COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic Prompts City, Citizen Preparedness

With the recent publicity about the COVID-19 virus, how prepared should a family, a company, or even a government entity be to deal with it?

Sand Springs Fire Chief Mike Wood doesn’t advocate panic over what could be a potentially troubling outbreak, but he is urging preparation and prevention. Planning for a pandemic is critical when essential City services are involved.

The City of Sand Springs is heightening awareness among departments and employees to assure essential services continue should a significant outbreak occur.

Wood has been monitoring COVID-19 conditions, also more widely known as the Coronavirus, since January. On Wednesday, March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) classified COVID-19 as a pandemic due to the number of cases being reported worldwide.

The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully known. Reported illnesses have ranged from very mild (including some with no reported symptoms) to severe, including illness resulting in death. While information so far suggests that most COVID-19 illness is mild, a report out of China suggests serious illness occurs in 16% of cases. Older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions - like heart disease, lung disease and diabetes, for example - seem to be at higher risk of developing a serious COVID-19 illness, Wood said.

The best defense against contracting the Coronavirus is proper hand washing. Many public facilities are posting signs reminding people to wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom. People should cover their nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing. And a person’s hands should be kept away from his or her face whenever possible.

“People who are experiencing influenza-like symptoms should go home and stay at home away from others as much as possible until symptoms subside. If mild to moderate symptoms exist, public health officials are urging the public not to just “show up” at a medical facility or call 911, they ask instead for the person to reach out to their health care provider or local health department for guidance.” Wood said.

Many City employee functions are deemed essential to providing services to the public. Safety personnel such as police and firefighters are obvious examples. However, there are also many other essential support services such as sanitation workers, and water and sewer plant personnel who also oversee essential services, Wood noted.

To protect employees and the public, the City emphasis will be given to hand hygiene – including installation of sanitizing dispensers in key areas of public contact. Additionally, disinfecting efforts will be stepped up and some limitations for access to public buildings may become necessary.

Wood added he will continue to educate both City employees and the community about COVID-19 developments, using information from The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), and county health departments, all these entities have additional information available regarding the pandemic.

To view more information on the COVID-19 virus, go to the Tulsa Health Department’s website at www.tulsa-health.org. The CDC website also has very helpful information at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Our emergency phone notification system is a critical tool that we use to make sure you are notified of critical information in the event of a public health crisis, disaster or other major event. If you live in the City of Sand Springs corporate limits, please take time to register on the link below.

https://ok-sandsprings.regroup.com/signup

A few common sense measures such as maintaining a “social distance” of three to six feet between people is being encouraged.

“There are other internal measures we can implement to protect our workforce at the City while providing essential services to citizens,” Wood said. “We will continue to watch where the COVID-19 pandemic goes in the coming months, and will quickly take appropriate actions if concerning conditions develop locally.”

Senate approves bill to enable Oklahoma to import lower cost prescription drugs from Canada

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to help Oklahomans strapped by the ever-increasing costs of prescription drugs has cleared the full Senate. State Senator Rob Standridge, R-Norman, is principal author of Senate Bill 940, creating the Prescription Drug Safety and Cost Reduction Pilot Program Act. The bill was approved on Thursday.

Standridge said the bill will begin the process for Oklahoma to create a state prescription importation program to purchase lower cost prescription drugs from Canada, saving money for consumers and taxpayers. In the last five years, the average cost of prescription drug treatment jumped by 57.8 percent, while Oklahomans’ annual income only rose 2.6 percent. Standridge said the use of Canadian prescription imports to save on drug costs has been championed by President Donald Trump.

“Americans can pay twice as much compared to what people in other countries pay for the same name brand drugs,” Standridge said. “These drugs are safe but cost much less. With one in four Oklahomans reporting they’d skipped a prescription drug because of the cost, it’s clear this relief is greatly needed.”

If the measure becomes law, SB 940 will direct the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to apply to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a prescription drug importation pilot program for the state Medicaid program to import pharmaceutical drugs from one or more countries approved by the FDA. The program will import the top 20 prescription drugs in the state that have a large cost difference between those available in the U.S. compared to those in Canada. Six months after the application is submitted, licensed retail pharmacies can begin participating in the program.

“The pharmaceutical market in this country is already global. The U.S. imports more than 40 percent of its finished products and 80 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in medications, and the FDA imported drugs from other countries in response to U.S. drug shortages,” Standridge said. “This simply gives us the opportunity to take advantage of these less expensive, but equally safe and effective prescription drugs.”

SB 940 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Editor’s Note: SB940 passed the Senate by a 41-4 vote. District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman, representing Sand Springs, voted in favor.

Click here to read the full bill.

Senate supports bill requiring more info for unexplained infant deaths

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Senate has voted in favor of legislation requiring standardized investigations following the sudden, unexplained death of infants in Oklahoma. Senator Stephanie Bice is principal author of Senate Bill 1893, which was approved unanimously on Wednesday.

Bice, R-Oklahoma City, said the bill was requested by Ali Dodd, an Edmond constituent whose baby died almost five years ago at a state-licensed day care center due to an unsafe sleep environment. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as unknown/undetermined. No information about the specific circumstances or contributing factors were documented.

“Her baby was only 11 weeks old and was left swaddled, unbuckled and unrestrained in a car seat for two hours on the floor behind a closed door, yet none of those risks were documented,” Bice said. “Oklahoma’s infant mortality rate is the third worst of any state in the country. Doing thorough investigations and documenting the findings can help us be pro-active with policies and laws that can save lives.”

SB 1893 directs the medical examiner to conduct a sudden unexplained infant death investigation (SUIDI) within 48 hours of the baby’s death. Information collected would include known medical histories, how the infant was found, how they are placed and other pertinent information. 

Dodd said her main motivation in working with Bice to pass SB 1893 is to prevent other families from experiencing the loss and pain her own has endured.

“Between 70 and 75 percent of infant deaths in Oklahoma are listed as unknown or undetermined,” Dodd said. “Unknown and undetermined can’t help us save lives. Standardized death investigations will help us identify risk factors and do a better job of preventing infant deaths in the first place.” 

SB 1893 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Editor’s Note: SB1893 passed unanimously 46-0, with District 37 Senator Ikley-Freeman voting in favor.

Oklahoma Senate approves sweeping licensing reforms

OKLAHOMA CITY – In an effort to continue growing the state’s economy and address the teacher shortage, the Senate approved two reciprocal licensing reforms Wednesday. Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the author of the measures to recognize the out-of-state occupational licenses and teaching certificates of qualified individuals moving to Oklahoma.

“We cannot grow our economy without getting rid of the barriers that are deterring professionals from moving to the state. Qualified professionals who are licensed, accredited or certified in other states shouldn’t have to prove their competency by taking repetitive exams that are both expensive and a waste of their time,” Pugh said. “As long as they are law-abiding citizens who hold an out-of-state license or certificate that is in good standing in their profession, we want them to know that we look forward to welcoming them and their expertise to Oklahoma.”

SB 1891 creates the “Universal Occupational License Recognition Act”. It directs occupational boards and commissions to issue an occupational license in the relevant profession to anyone who takes up residency in Oklahoma and holds an occupational license or certificate that has been in good standing in another state for at least one year. Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, is the principal House author.

SB 1125 will allow the State Board of Education to issue a teaching certificate to anyone who holds a valid out-of-state teaching certificate, with no other requirements except a criminal history record check. The teaching certificate will only be for those subject areas and grade levels most closely aligned to the subject areas and grade levels recognized on the out-of-state certificate. The bill will go into effect with the governor’s signature allowing districts to begin accepting teacher applications for the upcoming school year. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, is the principal House author.

The bills will next be considered in the House.

Editor’s Note: SB1891 passed 36 to 9. District 37 Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman, representing Sand Springs, voted against the measure. SB1125 passed unanimously, 46 to 0. Ikley-Freeman voted in favor.

Click here to read the full text of SB1125.

Click here to read the full text of SB1891.

Oklahoma Senate approves Unborn Person Wrongful Death Act

*Editor’s Note: The following is a press release from the Oklahoma State Senate Communications Division. Sandite Pride has not independently verified the claims made in this article. Senator Allison Ikley-Freeman, representing Sand Springs, voted against this measure.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma State Senate approved the Unborn Person Wrongful Death Act Thursday to address the pain and suffering of family members of babies whose lives are ended through abortion. Senator David Bullard, R-Durant, is the author of Senate Bill 1728, which modifies provisions relating to awarding damages resulting from wrongful death in cases of abortions performed under fraudulent circumstances. 

The bill authorizes parents and grandparents to recover damages relating to mental pain, anguish and pecuniary loss and holds the physician who performs the abortion fraudulently solely liable for the wrongful death.

Bullard said the bill has been a long time coming and thanked his colleagues for supporting the rights of Oklahoma’s families and remembering the innocent lives lost.

“With the passage of Senate Bill 1728, the Senate has taken a bold step in guaranteeing Oklahoma families their constitutional right to seek recourse through legal civil action to protect their families from wrongful death. Our federal and state constitutions as well as codified statutes guarantee every Oklahoman the right to civil recourse of wrongful death,” Bullard said. “This bill will finally add the forgotten family members to this guaranteed protection and bring justice for the multitude of wronged families across the state. I want to thank my colleagues for their support in voting for this overdue protection that our citizens have long been deprived.”

The bill outlines under which circumstances a wrongful suit may be filed. It also states that if some or all of the provisions of the measure are permanently or temporarily restrained by a court order, the remaining provisions will be enforced.

During his debate, Bullard cited that the Justice Foundation has found that up to 69 percent of abortions in the U.S. are performed without legal consent. Their findings show that these mothers are persuaded to go through with abortions through illegal coercion including being lied to about the age or health of their babies or about the safety of the actual procedure. Many mothers are drugged prior to actually agreeing to the procedure thinking they are only getting examined but wake up to realize the procedure is complete.

Last month, Bullard welcomed two victims of illegal coercion that led to the deaths of their unborn children and left one unable to have any more children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 623,000 abortions were performed in 2016. There were nearly 200 abortions for every 1,000 live births that year.   

SB 1728, which passed 37-9, will now be sent to the House for further consideration.

Congenital Syphilis Cases in Oklahoma Increasing at An Alarming Rate; Health Care Providers Urged to Increase Testing of Pregnant Women

Oklahoma has experienced a 283% increase in the number of congenital syphilis cases in women since 2014. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is already seeing a 92% increase in the number of cases from 2018 to 2019, and is urging health care providers to test patients during the first and third trimesters.

Congenital syphilis is an infectious disease transmitted by an infected mother to her baby in the womb. Adults transmit syphilis through sexual contact but mothers can transmit the infection to their baby in the womb or through the birthing process. The disease can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, death shortly after birth, prematurity and birth defects. A woman can be treated and cured for syphilis during pregnancy, but it is important for women to be tested in time for treatment to be effective. Babies who test positive for syphilis at birth must be treated immediately to prevent serious health issues. 

Terrainia Harris, an administrative program manager for the OSDH Sexual Health and Harm Reduction (SHHR) Service, said it is important for women to be tested at the first prenatal visit or at the time pregnancy is confirmed, and again early in the third trimester.

“The most effective method for getting ahead of this epidemic is early testing and treatment,” said Harris. “The resurgence of syphilis cases in recent years highlights the fact that challenges remain and we are encouraging clinicians to get back to basics with syphilis prevention, testing, and treatment. We are asking them to assist us in focusing efforts to strengthen treatment administration and adherence, as well as improve case identification and reporting.”

The OSDH is working to address the issue by collaborating with health care providers and community partners to engage in education, partnership and planning. The SHHR Service is hosting a call to action for providers, Nov. 8, at the Nicholson Conference Center on the University of Oklahoma Medical Center campus. To register for the event, providers can visit https://addressingcongenitalsyphilis.eventbrite.com.

A person can have syphilis and not have any signs or symptoms. Symptoms may also be very mild or may be mistaken for symptoms of other illnesses. The only way to know for sure if someone is infected is through testing. It is important for everyone to include testing for sexually transmitted diseases as a part of their routine health care. This doesn’t only apply to pregnant women and their babies. It’s important for their sexual partner to be tested and treated as well.

Prenatal care is a key component to the overall health and wellness of a mother and her unborn child. The sooner a woman begins receiving medical care during pregnancy, the better the health outcomes for her and the unborn baby. Anyone wishing to be tested for syphilis or any other sexually transmitted infection should contact a health care provider or a local county health department.

For further information about diagnosing or treating syphilis, contact the SHHR Service at (405) 271-4636.

Church That Matters opens free Mobile Medical Clinic in Sand Springs

Good Samaritan Administrator Heath Placek speaks at the grand opening of the Sand Springs clinic.

Good Samaritan Founder and President John Crouch speaks at the Grand Opening of the Sand Springs clinic.

Church That Matters Pastor Rusty Gunn speaks at the Grand Opening of the Sand Springs Good Samaritan Mobil Healthcare Clinic.

Site Coordinator Susan Hood speaks at the grand opening of the Sand Springs Good Samaritan Health Clinic.

Good Samaritan Health Services and Church That Matters held a grand opening and ribbon cutting at their new Sand Springs Mobile Medical Clinic Tuesday. The free bi-monthly clinic will provide comprehensive medical care for the uninsured at 3 West 41st Street.

Church That Matters Pastor Rusty Gunn, Good Samaritan President John Crouch, and other individuals involved in the clinic spoke at the grand opening event. A line of patients was already forming well before the doors opened for the first time.

“We are so very delighted to be in the Sand Springs community,” said Crouch. “We have seen that Sand Springs is a community that really cares and shares and really helps each other.”

The clinic will be open to the public on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month, opening at 4:30 p.m. The only requirement for patients to receive medical care at the clinic is that they have no health insurance. Walk-in patients are welcome. Any person wanting to receive medical care at the clinic should arrive at 4:30 p.m. Patients will be triaged and as many patients will receive services as resources will allow. Anyone unable to see a physician on the day of the clinic will have a future appointment made.

Each clinic will provide quality comprehensive medical care for approximately 10 to 12 people. Gunn hopes to be able to bring the clinic to Sand Springs weekly in the near future.

“Our church’s mission is to be a church that matters to God, to each other, to our city, and to our world,” said Gunn. “We’ve just seen this great need for health care for those who don’t have access to that. Oklahoma is 47th in overall health, 49th in cardiovascular disease, 44th in preventable hospitalization, and 43rd in diabetes. We know that there are people within this city…who sometimes have to make a choice between getting healthcare, and eating.”

Volunteers from Church that Matters along with Good Samaritan staff members will operate the clinic. This is Good Samaritan’s 13th Mobile Medical Clinic location in the greater Tulsa area. Good Samaritan’s Mobile Medical Clinics provide medical care at over 5,500 patient visits each year. Many individuals in the greater Tulsa area have come to rely on these clinics as their primary care provider.

“Our church will always have more vision than we have resource to accomplish,” said Gunn. “It takes community partners and those who are willing to jump in on those causes.” Gunn praised local philanthropists Montie and Betty Box for contributing to the clinic, as well as Ron and Pat Halcomb, and Green Country Federal Credit Union. Susan Hood will be the Site Coordinator for the clinic.

“A big thanks to the people of Church That Matters who are willing to take risks, willing to do things outside of the box, willing to do whatever it takes to see that mission accomplished. So many people from our church have jumped on board to volunteer.”

Church That Matters is known for pioneering nontraditional ministries. The church operates the Prattville Market and Southside Coneys in the same shopping center as fundraisers for their various charities and ministries. They also own the Lee’s Charburgers food truck, which is currently closed but expected to resume operations in the future.

CTM is an active member of the Sand Springs Local Church Network and is frequently involved in community events. They are one of the first churches in the state to offer a special service on Sundays geared specifically towards families with special needs children. They also operate a free coat rack at Prattville Market during the winter months, and have been extremely proactive in helping the community recover from the historic May flooding that devastated multiple neighborhoods along the Arkansas River.

SEE RELATED:
Sand Springs woman opening free health clinic in Sapulpa
SouthSide Coneys holds grand opening, owned by Church That Matters

Church That Matters opens free Mobile Medical Clinic in Sand Springs

Good Samaritan Health Services, in partnership with Church that Matters of Sand Springs, celebrates the opening of a free Mobile Medical Clinic location. This clinic will provide quality comprehensive medical care for uninsured and underserved individuals living in the Sand Springs area. Pastor Rusty Gunn led the effort for his church to partner with Good Samaritan Health Services to offer this valuable and much-needed service in the Sand Springs community.

Church That Matters and the free clinic are located at 3 West 41st Street in south Sand Springs, also known as Prattville. A Ribbon Cutting event will be held at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 22nd, on its first day of operations.

This clinic will be open to the public on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month, opening at 4:30 p.m. The only requirement for patients to receive medical care at the clinic is that they have no health insurance. Walk-in patients are welcome. Any person wanting to receive medical care at the clinic should arrive at 4:30 p.m. Patients will be triaged and as many patients will receive services as resources will allow. Anyone unable to see a physician on the day of the clinic will have a future appointment made. Each clinic will provide quality comprehensive medical care for approximately 10 to 12 people.

Volunteers from Church that Matters along with Good Samaritan staff members will operate the clinic. This is Good Samaritan’s 13th Mobile Medical Clinic location in the greater Tulsa area. Good Samaritan’s Mobile Medical Clinics provide medical care at over 5,500 patient visits each year. Many individuals in the greater Tulsa area have come to rely on these clinics as their primary care provider.

Church That Matters also operates the Prattville Market and Southside Coneys in the same shopping center as fundraisers for their various charities and ministries.

SEE RELATED:
Sand Springs woman opening free health clinic in Sapulpa
SouthSide Coneys holds grand opening, owned by Church That Matters

Composure Health Spa holds Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting in Sand Springs

Composure Health Spa recently celebrated its Grand Opening with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. Located at 1 West 41st Street in Sand Springs, the spa is owned and operated by Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Hope.

Composure offers services such as Microneedling, Microdermabrasion, Dermaplanning, Freckle Removal, Weight Management, Botox, Cool Sculpting, Laser Hair Removal, Breast Lifts, Cupping, and more.

Hope has an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Tulsa Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Oklahoma Wesleyan, and a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has lived in Sand Springs for thirty years and is originally from Texas.

Deputy District Director Brian O’Hara presented Composure with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition on behalf of Congressman Kevin Hern for “outstanding and valuable service to our community.”

Click here to view full photo gallery.

Sand Springs American Shaman celebrates Grand Opening under new ownership with free concert

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The Sand Springs location of the American Shaman CBD franchise is celebrating their Grand Re-Opening Saturday with a ribbon cutting and free festivities.

The store opened in 2018 but is now under the ownership of Matthew Boyd, who also operates locations in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, and Edmond. The franchise is based out of Mission, Kansas.

American Shaman sells ultra-concentrated Cannabidiol (CBD) oil derived from hemp. According to CBD advocates, the oil can relieve stress and treat countless physical ailments, including seizures, migraines, and more. CBD does not include Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and you cannot get high from the substance. Customers must be 18 or older to purchase CBD products, but do not require a prescription.

The Sand Springs store will be holding a free concert with local Tulsa country artist Travis Kidd from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a bounce house and the Curbside Comfort food truck. American Shaman is located at 630 East Charles Page Boulevard in the Atwoods shopping center.

Public Health Officials Encourage Personal Health Preparedness

One of hundreds of flooded homes in Sand Springs, Oklahoma during a historic flooding event in May of 2019.

September is National Preparedness Month and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) joins state and national partners in encouraging year-round personal and community preparedness for disasters and disease outbreaks. Oklahoma’s recent storms are a reminder that severe weather can strike any time of year.

Personal health preparedness is about people having the ability to care for themselves and their family in the immediate hours and days following an emergency or disaster. Oklahomans have seen numerous severe weather events where power outages affected thousands of residents across the state.

Scott Sproat, director of the OSDH Emergency Preparedness and Response Service, said personal preparedness is vital to being able to recover from a disaster or public health emergency.

“It’s important for a household to be able to sustain itself for at least 72 hours,” said Sproat. “More resilient households make more resilient communities who are better able to recover after a disaster.”

In addition to basic supplies such as non-perishable and ready-to-eat food, water, first aid supplies, flashlights and batteries; families should ensure they have enough personal items such as prescription medication for several days and a cooler or chemical ice packs to keep certain medications cold during a power outage.

OSDH Emergency Manager Darrell Eberly said those with disabilities or special medical needs should plan ahead for accessible transportation needed for evacuation or to seek medical care.

“Those who use medical equipment requiring electricity should talk with a health care provider about how to prepare for its usage during a power outage,” said Eberly. “If you have a communication disability, make sure your emergency information explains the best way to communicate with you. Those who rely on dialysis should discuss with your dialysis provider how to access service if the regular site is inaccessible.”

In addition, families should have easy access to important documents such as insurance policies and proof of identification in an electronic format on a flash drive or secure cloud-based service.

For more information, preparedness information is available in English, Spanish and American Sign Language by visiting the OSDH YouTube channel and selecting the Preparedness playlist.

State Health Department releases Kindergarten vaccination survey results

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is releasing the results of an annual survey conducted throughout the state to assess vaccination coverage and exemption status of children enrolled in public and private kindergarten programs. The survey measures the amount of students who are up to date for the six vaccines required for children to be enrolled in school.

In effort to improve transparency to the public, OSDH officials have used geographic mapping technology to create an interactive online search tool for the public to view results by county, or by individual school. This is the first time for OSDH to release the information in such a format where the public can see results of the survey through a map to observe trends across the state.

Each school’s listing provides the percentage of kindergarten students who were up to date on each individual vaccine for polio, varicella, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP); and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). Results indicate the DTaP and MMR vaccines have the lowest current coverage.

While school participation in the survey was voluntary, a high rate of participation was achieved assessing the immunization status of approximately 92% of Oklahoma’s kindergarteners during the 2018-19 school year. The survey also collected the percentage of students who claimed exemptions from receiving the required vaccinations.

 “Analysis of this data drives program activities to improve vaccination coverage in our state,” said Interim Commissioner of Health Tom Bates. “We appreciate the support from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the local school officials who contributed to such an important project. We know that vaccinations are among the most effective ways to protect against serious diseases.”

Overall, the study indicates the number of kindergarten students up to date on all vaccines increased by 1% from 90.4% in 2017-18, to 91.4% in 2018-19. Up to date rates for MMR, Hep B, and Hep A all increased when compared to last year while DTaP and Varicella rates decreased. The number of students with record of exemption for any vaccination increased by 0.2% from 2.4% in 2017-18, to 2.6% in 2018-19. The majority of these exemptions were approved for non-medical reasons such as personal or religious reasons.

Responses from schools represented 94% of students enrolled in public kindergarten programs and 51% in private school programs.

To view the recommended immunization schedule, visit https://go.usa.gov/xVC9k or contact the OSDH Immunization Service at (405) 271-4073.

Below are the percentages of Sand Springs Kindergartners who were up-to-date on their vaccinations:

Angus Valley Elementary
DTaP: 77.94%
Hep A: 92.65%
Hep B: 94.12%
MMR: 82.35%
Polio: 79.41%
Varicella: 94.12%
All: 75%
Exempt: 2.9%

Limestone Elementary
DTaP: 81.82%
Hep A: 93.18%
Hep B: 95.45%
MMR: 84.09%
Polio: 81.81%
Varicella: 95.45%
All: 81.82%
No exemptions.

Pratt Elementary
DTaP: 83.61%
Hep A: 95.08%
Hep B: 96.72%
MMR: 83.61%
Polio: 85.25%
Varicella: 93.44%
All: 78.69%
Exempt: 1.6%

Garfield Elementary
DTaP: 84.06%
Hep A: 84.06%
Hep B: 94.2%
MMR: 84.06%
Polio: 86.96%
Varicella: 92.75%
All: 78.26%
Exempt: 2.9%

Northwoods Elementary
DTaP: 96.39%
Hep A: 96.39%
Hep B: 96.39%
MMR: 96.39%
Polio: 96.39%
Varicella: 96.39%
All: 96.39%
Exempt: 3.6%

Keystone Elementary
DTaP: 83.87%
Hep A: 90.32%
Hep B: 90.32%
MMR: 83.87%
Polio: 83.87%
Varicella: 93.55%
All: 83.87%
Exempt: 6.5%

Anderson Elementary
DTaP: 72.73%
Hep A: 95.45%
Hep B: 97.73%
MMR: 72.73%
Polio: 70.45%
Varicella: 97.73%
All: 68.18%
Exempt: 4.5%

Give Blood, Get Free Tickets to a Tulsa Roughnecks FC Game - Saturday, August 31

Oklahoma Blood Institute is urging blood donors to give blood and let the adventure begin! Oklahoma Blood Institute is once again teaming up with the Tulsa Roughnecks FC to save lives.

On Saturday, August 31, from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Tulsa Roughnecks will host a blood drive with Oklahoma Blood Institute at ONEOK Field, located at 201 N. Elgin in downtown Tulsa.

Each donor who gives blood at the drive will receive 2 tickets to a future Roughnecks game, a free Bedlam t-shirt of their choice, and a voucher for free entry of their choice to Safari Joe’s H2O Water & Adventure Park, Frontier City, or Science Museum Oklahoma. Donors will also be entered for a chance to win use of a field level suite for 16 people, including parking and meal vouchers.

Healthy adults, age 16 and older, can give blood.*

“Everyone knows someone who’s needed blood. It impacts all ages of people and often arises unexpectedly as a result of accident or illness,” said Jan Laub, Executive Director, OBI Tulsa, “Whether we know them or not, there are people now who are counting on us to give.”

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Oklahoma Blood Institute,” said Wayne Farmer, General Manager of the Tulsa Roughnecks, “We hope to grow drive participation to support as many patients in our community as we can!”

As the region’s leading blood provider, Oklahoma Blood Institute relies solely on volunteer blood donors to meet the needs of patients at more than 160 hospitals, medical facilities and all air ambulances statewide. Those with negative blood types are especially urged to give. Blood can be donated every 56 days.

Appointments to give blood are not required but can be made by visiting obi.org or calling (877) 340-8777.

*16 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.

Sand Springs churches hold free back-to-school bash with school supplies and checkups

The Sand Springs Local Church Network hosted its annual Back 2 School Bash Sunday afternoon at the Tulsa Tech Sand Springs campus. The free event is open to the public and offers all kinds of back-to-school items and services.

The Tulsa Lions Club provided cholesterol screenings, BMI checks, blood pressure checks, and vision testing. Children were checked for lice and given free haircuts by licensed professionals. A Better Smile provided free dental screenings. Volunteers from numerous local churches helped to distribute free backpacks and school supplies

In addition to the necessities, fun was also on the menu. Sandlot Sno-Balls, popcorn, balloon animals, and the Tulsa County Reading Roadshow were on hand, as were an ambulance and three classic police cars for the children to explore.

Free Back to School Bash Sunday at Tulsa Tech - Sand Springs

The Sand Springs Local Church Network will be holding its annual Back 2 School Bash Sunday, August 11th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Tulsa Tech Sand Springs campus.

The event will feature inflatables, free hot dogs, and Sandlot Sno Balls, as well as numerous back-to-school necessities.

Volunteers will be providing free backpacks and school supplies, haircuts, dental checkups, eye exams, physicals, and more.

Tulsa Tech is located at 924 East Charles Page Boulevard.

Sand Springs named 17th best place to live in Oklahoma

The Chamber of Commerce website recently released its list of the best cities to live in for each state. Sand Springs ranked 17th in Oklahoma, one spot ahead of the state capitol, Oklahoma City.

The online small business resource based its selections on five criteria: employment, housing, quality of life, education, and health. 

Top Twenty Oklahoma Cities 

1. Enid

2. Broken Arrow 

3. Bixby

4. Ponca City

5. Edmond

6. Owasso

7. Bartlesville 

8. Norman

9. Stillwater

10. Ardmore

11. Tulsa

12. Ada

13. McAlester

14. Yukon

15. Claremore

16. Durant 

17. Sand Springs 

18. Oklahoma City

19. Shawnee

20. Tahlequah 

Click here to view the full Chamber of Commerce article.

Former K-Mart building in Sand Springs to become Medical Marijuana growing/processing facility

The Sand Springs City Council approved a Specific Use Permit for 1200 East Charles Page Boulevard at their Monday evening meeting, allowing a Medical Marijuana Growing and Processing facility to open in a building that formerly housed a Kmart department store.

The Sand Springs Kmart location closed in the summer of 2014 and has been vacant for the past five years.

The 84,210 sq. ft. facility was built in 1974 and sits on 7.39 acres in an area that is largely industrial. City Council also voted to rezone the property from Commercial Shopping to Commercial General.

AJT Strategies, LLC applied for the permit and is in the process of purchasing the building. The multi-million dollar facility is expected to undergo improvements valued between $500,000 and $750,000 as it is repurposed. They expect to employ between 20-25 employees once they open.

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Sand Springs woman opening free health clinic in Sapulpa

A Sand Springs woman is working to open a new free clinic for individuals who do not have insurance. Dr. Rachel Ray is one of the directors of the upcoming CURA For the World - Sapulpa clinic that will be opening to the public Tuesday, July 23rd.

CURA For the World is headquartered in Tulsa and was founded by Lebanese emigrant Dr. Jawad Trad in September of 2016. Since then, CURA has partnered with organizations in seven different countries to provide medical aid and food security to the impoverished. Dr. Ray and her partner, Dr. Zach Fowler, attended medical school with Trad.

The Sapulpa location is the organization’s first clinic in the United States under Project USA. They will be holding an Open House Sunday, July 21st from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and a ribbon cutting that Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Doors will open for patient check-in Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

More than 27 million Americans are without health insurance, and the Sapulpa clinic is CURA’s first step in a larger plan to help that demographic. According to CURA, 17.4% of Sapulpans live below the poverty line, with the largest affected demographic being Females between the ages of 25-34.

“There are many uninsured people in our communities that are unable to secure health insurance and I see how this negatively effects the wellbeing of the patients and the health of our community,” says Ray. There are free clinics in Tulsa but the free resources on the west side of Tulsa and especially Creek county is very limited. There is currently no free standing free health clinic in all of Creek County.”

The clinic will offer free services to individuals with limited incomes, no health insurance, or who do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. They will also help those who only have catastrophic care coverage, or individuals who have insurance, but can’t afford their high deductibles.

CURA will offer treatment for both routine illnesses and chronic conditions, as well as a limited range of medical testing, prescription drug assistance, women’s health care, and free child therapy sessions. They will not, however, be providing pregnancy testing, Pap smears, or STD testing, stimulants, controlled substances, or care for chronic pain patients.

Dr. Ray is a graduate of Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Oklahoma - Tulsa campus and currently resides in Sand Springs.

“I always knew I wanted a career in which I could help to make a positive and meaningful difference in the life of someone else,” says Ray. “Throughout my early education years, I was intrigued by the complexity of the sciences and the human body. I love to learn new things and medicine allows me to always be aware of the changes and advances in science and healthcare. The most special part of being a physician is the trust that we receive from our patients and the opportunity to help make their lives better.”

The clinic is completely volunteer based and will be open Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. It is first-come first-served and expects to be able to handle about sixteen patients per week. The team anticipates being able to expand their hours in the future.

“We plan to utilize our clinic to help bring more services to our community. We are partnering with different organizations so that we can provide lab work, diagnostic imaging and specialist evaluations to our patients. We will also bring in community education programs to help educate on nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco cessation. We are working to bring counselors for therapy services through partnering with Improving Lives Counseling Services. We are also developing a partnership with a local Sapulpa pharmacy to be able to provide reduced cost medications. We are not currently able to provide well woman exams or childhood immunizations, but we do hope to provide these services in the future.”

CURA Medical Clinic
1012 West Taft Street
Sapulpa, OK 74066

Communication Federal Credit Union Offers Blood Donors Chance to Win $1,000 VISA® Gift Cards – July 13

July 10, 2019 ─ Communication Federal Credit Union is giving Oklahoma Blood Institute donors an early reason to get excited about going back to school.  Each person* who gives blood on Saturday, July 13, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., at Tulsa Promenade will be entered to win one of two $1,000 VISA® gift cards.

“We’re doubling our community impact by having a blood and school supply drive simultaneously,” said Larry Shropshire, president and CEO of Communication Federal Credit Union.  “We want to ‘pack the bloodmobile’ with donors as well as pack our local classrooms with supplies for kids in need.” 

Shropshire urges all who come out to give blood to also bring school supplies.  Those who donate school supplies and blood receive two entries to win one of the $1,000 VISA® gift cards. 

Each donor will receive a “Summer Vibes” t-shirt and their choice of voucher for free entry to Frontier City Theme Park (1 entry), or Science Museum Oklahoma (1 entry) or Safari Joe’s H2O Water & Adventure Park (2 entries). pass for two to Safari Joe’s H20 Water Park.  Free pizza will be served from 11am-2pm and 98.5 KVOO and 106.9 K-HITS will be broadcasting live from the blood drive event.

Oklahoma Blood Institute provides every drop of blood needed to more than 160 hospitals, medical facilities and air ambulances statewide.  Appointments to give blood are not necessary, but can be made by calling 877-340-8777 or by visiting obi.org.

*16 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.  Please note: You will not be able to redeem your voucher on the same day as your donation. Please allow up to 48 hours for your donation to be entered into our system. Frontier City voucher is not valid on Saturdays. You must set up your donor profile with a valid email at yourbloodinstitute.org to receive your voucher.

Residents Urged to Use Caution When Reentering Flooded Homes

As many residents prepare to return to their homes and property damaged by floodwaters, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) encourages the public to use caution when reentering their home.

Scott Sproat, director of the OSDH Emergency Preparedness and Response Service, said there are a number of factors for residents to consider.

“In the upcoming weeks, there will be many Oklahomans returning to damaged homes,” said Sproat. “We want to ensure the public’s health and safety as we continue to recover from the recent disaster.”

If a flooded home has been closed up for several days, residents should assume there is mold and take proper precautions. Occupants should enter the home briefly to open doors and windows to let the house air out for at least 30 minutes before staying for any length of time. After standing water has been removed, use fans and dehumidifiers to help remove excess moisture. Fans should be placed at a window or door to blow the air outwards rather than inwards, so not to spread the mold.

It is recommended to have the home’s heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system checked and cleaned by a maintenance or service professional who is experienced in mold cleanup before being turned on. If the HVAC system was flooded with water, turning on the mold-contaminated HVAC will spread mold throughout the house. Professional cleaning will kill the mold and prevent later mold growth. When the service determines that the system is clean and if it is safe to do so, turn it on and use it to help remove excess moisture from your home.

The following additional safety tips are recommended:

• Ensure the utilities to a flooded building are shut off. Homeowners who are not familiar with electricity or their home’s electrical system should contact a professional to help make the property safe from electrical hazards.

• Use flashlights. Avoid using lanterns, torches or matches to examine dark buildings. Flammable gases may be present and open flames can cause a fire or explosion.

• Generators or other gasoline-powered machinery should only be used outdoors away from doors and windows as carbon monoxide exhaust can be fatal.

• Contact your doctor if you’re concerned about medications having spoiled.

• Throw away food that may have come in contact with flood or storm water as well as perishable foods which have not been refrigerated properly due to power outages. When in doubt, throw it out.

• Be on the lookout for snakes or rodents which may be looking for shelter on higher ground.

For more information about safety after a disaster, visit www.cdc.gov or www.ready.gov.