One valuable source of health and social service information in
Acadiana is the 232-HELP Library and its Tel-Med service. An information
and referral center for this area, 232-HELP provides extensive,
automated tapes with health messages on hundreds of topics. LGMC
sponsors the Tel-Med program as another way to help individuals
stay healthy and recognize early signs of illness. A listing of
tapes by subject can be seen at http://www.232-help.org/libry1.html.
To actually listen to a taped message referenced on the list, call
(337) 262-5854. To receive a printed copy of the listing, brochures
on other 232-HELP services or more information, call (337) 232-HELP
(232-4357).
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Lafayette General has also made available in the area an easy-to-remember,
three-digit number for accessing health information during daytime
hours, Monday through Friday. Simply dial 2-1-1 in Lafayette, Acadia,
St. Martin, St. Landry, Iberia and Vermilion Parishes for health
information and referral services. The call will put you in touch
with operators most familiar with those communities' health and
social service resources from medical and utilities programs to
food and clothing assistance options.
We further offer you access to MEDLINEplus, a service extended
by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). MEDLINEplus gives you,
by health topic, authoritative information from NLM, the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government, non-profit and
health-related organizations. It provides pre-formulated MEDLINE
searches and gives easy access to medical research literature as
well.
There's a good reason kids no longer have to suffer from common
childhood diseases. It's called immunization. Prevention is
key – and immunization works – in eradicating the effects of measles,
mumps, rubella, polio, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and
tetanus. Newer immunizations can also prevent chickenpox, hepatitis
A and rotavirus, a serious infection that causes diarrhea. The more
children are immunized, the less chance that contagious diseases
can spread in daycare centers, schools and the workplace. It's important
to realize, too, that immunizations are recommended past toddler
stages. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends immunizing
children by age 2. Teenagers and adults should have their shots
updated before entering school or traveling abroad. Click here
for a recommended childhood immunization schedule.
