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Bucks County Health Improvement

Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Sharps Disposal in Bucks County

By- bchip

Feb 26, 2024 | No Comments

The term “sharps” defines devices that have sharp points or edges that can puncture the skin. These can include needles and syringes, lancets (i.e., for pricking the finger), auto-injectors such as the EpiPen, and infusion sets and connection needles, which are used to deliver fluids into the body, such as in patients on home hemodialysis. Many people in Bucks County have medical conditions that require the use of sharps, and disposal of these potentially dangerous medical devices has been a…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

New Mental Health Hotline 988 – Call Before the Crisis

By- bchip

Feb 16, 2024 | No Comments

If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, including suicidal thoughts, substance use, or another mental health issue, help is only three digits away – dial 988 and a trained crisis contact person will be ready to talk and connect you with help in your area if needed. People can also text to receive help, all from their Bucks County, PA home. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) is a…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

NAMI Bucks County – Local Support from the National Alliance for Mental Illness

By- bchip

Feb 16, 2024 | No Comments

NAMI Bucks County PA was founded 40 years ago in 1983 by a mother whose son was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 12. This mother did not have the support she needed to help her son, discuss the best treatment for him, and deal with the emotions she was experiencing. She didn’t want other parents and families to be left without the support they needed in a time of crisis. Beginning with a small group called “Families Unite…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

The Significance of Keeping Health Care Directives Current

By- bchip

Dec 22, 2023 | No Comments

An advance health care directive – often called a living will – is a document in which you clearly define your health care wishes, should you be unable to speak for yourself. While most people imagine they will not need a living will until they are older and unable to articulate their own wishes, the need for an advance care directive could present at any time with a sudden accident or an unexpected illness. Therefore, maintaining an up-to-date advance directive…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

The Crucial Role of Vaccines for the Elderly

By- bchip

Dec 22, 2023 | No Comments

Vaccinations play a pivotal role in safeguarding older adults. Our ability to fight off infections and maintain our immune system declines as we age. Many of us who are elderly are also in situations where contagious conditions are easily spread. This creates situations where vaccine use is critical for older Americans to stay healthy and live fully. Vaccines are a safe and effective way for older adults to build immunity against infectious diseases, reducing the chances of serious illness, hospitalization,…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Trying to Quit Smoking? Use Tech

By- bchip

Nov 9, 2023 | No Comments

According to the CDC, smoking causes about one in five deaths in the U.S. each year, which makes it the #1 cause of preventable deaths. This includes one-third of all cancer and 90% of all lung cancer deaths, and it is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The addictive nicotine in cigarettes and the many other toxic chemicals used in tobacco products damage every aspect of the smoker’s health, yet many people struggle to quit, even with…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Are Vaccines Safe?

By- bchip

Nov 9, 2023 | No Comments

Vaccines have been a cornerstone of public health for over a century. They have saved millions of lives over that time and helped eradicate deadly diseases like smallpox and polio. Despite their remarkable success, vaccines continue to be a subject of controversy and misinformation. Here at BCHIP, we believe that Bucks County residents should have access to safe and effective vaccines. Here are reasons why vaccines are safe. Extensive Testing and Approval Process Vaccines undergo an extensive and rigorous approval…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Social Support Networks When You Stop Smoking

By- bchip

Oct 5, 2023 | No Comments

It is much harder to break the habit of smoking than it is to break an ordinary habit, such as biting your nails. Some of the same techniques may apply, such as keeping your hands busy or distracting yourself when you have an urge. But because nicotine is addictive, quitting can cause unpleasant physical and emotional side effects. This is when having a social support network becomes very important. If you live in Bucks County, we have a smoking cessation…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Should Vaccines Be Mandatory?

By- bchip

Oct 5, 2023 | No Comments

BCHIP is a pro-vaccine organization because vaccines can help you protect yourself and your family. We also believe in the intelligent and peaceful discussion of whether someone or their family should be vaccinated. Every family in Bucks County should make the best decisions for their members. The US population is very polarized on many issues, though recent polls show that most Americans want to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Mandatory vs. Forced Vaccination They sound alike, but there are key…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

How to Share Your Advance Health Care Directive

By- bchip

Sep 12, 2023 | No Comments

Your advance health care directive, also known as a living will, tells medical professionals and your family what health care decisions you want to be made for you, should you be unable to speak for yourself. BCHIP offers a free Advance Care Planning Consultation to help you with the process of completing an advance directive or you can use our simple form with reflection guidelines to help you think through and address the most important questions that you will have…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Pregnancy and Smoking

By- bchip

Sep 12, 2023 | No Comments

If you are pregnant and a smoker, it is important to cut back or really stop smoking as soon as possible. If you live in Bucks County, PA, you don’t have to do it alone. We offer a free smoking cessation program that gives you all of the support you need. Why is it dangerous to smoke when you are pregnant? Smoking while pregnant puts both you and your baby at risk of serious health effects. Every puff of a…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for My Child?

By- bchip

Aug 1, 2023 | No Comments

COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children. Vaccine use by children in the US goes back more than a hundred years. This vaccine, and vaccines in general, are effective and safe ways to help keep your child and other children healthy. Vaccines are vital tools that reduce infection and disease rates globally, according to an article in the Patient Safety in Surgery journal. Vaccination use dates back to eleventh-century China. More than 672 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given in…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Health Care Directives for Complex Medical Decisions

By- bchip

Aug 1, 2023 | No Comments

If you have a complicated medical condition or multiple health issues in Bucks County, it is very important that you create thorough advance healthcare directives. These documents spell out possible risks and the medical decisions that you would like to have made on your behalf in the event that you cannot speak for yourself. An Advance Healthcare Directive form usually has several sections, including: Whether or not you will want life-sustaining medical care, what kind, and under what situations Whether…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Side Effects When You Stop Smoking

By- bchip

Jul 13, 2023 | No Comments

If you want to quit smoking, it is best to be prepared for the possible side effects. Trying to break the smoking habit can be difficult because of the physical withdrawal your body goes through. Nicotine is an addictive substance, and as with any physical addiction, the body gets used to having it in the system and must realign itself to not having it anymore. One of the most common reasons why people are unable to quit smoking is because…

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Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP)

Relying on Herd Immunity is Not How You Want to Stay Healthy

By- bchip

Jul 13, 2023 | No Comments

Should you not vaccinate your children and rely on herd immunity? Many animals live in herds because living in a group makes it harder for predators to kill them. Herd immunity can also help communities withstand infectious diseases, but it comes at a cost. Those “free riders” who want the benefits of herd immunity without using a vaccine make the process of establishing herd immunity more difficult and more lengthy. What is Herd Immunity? Herd immunity (or community or population…

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