Category: prevention
We the People: How to Create Community in an Emergency

Creating community is important to building resilience to a public health emergency, but it can be incredibly difficult to do in a pandemic. On its surface, the idea of coming together to prepare and build resilience contradicts CDC’s guidance to put distance between yourself and other people (i.e., physical distancing). However, there are less traditional Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentPhysical Distancing & the Joy of Joining In

Physical distancing is the act of avoiding crowded places and putting space between yourself and others. In practical terms, it means staying at home (mostly) and away from public places, such as restaurants, where people get together. It’s a prescription that goes double for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentFive Things You Need to Know About Flu Season

“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 (2019-2020). That’s the bad news. The good news is that the indicators that track severity–hospitalizations and deaths–are not high at this point (January 2020) in the season. Lots of people are catching Read More >
Posted on by Leave a commentEven More Practical Skills for the Holiday Host(ess) with the Mostest

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 >
Posted on by 6 CommentsViral Lessons: What Paralysis Taught Me About Preparedness and Response

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 >
Posted on by 3 CommentsThe Right Stuff: Know Your Personal Needs Before an Emergency

September is National Preparedness Month. Throughout the month, the Center for Preparedness and Response will publish posts that highlight the work of public health departments as it relates to personal health preparedness themes. This week’s theme is Personal Needs. Personal needs are the things—the stuff—you will need to protect you and your family’s health in Read More >
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