Health news and events around the valley, Dec. 10-16, 2015

Walk with a UMC Doc events scheduled: Free Walk with a UMC Doc events are planned at 9:30 a.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. The next topic is Coping with Holiday Stress on Dec. 17. Visit umcsn.com.

Lung cancer workshop: The American Lung Association and Steinberg Diagnostics is set to present Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Lung Cancer, a free workshop for people affected by lung cancer and their loved ones and caregivers, from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 10 in Room K101 at the College of Southern Nevada, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. Information about the most current lung cancer treatments, strategies for symptom/side-effect management, tools for survivorship and a new diagnostic tool for early detection of lung cancer will be discussed. Created by Cancer Support Community, this workshop includes a complimentary copy of the booklet Frankly Speaking About Cancer: Lung Cancer. Light refreshments are planned. Advance registration is preferred, but walk-in attendees are welcome. Call 702-431-6333 or visit action.lung.org/franklyspeaking.

Remember Our Angels: The Angel Tree event for those who have lost a pregnancy, infant or child is planned from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 in the main classroom at Summerlin Hospital, 657 N. Town Center Drive. Parents and siblings can bring a personalized ornament from home and place it on the tree in memory of the child. A candle lighting will also be held. Light refreshments will be provided. Call 702-233-7186.

Medicare 101 session: The free seminar is planned from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Southwest Medical Associates Lifestyle Center — East, 5820 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 100. Participants can discover the ABCs of Medicare benefits, including important enrollment and lock-in dates; enrollment and eligibility requirements; and tools to choose the best option. Free refreshments are planned. Space is limited. RSVP by calling 855-861-8277.

Seal of approval: MountainView Hospital, 3100 N. Tenaya Way, recently announced it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Sepsis Certification. Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, 3186 S. Maryland Parkway, also earned the award.

Hyperbaric treatment: MountainView Hospital, 3100 N. Tenaya Way, opened Dec. 1 a Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center to serve patients with chronic wounds in an outpatient setting. The center includes the treatment of chronic wounds, relief for ulcers, infections and difficult-to-heal wounds. The center will also include MountainView's first Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers, used to treat a variety of patients suffering from wounds or illnesses that deprive their bodies from adequate oxygen. Call 702-562-5816.

Sign-Up Saturdays: Nevada Health Link is collaborating with licensed insurance brokers and agents to offer Sign-Up Saturdays enrollment events to help close the gap between insured and uninsured residents. The events occur on select Saturdays during the health insurance open enrollment period, through Jan. 31. Visit nevadahealthlink.com. Many partnering licensed broker agents will also be open on various Tuesdays and Thursdays during the enrollment period. Nevadans are invited to attend special enrollment events from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 15 and Jan. 15 at the Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

Healthy holiday challenge: The Southern Nevada Health District's free, web-based program, the Get Healthy Holiday Challenge, is set to run through Jan. 1. The event offers a weekly challenge and tools to track progress during the 12-week period. Each week, an email health challenge will be distributed that provides tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle and tips to navigate the holiday party buffet table. The program also provides recipes and an interactive blog. Contact the Southern Nevada Health District's Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at 702-759-1270 or visit snhd.info or gethealthyclarkcounty.org.

Flu vaccines: The Southern Nevada Health District's flu vaccine clinics began Sept. 21 at all locations where patients can receive the injectable, quadrivalent flu vaccine. The cost of the vaccine is $41, and the trivalent high-dose vaccine for people 65 or older is $59. Contact the health district's immunization clinic at 702-759-0850 or visit snhd.info.

Free STD testing available: Free weekly STD screenings are available at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada and the Richard Steele Boxing Facility. Visit snhd.info/sexual-health-clinic.

Better Breathers Club plans meetings: The American Lung Association in Nevada invites those with lung health disease, their loved ones and caregivers to a Better Breathers Club meetings planned at the following locations and times each month:

Second Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. in the conference room at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive; 702-835-9898.

Last Fridays, 3 to 4 p.m. at Prestige Care at Mira Loma, 2520 Wigwam Parkway; 702-431-6348.

First Thursdays, 1 to 2 p.m. at St. Rose Women's Care and Outreach Center, 2651 Paseo Verde Parkway; 702-616-4910.

First Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., United in Hope: Lung Cancer Survivors Support Group, at Kindred Hospital Las Vegas, 2250 E. Flamingo Road; at 702-353-2039 or lysa71@cox.net.

Fibromyalgia group meets second, third Thursdays: The Fibromyalgia Friends Support Group of Southern Nevada is scheduled to meet during lunch and evening sessions the second and third Thursday of the month. Lunch meetings are set from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Fiesta Henderson buffet, 777 W. Lake Mead Parkway. Evening meetings are planned from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Barbara Greenspun Women's Care Center, 2651 Paseo Verde Parkway, Suite 180. Visit fmfriends.org.

Breast cancer empowerment group set to meet monthly: A free Breast Cancer Empowerment/Support Group is set to meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive. Topics vary and include guest speakers, resources and open discussion with the goal of helping to empower and support women. RSVP by calling 702-233-7155.

Stroke support group planning monthly meetings: The Stroke Support Group is set to meet at various times monthly:

From 3 to 4 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, 657 N. Town Center Drive, 702-233-7061.

From 3 to 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at Centennial Hills Hospital, 6900 N. Durango Drive, 702-629-1309.

From 10 a.m. to noon the first Saturday of the month at the South Magna Conference Center, south of the Desert Springs Hospital main entrance, 2075 E. Flamingo Road, 702-369-7560. Recommended parking is off Bruce Street. Lunch is provided.

From 10 to 11:30 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month on the fourth floor of Valley Hospital, 620 Shadow Lane. Call 702-388-8441 or 702-388-4619. Light refreshments will be served.

Bloodmobile drives planned across valley: UBS Bloodmobile drives are planned at multiple times and locations around the valley. Call 702-233-9620 or visit unitedbloodservices.org and enter the code, if available. The locations include:

From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive. Enter code RainbowLibrary.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Sahara West Library, 9600 W. Sahara Ave. Enter code saharawest.

From 7 a.m. to noon Dec. 13 at New Song Church, 1291 Cornet St. Enter code newsong.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, 3107 Joe W. Brown. Enter code LVCVA.

from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Zenith American Solutions, 9121 W. Russell Road. Enter code zenithamerican.

American Red Cross blood drives scheduled around the valley: The American Red Cross encourages residents to donate. Blood drives are planned continually across the valley. All blood types are needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, on a regular basis. To schedule a donation appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767. Recently, Red Cross announced a new RapidPass program, which allows donors to complete pre-donation reading and health history questions online on the day of their donation using a computer at home or work, reducing the time spent at blood drives by approximately 15 minutes.