Community Health Programs

2018

• Jul 27, 2018

  This Labor Day, and Every Day: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

  July 27, 2018PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                  CONTACT:  Jessica McCarthy (440) 350-2875July 26, 2018                                                                                                       LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICTThis Labor Day, and Every Day: Drive Sober or Get Pulled OverEach year, Americans mark the end of summer with the Labor Day holiday weekend, a time to celebrate the hard work and many accomplishments of our country. Friends and families eagerly await pool parties, backyard barbecues, and other occasions to enjoy the last days of summer sunshine. Sadly, the Labor Day holiday has also become one of the deadliest, with drunk drivers endangering themselves and others on their way home from these holiday festivities. This year, Geauga Safe Communities Coalition is partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to get drunk drivers off the roads and help save lives. The high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs from August 17 through September 3, 2018. During this period, local law enforcement will show zero tolerance for drunk driving. Increased state and national messages about the dangers of driving impaired, coupled with enforcement and increased officers on the road, aim to drastically reduce drunk driving on our nation’s roadways.Geauga Safe Communities Coalition will be hosting a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Kickoff event on August 18, 2018 at the Claridon Woodlands Opening Celebration from noon until 9:00 p.m. Come enjoy the live music, food trucks, and a special presentation put on by the Geauga Safe Communities Coalition.Sadly, statistics prove that we have a lot of work to do to put an end to drunk driving. According to NHTSA, 10,497 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2016. On average, 10,000 people were killed each year from 2012 to 2016, with one person being killed every 50 minutes in 2016. That is the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing each year with no survivors. This is why Geauga Safe Communities Coalition is working with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death. As you head out to Labor Day festivities, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.Over the 2016 Labor Day holiday period (6:00 p.m. on September 2 – 5:59 a.m. September 6), there were 433 crash fatalities nationwide. Of the fatal crashes, more than one-third (36%) involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ blood alcohol concentration [BAC]), and one-fourth (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Age is a particularly risky factor: Among the drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2016, 47 percent of those fatalities involved drunk drivers with BACs of .08 or higher.The Geauga Safe Communities Coalition recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride sharing service to get home safely.Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, available on Google Play for Android devices: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhtsa.SaferRide&hl=en), and Apple’s iTunes Store for iOS devices: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saferride/id950774008?mt=8). SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend, and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up.Use your community’s sober ride programIf you see a drunk driver on the road, call #677Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely. For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov or contact Jessica McCarthy at 440-350-2875 or jmccathy@lcghd.org. ###

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• Jul 23, 2018

  LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT CONFIRMS FIRST HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN 2018

  July 23, 2018NEWS RELEASE                                                          CONTACT: Tara Perkins MSN, RN (440) 350-2453July 23, 2018                                                               LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICTLAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT CONFIRMS FIRST HUMAN CASE OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN 2018The Lake County General Health District (LCGHD) announces that Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has confirmed 2018’s first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Lake County, Ohio. This is the first human case of WNV in Ohio in 2018, and Lake County’s first case since 2017. This new case involves a Willoughby resident who is currently under the care of a physician.WNV is most commonly spread by infected mosquitoes. While most people who become infected do not have symptoms, a small percentage of people will develop mild symptoms such as:FeverHeadacheBody achesJoint painVomitingDiarrheaRashMore severe symptoms include encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). Serious illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age and those with preexisting medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and transplant recipients are at the highest risk for serious illness.WNV is native to Lake County and Ohio since 2001, and will continue to be a long term, public health threat.  While there are no vaccines or medications available to treat WNV, over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, may be used to alleviate symptoms such as fever. To reduce your chances of getting infected:Use insect repellent registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on exposed skin and clothing. Always follow the package directions when using repellents.Wear long sleeves and pants after dusk through dawn when mosquitoes are the most active.Wear permethrin-treated clothing to repel and kill mosquitoes.Install or repair screen doors or windows or use air-conditioning when available.Empty standing water from containers such as flower pots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, old tires and bird baths. For more information on WNV, please call LCGHD at (440) 350-2543, or visit LCGHD’s website at www.lcghd.org . ###

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• Jul 17, 2018

  LAKE COUNTY WEST NILE VIRUS (WNV) NEWS: FIRST POSITIVE WNV MOSQUITOES OF THE 2018 SEASON

  July 17, 2018NEWS RELEASE                                                                                     CONTACT: Bert Mechenbier, (440) 350-2453July 17, 2018                                                                                          LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICTLAKE COUNTY WEST NILE VIRUS (WNV) NEWS:  FIRST POSITIVE WNV MOSQUITOES OF THE 2018 SEASONThe Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has confirmed one positive mosquito pool for West Nile Virus (WNV) in Lake County.  A “pool” is a collection of no more than 50 mosquitoes. Although this particular positive pool was collected at a Madison trap site on June 26, 2018, it is likely that positive WNV mosquitoes are present throughout the county.Identifying a positive pool is confirmation that the WNV threat is present and will likely increase for the rest of the summer.  Positive WNV mosquitoes have also been reported in 14 Ohio counties this season. To date, there have been no human cases of WNV reported in Ohio.Approximately 80 percent of people who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms, but there is no way to know in advance if you will develop an illness or not.  Those who do develop symptoms usually do so between two and 14 days after they are bitten by the infected mosquito.Up to 20 percent of people who become infected will have symptoms that can last for a few days to as long as several weeks. Symptoms can include:FeverHeadacheBody achesNauseaVomitingSwollen lymph glandsRash on chest, stomach or backAbout one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness.  The severe symptoms may last several weeks and neurologic effects may be permanent.  Symptoms of severe illness can include:High feverHeadacheNeck stiffnessStuporDisorientationComaTremorsConvulsionsMuscle weaknessVision lossNumbnessParalysis Death from infection with WNV is 10 percent for those diagnosed with severe illness, but is much higher for patients diagnosed with WNV encephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis.The Lake County General Health District Mosquito Control program is a locally funded program to protect our residents from mosquito borne disease. The mosquito control program tracks the mosquito population, monitors disease levels in the mosquitoes, applies larvicides, and conducts nighttime adulticiding. The mosquito population is monitored through the use of specialized traps placed throughout the county and calls from the public. The trapped mosquitoes are counted and sent to ODH for WNV testing. The Mosquito Program employs two full-time crews that inspect areas of standing water for mosquito larva and, if needed, treat the area to kill the larva. The adulticide program consists of spraying areas of the county in the evening when the mosquitoes are active. Information about the spray routes and schedule are available at: https://www.lcghd.org/?page_id=3926 or by calling 440-350-2088.Please call the LCGHD at (440) 350-2543 with questions concerning mosquito control or WNV.  Additional WNV and mosquito information can be found at:Ohio Dept. of Health:   http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/bid/zdp/diseases/wnv.aspxCDC:   http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/index.htmLCGHD:   http://www.lcghd.org/ ###

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• Jul 13, 2018

  LAKE COUNTY TRAFFIC FATALITY UPDATE

  July 13, 2018PRESS RELEASE                                                               CONTACT: HALEY RUSSO (440) 350-2844 July 13, 2017                                                                    LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICTLAKE COUNTY TRAFFIC FATALITY UPDATEThe Lake County Safe Communities Coalition (LCSCC) reports that there have been seven fatal deaths due to crashes in 2018 in Lake County, six of which occurred in the 2nd quarter (April-June). The causes of the crashes were:• Operating in negligent manner (2) • Improper crossing • Failure to stop at a stop sign • Failure to yield • Improper lane change • Lying illegally in roadwayOf the crashes reported, three are suspected to be alcohol and/or drug related. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reminding drivers to be safe whenever they are behind the wheel, and that all motorists can play a role in keeping the roadways safe by never driving while impaired and designating a sober driver.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,497 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2016. On average, 10,000 people were killed each year from 2012 to 2016—one person killed every 50 minutes in 2016. That’s the equivalent of 20 jumbo jets crashing each year, with no survivors. This is why the Lake County Safe Communities Coalition is working with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death. As you head out for your night, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.The LCSCC and NHTSA recommend the following safe alternatives to drinking and driving:• Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you have had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely. • Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app available on Google Play for Android devices: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhtsa.SaferRide&hl=en), and Apple’s iTunes Store for IOS devices: (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/saferride/id950774008?mt=8). SaferRide allows users to call a taxi or a predetermined friend, and identifies the user’s location so he or she can be picked up. • If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact your local police department • Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit www.TrafficSafetyMarketing.gov. ###

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• Jun 26, 2018

  LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT SETS THE FACTS STRAIGHT ON TOBACCO 21

  LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT SETS THE FACTS STRAIGHT ON TOBACCO 21 June 26, 2018PRESS RELEASE                                                                   CONTACT:  Cathy Hewitt (440) 350-2442 June 21, 2018                                                                     LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICTLAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT SETS THE FACTS STRAIGHT ON TOBACCO 21 On May 29, 2018, Wickliffe City Council passed an ordinance to adopt Tobacco 21, a national campaign that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21, and some individuals have expressed concerns over this new legislation. While adoption of Tobacco 21 by a political subdivision is voluntary, Lake County General Health District would like to provide information regarding the benefits of Tobacco 21 adoption.Tobacco 21 is a national campaign aimed at raising the minimum legal sale age (MLA) for tobacco and nicotine sales in the United States to 21[1]. Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of premature death in the United States[2], is responsible for approximately 480,000 deaths a year[3], and has contributed to 208 million premature deaths in the United States since the Surgeon General’s 1964 smoking report2. Moreover, smoking is linked to $300 billion in national health care and lost productivity costs per year3. As such, Tobacco 21 represents an opportunity for public health law to mitigate an important national health risk.Approximately 95% of adult smokers begin smoking before age 21, and between the ages of 18 and 21, many smokers move from casual smoking to regular daily use4. The developing brains of those 21 and under are particularly susceptible to the addictive properties of nicotine5, and those who start smoking by the age of 18 are almost twice as likely to become lifetime smokers, as opposed to those who start after the age of 216.Each day, more than 3,200 youth under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette, and nine out of 10 smokers start before the age of 187. The 2014 Lake County Youth Health Status Assessment reported that 10% of youth in grades six through 12 were smokers, increasing to 19% of those who were over the age of 178. Of the current youth smokers in Lake County, 22% smoke cigarettes on a daily basis8. The average age of initiation in Lake County is 13 years of age, and 85% of youth who identified as current smokers were also current drinkers8. The rise in youth E-cigarette use is also concerning, given the availability of products like Juul, an E-cigarette modeled to look like a USB flash drive.Ninety percent of all adults who purchase tobacco products for minors are between the ages of 18 and 209, and increasing the minimum tobacco sale age to 21 could eliminate minors’ ability to buy from fellow students. This, therefore, addresses a major deficiency as to why existing age restrictions have not successfully eliminated smoking among children.Across the Unites States, more than 310 cities and counties have adopted Tobacco 211; Ohio cities include Akron (04/16/18), Dublin (12/04/17), Powell (06/20/17), Euclid (12/21/16), Columbus (12/12/16), Cleveland (12/07/15), New Albany (11/17/15), Grandview Heights (09/21/15), Bexley (06/23/15), and Upper Arlington (06/08/15)10.In July of 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released study findings that 75% of adults were in favor of raising the tobacco sale to 21; 70% percent of the adults participating in the study were current smokers, and 65% were aged 18 to 2411.The 2017-2018 Community Tobacco-Free Survey asked 989 residents from Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula County residents if the minimum age of purchase and possession of tobacco products should be raised to 21, and results indicated that 55% strongly agreed, and 18% agreed. “When this data was broken down by tobacco use, 77% of non-tobacco users, 71% of former tobacco users, and 51% of present tobacco users supported Tobacco 21 legislation,” said Cathy Hewitt of the Lake County General Health District.“Tobacco 21 legislation protects our youth from lifelong nicotine addiction”, stated Hewitt.“The Lake County General Health District offers assistance to all Ashtabula, Geauga, and Lake County cities who would like to adopt a Tobacco 21 ordinance (https://tobacco21.org/) to make tobacco products illegal for purchase to individuals under the age of 21,” said Hewitt. For more information on tobacco and tobacco-free polices, contact Cathy Hewitt at (440) 350-2442.[1] Tobacco 21. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 21, 2018, from https://tobacco21.org/.[2] Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. (2012). Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults, United States, 2011, 61(44) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly. Retrieved on June 21, 2018, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6144.pdf.[3] US Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: a report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 17.4 Abuse, S. (2006). Results from the 2005 national survey on drug use and health: national findings. http://www. oas. samhsa. gov/nsduh/2k5nsduh/2k5Results. pdf.5 Morales, A. M., Ghahremani, D., Kohno, M., Hellemann, G. S., & London, E. D. (2014). Cigarette exposure, dependence, and craving are related to insula thickness in young adult smokers. Neuropsychopharmacology, 39(8), 1816.6 Burrows, D. S. (1982). Estimated change in industry trend following federal excise tax increase.7 Be Tobacco Free. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 21, 2018 from http://betobaccofree.hhs.gov/about-tobacco/facts-figures/index.html. ###

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