Health Beat
On the heels of the closure of the American Red Cross office in Newburyport and its consolidation with the Northeast Massachusetts office in Beverly, the agency is beginning to offer CPR classes locally again — in Amesbury at the emergency management office at 9 School St.
Adult CPR is being offered Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 6 to 10 p.m., and Infant and Child CPR is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 6 to 10 p.m. The fee for both classes is $60.
A full slate of classes is available at the Red Cross' Beverly office. To register for classes or for more information, call 978-922-2224 or visit www.northeastmassredcross.org.
Suicide prevention for older adults
The Samaritans of Merrimack Valley is offering free training to help reduce the incidence of suicide among people ages 55 and older, on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Assisted Living Center at 19 Beach Road in Salisbury.
Wendy Kaplan-Frost, a licensed social worker and assistant executive director for resident services at the center, says the training is especially for people who have regular contact with older adults through professional, family or social circumstances. Those who complete the training will be better able to assess an older adult's suicide risk and connect those considered at risk with professional help.
Continuing education credits are available for professionals. The program is funded by the state Department of Public Health. Call Kaplan-Frost at 978-463-9809 for more.
Lions Eyemobile coming to Salisbury
The Massachusetts Lions District 33N (northeast Massachusetts) Eyemobile will be in Salisbury on Sunday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the TD Bank Salisbury Branch at 6 Merrill St.
The unit features equipment to do free vision and hearing screenings. The stations includes an automatic blood pressure monitor with oxygen and pulse readings; a visual acuity tester, similar to that used by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, presenting the "Illiterate E" test, which is suitable for young children, a depth perception test to detect children with lazy eye, a color vision test to detect red/green color blindness in male children, a "puff" tonometer to measure eye pressure, a camera to detect cataracts and retinal pathology, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma; and a hearing booth to measure hearing sensitivity.
The event is sponsored by the Salisbury Lions Club and the TD Bank Salisbury Branch. Members of the Lions Club will perform the screenings.
Asperger Syndrome Support Group meeting
The Asperger Syndrome Support Group meets Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Higgins Conference Room at Anna Jaques Hospital, 25 Highland St., Newburyport. A general discussion is planned.
The support group, which is sponsored by the Asperger's Association of New England, addresses the concerns of parents of school-aged children diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, high-functioning autism or related challenges.
Meetings are open free to area families. Contact Carol Keating at 978-372-2799 or carolkeating@verizon.net or Suzanne Phillips at 978-356-1775 or suzanne.phillips@gordon.edu.
Students leading benefit for genetic syndrome
Hollie Abrahams and Taylor Schneider, senior seminar students at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, N.H., are holding a benefit to raise funds and awareness for the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation on Friday, Nov. 13, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Seabrook American Legion, 169 Walton Road, Seabrook.
The night will feature dinner, dancing and raffles. Admission is $5. Proceeds will support the foundation and its work aiding patients and supporting research on Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, a genetic syndrome present from birth for which there is no cure. It affects one in 10,000 babies. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and patients suffer from physical and cognitive development delays, health problems, and speech and language delays.
The students are also seeking donations for the event. Contact Hollie at 603-953-5602 to make a donation or for more information.
'Feel Better, Live Better Now' workshop
Catherine Russell, who specializes in mind body wellness, presents a free, interactive workshop on "Feel Better, Live Better Now" on Monday, Nov. 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Program Room at Newburyport Public Library, 94 State St.
Russell, who is based at Newburyport Medical Associates, will offer advice for how people can slow down, learn to relax their mind and restore their energy in a fast-paced world. Tips on relieving stress and revitalizing one's life will also be provided.
For more, call Russell at 978-771-8448 or e-mail catherine@catherine-russell.com,
Day of healing for Survivors of Suicide
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is bringing together thousands of survivors of suicide loss to share in a day of healing and empowerment through the 11th annual National Survivors of Suicide Day program on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Family Service, 430 North Canal St., Lawrence.
The program is being sponsored by the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention — Northeast Region. Contact Debbie Helms at 978-327-6671 or e-mail dhelms@familyserviceinc.com for more information and to register.
Memory screenings
Visiting Angels and Angels at Home Healthcare is offering free, confidential memory screenings on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3 Cherry St., Singuite 101, in Newburyport in observance of National Memory Screening Day.
The face-to-face screening takes five to 10 minutes and is designed to improve overall health maintenance and promote proper detection of memory problems. National Memory Screening Day is an initiative of the Alzheimer's Association of America, which encourages adults to get screened. For more information or to schedule a screening time, call 978-462-6161.
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If you have an item for Health Beat, contact Sonya Vartabedian at 978-462-6666 or svartabedian@newburyportnews.com.
