YOU ARE THE HELP UNTIL HELP ARRIVES
WE ARE INTRODUCING A COPE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVE IN 2023.
The goal is to promote healthcare that helps keep citizen healthy and well in our communities and out of hospitals and provide education to learn how to provide first care to potentially save a life.
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We want to encourage social connectedness and belonging for our citizens to take care of each other, strengthening community self-reliance, well-being and resiliency.
Health is much more than the absence of illness. It is the complete state of physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing. Better health and wellbeing begins locally, in our homes, in our schools, in our workplaces, and in the communities where we live. Treating people’s illnesses and sending them back to the same conditions that produced their sickness will only result in continued ill-health. By ensuring better health and wellbeing for all, and by creating programs and services that confront health inequities across our entire community, we will ease pressures on our health care system.
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We are incorporating FEMA’s “YOU Are the Help Until Help Arrives” initiative to help people attain and maintain skills to enable them to be first responders. Life-threatening emergencies happen and a timely response and simple actions can make a difference.
“Health for all will be achieved by people themselves. A well informed, well-motivated and activity participating community is a key element for the attainment of the common goal” (World Health Organization)
Your Health Community Needs You! - We want organizations and citizens in our community to join. Following eligibility, Organizations will be known as Community Health and Wellness Partners and citizens will be referred to as Champions or Ambassadors.
What we will provide:
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“YOU Are the Help Until Help Arrives” basic emergency training.
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Hands-Only CPR
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Stroke Awareness
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Stop the Bleed
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AED Training
Your Health Community Needs You!
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Why should you volunteer?Positive physical and mental health outcomes for volunteer Champion and Ambassadors include improvements in... Self-rated health status Mortality Adoption of healthy lifestyles Quality of life Frequency of hospitalization Abilities to carry our activities of daily life Depression Psychological distress Self-esteem (Cassidy et al 2008)
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What are some creative ideas for a healthy workplace event?Ideas include: COPE 60 seconds – at the beginning or end of team meetings perform a wellness activity or share health advice. Bring in a Chef to teach people an easy cooking recipe. Celebrate Wellness Wednesday – generate ideas from employees. Hold a Health Fair to talk about health, nutrition and wellness – reach out to organizations who will send subject matter experts and include take home hand-outs and items to facilitate learning on the associated topic. Organize blood pressure screenings, flu shots or provide a list of locations near your office offering flu shots on the company bulletin board or social network. Post a note near the elevator reminding people to take the stairs. Organize on-site yoga classes, bike to work day etc. Create a healthy office cookbook – request favorite healthy recipes from colleagues, select the best ones into a collection and share around the office via a downloadable document. Organize a fundraiser competition with proceeds to COPE Angel initiative. Create a high-five board. Create survey to find out what well initiatives is working and what is not. Encourage your employees to volunteer.
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What are some creative ideas for a community neighborhood event?Ideas include: Promote health literacy via lunch & Learn with seniors, parents. Organize a Health Fair, kids health fair or multi purpose event. Create support groups for diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma, Alzheimer care givers etc. Organize shared rides to the local farmers market. Organize a social outdoor event eg The Greatest Picnic Ever with food, games, entertainment with proceeds for charity. Adopt a Grand Parent – assist with dog walking, grocery shopping, reading, companionship. Organize a Meal Program Volunteer Group to serve a meal or help with dinner at local organizations supporting the underserved. Volunteer at the COPE Outreach bi-weekly events. Organize classes for parents, parenting and parents to be. Host a Presentation on a selected chronic disease, stroke, diabetes, heart attacks, colorectal cancer, blood sugar elevation. Introduce reduction in prescription costs with downloading GoodRx. Hire a Masseuse for a day – create a sign up sheet. Throw a costume or themed party – Why not a random Wednesday in March – Victorian Tea Party! Offer a Laundry service – free pick up and delivery for the elderly and unwell. Invite a Finance expert to present on Investing 101.
