NVH Newsletter September 2025
What’s New This Month:
As summer winds down and the seasons shift, we have lots happening at NVH & NVEC—events, preparedness, and reminders to keep our community safe and well. Here’s what to look for in September.
Upcoming Community Events
Oroville Farmers Market & Health Fair
🗓 Date: Saturday, September 20th • 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Oroville Farmers Market
NVH will be on site with health fair booths, staff, and resources for you and your family. Stop by — we’d love to see you, answer questions, and share health information.
Falls Prevention Event
🗓 Date: Tuesday, September 23rd • 10:00 AM — 2:30 PM
📍 Location: Tonasket Community Cultural Center
NVH is cosponsoring this event will focus on how to keep yourself steady on your feet—fall risk assessments, balance exercises, safety tips for home, and more. Attend to learn how to reduce risk and stay strong through the coming seasons.
National Preparedness Month & Disaster Drills:
September is National Preparedness Month, a reminder for all of us, residents, organizations, and healthcare providers, to plan, practice, and prepare for emergencies. NVH & NVEC take this seriously. Each year we conduct multiple disaster drills, including fire drills, medical code drills, and large-scale response simulations.
One of the ways we prepare is through a tabletop exercise. A tabletop exercise is a guided discussion, not a full-scale drill. Instead of moving patients or using equipment, staff gather in a room and walk through a realistic scenario step by step. Together, they discuss what would happen first, who would make decisions, how departments would communicate, what resources would be needed, and how patients and residents would be kept safe. The goal is to practice planning and problem-solving, and to identify any gaps before a real emergency occurs.
Last week, we conducted a tabletop exercise preparing for a wildfire threatening the nursing home building. In this exercise, staff focused on two critical responses:
Evacuating residents to NVH
Sheltering in place within the hospital building
By practicing these options, staff strengthened their ability to make quick decisions, coordinate across departments, and keep patients and residents safe. These drills help us identify strengths and uncover areas for improvement, so that if a real emergency occurs, our team is ready and confident.
You can help, too:
Know your evacuation routes at home and work.
Have essential supplies ready (food, water, medications, etc.).
Discuss your plan with family/friends.
Stay informed via local alerts.
Respiratory Season & the Power of Handwashing
As we move into fall, respiratory illnesses (like influenza, RSV, and common colds) tend to increase. One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself and others is proper handwashing. This is especially important when you are in shared spaces and after being out in public.
Handwashing best practices:
Use soap and warm water.
Wash for at least 20 seconds (sing “Happy Birthday” twice if you like).
Wash:
before eating or preparing food
after using the restroom
after coughing or sneezing
after touching commonly used surfaces (door handles, railings, shared equipment)
If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol‐based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol).
Keeping hands clean helps reduce the spread—not just of viruses, but also bacteria that can complicate illnesses.
Thank you for being a part of our community. At NVH & NVEC, we believe that health, safety, and preparedness are strongest when we work together. Stay safe, stay ready—and see you at the market!