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Hi there,
Today we release our first Healthy Oakland Newsletter after the devasting passing of our Health Officer, Dr. Calandra Green on May 11. It’s difficult to find the words to describe what she was to Oakland County Health Division, our employees, and the community members she so passionately served on our behalf. She was our teammate for only four short years, and in that time demonstrated outstanding leadership that helped move public health in Oakland County to be more ingrained in the community.
You may have met Calandra on the frontlines, chatting with people at a church health fair or vaccinating someone herself at an ice cold, drive-thru vaccination site during the depths of the pandemic. You likely noticed her welcoming smile and vibrant energy, enjoying every moment of every encounter. That is who she was: humble, caring, driven, supportive, real, an exceptional human and excellent leader.
Calandra, from all of us here, we will miss you so deeply. We promise to work diligently to keep your memory alive by advancing the vision you had for the Health Division.
In good health,
Leigh-Anne Stafford, Director, Health and Human Services
Practice water safety this summer!
Warmer days are ahead, which means being in and around water. Hanging out at a lake or pool can be a fun summer activity but take precautions to enjoy the water safely.
While children are at highest risk, anyone can drown. Every year in the U.S. there are an estimated 4,000 fatal, unintentional drownings. That is an average of 11 drowning deaths per day, but drowning can be prevented. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer these safety tips:
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Learn basic swimming and water safety skills - Formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning, but children who have had swimming lessons still need close and constant supervision when in or around water.
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Build fences that fully enclose pools - Construct a four-sided fence (with self-closing and self-latching gates) that is at least four feet high, fully encloses the pool and separates it from the house.
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Supervise closely - Designate a responsible adult to closely supervise when children are in or near water, including bathtubs.
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Wear a life jacket - Life jackets reduce the risk of drowning for people of all ages and swimming abilities.
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Learn CPR - Your CPR skills could save someone’s life before paramedics arrive.
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Know the risks of natural waters - Lakes, rivers, and oceans have hidden hazards such as dangerous currents or waves, rocks or vegetation, and limited visibility.
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Avoid drinking alcohol - Before or during swimming, boating, or other water activities. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, and coordination.
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Use the buddy system - Always swim with a buddy.
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Take additional precautions for medical conditions - Know if your medical condition might increase your risk of drowning and take extra care.
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Consider the effects of medications - Avoid swimming if your medications may impair your balance, coordination, or judgment.
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Prevent hyperventilation and don’t hold your breath for a long time -. This can cause you to pass out and drown.
Join us in observing National Safety Month
While safety is important year-round, during National Safety month each June, we highlight ways to prevent injury and death at home to help protect our families and communities. Check out the following tips:
- Always store firearms and medications in a safe or lockbox. Store firearms unloaded with the ammunition stored and locked separately.
- Temporarily remove firearms from your home if a family member is depressed, suicidal or abusing drugs or alcohol.
- If you use marijuana products, keep them in the original, childproof containers and out of the reach of children. Store in a lockbox.
- Dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs at one of these convenient drop-off locations in Oakland County.
- Have conversations with family and friends about mental health, safety, and substance misuse.
Join us for a Juneteenth celebration!
Juneteenth marks the day federal troops arrived in Texas in 1865 to ensure all enslaved people were freed. The troops’ arrival came 2 ½ years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. In June 2021, President Joe Biden formally proclaimed June 19 as a federal day of observance and Governor Gretchen Whitmer formally recognized Juneteenth.
Join us on Wednesday, June 14, from 11a.m. – 2p.m. for a Juneteenth celebration at the Oakland County Courthouse. There will be a ceremony honoring Elizabeth Denison Forth, the first African American to purchase land in Oakland County and activities, including entertainment, food trucks, a DJ, and vendor tables.
Social Media Use and Youth Mental Health
On May 23, 2023, the new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health was released. Social media use by young people is nearly universal, with up to 95% of young people ages 13-17 reporting using a social media platform and more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.”
While there may be some benefits, there are indicators that social media poses a risk to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. This critical stage in brain development makes young people more vulnerable. The Surgeon General issued a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use, maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier online environments to protect children. Read the full advisory HERE.
More Health Division info
Check out our webpage page for information about our services and various health topics. You can also call 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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