SVMC Wellness Connection: Aug. 30

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August 30, 2024

SVMC Marks The Completion of Major Construction and Renovation Projects

 

On Thursday, August 29, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), a member of Dartmouth Health, celebrated the completion of a three-year renovation and construction project that modernized its emergency department, front entrance and other public areas in the hospital. Part of Vision 2020, A Decade of Transformation capital campaign, the $31 million project was primarily funded through philanthropic giving.
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?Underage Drinking: How To Talk With Your Teen About Drinking 
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To drink or not to drink? This is the question many budding teens face. In addition to the risks of alcohol poisoning and injury, alcohol use during this period of growth interferes with brain development and contributes to an elevated risk of developing a chronic alcohol use disorder. 
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Radon: The Invisible Danger In Your Home

 

The second leading cause of lung cancer, radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas emitted from the soil into in the air we breathe. The more radon you breathe in, the greater your risk. While there is no known safe level of exposure to radon, there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family. 
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Vaccines For Adults: Which Do You Need?

 

As another school year rolls around, lots of adults and caregivers are thinking about getting their kids up to date on vaccines. While protecting kids from life-threatening diseases is important, adults also need to protect themselves. And, no, those shots you got as a kid are not going to cut it.  
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Healthy Lunch Options For Back-to-School

 

This time of year, the list of things to pack for back to school is lengthy. But one item that often gets overlooked is what to pack for lunch. Russell Carrier, the nutrition and dinning kitchen manager at SVMC, shares his picks for healthy lunches that are equally delicious and easy to make. 

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Fish and Wildlife Department: Take Down Birdfeeders, Secure Food from Bears

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove their birdfeeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer.
 
"Do not wait to take down your birdfeeders and bearproof your yard until a bear comes to visit," said Jaclyn Comeau, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Bear Biologist.  "You need to act now to head off bear conflicts over the spring and summer, even if you have never had a bear visit your property before."
 
Bear incidents have been on the rise over the past several years.  Officials believe this trend is a result of Vermont's healthy black bear population learning to associate people and food over multiple generations.  Even with a steady increase in the number bears harvested by hunters in recent years—including a record harvest in 2024—Vermont's bear population has been stable over the past two decades and shows signs of growth over the past five years.
 
Shorter winters also mean that bears are emerging from their dens earlier in the spring.  In recent years bear activity has begun in mid-March.  This is roughly two weeks earlier than what is traditionally considered the start of "bear-aware season" in northern New England.
 
"Preventing bears from having access to human-related foods is key to successful coexistence with these long-lived and intelligent animals," said Comeau. "Bears can be found in every corner of Vermont other than the Champlain islands.  Put bluntly, most Vermonters live in bear country."
 
The department asks Vermonters to take the following proactive steps for coexisting with bears: 
 
  • Take down birdfeeders between mid-March and December.
  • Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or structures, trash cans alone are not enough.  
  • Follow the steps on our web page for composting in bear country. 
  • Use electric fences to keep chickens and honeybees safe. 
  • Request a bear-resistant dumpster from your waste hauler. 
  • Feed your pets indoors. 
  • Never feed bears, it is illegal.
 
"Deep snow may delay some bears from emerging from winter dens until April, but mid-March is the time for Vermonters to prepare for the early risers by taking down our birdfeeders, making sure garbage is secure, and protecting backyard chickens and bees with an electric fence," said Comeau.  "This will help teach bears that our yards and neighborhoods are not good places to search for food, but it will only work if everyone does their part."  Taking these precautions will also help reduce the chance of attracting other wildlife species such as raccoons, skunks and rodents.
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