Hi there,
Happy Fourth of July! As the holiday weekend approaches, I hope you enjoy the summer weather and spend time with family and friends. But don’t forget to keep these safety tips in mind as you plan your celebrations:
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Prevent firework injuries. Fireworks can cause death and injury, including burns, cuts, bruises, and foreign objects in your eyes. There are plenty of places in Oakland County to catch professional fireworks' displays and leave safety to the experts.
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Beat the heat! In hot temperatures, your body may be unable to properly cool itself. This could lead to serious health problems. See below for more heat safety information.
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Keep your food safe at picnics and barbeques. The summer months can lead to spikes in foodborne illness when food is not prepared or kept at proper temperature.
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Avoid mosquito bites. Use an Environmental Protection Agency registered insect repellant and follow other ways to protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases while outdoors.
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Enjoy recreational activities in lakes and rivers safely. Contaminated natural bodies of water can spread germs and make people sick. Find out more.
Lastly, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has identified the first probable monkeypox (MPV) case in an Oakland County resident. Monkeypox is a viral illness that spreads primarily through direct contact with the infectious rash, scabs, bodily fluids or prolonged face-to-face contact. It is important to remember that the risk to the general public is low. For more information, read the full press release here.
Be Well,
Dr. Calandra Green, Health Officer, Oakland County
COVID-19 vaccine now available for kids 6 months and older
COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months to 5 years is now available at Oakland County Health Division’s Pontiac and Southfield locations. Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines will be available.
Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, visit OaklandCountyVaccine.com or call the Oakland County Nurse on Call hotline at 800-848-5533.
COVID-19 vaccines have undergone—and will continue to undergo—the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. Parents and caregivers can play an active role in monitoring the safety of these vaccines by signing their children up for v-safe – personalized and confidential health check-ins via text messages and web surveys where they can easily share with CDC how a child feels after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Find more information about COVID-19 vaccination for children here.
Beat the heat with safety precautions
As summer temperatures rise, everyone is at risk from the dangers of extreme heat. However, age and certain health conditions make the body less able to regulate body temperature. Check in with friends, family, and neighbors who fall into one of these populations, especially if they don’t have air conditioning:
- Young children and infants
- Older adults
- People with chronic medical conditions
- Pregnant women
It is NEVER safe to leave a child in a car. If you have a toddler in your household, lock your cars, even in your own driveway. Cars heat up quickly. A vehicle can heat up by 20 degrees in 10 minutes.
Learn about heat-related illness and how to stay cool and safe in hot weather.
Family Market Day promotes access to healthy food
Oakland County’s Healthy Oakland Partnership hosts Family Market Day later this month to promote healthy eating, exercise, and health information for eligible Oakland County families. Participants with a State of Michigan Bridge/EBT card or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are eligible to receive a $5 coupon to purchase produce from local farmers on a first come, first serve basis.
WIC Project Fresh coupons will also be available on site for enrolled WIC clients. The Oakland County Farmers Market offers Double Up Food Bucks, which matches up to $20 spent at a farmers’ market using a Bridge card/EBT. The event includes activities for children, physical fitness activities and prizes!
 
Virtual Baby Safety Fair for caregivers this August
Caregivers are welcome to attend our free Virtual Baby Safety Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 3 from 10 – 11:30 a.m. The safety fair will be hosted on Microsoft Teams and will include six short presentations about infant safety topics, including:
- Feeding infants safety
- Infant safe sleep
- Period of PURPLE Crying®
- Child passenger safety
- Household safety
- Smoking risks and cessation
Caregivers who attend and participate in the event will be eligible for a raffle and other give-a-ways.
Registration is required and available at bit.ly/3xUPIaC or scan the QR code on the flyer.
Suicide prevention training opportunity
Most people with thoughts of suicide don't truly want to die but are struggling with their pain. Their words and actions can offer warning signs to others. The Oakland County Suicide Prevention Task Force is hosting safeTALK trainings for anyone ages 15+ to learn how to identify people with suicidal thoughts & connect them to help. Register today! https://bit.ly/3mPVchz
Health Division COVID-19 vaccination sites & info
Check out our Get Vaccinated page for information about upcoming COVID vaccination sites and to find out who is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Appointments are recommended and can be made online or by calling our Nurse on Call hotline at 1-800-848-5533 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.).
Visit the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard and the Oakland County Vaccine Hub for updated vaccination data.
Oakgov.com/health is the best place to receive the latest information. Add, update, or opt out of Health Division email or text communications by clicking here.
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