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Preparing Children with Special Healthcare Needs for an Emergency

Special education. Teddy bear hiding behind a blackboard. Special education text drawing on the blackboard

In my home both of my children have special health care needs. My daughter Charlotte is 4 years-old, and my son, Zachary, is 2 years-old. Both were diagnosed with asthma at an early age. Having children with special health care needs means that my husband and I must think ahead, plan ahead, and prepare our Read More >

December 2, 2019 by Holly Gay2 Comments

General, natural disasters, preparedness, response

#prepyourhealth, and after an emergency, Backpack emergency card, Before, children, Communication Plans, during, emergency, emergency care plan, Emergency Information Form, emergency supplies, family reunification, mental health, personal health, Preparing, public health, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, Reunification, Safe Transportation, Special Care Plan, Special Healthcare Needs, Transportation

Social Scuttlebutt? Be Prepared to Stay Informed in an Emergency

Social media has evolved into a powerful mass communication tool that preparedness and response agencies like CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response use to share personal health preparedness tips and emergency response recommendations. When there is a public health emergency, the information disseminated by CDC and its federal, state, and local response partners can save lives. Read More >

November 18, 2019 by Blog Administrator1 Comment

General, natural disasters

emergencies, public health, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, rumors, social media, trusted sources

Prepare Your Health: Falling Into Asthma

Fall is a busy time. It marks peak hurricane season and the start of cold and flu season. Fall is also one of the busiest months for asthma attacks. Throughout autumn, our home is on high alert because of our children’s history of asthma, and the likelihood of them having an increased number of asthma Read More >

November 4, 2019 by Holly Gay3 Comments

Flu, General, preparedness, response

#PrepYour, Asthma, Asthma Action Plan, Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR), Immunization, Medications, paperwork, personal health, personal needs, Prepare Your Health, prescriptions, public health, Vaccintation

Happy Hauntings: 13 Tips for a Healthy Halloween

In observance of Halloween, here’s a baker’s dozen ways to prepare and protect your family’s health and safety during trick or treat. Treat smarts All treats and no tricks makes Halloween enjoyable for everyone. Eat only factory-wrapped treats. If you have any doubt about the safety of a treat, throw it out. Carrying a glow Read More >

October 29, 2019 by Blog Administrator2 Comments

General, Injury

Costumes, Environmental Health, Food allergies, Halloween, holiday safety, Lenses, personal health, public health, trick or treat

Viral Lessons: What Paralysis Taught Me About Preparedness and Response

An enlarged view of a female Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito

Sometime in mid-August of 2010, I was bitten by a mosquito here in Decatur, Georgia. Normally, that’s not something worth mentioning, but in this instance the mosquito that bit me was carrying a virus, and that bite changed my life. The mosquito that bit me was carrying West Nile virus (WNV). Within a few days Read More >

October 21, 2019 by Devin Lenz4 Comments

General, prevention, Vectorborne, Zoonotic Disease

#prepyourhealth, Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR), fight the bite, mental health, mosquitoes, paralysis, personal health, protect yourself, public health, public health matters, west nile virus

Prep Your Health: Fighting Cancer During an Emergency

Different colorful ribbons on white wooden background. Cancer concept

Cancer is not just one disease, but many diseases. There are more than 100 kinds of cancer, including breast cancer. In observance of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this week Public Health Matters looks at how people living with cancer can prepare their health for emergencies. Each year in the United States, more than Read More >

October 7, 2019 by Blog Administrator1 Comment