Residents Advised to Prepare for Potential Flooding

 

The Jefferson County Health Department is advising residents who live along flood prone areas to prepare for potential flooding . County health administrator Bruce Misselwitz says residents should bring can foods, appliances, and furniture to higher levels if nearby creek or river waters appear threatening.

Misselwitz also reminds residents if flooding occurs, and you receive a puncture wound, a tetanus shot is needed within 72 hours.  That’s if you have not received a shot within the past five years.  Preventative tetanus shots are administered at the county health department, on 500 Market Street, Steubenville, free of charge.  Those shots are needed every 10 years.

Becky Howell, Director of Nursing for the Jefferson County Health Department, says hepatitis is also a concern if flooding occurs.   Howell says hepatitis shots will be available at the health department with a $5 fee for adults.  For additional information, call Becky Howell at 740 283-8530.

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Misselwitz Reacts to County Health Rankings

 

Jefferson County ranked higher than 35 other counties in the state of Ohio in a report released February 17’Th in the category of social and economic factors. The factors included education, community safety, and family and social support.  Jefferson County also fared better than 24 other counties in the state as far as the environmental quality in the University of Wisconsin study.  

Jefferson County Health Department Administrator Bruce Misselwitz said the county is taking steps to improve in other health related areas.  Misselwitz said more Fit and Fun days are planned again this summer in an effort to get more children active.  Misselwitz said last year’s program was very successful with impressive turnouts at sites throughout the county.

Misselwitz says the health department is working with county leaders to look into the possibility of developing walking trails.  Misselwitz went on to say, “We will be working with the Ohio Department of Health to identify additional solutions and best practices that can help to improve the health of Jefferson County and the overall well being of Ohio.”

In another recent study by the American Cancer Society,  Jefferson County was one of the best counties in the state for cancer survival rates.  While the county had the second highest percentage of cancers, the cancer death rate ranked among the lowest in the state of Ohio.  Health Director Dr. Frank Petrola credits The Teramana Cancer Center at Trinity Health Systems for this encouraging statistic.

 

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Subject:            Food Safety During Power Outages

Date:            February 05, 2010

Food Safety During Power Outages

If the power is out for less than 2 hours, then the food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to consume. While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold for longer.

If the power is out for longer than 2 hours, follow the guidelines below:

• For the Freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.
• For the Refrigerated section: Pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.
• Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right before you cook or eat it. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

For guidelines on when to save, and when to throw out food during a power outage the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided the following information below: 

 

 

FOOD SAFETY:  GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW

DURING AND AFTER A POWER OUTAGE;

 

Never taste a food to determine its safety! Keep the refrigerator and

freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.  The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed).  Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below.  Obtain block ice or dry ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time.  Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days. If the power has been out for several days, then check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below, the food is safe.  If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, then check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.  Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, left over’s, and deli items after 4 hours without power.  Drink only bottled water if flooding has occurred.

 

When in Doubt, Throw it Out!  

 

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JCGHD ENCOURAGES OHIOANS TO GET VACCINATED

DURING NATIONAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION WEEK

 

–As part of National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) from January 10-16, the Jefferson County Health Department is encouraging those who have not received their H1N1 vaccination to do so.

“The flu virus will be less likely to spread in the coming months if more people are vaccinated,” said JCGHD Director, Dr. Frank Petrola.  “Vaccination has proven to be the safest and most effective way to fight the flu so I encourage all Jefferson County residents to get vaccinated.”

NIVW is a national observance that was established to highlight the importance of continuing influenza vaccination, as well as foster greater use of flu vaccine, after the holiday season and into January and beyond.    

The Jefferson County Health Department is offering free H1N1 flu shots every Tuesday and Thursday, from 9-11 am and 1-3 pm, Room 704, 500 Market Street, Steubenville.

 

 

 

Jefferson County Administers 4,500 H1N1 Shots in 2009

 

·        The Jefferson County Health Department has administered 4,500 H1N1 nasal and flu shots at 20 clinics in 2009. 

·        More Free H1N1 Flu Shot Clinics will be held throughout the county in 2010 as well as the free clinics every Tuesday and Thursday (9-11 am and 1-3pm), Room 704 in the health department office at 500 Market Street, Steubenville.

·        16% of the population in the region (which includes Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont, Guernsey, Monroe and several nearby counties) has already received their H1N1 shots.

 

 

A Summary of Center for Disease Control Key Public Health Messages this Season

·         CDC received reports of 285 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths in 2009….241 deaths due to 2009 H1N1.

·         Flu activity is expected to continue for months, caused by either 2009 H1N1 viruses or regular seasonal flu viruses, although levels of activity are expected to vary during the season.

·         CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting the flu:

o   vaccination;

o   everyday preventive actions, including covering coughs and sneezes, frequent hand washing, and staying home when sick;

o   and the correct use of antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.

·        There is no way to accurately predict the course of influenza epidemics.  Right now is a window of opportunity for more people to get vaccinated for 2009 H1N1 flu. Supplies of 2009 H1N1 vaccine are increasing.

 

 

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Comments on Public Hearing For Food Service License Fees

 

The Jefferson County Health Department held a public hearing on December 29, concerning the 2010 food program licensing fees.  The Ohio Department of Health provided a formula as to how the fees were calculated.

 

The Jefferson County Health Department will accept written comments concerning the licensing fees until January 15, 2010.  Those interested should send their written comments to the Jefferson County Health Department, 500 Market Street, Steubenville, 43952.

 

 

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Jefferson County Likely Affected by Nasal Swine Flu Recall 

 

The Jefferson County Health Department says the recall is a potency issue and not a safety issue.

Drugmaker Medimmune is recalling nearly 5 million doses of swine flu vaccine because the nasal spray apparently lost strength over time.

Becky Howell, Director of Nursing for the Jefferson County Health Department, says the county has used the vaccine from  Medimmune but she has not been notified of the specific lot numbers that have been recalled.  Howell says the county has more than likely distributed some of the recalled doses.

The Food and Drug Administration said that the vaccine is safe and patients who received the product should be protected from the H1N1 virus.

 

 

 

 

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Public Hearing For Food Service License Fees

 

The Jefferson County Health Department is holding a public hearing on December 29, concerning the 2010 food service operation license fees.  The hearing will be held at 10 am in the boardroom, on the second floor of the Jefferson County Health Department.  The building is located at 500 Market Street, Steubenville.

 

 

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Jefferson County not affected by H1N1 Recall

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Non-Safety-Related Voluntary Recall of Certain Lots of Sanofi Pasteur 2009 H1N1 Pediatric (for 6-35 month olds) Vaccine

The Jefferson County Health Department has received doses of the vaccine from Sanofi Pasteur, but none of the vaccines are involved in the recall.

·          Summary: As part of its quality assurance program, Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., performs additional routine, ongoing testing of influenza vaccines after the vaccine has been distributed to health care providers to ensure that vaccines continue to meet required specifications.  In recent testing of the amount of antigen in its influenza A (H1N1) monovalent vaccine, Sanofi Pasteur found four distributed lots of single-dose, pre-filled syringe pediatric (0.25 mL.) vaccine with antigen content lower than required potency levels. The manufacturer is conducting a non-safety related voluntary recall of these affected lots of vaccine.

·          Background:  After performing these tests, Sanofi Pasteur notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the antigen content in one lot of pediatric syringes that had been distributed to providers was later found to have dropped below a pre-specified limit. As a result of this finding, Sanofi Pasteur tested additional lots and found that three other lots that had been distributed also had an antigen content that had fallen below pre-specified limits. This means that doses from these four vaccine lots no longer meet the specifications for antigen content. 

o   Approximately 800,000 doses of vaccine in these lots were distributed to providers. Again, none of the doses were sent to the Jefferson County Health Department

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·          There are no safety concerns with these recalled lots of 2009 H1N1 vaccine and there is no need to revaccinate persons who have received doses from these lots.

·          The Jefferson County Health Department is still encouraging everyone to take advantage of their free H1N1 clinics.  To find out the places and times, log onto jchealth.com.

 

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Free H1N1 Flu Shot Clinics For Everyone

 

The Jefferson County Health Department is urging everyone to get their free H1N1 flu shots this holiday season.  

The free shots and nasal spray will be given out at Eastern Gateway Community College, in Steubenville, on Wednesday December 16, from 4-7 pm, in the quiet lounge in the main building.

The Jefferson County Health Department is also offering free clinics every Tuesday and Thursday, from 9-11am and 1-3pm.  On December 15 and 17, the shots will be given out on the first floor of the Tower Building, 500 Market Street, Steubenville. No appointment is necessary.  For more information call 282-H1N1.

Children under 10 should get two doses of the vaccine, about a month apart.

The Jefferson County Health Department is encouraging everyone to take advantage of the free clinics and avoid getting the H1N1 influenza, which could lead to pneumonia and other serious illnesses.  

 

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HALLOWEEN HAZARDS

 

Below are facts you can use to help make families more aware of Halloween Hazards, along with practical products (on the left) to help keep trick-or-treaters safe. (Ask us about customizing products to feature your program by calling 1-877-669-7233, ext. 202 or 206.)

Hazard #1  Pedestrian-Car Collisions: Child pedestrians are four times more likely to be killed on Halloween than on any other evening of the year. ²  Parents need to accompany children, make sure they are visible, and model safe pedestrian behaviors themselves.

Hazard #2  Non-Intersection Crossings:  Well over half of the Halloween pedestrian fatalities involving children occur at non-intersections, suggesting that mid-block crossings, darting out from between parked cars and other unexpected crossing behaviors may have contributed to their deaths. ³

Hazard #3  Drunk Driving: Drunk driving over Halloween has surpassed drunk driving on New Year's. On Halloween night in 2008, 58% of all highway fatalities involving a driver or a motorcycle rider were alcohol-related. ⁴

Hazard #4  Falls: Falls are one of the leading causes of injury on Halloween night. While it is important to make sure costumes are "fall-proof," it is also important to clear walkways, yards and driveways of tripping hazards in advance and to carry a flashlight.

Hazard #5 Burns and Eye Injuries:  Medical professionals cite an increase in eye and burn-related injuries on Halloween night. Paying attention to children's costumes, using face paint instead of masks and using "soft" toy weapons can help reduce these risks.

1. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
2. CDC Wonder, "Childhood Pedestrian Deaths During Halloween -- United States, 1975-1996, MMWR 46(42); 987-990 (7/24/1997)
3. National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as quoted by the Independent-Mail, 10/27/2008, www.independentmail.com/news/2008/oct/27/officials-halloween
4. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Adapted from : www.imsafe.com

 

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For Immediate Release – Apr. 26, 2009

 

OHIOAN TESTS POSITIVE FOR SWINE FLU

 

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) today confirmed a case of swine flu involving a 9-year-old boy from Lorain County. The patient is considered to have a mild case of the disease and is recovering at home.

Because this combination of strains of the influenza virus is new, ODH and local health departments remind Ohioans of the precautions they should take to avoid exposure. As with all newly emerging flu strains, no vaccine has yet been developed.

“I urge Ohioans to be alert to information about this new flu,” said ODH Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. “In addition, the tried-and-true saying about washing hands and covering one’s cough remains sound medical advice.”

Symptoms of this swine flu virus closely resemble seasonal flu, and include fever, weakness, coughing and lack of appetite.

ODH and local health departments are working with health care providers and hospitals around the state to determine if there are other cases. According to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all health care providers who see patients with flu-like symptoms and learn that the patient traveled to Mexico, affected counties in Southern California or Texas during the 7 days preceding their illness onset, should have nasal swab samples from the patient tested.  Recommendations from ODH and CDC include:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, see your doctor and CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

Additional information is available on the ODH and CDC Web sites at http://odh.ohio.gov and http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ .  The Ohio Department of Health will be providing additional updates as information becomes available.   

 

SWINE FLU HOTLINE NUMBER: 1-866-800-1404 available 8:00am to 5:00pm

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