Georgia Department of Public Health Warns:

Heat Exhaustion, Hot Cars and Overexposure to Sun Pose Significant Threats

ATLANTA – With temperatures expected to be in the mid 90’s throughout the state for the next several days, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is urging Georgians to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat and sun and to limit strenuous outdoor activity to prevent heat related illnesses.

“Extreme heat can lead to very high body temperatures, brain and organ damage, even death,” said DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D. “It’s important to stay cool and hydrated in extreme temperatures to avoid serious health effects like heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”

Heat stroke is a serious illness characterized by a body temperature greater than 105 degrees. Symptoms may include dry red skin, convulsions, disorientation, delirium and coma. Onset of heat stroke can be rapid; serious symptoms can occur within minutes. Treatment involves the rapid lowering of body temperature using a cool bath or wet towels. Keep victims of heat stroke in a cool area and immediately call 911.

Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat stroke that may develop due to a combination of several days with high temperatures and dehydration in an individual. Signs of heat exhaustion include extreme weakness, muscle cramps, nausea or headache. Victims may also vomit or faint. Heat exhaustion is treated with plenty of liquids and rest in a cool, shaded area. Those on a low-sodium diet or with other health problems should contact a doctor.

Dalton (GA) – The North Georgia Health District office will soon move. After more than thirty years in Bry-man’s Plaza North, the health district staff will relocate to new offices, beginning Wednesday, June 24 through Friday, June 26.

The North Georgia Health District, one of 18 districts under the Georgia Department of Public Health, provides administrative support to public health departments and environmental health offices in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties, and it oversees the public health services and programs offered in these six counties.

North Georgia Health District office employees and district level services will occupy three office buildings near the North Dalton Bypass.

The main district administrative office address will be 1710 Whitehouse Court in Dalton, and the main office phone number will be (706) 529-5757.

While all health district staff and programs will share the main mailing address, some district level programs and departments will be housed in separate buildings, nearby.

District level Women’s, Infant and Children (WIC) will move to 1620 Hickory Street, and the district WIC phone number will be (706) 529-5742.

The district’s Environmental Health and Emergency Preparedness departments will also relocate to1620 Hickory Street, but both departments may be reached by dialing the main district number at (706) 529-5757.

District Children with Special Needs programs, including Children 1st, Babies Can’t Wait and Children’s Medical Services, will be housed at 1622 Hickory Street, and that phone number will be (706) 529-5763.

The North Georgia Health District’s mission focuses on improving the quality of people’s lives through disease prevention, healthy lifestyle education and emergency preparedness.

For more information about the North Georgia Health District, log on here to our home page at www.nghd.org or visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/N.GA.Health.

GET THE FACTS. GET TESTED. GET INVOLVED.

Honoring National HIV Testing Day

Dalton (GA) – Free HIV Testing will be offered by the North Georgia Health District at the Living Bridge Center in Dalton on Thursday, June 25 from 9 A.M. until 3 P.M. The Living Bridge Center is located in the Whitfield County Health Department at 800 Professional Boulevard in Dalton.

The 20 minute rapid test called Clearview will be used, and incentives for returning for test results will be available to participants.

This free testing is being provided in honor of National HIV Testing Day, observed annually on June 27.

National HIV Testing Day is a reminder to get the facts, get tested and get involved in taking care of yourself and your partners.

According to the CDC, an estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and that number grows by almost 50,000 every year. One in seven people who have HIV don't know it. That means they are not getting the medical care they need to stay healthy and avoid passing HIV to others.

Get more details about Free HIV testing on June 25 in Dalton by calling the Living Bridge Center at (706) 281-2360.

For more information about National HIV Testing Day, log onto the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/features/hivtesting/.

Cherokee County Health Department presents TWO

BACK-TO-SCHOOL HEALTH CLINICS!

School will be back in session before you know it! Is your child ready? The Cherokee County Health Department will conduct TWO Back-to-School Health Clinics in July. Join us for a clinic at one of the county public health centers in either Canton on Tuesday, July 21st from 2 to 6 p.m. or in Woodstock on Tuesday, July 28th from 2 to 6 p.m. At the Back-to-School Health Clinics, the required Hearing, Dental, Vision and BMI/Nutrition Screenings will be available: Total cost for screenings is forty dollars. Also, immunizations will be provided for school-age children (there is a charge for vaccines). Medicaid and some other forms of insurance are accepted. The health department center in Canton is 1219 Univeter Road, and the Woodstock public health center is at 7545 North Main Street. For more information, please call (770) 345-7371 in Canton or (770) 928-0133 in Woodstock.

Seventh graders are now required to have the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) and meningococcal (meningitis) vaccines prior to entering school.

Children born on or after January 1, 2002 who are attending seventh grade and new entrants into Georgia schools in grades 8 through 12 must have received one dose of Tdap vaccine and one dose of meningococcal vaccine. ("New entrant" means any child entering any school in Georgia for the first time or entering after having been absent from a Georgia school for more than 12 months or one school year).

For more information about this and all school required immunizations, go to the Georgia Department of Public Health website.

Shots are available at each of our health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties. Click above on the LOCATIONS tab to find health department contact and location information for each county.