Public Health Communicator

22 N. Georgia Ave. Suite 300 Mason City, IA 50401

Phone: 641-421-9300 Fax: 641-421-9350 Toll Free: 1-888-264-2581

Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

April 2014

Are you Prepared for an Emergency?

We have had many emergencies in North Iowa. The floods of 2008, the Parkersburg, Iowa tornado and even the recent Northwood chemical fire all were emergencies that impacted thousands of people in our area.

Have you taken the time to get ready for an emergency?

Here are some ideas to get you on your way to be prepared for emergencies:

Create a family
emergency plan that includes a place outside of the home to meet if you get separated.
Practice the plan!
Prepare a disaster kit to sustain each person in your household for 3 days.
Find and learn the emergency plan at school and/or your workplace.
Keep a contact list of important numbers including law enforcement, medical and public health.
Protect your home and belongings: have working fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

Not sure how to create an emergency plan? Go to www.cghealth.com and click the search tab. Type in emergency preparedness and you'll find an example of an emergency plan and find our tool kit suggestions.

Infant Immunization Week

April 26 - May 3rd 2014

The widespread use of vaccines has led to the reduction or eradication of some devastating childhood illnesses. Infants are particularly vulnerable to these severe and infectious diseases.

The Health Department urges you to review each of your children's immunization records to ensure their immunizations are current. The Health Department's Immunization Clinic is open from Monday - Friday 10:00 am - noon and 12:30 - 4:00 pm. Please call us at 421-9322 or go to our website for information about the recommended immunization schedule or to discuss your child's vaccination needs.

infant smiling

Love them.

Protect them.

Vaccinate them.

Department Quick Links...

Main website

Scan this QR code with your smartphone for a direct link to our website.

Child Abuse Prevention

April is national child abuse prevention month. Child maltreatment is a significant public health problem in the United States.

According to Child Protective Service agencies, more than 686,000 children were victims of maltreatment in 2012.

Another 1,640 children died in the United States in 2012 from abuse and neglect. The financial costs for victims and society are substantial. A recent CDC study showed that the total lifetime estimated financial cost associated with just 1 year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment is $124 billion.

Abused children often suffer physical injuries including cuts, bruises, burns, and broken bones. Physical injury is far from the only negative impact of maltreatment-it can also affect broader health outcomes, mental health, social development, and risk-taking behavior into adolescence and adulthood.

Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments are essential to prevent child maltreatment and to assure children reach their full potential.

The first step you can take to help prevent child abuse in Iowa is to educate yourself and others about the effects of child abuse, how to prevent it and community resources available to parents.

This article adapted from the CDC's website.

Senior Health Clinics

The Health Department offers Senior Health Clinics to county residents aged 55 and older. There is no charge; however contributions are accepted.

The clinic is an annual health screening and does not replace a physician's care.

To make an appointment, call the Health Department at 641-421-9316. In May the schedule is:

May 12 - Clear Lake @ the 1st Congregational Church

May 14 - Mason City @ the Wesley United Methodist Church

May 19 - Mason City Senior Activity Center

Congratulations

During the Iowa Environmental Health Association's annual meeting, one local well company and two Health Department employees won awards.

Shawver Well Company won the Industry Award which is given to an organization that shows leadership and concern for the environment. Shawver has partnered with the Health Department for our Arsenic project by providing valuable insight and promoting the project.

Daniel Ries & Dixie Fullerton were co-winners of the Galen Robertson Memorial Award. This award is given to a person in the field of food inspections. Ries & Fullerton have pushed Cerro Gordo County in a new direction for restaurant inspections from an inspection focus to an education focus. Changes include incorporating a revised inspection frequency and revised format of the inspections.

Greetings from Cerro Gordo County Public Health,

Since the last newsletter, our Public Information Officer, Nola Aigner has accepted a new position at Polk County Public Health. We would like to take this opportunity to thank her for all of her work for the last three years and wish her luck in her new job!

In April, the Health Department kicked off its third year of coordinating the Walking School Bus program in Mason City. This program offers kids an active way to get to school. See the picture below where a volunteer and Howie Staywell are walking kids to school. If you have questions about the School Bus, would like to sign up your child or volunteer to walk the kids to school, contact Kelli at 421-9312.

We hope you take the time to read through our newsletter and let us know if you want more information on any topic we cover.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on all the current information about the Health Department. Make sure to check out the left side of our newsletter, which features our Quick Response (QR) Code. Scan it with your smartphone to get directly to our website at www.cghealth.com.

Best wishes,

Kara Vogelson

Interim Public Information Officer

Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health

Are You at Risk for a Sexually Transmitted Disease?

Betty Krones, Disease Prevention Specialist

April is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month and I find many people asking, "Am I really at risk for an STD? I would know if I had one, right?" As a nurse, I find that many people underestimate their risk for infection. Sexually transmitted infections are not something people want to think about, let alone discuss with their friends. It is very easy to assume they are not a reality or they only happen to other people.

Did you know that most people infected with STDs do not have symptoms and are unaware they are infected?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are more than 19.7 million people with new STDs in the United States every year. More than half of all people will have an STD at some point in their life. In Iowa, last year there were over 11,000 cases of chlamydia and nearly 2,000 gonorrhea cases; in Cerro Gordo County there were almost 100 new STD cases according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

Your lifestyle plays a big role in preventing STDs. Avoid sex at an early age. Every year, one in four teens contracts an STD. Young people (ages 15-24) have the highest rates of STDs. Because the cervix is not fully developed, it is easier for young women to get infected with an STD.

Limit your partners - your risk of contracting an STD increases with each partner you have. Studies show that women with five or more sexual partners were eight times more likely to report having an STD than those with only one partner.

Use condoms every time for every kind of sex. Avoiding sexual contact all together is the only way to totally avoid STDs; however condoms can reduce the risk for those who are sexually active.

Get tested. Testing is available through your family doctor, the family planning clinic and at the Health Department. Get tested before you and your partner have sex. This can help reduce future transmission, but keep in mind that some STDs can take up to 6 months before they can be detected.

Be smart about your sexuality. Know your limits and be comfortable saying no to sex. Talk to your partner before you become intimate. Don't confuse birth control with STD protection. Condoms are the only form of birth control that may prevent STDs, but remember, they don't offer 100% protection from STDs or pregnancy. Be responsible for your own protection. It doesn't matter if you are male or female. If you think you are going to have sex, have a condom available.

Don't drink or use drugs before you have sex. It is more difficult to make responsible decisions when you are under the influence. For more information about STDs or to get STD testing, visit our website or call us at 641-421-9320.

Start a Vegetable Garden

Kelli Huinker, Health Promotion Manager

Now's the year to start your vegetable garden!

If you're a beginner vegetable gardener, here are basics on vegetable garden planning: site selection, plot size, and which vegetables to grow.

It's better to be proud of a small garden than to be frustrated by a big one!

The Very Basics:

Sun exposure - vegetables love the sun. They need at least 6 hours of full sun every day.
Soil - vegetables enjoy a good, loamy, well-drained soil. (Good thing you live in Iowa!)
Placement - avoid planting near trees which can steal soil nutrients; also try to avoid areas where wild animals roam and nibble.
Raised or Tilled - If you have poor soil or a bad back, a raised bed made with treated wood can be a great garden solution.
Water - Vegetables need at least 1 inch of water a week.
Tools - spade, garden fork, hose, hoe, wheelbarrow or bucket.
End of Frost - last day of frost threat slated for April 30th in North Iowa Region.

Plot Size:

Beginner Size = 16 x 10 feet (feeds a family of 4 easily)
Width - 11 rows
Row - 10 feet long (run north and south to take full advantage of sun)

Vegetable Selection:

Tomatoes x 5
Chard
Radishes or Onions
Zucchini Squash x 4
Green Beans
Peppers x 6
Lettuce
Marigolds (flowers) - to discourage rabbits!!

Wellness Corner

No Time...

No Space...
No Green Thumb...?

Perhaps a Farm Membership is just what your family needs to enjoy a season full of fresh, local food!

One Step at a Time Gardens is offering Farm Memberships to North Iowa residents. Committed to raising the best, freshest in-season produce in the area, One Step at a Time is offering Shares to the public. Your share purchases will garner you a regular supply of farm fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs throughout the season.

Deliveries of the produce occur from Mid-May through December!
Delivery options include Weekly, Every other week or You Pick!
Pick Up Sites: Belmond, Clear Lake, Clarion, Garner, Mason City and the Farm (outside of Kanawha)

To join the farm membership program, visit ONLINE: www.ostgardens.com

EMAIL: libland@peconet.net

PHONE: 515-851-1690

If that isn't your thing, visit the Farmer's Markets we are lucky to have in the North Iowa area.

Help us promote Public Health services.

Forward this electronic newsletter to your friends, family, co-workers and associates.

Our Mission Statement:

The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health works to

optimize the health of all people in Cerro Gordo County.

Our Vision Statement:

We will be the leader in making Cerro Gordo County the healthiest

county in Iowa.

Our Value Statement:

We believe in human dignity, respect for individual choices, promotion for wellness and personal safety, protection of the environment, prevention of disease and access to quality health services.

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