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Where is Public Health?
We're located on the 3rd floor of Mohawk Square in downtown Mason City. |
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Quick Links...
Our Website
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Public health officials remind residents to only get tattoos and body piercing from a licensed professional. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health conducts inspections on tattoo establishments for 13 counties in North Iowa. Inspections are conducted to protect the public from diseases that may be transmitted from one person to another through unsanitary or unsafe conditions. If instruments contaminated with blood are not sterilized or are used inappropriately between clients there is a risk of transmitting bloodborne pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C. Learn more about tattoo safety on our web site. |
Keep Your Holiday Celebrations Safe
As you prepare for the upcoming holidays, take a few minutes to read about food safety.
This is generally a time when more food is prepared in your kitchen than any other time of year. That means you need to make sure food is cooked and stored at the proper temperatures.
Learn about proper cooking temperatures, sanitation procedures and other important food safety information on our web site. |
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Seasonal Flu
We are currently out of seasonal flu vaccine. As soon as more vaccine becomes available, we will make an announcement through the media, our Twitter page and our web site. |
Do You Have a Home Emergency Kit? 
To highlight National Preparedness Month, the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health reached out to county residents during the month of September.
The goal was to educate residents about the importance of preparing their own home emergency kit.
We set up emergency preparedness displays at many area grocery stores for the month of September.
Each display included specific ideas and suggestions on how people could begin making their home emergency kit. There was also a drawing at each store. One lucky winner received a grocery cart filled with emergency kit supplies.
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Greetings!
Employees at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health have been extremely busy this fall with seasonal influenza and H1N1 influenza activity.
Visit our web site and learn more about Public Health! |
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November is National Home Care Month
" My name is Rose Boyd and I am so happy I still live at home at my age. There are some things I need help with, though. That's why I called the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. A Registered Nurse and a professional Home Care Aide come to my home, where I want to be. I'm so happy I called Public Health for my home care."
Whether you need home care temporarily after a hospital stay or longer, call 1-800-HOMECARE for all of your home care needs. Our home care team works with your physician to make sure you have the best care possible.
To pay for home care services, Public Health will bill Medicare, Medicaid or your private insurance. A public health nurse is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call 1-800-HOMECARE -- even for local calls. |
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H1N1 Vaccine Update
 The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health has held several public clinics for H1N1 vaccine. The department followed priority guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are currently no clinics scheduled at this time. As soon as more clinics are scheduled, residents will be notified through the media, the health department web site and our Twitter page.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. |
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Hand Washing 101
Are you washing your hands correctly?
Many people are not. 
Make sure you wash your hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds. That's about how long it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. Dry your hands well to make sure all germs are gone.
Other ways to prevent the spread of germs:
- Cover your cough: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze -- OR cough into your shirt sleeve, not in your hands.
- Put the tissue in the trash, then wash your hands.
- Stay home from work or school when you're sick. Don't run errands or go shopping. Ask a friend or family member to help if necessary. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
- Stay away from others for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without using fever-reducing medication) except to get medical care or other necessities.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
Learn more about H1N1 and seasonal flu on our web site. |
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Public Health Promotes Wellness in Preschool
The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health received a grant from the Wellmark Foundation Board of Directors to implement a new wellness program for preschool students.
Animal Trackers is a program that promotes physical activity and motor skills for children ages 3-5. It was developed by the nation's leading specialists in obesity prevention, cardiovascular health, physical fitness, curriculum development and intervention.
Students at Madison Early Childhood Learning Center (above) in Mason City learn about Lenny the Lizard and how he moves. This lesson is about lizards and how they creep and crawl.
Students get to try the movements that the animals make, increasing their daily activity levels.
Read more about Animal Trackers. |
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At the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, we want to do everything we can to reach out to residents and keep you informed about important health issues. Please share this newsletter with your co-workers, friends and family and ask them to sign up. As always, please let us know if you have questions. Be safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Michele
Michele Appelgate
Public Information Officer
Cerro Gordo County Dept. of Public Health |
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