Flu "Shoot-Out" Planned for Washington County

ST. GEORGE, UT – The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) will be holding its annual Flu Shoot-Out for Washington County on Tuesday, September 29th at the Red Cliffs Mall.

"This is a convenient way  to get your flu shot and help us practice our mass-vaccination plan," says Paulette Valentine, SWUPHD Emergency Preparedness Director. "We have teamed up with community partners to help our residents get prepared for flu season. The process is quick, easy, inexpensive, or even free if covered by your insurance."

It is currently recommended that everyone over six months of age get immunized; although young children, pregnant women, people over 65 years of age, and anyone with chronic health problems are especially encouraged to do so. Flu activity varies each year, often starting in the fall and peaking in February. Getting vaccinated is the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.

Tuesday, Sept. 29 @ Red Cliffs Mall, St. George

          8:00 am - 1:00 pm: Drive-thru for adults 18 and over (mall parking lot)

          1:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Walk-in for all ages (mall Center Court)

Flu vaccine is $20 ($25 for nasal spray version). Cash, check, and credit card are accepted. There is NO CHARGE for the vaccine with proof of the following insurances: Altius, Arches, CHIP, DMBA,  Medicaid, Medicare (depending on HMO), PEHP, Selecthealth, Tall Tree, and United Healthcare. 

You can save time by printing the consent form found at www.swuhealth.org. Fill it out and bring it to the Shoot-Out. Don't forget to wear a short-sleeved shirt!

Flu Shoot-Outs for other local counties are scheduled for:

·         Kane County (Saturday, Oct. 10, 9am-1pm, Kanab High School)

·         Garfield County (Thursday, Oct. 15, 11am-3pm, Panguitch Fire Station)

·         Iron County (Saturday, Oct 17, 9am-1pm, Valley View Medical Center Health Fair)

E-Cigarette Use in Teens Increases 300%

E-cigarettes now the most commonly abused drug among youth

WASHINGTON COUNTY, UT – Results of the 2015 Utah Prevention Needs Assessment youth survey have been released and show a 300% increase in teens using electronic cigarettes, surpassing alcohol as the most commonly abused drug among youth. From 2013 to 2015, the 30-day use rate of e-cigarettes among high school seniors increased from 3.6% to 14.3%, with about 31% of 12th graders reporting having experimented with the drug delivery device.   
 

Kye Nordfelt, Health Promotions Director for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, is concerned about the impact of youth e-cigarette use in the community. “With 1 in 3 teens experimenting with e-cigarettes, this will have an effect on all of us,” he says. “These teens are in our schools, congregations, and families.”

 

“This 300% increase in electronic cigarette use is unprecedented,” says Logan Reid, Director of Prevention at Southwest Behavioral Health Center. “I don't remember the data ever showing such a sharp rise in the use of one drug in such a short period of time. And the scariest part about this trend is that youth are smoking more than just nicotine through these devices.”

 

The main drug used in e-cigarettes is nicotine (a product of tobacco), which on its own is extremely addictive, often setting kids on a course for years of addiction.  Since e-cigarettes provide a convenient drug delivery system, local law enforcement officers are now finding youth and adults using marijuana and other liquefied drugs in these devices.

 

Currently, the contents and sale of e-cigarettes are largely unregulated and are not taxed as a tobacco product. E-cigarettes are attractive to youth by the very nature of their technology, are promoted as less harmful, and include a wide variety of appealing flavors They are easily accessed in areas with heavy teen traffic and have no ingredient labels.

 

“Over the past 40 or so years we have witnessed a gradual decline in tobacco use,” Nordfelt states. “But now we are seeing nicotine usage skyrocket in the form of e-cigarettes. Increased consumption by teens is especially troubling, and we want to do all we can to help our community curb this trend.”

 

The health department is offering free e-cigarette presentations for parents and youth groups, covering the health risks of using these products and how to prevent further use by teens. Call Kye at 435-986-2593 to schedule a presentation.      

Personal Stories:

Abigail Dickie, a senior at Snow Canyon High School and president of the Washington County Youth Coalition, says that kids talk about e-cigarettes all the time. “I have several friends who vape. They are really appealing to youth, and it’s scary how businesses market them toward us because there aren’t regulations on how they advertise, like there are on regular cigarettes.”

 

Orion Parker, who also lives in Washington County, witnessed how his use of e-cigarettes influenced his seven-year-old son. Orion explains, “My son saw me using the device and asked if he could try it.  I told him absolutely not and tried to make sure he didn’t see me using it after that.  One weekend, when I came home from a business trip, I picked up my son from my grandma’s, and she told me how my son had told her when he grows up he wants to smoke that cool e-cigarette just like his dad.”  Parker did not want his son addicted to nicotine; he subsequently quit cold turkey and had a long chat with his son about the harms of tobacco products.

Michelle (name has been changed), a Washington County resident, is a mother of four who is deeply involved in her busy kids’ lives, active in her faith, and like many parents, never thought her teenage son would use an addictive substance.  “I was unaware that my son was addicted to nicotine when he was arrested for having an electronic cigarette - it was so easy for him to hide his use from me, as the smell was often not present.  As he began using tobacco products, he totally changed, all of his values and friends changed.  I tried to protect him, but even at 14 he has had no problem getting e-cigarettes.” She continues,“The other thing I hadn’t realized is that e-cigarettes can be used to smoke other things like marijuana. My son had denied using any nicotine products and insisted that e-cigarettes were harmless, but I've since learned that isn't the case.  Now there is a lack of trust between us and we’re worried about what he could be doing to himself.”

Healthy Living Challenge Ends With Success

KANAB, UT – The Healthy Kane County Coalition recently awarded prizes to the finishers of the first-ever Kanab Healthy Living Challenge. Teams and individuals from Kanab, Orderville, Fredonia and Glendale competed for points, weight loss, inches lost, and body fat reduction. Prizes included $100 gift certificates to Duke’s Clothing and Knuckle Heads bike shop, along with CamelBaks, Fitbits, and 1-month passes to Best Friends Wellness & Fitness Center.

“The goal of the Healthy Living Challenge was to improve the overall health of local residents," says Lexie Little, Community Outreach Specialist for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department. "We focused on nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and mental health. We had 150    participants join in, ranging from 5 to 87 years old. We saw people experience great success as they put forth the effort to follow the challenge guidelines."

Participants tracked their steps, vegetable and fruit consumption, water intake, and sleep; and     were awarded points for each portion of the challenge completed. Weekly newsletters promoted healthy recipes and nearby trails. Overall totals were:

·         326.4 pounds lost

·         128.9 inches lost

 

·         51% body fat lost

The Healthy Kane County Coalition would like to thank the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, Kane County Hospital, Kane County Recreation, Kane County Events & Volunteer Center, Southwest Prevention, USU Extension, BLM, Best Friends Wellness & Fitness Center, and Mountainland Rehabilitation for all their time, effort, and donations!

Health Department Offering Back-to-School Shots

CEDAR CITY, UT – The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) is providing all required vaccinations for students entering kindergarten and the 7th grade, along with those needed by children of any age to get caught up on their immunizations. First-time enrollment into the school district for any grade requires up-to-date immunization records.

While parents can bring their children into the health department at any time without an appointment (see hours below), there will be a special school shots-only clinic on Tuesday, August 18th, from 8am-11am.

"We hope parents will take this opportunity to get their kids vaccinated before school starts," says Kari Abeyta, SWUPHD nurse. "Every year we see a last minute rush to get kids immunized, and sometimes kids miss school until they can show proof of being on schedule with their shots."

There is no charge for vaccines with proof of the following insurances: Altius, Arches, CHIP, DMBA, Medicaid, PEHP, SelectHealth, Tall Tree, or United Healthcare.

Uninsured children can receive vaccines at the discounted rate of $20.50 per shot.

Parents will need to bring their photo ID, along with their child's immunization record.

School Shots-Only Clinic

Tuesday, August 18th (8am-11am)

Southwest Utah Public Health Department  (Cedar City Office)

260 E. DL Sargent Dr.

Or come in during regular business hours, no appointment needed:

M, W, Th: 7:30am-5:30pm (please arrive early enough to complete services before closing time)

T: 1pm-5:30pm

F: 8am - 5pm

Glendale Town Adopts Outdoor Smoking Ordinance

GLENDALE, UT – The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) is announcing that the Glendale town council recently passed an outdoor smoking ordinance which restricts tobacco use on county property,  including the town park and cemetery. Glendale Town joins over 60 other counties and cities in Utah that have adopted outdoor smoking policies.

Research shows that public tobacco policies play a part in discouraging youth from beginning to smoke. “Creating a healthy environment through consistent messaging at home, school, the work place and the community is key for our youth, because 90% of adult smokers start on or before the age of 18," says Lexie Little, SWUPHD Community Outreach Specialist. "Coupled with the fact that nearly 80% of adult smokers want to quit, it makes sense to help kids avoid smoking in the first place."

Despite significant declines the past few decades, tobacco use remains a public health challenge.

Smoking continues to be the #1 preventable killer in the United States, taking 480,000 lives annually. Nearly 50,000 of those premature deaths are linked to exposure to secondhand smoke. About half of all Utahns are exposed to secondhand smoke in outdoor settings on a weekly basis.

For more information on the new Glendale Town ordinance, visit www.glendaletown.com.  For adults and youth wanting to quit smoking, free cessation services can be found by visiting www.waytoquit.org or calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.