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2011 Health Fest
Save the date! Health Fest 2011 will be held on Thursday, April 7th from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. at Southbridge Mall.
Bring the whole family for a free evening of health and fun!
Activity highlights include blood pressure and diabetic screening, face painting, obstacle course, competitive baby crawl and much more!
Prizes for adults and children donated by area businesses will be drawn at 6:30 p.m. The grand prize drawing for children will be two bikes with helmets, donated by Wal-Mart! The grand prize drawing for adults is a pair of tickets to see the Minnesota Twins, donated by 98-7 KISS Country and 103.7 The Fox.
We hope to see you at Health Fest 2011! |
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Department Quick Links...
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Kick Butt's Day
Kick Butts Day, which will celebrated on March 23, 2011, is a national day of activism that empowers individuals to consider kicking the habit and for others to speak up and take action against Big Tobacco.
Consider using this day to kick the habit not only for yourself but for the benefit of those around you.
Every day, children in our communities are exposed to secondhand smoke in their own homes and vehicles. To help educate parents and caregivers of young children about the risks of secondhand smoke, local partners, concerned citizens and students have joined the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to launch a public education and awareness-building campaign on secondhand smoke.
We encourage you to take smoking outside. Don't smoke in your home or car where children are exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke.
For more information visit our website.
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Ground Water Awareness
March 6-12 recognizes Ground Water Awareness Week. Now is the time for us to be aware of one of the most important natural resources - ground water, which is essential to humanity and our environment.
Our environmental health inspectors evaluate and inspect the construction and alterations of any non-public water supplies within Cerro Gordo County. This serves to protect ground water with appropriate construction and location of water wells. A permit is required for all well work performed within Cerro Gordo County. The environmental health department, through the Grants-to-Counties program and tax allocations, provides free residential water well testing services to anyone who owns or utilizes a private water supply. This service includes: - A well assessment
- Sample collection from a location where most of the residential drinking water is obtained (usually the kitchen sink)
- Sample submission to a certified laboratory
- Results sent to the home
Residential water wells are sampled for nitrates and coliform bacteria. Other tests, such as arsenic, can be done upon request and may include a fee. We provide approximately 200 free well tests per year on a first come, first serve basis. If you would like to have your water sampled, please contact us at 641-421-9336 or visit our website for more information. |
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Greetings!
We are one month closer to Spring, which means we are one step closer to being able to spend more time being active outdoors!
Although we are one step closer to warm weather, it's not too soon to begin taking small steps towards a "healthier you!" Here are a few tips to get you started:
Prevent the spread of germs -
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Immediately throw the tissue in the trash. Then wash your hands in warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds. That's about how long it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
- Wash your hands often - more when you are ill.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
If you smoke, quit - Nationally, smoking results in more than 5 million years of potential life lost each year. Help is available. Call the Iowa Quitline at 1-866-U-CAN-TRY (1-866-822-6879). Get proper immunizations for you and your family -Children and adults can receive life-saving protection from diseases that cause a variety of disabilities and even death. Required and recommended vaccine schedules are listed on our website.
Sincerely,
Alanna Davison
Public Information Officer
Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health |
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Arsenic Grant Project
The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health has recently sent out letters of request to well owners in Cerro Gordo County seeking participants for an arsenic study. The environmental health service section has received funding to test a certain number of residential wells for high levels of arsenic and study the results to learn more specifically about how and why arsenic is in private wells.
"We have known that arsenic is a problem in our county for some time now," said Brian Hanft, Environmental Health Service Manager at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. "For the past two years, we have been working with our state partners to develop a plan for researching this problem. With this award, we now have the funding to conduct some specific research so we can learn more about arsenic and its existence in our private wells."
Approximately 125 well owners received a letter of request to participate in this voluntary project, at no cost. Those well owners were chosen because their well was determined to be a good candidate for the study due to its geographical location, depth and other known well information. Being a good candidate for this study does not mean that the well contains water with arsenic.
"Our funding allows us to test approximately 50 wells," said Sophia Walsh, Environmental Health Specialist and Arsenic Project Coordinator at the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. "After we get 50 participants well water testing will begin. A representative from our department will take a set of samples from each well two times per year for three years. Results from the samples taken will be mailed to the well owner."
If you did not receive a letter of request to participate in this project and your well resides in Cerro Gordo County, you can still get your private well tested for arsenic for $20.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil, bedrock, and water. Arsenic has no odor and is almost tasteless. Arsenic has been associated with certain types of cancers and is harmful to the nervous system. It enters drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth or from agricultural and industrial practices.
Non-cancer effects can include thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis and blindness. Arsenic has been linked to cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver, and prostate.
The funding for this project is part of a 5-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more information contact Sophia Walsh at 641-421-9318 or visit the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health web site: www.cghealth.com |
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Wellness Corner
We've all heard it before. We are a nation with a growing waistline. Nearly two-thirds of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese due to sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating. What's scary is that overweight and obesity can drastically increase your risks for developing numerous chronic diseases, such as heart disease, Diabetes II, high blood pressure, and even certain cancers. Below are some simple steps that will help you and your family achieve a healthier lifestyle. Drastic changes usually are not sustainable, but with these simple ideas, modifying your lifestyle for life will be much easier!
- Take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator
- Serve your dinner on a 7-9 inch plate (Today's average plate size is 11-12"!)(7-9 inches is the size of a typical salad plate today)
- Portion your snack...put snack in a bowl or on a plate...don't munch out of the bag!
- Park farther from work a few days out the week
- Use non-fat milk in your lattes
- Switch to diet soda
- Don't skip breakfast
- Take a walk instead of a coffee or cigarette break
- Walk the dog...don't watch the dog walk
- Enjoy the winter weather...try sledding, ice skating, or cross-country skiing
- Start a neighborhood walking club
Go to www.smallstep.gov to learn about hundreds of SMALL steps
Visit our Online Wellness Center and learn more about nutrition, exercise and overall wellness. We have lots of helpful tips! |
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Please help us promote Public Health services. Forward this electronic newsletter to your friends, family, co-workers and professional associates.
Thank you for choosing the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health!
Our Mission Statement:
Dedicated to enhancing the health status of our communities through public health initiatives.
Our Vision Statement:
Building an integrated community health system supported by public and private partnerships to meet new and ongoing health challenges.
Our Value Statement:
We believe disease prevention, human dignity, respect for individual choices and access to quality health services are basic rights of all.
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