Preparedness

Items in the Preparedness category will cover everything from Emergency Medical Services to vaccination programs. This division at ADHS tracks contagious disease, coordinates emergency preparedness activity, licenses EMTs and Paramedics, regulates ambulance companies, authorizes special hospital designations like cardiac care center and Level IV trauma center, issues birth and death certificates, and tracks critical health data through various sources including hospital discharge information.

The scorching heat continues as possible monsoons roll in, find resources to keep your family safe

By |2023-07-28T15:35:26-07:00July 28th, 2023|General, Preparedness|

While Arizona’s summer of record-breaking high temperatures and excessive heat warnings continue, we are also expecting to get a break with some rain soon.  Monsoon continues until the end of September, providing some relief with rain, but also posing its own hazards.   While many Arizonans may know the basics of summer safety like avoiding going [...]

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Staying safe in Arizona’s heat

By |2023-07-26T11:30:18-07:00July 25th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

Arizona’s been experiencing record-breaking high temperatures and a slow-to-start monsoon season. We’ve seen Excessive Heat Warnings in every county and Phoenix specifically is experiencing a record- breaking summer, with more than 26 consecutive days of 110+ degree weather so far (and it’s only July!) It’s vital to stay cool and hydrated in this heat and [...]

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It takes a village to update Arizona’s ambulance rules

By |2023-07-13T13:56:25-07:00July 13th, 2023|Preparedness|

We are currently working on updating Arizona’s ambulance rules to align with House Bill 2609 and new statutory requirements that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. These new requirements create standard principles for the ambulance industry across the state, including response time standards and tracking and improving patient care.  ADHS began the process of [...]

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Improving access to birth control for Arizona patients: Making contraceptives available without a prescription at your local pharmacy

By |2023-07-06T17:08:27-07:00July 6th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

This week rules were approved to allow Arizona patients 18 years old and older to access contraceptives at their local pharmacy without a doctor’s prescription. A standing order allows pharmacists to provide patients with needed birth control including hormonal contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, and oral contraceptives.  Arizona joins more than 20 other states that have [...]

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Stay weather aware and prepare for Arizona’s monsoon season

By |2023-06-20T15:43:02-07:00June 20th, 2023|Preparedness|

While it may feel like summer is just kicking off, the monsoon season has officially started and that means some safety measures should be mixed in with your summer fun.  What is the North American Monsoon? The monsoon involves changes in seasonal winds that can cause extreme weather conditions including extreme heat, dust storms, sudden [...]

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Father’s Day gift for all men: A trip to the doctor

By |2023-06-16T10:19:31-07:00June 15th, 2023|General, Preparedness, Prevention|

For reasons that aren't always clear, men simply don't go to the doctor as often as women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women visit their healthcare provider 40% more often than men. That may be an explanation for what the Washington Post recently called a "silent crisis in men's health." Data [...]

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Free drinking water lead screening available for Arizona schools, child care facilities

By |2023-06-08T16:00:37-07:00June 8th, 2023|General, Preparedness|

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is offering free lead screening of drinking water fixtures and faucets for Arizona schools and child care facilities as part of a nationwide program that was established by the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. ADHS received about [...]

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Federal COVID-19 public health emergency ends – Vaccines, tests & data will remain available

By |2023-05-11T12:56:55-07:00May 11th, 2023|General, Preparedness|

Today marks the end of the national COVID-19 public health emergency, but most tools - including vaccines, testing, and treatment - will remain available in Arizona. More than two years after the public health emergency was declared, and more than three years after the virus began its rapid spread in 2020, the U.S. Department of Health [...]

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Roadway safety is no accident – May is Trauma Awareness Month

By |2023-05-09T14:31:10-07:00May 9th, 2023|Preparedness|

The theme of this year’s National Trauma Awareness Month (observed annually in May) is Roadway Safety is No Accident. The Arizona Department of Health Services’ Bureau of EMS and Trauma System and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) are joining forces to spread the message that  Prevention is Key: Safety is a Choice.  According [...]

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Keep your cool when the heat builds this summer

By |2023-05-04T15:50:30-07:00May 4th, 2023|Preparedness|

Summer is right around the corner, and it’s time to get ready for the sweltering heat season from May to September, when Arizona becomes one of the hottest places on earth. No one is risk-free when it comes to deadly summer heat. Arizona hospitals saw an annual average of 2,858 heat related emergency department visits [...]

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