Hi there,
Next week, many health departments around the county will collectively promote National Influenza Vaccination Week. This is a critical opportunity to remind everyone that there’s still time to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu this season by getting your annual flu vaccine. Currently, flu activity is elevated across the country, but there is still time to not disrupt your upcoming plans! Our friends at Michigan Health put together this guide to safely celebrate the holidays and avoid getting sick, check it out.
Staying well through the holidays includes caring for our emotional health. The Michigan Stay Well program offers various resources like a Saturday holiday edition of a teen workshop to show youth how to cope with holiday stress in healthy ways. If you know a teen who could benefit, pass along this registration link: https://bit.ly/3SCal3D. Weekly topics include:
- Saturday, Dec 3 - Give yourself permission to feel
- Saturday, Dec. 10 - Emotional Intelligence vs. Emotional Judging
- Saturday, Dec. 17 - Practical coping and moving forward
This week we embarked on the 1-year anniversary of the Oxford High School tragedy. My thoughts are with every victim, their families and everyone in the community affected. Our partner Oakland Community Health Network released these tips for families and individuals to manage stress or trauma associated with remembrance dates related to a local crisis. Mental health support for families and individuals is available at the Oakland County 24-Hour Crisis Helpline 800-231-1127 or the Michigan Crisis and Access Line (MiCAL) 844-446-4225 (call or text).
I wish all our residents a joyful December and happy holiday season.
Be Well,
Dr. Calandra Green, Health Officer, Oakland County
Shop safely for toys & gifts this holiday
According to a new report released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were more than 152,000 toy-related, emergency department-treated injuries to children younger than 15 years of age, including two deaths, in 2021. The fatalities involved children choking on a small part of a toy and suffocating on a soft toy in an unsafe sleep environment. Other injuries involved cuts and abrasions to a child’s face and head.
Shop safely for toys and gifts by following these tips:
- Follow age guidance and other safety information on toy packaging.
- Get safety gear, including helmets, for scooters and other riding toys –and make sure that children use them every time they ride.
- Keep small balls and toys with small parts away from children younger than age 3 and keep deflated balloons away from children younger than age 8.
- Discard plastic wrappings or other packaging immediately after opening.
Find out about toy safety and recalls at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.
Make handwashing a healthy habit!
Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent spreading germs and keep people healthy, especially during the winter when respiratory illnesses tend to surge.
Parents and caretakers play an important role in teaching children to wash their hands properly. Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching it at an early age. Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing—wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry—and when to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating. Find ways to make it fun by creating your own handwashing song or turn it into a game!
In case you missed it, you can watch Dr. Calandra Green and Dr. Russell Faust talk about other ways you can help prevent respiratory illnesses, including RSV.
Oakland County Parks Appreciation Days
Looking for opportunities to work physical activity into your holiday plans? During an Oakland County Parks and Recreation Appreciation Day, visitors can enjoy free daily park entry to access natural areas, trails, playgrounds, dog parks and all park amenities. Park hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, or as posted at the park.
Free entry Appreciation Days include Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve; Dec. 25 – Christmas Day; and Dec. 31 – New Year’s Eve.
Visiting a local park is a great way for adults to get the recommended 150 minutes a week of physical activity. That could be at least 20 minutes a day or 30 minutes five days a week. Aim for children aged 6-17 years to get 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. Check out CDC’s 6 Tips to Stay Active This Winter.
Keep your child safe & warm in a car seat
Did you know that heavier coats with too much bulk can create extra room in the car seat harness causing a loose fit? This can put the child at risk for injury in the event of a crash. Keep your child safe and warm in a car seat during the colder months, by choosing lightweight fleece layers instead of puffy materials to ensure a snug-fitting harness. For added warmth, cover your child with a blanket, or put a coat on backwards over the properly fitted harness.
For more information, visit healthychildren.org.
Health Division Flu & COVID-19 vaccination info
Check out our webpage page for information about COVID, flu, and other vaccinations and eligibility. 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.).
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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