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Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free Red Ribbon Week is celebrated October 23 – 31, 2021 and the theme is “Drug Free Looks Like Me”.  Red Ribbon Week is the oldest, largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people each year.  During this week communities, agencies and organizations are asked to wear red ribbons to take a stand again drugs. On a separate note, it is important to point out that Kentucky is one of the unhealthiest states in our nation; but, a few healthy lifestyle choices could change this. First, eating normally proportioned helpings […]

BULLYING: Talking to Children Source: National Bullying Prevention Center (Pacer: Bullying.) Bullying affects everyone who’s involved. Children who are involved experience mental health issues, physical symptoms, and poor school performance. You can help your child recognize the signs of bullying. Children often don’t understand when someone is being bullied. They may feel someone is joking or may not understand social norms. Children should be informed of the differences between friendly behaviors and bullying behaviors. When talking to children about bullying parents should listen, react in ways to encourage trust from the child, be supportive, be patient, provide information that the […]

Understanding Mental Illness The purpose of the following information is to provide a general understanding of what mental illnesses are, and to address some facts associated with these disorders.  What is mental illness? Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder […]

National Preparedness Month Throughout September, the Lake Cumberland District Health Department and numerous partner agencies will support emergency preparedness efforts and encourage citizens to take action to become better prepared for disasters and emergency situations. Make a Plan In many cases, disasters don’t come with much warning. Having a plan helps us avoid panic and spring into action sooner. Discuss the questions below with your family to start your emergency plan: How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings? What is my shelter plan? What is my evacuation route? What is my family/household communication plan? Do I need to update my emergency preparedness kit? Check with the Centers […]

How Can You Prevent Rabies in Animals? There are several things you can do to protect your pet from rabies. First, visit your veterinarian with your pet on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs. Second, maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and keeping dogs under direct supervision. Third, spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly. Finally, call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood since these animals may […]

Our Children – Keep Them at a Healthy Weight One in 5 children in the United States has obesity.. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for having other chronic health conditions and diseases such as asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, and type 2 diabetes.  They also have more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure and high cholesterol than their normal weight peers. Children with obesity can be bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers. They are also more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem. Children with obesity are also […]

Foodborne Illness Peaks in Summer – What can you do to prevent it? Year after year we hear and read the same advice: “Handle food carefully in the summer because foodborne illness, also known as “food poisoning,” is more prevalent in warmer weather.” But does foodborne illness really increase during the summer months? If so, how can it be prevented? Yes, foodborne illnesses increase during the summer, and the reason why is twofold: bacteria multiply faster in warmer temperatures, and preparing food outdoors makes safe food handling more difficult. Natural Causes Bacteria can be found everywhere. They are present throughout […]