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Ears to Better Hearing

From left, Chris Sullivan, Elaine King, and Winifred Chapman, all of Wilbraham, attend an annual patient-appreciation and information event sponsored by the Audiology and Hearing Improvement Center (AHIC) of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers. “I am very happy with Wing’s program. I attended one of the clinics for a screening, and everyone was so helpful and caring,” said King, who referred Chapman to the program. Said Chapman, “everyone is wonderful. I was considering another program when my friend told me about the hearing program at Wing. I am glad she did; it has been a very good experience.” Deb Stroetzel, coordinator of Wing’s audiology and hearing-aid program, said she enjoys hearing such referral stories. “It really is an honor and a pleasure for us to be able to play a role in helping to improve people’s hearing. It is life-changing for our patients. We are very appreciative of their confidence in our services.”

Be Water Safe

The YMCA of Greater Springfield is working with BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) to help children learn to be water safe. Eighty Springfield school children in grades 2-5 recently participated in the Y’s Be Water Safe initiative designed to teach children vital skills relating to swimming, boating, and sun safety. “Drowning is a leading cause of accidental deaths in children under the age of 8,” said Noel Vasquez, aquatics director at the YMCA of Greater Springfield Downtown Family Center. “Each year more than 8,000 people in the U.S. drown in aquatic venues. With more access to aquatic facilities, both guarded and unguarded, it is vital to the children of our community that they learn how to swim.”