The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports March 1
Kansas Common Sense by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
Hello,
Welcome to “Kansas Common Sense.” Thanks for your continued interest in receiving my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward it on to your family and friends if it would interest them.
Condemning Putin’s Unprovoked Invasion of Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an avoidable tragedy for which Vladimir Putin is solely responsible. I condemn this unprovoked attack, and I am praying for the people of Ukraine. The United States must stand united with Ukraine and firmly on the side of freedom.
President Biden and our allies must impose punishing sanctions on Russia’s vital economic sectors and provide humanitarian support to Ukrainian victims of Moscow’s aggression. It is also imperative that all NATO allies remain unified against the Russian threat and ensure the security of the alliance’s eastern-most members. While this moment underscores the need for our allies to contribute more to NATO’s defense, the United States’ commitment to our NATO obligations cannot be in doubt.
I am grateful for our military servicemembers stationed in Europe—and those who have recently deployed there—for demonstrating to our NATO allies in Europe and around the world that the United States can be relied upon. I also thank our intelligence professionals, who have consistently and accurately anticipated Russia’s moves. Our country is safer because of these unsung patriots.
Watch my interview with Fox 4 Kansas City here or below.
Urging the U.S. Senate to Immediately Consider a Bipartisan Russia Sanctions Package
As the Senate convenes this week, Russia’s invasion must be met with severe and unified consequences. Following Russia’s invasion late Wednesday night, I urged Senate Majority Leader Schumer to suspend all planned Senate activity and immediately move to consider sanctions legislation once it is prepared. Our friends and foes will take note of our ability—or inability—to act without delay.
Read the full letter here.
We Must Prioritize American Energy Independence
Russia invades Ukraine, the Biden administration must realize the need to maximize home-grown energy and not diminish America’s energy independence at a time when gas and oil prices reach all-time highs. Prior to the invasion, Russia has been America’s third largest supplier of oil. Each day, the U.S. and our European allies was sending hundreds of millions of dollars to Russia for its energy resources. We can no longer subsidize Russian aggression.
I believe in an all-of-the-above approach to energy independence, and it can’t be accomplished without enabling our oil and gas producers to play a role. Washington must promote sensible solutions that boost jobs at home and keeps money out of the pockets of our adversaries.
Listen to my remarks on RFD-TV here.
Visiting with Ft. Riley’s Commanding General Douglas Sims
I am thinking of the First Infantry Division soldiers stationed in Europe as their deployment is extended. Their mission has taken them far from their families as they assist partner nations during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
I had the opportunity to speak twice this week with Major General Sims, the Commanding General at Ft. Riley. I expressed my appreciation for his leadership and gratitude to our soldiers and their families.
The Big Red One stands ready as a key deterrent to our adversaries, and I appreciate their dedicated service. Read more about the deployment extension here in Fox News.
Junction City Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Breakfast
On Thursday, I spoke at the Junction City Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Breakfast. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I made clear my condemnation of Vladimir Putin’s aggression and the need for the United States to be united in our support for our military community and our servicemembers, as well as in our commitment to NATO and our allies.
The Junction City Military Affairs Council plays a vital role in the Fort Riley Community to support our Big Red One soldiers and their families, and I was able to recognize Ryan Kules and Christine Benne, tireless advocates for servicemembers and veterans, and two individuals who have made significant contributions to the lives of disabled veterans. A few years ago, I worked with Christine and her late husband, Paul, a Spring Hill native, to help them receive a Specially Adaptive Housing grant from VA after Paul retired from the Army. After working through this process with them, I was introduced to Ryan, who also utilized the SAH grant to adapt his home to fit his disabilities.
Although the SAH grant was helpful, it was not nearly as flexible and extensive as it should have been. We then worked together and with the Wounded Warrior Project to expand this benefit through legislation. The bill, which we named the Ryan Kules and Paul Benne Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement Act, was signed into law in 2020. It significantly improves this grant program for disabled veterans. Although we lost Paul in 2019, his legacy lives on through every veteran who is able to make their home more accessible due to his and Ryan’s advocacy.
Thank you to Craig Bender, Military Affairs Council Director of the Junction City Chamber, for the kind invitation and to Major General Douglas Sims, 1st Infantry Division Commanding General, for the conversation. Thank you also to Ryan Kules and Christine Benne. I know this community and our state will continue to support Ft. Riley soldiers.
Increasing Broadband Funding Transparency
Last week, I joined my Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee colleagues in sponsoring the Broadband Buildout Accountability Act, a bill that would increase transparency for the funds the National Technology Information Administration (NTIA) received in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The broadband grant program being administered under NTIA is currently exempted from requirements under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), decreasing transparency into how those funds are used and making it harder to ensure taxpayer dollars are not misused.
Earlier in February, I held an oversight hearing as the lead Republican on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds NTIA to ensure that this once-in-a-generation investment is spent wisely and to make certain that currently unconnected Kansans are connected by the end of these programs. I will continue to work with my subcommittee and committee colleagues to ensure that the funds allocated to broadband deployment are transparently deployed in line with Congress’ intent.
Meeting with Civic Clubs
Council Grove
On Wednesday, I visited with members of the Council Grove Rotary Club. Our discussion centered around the importance of rural schools, hospitals and businesses, as well as my work to expand broadband coverage for all Kansans and the situation in Ukraine. We also discussed the importance of food production and promoting policies that help Kansas’ producers secure future of Kansas agriculture and their livelihoods, including opposing fertilizer tariffs as farmers and ranchers input costs continue to rise.
Thank you to Rotary President Aron Dody and to all rotary members I spoke with today. As the world feels unpredictable, the work you do to create strong community ties and lift up your fellow neighbors and friends is more important than ever.
Atwood
On Thursday, I was in Atwood to speak with Rotary members. We discussed agricultural profitability, strengthening mental health resources in rural America and reducing wait times for people experiencing mental health crises and in need of immediate care. I spoke to the challenges of getting providers to rural Kansas, and I shared my commitment to working to improve quality mental health care for all Kansans.
As the situation in Ukraine unfolds, those in attendance spoke with me about their concerns regarding the Biden administration’s energy policies and the need for a strong and independent fossil fuel industry to provide stable oil and gas prices for American families. Thank you to Rotary President Deb Minkler, District President Jeff Horlacker, City Councilman Dakota Dunker and Superintendent Eric Stoddard, and to all those who spoke with me yesterday.
Visiting Hospitals in Northwest Kansas
Decatur Health
On Thursday, I visited Decatur Health as leadership and staff continue to provide care to the Oberlin community. Our discussion touched on the implementation of the MISSION Act, my legislation that gives veterans the option to receive care in their community and closer to home, and how to improve the way veterans are able to receive that community care. We also discussed the challenges Decatur Heath faced in 2021, as the hospital experienced its busiest year, and pandemic relief funding distributed by the state.
I am grateful for the opportunity to hear firsthand the experiences of Kansas health care professionals so our state is better prepared to provide rural health care. Thank you to Chad Meyer, Decatur’s CFO, as well as Mayor Garret McDougal, City Manager Halley Roberson and Oberlin’s Chamber Director Shayla Williby for speaking with me.
Logan County Hospital
On Friday, I visited Logan County Hospital to receive an update from its CEO Mel Snow. I was able to see the facility’s new patient rehab wing and speak with hospital leaders about their efforts to build a new facility. Our conversation also touched on Sequestration 340B and how Logan County Hospital retained its staff throughout the pandemic.
I appreciated speaking with Mel, and I thank hospital and community leaders, including COO Aimee Zimmerman, CFO Rechelle Horinek, CIO and City Council Ross Kahle, City Manager Brock Sloan, Hospital Board Member Ron Clark and Rehab Coordinator Gerry Baalmann for taking time to speak with me. I am committed to bolstering Kansas’ rural health care capabilities.
Visiting Kansas Schools
Colby Community College
I toured Colby Community College on Thursday to learn more about the college’s current initiatives, including expanding its agriculture and vet tech program, vital programs to bolster the Colby community, as well as ensure more women and men are able to receive a quality ag education. I was also able to tour CCC’s impressive new athletic facilities, including their indoor baseball and softball training facility, indoor tennis and pickleball courts, and its basketball facility.
Colby Community College’s growing student body is a testament to the college’s focus on preparing students for success down the road in whatever field or career they choose to pursue. Thank you to Colby Community College President Dr. Seth Carter for hosting me yesterday, and for his dedicated efforts on behalf of Colby Community College.
Junction City High School
It was great to visit Junction City High School and visit with staff and students in their new facilities on Monday. Students are provided a wide variety of opportunities for participation in interscholastic athletics and activities, and JCHS also offers industry-based certifications in many programs, including automotive, welding, ServSafe, EMT, CNA and more.
I was pleased to see how this state-of-the-art facility will continue to support the Junction City community as well as Ft. Riley’s strong military presence. Thank you to Science, Engineering and Health Academy Principal Stephen Green, Junction City High School Principal Merrier Tartt, Superintendent Dr. Reginald Eggleston. Career and Technical Education Administrator Becky Coy, JROTC Student Commander Col. Grant Shrader and Fine Arts and Human Services Academy Principal Ruth Stephenson, and students Tim, Zane, Jennifer and Kaya for their time. Read more here from the Junction City Post.
Wallace County High School
While in western Kansas this week, I was pleased to visit with students and faculty at Wallace County High School in Sharon Springs. I appreciate all that our educators have done over the last year to ensure students can come to class and learn side-by-side with their peers. Decisions about education are best made close to home, and I appreciate the time Kansas’ educators take out of their schedules to speak with me – thanks also to students Maddie and Brookley for the tour.
Honoring FHSU’s Dr. Arris Johnson
On Friday, I visited Dr. Arris Johnson, his wife, Virginia and his grandson, Chris McGowne and his wife Sarah, to present Dr. Johnson with framed remarks I entered into the Congressional Record in his honor. Dr. Johnson, a Decatur County-native, lifelong Kansan and Hays resident, celebrated his 100th birthday this past November, a rare and impressive milestone.
Six weeks before his graduation from Fort Hays State University, he was called to serve our nation in the U.S. Army during World War II. Following his service, he returned to Kansas to continue his education, and upon completing his bachelor’s degree at FHSU and master’s degree at Kansas State University, he again returned to FHSU where he taught in the Department of Education for nearly three decades before retiring in 1985. As a beloved husband, father, grandfather and veteran, Arris is a tribute to our Greatest Generation, and a grateful nation and our state thank him for his service. I thank Dr. Johnson for his service and his friendship, and I congratulate him on a century of a life well-lived.
Attending the Goodland Tech and Northwest Kansas Technical College Economic Development Announcement
On Friday, I joined representatives from Goodland Tech, the Northwest Kansas Technical College (NWKTC) and the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center (NWKEIC) to announce a new partnership that will provide Northwest Kansas with many well-paying jobs. Goodland Tech and NWKTC, with support from NWKEIC, are partnering to provide students work experience at Goodland Tech while they are educated at NWKTC. After students complete the program, they will have the opportunity to continue at Goodland Tech with a paid apprenticeship.
This partnership provides a mutually-beneficial situation where the students gain the experience and knowledge necessary to be exemplary employees, while providing a pipeline of students trained and equipped to fill open positions at a time when tech jobs are in very high demand. I look forward to remaining engaged with Goodland Tech, NWTC, NWKEIC, and the community of Goodland to ensure this community continues to attract cutting-edge opportunities like this one.
Thank you to President Ben Shears, Richard Sparrow, Ben Coumerilh, and Scott Sproul for inviting me to speak at the announcement event, and for their work on this project and dedication to the community of Goodland and people of Northwest Kansas. See more from my visit by clicking here or below.
National FFA Week
Last week was National FFA Week. Thank you to Kansas FFA Association’s commitment to the success of our state’s next generation of farmers and the contributions its students make to ensure Kansas’ strong agriculture leadership.
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Legislative Update by State Senator Caryn Tyson
February 25, 2022
Turn around is the halfway point for session. It’s the day when a bill dies if it was not ‘blessed’, which means that it had not been in an exempt committee or that it did not pass the originating chamber (either the House or the Senate). The three exempt committees in the Senate are: Taxation, Federal and State Affairs, and Ways and Means. There were 18 bills in the House that died and 0 in the Senate so far.
There are many bills that never make it out of committee. To give you an idea, this year at turnaround, the Senate still has 382 bills in committee and the House has 510. The Senate has passed 55 bills and the House has passed 47 – the Senate bills need to pass the House, and the House bills need to pass the Senate before going to the Governor. The Governor can sign them into law, let them go into law without her signature, or veto them. If the Governor vetoes a bill – the legislature can override a veto with a 2/3 majority vote.
Turnaround week is very intense. Monday evening, senators received a list of 23 bills that were to be debated on Tuesday. Tuesday evening, we received a list of 11 bills to be debated Wednesday. There were too many bills to cover in this update, but you can find all the bills at www.kslegislature.org.
Property Rights have been protected since the founding of our country. We shouldn’t have to pass legislation for those protections, but we do. Senate Bill (SB) 395 would require a warrant, court order, subpoena, or permission by the landowner for Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) to put any recording device on your property. Currently the KDWP has the authority to enter your property without your knowledge, set up cameras and monitor those cameras, this is just wrong. No other law enforcement officials have this right. The bill was watered down in the Judiciary Committee. Working with other legislators, I helped reverse the watered down version on the floor. The bill passed the Senate 30 to 9. I voted Yes to protect your property rights.
A person burglarized a church and a judge ruled that the person was invited so they couldn’t be charged with burglary. Let’s get this straight, a person steals from a locked sanctuary and a judge rules the person had a right to burglarize the church because “the person had been invited” into the unlocked area of the church. It is so ridiculous that a judge would rule that way. What else makes little sense is that SB 366 was introduced to make clear it is a crime to burglarize a locked building. Current statute says a “building, manufactured home, mobile home, tent or other structure which is not a dwelling” cannot be burglarized, but the Senate thinks adding “locked building” will help. It should be that no one can burglarize or steal another person’s property. If this bill becomes law, will it be interpreted by another judge that a person can burglarize an unlocked building? The bill passed 39 to 1. I was a No vote to protect property, whether the building is locked or unlocked.
Rules and Regulations written by the Administration have the rule of law. SB 34 would require that all Rules and Regulations be reviewed every five years and establish an alternative revocation procedure. This bill is long overdue. I voted Yes. The bill passed 32 to 7.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your 12th District State Senator.
Caryn
Majors Themes Are Produced From Neighborhood Meeting
Strong Together: Building Up Our Neighborhoods Project Update
Fort Scott, KS: Health is Neighborhoods and Environment. The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) addresses one of the social determinants of health by building connections between where a person lives (e.g., housing, neighborhood, and environment) and his or her health and well-being.
HBCAT held the first of three public forums for their Stronger Together: Building Up Our Neighborhoods creative placemaking project. Special thanks to the Fort Scott Fire House Station #2 for allowing HBCAT to host the event there and to Aunt Toadies who catered a breakfast buffet. This event was facilitated by Danny Barrera with Wichita State Engagement Institute, funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant, who helped the group define what increased moral, community pride and healthy behaviors look like in 15 years. Participants were even able to discuss potential projects.
The major themes identified were:
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- Pavilion/Amphitheater with Internet Access
- Public Transportation
- Parks: Slides and Natural Obstacle Courses
- Access to Food: Food Boxes, Farmers Market and Food Court
The group voiced the want for more events on the Eastside and blur the lines between the East side/West side. There is $140,000 in grant funds from the Patterson Family Foundation and an additional $10,000 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Pathways to Healthy Kansas Grant for this creative placemaking project and another Downtown Arch project. HBCAT steering committee will take this information, start drafting real plans and plan for the next public forum to be held in May.
The Healthy Bourbon County Action Team’s mission statement drives their work: they aim to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, promote commercial tobacco cessation, enhance the quality of life, and encourage economic growth.
Creating quality places will attract a healthier workforce. People are prioritizing where they live instead of where they work. As an economic development support organization, the HBCAT is taking a more holistic approach by focusing on people and healthy places versus industrial parks and attracting large businesses like amazon or google we are. Covid 19 pandemic truly highlighted a shift from picking a location based on a job to picking a location to live based on the quality of life and amenities. The HBCAT is focusing on making the healthy choice the default choice, improving community amenities like our outdoor recreational spaces, and building a healthy workforce. We do this by creating key relationships with community members and cross-sector leaders like the local elected officials, extension agents, school personnel, entrepreneurs, local community members, and the chamber of commerce.
For any East Side residents that want to be more involved in this project please reach out to Rachel Carpenter by phone at 620-215-2562 or by email at [email protected]
Get Ready for Walk Kansas
Southwind Extension District
Spring is around the corner, and that means it’s almost time for Walk Kansas! This is a team-based health initiative program that will encourage you to lead a healthier life by being more active and making better nutrition choices.
Through Walk Kansas, you are part of a six-member team which selects a goal and then supports one another in reaching that goal during the course of the 8-week healthy lifestyle challenge. Teams can be made up of family members, coworkers, friends, community organization members, neighbors, or members of a faith-based community. You don’t have to be in the same town, county, state, or even country. If you don’t have a team, we can assign you to one or you can fly solo!
We promote walking because almost anyone can do it and it is good for your heart. However, other types of exercise are beneficial as well so they also count towards Walk Kansas minutes. This includes any moderate or vigorous activity. This physical activity will help boost your mood, sharpen your focus, reduce your stress, and improve your sleep. No matter who you are, you can find safe, fun ways to get active by moving your own way.
By participating in Walk Kansas, you gain support in working towards leading a healthier life, including support from your teammates and exclusive membership in a closed Walk Kansas Facebook group. Success increases with supportive relationships. You will also receive weekly newsletters filled with motivational healthy lifestyle information, resources, and recipes. This year, the newsletters will include a focus on healthy eating for the mind, since eating a certain way can help protect brain function and reduce your risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, you will qualify for HealthQuest credits if you are a State of Kansas employee participating in this program!
So, what are you waiting for? Registration for Walk Kansas opens on March 1st. Register by March 26th online at WalkKansas.org or by contacting your local K-State Research and Extension office. For more information, please contact Clara Wicoff, Nutrition, Food and Health Agent, at [email protected] or by calling 620-365-2242.
Healthy Bourbon County Action Team Feburary Newsletter
Click below to view the newsletter
Fresh Produce Can be Delivered to Your Door: 1553 Plants and Produce Farm
A local entrepreneurial farm couple has been planning and planting during this dormant season time planning their new products and services.
1553 Plants & Produce is a local farm started by Kenny and Kerry Wunderly in November 2020. The farm is located at 1555 205th St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.
The couple sells many farm-related services and products that they are willing to deliver.
“This past year our biggest seller for our produce was our variety harvest baskets,” she said. “We featured these on our Facebook page weekly and they sold out very quickly. We delivered these to our customer’s doorstep that day and we will continue this again this year. These will be starting again around late May. We are currently working on a website for ordering but as of now it’s all still through text, call, or Facebook message.”
The phone number is 785-422-5770.
“This year we will have a full line of garden vegetables. Celery, Tomatoes, zucchini, squash, beans, sweet corn, lettuce, broccoli, peppers, radishes, beets, cucumbers, watermelons, and cantaloupe just to name a few,” Kerry said. “We are making these available in weekly harvest baskets in season along with our on-farm u-pick section and on our self-serve veggie trailer. And if you’d like, we’ve entered into a wholesale agreement with a local restaurant, La Hacienda, so you can get them already cooked!”
“We are expanding our herb offering and will have a large variety of fresh herbs, dried herbs, and herb salts,” she said.
They will also be growing winter squash, pumpkins, ornamental corn, sorghum, and cotton, and some ornamental cabbages to use in fall decorative vignettes they create, which they call fall bundles.
“Our fall bundles are delivered the first week of October and consist of straw hay bales, pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, and ornamental corn ears and mums. This year we will be adding dried cotton plants, sorghum stalks, and ornamental cabbage as available. Mostly grown on our farm, but some items will be locally sourced from other small, family-owned operations.”
“For Christmas this past year we wrapped hay bales in ribbon to look like large presents, made an evergreen basket complete with boughs, berries, and Christmas balls for ornaments, and finished it off with a homemade wooden snowman. Nearly all of these things are upcycled from the farm. We’re going to be doing this again for 2022 with some small changes. These were and will be again, delivered the first week of December. We also do just the wooden snowman for those interested.”
“The wooden Easter bunnies are new this year and we plan to have them ready by mid-March,” she said.
The couple added a hoop house on the property to extend providing products, she said.
They also provide landscaping services.
“We didn’t intend to be in the landscaping business but had the opportunity to work with some great clients,” she said. “We did a lot of flower bed maintenance and rescue and it was awesome to see the look on our client’s faces when they saw the finished product.”
“We built and installed lots of raised flower/vegetable beds and even built a small retaining wall,” Kerry said. “And we picked up a few lawns for mowing. None of these things were on our radar to begin with, but we were happy for the opportunity and will continue to provide those services where needed.”
Next on the Horizon
“We are exploring a couple of “on-farm” experiences for folks that might be interested,” she said. “The first is our Dinner On The Farm (event). We are working to develop a menu that’s been completely produced on our farm. You will be able to bring your family or friends out for dinner cooked by us on the farm. You can see exactly where your chicken was hatched and raised and see the exact bed where your broccoli and tomatoes were grown!”
“We will be building the seating area in the next few months and hopefully will have our first dinner served by late spring,” she said.
They are in the planning phase for a fishing pond on their property.
” Our pond will have a dock for easy access and be stocked for those wanting to (fish),” she said. But if you catch a giant you have to release him…HAHA just kidding, kind of!”
“Kenny has been a hobby photographer for years and has taken thousands of photos on our farm,” Kerry said. “We will be planting a small plot of sunflowers this year and opening our farm up at times for other local photographers to photograph these and all the other flowers we grow.”
“We are also in the planning phase of building some photo blinds in strategically placed spots on the farm,” she said. “These will be sets with a water feature, feeders, and native plants and bushes for bird photography.”
The couple is looking for another source of protein being produced on their farm, and this project is expected to be in place by fall.
They offer free garden consults and build raised beds gardens.
“We will be adding a couple more beds to our community garden section and those are available to rent for the season right now,” she said.
Flint Hills Burning Season Starts
Health Advisory, Safety Tips Issued During Flint Hills Burning Season
Smoke Modeling Tool to be activated on March 1
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reminds Kansans that March and April are the months when large areas of the state’s Flint Hills rangeland are burned. These burns help preserve the tallgrass prairie, control invasive species, reduce woody encroachment from species such as Eastern Red Cedar and Sumac and provide better forage for cattle. Prescribed burning minimizes risk of wildfires and is effective in managing rangeland resources. Smoke from the burns can influence the air quality of downwind areas. The use of smoke management techniques is vital to reduce air quality and health impacts.
KDHE will activate the Kansas smoke modeling tool on March 1, prior to widespread burning in the Flint Hills. The computer models use fire data and current weather conditions to predict the potential contribution of smoke to downwind air quality problems. There are approximately 2.2 million acres burned on average in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma each year.
“For the twelfth-consecutive year, we are proud to have the opportunity to provide this important tool for the prescribed fire community,” said Douglas Watson, meteorologist at the KDHE Bureau of Air. “We continue to encourage ranchers and land managers to take advantage of this smoke modeling resource to spread out their burns more effectively and mitigate potential air quality impacts.”
Prescribed burns release large amounts of particulate matter and other pollutants that can form ozone. Particulate matter and ozone can cause health problems, even in healthy individuals. Common health problems include burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis. Individuals with respiratory issues, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, children and elderly are more vulnerable to experience symptoms.
Steps to protect your health on days when smoke is present in your community include:
- Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor
- More vulnerable people should remain
- Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air
- Stay hydrated by drinking lots of
- Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe
For more information about the burning in the Flint Hills, the Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan, the April burn restrictions and the smoke modeling tool, please visit http://www.ksfire.org.
Is Vertigo Contributing to Your Fall Risk?
Falling is a concern for anyone. However, as we age, falls may happen more frequently, and as my grandfather used to say, “we just don’t bounce as well as we used to.”
Several factors may contribute to the more frequent falls, such as medications, chronic disease, vision or hearing loss, loss of strength, foot problems, and sometimes we just don’t pick up our feet as well as we should. Keeping physically active and doing strengthening exercises on a regular basis can reduce our risk for falls. If balance is an issue for us, we are likely not to keep up with the physical activity needed to help reduce the fall risk.
Vertigo is a common falls risk that creates a sensation of dizziness that leads to balance problems and ultimately makes a person a higher risk for falls. Nearly 40% of Americans experience vertigo sometime during their lifetime. It can happen at any age, but is more common in people over 65. Women may experience vertigo more often than men. It can also be a side effect of pregnancy.
Dizziness is more of an overall feeling of being unbalanced. For those experiencing vertigo, it can feel like they are moving and the environment around them is spinning in circles. Some compare vertigo to motion sickness, as they are feeling as if they are spinning or tilting.
Vertigo is not considered a disease. It can be scary, but is not considered serious. However, it may be a symptom of other serious health conditions. It is important to visit with your health care provider when experiencing recurring vertigo attacks. Tests can be performed to more correctly pinpoint the cause.
Most common instances of vertigo are related with hearing and the ear — particularly a problem within the inner ear, known as peripheral vertigo. The inner ear is associated with helping us keep better balance. However, there is also central vertigo that occurs when there is an issue with the brain. Causes for this version of vertigo can include infection, brain tumors, traumatic brain injury or stroke.
Vertigo attacks may last several seconds to minutes. In severe cases, those spells may be experienced for several hours, days, weeks or even months.
In many cases, vertigo goes away on its own. There are also several treatments that may successfully manage vertigo. Medications may be needed to treat an infection or relieve nausea or the sensation of motion sickness.
Taking extra time to stand, turn your head, or rolling over in bed may help reduce your risk for vertigo. Other steps in reducing risk include sleeping with your head elevated, sitting down as soon you feel dizzy, or squatting instead of bending over to pick something up.
Don’t let vertigo contribute to your risk for falls. Identifying the root cause of your vertigo can be determined by your health care provider and a personalized treatment option may be established to help you get back to a normal life.
There are some specific exercises that can be done to help improve balance. For more information on those exercises, contact your local Southwind Extension District Office.
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