2015 Endow Iowa Income Tax Credits Going Fast

If you are considering a 2015 Endow Iowa gift to support Grinnell Regional Medical Center or other favorite charitable organizations, please know that State of Iowa income tax credits allocated for this year are being claimed at an exceptionally fast rate and will likely be exhausted well ahead of year end.  As of July 9, approximately $4.3 million of the available $6 million in credits have been claimed.

GRMC benefits from two Endow Iowa funds held by the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation. One is the GRMC Endowment Fund, and its annual disbursements to GRMC are used to meet needs for equipment, programs, and patient care. The other is called the Grinnell Regional Mental Health Center Endowment Fund, and its annual disbursements support mental healthcare for those needing it most.  If you have supported either fund in the past and are considering doing so again, please know that the allocated tax credits for 2015 could be exhausted prior to this fall.

You may direct any questions about Endow Iowa giving to GRMC’s gift planning specialist, Doug Lockin. He may be reached at 515-210-6603 or lockin.dr@msn.com. You may also contact Delphina Baumann at the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation at 641-236-5518 or delphina@greaterpcf.org.

Thank you for supporting the patients of GRMC with your generosity.  Your gifts keep the highest quality healthcare very close to home.   

Here's to Healthy Grilling

Grilled foods might taste great, but according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, grilling your foods the wrong way may increase your risk of cancer.

Cooking meats at a high temperature or over an open flame can make heterocyclic amines (HCAs) that may increase your chance of getting breast, colon, stomach, and prostate cancer – but don’t panic!

When preparing the foods to grill and the rest of the meal, you can take steps to help stop HCAs from being made or to neutralize the HCAs formed.

• Use marinades or rubs that are made with extra virgin olive oil
• Use beer if alcohol is needed in your marinade recipe (wine causes more HCAs)
• Use a marinade of one part lemon juice to two parts garlic and two parts onion 
• Use rosemary, turmeric and/or Chinese ginger to season your food
• Mix different fruits into hamburgers and sausages – cherries have been shown to work the best
• Add garlic to ground beef
• To help neutralize the damage of HCAs serve any of the following at meals with grilled food: blueberries, red grapes, kiwi, watermelon, parsley, spinach, cruciferous vegetables, red wine, beer, and/or fermented dairy foods such as yogurt. (Always follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations about alcohol intake)

And, while grilling be sure to:

• Clean your grill first.
• Pre-cook the meats so they spend less time on the grill.
• Cook with low heat – under 300^o is best.
• Do not use BBQ sauces loaded with ketchup, sugars, honey, high fructose syrup, or tomatoes and very little else – the amount of HCAs have been shown to double and even triple after just 15 minutes of cooking.
• Turn your meat often.
• Use smaller cuts of meat, such as kabobs.
• Cook until the food is done, not overdone.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may also cause cancer and are made from the smoke and flare-ups that hit your foods when fat is dropped on the hot coals or grill stones, so

• Trim the fat from your food so you don’t have as much fat dripping.
• Place your food on foil (with small holes poked in it for the fat to drip through).
• Scrape off any charred parts of your food. 

The most important thing tip, you can still enjoy your food!

Written by Elaine Hammes, RD, LD, GRMC Dietician

Celebrating the 4th of July

Grilling, sun, and fireworks are fun and Independence Day is the perfect time to experience them all! Whether you are vacationing for the holiday or staying local, let’s address a few important facts that may help you stay safe while celebrating the good ol’ red, white, and blue.

Nothing feels quite as American as a juicy burger fresh off the grill. However, according to the National Fire Protection Association, an average of 8,800 home fires are caused by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns. The NFPA also recognizes July as the peak month for grill fires. Following a few standard safety rules should greatly decrease the probability of any grill-related fires or injuries.

For grilling safety tips, visit http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/outdoors/grilling/grilling-safety-tips.

The sizzle of the hot summer sun on the 4^th of July just feels right. Just don’t let the heat of the moment cloud your judgment from using adequate protection against the sun’s harmful rays. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say, “The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes,” and the sun’s rays are most hazardous between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so don’t be caught unaware in your swimwear! Implementing sun safety measures will ensure an enjoyable day that won’t burn you later.

For sun safety tips, visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm.

The explosion of sound and color emitted from fireworks makes for a dazzling end to a historically significant day, but try not to let the excitement of the 4^th overcome your good judgment. Becoming a victim of a firework related injury is easy, but completely preventable! According to a 2013 report from the NFPA, “U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 11,400 people for fireworks related injuries.” Stay safe this holiday by leaving the firework displays to the professionals! Remember, consumer fireworks are illegal in the state of Iowa, with exception to sparklers and black snake fireworks.

For more firework safety tips, visit http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/holidays/fireworks/fireworks-safety-tips.

Remember the Manatt Family Urgent Care will be open normal business hours Friday, July 3, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Should an emergency arise this weekend, remember our emergency department is open 24/7. Stay safe and enjoy the sunshine!

Happy 4th of July!