July will be a busy month with Tdap Boosters!  During the month of July we will be providing Tdap (Whooping Cough) Boosters to everyone aged 11 and above at NO cost. 

There will be many opportunities during the month to receive this vaccination.  Check our website at www.livcohealthcenter.com to see the dates and times available.  You are also welcome to call our office at 646-5506 for information.

Remember, all those entering 8th grade are REQUIRED to have this booster to enter school this fall. 

 

 

Today is our last Immunization Clinic for the month of June.  We will be here from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Your need for immunizations doesn't end when you reach adulthood. Get and maintain protection against vaccine-preventable diseases for your health and for your family's health. Be the example!

Immunizations are NOT just for kids! Whether a young adult, middle-aged adult, or senior citizen, we ALL need immunizations to keep us healthy. Transitioning to adulthood brings us into a new world, bringing a different level of responsibility that we carry for life, including the need to help protect our loved ones more than ever.

If you are around infants you especially need the Tdap (Whooping Cough) booster!  Infants and children are not fully protected against this disease until they have completed their entire initial series between ages 4 and 6. 

No appointment is necessary, just come between the above hours. 

If we haven't vaccinated your child previously we do ask that you bring in your child's immunization record.  Parent authorization is required so a parent/guardian must accompany a child under the age of 18.  You can also go to our website (www.livcohealthcenter.com) and download the authorization forms, fill them out and send them with who you have chosen to bring your child. 

We hope to see you here today!

Stay Cool During Summer Heat   

 

Know Your Risk, Where You Can Go to Cool Off

 

Summer is upon us and this week’s high temperatures and humidity should remind us that getting too hot can make you sick. 

 

Getting overheated to the point you are uncomfortable is one thing, but you really can become ill from the heat if your body can't compensate for it and properly cool you off. Heat exposure can even kill you: it caused 8,015 deaths in the United States from 1979 to 2003.

  

 

These are the main things affecting your body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather:

 

• High humidity. When the humidity is high, sweat won't evaporate as quickly, which keeps your body from releasing heat as fast as it may need to.
• Personal factors. Age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use can play a role in whether a person can cool off enough in very hot weather.

Here are some facts about which people are at greatest risk for heat-related illness and what protective actions to take to prevent illness or death:

• People who are at highest risk are the elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases.
• But even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.
• Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned.

In Livingston County, there are eight locations residents can visit during business hours to cool off if they don’t have air conditioning. Sites include Livingston County Health Center, Livingston County Library, Calvary Baptist Church, Chillicothe City Hall, Grand River Multi Purpose Center, YMCA (please don’t use equipment unless a member), the SALT Center and RSVP Threads. A list of the Summer Cooling Stations is available on the health center website www.livcohealthcenter.com. 

  

You can take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths during hot weather:

•  Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location
•  Drink plenty of fluids. If you work outside, don’t leave home without a jug of water or other liquid. 
• Remember, alcoholic beverages are dehydrating and can put you at risk for heat stroke.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
• Pace yourself.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Do not leave children in cars.
• Check the local news for health and safety updates.

 

 

 

 

All services of the health center are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

 

 

Today is WALK IN TUESDAY

Every Tuesday we do a Walk In Clinic for services such as Tdap Boosters, Tb Testing, B-12 Injections and Pregnancy Testing.   We offer these from 8 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.  No appointment is necessary, just walk in!  

Residents Encouraged to Get Vaccinated Against Pertussis in July

Several Opportunities to get Immunized Free of Charge Throughout the Month

June 25, 2013: Livingston County Health Center would like to encourage local residents to take advantage of numerous opportunities to get vaccinated against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis in July.

Vaccine protection for pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria fades with time, so all adults 19 and older who have not previously received a Tdap vaccine need a booster shot. Experts recommend adults receive a tetanus and diphtheria booster (called Td) every 10 years and substitute a Tdap vaccine for one of the boosters. The dose of Tdap can be given earlier than the 10-year mark.

Getting vaccinated with Tdap — at least two weeks before coming into close contact with an infant — is especially important for families with and caregivers of new infants.

Another group due for a Tdap booster is children going in to 8th grade.  Parents have been notified these kids are due for a shot. Since it is a required immunization, these students will not be able to start school this fall without receiving the vaccination.

Pertussis can cause serious illness in children and adults and can even be life-threatening for infants. More than half of infants less than one year of age who get pertussis are hospitalized.

The best way to prevent pertussis (whooping cough) among infants, children, teens, and adults is to get vaccinated. Also, keep infants and other people at high risk for pertussis complications away from infected people.

The Health Center has received a supply of Tdap vaccine to immunize the general public 11 years old and over.  There is no charge for this vaccine, and several opportunities to get vaccinated are planned for July.

Those interested in receiving this important immunization can come to any of our Tuesday Walk In Office Visit days in July as well as any of our three regularly scheduled Immunization Clinics on the second, third and fourth Thursday of each month.  Our evening immunization clinic has extended hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to give even more opportunity for residents to get vaccinated

LCHC staff will also be out at the “Salute to Seniors” Resource Fair at the Grand River Multipurpose Center on Tuesday, July 9th from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; the Livingston County Fair on Wednesday, July 17th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the July 12th Mudcats game for Midwest Glove Appreciation Night from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Please take a little time to get this vaccination if you are due for a booster.  Don’t be the one to put a baby in the hospital because you didn’t have time to get vaccinated.

For more information about the Tdap vaccination opportunities, call the health center at 646-5506 or visit the health center’s Facebook page or livcohealthcenter.com.

All services are provided on a non-discriminatory basis.

Have a Safe Summer!

MORE TIME OUTDOORS MEANS NEW WAYS TO STAY SAFE

The return of warmer temperatures brings thoughts of freedom, relaxation, exploration, and being closer to nature. Whether you're relaxing in the backyard, turning up your garden, enjoying the pool, or exploring the great outdoors, there are ways to help keep you and your family healthy this summer.

While you're outside enjoying the weather, remember to protect your pets too. Keeping healthy pets will help keep you and your family healthy.

Children can get roundworm and hookworm from soil contaminated by pet feces (stool), so make sure that puppies and kittens are seen by a veterinarian and dewormed. Protect family pets from ticks and fleas by keeping them on a flea and tick control program.

Prevent skin cancer. Avoid being outdoors during the midday if the sun is intense, use sunscreen with at least SPF 15, cover up with clothing, wear a brimmed hat, and wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays. Be aware of the signs of heat stress.

Nothing says summer like the smoky flavor of foods cooked out on the grill. Whether you're cooking out in the backyard or on a picnic, always keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. When you're finished eating, refrigerate leftovers promptly.

Because summer weather is so unpredictable, you may be unprepared when severe weather hits. When severe weather hits unexpectedly, the risk of injury and death increases, so planning ahead makes sense. Prepare family members for the possibility of severe weather. Tell them where to seek  shelter as soon as they are aware of an approaching storm. 

Pay attention to weather alerts and storm sirens and sign up for textcaster on our website livcohealthcenter.com to get emergency notifications by text.

Talk about and practice an emergency plan and make sure you have supplies like batteries, candles and a lighter or matches, food that doesn’t need cooked and first aid supplies.

Source: Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services

Know the Facts About Pertussis

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.

In 2010, 27,550 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) were reported in the U.S., but many more go undiagnosed and unreported. This is the most number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1959 when 40,000 cases were reported. In 2011, 18,719 cases were reported.

Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breathes which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.

Coughing fits due to pertussis infection can last for up to 10 weeks or more; sometimes known as the "100 day cough."  Adults can have what just appears to be a cold with a bad cough, when they are actually infected with pertussis.   Grownups recover after a certain length of time, but in the meantime, they can pass on whooping cough to infants, who aren’t fully immunized against the disease.

Pertussis can cause serious illness in infants, children and adults and can even be life-threatening, especially in infants. More than half of infants less than 1 year of age who get pertussis are hospitalized.

The most effective way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination with DTaP for infants and children and with Tdap for preteens, teens and adults — protection from the childhood vaccine fades over time.

The best way to prevent pertussis (whooping cough) among infants, children, teens, and adults is to get vaccinated. Also, keep infants and other people at high risk for pertussis complications away from infected people.

In the United States, the recommended pertussis vaccine for infants and children is called DTaP. This is a combination vaccine that protects against three diseases: diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

Vaccine protection for these three diseases fades with time. Before 2005, the only booster available contained protection against tetanus and diphtheria (called Td), and was recommended for teens and adults every 10 years. Today there is a booster for preteens, teens and adults that contains protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap).

The childhood whooping cough vaccine (DTaP) protects most children for at least 5 years

Vaccine protection for pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria fades with time, so all adults 19 and older who have not previously received a Tdap vaccine need a booster shot. Experts recommend adults receive a tetanus and diphtheria booster (called Td) every 10 years and substitute a Tdap vaccine for one of the boosters. The dose of Tdap can be given earlier than the 10-year mark.

Getting vaccinated with Tdap — at least two weeks before coming into close contact with an infant — is especially important for families with and caregivers of new infants.

Another group due for a Tdap booster is children going in to 8^th grade.  Parents have been notified that these kids are due for a shot. Since it is a required immunization, these students will not be able to start school this fall without receiving the vaccination.

The Health Center has received a supply of Tdap vaccine to immunize the general public 11 years old and over.  There is no charge for this vaccine, and several opportunities to get vaccinated are planned for July.

Those interested in receiving this important immunization can come to any of our Tuesday Walk In Office Visit days in July as well as any of our regularly scheduled Immunization Clinics.  Our evening immunization clinic has extended hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to give even more opportunity for residents to get vaccinated.

Our staff will also be out at the “Salute to Seniors” Resource Fair at the Grand River Multipurpose Center on Tuesday, July 9^th from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; the Livingston County Fair on Wednesday, July 17^th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the July 12^th Mudcats game for Midwest Glove Appreciation Night from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Please take a little time to get this vaccination if you are due for a booster.  Don’t be the one to put a baby in the hospital because you didn’t have time to get vaccinated.

Source: CDC