January is Cervical Health Awareness Month! The Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale County Health Departments encourage every woman to make a New Year’s resolution to talk with their healthcare provider about cervical health! Nearly 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and of those, about one-third will die as a result of the cancer. But the disease is highly preventable and treatable with improved vaccinations and screenings!

The American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition have named January Cervical Health Awareness Month to encourage women in the United States to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine if they are eligible and get the appropriate age-based Pap and HPV tests. We offer both the vaccine and the women’s health screenings at all of our clinic locations, just visit www.gnrhealth.com/locations to find the one closest to you!

Contributed by Women’s Health staff member, Capri Martinez. 

Flood Awareness

More people drown in their cars than anywhere else during a flood.  People believe the weight of their car will keep them on the road.  Think about it for a moment.  An aircraft carrier weighs 97,000 tons and it floats.  A foot of water will float many vehicles and two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles – including SUV’s.

Flood and flash flood WATCHES mean flooding is possible, be prepared to move to higher ground and tune in for weather information.

Flood and flash flood WARNINGS mean flooding is occurring and if advised to evacuate, do so immediately, even if on foot.

All floods are not alike.  Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days.  But flash floods can develop quickly, even in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain.  Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path.  Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be very destructive.

The Danger is Real

• The first step is to protect your home and family by purchasing flood insurance (floodsmart.gov). Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover flooding.
• Copy important documents and take pictures of possessions.
• Monitor NOAA Weather Radio or other media.
• Don’t walk through a flooded area because 6 inches of moving water can knock you down.
• Don’t drive through flooded areas and stay away from downed power lines.
• Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.
• Watch out for animals that have lost their homes during a flood.  Animals may seek shelter in your home and aggressively defend themselves (especially poisonous snakes).

http://www.ready.gov/floods

U.S. Food & Drug Administration issued a Nationwide Recall of Infant’s Ibuprofen Concentrated Oral Suspension in CVS, Walmart and Family Dollar. The product is a Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that is used as a pain reliever or fever reducer. The recall was issued due to potential higher concentrations of ibuprofen. Infants who may be more susceptible to higher potency level of drug are potentially more vulnerable to permanent NSAID- associated Renal Injury. Adverse effects can include nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, diarrhea, tinnitus, headache, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Pharmaceutical company, Tris Pharma, the company who voluntarily recalled the Infants Ibuprofen, has not received any reports of adverse events related to the product.

If you have questions regarding this recall, contact Tris Customer Service (Pharmaceutical Company) at 732-940-0358.

Click here for more FDA Recall Information

Winter Weather has been unpredictable in Georgia this season, which is why it’s so important to understand what you and your family can do to stay safe and warm during extreme cold temperatures. Fore more detailed information, visit Ready Gov or CDC Winter Weather websites.

Winter storms are just not blizzards that last several days. They can range from freezing rain and ice to moderate snowfall over a few hours.

Potential Impact of Winter Weather

• Roads and Walkways are made dangerous or impassable
• Power outages could last for days
• Injuries and deaths could result from dangerous road conditions, cold related illness or carbon monoxide poisoning

How You & Your Family Can Stay Safe

• Create a family communications plan, FEMA provides a wallet sized template for Family Emergency Communication plans
• Build An Emergency Kit, think about your family’s physical and medical needs especially for children, seniors, and even pets
• Prepare your home
  • Make sure you have weather stripping around your doors and window sills to keep warm air inside
  • Make sure your carbon monoxide detector is working
  • Learn to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts
  • Keep fire extinguishers on hand

• Prepare your vehicle

  • Ensure your gas tank is at least half full
  • Have your mechanic check antifreeze, brakes, heater and defroster, tires and windshield wipers
  • Keep an extra emergency kit in your car

• Bring pets inside

  • look for a pet friendly hotel, or locate a veterinarian for temporary shelter

During the Winter Weather

• Stay indoors during the storm
• Drive only if necessary and keep others informed of your whereabouts
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. It can cause a heart attack which is a major cause of death in winter
• Keep dry and change wet clothing
• Bundle up with several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Make sure outer garments are tightly woven and water repellant. And wear mittens, hats, and scarves.

Watch Out For Cold Related Illness and Seek Medical Care If Needed

• Frostbite
  • white or grayish-yellow skin area
  • skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
  • numbness
• Hypothermia
  • If the person’s temperature is below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, get medical attention immediately
  • Adults may experience shivering, exhaustion, confusing, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness
  • Infants may have bright red, cold skin, and very low energy

Carbon Monoxide-related deaths are highest during colder months

• Deaths are likely due to increased use of gas powered furnaces and alternative heating, cooking, and power sources which are used inappropriately
• Each year, about 430 Americans die from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning
• More than 20,000 visits to the emergency room for Carbon Monoxide exposure

Tips To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning devise inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially exposed area.
• Place unit 20 feet away from doors, windows, and vents
• Install Carbon Monoxide detectors inside your home

Helpful Links

• Ready Gov – Winter Weather
• CDC – Winter Weather
• FEMA – Emergency Plan Template
• FEMA- Emergency Supply Kit
• Ready Gov – Pets and Animals
• Pet Friendly Hotels
• CDC – Frostbite
• CDC – Hypothermia
• CDC- Carbon Monoxide Detectors

CDC has narrowed its warning to consumers regarding E. coli 0157: H7 associated with romaine lettuce. U.S. Consumers should not eat and retailers and restaurants should not serve or sell any romaine lettuce harvested from the central coastal growing regions of northern and central California. The specific California counties identified by the FDA are: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Ventura. Romaine lettuce from these areas or from an unknown source should be discarded right away.

 If you do not know where the romaine lettuce is from, do not eat it.

You can check bags or boxes of romaine lettuce for a label indicating where the lettuce was harvested. Romaine lettuce is not linked to this outbreak if labeled with a harvest region outside those listed above, like the desert growing region near Yuma, the California desert growing region near Imperial County and Riverside County, the state of Florida, and Mexico.

If you do not know where your romaine lettuce was harvested, do not eat it and throw it away. You should discard it right away regardless of whether some has been eaten and no one has gotten sick. This includes all types of romaine lettuce, such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and bags and boxes of precut lettuce and salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad. Once thrown out, wash and sanitize refrigerator surfaces or drawers where romaine was stored.

Restaurants and retailers should check the label on bags or boxes of romaine lettuce, or ask their suppliers about the source of the lettuce. Restaurants and retailers should not sell or serve any romaine lettuce harvested from the areas mentioned above. If the harvest region is unknown, do not sell or serve it.

People infected with E. coli 0157: H7 usually get sick between 3 – 4 days after eating or drinking something contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms can include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), stomach pain, and vomiting. In rare cases, E. coli 0157: H7 may lead to kidney failure. Contact your physician’s office if you develop diarrhea that lasts for more than 3 days or if the diarrhea is accompanied by blood in your stool, a high fever, or severe vomiting that prevents you from staying hydrated. If you are diagnosed with E. coli 0157:H7 through a laboratory test, your doctor is required to report this information to the health department.

Helpful Links 

• CDC E. coli Investigation 
• FDA Restaurant and Retailers 

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County (GNR) Health Departments is extremely proud to announce our health director, Lloyd M. Hofer, MD, MPH, has won the Distinguished Leader Healthcare Award through the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Hofer has served as the CEO and Medical Director of GNR Health Departments since 2002.  The GNR Health Departments provide preventive care to our communities, with clinical services including adult and child immunizations, breast and cervical cancer screenings, family planning, dental care, lab tests, school hearing and vision screenings, STD testing and treatment, case management for at-risk children, WIC nutrition services, and more.

Dr. Hofer has leveraged his experience in both the public and private sector to help grow clinicians, expanding both the capacity and knowledge base of the healthcare sector. He provided mentorship and preceptorship to physician residents from the Emory School of Medicine, Gwinnett Hospital System’s Graduate Medical Education Programs, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventive Medicine Residency.

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks and anthrax bioterrorism, Dr. Hofer utilized federal funding to establish a public health emergency preparedness program that brought together key players in the healthcare community to coordinate healthcare preparedness and response.  Through planning, exercises, and response to real-life emergencies, this program has grown and strengthened over time, gaining recognition as one of the best programs in the state of Georgia.

Under Dr. Hofer’s leadership, our award-winning epidemiology program has grown and exceeded high standards for disease surveillance and outbreak response.  Epidemiology staff perform surveillance, investigation and implement disease control efforts for over 70 notifiable diseases, including Tuberculosis, STDs, and emerging pathogens such as MERS, Ebola, and novel Influenza.

In 2016 the GNR Health Departments became one of the first in Georgia to be nationally accredited.  Attaining accreditation indicates that the GNR Health Departments meet nationally recognized, evidence-based standards.  The process of seeking accreditation strengthened the Health Departments’ role in assessing the community’s health and planning for health improvements with our many community partners.

Dr. Hofer recognized the value of meeting federal standards for retail food (restaurant) inspections and challenged the GNR Environmental Health team to achieve all nine standards of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program.  In 2018, GNR Health Departments became one of only five jurisdictions in the nation to meet these standards.

Dr. Hofer will retire December 2018. His perseverance and focused commitment have served Georgia’s communities for more than two decades. He has been instrumental in the improvement of healthcare for all of Georgia through comprehensive, compassionate and evidence-based medicine. Dr. Lloyd Hofer’s career in public service will leave a lasting legacy for the healthcare industry as well as the health of our community for years to come.

We are also proud of our Community Partner, Sherwin Levinson, executive director of our partner MRC GEM for winning the Volunteer Service Award. Sherwin Levinson runs the Medical Reserve Corps-Georgia East Metro (MRC GEM), an organization that trains volunteers to engage local communities to strengthen response and recovery during potential crises in Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties.

According to the Atlanta Jewish Times article, Sherwin Levinson has made it his life’s mission to educate people on what to do in the event of an emergency in Gwinnett, Newton, and Rockdale counties.

Most of MRC’s focus is on Gwinnett and its population 920,000 and in Newton and Rockdale Counties with a combined population of about 200,000. Sherwin recognizes the diversity in culture, language, and demographics across these counties and works tirelessly to ensure that these needs are being addressed. To read more about Sherwin Levinson and the MRC GEM, visit MRC website.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. It can cause blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, and other health problems if it’s not controlled.

One in 10 Americans have diabetes — that’s more than 30 million people. And another 84 million adults in the United States are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

People who are at high risk for type 2 diabetes can lower their risk by more than half if they make healthy changes. These changes include: eating healthy, getting more physical activity, and losing weight.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, use this time to raise awareness about diabetes risk factors and encourage people to make healthy changes.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Encourage people to make small changes, like taking the stairs or parking further away.
• Talk to people in your community about getting regular checkups. They can get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked, and ask the doctor about their diabetes risk.
• Join the American Diabetes Association in celebrating American Diabetes Month.

Below are the symptoms for Type 2 Diabetes. Here is a link to the ADA’s risk assessment quiz. Please consult with your doctor about your risk for Diabetes.

Please join GNR Health and GCAPP as we present Parents’ S.O.S! Tuesday, October 30th at 6 PM to 8 PM at Meadowcreek High School. Oftentimes parents tell us they feel uncomfortable or unprepared to discuss certain topics or events with their children.  Parents’ S.O.S! workshop provides parents with the information they need when navigating topics and situations that are critical in helping prepare their kids for social challenges in life. The parent can register at parents@gcapp.org.

Click on Image to Enlarge 

Recently, the CDC reported that positive influenza (flu) tests in the Southeast were up almost 23 percent, and Georgia moved into the “widespread” category for flu.  There have been more than 400 hospitalizations and nine confirmed flu-related deaths in the state (as of January 3). 

Flu viruses are detected year-round but are most common during the fall and winter. Even though we’re still early in the season, now is the time to get a flu vaccine – available at all GNR Health Departments. Find a location and get your shot today. 

“It’s never too early to get your flu shot,” said Alana Sulka, Director of Epidemiology for the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments.  “Don’t wait until we see an uptick in cases. Getting a flu shot now is one of the most important things you can do to protect you and your family from the flu.” 

Flu typically affects those at high risk, including young children, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions. Every flu season is different, and the flu shot protects against the flu viruses that will be most common during the flu season. Protection against H1N1, which tends to affect the young and middle-aged adult population, is included in this year’s vaccine.  

“In addition to encouraging flu shots in the young, elderly, and individuals with chronic medical conditions, we want to encourage young and middle-aged adults to make sure they are protected, too,” Sulka continued.  “Flu season normally peaks in January and February, and can last until May.  So now is the time to get vaccinated and receive protection.” 

While we refer to the flu vaccines as flu “shots,” the Health Department also offers FluMist for those between 2 and 49 years old. FluMist is a vaccine that is sprayed into the nose. If you’re under 49, don’t let the fear of needles detract from protecting yourself against catching the flu. 

Flu vaccines are available at many places, including all Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Department locations.  Locations and hours are available here. Come in and get your shot today! 

Additional Protection 

In addition to getting a flu shot, there are simple things you can do to help stop the spread of germs: wash your hands and cover your cough.  And if you are sick, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. 

Wash Your Hands 

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.  Wash hands after coughing and sneezing, after caring for ill individuals, after using the bathroom and before preparing food. 
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

Cover Your Cough 

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or inner elbow or upper sleeve when you cough or sneeze. 

• Put your used tissue in the waste basket. 
• Wash your hands after you cough or sneeze. 

Stay Home When You Are Sick  

• This will help prevent spreading your illness to others at work, school, or in the community.  

For more helpful tips, check out the following links 

• CDC Flu Prevention 
• Preventive Steps Against The Flu 
• Vaccines for Flu Season 2018-2019 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, ensure that your food and water sources are safe for consumption and your home is safe from mold.

• Food may not be safe to eat during and after an emergency.
• Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled, or treated water.
• Excess moisture can contribute to the growth of mold in homes. 

In order to help protect yourself and family from threats before, during, and after the hurricane, the CDC and FDA have developed materials on food & water safety.  Visit the links below for more information:

General Food Safety Guidelines from the CDC

Food Safety during Power Outages Video

Food & Water Safety After a Storm

Restaurants & Grocers Reopening After a Storm

(click to enlarge)

Additional Safety Information:

Post Flood Food Service Establishments Fact Sheet

Disinfecting Private Wells After Flooding

FAQ After a Drinking Water Advisory

Floodwater and Food

Getting Rid of Mold Post-Flood

Homeowners & Renters Guide to Mold Removal

Restaurants and Grocers Reopening After Hurricanes and Flooding

Mold After Flooding