Georgia Coastal Health District

A raccoon at The Landings on Skidaway Island has tested positive for rabies after being killed by a family dog. The dog is up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and received a rabies booster as a precaution. The dog will also be under a 45-day home observation.

Residents are encouraged to call the Chatham County Environmental Health office at 356-2160 or Chatham County Animal Control at 525-2408 if they see any animal exhibiting abnormal behavior. Symptoms of rabies in animals include a change in behavior, biting, aggression, showing no fear of natural enemies (such as humans), foaming at the mouth, and paralysis.

Several species of wild animals that are native to coastal Georgia – including raccoons, foxes, and bats – can carry rabies. Rabies is a potentially deadly virus that is primarily spread by infected animals. The Chatham County Health Department Environmental Health Division offers these tips to protect you and your family from rabies:

• Avoid contact with animals you don’t know.
• Make sure your pets receive the proper immunizations. Dogs and cats should get rabies vaccines by four months of age, followed by a booster shot one year later, and another one every year as prescribed by your veterinarian.
• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or by leaving pet food out at night.
• Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or a properly licensed animal rescue agency for assistance.
• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly. “Love your own, leave other animals alone” is a good principle for children to learn.

Physical activity and nutrition are essential for children to develop healthy lifestyles that will help reduce the risk of chronic disease later in life. To that end, the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Shape, HealthMPowers, Inc. and Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning have developed Growing Fit Kit: Wellness Policies for Georgia’s Early Care Environment. Two free four-hour sessions will be held to present the tool kit to early care center coordinators and staff.

Training sessions will be held:
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday, April 22
400 Mall Blvd. (2nd floor in the Coastal Health District conference room)

The tool kit provides a step-by-step process guiding early care educators in the development and/or improvement of nutrition and physical activity policies and practices. It also contains an explanation of the importance of a wellness policy, a self-assessment tool to evaluate current policies and practices, success stories from other early care settings, healthy eating and physical activity resources, and a planning document with suggestions and examples for writing the policy.

This educational learning experience is a Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning approved CEU course allowing participants to earn required training units while strengthening their wellness policy efforts to create healthy environments for students to learn and teachers to work. This training also helps move centers toward achievement of Quality Rated standards set by the Department of Early Care and Learning.

To register for either training session, please contact Cristina Gibson at 912-644-5818 or email cristina.gibson@dph.ga.gov.

The Coastal Health District is observing National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day with “Know Your Status” Skating Party. Young people ages 13-24 who get tested for HIV at either Chatham County Health Department location between April 4-8 (see below for dates and times) will receive a free admission ticket to a skate party at Star Castle on Thursday, April 21.

HIV testing is free and confidential. No appointment needed.

Testing Locations & Times
1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, April 4-8
Chatham County Health Department, 1395 Eisenhower Drive, Savannah

1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, April 11-15
Chatham County Health Department, 1602 Drayton Street, Savannah

Skate Party
7 p.m. – 10 p.m., Thursday, April 21
Star Castle, 550 Mall Boulevard, Savannah

Today’s young people are the first generation that has never known a world without HIV and AIDS. In the United States, almost 40 percent of new HIV infections are young people ages 13 to 29. Despite this harsh reality, young people and their allies are determined to end this pandemic.
It is more important than ever to recommit to the fight against HIV and AIDS. We must continue to invest in scientific advancements like a vaccine and a cure – without forgetting the importance of prevention strategies and ensuring equal access to information and healthcare for everyone.
Most importantly, we must invest in young people – bring them to the table not only as partners, but also as leaders that can truly turn the tide of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Only by fully investing in young people – in their health, their education, and their leadership – can we reach an AIDS-free generation.

For more information, please call Diane DeVore at (912) 353-3276 or email  Diane.Devore@dph.ga.gov or visit http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/

The event is sponsored by the Coastal Health District Prevention Program, the Chatham County Youth Commission, and WEAS-FM 93.1.

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The Coastal Health District’s Breastfeeding Program has received a grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to initiate programs aimed at reducing disparities in breastfeeding in African Americans and underserved communities in Chatham County. The programs will focus on peer and professional lactation support and will last through June 2016.

Funding from the grant will be used to conduct breastfeeding classes; host breastfeeding support groups; train 10 mothers to provide peer support for women who breastfeed; hold a continuing education session for Chatham County Health Department employees; and assist in training a lactation counselor in preparation for the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant exam.

“This grant will help us promote breastfeeding among underserved populations in Chatham County on a number of different levels,” said Coastal Health District Breastfeeding Coordinator, Monica Lightfoot. “Breastfeeding is not only a great way for mothers and their babies to bond, but breastmilk also contains antibodies that can help protect infants from infections.”

The Coastal Health District provides breastfeeding support through the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). WIC provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children who are found to be at nutritional risk.

“Our goal is to educate women about the benefits of breastfeeding and help them become successful at breastfeeding,” said Lightfoot. “While that’s a big part of what we do every day, the NACCHO grant will allow us to expand our efforts even more.”

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The Coastal Health District Adolescent Health and Youth Development program is partnering with the Parker’s Emergency & Trauma Center at Memorial Health and the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPI) at the University of Georgia to offer Parents Reducing Injuries and Driver Error (P.R.I.D.E.) course. The free, two-hour driver education program is designed to help teens ages 14, 15, and 16 – along with their parents and guardians – to learn more about driving behaviors and laws. The next class will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, at the Savannah-Chatham Police Training Center located at 3401 Edwin Street in Savannah. Registration by a teen and at least one parent or guardian is required. To register, please call 912-644-5816.

“Teen crashes and fatalities are a public health issue,” said Coastal Health District Adolescent Health and Youth Development Coordinator, LeKara Simmons. “This course will help both teens and parents feel more prepared and more confident about the entire process.”

P.R.I.D.E. is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and is focused on helping parent and guardians become more aware of their own driving behaviors; teach parents and guardians how to help teens become safe drivers; help parents, guardians, and teens learn what they need to do during the supervised practice driving time; and alter attitudes and driving behaviors for novice teen drivers.

“We are excited to partner with other community organizations to promote injury prevention and awareness,” said Memorial Health Trauma Outreach and Education Coordinator, Amanda Ramirez.