Tropical Storm Fay, now making it’s way across the Florida peninsula, serves as a reminder that coastal Georgia residents should stay prepared during hurricane season by:

• Putting together a disaster preparedness kit that includes bottled water (3 to 5 day supply), canned or non-perishable food, hand sanitizer and/or hygienic wipes, personal hygiene items such as soap, blankets, a flashlight, extra batteries, and prescription medicines.

• Making sure you have flood insurance (provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency; however, there is a 30-day waiting period before flood insurance goes into effect).

• Staying alert and listening to radio and television reports as bad weather approaches.

• Being prepared to turn of electricity and gas to your home.

• Staying away from downed power lines during a storm.

• Making sure your car is filled with gas should evacuation be necessary.

• Communicating evacuation plans with neighbors and family members.

• Avoiding driving in any areas that could flood (two feet of water can carry away most vehicles).

Hurricane season always brings with it the possibility of dangerous weather. Preparing early and heeding the advice of emergency preparedness agencies is the best bet for safely making it through any storm.

For more information on preparing for a flood or hurricane, go to www.emergency.cdc.gov/disasters and also visit our Hurricane Preparedness page.

Even if you didn't have the healthiest habits before, college is a great time to incorporate healthier living into your new lifestyle. These healthy habits will not only help you now, but can keep you stronger and healthier throughout your lifetime.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these 6 tips for healthier college living:

Develop friendships.
Consider participating in campus activities with other students who have similar interests. Extracurricular activities do not necessarily have to relate to your major. Join a college band, write for the school newspaper, volunteer, or do something else that is fun, helps you meet new people, and gives you the opportunity to express yourself.

Get regular physical activity.
Even if you have a busy schedule, there are quick, easy exercises you can fit into your day. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise at one time or in shorter sessions most days of the week. Find something you enjoy, such as brisk walking, jogging, climbing stairs, dancing, or other activity.

Eat a balanced diet.
If you are concerned that you are overweight or underweight, talk with your health care provider about how to lose or gain weight safely. Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and are one of the best eat-on-the-go foods. Be sure to eat regular healthy meals to help you maintain your energy level.

Think positively.
We are often much harder on ourselves in our “self-talk” than we are when speaking with others. Our tendency to be needlessly self-critical can foster unnecessary distress. But different approaches are available to help handle this. Work with teachers, counselors, family, friends, and others to address concerns about studying, test-taking, and other issues.

Get vaccinated.
Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Be sure to ask your health care provider about getting vaccinated for meningitis, human papillomavirus (HPV), tetanus, flu, and other diseases.

Get check-ups.
Find a health care provider at your school or local health clinic for routine check-ups and concerns you may have about your health. Check-ups can help ensure you stay healthy and can help identify and correct problems early. They can also give you the opportunity to get to know your health care provider should you have a health problem later in the school year.

For even more information about college and health, visit the CDC's College Health page.

Why should I set a goal?

One word: SUCCESS! It feels so good to work hard for something and see that you accomplished it. With goal setting, you can learn the skills necessary to help your dreams become reality.

How do I get started?

First, be honest with yourself. Have a goal-defining session. Actually sit down with a piece of paper and answer questions like the following (yes, that means NO T.V. on, radio blaring, cell phone talking…You get the idea!) and take all the time you need:

-What do I want out of life?
-What do I most enjoy doing?
-What makes me happy?
-What do I value?
-Who is someone I admire and what characteristics do they have?
-If I could solve a world problem, what would it be?
-What am I good at?
-What makes me motivated?
-Where do I see myself in 5 years?
-Where would I like to go?

I know what I want. Now what?

1. Define your goals. Now be careful. This is NOT a wish list! Make them something you can achieve. Ladies, maybe you will marry Nick Jonas or Chris Brown. Gentleman, maybe you will marry Mariah Carey or Rihanna. But for now, let’s just focus on some basic stuff, like graduating high school or going to college.

2. Brainstorm the steps needed to achieve your goals. Do this step for each individual goal. If needed, research the goal online or at the library or talk to school counselors for guidance on how to reach the goal.

3. Go over the possible roadblocks to accomplishing the goals and how to deal with them. For example, are their financial problems or time constraints to accomplishing the goal?

4. Make deadlines. Don't be overwhelmed by large goals, set small goals to help meet the large goals.

5. And finally, talk to someone about getting help to reach your goals. Your guidance counselor, mentor, teacher, parents, and health department are some great places to start.

Remember: It feels good to meet your goals! Work hard, succeed, and watch as your life dreams come true!

For more information, please contact Christina Hanson, Adolescent Health & Youth Development Consultant for the Coastal Health District, at 912.414.9851 or clhanson@gmail.com .

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and for good reason. Several vaccines are required before children can enroll in school. Vaccines are important - not only because the law requires them, but also because they’re such an easy way to help protect your children. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, eliminated wild poliovirus in the U.S., and significantly reduced the number and cases of measles, diphtheria, rubella, pertussis, and other diseases. But despite these efforts, today tens of thousands of people in the U.S. who do not get vaccinated die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

For a chart of the required vaccines for childcare and school attendance, click here.

We can help ensure your child has all the required vaccines for school attendance. Visit or contact your your county health department to find out if any new vaccinations are required or recommended, or for instructions on obtaining a copy of your child's shot record.

To see a list of recommended vaccines for all age groups, visit our Immunization Program page.

Rabies is almost always fatal if an infected person isn’t treated immediately.

“Residents need to avoid contact with wild or stray animals, and get their pets vaccinated against rabies,” says Bill Jenkins, Environmental Health Director of the Camden County Health Department. “If a pet comes in contact with a rabid animal and contracts the virus, that pet could pass the disease to humans too. That’s why pet vaccination is an important line of defense.”

The Camden County Health Department offers these tips to protect you and your family from rabies:

• Do NOT handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out overnight.
• Never bring wild animals into your home. Call Animal Control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to NEVER handle unfamiliar animals – wild or domestic – even if they appear friendly.
• Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats, and ferrets. It’s the law – and it’s an important protection for you and your pets.

Call the Camden County Animal Control at 576-7395 to report any animals showing suspicious behavior. Animal Control will work with the Camden County Health Department to investigate possible cases of rabies. If an animal ever bites you, seek medical care immediately.

Knowledge is a powerful tool, and we want to help you learn more about making healthy choices. That's why we've just started a new Health-E-Teens Newsletter. If you sign up, every week we'll send you emails about issues that matter to you, designed with you in mind.

Click here to visit our new Health-E-Teens Newsletter page and to sign up! You can also browse past newsletters, and see a schedule of topics for upcoming editions.

Vaccines aren't just for kids anymore. In fact, there are a number of vaccines recommended for teens that can protect you against serious diseases such as;

-HEPATITIS A
-HEPATITIS B
-HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV)
-MEASLES, MUMPS, and RUBELLA (MMR)
-TETANUS, DIPHTHERIA, and PERTUSSIS (TDAP)
-VARICELLA (Chicken Pox)

Most of these vaccines are offered to pre-teens (11-12 yr olds) during their visit to their doctor or heath department. If you are an older teen and missed getting these vaccines ask your healthcare provider to help you catch up!

Get the facts..then get Vaxed! Find out more by clicking here to download an informational flyer from the folks at www.immunize.org.

Follow these fat-sensible tips when making your fast-food choices:

• Find out the nutritional content of fast-food items by visiting the chain’s website to help identify the healthiest choices. Some restaurants post this information near the counter or provide it in pamphlet form.

• Pass on “value-size” servings that enable you to choose greater portions of food for a slightly greater price. “Super-sizing” a food item inevitably increases the amount of fat, added sugars, sodium and calories you consume.

• Skip the sides, which are usually deep-fried. For a healthier side dish, order a side salad or fruit cup.

• Choose a baked potato over French fries, but have it with vegetables or fat-free or low-fat sour cream or margarine instead of butter, full-fat sour cream or cheese.

• Avoid adding bacon to sandwiches, because it’s high in fat and calories and has very few nutrients. Order pickles, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, mustard and ketchup instead to add flavor without fat.

• Try asking for a wheat or whole-grain bun, as some places do offer them.

• Drink water, diet soda or skim or low-fat milk. Regular sodas are loaded with sugars and calories.

Children are especially at risk. Heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency, can occur in temperatures as low as 80 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on humidity levels. Body temperatures higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit can cause permanent brain damage or even death, especially among children.

According to the Center for the Study and Prevention of Injury, Violence and Suicide, during the period 1995-2005 there were 414 heat-related deaths of children in the U.S. – 16 of them in Georgia. Of the 16 Georgia child fatality cases, two were children who climbed in the trunk of a vehicle; 14 were in the passenger compartment.

More than half of unattended child deaths occurred when adults forgot or were unaware of the child, according to a 2005 study published in Injury Prevention. To help prevent tragedy, the Division of Public Health urges all parents and caregivers to be conscious of the following safety recommendations:

• Supervision is key. Even if the windows are down, never leave your child unattended in a car. Never leave your car keys where children can get them. Keep car doors and trunks locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway. Teach children not to play in or around cars.

• Adopt safety-focused behaviors. Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat to help remind you that your child is in the car. Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when you reach your destination. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car.

• Have a plan that your child’s teacher will call you if your child does not show up for school, or if your child does not arrive when expected. If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible and call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

• Make your car safer. Contact your auto dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism if it does not already have one. Make sure the child resistant locks in your vehicle function correctly.

These and other recommendations for keeping kids safe in or around vehicles have been adapted from http://kidsandcars.org/, http://www.hhd.org/ and other child safety websites.

For additional information about child safety, please visit http://health.state.ga.us.

We'll we've got some good news for you! Residents in the 8 counties of the Coastal Health District are now eligible for a free pilot Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) program. That means you have access to counseling, support, and referral services in addition to a choice of nicotine patch, nicotine gum, and nicotine lozenge.

The 12-month pilot program was launched by the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Public Health to decrease tobacco use among the state’s residents. DHR is collaborating with Free & Clear Inc. to offer the NRT program to Georgia residents in five public health districts including the Coastal Health District which is comprised of Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties.

The NRT program is available to residents 18 and older that utilize the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line Multiple Call Program. Three choices of NRT are available to participants including the nicotine patch, nicotine gum, and nicotine lozenge. All three choices will be provided at no cost for a total of eight weeks and medical overrides will be in place for those contraindicated for the program, including pregnant women. Participants must not have any medical conditions that would preclude them from taking part in the program.

For assistance, call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line:
1-877-270-STOP (7867)
1-877-2NO-FUME (266-3863) Spanish Language
TTY: 1-877-6534 (Hearing Impaired)

For more information on Georgia’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program, go to www.health.state.ga.us/programs/tobacco/index.asp

The NRT program is available to residents 18 and older that utilize the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line Multiple Call Program, a free service that provides counseling, support, and referral services for tobacco users. Three choices of NRT are available to participants including the nicotine patch, nicotine gum, and nicotine lozenge. All three choices will be provided at no cost for a total of eight weeks and medical overrides will be in place for those contraindicated for the program, including pregnant women. Participants must not have any medical conditions that would preclude them from taking part in the program.

“Almost one in four persons living in the participating health districts use tobacco products which, in turn, have a significant impact on their overall health,” said Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, acting director of the Division of Public Health. “In an effort to better the lives of Georgians, we have combined Georgia Quit Line services with the pilot NRT program. It is our hope that we will significantly decrease tobacco use in these areas with these services.”

Dr. Doug Skelton, Director of the Coastal Health District, agreed. “The NRT program can help make a positive difference in the lives of residents right here in our area and throughout the state,” he said. “This is a real solution to a real problem. We hope that tobacco users will take advantage of this program to help them adopt a healthier lifestyle.”

For assistance, call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line:
1-877-270-STOP (7867)
1-877-2NO-FUME (266-3863) Spanish Language
TTY: 1-877-6534 (Hearing Impaired)

For more information on Georgia’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program, go to www.health.state.ga.us/programs/tobacco/index.asp

Immunization requirements for Georgia students were updated last year, and the Camden County Health Department can help parents determine what immunizations their children need before going back to school. Hearing, vision, and dental screenings will also be available at the clinic.

The Camden County Health Department Woodbine clinic is located at 1501 Georgia Avenue in Woodbine. For more information, call 912-576-3040.

“School will be here before you know it and it’s important not to wait until the last minute to get immunizations,” said Sharon G. Smith, with the Glynn County Health Department. “We want to make it convenient for parents to bring their children in to get vaccinated.”

All the cowboys and cowgirls that come to the Round Up will receive free giveaways and will be eligible to win other fun door prizes. In addition, Sonny 103.3 radio will be broadcasting live from the event.

“We understand that children don’t like to get shots,” said Smith. “That’s why we try to make the Round-Up fun and very kid-friendly.”

The Round Up will be held at the Glynn County Health Department on 2747 Fourth Street in Brunswick.

For more information, please call 912-279-3350.

Few things help beat the heat like a dip in the pool, which has long been a favorite summertime activity of many children. But adult supervision is critical for swimming safety.

Did you know?
According to Safe Kids USA, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death to children ages 1 to 14, taking more than 900 children’s lives each year. For every child who drowns, four more are hospitalized for near-drowning; for every hospital admission, approximately four children are treated in hospital emergency rooms.

Tips to prevent drownings:
A child should never be unsupervised in or near water, even shallow wading pools. Devices (such as bathtub seats or water wings) can not be relied upon to keep them afloat and alive. Remember, children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water — and it can happen in no time at all.

That's why Safe Kids recommends the following safety measures to help protect your kids around the water:

-Parents should always supervise children around water and install fencing that completely surrounds all pools, spas, whirlpools and hot tubs. Teach children never to go near a pool drain with or without a cover, and to pin up long hair when in water.

-Install multiple drains in all pools, spas, whirlpools and hot tubs. This minimizes the suction of any one drain, reducing risk of death or injury

-Regularly check to make sure drain covers are secure and have no cracks. Replace flat drain covers with dome-shaped ones.

-Know where the manual cut-off switch for the pump is in case of emergency. Consider installing an approved “safety vacuum release system” (SVRS), a tool that quickly and automatically turns off the pump (and stops the suction) when something is trapped in or blocks the drain.

-Parents may also want to check to be sure these steps are taken at community pools, whirlpools, spas and hot tubs.

Plan ahead:

-Children should learn to swim. Enroll them in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors when they are ready, usually after age 4. If you don’t know how to swim, enroll with your kids!

-Adults and kids over age 13 should learn infant and child CPR.

-Know which of your child’s friends and neighbors have pools. Make sure your child will be supervised by an adult while visiting.

-Install four-sided isolation fencing at least 5 feet high, equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates, around home swimming pools.

-Keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers by the pool.

-Pool alarms and pool covers can offer an extra layer of protection. However, do not rely on them to keep your kids safe; they should be used in conjunction with fencing and constant supervision.

Teach safety:

Swimming lessons are an important step, but they do not make a child “drown-proof.” Children need to learn other water safety lessons, as well.

-Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal safety device around oceans, rivers, lakes or when participating in water sports. (Click here to learn more about Chatham County's "Kids Don't Float" loaner lifejacket program!)

-Always swim with a buddy. Swimming alone is very dangerous.

-Know how to use rescue equipment and where emergency phone numbers are located.

Learn more about water safety at the website of Safe Kids USA.

→ Download Skidaway State Park scavenger hunt form (pdf document)
→ Download Wormsloe Historic Site scavenger hunt form (pdf document)

You'll need to print and fill out one or both of the scavenger hunt forms above in order to have a chance at winning a Great Outdoors Month Prize Pack which includes:

- A Pair of Binoculars
- The National Audubon Society's Field Guide to Birds, Eastern Region
- A disposable camera
- A $20 gift certificate for CVS (to get your camera film developed)
- A waterbottle fanny pack
- Walking Stick & Skidaway Island Walking Stick Medallion
- A park pass good until July '09

In order to complete the forms, you will have to walk either the beautiful Sandpiper Trail at Skidaway Island State Park or visit the Wormsloe Historic Site. You can turn the forms in to the Skidaway State Park's main office or the Wormsloe Historic Site's main office. The contest runs until July 31st.

There is no admission fee to Skidaway State Park, only a $3 parking fee. There is never a parking fee on Wednesdays.

Admission to the Wormsloe Historic Site is $2.50 - $4, plus a $3 parking fee.

Visit the park's website for more information about:
Skidaway State Park
Wormsloe Historic Site

Check out a park pass with your library card!

With a valid Georgia Library Card, you can check out a park pass to any of our 63 State Parks & Historic Sites at all public libraries. The pass is good for both parking and any admission fees. Click here for more information from the Georgia State Parks' website!