 Friday, May 2, 2025
Tis' the season to protect yourself from mosquitoes
 The saying goes April showers bring May flowers. However, in Kentucky, the heavy rains have caused significant flooding, resulting in a surge of mosquitoes. As you prepare for summer cookouts and outdoor activities, plan to protect yourself and your family from these annoying pests.
Avoid mosquito bites
- Use insect repellents when you go outdoors. Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection. To optimize safety and effectiveness, repellents should be used according to the label instructions. More information about insect repellents can be found here.
- Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks when outdoors can offer protection. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection. Don't apply repellents containing permethrin directly to the skin. Do not spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.
- Peak mosquito-biting hours are early morning and dusk. Be sure to use repellent and wear protective clothing from dusk to dawn or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
- Prevent mosquito breeding grounds:
- Install or repair screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes outside.
- Help reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home by emptying standing water from flowerpots, gutters, buckets, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and draining birdbaths on a regular basis.
Watch this video for things you can do around your home to prevent mosquitoes.
To make a complaint about mosquitoes in your neighborhood, call Metro311 by dialing 311 or 502-574-5000.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
 May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, an observance founded in 1949 by Mental Health America. This month aims to emphasize the significance of mental well-being, raise public awareness, diminish stigma, and foster support for individuals impacted by mental health challenges.
Raising awareness about mental health is essential for diminishing stigma, promoting early intervention, and cultivating empathy and understanding. By making discussions about mental health more commonplace, it creates a more compassionate society where individuals feel motivated to seek assistance, ultimately enhancing overall mental wellbeing.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also visit our Community Mental Health Services webpage for a listing of mental health resources.
Are you looking for a wellness provider? Visit Mental Health Lou for a listing of local professionals.
National Nurses Week celebrates
health care champions
 In 1993, the American Nurses Enterprise designated May 6-12 as a week to honor nurses. More than three decades later, nurses continue to be recognized as the largest group of health care professionals, consistently rated by the American public as the most honest and ethical.
Our public health nurses provide immunizations, help test, diagnose, and prevent the spread of infectious diseases, help moms have healthy pregnancies to deliver healthy babies, support people in recovery, educate communities about healthy behaviors, collect and analyze data to monitor health trends, and they advocate for policies and programs that improve health outcomes for everyone.
These dedicated professionals deliver compassionate, high-quality care and play a vital role in improving health outcomes through care coordination and resident education. Their efforts are making a lasting impact on our communities.
Join our public health and wellness team
 Public health professionals come from diverse backgrounds and possess a variety of skills, all united in the mission to safeguard the community's health. We invite you to be part of our team!
Explore our Metro job opportunities webpage for more information on careers in public health, or simply scan the QR code.
For further inquiries, please reach out via email at LMPHWCareers@louisvilleky.gov.
|
