Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu. Flu vaccination is recommended for all people age 6 months and older. Take the time to get vaccinated and take extra hygiene precautions: wash your hands often with warm water and soap; cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your arm when you sneeze or cough; and avoid close contact with anyone who is sick. If you get sick with the flu, stay home and away from others for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone. If you have not received your flu shot, call your doctor today to make an appointment, or click here to use the Flu Vaccine Finder to see if there are any flu clinics scheduled at retail locations near you. You may also attend the Health Department Immunization Clinic held each Thursday from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Dr. William A. Harris Health Center, 301 Slocum Avenue in Syracuse. Call 435-2000 for more information.
A mammogram is a breast x-ray that may find breast changes early. The American Cancer Society recommends routine mammogram screening starting at 40 years old. The Onondaga County Cancer Services Program Partnership offers free mammograms for women without health insurance. Call 435-3653 today to schedule your appointment at a location convenient for you.
The Facilitated Enrollment Program offers families in Onondaga County the opportunity to enroll in a Public Health Insurance program that will meet their medical and dental needs. Community-based enrollers offer an easy way for families to apply for Family Health Plus, Medicaid and Child Health Plus. Enrollers will meet with you at convenient times and locations to complete an application and gather the necessary papers needed to determine whether you are eligible for public health insurance. Contact the Facilitated Enrollment Referral Line at 435-6808 to find out how easy it can be to apply for health insurance for your children.
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Did you know more than 90 percent of both adults and children do not eat the amount of fruits and vegetables as recommended by the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans? Eating more fruits and vegetables is easy, especially since there are many varieties to choose from. Fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits and vegetables and 100% juice all count toward your recommended daily amount. National Fruits and Veggie Month is the perfect time to make a change. Click here for more information about fruits, vegetables, and all their wonderful health benefits.
An occasional fast food meal can be fun and convenient but not necessarily healthy. Fortunately, it is now easier to make healthier choices when eating out. Many fast food restaurants are posting the calories for each item on their menus and menu boards. The Onondaga County Health Department Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work and Play reminds everyone to make healthy food choices. Look for calorie postings and choose meals under 600 calories. It’s as easy as skipping the fries or ordering the “small” size. The best way to stay healthy is to have more healthy meals at home and get 30-60 minutes of physical activity every day. To learn more call Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play at 435-3280 or visit the New York State Department of Health on Facebook.
If your home was built before 1978, has flaking or peeling paint, or had the paint recently scraped or sanded, your child may be at risk for lead poisoning. Here are some tips to protect your family:
- Have your child tested for lead poisoning. New York State requires all children to be tested at age one AND again at age two.
- Homeowners, attend a FREE training to learn how to work safely with lead paint before remodeling or painting. Call 435-3271 to sign up.
- Ask contractors for their Federal EPA training certificate before you hire them. Get more information at www.epa.gov/lead.
- Keep your home free of lead dust by wet mopping and wet dusting.
- Keep painted areas in good repair.
- Have your house checked for Lead.
- See if you quality for FREE grants to repair homes with lead paint. In Syracuse, visit www.SyracuseLeadProgram.com, and in Onondaga County, visit www.ongov.net/cd.
For more information, call the Onondaga County Lead Program at 435-3271.
The number of U.S. women and girls living with HIV and AIDS is on the rise. Every 35 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States. Today, about 1 in 4 Americans living with HIV are women. The Onondaga County Health Department recommends routine HIV testing for ALL women ages 13 to 64, regardless of perceived risk. Early diagnosis is the key to more successful treatment. To schedule a free, confidential and fast HIV test, call the Onondaga County Health Department, Bureau of Disease Control at 435-3236.
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Rabies shot clinics are held at various locations throughout Onondaga County and are free for Onondaga County residents. A voluntary donation per family is appreciated. Please be sure to keep your pet on a leash or in a carrier during the rabies clinic and bring past shot records with you. New York State Public Health Law requires that all puppies and kittens get vaccinated at three months of age, and then get a booster shot at one year old and then every three years after that. Ferrets must get vaccinated every year. The December clinic is listed below, or download the flyer for a complete list of 2011 clinics.
• Saturday, December 3rd, 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon,
S.P.C.A., 5878 East Molloy Road,
Mattydale
Every day, kids are exposed to a large number of tobacco ads in stores that sell tobacco products such as grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and gas stations. Studies show that kids are twice as likely as adults to notice and remember tobacco ads and are more likely to start smoking. In an effort to protect kids, Tobacco Free Onondaga County (TFOC) is focusing its community education on the benefits of not exposing kids to tobacco product displays through our “Point of Sale” program. This program is an effort to get rid of tobacco marketing aimed at kids. Click on the ad below for more information on ways you can support this local effort.
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