Public Health Matters Blog

Prep Your Health by Reviewing Important Paperwork

Young woman helping an elderly woman complete a form

The importance of proofreading everything you write before you turn it in is a lesson many people learn in elementary school, and– throughout much of our early lives–applies almost exclusively to things like book reports and term papers. The need to check personal paperwork for errors and omissions becomes even more important in adulthood when Read More >

March 6, 2020 by Blog AdministratorLeave a comment

General, natural disasters, personal health, preparedness, response

#prepyourhealth, Asthma Action Plan, back to school, Cancer Survivorship Care Plan, Emergency Action Plan, emergency backpack card, medical records, National Proofreading Day, paperwork, prescription medications, Ready Wrigley

National Battery Day: Plan Ahead with Emergency Power Sources

In observance of National Battery Day on February 18, take a minute to think about how integrated electricity and power sources, like batteries, are to our everyday lives. Electricity is so integral to our routines, that we sometimes take it for granted. So many facets of our lives require electricity. Look around you. From cell Read More >

February 11, 2020 by Blog AdministratorLeave a comment

natural disasters, personal health, preparedness, public health, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program

Be Prepared, emergency preparedness, natural disasters, power, power outage, power sources

Five Important Things You Need to Know About This Flu Season

Sick boy with thermometer laying in bed and mother hand taking temperature. Mother checking temperature of her sick son who has thermometer in his mouth. Sick child with fever and illness while resting in bed.

“It’s the least-fun, viral time of the year…” The indicators that CDC uses to track U.S. flu activity have been high this season. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the indicators that track severity–hospitalizations and deaths–are not high at this point in the season. Lots of people are catching flu, but, thus Read More >

January 22, 2020 by Blog AdministratorLeave a comment

Flu, General, personal health, preparedness, prevention, public health

#prepyourhealth, flu season, illness, influenza, seasonal flu, surveillance, vaccine

When the Weather Outside is Frightful

It is understandable if in all the hubbub of the holidays you didn’t notice the season changed. The official start of winter was December 21. But for people living in many parts of the country it’s felt like winter since before Thanksgiving. Bundle up because winter is here to stay—at least until March, regardless of Read More >

January 8, 2020 by Blog Administrator2 Comments

Environmental Health, General, natural disasters, personal health, preparedness, response

emergency preparedness, health, hypothermia, personal needs, Prepare Your Health, weather, winter

Even More Practical Skills for the Holiday Host(ess) with the Mostest

Close up of a roasted turkey being brought to the dinner table on a serving tray.

This is an updated version of a post first published on December 17, 2018. Around this time last year, we published a post titled 5 Practical Skills for the Holiday ‘Host(ess) with the Mostest.’ And just like last year’s fruit cake, we’re baaaack with more do-it-yourself skills to help you prepare your health for the Read More >

December 16, 2019 by Blog Administrator6 Comments

Flu, Foodborne, General, Injury, personal health, preparedness, prevention, public health

carbon monoxide, fire extinguisher, first aid, food safety, generator safety, handwashing, Heimlich maneuver, holidays, practical skills, salmonella

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 Gay1 Comment

General, mental health, natural disasters, personal health, preparedness, public health, Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program, 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, Preparing, Reunification, Safe Transportation, Special Care Plan, Special Healthcare Needs, Transportation

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