Hygiene tips include not swimming when you (or your kids) have diarrhea, reminding your kids not to swallow pool water, and practicing good hygiene (shower before swimming and wash your hands after changing diapers).  And remember- little kids should have a swim diaper…  and always change diapers in the bathroom or diaper-changing areas (not poolside).  You can visit our Waterborne Disease site and a new CDC report about fecal contamination in pools to learn more. 

This year we’ll be holding a healthy swimming video contest to build awareness of safe swimming.  Kids can create a 2-minute healthy swimming video to help educate people about safe swimming including sun safety, staying hydrated while swimming, and preventing the spread of germs at pools, lakes, and water parks. The deadline for submission is June 16^th and the website has the complete details and contest rules. The winning video will be used in a statewide water safety campaign. Last year’s winning video is up on YouTube.

Heat is one of the most dangerous weather situations in public health – actually it’s the #1 weather-related killer.  Last year 152 Arizonans died from heat exposure….  with 80% happening in June, July and August.  The largest age group for heat-related deaths are people over 55 (75% are men).  We also had about 2,500 emergency department visits and 548 hospital admissions from heat illness last year.  You can see why we work hard to educate people about the danger of heat and hold a water drive every year via social media.  

We’re also launching our annual water drive this month.  Last year, team ADHS brought in more than 60,000 bottles of water that went to outreach groups and shelters for those who need help escaping from the heat, like the elderly, those who can’t afford to cool their homes and the homeless.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services put up $1 billion to entice better care and lower costs in healthcare.  CMS will award money to projects that specifically improve comprehensive health and wellness; improve care for people with special needs; reduce the cost for patients on AHCCCS and in Medicare; and for providers to change financial and clinical models. 

For example – a program that helps a population fight diabetes or one that helps integrate behavioral health care with primary care might be selected.  Funds are available to non-profits, communities, healthcare providers, provider groups, faith-based organizations – almost every type of company, government or partnership. 

Folks who are interested have to send in a Letter of Intent by June 28^th.  You can find out more on the CMS Frequently Asked Questions page.

Recently the hospital hit ten-month lows in the use of seclusion, restraint and patient falls… all as a result of new efforts that have been put in place to create culture change that engages patients and staff in the overall success of treatment.  The focus on Recovery, Trauma Informed Care using evidenced-based are all coming into full swing and present opportunities to even further improve the lives of patients on the campus.  Anyone interested in applying of for the position should submit an application through the State of AZ Jobs Site and look under the Department of Health in the agency section.

Other community planning resources I’ve written about recently include workshops coordinated by the Urban Land Institute.  The workshops, known as the Community Plan are a free service for public officials at the local level that focus on a holistic approach to land use planning, zoning, transportation, economic development, real estate development and finance. 

Another tool for impacting community and population is something called a “Health Impact Assessment”.  It’s basically a tool for assessing and influencing policy or project decisions to improve health.  A simple example is that if your neighborhood has safe, accessible sidewalks or walking or biking paths, you’ll be more likely to be physically active.  

Health Impact Assessments are used a lot in Europe- and they’re gaining steam here in the U.S.  For example, AZ completed a comprehensive health impact assessment last summer.  We worked with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health on the health impact assessment of the proposed Tempe Modern Streetcar, which will be a 3-mile trolley system connecting the current light rail system to Southern.  

The HIA Team developed comprehensive recommendations that were provided to Tempe for their consideration in planning of the trolley system.  Some of the ideas proposed include: having a bike rental system; adding shade to the walking environment; implementing safe routes to school; identifying sites for additional farmers markets; encouraging supermarkets in underserved areas; encouraging community gardens; installing a buffer between sidewalk and arterial streets to make walking safer; installing pedestrian signals; and implementing a 20 minute neighborhood concept for the neighborhoods within the streetcar corridor- so people are more likely to walk or bike.

We have a couple training opportunities coming up if you want to learn more about health impact assessments.

All women need folic acid in their bodies before they get pregnant to help prevent birth defects.  Plus it acts as a beauty aid to make hair shine, nails grown, and skin glow.  Power Me A2Z is a perfect example of uniting our communities by empowering women to take charge of their health and advancing health equity for current and future generations. Visit the Power Me A2Z website to learn more about this exciting program.

We’re hosting the 4^th annual Women’s Health Week Celebration for state employees May 14 & 15 at the State Capitol building on first and second floors from 10 to 2.  The program will include health screenings and several exhibitors where you can learn more about the programs offered for women.  Some of the highlights of the celebration include a presentation titled “A How-To Guide for Buying Fresh Fruits and Vegetables” at 11 on Tuesday in the 2^nd floor atrium and a presentation titled “If I’d Known I was Going to Live This Long, I’d Have Taken Better Care of Myself” at noon on Wednesday in the 2^nd floor conference room.

Then on Thursday, there’s a Women’s Health Celebration walk that is open to the public.  At 9 am, we’re all gathering at the 9/11 Memorial on Wesley Bolin Plaza.  While the Women’s Health Week celebration is designed to draw attention for women to take care of themselves, men can take advantage of the time too.  Just visit our Healthy Living page for ideas on how to be active, eat healthily and take care of your whole health.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms out there and all the people who are seen as Moms!   It’s Your Time

CDC, WHO, and other public health organizations are looking into all severe acute respiratory cases, especially those with recent travel to the Arabian Peninsula to identify any new cases of the virus and learn more about how it might be spreading. No cases have been found in the US.  Here’s some up to date information if you’re interested in learning more.

Yesterday I blogged about what we’ve learned since we first discovered SARS. 

By March of 2003, the CDC had confirmed that the disease wasn’t caused by an influenza virus, but they didn’t know the culprit…  so they named it after the symptoms (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) rather than the causative agent (it turned out to be a new Coronavirus).  March of ’03 also marked the time when the CDC figured out that the virus was spread via face-to-face human contact.  That’s also when the CDC and WHO recommended strict infection control measures including hand washing, gloves, avoiding sharing household items, and limiting interaction between ill patients and others. 

Exactly 10 years ago today CDC figured out that there were some “super-spreaders” that were a particular problem with the growing epidemic.  May ’03 also marked the month in which the investigation and public health and clinical interventions matured- bringing the full weight of the global public health and clinical management system to bear on the virus.  Interventions like concise case definitions and reporting standards, laboratory diagnostic tests, travel restrictions, and clear clinical management and infection control guidelines all worked together to eradicate the virus by the Summer of 2003. 

The forensic investigation continued for a few months after the virus was eradicated.  The investigation kept pointing toward an animal called a Civet as the source of the new Coronavirus.  A SARS-like virus had been isolated from civets captured in areas of China where the SARS outbreak originated and sold in live animal markets.  It’s a mammal with a catlike body, long legs, a long tail, and a masked face resembling a raccoon or weasel.  By January of ’04 it was pretty clear that a Civet was the probable source, and the CDC issued a  “Notice of Embargo of Civets”, which banned the importation of civets into the US. The ban is currently still in effect.  China also implemented some control measures on them. 

Interested in the whole story?  Check out “Remembering SARS: 10 Years Later” on the CDC’s website.

We also have another Midwifery Scope of Practice Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 15 from 4-6 pm in the Lab.  We’ll be discussing the newest edition of the draft rules.  The latest draft still includes Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) and Breech Delivery as within scope for Certified Professional Midwives under certain prescribed circumstances, although this latest version would not allow for the delivery of twins by a midwife.  We’ve also clarified monitoring reporting requirements regarding labor progression.  The final midwifery rules are also due at the end of June.