Public Health News Briefs March-April 2007

 

Trained Child Passenger Safety Technicians will inspect your car seats for safety recalls, proper installation and correct fit for your child.

Ø      Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death to kids

Ø      9 out of 10 car seats are used incorrectly

Ø      Most children between the ages of 4-8 should ride in a booster seat

Come to the Car Seat Check Up at the Wal-Mart Parking lot on Saturday, March 10^th between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and make sure your child is riding safely.

Several Radon Workshops will be offered throughout the community during March. Free test kits will be available, as long as supplies last. These workshops, sponsored by La Plata County CSU Cooperative Extension and San Juan Basin Health Department, will take place:

Monday, March 12^th at the Bayfield Public Library; 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 14^th at the Pagosa Springs Community Center (for Realtors); 8:30 to 12:30

Wednesday, March 21^st at the La Plata County Fairgrounds; 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For more information, call 247-5702, ext 223 or 247-4355.

Parents should prepare for new vaccination requirements for the 2007-08 School Year. The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment issued the new requirements in January. As of the beginning of the 2007-08 school year:

1) the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination will be required for all students entering 6^th and 10^th grades, unless they’ve had a tetanus shot within the last two years.

2) a second dose of varicella vaccine (for chickenpox) will be required of all children entering kindergarten or parents need to have proof (written verification by health care provider) of the child already having had the chicken pox.

3) the pneumococcal vaccine is now required for all children in licensed childcare.

 

San Juan Basin Health offers Monday Immunization Clinics by appointment only. Appointments for routine children’s immunizations will be available on Mondays between 10:30 and 5:30. Individuals can call 247-5702 any week day from 8:00 to 4:30 to schedule an appointment. Additionally, there will be two Friday Back-to-School clinics on June 8^th and August 3^rd. These will also be by appointment only.

 

San Juan Basin Health Department is offering its Food Protection Training course in Spanish on Monday, March 19^th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at San Juan Basin Health Department’s Conference and Training Center. This course covers basic food safety knowledge and will be conducted completely in Spanish. The cost is $40. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Marian at 247-5702, ext. 223.

 

Public Health Week will be observed this year from Monday, April 2, through Sunday, April 8th. “Working Together for a Healthier You” will be this year’s theme for Colorado's Observance of National Public Health Week. If your business or health practice would like to place a poster up in commemoration of this week, please call 247-5702, ext. 1605.

The ServSafe program is recommended for Manager and owners. San Juan Basin Health Department’s Environmental Division will offer this program April 16-19 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This national certification program is a comprehensive, integrated program of practices related to food safety and provides science-based information on how to run a safe establishment and to establish sound food safety policies. The course costs $150 and will be held at San Juan Basin Health’s Conference/Training Center. For information or to RSVP, contact Marian at 247-5702, ext. 223.

 

Need a Pap test or mammogram and think you can’t afford it? The Colorado Women’s Cancer Control Initiative (CWCCI) provides free screenings to women over the age of 40 who meet certain income guidelines. Those screenings are available through Planned Parenthood (970) 247-3002, San Juan Basin Health Dept. in Pagosa Springs (970) 264-2409 ext 25, and in Durango (970) 247-5702 ext. 202.  Every woman should begin Pap screenings by the age of 21 and mammograms by the age of 40.  Call for information.

 

Lasso Tobacco Coalition meeting will take place on Thursday, April 19th in the Ouray Room at Sky Ute Casino in Ignacio. Among agenda items will be: overview of current projects and current data (TABS). The meeting takes from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. Call 247-5702, ext. 227 for information or to RSVP.

                                   

 HCP Rehab Clinic is April 27 

Dr Dennis Matthews will conduct a HCP Clinic for children who need rehabilitative services on Friday, April 27^th in Durango. Please call Eileen for more details at 247-5702, ext. 208.

An Employers Workshop will be offered onThursday May 3^rd 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm at San Juan Basin Health Department. This workshop is a great opportunity for employers who want to bring their communications with employees to a new level. Learn more about motivational interviewing - a practical System for Employers to facilitate change immediately with employees; including assisting them in tobacco cessation. Snacks and refreshments included.

For more info, check out www.sjbhd.org or call Caleb Gates at 247-5702, ext. 236 or email at caleb@sjbhd.org

 

Our state’s smoke-free law has helped to improve public health in Colorado by limiting people’s exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at work and other public places. For FREE signs, decals, brochures and other resources see www.smokefreecolorado.org  or contact San Juan Basin Health Department at (970) 247-5702 Ext. 1526.

 

The San Juan Basin Health Department has received a planning grant to assess community readiness around establishing a "Nurturing Parent Program." This program is for high risk families who might not utilize other parenting classes.  The program has a proven track record for changing attitudes and behaviors for parents who did not grow up in healthy/nurturing environments.  The grant funding came from the Colorado Children’s Trust.

 

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Jane Looney, Communications; jlooney@sjbhd.org

San Juan Basin Health Department; 247-5702 x1605