You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. To lower your risk:

Less than two weeks to get your Valentine cookie orders in. Help support Sakakawea Hospice and make someone's day.  Please have orders returned to Hospice no later than Tuesday, February 11^th.  Order blanks available at local businesses and SMC Hospice office. For more information contact the SMC Hospice office at 7017487380.

Why Go Red? Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. Fortunately, we have the power to change that because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. That’s why you are encouraged to wear red on National Wear Red Day and encourage others to do the same. Know your risk and protect your heart. #WearRedDay or learn more at www.goredforwomen.org

The next 16 Hour DUI Seminar will be held February 7, 8, 9 & 10^th. Please call Coal Country Community Health Center at 7018734445 to register by Feb. 5^th.

Please Note: Influenza has become widespread in our community. Patients coming into the Coal Country Community Health Centers and Sakakawea Medical Center for fever, chills, body aches, sore throat or cough are asked to wear a mask. Masks and alcohol hand wash are located at all main entrances to our facilities. If you cannot find one, please ask staff for assistance.

The holidays are the sweetest time of the year and life is the sweetest gift of all! Register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor to give someone a greater chance of receiving that gift. Learn more about organ donation and transplantation on the organdonor.gov and donaciondeorganos.gov

Join the SMC Employees in making Christmas a special Holiday for many families young and old. If you would like to help, take one or more of the ornaments off of the GIVING TREE located in the main galleria at Sakakawea Medical Center and fulfill the wish. Return the gift wrapped or bagged and tagged with the ornament. Leave at the Business Office by Friday, December 13^th for distribution.

Find health coverage that works for you. Open Enrollment for health insurance coverage for 2020 is here‐ Act Fast! Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace continues through December 15, 2019. CCCHC has Certified Application Counselors to assist you with finding quality coverage at a price you can afford. Please call Kara at 7018737486 for more information.

Have you compared plans yet? See if you can lower some costs or find a plan that better suits your needs. Many people do. Even if you like your current plan, check to see if the costs or coverage are changing. There are Senior Health Insurance Counselors in your area. Call Elysa‐ CCCHC Hazen at 7017482256, Julie‐ CCCHC Beulah at 7018734445 or Dena‐ NDSU Extension at 7018735195.

Purchase a love light in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone special. The lights will be lit during the Holiday season on the large tree located in the main galleria of Sakakawea Medical Center. The names of those honored will also be printed in the local papers. For more information or to obtain a Love Lights form call 7017487380.