Public Health Matters Blog Posts

Teaching skills that save lives

Instructor and student practicing CPR on mannequin.

We observed CPR and AED Awareness Week at the beginning of June. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Stacy Thorne, a health scientist in the Office of Smoking and Health, who is also a certified first aid, CPR and AED instructor. Stacy has a history of involvement in emergency response and preparedness Read More >

Posted on by Suzie Heitfeld, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response9 CommentsTags , , , ,

Keep your pets safe in an emergency: 5 things to know

dog with a stick and a bag

Emergencies come in many forms: fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, violent storms and even terrorism. In the event of extreme weather or a disaster, would you know what to do to protect your pet? Many pet owners are unsure of what to do if they’re faced with such a situation. In recognition of National Pet Read More >

Posted on by Crystal Bruce, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response2 CommentsTags , , , ,

“Surviving” Dadhood: A Practical Guide

Close up of hipster father kissing his little daughter, sunny day

Sunday is Father’s Day—a holiday that is less exciting to my daughter than National Lollipop Day on July 21. Then again, she’s only two. Though I am still learning how to be a father, I’ve made some observations worth sharing. Yes, there are dads out there who have parented for longer, but I also know Read More >

Posted on by Ethan Riley, Health Communications Specialist, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response1 CommentTags , , , , , , , , ,

June is National Safety Month – Stand up to Falls

Senior couple walking together in a forest

June brings summer to our doorstep, along with National Safety Month. This year’s theme encourages us to “Keep Each Other Safe.” One of the best ways to keep each other safe is to “Stand Up to Falls.” Adults 65 and older are the most vulnerable for falls and falls are the number one cause of Read More >

Posted on by Blog Administrator4 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Why Diarrhea & Swimming Don’t Mix

Two children by the pool

  The summer swim season is here, and millions of Americans will be flocking to local pools for fun in the sun and exercise. However, swimming, like any form of exercise, does not come without health risks. The good news is that we can all take a few simple but effective steps to help keep Read More >

Posted on by Michele Hlavsa4 CommentsTags , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Think it’s a stroke? 4 reasons it’s better to call 9-1-1 than drive yourself to the hospital

Paramedics

Posted May 22, 2017 by Lieutenant Commander Erika Odom, Ph.D., M.S., United States Public Health Service Stroke—also called a “brain attack”—can happen to anyone at any time. On average one American dies from stroke every 4 minutes. Most strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is blocked, causing brain cells to die. Stroke is Read More >

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