The David Davis Mansion will host “Wheels Through Time:  A Historic Bike Show.” The weekend event is free and open to the public. (Photo courtesy of Arts Partners)

BLOOMINGTON

 Historic Bike Show coming to David Davis Mansion: 

Biking enthusiasts and history buffs are invited to “Wheels Through Time:  A Historic Bike Show” Saturday, July 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site in Bloomington.

In addition to displays of historic and modern bicycles, the event will feature special presentations, Slow Bike Races, scheduled to begin at noon, and a casual bike ride along the Constitution Trail beginning at the Mansion at 3 p.m.

The “Wheels Through Time:  A Historic Bike Show” event is free and open to the public; donations are accepted.

The David Davis Mansion, operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will be open from 9 a.m. to 4: p.m.

For more information, contact the David Davis Mansion State Historic Site, 1000 Monroe Drive, Bloomington, at 309-828-1084.

NORMAL

Advocate offers health care provider skills testing 

Advocate BroMenn Medical Center has a  BLS (Basic Life Support) Health Care Provider CPR skills testing session on

Monday, July 22, at the hospital, 1304 Franklin Ave., Normal.

Participants can arrive anytime between 6 – 7 p.m. The session is skills testing only, not the full class.

This testing session is appropriate for  nursing students, EMT students and other types of health care professionals who have first completed the online “Heartcode” portion of the class at onlineaha.org.

The session at the hospital is a structured, hands-on session with an AHA Instructor that focuses on meaningful skills practice, debriefing, team scenarios, and skills testing. Participants

must present their successful completion certificate of the online program to

the instructor prior to testing.

Baby Basics’ class at Advocate BroMenn

Advocate BroMenn Medical Center will offer a “Baby Basics” class Tuesday, July 23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the hospital, 1304 Franklin Ave., Normal.

This class aims to provide knowledge and comfort to parents on the first days and weeks at home post-birth. Topics include care of mom, basic infant care skills, safety and normal newborn characteristics. Fathers or partners are also welcome to attend.

Class fee is $15, and pre-paid registration is required. Please only register the mom. For more information or  to register visitwww.advocatehealth.com/classes.

There is a $25 fee, and registration is required. For more information or to register, please visit www.advocatehealth.com/classe

REGIONAL

Community Health Care Clinic hosts diabetes program

University of Illinois Extension invites you to join them for their two-part “I on Diabetes” series. The program runs from 3 to 5 p.m. on two Wednesdays, July 17 and 24 at the Community Health Care Clinic, 900 N Franklin Ave., Normal.

“I on Diabetes” is designed to provides information on treatment goals and self-monitoring, managing carbohydrates, sodium, cholesterol and fat portions, planning meals, reading food labels, and using artificial sweeteners as well as herbs and spices.

The program breaks down prevention and self-management lessons into two sessions, where program participants will receive diabetes-friendly recipes, watch cooking demonstrations, and taste full, delicious meals each week that meet their dietary needs.

The program is open to anyone, whether you are an individual with diabetes, a caregiver, a spouse, or someone interested in learning more about prevention. “I on Diabetes” is taught by University of Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator and Registered Dietitian, Jenna Smith.

The program is free to attend. Participants will receive two, full meals and a binder of educational materials and recipes. To register, please contact the Community Health Care Clinic at 309-888-5531.

For more information or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Jenna and her team at the McLean County Extension Office at 309-663-8306 or email her at jesmith6@illinois.edu.

 Red Cross urgent call for blood, platelet donors

Following a difficult Fourth of July week for blood and platelet donations and ongoing challenges finding new blood donors, the American Red Cross now faces a blood shortage and has issued an emergency call for eligible individuals of all blood types to give now and prevent delays in medical care.

About 450 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as people across the country celebrated the holiday with activities and travel.

This led to about 17,000 fewer blood donations than needed for patients in a single week, causing the Red Cross to now have less than a three-day supply of most blood types available —and less than a two-day supply of type O blood — for patients. At least a five-day supply is desired.

In June, the Red Cross launched the Missing Types campaign to encourage donors — especially new donors and those who have not donated in the past years — to give blood or platelets during the challenging summer months.

Through the campaign, the letters A, B and O — letters that make up the main blood groups —disappeared from popular brands to symbolize what happens when blood goes missing from hospital shelves during blood shortages.

Despite an encouraging response to the campaign, blood donations still fell short of expectations in June, resulting in more than 24,000 fewer donations than needed, and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.

How to help

Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are urged to make an appointment to donate using the Blood Donor App, at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

Those interested in hosting a blood drive can learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive this summer by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive.

STATE

IEMA encourages earthquake preparation

The recent earthquakes in Southern California serves as a stark reminder that earthquakes can happen anywhere including Illinois, according to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Illinois is flanked on its western and eastern borders by two active seismic zones: the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. An earthquake similar to what was recently experienced in California could have devastating effects on our state.

Learning how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” can help people prevent injury during an earthquake. The phrase reminds people to drop down to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture, and hold on to that object and be prepared to move with it until the shaking ends. Most casualties result from falling objects and debris caused by the earth shaking.