August 17 Public Health Update

·        
Talk to your kids about these tips to keep them,
and your family, healthy this school year:

o  
Avoid being close with sick people.

o  
Cover your coughs and sneezes with the inside of
your arm, not your hand.

o  
Wash your hands with soap and water. Sing
“Twinkle, Twinkle,” so you know you’ve washed long enough.

o  
Avoid touching your face to reduce the spread of
germs.

o  
Stay home
when you are sick.

o  
Do not share food and drinks with others.

·        
If your child is sick, take him or her to your
health care provider, so they can get better faster.

·        
Recognizing the symptoms of a concussion
prevents further injury.

·        
If your child reports these symptoms after a hit
or fall, he or she may have a concussion:

o  
Bothered by light or noise.

o  
Headache.

o  
Nausea or vomiting.

o  
Balance problems or dizziness.

o  
Double or blurry vision.

o  
Concentration or memory problems,  or confusion.

o  
Feeling sluggish, hazy foggy or groggy.

o  
Just “not feeling right” or “feeling down.”

·        
Keep your child out of play. Concussions take
time to heal. Returning to play before a health care provider says it’s OK can
cause permanent brain damage.

·        
Be sure your child’s coach is aware of any
previous concussion.

·        
It’s easy to feel safe in your own community,
but there’s nothing wrong with being prepared and having a plan.

·        
Circle of 6 is a free app that prevents violence
before it happens.

·        
This app allows you to contact people discreetly
in three different ways.

o  
Text your circle that you simply need to talk if
you’re in distress.

o  
Alert your circle that you’re in an
uncomfortable situation and you need an interruption – like a phone call – to
excuse yourself.

o  
If you’re out late and you lose track of your
friends, you can text them your location and ask them to come get you.

·        
All of the messages are ready to go, so it just
takes two taps on your phone. The location text includes a GPS link to where
you are.

·        
Circle of 6 also comes pre-programmed with two
national hotlines including one for relationship advice.