of Injury Related Mortality Statistic, North Cdrolina
Counties, Volume II September 2001 published by NCDHHS-Division of Public Health
Non-fatal Injuries
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Eight Priority Areas 0-4 5-9 10-14
Motor Vehicle Injuries 9 4 7
~ire and Burn Injuries 3 1 1
poking, Suffocation and Strangulation Injuries 2 0 1
Fall Injuries 3 5 13
"irearm Injuries 0 3 0
Bike and Pedestrian Injuries 0 4 4
Water Injuries 3 0 0
. Hospitalizotions from Injury- A Data Book of Injury-Related Hospital Discharge Data
North Carolina November 2()()1
Laws and Legislation
State
20-10.1.1
2O-135.2A
2O-135.2B
Mopeds
Seat belt use mandatory
Transporting children under 12 years of age in open bed or open cargo
area of a vehicle prohibited
Child restraint system required
Personal watercraft safety
Requirements for helmet and restraint use
Pedestrians' right of way at crosswalks
20-137.1
75A-13.3
20-171.9
20-173
Federal
33CFR175
175.15 Personal flotation devices required
Support Materials
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Wilmington Star ~ews
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August 13, 2001
October 1,2001
Janu~,,l4, 2002
February 22, 2002'
February 25, 2002
August5,2oo2
August 14,2002
September 17, 2002
February 21, 2003
March 3, 2003
EMS workers train for the water
Once again, first in fenders
Bring on the bike lanes
Car hits school bus; 2 children hurt
Deputy dives in runaway vehicle
Keep close watch on kids in pools, safety officials say
Drop, rock-n-roll
Health Department educates schools
Candle sparks fire, tenant suffers burns
Death ruled an accident after body surfaces
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Wilmington Parent
May 2003
Summertime Fun-The Safe Way!
Action Plan
The four schools were chosen based on their interest in the program and their willingness
to work with the Risk Watch Champion Team to implement the curriculum in their
schools. The breakdown of the school populations for the three public schools follows
below.
Eaton Elementary
539 total students
14% minority
90 students in the gifted program
73 students in the special education program
5 students in the English as a second language program
13.81% receiving reduced meals
Forest Hills Elementary
415 total students
45% minority
48 students in the gifted program
46 students in the special education program
5 students in the English as a second language
45.93% receiving reduced meals
Ogden Elementary
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531 total students '\
19% minority
75 students in the gifted program
74 students in ,the special education program
o students in the English as Ii second language
25.32% receiving reduced meals
. Statistics made available by the New Hanover County Schools-School Profiles
2001/2002, December 2002
Saint Mary ~tho1ic School was chosen because of their willingness to implement the
program and'the ability to expand the program to the middle school children reaching
grades 6th through 8th.
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These four schools are the start of implementing Risk Watch in every school in New
Hanover County. The Risk Watch Champion Team~s goal is to implement the
curriculum in every school in our area.
The Risk Watch Champion Team will meet throughout June, July, and August in order to
prepare for the implementation of the curriculum into the schools. During this time
period the team members will work on recruiting more schools to participate in the
program. The project plan for implementation will be completed and finalized before
August 2003. In August, teacher training will be held at the schools during the week
before school starts. Each team member will be assigned a certain number of schools and
will be responsible for collecting the students' pretests. The Risk Watch Champion Team
will meet and grade, evaluate, and record the students' pretests. Collection and grading
of the post-tests will follow the same format. During the 2003-2004 school year, the
teachers will use the Risk Watch Champion Team member assigned to them to assist
them in using community resources.
WW A Y Emma Zak saw the NFP A video done in conjunction with the local fire
department and local news media about the children escaping from their homes and is
interested in doing the same type of story in this area. The Risk Watch Champion Team
drafted a letter eliciting her support in order to use the media to promote this program and
get the safety messages out to the public. We plan to use the children involved in the
Risk Watch program in her iltory.
All of the members of the Risk Watch Champion Team currently also serve on the New
Hanover County SAFE KIDS Coalition. The SAFE KIDS Coalition will support and
work hand in hand with the Risk Watch Champion Team to get the curriculum
implemented.
Since this project develops an organizational flow chart for the implementation of the
curriculum, this will help the team continue to thrive even after the end of the grant cycle.
Since most of the funding required is for start up of the program, additional funding can
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be maintained through other grants and donations in the future. There is also a possibility -
of gaining a commitment from the schools to buy the children the workbooks each year. ..
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Evaluation
Each Risk Watch Champion Team member understands the evaluation process that is
part of the Risk Watch curriculum. The team members will meet at the beginning of the
school year and the end of the school year to grade, evaluate, and record the pretests and
post-tests. puring the brainstorming and preparation meeting in June, July, and August,
the teatn C81l develQp other ways of evaluating the studeqts including an awards program
for the students identifying the ultimate Risk Watcher. . \
4f Teacher workbooks... on ... ... ... ...~~.~~~~.~~~~~~.. ... ... ... on ... ... ... ... $5,390
Student workbooks... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... on ... ... ... on ... ... ... ... on ... ... ... ... ... $3,330
Teacher resource kits... ... ... ... on ... .., ... .... on ... ... ... ... ... ... ... on ... ... ... ... .$1,280
Total... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...$10,000
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New Hanover County
Safe Communities/SAFE KIDS
2029 South 17th Street
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Wilmington, NC 28401
Geotf Zuckerman, Coordinator
(910) 343-6750 Hotline
(910) 343-6636 Office
(910) 341-4146 Fax
gzuckerman@nhcgov.com
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May 14; 2003
Kim Beaver, Project Manager
Risk Watch
NCOOI-OSFM
P.O. Box 26387
Raleigh, N.C. 27611
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Dear Ms. Beaver,
)4ri'
(Ornmumtii)
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As the New Hanover County Safe Communities/SAFE KIDS Coordinator and Injury
Prevention Health Educator, I wouldIike to highly endorse the SAFE KIDSIRisk Watch
program grant request. I am fully committed to do everything in my power to aid in the
prevention of unintentional childhood injuries. I plan on being a representative that will
attend the training in Raleigh. I think that the partnerships that have been and are in the
process of developing, are a fine example of how much this community cares and is
working towards a safer community.
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Geotf ckerman
Safe Communities/SAFE KIDS Coordinator and Injury Prevention Health Educato~
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"Protecting Your Children is Our Priority"
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Wilmington Fire Department
Fire Prevention Bureau
801 Market St.
Wilmington, Ne 28401
Telephone: (910) 343-0698 Fax: (910) 343-4772
I'. Asst. Chief Franlc Blackley, Fire Marshal
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May 19, 2003
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To whom. it m~' concern,
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The Wilmington Fire Department, in conjunction with the New Hanover County SAFE
KIDS Coalition, are working to implement the National Fire Protection Association's
Risk Watch program in schools inside the City of Wilmington. If awarded, these funds
will begin the implementation process in elementary schools that have not been "
targeted for this program.
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The Wilmington Fire Department and New Hanover County Fire Services have
budgeted a dual fire and life safety educator position for the 2003-04 fiscal year budget.
This individual will the be lead contact person to begin the implementation program
along with New Hanover County SAFE KIDS Coalition.
Receipt of this grant will provide new initiatives in local schools that have not taken
place because of budget constraints. The Wilmington Fire Department will support our
local schools to begin the Risk Watch program and provide the necessary education to
meet the requirements of the program. Since there have been few public education
programs implemented in the schools in this area since the last fire and life safety
educator position not funded because of budget restraints in the late 1980's. This grant
will provide the funding necessary to begin this new program that we hope will
eventually be implemented in all local schools.
Again, thanks you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
'W~~
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Asst. Chief Frank Blackley
Fire Marshal
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NEW HANOVER COUNTY
FIRE SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
230 MARKET PLACE DR. SUITE 130
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403
TELEPHONE (910) 798-7420
Domie Hall
Chier
May 7, 2003 '
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NC Safe Kids
Insurance Commissioner, Jim Long
North Carolina Department of Insurance
Office of State Fire Marshal
P.O. Box 26387
Raleigh, NC 27611
e Dear Chairman Long,
As Chief of New Hanover County Department of Fire Services, I would like to highly
endorse the Safe KidslRisk Watch program grant request. This program was started in
New Hanover County last year in one third grade class with donations from a local
church and has been very successful'thus far. With the commitment of the health, law
enforcement and educational agencies in fonning our Risk Watch Champion Team, we
are eager to broaden and further develop this program. "
The award of this grant will enable New Hanover County to move forward in its
commitment to educating our children to prevent unintentional accidents.
Sincerely,
B~ R.,,[Ji
Donnie R. Hall
Chief
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DR. D. JOHN MORRIS. JR.
SuperintendenJ
EDMUND /JcC.#FRAY, Coo<dinotc<
Safe & Drug free Schoo/5
Hearing OI/icef
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May 13,2003
Kim Beaver, Project Manager
Risk Watch
NCDOI-OSFM
P.O. Box 26387
Raleigh. N.C. 27611
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Dear Ms. Beaver,
As the Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator with the New Hanover County School
System, I would like to highly endorse the SAFE K1DSlRisk Watch program grant
request. We understand that we will have a repr~tative attend the training in Raleigh
and that a primary contact will be designated in each school. We have a commitment to
providing the best education for our children and by awarding this grant; we can help to
ensure this commitment.
Sincerely,
~~cCaffiaY
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1802 SOUTH 15TH STllEET WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROliNA 28401 PHONE (910) 254.4245 FAX IQ 1 0) 254-4161
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New Hanover County
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, Sheriffs Office
Sidney A. Causey, Sheriff
, 20 North 4th Street
Wilmington, North Carolina 28401-4591
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Phone (910) 341-4200
Fax (910) 341-4039
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Dear Sir or MatlAfT1,
The New Hanover County Sheriffs Office is pleased to offer its support to the New Hanover
County SAFE Kids Coalition and the implementation of the National Fire Protection Agency's
Risk. Watch programs in our schools. One of the priorities of the Sherifi's Office is our children
and their safety. While we coljdl,lct mooy SlIfetr prq~ fllf the chjl~ pf oW community, it is
difficult to reach as many children as the Risk. Watch program has the potential to reach.
I believe the Risk. Watch program is thf;: 1llQ~; ~ WUJlp\ld saff;:ty program that I have seen. The
New Hanover County Fire Services have done an excellent job with the program, but it is a
program that must be continued and expanded to reach as many of our young people as possible.
As a member of our county's SAFE Kids Coalition, I proudly support this program.
Sincerely,
~ory LockiuiiY
Crime Prevention Unit Supervisor
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Forest Hills Global Elementary
602 Colonial Drive
Wilmington, N. C. 28403
Tel: 910.251.6190
Fax: 910.251.6054
Asst. Chief Frank Blackley
Fire Brevention Bureau
Wilmington Fire Dept.
80 I Market Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
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e Dear Chief Blackley,
Thank you for the opportmrity to participate in the Risk Watch program that
is correlated with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. We <q)pIeciate
your preventative efforts through tiducation to make our children much safer. We
will discuss implementation of this program in our curriculum connnittee to best
serve our students.
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Sincerely,
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Margaret Dickens, Principal
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THE SAINT MARY PARISH AND SCHOOL
May 19,2003
Dear~hiefBlackley ,
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This lettet is to confirm our interest in the Risk Watch Curriculum for St,
Mary Students during the 2003-2004 school year. Our school has students
grades K-8. After reading the literature, I have;: decided that the content of
this program would benefit our students and faculty members.
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Besides the safety benefits offered to the students, the integration of the
information into our standard course of study will allow our teachers to find
the time to implement the program. Thank you for this opportunity to enrich
our students with these life skills. I look forward to receiving further
information about the curriculum and the teacher training.
Sincerely,
!J1r-: fJ~
Joyce McGuire Price
Principal
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412 Ann Street. Wilmington, North Carolina 28401. (910) 762-5491. Fax: (910) 762-9664
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May 16, 2003
Dear Kim,
We are thiW grade teachers at Eaton Elementary School This is the second year that our 3'" graders
have participated ill Risk Watch and we wanted to write and share our insights and thoughts about the
program and its many benefits.
As teachers we find Risk Watch to be user friendly. The teacher handbooks are extremely easy to
follow l!Ild provide us with many classroom activities that help teach the children about the eight "risk"
topics.
The Risk Watci! program ties in so nicely with our state and local curriculum that it makes it so easy
to incorporate into om:'daily teaching. Its goal is to teach children ~w to be safe, but does it in a way that
touches upon all areas of the curricuhun. Children have many opportunities to use the arts suoh as role
playing, putting on skits, and designing creative posters. Their work is shared with the entire school and they
help to teach others what they have already learned about safety. Re~tling, writing, and sr....1cing are also a
big part of the program. Children learn about safety through brochures, writing letters, poems, essays, thank
, you notes, stories, and journals. The workbooks have been a wonderful tool as well While learning about
, different types of safety the workbooks give students an opportunity to also work on dictionary skills,
spelling, grammar, reading comprehension, vocabuIary, map skills and so much more. Our students have
also incorporated technology into the program by creating PowerPoint presentations about what they have
learned. .
e In third grade our Social Studies curriculum is based on communities. This program lends itself so
well to teaching the children about our local community! Important people from the community vo1untee:\'
their time to come in and talk with the boys and girls about their jobs. They are positive role models
teaching about important safety procedures that should be followed to avoid injuries. Some of these
community members include fire fighters, the U.S. Coast Guard, and forest rangers. The program also gets
parents from the community involved and provides them with activities they can do at home with their
children.
It would be so wonderful if the program could reach out and touch more students at all different
grade levels in the county. By providing students with this information and support, they will be better able
to make positive choices about their personal safety and well being. It ties in so well with the curriculum
that we feel teachers will find it easy to incorporate and not just another added thing to do.
We as teachers have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Risk Watch program and have seen so
many benefits. We have also witnessed the unbelievable excitement and enthusiasm the students have for
the program. It is quite evident that it is a fun, positive, learning experience and is making a difference in the
lives of our children at Eaton!
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Sincerely,
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Article published Aug 13, 2001 \
EMS workers train for the water
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NORTH TQPSAIL BEACH -EMTsusually leave the wet job of saving drowning victims to
lifeguards;~ ,
But thanks to a three-day water rescue class, paramedics from New Hanover Regional
EMS are no longer fish out of water when it comes to pulling imperiled people out of the
water.
Scott Grandgeorge, North Topsail Beach Rescue Squad chief and Thomas Best, North
Topsail Beach,fire marshal, teach the class to as manY,as 50 people a year; some are
professiqnal, some are students and some just want to"be prepared when a day at the.
beach turns into an ,emergency situation. .0
As New Hanover Regional paramedic and EMS operations supervisor Chris Edge will tell
you, it never hurts to be prepared.
"We actually had an incident occur last year after the lifeguards were done for the
season," he said. "What we want to do .is deliver timely, quality care. This training
augments whatever services you have."
The first day consisted of classroom study for the students. On the second day, students
got to finally enter the water and practice some skills. The entire third day was spent in the
water performing simulated rescues, followed by a written examination.
"It's physically demanding,. Mr. Edge said'. "Especially when you're trying to swim in a
personal flotation device."
Chief Grandgeorge and Mr. Best have been teaching the water-rescue class to firefighters
and emergency medical technicians since 1994. They work through Florida Public Safety,
a private company. Mr. Grandgeorge also serves as a pilot at Marine Corps Air Station
New River. '
"We have a lot of people in the county doing water rescue who don't have formal training,"
he said. Classes such as this are aimed to stem the need to improvise in an emergency
situation, instead giving people the knowledge of time-tested techniques. .'
"I talk to Marines every week who say they've pulled 10 or 12 people out of the water over
the weekend," he said. "There's civilians doing it all the .time on their own as well."
Classes like these almost always end up benefitting both victim and rescuer.
"We try to impact patient outcomes and do it in a safe manner for personnei involved," Mr.
Edge said.
But he also said that despite whatever water rescue training a paramedic may receive,
there's no. substituting a good lifeguard.
"We're not trying to replace lifeguards. They're a lot more proficient at this stuff than we
are," he said.
Lee Holland: 343-2075
lee.holland@wilmingtonstar.com
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Article published Oct 1, 2001
Once again, first in fenders
For the second' year in a row, New Hanover County tops a list of North Carolina's most
dangerou\~ places to drive. '
Our congested streets ranked tops in traffic accidents, collisions causing property damage
and injuries per mile driven, in an annual study conducted by the state chapter of the
American Automobile Association.
This distinction is the price we pay for years of bad planning and lack of vision. Road-
'building, which is slow and consuming, hasn't caught up with traffic demands. Too many
eager efforts tp accommodate development have yielded too many driveways on roads
that werl'! supposed to carry a lot of traffic. At the state level, money hasn't been adequate
to maintain highways. ' , '
Scarce funding for the bus system, bike paths and sidewalks leave people wittl few
altematives to cars.
This ranking raises questions about why efforts during the past year have not done much
to bring New Hanover down on this dubious list. It shows how hard it is to get irresponsible
drivers to obey traffic lights, slow down and use some common sense.
Red light cameras have been installed at the city's 10 most dangerous intersections and
Wilmington police have stepped up enforcement in high-accident areas.
Police are hoping that as their efforts con,tinue, there will be a decline in collisions.
'Lars hope so.
A year from now, it would be nice to avoid being number one for a third time in a row.
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Article published Jan 14, 2002
Bring on the bike lanes
'.
New Hanover County ought to be a bicyclist's dream. The weather's good most of the
year, the' landscape is mostly flat, and the distance between the river and the beach is
relatively short.
But it's rare that bicyclists can peddle along paths separated from roads or along bike
lanes added to roads. Instead, they teeter on the edge of roads with cars and trucks
,whizzing past inches away.
It's a miracle more cyclists aren't hurt or killed. And the dangers are worsening as motor
traffic increases. ,
So it's dieering to learn that the N.C. Department of Transportation, so often criticized,for
assorted offenses real or imagined, wants to add four feet of pavement to RiveT Road.
That would let cyclists movea little farther from vehicles that in some spots are allowed to
go 55 mph - and often go faster, of course.
Making River Road safer should entice more cyclists to use it between the State Port and
Carolina Beach.
The county's Bicycle Advisory Committee also is hoping to build a safer route to Cape
Fear Community College's northern campus and to make lifer safer for cyclists on Middle
Sound Loop Road.
If environmental problems prevent adding' more pavement to that narrow and heavily
traveled road, a separate bike path might be built along sewer easements - a far more
attractive proposition, at least to those among us who aren't daredevils.
Building a network of reasonabiy safe bike routes will bea slow process. But it should be
encouraged.
Bikes aren't likely to ever make more than an infinitesimal contribution to reducing traffic in
New Hanover County. But every time someone bums calories instead of gasoline. the air
stays a little cleaner, the rider gets a little healthier, and life gets a little better for
everybody. "
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Article published Feb 22, 2002
Car hits school bus; 2 children hurt
Two College Park Elementary School students were treated at New Hanover Regional
Medical Center Thursday after a Honda Accord collided with their school bus.
Tiffany Williams, a teacher at Trask Middle School, was also taken to New Hanover -
Regional, where she was listed in good condition Thursday afternoon. Police cited Ms.
Williams, the driver of the Accord, with running a red light, said Sgt. George Perkins of the
Wilmington Police Department.
The accident happened around 7:40 a.m. at the intersection of Eastwood Road and
Cardinal DriVEl., '
According to ~tnesses, the car ran a red light and smashed head-on into the front left-,
fender of Bus '210, spinning it nearly 180 degrees through the intersection. The bus slid,
clipping the front of a small pickup truck and came to rest against a curb. A typical school
bus weighs about 17,000 pounds, or about 81/2 tons - a Honda Accord, about 3,400
pounds. -
Ms. Williams was headed west on Eastwood Road when her car ran into the bus, just
under the driver, said Mick Wayne, transportation director for the New Hanover County
Schools.
Her vehicle ran into a utility pole, causing power loss in the immediate area.
"This was one of the most severe accidents we've had in a while,. Mr, Wayne said.
About five of the 28 children on the bus were taken home by their parents, said College
Park Principal Rebecca Higgins. Their parents brought them to school later, she said.
Ms. Higgins said she and Assistant Principal Johnny Branson were at the scene and
checked each child, and she then called parents to inform them of the accident.
Another bus picked up the children and took them to the school, where they were given
juice and snacks while the school nurse, counselor and some teachers helped calm them
down, Ms. Higgins said.
-We gave them lots of juice and snacks and tender, loving care,. she said.
Mr. Branson stayed with the two injured students and their parents at the hospital until
they were released later in the day.
This was the second accident involving a school bus in less than four days.
Earlier this week, a bus driver was cited for failure to yield when a car hit the side of the
bus on North Kerr Avenue.
There were no children on the bus at the time of that accident.
Jason Tyson: 343-2327
Jason.tyson@wilmingtonstar.com
Staff Writer Sherry Jones and Cny Ednor Rommyn Skipper contributed to this report.
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Article published Feb 25, 2002
Deputy dives in runaway vehicle
A New Hanover Sheriff's deputy dived into a moving car Sunday and rescued its only
occupant~:" a three-year-old girl in the back seat.
Law enforcement officers and neighbors had spent 15 minutes trying to stop the vehicle.
The child was not injured, but Deputy Matthew Payne was treated on the scene for cuts
and bruises.
"' saw the terrified look in that girl's face and' have children of my own," said Cpl. Payne,
who with his f~t dangling out of the window, was able to brake the car with his hand.
According to Cpl. Payne, the mother left the car running:" with the girl inside - in a
driveway on Owls Lane shortiy after 11 a.m. "
The car somehow shifted into reverse and started traveling backward in circles throughout
the yard and in the street. It knocked over landscape items arid mailboxes, ran over curbs
and was slowly spiraling northward. '
The girl's parents and neighbors tried to stop the car, which was traveling about 15-20
mph, Deputy Payne said. One neighbor attempted to get a door open before being
knocked over.
Law enforcement officers arrived on the scene and were unsuccessful until a deputy was
able to knock out a window. Cpl. Payne then dived in and shifted the vehicle into park.
The car kept going, but he was finally able to use his hand to press the brake pedal.
Cpl. Payne said the mother was frantic. Officials tried to calm the daughter during the
rescue attempt and asked her to Close her eyes before the deputy smashed the window.
The mother wasn't charged.
Millard K. Ives: 343-2075
millard.lves@wilmingtonstar.com
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Article published Aug 5, 2002
Keep close watch on kids in pools, safety officials say
-- ,<
CHARLo.l'T'E -'When Ryan .Buckler first saw Rose Cross, she was bluish-gray and lifeless
on the edge of an apartment pool in Huntersville.
Minutes before, the 2-year-old girl had been playing in the pool, witnesses said. Mr.
Buckler and a woman resuscitated the girl, averting the kind of tragedy that had killed a 4-
'year-old boy at an east Charlotte apartment pool the day before.
,
Officials say t~e incidents last weekend underscore the 'dangers associated with pools I;Ind ,-
the need to closely supervise children. More than two-thirds of the children an~ teens who
drowned !n North Carolina swimming pools from 1996 to 2000 were 5 or younger, state
records ,show.
Two adults were with the girl and several other chil'dren last Sunday at the Huntersville
pool, but police said the adults took their eyes off her at least momentarlly.
Mr. Buckler, 28, who had been visiting friends at the Summit Sedgebrook Apartments, ran
past a group of people and got into the PQol. Someone pulled the girl out. Mr. Buckler
breathed air into her mouth while a woman compressed the girl's chest, he recalled.
Within minutes, Rose gasped for air and her rescuers turned her on her side. Fluid poured
from her mouth and nose, said Mr. Buckler, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police trainee re-
certified in CPR two weeks ago.
. -
Rose was recoverlng last week at Carolinas Medical Center.
Alphonso Cross, the girl's grandfather, said he was in the pool with the girl, abOut 6 feet
away. He said the girl took a pair of flotation pieces off her arms.
"I was talking to my daughter and didn't see what happened to my granddaughter," he
said. 'She.was straight ahead of me, but I don't know what happened."
Huntersville police said the case would be referred to the Mecklenburg Department of
Social Services for further investigation.
Treyvon Freeman, 4, drowned July 29 at an east Charlotte apartment complex. He was
among about a dozen children in the pool at the Castlewood Apartments. Police said a
teenage relative was supervising the child. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police have ruled the
drowning accidental.
Based on an analysis of death certificates, Mecklenburg officials said 196 people under 18
drowned in North Carolina between 1996 and 2000. Of those, a little more than half were
between ages 12 and 17; most were in open bodies of water such as streams or lakes.
Infants were more likely to drown in bathtubs, records show.
Forty-nine of the 18-and-under drownings during the five-year perlod occurred in 37
swimming pools. Of those, 69 percent were 5 or younger. The records don't show whether
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Theresa Cruz, program coordinator for Mecklenburg Safe Communities, said child
drownings show adults need to do a better job of supervising children.
Ms. Cruz recommends an adult, preferably in the water, be assigned specifically to watch
children. She also urged paren's to have their children learn to swim and anyone who
might supervise youth to learn CPR.
Amy Krise, a safety educator with the Charlotte Fire Department, said her office
periodicaJly visits apartment complexes to teach residents about fire and water safety.
After last Saturday's drowning, Castlewood Apartments is on her to-do list.
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Article published Aug14, 2002 I
Drop, rock 'n' roll
Rapping firefighters get-down on children's level to teach about safety
I-
Deputy Chief Cliff Robinson sang for a couple gospel groups before he started singing on
the job. He raps (The Fireman's Rap), he dances and he sings country music (Don't Play
With Fire to the tune of Achy, Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus).
The group of five New Hanover County firefighters who work with him don't seem to mind.
In fact, they sing with him now, forming the Carolina FirEl Crew that travels to elementary , "
schools in the1coun,ty educating children about fire prevention and safety issues. "
,
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The Crew, complete with its own mascot, Sparky, the Fire Dog (a.k.a. Dorian Flowers),
performed Thursday at Eaton Elementary School on Gordon Road in Ogden, using song
and dance to teach four classes of third-grade students about fire. Formed in 1999, the
fire crew also performs the Risk IN atch program at day cares and nursing homes in New
Hanover County. "
"I think the biggest thing is having the children interacting with us, and incorporating humor
and songs in the program helps them le~m and remember fire lessons," Chief Robinson
said.
The Risk Watch program incorporates safety lessons in eight areas: hand gun safety, fall
prevention, fire and bum prevention, motor vehicle safety, bike and pedestrian safety,
poison prevention, choking prevention and water safety. Teachers present a different
safety lesson to their class each month, said Captain Jennifer Smith with the county fire
service, and the fire crew returns periodically to reinforce what they've learned.
A former fire station captain brought the program, complete with tapes of songs and skit
scripts, to New Hanover County from Fishers, Ind., and the local group hopes eventually
to expand it to all elementary schools in the county. Ogden Elementary has been added
for the current school year.
"The kids seem to feel more of a friendship than a fear of the firefighters," said Sareh
Carroll, third-grade assistant teacher. "The information coming from a person in uniform
carries tremendous power..
During the assembly program at Eaton, Chief Robinson said, "Firemen are just like
policemen. We're here to help you:
He went straight into his rap about putting out a clothing fire, .Stop, drop and roll, is what
you gotta do, 'cause if you don't roll, your body bums, too." Fortunately, the group has not
had to leave a Fire Crew performance to put out a fire.
Throughout the 45-minute performance, children clapped with the music and laughed at
the group's antics. The silent one in the group, Sparky, went out in the audience to get
children and teachers to dance with them. In one skit about setting fires, a man was
arrested for lighting matches outside a Wild West bank, and they taught him a lesson by
making him sing and dance, raising laughter from the audience. Another one on putting 39
out fires was about a misfit military drill team. In all, the firefighters have 10 to 12 songs
__. ...TT_...:...'.... '0 I
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"I pretty much do it for the children. It's a great challenge for us,. said firefighter Mark
Meylor.
n___ '" _~'"
"Plus, we're teaching them something that could help save their lives one day," said e
firefighter Richard Mi;>reau. '
So far the program is working, say teachers at Eaton Elementary.
, , "What we.S,aw were children who are more aware of safety issues around them on the bus
or on the playground; said Sarah Leach, grade-level chair for the third grade.
Last year's third-grade class wrote down phrases about what they learned for a
presentation at the end of the program, such as "Don't swim at nightl Always wear a
helmet. If your clothes catch on fire, you should stop, drop and roll."
,
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The interaction with the students and school staff has helped the fire deparrnenfs
exposure in-the community, Chief Robinson said. '.
~I've had children come up to me at night in the mall and I'm in civilian clothes, and they
remember me,. he said, "so I know It's working:
For more information on the group, call 341-7420 or 815-7020.
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Article published Sep 17, 2002 '
Health Department educates schools
If Jeff Suggs oHhe New Hanover County Department of Health hadn't discovered the
problem by accident, lead-paint dust might still be lying around the stairwells at Forest
Hills Elementary School, posing at least a potential danger to pupils.
Mr. Suggs says he happened to "stumble across. the painting contractor doing the work.
He told his boss, who called school officials. To their credit, they quickly hired a company
certified to deal with lead paint, and it undertook the cleflnup.
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After meeting-with health officials, school officials hired the same company to draw up, '
procedures for dealing with paint in older schools and those that house childre'n under age
6. When paint work is done in the future, the company will supeNise it.
Clearly, that kind of supeNision has been needed. Though parents of Forest Hills children
probably have no reason to worry about three days' exposure, lead-paint dust poses a
clear danger - particularly to young children.
We've known that for decades. If you sell an older house, the likely presence of lead paint
is something you must acknowledge to the buyer. Government agencies are well aware of
the problem and how it is supposed to be dealt with. (Intact, such paint is supposed to be
safe. It's when it's disturbed that the lead gets out.)
For some reason, the New Hanover County school system seems to have overlooked all
that. Maintenance Director Terry Perkins says that when the schools hired a contractor for
the Forest Hills work, it was just assumed he was qualified and would do the job safely.
That's a mistake the schools say they won't make again. "There's definitely been a
change in the way we handle paint," Mr. Perkins says.
Thanks to the Health Department.
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Article published Feb 21, 2003
Candle sparks fire; tenant suffers burns
A candle caused the fire that injured one person, destroyed an apartment and damaged
two others ThufSday aftemoon at the Harbour Ridge apartment complex, a fire official
said. "',"
The 2:30 p:m. blaze that broke out in the second-floor apartment was accidental, said
Wilmington Fire Capt. Herman Bom.
Four people lived in the apartment at 1428-B Harbour Drive. Only a man and a woman
were home at the time, Capt. Bom said.
The woman, listed by New Hanover Regional Medical Center as Megan Homer, suffered
first- anc! second-degree bums on her arms and legs. She was treated and released from
the hospital, ~'hospital spokeswoman said. The man, whose name was not available,
wasn't injUred. . I
"They bQth attempted to put (the fire) out with a pot of water," Capt. Born said. "But it grew
too big for them." .
Neighbors watching the firefighters were unneNed, not only by the fire but the fact that at
least one hydrant located within. 50 yards of the building wasn't working.
"They were running around trying to find water," neighbor Deborah Spruill said. "It scares
me to death. That could've easily been my apartment."
The fire department maintains the hydrants and inspects them every six months. Capt.
Born confirmed that the hydrant nearest to the apartment wasn't working, but said it had
been marked for seNicing.
He said the first responding unit must not have noticed the mark. The fact that it was dry
"didn't hinder firefighting," he said.
"There were two hydrants within 100 feet of that one," Capt. Born said. And they were
working.
Damage to the two-story building, which houses multiple apartments, was estimated at
more than $100,000.
Yolanda Hernandez lives directly below the apartment where the blaze began and was
expecting to move out of her water-damaged apartment at the end of the month.
Damage to her apartment has forced her to find somewhere else to stay. And Ms,
Hernandez said since she was moving out in a month, she let her renter's insurance
expire.
"Irs a shock," she said.
Todd Volkstorf: 343-2328
todd.volkstorf@wilmingtonstar.com
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Article published Mar 3, 2003
Death ruled an accident after body surfaces
SUTTON VoKE - The death of a Carolina Beach man whose body was found in Sutton
Lake on Saturday has been ruled an accidental drowning, according to the New Hanover
Sheriffs Department.
T;he body of Kenneth Dotson, 43, was transported to his family's home in McCarr, Ky., on
Sunday and no autopsy was conducted, Lt. Rhonda Smith said.
"There were no signs of foul play," Lt. Smith said.
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The body was discovered floating in Sutton Lake about noon Saturday, a weeR after Mr.
Dotson's boat was found capsized,
Lt. Smith said there were no signs of trauma.
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She said officials don't know why he fell in the water, but boats there have flipped over
before after striking logs or tree stumps in the man-made lake in northwestern New
Hanover County.
e Signs at the boat ramp warn about obstructions in the lake.
Mr. Dotson was reported missing by a friend, Keith Brown, on Feb. 21, three days after he
went fishing alone.
,
,
Mr. Dotson's johnboat was discovered capsized in the lake on Feb. 23. Search crews
have been looking for the body, but strong winds helped prevent its discovery, Lt. Smith
~4 1
"We had anticipated the discovery of the body this weekend," she said.
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New Hanover County Health Department
Reduction In Force Policy
May 27, 2003
ExcerPt from N_ HBnover County Petsonnel Policy-Reduction In Fon:e
"Sec. 3. Reduction In Fon:e
e
For reasons of curtailment of work or lack of funds, the County Manager ( or in the case
of the following departments: Sheriff, Register of Deed, Social Services, or Public
Health, the respective department head) may separate employees. In determining the
employees to be retained, consideration shall be given to the relative quality of each
employee's performance as documented by current performance appraisals,
organizatio/lal needs and seniority. No regular employee shall be separated while there
are temporary, emergency, intermittent, trainee or probationary employees serving in the
same class in the department unless the regular employee is not willing to transfer to the
position held by the temporary, emergency, intermittent, trainee or probationary
employee.
An employee in a regular or regular-probationary position who is separated in
accordance with these provisions may retain hislher sick leave balance and personal
leave accrual rate upon separation for one year from the date of separation. If suitable
employment becomes available during this period, the employee may be reinstated at
the request of the department head.
Only employees in the Department of Social Services or Health Department may appeal
a decision made in accordance with this policy. Appeals from these departments must
conform to the provisions contained in the State Personnel Act.
Further Developed Reduction-ln-Force Policy
for New Hanover County Health Department
Based on Guidelines From Office of State Personnel
Introduetion
This policy establishes guidelines for the adrn;n;!ltration ofa reduction-in-force in which
regular (state refers to as permanent) employees are separated due to curtailment of work,
lack of funds, reorganization, or other significant changes in duties or organization.
Authoritv
e
The Personnel Manual for Local Government Employees Subject to the State Personnel
Act authorizes the implementation of this policy and states the essential elements
required of the agency in plann;ng and executing a reduction-in-force. The policy is
copied below from the manual It is followed by agency guidelines for implementation.
The policy states the following:
45
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Reduction-In-Foree
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"For reasons of curtailment of work, reorganization, or lack of funds, the appointing
authority may separate employees. Retention of employees in classes affected sba1l be
based Jh systematic consideration of type of appointment, length of service, and relative
efficie~~y. No regular employee shall be separated while there are emergency,
intennittent, temporary, probationary, or trainee employees in their first six months of the
trainee progression serving in the same or related class, unless the regular employee does
not have the knowledge and skills required to perform the work of the alternate position
within a reasonable period of orientation and training given any new employee. A
reguJaT employee ~ho was separated by reduction-in-force may be reinstated at any time
in the future that sUitable employment becomes available. The employer may choo$e to
,
offer employment with a probationary appointment and experience standard for the class
to which he is being appointed."
Poliev
e
A regular employee of New Hanover County Health Department who is terminAted in
accordance with the provisions of this policy and who has a satisfactory employment
record will be considered for any vacant ppsition for which helshe meets job specific
qualifications as stated in the job announcement. Copies of such job announcements will
be forwarded to qualified individuals at the address provided by the individual for a
period of 12 months after the effective date of the tennination.
A regular employee who is separate4 due to reduction-in-force shall have the right to
appeal that action.
Guidelines
L Determining tbe Scope oftbe Reduetion and the Layofl'Unit
Funding restrictions, reorganization, consolidation or abolishment of functions or
organizational units, curtailment of work or activities, or other reasons may resuh in the
need to abolish a position(s) or to so substantially redesign a position that the incumbent
would not reasonably be considered a candidate for the new position becaJlse helshe lacks
specific position qualifications requirements. When this happens, the agency director
shall examine the organizational and program scope of operations of the agency and
designate a "layoff unit." The director will then detennine the necessary reallocation,
reassignment (transfer), and/or abolishment of positions. In considering the above, the
following factors are among those which may be considered in this determination:
e
Client Service requirements
Legal mandates for programs
Impact on overall program objectives
Possible redistribution of available resources
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Organization Structure , '
Funding sources and budget guidelines
Composition of the work force
Econo~ and effici~cy in service
Once the above factors have been considered the director shall prepare a reduction-in-,
force plan for board review which includes the layoff unit(s) and the positions to be
abolished. The layoff unit designated for the purpose of handling any necessary
separation of employees may be the entire agency, any division, or any organizational,
geographic or program sub-unit of the agency. It may also include a staff specialty
within a divjsion or program unit. The layoff unit need not coincide with the program,
function, of,'activity that is the source of the need for a :reduction-in-force. Layoff unit
designationS allow management to distnbute staff resources according to service
priorities of the agency.
All planning efforts dealing with the abolishment ,of position(s) shall reflect a review
process identifying the reasons for and the results of the specific organizational program
and lor position changes.
IL Employee Coverage and Eumptions
e The reduction-in-force policy covers all regular employees as defined below:
For purposes of this policy, the term regular employee means a person who has
satisfactorily completed a prescnbed probationary period ofat least 6 months duration in
a regular position and has been officially granted regular status in the agency or who
entered agency employment with regular status, or who has satisfactorily completed an
officially designated trainee period.
IlL Establishing a Plan and Procedure for Employee Separation
The necessary separation of employees in the layoffunit(s) shall be determined based on
the systematic consideration of the type of employment, length of service and relative
efficiency of the employees. The following factors shall apply in determining and
scheduling employees for separation.
A The type of appointment shall be the first determinant.
No regular employee in an affected classification shall be separated while
there are emergency, intermittent, temporary, probationary, or trainee
employees working in the same classification in the agency.
B.
Separation of non-regular employees shall be made in the following order:
1. Emergency, intermittent, and temporary employees.
For this purpose, the three categories will be treated
as one group.
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2.
Probationary and trainee employees in their first 6 months
of trainee progression.
For this purpose, the two categories will be treated as one
group.
.1",
';,. Non-regular employees shall be given written notice of
separation as soon as possible in advance of the scheduled
separation.
C. Separation of regular employees from positions in the affected
classifications in the layoff unit shall be made after systematic
, consideration of length service and relative-efficiency.
,
For the purposes of this policy, service standing shall be determined by
length of continuous service (paid Employment) with the New Hanover
County Health Department only. Service with other agencies willootbe a
part of this computation.
D.
Performance evaluations and warnings received in accordance with the
provisions of the agency's disciplinary action policy will be included in
consideration of relative efficiency.
e
E.
Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted as assigning to an employee the
right to displace or "bump" a regular employee from a position in order to
create a vacancy.
IV. Notiee Requirements
After the necessary reduction-in-force decisions have been made through applicatiqn of
the above criteria, the director shall give formal written notice to all regular employees
scheduled for separation. The notice shall be given as soon as practical. The director
shall review with the employee the reasons for the action and discuss mutual rights and
responsibilities under the reduction-in-force policy.
V. Appeal Rights
A regular employee, as defined in this policy, who is separated due to a reduction in
force, shall have the right to appeal the separation in accordance with the New Hanover
County Heahh Department Appeal Process
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Chairman
Board of Health
~ J7KH6
David E. Rice, Heahh Director
New Hanover County Health Department
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New Hanover County Health Department
: REDUCTION-IN-FORCE PLAN
May 27, 2003
I. '" REASONS FOR REDUCTION:
"
In accordance with the New Hanover County Health Department Reduction-in-Force
Policy and Procedure, the layoff unit is identified as the agency as a whole and the
following information is provided.
Since the county has issued Request for Proposals for the contracting of Jail Health
sCrvices, and since the County Commissioners haVe accepted a proposal from Prison
Health Services, effective July 1,2003, to provide Jail Health Services to the Jail
Population of New Hanover County, New Hanover County Health Department will
no longer provide staff to the Jail for this purpose. This wiIl result in the 8 positions
(listed in ill below) being eliminated within li!e Health Department.
II. DATE OF ACTION
The effective date will be June 30, 2003 at Spill.
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CLASSIFICATIONS AFFECTED
e
The following positions will be abolished effective June 30, 2003 at 5pm.
(LIST EACH POSITION AND POSITION NUMBER)
Administrative Support Tech. 20hrs per week (Budget 110-510-5174)
Administrative Support Tech. 40hrs per week (Budget 11 0-51 0-5 174)
Licensed Practical Nurse 40hrsperweek (Budget 110-510-5174)
Physician Extender 40hrs per week (Budget 110-510-5174)
PbysicianExtender 40hrsperweek (Budget 110-510-5174)
Public Health Nurse 40hrs per week (Budget 110-510-5174)
Public Health Nurse 40hrs per week (Budget 110-510-5174)
Public Health Nurse 40hrs per week (Budget 110-510-5174)
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
Written notice wi\l be provided to all employees scheduled for separation or transfer.
Any permanent employee separated under a reduction-in-force plan shall be given
priority consideration for any vacancy in this agency for which he/she qualifies for up
to one year from the date of separation.
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APPEAL RIGHTS: A permanent employee who is separated under a reduction-in-
force plan shall have 30 Calendar days from the date of their separation to file an
appeal rdin ,th procedures outlines in ~:;;;~/3
W. wm J . RPH, David E. Rice, Health Director
New Hanover C B New Hanover County Health Department
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May 27; 2003
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~i/,t!';~:~~4~*~!~~l'J:(~~j,i:,
. TollilRli(enuc'iS'$:,s.tlQ'If,S~ '," ,
. Cou~ty Appropriati~is$ 5,389,219
. This is a-3.2% (179,818) decrease in COWlty appropriations as
compared to the A.doptedFY03 Budget
50
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'",.ecimmeade
:EIlPiladll8r.
.ciJaaueslr.m
Adupted FY03
~
v
(033)
(',
P~ltOteth_
r.,.ftld.1tOt
lachllkulll'J'
.Ddfrl.....
121,104
,....
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...
...
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.,....
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$744,398
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....
CSHO
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Altt'lN-8rMrtStlft
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(24,978)
(1,300)
11,e88
13218
TOTAL IT Requests:
$35,000
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$96,200
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Total Recommended Capital Requests = $35,000
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!7if.,iij~'}\,.;:
j'eliaililiSlriiiD)>'
i:iiiciPlciiinliir,
$ 906,685
52
:Total Expenditures
$1(1,463;9#
$11,190,811
$ 726,867
$ 5,801,592
Total Revenue:
$ 4,894,907
Differen",,:
$ 906,685
County Appropriations:
$ 5,569,037
$ 5,389,219
Total Decrease to County: $ (179,818)
-3,2%
Decrease in County Appropriations is mainly due to Jail Health program being
transferred to the Sheriff's Department. (FY02-03 Budget 5650,000)
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May 2003
New Hanover County Health Department
Pertussis - Who Would
Have Thought It?
The most recent culture-
verified case of pertussis in
New Hanover County occurred in
an infant who became ill 18 days
after birth, The first symptoms
were upper res-
piratory, but in-
creased in sever-
ity over the fol-
lowing days and
became lower
respiratory to
include a cough, The cough, how-
ever, lacked the characteristic
"whoop", the red flag of pertussis,
Treatment and Diagnosis
The child was treated by the pedia-
trician for upper respiratory tract
infection, but on the ninth day
went into respiratory arrest. CPR
was administered by the grand-
mother and the child was trans-
ported by EMT s to the hospital.
There cultures were obtained, and
the child was started on antibiotics
for suspected sepsis. Within 24
hours the child was transported to
North Carolina Memorial Hospital,
where culture results eventually
confirmed the diagnosis of pertus-
sis.
Infection Source
The source case of infection re-
mains unknown. The period of
incubation for pertussis is
seven to 20 days, making a
consideration the possibility of
infection acquired in the hospi-
tal at the time of birth. Infec-
tion from family or friends is also a
consideration, and although the
mother and a 17 year old brother
both had "bad colds" beginning ap-
proximately two weeks prior to
the infant's birth, and carrying over
into a period after birth, they were
not cultured for pertussis, They
were, however, treated preven-
tively, along with other close family
members, friends, and the staff at
North Carolina Memorial Hospital
and New Hanover Regional Medi-
cal Center None have developed
any further symptoms.
The infant was discharged after II
days of hospitalization and contin-
ues to recover
SARS Soars as an
Emerging Infectious
Disease
No sooner than the latest in-
formation on SARS can be
assimilated, it's history, and new
information has taken its place,
One fact remains - SARS is an
emerging infectious disease
that has challenged the public
health community worldwide.
Not that it, or something like it,
was not expected, Public health
workers have been convening for
some time planning for new organ-
isms, mutated strains. and pandem-
ics, Had it not been for that plan-
ning, SARS would have been ram-
pant worldwide ~
by this time, _...._-
We live in a ,......-....
world of rapid
and widespread
travel enabling the spread of dis-
ease sometimes before actual rec-
ognition of a problem,
Through all of this, one poignant
item has been lost, Dr Carlo Ur-
Betsy Summey, FNP, 343-6531
bani, an expert on communicable
diseases, died March 29, 2003 of
SARS, at the age of 46, Dr Urbani
worked in public health programs
in Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam
and was based in Hanoi, Viet Nam,
Dr. Urbani was the first World
Health Organization officer to
identify the outbreak of this
new disease in Viet Nam...in
an American businessman
who had been admitted to a
hospital in Hanoi.
Surveillance Heightened
Because of his early recognition
that something very strange was
going on, he was at the hospital
every day, collecting samples, talk-
ing to the
staff and
.~
strengthening .-
infection con- ...
trol proce-
dures.
Global surveillance was heightened
and many new caSeS were identi-
fied and isolated before they in-
fected other hospital staff, Unfor-
tunately, this did not happen be-
fore Dr Urbani was infected.
As we hear of health care workers
in China who are fatigued, running
out of supplies, and frustrated with
the continued spread, let us re-
member there are many "victims."
Let us be on the alert, so as to
minimize that number
For updated information on
SARS, go to the CDC website
(www.cdc.gov).
continued
National Syphilis
Surveillance Data for 200 I
Finalized surveillance data from
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention show that the num-
bers for primary and secondary
syphilis in the U.S. increased 2.1 %
from 2000 to 200 I, making it the
first increase in the number of cases
since 1990.
The increase was noted in men only,
and is associated with reports from
several cities of syphilis outbreaks
among men who have sex with men.
The outbreaks were also associated
with high rates of HIV co-infection,
For more syphilis information
see below.
Think TB
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The Tuberculo-
sis Control
Program of New
Hanover County
Health Department is currently fol-
lowing nine cases of active TB dis-
ease, with an additional culture-
pending suspect hospitalized. Of
these nine cases seven are homeless.
Contact investigation takes us back
to the same places...homeless shel.
ters, soup kitchens, and crack
houses.
Identification of a contact with a
positive skin test, and treatment of
TB disease in this group is a long and
difficult process. Guidelines for
the treatment of latent TB in-
Syphilis Data Highlights
. In 2001, the primary and secondary syphilis rates among women were
highest in the 20-24 year age group. The rates among men were
highest in the 35-39 year age group. . .
. Between 2000-01, the rates of primary and secondary syphilis de-
clined 9.B% among African-Americans, but increased 40% among
whites.
. The South continued to have a higher rate of primary and secondary
syphilis than any other region of the country, accounting for 56% of
reported cases.
. North Carolina ranks seventh in syphilis rates and Robeson County
now has the highest rates in the country
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fection recently changed to rec-
ommend nine months therapy
with INH, which is the most ef.
fective TB drug. Treatment of TB
disease still averages six months. but
may be longer
The problem of homelessness along
with drug use often hampers regular
administration of medication. Alco-
hol use and a hepatitis B or C diag-
nosis mandates closer monitoring of
liver functions. The very circum-
stances that hamper compliance
are also the ones that contrib-
ute to an increased risk for TB
disease.
The problem of homelessness is not
ours alone. Cherry Hospital in
Goldsboro, North Carolina opened a
five-bed unit to provide voluntary,
ambulatory care for sputum smear. _
positive pulmonary TB cases/suspects ..
referred by county health depart-
ments. Unfortunately. resources are
not enough to care for patients
through their entire course of ther-
apy, but is important in getting them
past the period of infectiousness and
preventing the spread of disease.
--I
Communitable Disease Statistics
New Hanover County
July 1, 2002 - April 30, 2003
AIDS ...................................... 30
Campylobacter .....................14
Chlamydia ........................... 473
Gonorrhea........................... 174
Hepatitis A.............................. 3
Hepatitis B (acute)................ 11
Hepatitis B (carrier).............. 13
Hepatitis C (acute).................. 0
HIV Infection ......................... 46
Legionellosis .......................... 1
Listeriosis ............................... 1
Lyme Disease ......................... 6
Meningitis Pneumococcal..... 1
Meningococcal Disease......... 1
Pertussis.................................... 2
Rky. Mtn. Spotted Fever ........... 5
Salmonellosis .......................... 72
Shiga-Toxin Producing Infection
(formerly E. coli 0157:H7) ...... 3
Shigellosis ................................. 4
Strep, Group A Invasive............ 3
Syphilis ...................................... 6
Toxic Shock Syndrome............. 1
Tuberculosis............................ 10
Typhoid (acute) ......................... 0
Vancomycin Resistant
Enterococcus ........................ 9
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, ,MAKING ADIFFERENC6:.N,OIAanES WITH TIMELY INFORMAt.oN:~ORTHECITIZENS.()FNEWMANO"ERi;(OUN:rv
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Time to get off
the couch
Sally Freas, AN, CDE
OK, it's time to talk about that dreaded subject
- EXERCISElllll
Let's look at exercise realistically. First, exercise
helps everyone from 1 to 101, diabetic or not.
Second, exercise lowers blood sugar as well
as blood pressure. Third, exercise helps reduce
stress levels. Fourth, and lastly, EVERYONE can
exercise. (Notice, I haven't mentioned losing
weight and becoming a size 4. Size 4? Please,
give me a break).
There are 3 keys to exercise
(1) The first key is to MOVE muscles. Remem-
ber, muscles use sugar for energy When we
move, our muscles take more sugar from the
blood stream, hence lowering the blood sugar
(2) Because exercise has a 24-hour effect, we
need to move DAILY and work up to at least 30
minutes a day. That doesn't mean going out and
doing 30 minutes of strenuous exercise today
when you haven't moved a muscle in 10 years.
You'll feel like you've aged a hundred years and
your body will threaten you with death if you
ever get off the couch again. This is a gradual
process. Start with going out the front door and
walking around the outside of the house. If you're
not "sucking" air, try going around again. With
time, you'll get to the end of the driveway, and
then down the street. Start slowly and gradually
increase.
(3) The most important component of exercise
is DOING SOMETHING YOU LIKE, besides push-
ing the buttons on the remote control. If you hate
it, you won't do it (aerobics and I won't happen
in this lifetime) so find some sort of exercise and
start moving. It's important to plan exercise into
your schedule for at least a month. That's how
long it will take until it becomes a habit.
There are many exercises for not exercising. We
know them all. Can't walk because of back prob-
lems. Can't walk because of neuropathy Don't
have time. Don't want other people to see me
when I exercise. Remember, I said everyone can
exercise as long as they are breathing.
There are chair exercises for those in wheel-
chairs and those who have problems, walking.
These are good for those with respiratory prob-
lems and walking causes shortness of breath.
There are water aerobics classes around town
for those with arthritis. The water takes the pres-
sure off joints while the exercise lowers the blood
sugar Don't want to be in the class? You can
just walk in the pool. You don't need to get your
face wet if you don't like to swim.
Time is the biggest excuse. "I just don't have the
time." Maybe you don't have the time to go to
the gym or run for an hour, but everyone can find
5-10 minutes to do some kind of exercise, even
if it's walking around the outside of the house 3
times. Do this 2-3 times a day, and there's your
30 minutes.
If you don't want people to see you exercise,
do it early morning or late at night when no one
is around. Check the want ads for used exercise
equipment that you'd use.
Once exercise becomes a habit and you feel so
much better, you'll be amazed how you'll want to
make that time for yourself.
Keep exercise fun, simple and inexpensive.
Move daily arid do something you like. You'll feel
better and love watching that blood sugar come
down.
Sally Freas is a registered nurse and diabetes educa-
tor with Hanover Medical Specialists
Isn't it time you started walking?
Walking is one of the easiest ways
to be physically active. All you need
is a pair of shoes with sturdy heel
support and you're set. Walking
will: .
oGive you more energy
o Help you to relax
o Reduce stress
o Help you sleep better
oTone your muscles
o Help you control your appetite
o Increase the number of calories
your body uses
o Help prevent diabetes
The New Hanover Diabetes Today
Coalition, in cooperation with the
YMCA of Wilmington, sponsored a
walking program during March and
April. More than 200 people clipped
on pedometers and began counting
their daily steps. Their goal: 10,000
steps per day. Why 10,OOO? A Jap-
anese scientist working at Stanford
University found that walking 10,000
steps a day is a minimum level of
activity to burn calories and main-
tain a healthy lifestyle.
Participants walked at the Mall, at-
the YMCA track or in their neighbor-
hood. Lori Campbell, personal train-
er, was available twice a week for
instruction, motivation and to verify
step totals. The results of the pro-
gram were wonderful! Though not
everyone reached the 10,000 steps
per day goal, evetyone increased
their activity level. Many went from
little or no physical activity to daily
walks. They reported increased en-
ergy level and improved sleep. As
folks began to change t~eir lifestyle
with exercise, they began to change
their eating habits as well.
Included in this issue are stories
from two Wilmingtonians who took
the 10,000 Step challenge; tips on
how to begin a walking program
for yourself; and techniques to help
you get more out of your walking
workout.
Isn't it time you started walking?
Diabetes Today is a special publication of the New Hanover County Diabetes Today Coalitio~ which provides the editorial content. The Diabetes Today Coalition was formed in 1999 to advocate
~or
diabetes care and prevention in New Hanover County. The Coalition operates under the auspices of the New Hanover County Health Department and IS funded by a grant from Cape Fear Memonal
Foundation. Wilmington. North Carolina.
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Diabetes Today, May 2003
Is it OK for me to walk?
Answer the following questions before you be-
gin a walking program.
1 Has your health care provider ever told you
that you have heart trouble or high blood pres-
sure?
2. When you are physically active, d,o you have
pains in your chest on your left side (neck, shoul-
der or arm)?
3. Do you feel extremely breathless after you
have been physically active?
4. Has your health care provider told you that
you had bone or joint problems, like arthritis that
could get worse if you are physically active?
5. Are you over 50 years old and not used to a
lot of activity?
6. Do you have a health problem like diabetes or
physical reason not mentioned here that might
keep you from starting a walking program/
If you answered yes to any of these questions,
please check with your health care provider. If
you have diabetes, always check with your doc-
tor before starting any exercise program.
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group of peOple to walk w,lfh you. Your walklngl
p~ should .be'able to be ~e towalkwlth;
, ;you Of! the llama schedule anQ' at the 3Qme1
~~. ': :
13, Wear shoes with thick ~fIexlble soles that'
~II cushion your 1eet and ab$orb- shock. Wear:
~Othes that wlil keep YOl.! dry and comfortable.
4. Think of your walk in thfeeparts. .
:. . Walk slowly fc)r, 5 minutes. Inci'ease your;
-.--" ---- --.- ----- " "_. --,- --. ,-
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from Dia bet e::; may cause
premature hardening of the arteries.
If you experience:
. poor circulation - pain in calves while walking
. wounds that will not heal
o
speeofOf1fli'nexf5 'iTlinot9$:Flrially,to COO
down, walk slowly again for 15 minutes.
5. Try to walk at least 5 times per week. Add 2 to
3 minutes per' week to the fast walk. If yOu walk
less than three times per week, Increase the fast
Walk more slowly.
6. To avoid stiff or sore muscles or joints, start
gradually. Over several weeks. begin walkill9
faster, going further, and walking for longer pen-
(Ids of tiine. '
Take the first step.
-Walking the right way is very lrriporiant.
- Walk with' your chin up and your shoulders
held slightly back.
-Walk so that the heel of your ,foOt touches tt)e
, ground first, Roll your weight fOlWard. '.
i -WWkWitti your t<l~ polnted forward
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If you are already walking and want to get more
out of it, follow
The Walking Workout
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10 practical tips for getting maximum aero-
bic, strength, postural and conditioning ben-
efits from your walking program:
1. Warm up first, then stretch. Start by walking for
just 7 to 10 minutes (wear a watch) and then do
a few gentle stretches. Your muscles will stretch
o
Page2
better if you warm them up first. Ask a fitness
professional which stretches are best for you.
2. Take short, quick steps. By taking short,
quick steps rather than long strides you will work
your "glute" muscles (in your buttocks) as you
log miles.
3. Practice the Heel - Toe Roll. Push off from
your heel, roll through the outside of the foot,
apd then push through the big toe. Think of the
toe as the "go" button and push off with propul-
sion, Keep the other toe relaxed. (This takes
practice)
4. Squeeze your glutes. Imagine squeezing
and lifting your glutes up and back as if you
were holding a $50 bill between them! This will
strengthen your low-back muscles. Develop-
ing the ability to maintain this deep contraction
, throughout your walk will take a while.
5. "Zip Up" your abs. During your walk, imagine
you are zipping up a tight pair of jeans. Stand tall
and pull your abdominal muscles up and in. You
can practice this even when you are not walk-
ing.
6. Pump your arms. Imagine you are holding the
rubber grips of ski poles in your hands. Stand
straight, drop your shoulders, squeeze your
shoulder blades behind you and push back your
elbows with each step. Keep your arm move.
ments smooth and strong.
7. Keep your chest up, shoulders back. Use
your walk as an opportunity to practice perfect
posture. Imagine someone dumped ice down
your back. That's the feeling you want to have as
you hold your chest up and shoulders back.
8. Keep your head up. Look about 10 feet ahead
of you. Imagine you are wearing a baseball cap
and have to look up just enough to see the road. '
This keeps your neck aligned properly
9. Smile and Have Fun. Learning these tech-
niques takes time and concentration. Be patient
and enjoy your workout. Dress comfortably; find
a partner, or wear a headset and listen to music
you love; and if you are walking outdoors, vary
your route.
10. Practice "Mental fitness." Don't replay the
problems of the day while you walk. Try to main-
tain a stare of relaxed awareness by paying at-
tention to your breathing and noticing'how your
body feels. Visualize yourself getting healthier,
stronger and leaner
~ Michael S. McGarrity, M,D~
,,' ~ Paul C, Whitesides, M,D,
.....1 'CertififdThabehcEdncahonlThetCoun~lmg
'lnsulm & Non Insulin Dept'Oclffil Dlabrtes 'lrnuhn Pumps
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mdudmgTh,rDld Nodule BIOpsy
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mcludmgBoneDeoSll) Tesl1ng
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, Diabetes Shoe Fitter ,
Amanda Woolmreuntlycrmrpkttd : ,,'
adva"ftd training in Ttrln<ck, l'{f on !
wound care & conservative
managemmt 'f diahaes, Let her ~
exprmse put you in tIu right slw<!
. COASTAL CAROLINA
1_ ~~~~~~~~'~~:i~~~T~
343-0811
FOOT & ANKLE SURGERY' DIABrnC FOOT CARE
SPRAINS & FRACTURES' AMBULATORY SURGERY
INGROWN NAILS . ENDOSCO~C SURGERY
SECOND O~NION CoNSULTATIONS' X.RAY FACllITlES
Hanover Medical Specialists, PA
1515 Doctors CIrcle . Buildlng "E"
763-6332
Medical Center 762~7007
A. ~ HOUlll:
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Diabetes Today, May 2003
Traveling with Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you can still bring medica-
tions with you onto aircraft despite new security
restrictions
According
to the Trans-
portation
Security Ad-
ministration
website(tsagov)
medications
and supplies
must be first
inspected to
ensure that
prohibited
items are not
concealed
This includes
insulin and in-
sulin loaded
dispensing
products; vi-
als or box if
individual vi-
.. -"----
als; jet injec-
tors; pens; in-
fusers; and preloaded syringes; and an unlimited
number of unused syringes, when accompanied
by insulin; lancets; blood glucose meters; blood
glucose meter strips; insulin pumps and insulin
pump supplies. Insulin in any form must be prop-
erly marked with a professionally printed label,
identifying the medication or manufacturer's
name or pharmaceutical label.
In other words, if you have needles or needle
tips, you must have ,the insulin or other medica-
tion with you, and it must have the correct phar-
macy label attached explaining exactly what it is.
The best advice is to keep the griginal container
the medicine came in. If your medication doesn't
have such a label, call your pharmacy to see if
they can print a new label for you.
It may be best to put insulin and Ileedles in
a separate carrier bag. Insulin should not be
stored in the baggage hold of the aircraft as low
temperatures can cause it to freeze, destroying
its effectiveness. It is always wis~ to call the
airline or travel company in advance to check
their rules when traveling with medications.
These rules can change from day to day so be
prepared.
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n
,
'-
Another fact to remember when traveling with
diabetes - the places you visit won't know your
medical history Keep a folder with your name,
contact information, and a personal version of
your medical record. Bring your folder with you
when traveling out of town for more than a day
or two. And keep it with you so that you and any
medical personnel can gain easy access. (This
is also a good idea so it doesn't get misplaced or
delayed in baggage).
Contact your doctor's (lffice and ask for copies
of the following:
- A statement that you have diabetes with the
type and amount of medications you take.
- Recent lab results that may have been done
over the last few months.
- Immunization records and any correspon-
dence from 0ne physician to another physician
about any conditions you might have.
Remember always:
-Take spare prescriptions for all your medi-
cines in the event they become lost, misplaced
or damaged.
-If possible, take extra medications with you.
Information for this article came from Making
a Difference in Diabetes and the Transportation
Security website tsa.gov
Understanding Food Terms-
and Package Labels
Sugar
Sugar Free: Less, than .5 grams of sugar per
serving.
No Added Sugar, Without Added Sugar, No
Sugar Added: This does not mean the same as
"sugar free." A label bearing these words means
that no sugars were added during processing,
or that processing does not increase the sugar
content above the amount the ingredients
naturally contain. Consult the nutrition
information panel to see the total amount of
sugar in this product.
Reduced Sugar: At least 25% less sugar than
the regular product.
,'~
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Page3
Support Group
Meetings Set
You mean the whole box isn't one serving?
Reading food labels, separating nutrition facts
from advertising, and understanding what all
those' numbers really mean for you will be cov-
ered in the Grocery Store Tour with registered
dietitian and diabetes educator Pam DiBiasi on
Thursday, June 19 at 11 AM at the Harris Teeter
in Long Leaf Mall. Advance registration required
at 343-6758.
Know Your Numbers....HbA1c, cholesterol,
blood pressure.
In diabetes management, it is important to be
familiar with lab tests to help keep our diabetes
under control These lab tests will be identified,
normal goals will be discussed, and tips on how
to achieve "good numbers' will be shared when
Jan SChladensky, RD, CDE joins us on Thurs-
day, July 17 at 2:00 PM at the Senior Center
Eating Out Guide
Decide what you will order before getting to the
restaurant. You will be less likely to get caught
off guard by extensive menu listings, peer pres- _
sure or the sights and smells of the restaurant. '!
Here are a few ideas:
Select either a drink before dinner or dessert,
not both.
Eat your roll without butter Push the butter dish
to the other side of the table.
Eat only one half of your entree and take the
rest home for lunch the next day
Be the first to order Then you can't be swayed
by choices made by others at your table.
Don't skip meals if you are planning on eating
out later Your self- control will disappear if you
arrive at the restaurant hungry
Get Real! You don't have to eat like this
to prevent diabetes.
Over 45 and overweight? Talk to your health care
provider ahout the small steps you can take to prevent
diabetes. For free information about preventing diabetes,
call 1.800-438.5383.
State of North Carolina
Department of Health and Hwnan Services
Division of Public Health. Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch
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NornlCaroUnllDlIbWIsAltvlaoryCOuncll
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SUMMIT
PODIATRY
Glaser Foot &
Ankle Clinic
1717 Shipyard Blvd.
791-1300
ington Health Associates
NEW WCAllON:
1501 Medical Center Drive
Wilinington. NC 28401
Our Board Certified
, re Here 11.
If you're diabetic,
your feet noed special .....n.lon.
. INFECTION' FOOT ULCERS' NEUROPATHY
. VASCULAR DISEASE' BONE PROBLEMS
,
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Diabetes Today, May 2003
Changing a Lifestyle
" I-am a nurse, so I wasn't entirely sur-
prised when my physician friend an-
nounced that I had diabetes. I had
been ignoring his warnings for years.
Developing diabetes is usually a
slow process. You can go about the
business of overeat-
ing, not exercising,
and carrying extra
weight for a long time
> before your body
begins to show signs
that it objects to this
lifestyle. Now that
the news is definite,
what are you going
to do?
As for me, I chose
to fight in whatever
way possible. I began by taking the
medication my physician prescribed,
exactly the way he suggested. I re-
searched and discovered the New
~ Hanover Diabetes Today Coalition. I
attended classes they sponsored
which covered understanding the
disease, medications, and neces-
sary changes in lifestyle. The nu-
tritionist carefully went over all of
the eating options for a person with
diabetes. It turns out there are quite
a few, if you are willing to keep accu-
rate records and observe limitations.
This help was a fantastic jump start
on my new life. The classes were
followed by a walking program which
started with a meeting at Westfield
Mall. The program lasted for one
month with increased daily step goals
. "as measured by the pedometer given
to each participant. The first week
goal was 3,000 steps per day, until
at the fourth week you were to have
reached 10,000 steps (about 4 miles)
each day. If you .met the 1 Q,OOO step
goal, you could keep the pedometer
Plus - your name would be entered in
a drawing to win a $1 00.00 gift certifi-
cate for the Mall.
I decided most of my walking would
be done in the Mall, early in the morn-
ing so that I would not have to think
about it for the rest of the day If you
have never had occasion to be in the
.
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Diabetic
Retinopathy
Board Cettified In Ophthalmology
Igor Westra, ':"0 . Erik van Rens, MO
1ao~ .NewHar1IJY9J" Medical Park Dr. . Wilmil'lQlon, NC
-1703~ CIUll Rd. Suite 104 . Jackwnville. NC
4OqD:Hl~pE. Suite 240 . Utt1e River, NC
," ~~~~ii6iSbfcoastalcarOlina.com
, .
~~
Mall at 7AM, 'Iet me tell you there is
a whole sub-culture there every day
but Sunday It is like another family
for some of the regulars. Some have
been meeting for years, exchang-
ing information, gossip, political
opinions, all while they are walking
together They cele-
brate birthdays, births,
weddings, and mourn
friends and family One
man even died there
one early morning
only to be given CPR
by another walker until
the paprmedics arrived
and "saved him". He
continues to walk ev-
ery morning. These
are my kind of people.
The experience of walking in the
Mall filled my mornings with fun as
I walked with people who encour-
aged me and seemed so caring that
I would succeed. It was difficult but
I became dedicated to meeting my
goal each day I found myself walk-
ing up and down the deck of my
mountain cabin at II PM one night just
so I could meet my daily step goal.
I succeeded. I made the 10,000 steps
on the last week. It was not easy but
what a great feeling I had. I continue
to be an imperfect person, but now I
do walk every-day Maybe not 10,000
steps,. but I am up and out and that
is an improvement. I have lost a
few pounds. All of my blood sugar
readings are good. I do not feel de-
prived because I learned about food
groups and I know I c~n.eat anythi.ng
as long as I keep Within the limits.
I enjoy the people I have met at the
Mall. Now that the weather is pretty,
my dog and I can be spotted walk-
ing in the neighborhood. Changing
a lifestyle as a senior citizen is a real
challenge but it can be done, espe-
cially with the kind of help given by
the Diabetes Today Coalition.
Jean Beres Godwin is a retired
nurse. She. lives in Wilmington with
her husband Max.
,
I @r Medlronic !
,
,
,
,
,
:
MiniMed >
1
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Insulin Pump Therapy For
" Better Diabetes Control
~
,
j For InJonnation Call
,
I
l 1-800-999-9859 ext. 2887
--
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Page4
352,000 Steps and counting...
Three years ago I received the un-
welcome news that I had diabetes.
My doctor explained the conditions
I had to address - diet control, blood
sugar monitoring, and exercise. I was
forty pounds overweight with a high
stress job. The only exercise I got
was cutting the grass. When I heard
that I had to exercise, my stress
level rose even more. How could I
do that? Where would I get the time?
I was working 12 to 14 hours a day
and commut-
ing between
Wilmington
and the Re-
,search Park
weekly
The doctor
assured me
that diabetes
could be ad-
dressed in a
sound and
practical man-
ner I enrolled
in a Diabetes
Education
Program
where the educators covered blood
sugar monitoring, diet, and exercise
among other useful topics. The big-
gest impact for me was to see how
the simplest form of exercise could
have major results for my general
health and reduction in my overall
blood sugar level. We were told that
walking for twenty minutes could
impact blood sugar level by 20 to 30
points. The instructor proved it by
testing our blood sugar before and
after a 20 minute walk on the track.
Wow!
Exercise took on a whole new mean-
ing. I could find time to walk. I could
find time to squeeze walking into my
busy day I found time to walk 30
minutes a day and grew that to 30
minutes three times a day My work
life remained about the same as my
general health improved immensely
Walking saved my life. Within one
year I lost 40 pounds, my blood
sugar levels decreased to below the
diabetic threshold, my stress became
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WOUND CARE
Ct:SfEIl
177/:> wtUIH(,'TON "VUIUi WILMINCrON
910.815.0005
manageable and my overall quality of
life improved. People today ask me ,
what medication I take for my diabe- :',
tes? I proudly respond WALKING. .
Since last October, my routine was',
reduced considerably due to a foot
injury. By the first of March I was '.
ready to start normal walking again. "
I read about the 10,000 STEPS pro-
gram. When I first heard of the daily
goal of 10,000 steps, I was skeptical I
about walking. that,!
mahy steps In a!
single day Using
my pedometer, it
didn't take long to'
become a believer.:
The program gave,
me the opportunity
to meet with health
professionals and
trainers and to
make new friends.
Kickoff day was
inspiring for me as I ,
looked around and
saw many people
who obviously
understood the
power of walking. During our weekly
me,etings we would compare ?ur
achievements, talked about walking
techniques, and exchange funny situ-
ations on how we achieved our daily.
walking goals. We understood that
success no matter how small could
build self-confidence, which gives
encouragement to expand our goals
further
10,000 STEPS gave me the forum to_
set goals and a means to measure my
successes. Daily steps grew rapidly
over time. I was surprised to see what
I accomplished in just thirty days. In
this 'period I walked over 352,000
steps, which translates to about 175
miles. An added benefit was the.i
more that 18,700 calories burnedr
equating to the loss of five pounds. \
I'm still walking - and feel great! .
I
i
Paul McLean is a retired engineer'
who lives in Wilmington with his wife:
Donna. :
Ghobad Azizi, MD
~LMINGTON
Endocrinology, f'A
Specialized Medicine. Personaized Care
Board Certified in
Internal Medicine, Endocrinology,
Diabetes and Metabolism
Welcoming ExIstinv Patients, New Patients and
Physician Referrals
For Appointments (910) 254-9464
1776 Wellington Avenue, Suite 2
Wilmington, NC 28403
:'
,
,
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