Georgia Coastal Health District

This February, the Coastal Health District wants to help you love your heart, and that starts with knowing your blood pressure and blood glucose numbers. The Coastal Health District will be offering free blood pressure and blood glucose screenings at the following locations, with no appointment needed.

• Bryan Co. Health Dept. in Pembroke: Feb. 7, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Bryan Co. Health Dept. in Richmond Hill: Feb. 7, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Camden Co. Health Dept. in St. Marys: Feb. 13, 1 – 4 pm.
• Chatham Co. Health Dept. Eisenhower Clinic in Savannah: Feb. 15, 2 – 5 p.m.
• Effingham Co. Health Dept. in Springfield: Feb. 16, 1 – 4 p.m.
• McIntosh Co. Health Dept. in Townsend: Feb. 20, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Liberty Co. Health Dept. in Hinesville: Feb. 21, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Long Co. Health Dept. in Ludowici: Feb. 21, 1 – 4 p.m.
• Glynn Co. Health Dept. in Brunswick: Feb. 22, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

“Most people can’t tell if their blood pressure or glucose levels are high,” says Mecca Mason, a community health worker for the Coastal Health District who is leading the heart healthy campaign. “The only way to know is to get screened. Thankfully, the screenings are quick and easy, and once you know your numbers, we can help you come up with a plan for protecting your heart.”

These numbers matter. High blood pressure can lead to serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. A high blood glucose level can lead to heart disease.

These problems may be more common than you think. According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. One person dies every 34 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease.

But this is not an unwinnable fight. “There are small adjustments you can make in your daily life that will have a big impact on your heart health,” says Mason. “That’s where we come in. We have information, resources, and programs to help people in our community live longer, healthier lives.”

You can learn about these heart healthy programs at the screening events in February or on our Chronic Disease Prevention page.

[JPG, 83.14 KB]

Public health in coastal Georgia has a new leader. Bonzo Reddick, MD, has been named health director of the 8-county Coastal Health District. Dr. Reddick steps into the public health leadership role following the retirement of Dr. Lawton Davis.

Dr. Reddick is no stranger to the community health needs of the coastal area. For the past 5 years, Dr. Reddick led an outpatient practice at the J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center in Savannah, a federally qualified health center and designated Healthcare for the Homeless site. Dr. Reddick served on the Health Equity Council for the Georgia Department of Public Health and was on the medical advisory committees for the Savannah public school system and for the Mayor’s Office during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Reddick received his B.S. degree from Morehouse College and his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. After graduating from medical school in 2002, he left Georgia for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he completed a family medicine residency, two faculty development fellowships, and a master’s degree in public health (M.P.H.). After graduating from residency in 2005, he practiced full-spectrum family medicine – including delivering babies and inpatient medicine – for 17 years.

Dr. Reddick was named Top Family Physician in Savannah by South Magazine in 2016 & 2019, and he was recently named the Family Physician of the Year by the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians for 2021. He has published numerous articles in scientific and medical journals, and he recently finished authoring a book on achieving health equity.

Dr. Reddick will lead the Coastal Health District from offices in Savannah and Brunswick, overseeing all district and county public health programs in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh Counties.

Due to the potential for severe weather associated with Tropical Storm Nicole, the Camden, Glynn, and Liberty County Health Departments will suspend operations Thursday, November 10. At this time, all other county health departments and Coastal Health District offices plan to be open and operational Thursday.

All clinics and offices will be closed Friday, November 11, in observance of Veteran’s Day.

The Coastal Health District Chronic Disease Prevention Program will hold blood glucose screening events at health departments throughout the month of November, which is Diabetes Awareness Month. The screenings are free and no appointment is necessary. Those getting screened will also receive information about the Diabetes Prevention Program and upcoming “Eating Healthy over the Holidays” virtual sessions.

The following screening events have been scheduled:

Bryan County Health Department, 430 Ledford Street, Pembroke
Tuesday, November 8
8- 11 a.m.

Glynn County Health Department, 2747 Fourth Street, Brunswick
Wednesday, November 9
1 – 4 p.m.

Camden County Health Department, 905 Dilworth Street, St. Marys
Thursday, November 10
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

McIntosh County Health Department, 1335 Ga Hwy. 17, Townsend
Thursday, December 1
1 – 4 p.m.

Liberty County Health Department, 1113 E. Oglethorpe Hwy., Hinesville
Monday, November 14
1 – 4 p.m.

Bryan County Health Department, 66 Capt. Matthew Freeman Drive, Richmond Hill
Tuesday, November 15
8 – 11 a.m.

Effingham County Health Department, 802 Hwy. 119 South, Springfield
Thursday, November 17
1 – 4 p.m.

Long County Health Department, 584 N. Macon Street, Ludowici
Thursday, November 17
2 – 5 p.m.

Chatham County Health Department, 1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah
Tuesday, November22
 1 – 4 p.m.

Diabetes affects more than 30 million people in the United States and more than one out of every three adults have prediabetes. People with prediabetes have blood glucose levels higher than normal and are more likely to get type 2 diabetes. Making modest lifestyle changes can help lower your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The Coastal Health District Chronic Disease Prevention Program provides the tools our residents need to help combat diseases like diabetes that can lead to serious health complications.

More information about prediabetes and diabetes, please visit our website at coastalhealthdistrict.org/diabetes.

As the spooky season kicks into high gear this weekend, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends the following tips to help ensure everyone has a safe, fun time while making the rounds at fall festivals, trunk-or-treats, parties, and the traditional door-to-door hunt for goodies.

Costumes

• Be sure costumes, masks, wigs, beards, and other accessories are flame-resistant.
• Add reflective tape to costumes, bags, and accessories to increase visibility.
• Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses that can be purchased without a prescription. These may not fit properly and could cause scratches, sores, and other eye injuries.

Pedestrian Safety

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child.
• Caution children against running out from between parked cars, or across yards where obstacles may be hard to spot.
• Stick to walking areas that are well-lit and free of obstacles.
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick to see and be seen.
• Never walk near lit candles, luminaries or pumpkins.
• Avoid distractions from electronic devices.

Safe Homes

• Only trick-or-treat at homes where the parents know who lives there.
• Visit homes that have outdoor lights as a sign of welcome.
• Remove potential obstacles for trick-or-treaters from your own lawn, walkway, porch, and steps.

Treats

• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. If you have any doubt about the safety of a treat, throw it out.
• Examine treats for choking hazards before allowing them to be eaten.
• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as individual packs of raisins, trail mix, or pretzels.
• For party guests, offer fruits, vegetables, and cheeses, and avoid sugary beverages.
• Drink more water and brush and floss after eating sugary treats to control the formation of bacteria that can cause tooth decay and plaque.

If you aren’t feeling well, skip the Halloween parties and activities. In addition to being the spooky season, it is flu season. DPH recommends everyone six months old and older get the flu vaccine as soon as possible. Additionally, DPH recommends everyone six months old and older be up to date with COVID vaccination and booster shots.

If you have not gotten a flu shot yet, do not wait any longer. Flu activity is already widespread in Georgia – earlier than we’ve seen in recent years.

“Every individual over the age of six months should get a flu vaccine – not just for their own protection, but to protect others around them who may be more vulnerable to the flu and its complications,” says Kathleen E. Toomey, M.D., M.P.H., DPH commissioner. “It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so now is the time to get a flu shot.”

Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person, and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, pregnant women, and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.

Flu vaccine is widely available at public health departments, doctors’ offices, grocery stores, neighborhood clinics and pharmacies. To find a location near you click on https://www.vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/. Flu vaccine can be administered at the same time as COVID vaccine, so it’s a good time to get your updated booster, too.

In some cases, healthcare providers may recommend the use of antiviral drugs that fight the flu in your body. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines and are most effective when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

There are other tried and true measures you can take to help prevent the spread of flu:

• Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and warm water. Alcohol based gels are the next best thing if you don’t have access to soap and water.
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm to help prevent the spread of the flu.
• Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth, and eyes.
• If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever, without the use of a fever reducer, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or work.
• If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from common areas of the house and other people as much as possible.

For more information about flu and how to prevent it, log on to dph.ga.gov/flu. You can monitor Georgia weekly influenza reports at https://dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/influenza/georgia-influenza-activity. The reports are updated on Fridays.