Hannam House of Health

02/13/2026

01/27/2026

We are open Tues. 1/27/26. We have appointment times available to anyone who needs to be seen or needs a telehealth visit.

Send a message to learn more

01/26/2026

Radon testing remains low in Lincoln County.

https://www.lincolncountyjournal.com/2026/01/22/radon-testing-remains-low-in-lincoln-county/

01/22/2026

Since we’re taking a breather this weekend, let’s talk fundraisers! 📽️

Local organizations can host a movie night at The Senate—you pick the film, sell $5 tickets, and keep 100% of ticket sales. We handle concessions and cleanup. It’s a great way to raise funds for your group while giving the community a fun night out.

Interested? Send us a message and we’ll get you on the schedule!

01/22/2026

Official update
What: Very cold wind chills between 10 and 25 below expected.
Where: Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois and central, east central, and northeast Missouri.
When: From 3 AM Friday to noon CST Saturday.
Impacts: The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
Summary: Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
Issued By: NWS St Louis MO
Safety tips
Check the Forecast
Make checking the forecast part of your regular routine so you'll know when to expect cold weather.
Adjust Your Schedule
If possible, adjust your schedule to avoid being outside during the coldest part of the day, typically the early morning.
Protect Your Pets, Livestock and other Property
If you have pets or farm animals, make sure they have plenty of food and water, and are not overly exposed to extreme cold. Take precautions to ensure your water pipes do not freeze. Know the temperature thresholds of your plants and crops.
Dress for the outdoors even if you don't think you'll be out much.
In power outages:
Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing as well as hats, mittens, and blankets.
Close blinds or curtains to keep in some heat.
Close off rooms to avoid wasting heat.
Place towels or rags in cracks under doors.
Practice portable generator safety
use outdoors, at least 20 feet away from doors/windows/garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Follow instructions on proper use.
Once your family is safe, check on your neighbors and the vulnerable to make sure they are okay.
After extreme cold:
Check Your Pipes
Your pipes may be frozen. Water pipes on exterior walls and in places that are subject to cold, like in the basement, attic, and under kitchen cabinets, freeze most often. Water expands as it freezes, causing pipes to burst. If they are frozen, first turn on the faucet. Water will drip as you warm the pipes. Heat the pipes using a space heater, heating pad, electric hair dryer, or hot water on a cloth. Never use an open flame. Continue until water pressure returns to normal or call a plumber if you have more issues.
Salt Your Walkways
Once it warms up enough to go out, it's important to shovel the snow from your sidewalks and driveway or sprinkle salt if there is ice. If there is a thick layer of snow on the ground that you cannot move, salt the area so that the snow melts. You should also put down salt if there is ice on the stairs leading into your house.
Call Your Neighbors
Check to see that your neighbors are okay, particularly seniors, disabled persons, or others living alone. Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death after extreme cold, particularly if there are power outages. Cases of frostbite and hypothermia are also common for elderly people who were stuck in their homes.
Refill Your Supplies
This cold event may be over, but there might be another one soon. It is important to always be prepared.
If you plan to drive:
Fill up the tank
Make sure your car or vehicle has at least a half a tank of gas during extreme cold situations so that you can stay warm if you become stranded.
Update Your Winter Car Survival Kit
Make sure your car survival kit has the following:
Jumper cables: flares or reflective triangle are great extras
Flashlights: Replace the batteries before the winter season starts and pack some extras
First Aid Kit: Also check your purse or bag for essential medications
Baby, special needs gear: If you have a baby or family member with special needs, pack diapers and any special formula or food
Food: Stock non-perishable food such as canned food and a can opener, dry cereal and protein rich foods like nuts and energy bars
Water: Have at least 1 gallon of water per person a day for at least 3 days
Basic toolkit: Pliers, wrench, screwdriver
Pet supplies: Food and water
Radio: Battery or hand cranked
Cat litter or sand: For better tire traction
Shovel: To dig out snow
Ice scraper: Even if you usually park in a garage, have one in the car.
Clothes: Make sure you dress for the weather in warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of clothes for the cold
Warmers: Pack extra for body, hands, feet
Blankets or sleeping bags: If you get stranded in traffic on a lonely road, you'll be glad to have it.
Charged Cell Phone: Keep a spare charger in your car as well
Hazard information
If you or a loved one needs to go outside during extreme cold this winter, it's important to dress in layers. Ensure exposed skin is covered to minimise the risk of frostbite or hypothermia. Try to shield yourself from the wind as much as possible. Once back indoors, immediately change into dry clothes if you are wet. Be vigilant for signs of frostbite and hypothermia, and act swiftly upon noticing any symptoms.
Watch for Frostbite
Frostbite can develop within minutes, particularly on extremities such as fingers, toes, nose, and ears, although it can affect any exposed skin area. If you suspect frostbite, promptly move indoors to a heated environment and warm the affected areas using warm water or body heat—avoid hot water or direct heat sources like fireplaces as they may cause burns. Seek medical help for severe cases of frostbite.
Frostbite occurs when the body's survival mechanisms activate during freezing weather. Circulation to extremities reduces to protect vital organs, leading those parts to eventually freeze. To prevent frostbite, stay indoors in extreme cold, especially when the windchill drops below -50°F. If you must go outside, cover every part of your body including ears, nose, toes, and fingers; mittens are preferable to gloves. Keep your skin dry and avoid the wind when possible. Stay hydrated as fluids boost blood volume, which helps prevent frostbite. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, as caffeine constricts blood vessels, alcohol reduces shivering, and smoking restricts blood flow to the hands.
Signs & Symptoms of Frostbite:
Redness or pain in any skin area, which may be the initial sign
White or grayish-yellow skin areas
Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
Numbness
Frostbite First Aid:
Get indoors as soon as you can. Until then:
Avoid rubbing or massaging cold body parts.
Place hands in armpits.
Hold onto another person or animal.
Drink warm liquids.
Add extra layers of clothing, blankets, etc.
Remove rings, watches, or other tight jewellery.
Once inside:
Do not walk on frostbitten feet to avoid further damage.
Take a warm (not hot) bath and wrap your face and ears in a warm, moist towel.
Stay away from hot stoves or heaters and avoid using heating pads, hot water bottles, or hair dryers to prevent burns before sensation returns.
Frostbitten skin will become red, swollen, and feel like it's burning; blisters may form, but do not break them to avoid scarring and infection.
Immediately seek medical help if the skin becomes blue or gray, very swollen, blistered, or remains numb.
Beware of Hypothermia
Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops below 95°F, presenting a serious hazard. Seek medical assistance at once. Move the person indoors to a heated area and warm the body's core first. Administer CPR if the individual is unconscious.
Hypothermia can set in at temperatures as high as 60°F, especially in water or with prolonged exposure without appropriate clothing. The CDC reports around 1,300 annual deaths due to hypothermia, predominantly among seniors, although children and young adults are also at risk. Factors such as certain medications, circulatory issues, and specific health conditions can increase vulnerability to hypothermia. As people age, their bodies become less efficient at detecting cold and shivering.
Preventive Tips for Hypothermia:
Dress in layers.
Ensure good insulation against the cold.
Minimise exposure to indoor drafts.
Consume nutritious food and wear warm attire.
Wear a hat in cold weather.
Eat hot meals and drink warm beverages regularly.
Arrange for regular check-ins from family or neighbours if living alone.
Consult with a doctor regarding medications that might heighten your hypothermia risk.
If experiencing a body temperature of 95°F or lower, feeling sluggish or mentally foggy, seek medical help immediately. It's better to be cautious than risk a potentially fatal condition.
In an emergency, call an ambulance and lay next to the person under thick blankets to share body heat. Avoid rough handling or rubbing the person.
Staying Safe During Power Outages
Wear multiple layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing along with hats, mittens, and blankets. Close blinds or curtains to retain heat and block off unused rooms to conserve warmth. Place towels or rags under doors to prevent drafts. Follow safety guidelines for portable generators: use them outdoors and keep them at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, and garages to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. After ensuring your household is safe, check on neighbors and vulnerable individuals to make sure they are secure.

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01/15/2026

She calculated Earth's shape by hand in a segregated Navy lab. Her math lives in every GPS device on Earth. They forgot her name. The year was 1930. Dinwiddie County, Virginia. A girl was born into a world that told her she would spend her life in to***co fields. Gladys Mae Brown's parents worked a small farm in a community where sharecropping trapped Black families in cycles they couldn't escape. The path was predetermined: school until the fields needed you, then a lifetime of crops and poverty. But Gladys saw something else. She saw numbers as doorways. While her hands picked to***co, her mind solved equations. Her parents noticed. Despite crushing hardship, they kept her in school. That decision changed the world. She became valedictorian at her segregated high school—the one with hand-me-down books and leaking ceilings. She earned a full scholarship to Virginia State College, where she studied mathematics in the 1940s South, where being Black, female, and brilliant meant fighting three battles at once. She won all three. In 1956, Gladys walked into the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia. She was the second Black woman ever hired. One of four Black employees total. Surrounded by white men who didn't expect her to last a week. They underestimated her. She started calculating weapons trajectories by hand—complex differential equations that took hours. Her precision was legendary. Then computers arrived, and while others resisted, Gladys learned programming. She mastered punch cards and Fortran, turning calculations that took weeks into work completed in hours. In the 1970s, she was assigned to something called Seasat—the first satellite designed to study Earth's oceans from space. She became project manager, analyzing radar data that bounced off ocean surfaces. But her real work was invisible. Essential. Revolutionary. For GPS to work, you need to know Earth's exact shape. Not approximately. Exactly. Because Earth isn't a sphere—it's an irregular, gravity-warped, mountain-covered, ocean-troughed oblate spheroid. Gladys spent years building mathematical models of Earth's precise shape. She analyzed satellite altimetry data, tracked gravitational variations, created geoid models that described every curve and irregularity of our planet's surface. This wasn't glamorous. It was tedious, precise, mathematical work that most people would never see or understand. It was also the foundation of GPS. When GPS satellites transmit signals to calculate your location, they rely on mathematical models of Earth's shape. Gladys West built those models. Her equations live in every GPS-enabled device on Earth. Every time you navigate to a restaurant. Every time emergency services locate someone in danger. Every time a farmer uses precision agriculture. Every time a plane lands safely. Her math makes it possible. She worked at Dahlgren for 42 years. She retired in 1998. The GPS system was fully operational. Billions would use it. Almost no one knew her name. She didn't seek recognition. She raised three children with her husband Ira, also a mathematician at Dahlgren. She earned a PhD at age 70 after recovering from a stroke. She lived quietly. Then in 2018, a member of her sorority read her biography at an alumni event. Someone said, "Wait—you helped invent GPS? "The story spread. In December 2018, at age 88, Gladys West was inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame. Media outlets finally told her story. Schools added her name to curricula. Children learned that a Black woman from a Virginia farm had mapped the world. She remains characteristically modest. She credits her team. She emphasizes collaboration. But she's also clear: she faced discrimination every day. She was overlooked because of her race and gender. She had to be twice as good to receive half the recognition. Today, when you open your phone and follow GPS directions, you're using technology built on mathematics developed by a woman who grew up in to***co fields during the Great Depression, who wasn't supposed to amount to anything, who was systematically erased from the story she helped write. Gladys West mapped the world. Then the world forgot her. Until it didn't. Her life proves something profound: Your beginning doesn't determine your ending. The path may be hidden, but every step forward creates a trail others will follow. And sometimes, just sometimes, the world remembers to look back and see who showed them the way.

01/15/2026

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