DAVIDSON—It wasn’t the fifth of May, but staff at Davidson Health Centre enjoyed a Cinco de Mayo like celebration last Tuesday to launch this season’s influenza vaccination campaign.
Staff at the health centre were treated to a Mexican-themed fiesta by Heartland Health Region as a reward for having the highest rate of staff immunization in the region last season.
As part of their treat, staff enjoyed a supper of Mexican cuisine with Heartland Health CEO Greg Cummings, board member ML Whittles and Dr. David Torr, medical health officer for Heartland Health, to name a few, attend the feast and launch the region’s flu shot campaign.
With 98 per cent of staff receiving their flu shot last year, Davidson Health Centre’s record is close to perfect.
“We’d like to see 100 per cent of people immunized,” Dr. Torr said.
He says immunization is people’s best defence against influenza.
“Influenza is one disease where at least we have a vaccine available and vaccinations is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself,” Torr said.
“What we’re looking at is patient safety. For years we encouraged patients and staff to get flu vaccinations.”
He said this had success, but it reached a plateau.
Now the health region asks staff to get immunized to improve patient safety—to prevent patient illness and deaths.
Staff who are unable to get the flu shot or those who refuse to must wear protective respiratory masks in patient care areas. All health facilities in the province must follow an immunize-or-mask policy this flu season. Visitors who do not get immunized may also be asked to follow the mask-up policy.

DAVIDSON—Donors from Davidson and district did their part Oct. 1 at a Blood Donor Clinic to boost Canada’s blood supply.
Describing Canada’s blood inventory as critically low, on September 30 Canadian Blood Services appealed to all eligible donors to make a blood donation immediately. All blood donors were needed, in particular those with type O and A blood.
Canadian Blood Services Clinic in Davidson saw 106 people attend to donate blood with 87 units being collected. The turnout was better than organizers had expected, given the fact that many people in the area were still busy harvesting their crops.
This was up from the February clinic when 75 units were collected. There is room for improvement. The quota for the Davidson Clinic is 100 units of blood.

DAVIDSON—Last Tuesday the public got its first look at Davidson’s new swimming pool.
Drawings and plans for the $1.5 million pool project were unveiled at the first in a series of three open houses being held to inform people about the pool and collect people’s input.
Attendance at the Oct. 7 open house was poor with four people turning out.
By not attending the community missed a chance to see its new pool. In coming up with a design, the committee attempted to meet the needs of every potential user of the pool from toddlers to teens, adults, older people and people with disabilities.
“I think it’s exciting and hopefully we’ll get people to future meetings. We want people to voice concerns and suggestions,” Davidson swimming pool steering committee member Brenna Siroski said.
The pool plan is for an El-shaped pool that has a surface area of 3,821 square feet. Depth ranges from a zero depth beach entry to 12 feet in the deep end. Included in the beach entry area are $10,000 worth of water features that are sure to appeal to toddlers and young children. The beach entry area, which starts at zero and gradually reaches a depth of 3 feet, narrows where it meets with a rectangular shaped junior Olympic 5-lane pool.
The plans include two diving boards. One will be 1 metre above the water surface and the other diving board will be 3m above the water.
That 3m diving board adds to the cost of the project because the depth of the deep end must be 12 feet to make it safe, whereas the 1-m diving board is safe at 9 feet.
“That extra 3 feet adds about $25,000 to the cost of the pool,” Trevor Ouellette, Davidson recreation director, said.
It is a worthwhile expense if it attracts more users to the pool, particularly high school age swimmers.
Pool committee member Jessica Foster said diving boards topped the wish lists in surveys completed by teenaged respondents.
A beach entry was another desired feature, according to responses to surveys the committee sent out to the community at large.
For the complete story, please see the print edition of The Davidson Leader. A digital edition is available for $29 per year. Email davidsonleader@sasktel.net or phone 306-567-2047

By Kevin Gilby
CRAIK – Town officials approved a fix-fee charge to determine the necessary actions required to resolve limitations in its water treatment plant. The plant has under-performed since its installation and the town has been under a boil water advisory since 2010.
The town had been in contact with Randy Schatz of Element Water Systems, a Regina-based company that specializes in water treatment systems.
During the last town council meeting, Oct. 7, members reviewed the results from interviewing his references from other communities. Results were very supportive of his experience and convinced the town to approve the $3,500 fee be awarded to produce a work plan to resolve the issues of the treatment system.
“We asked the three references and they were all very happy with his work, “ Mayor Rick Rogers said, adding, “One town in particular has the same plant as us, and the same problems as us, and he fixed it. So hopefully he can fix ours.”
Randy is expected to initiate his work within a week. His solution will be provided in about a month’s time.