Stay Safe: Extreme Heat Forecasted | |
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Weather forecasts continue to include extremely high temperatures. In extreme heat, heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke, are more likely to occur. If you must be outside:
- Limit outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
- Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink plenty of water. Even if not exercising, drink more fluids (nonalcoholic).
- Rest often in shady areas.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
- Take a cool shower or bath.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing.
- NEVER leave any person or animal in a closed, parked vehicle.
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Several localities have established cooling centers and options for free swimming:
Albemarle County (more info here):
City of Charlottesville (more info here):
- Key Recreation Center (800 E. Market Street)
- Monday through Friday: 5:30pm - 9:00pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 1:00pm - 6:00pm
- Tonsler Recreation Center (501 Cherry Avenue)
- Monday through Friday: 12:00pm - 9:00pm
- Saturday: 1:00pm - 6:00pm
- Jefferson – Madison Regional Library (201 E. Market Street)
- Monday through Thursdays: 9:00am – 9:00pm
- Friday and Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- The Haven (112 W Market Street)
- Monday through Friday: 7:00am – 5:00pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 7:00am – 12:00pm
- Salvation Army (207 Ridge Street) - Water available at this location.
- 7 days/week: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Louisa County (more info here):
- Metal Gym behind Louisa County Middle School (1015 Davis Hwy. Mineral, VA 23117)
- Friday, July 28: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday, July 29: 10:00am – 6:00pm
For more heat-related safety tips, visit the CDC website on heat health.
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CHIP Updates: Celebrating Successes | |
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Summer may be the time of road trips and vacation, but the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) conveners and contributors are working full steam ahead. Here are a couple of July updates from two of our CHIP workgroups:
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE:
Exciting progress has been made by both of our local health systems toward increasing the number of BIPOC and multilingual persons participating in trainings for clinical jobs. Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital graduated 11 students from a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training hosted at the Westhaven Community Center. UVA Health is wrapping up a Registered Medication Aide (RMA) training of 20 local students, with a graduation planned soon. Both programs are also supporting students upon graduation with career connections and networking opportunities!
The Blue Ridge Health District hired an Outreach Network Coordinator in July to create a training and support network for Community Health Workers (CHWs) within the District. BRHD is also launching a CHW training course at PVCC this fall. Want to be a certified Community Health Worker? Enroll at PVCC in course HLT193. Scholarships are available- fill out this application form to apply. The course begins Monday, August 21!
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DIGITAL ACCESS + SKILLS:
Digital equity and skills experts and advocates from Jefferson Madison Regional Library (JMRL), Jefferson Area Board of Aging (JABA), Louisa County Commission on Aging, PVCC’s TJACE program, Albemarle County’s Broadband Affordability and Accessibility Office (BAAO), and BRHD’s Community Health Workers convened with broadband provider Firefly. The group is exploring how to increase outreach for and access to high-speed internet, expand digital skills programs, and support non-native speakers and older adults with digital services.
Meanwhile, the Regional Digital Equity Plan Coalition, sponsored by BAAO, began planning pilot projects to advance access and digital skills throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle.
Bravo to all our hard-working CHIP conveners and contributors and their progress this month! Stay connected to future progress in our next newsletter, or anytime on the CHIP website.
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The Medical Reserve Corps Turns 21 | |
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Happy Anniversary to the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)! Established after the events of 9/11, MRC volunteers have spent the last 21 years prepping communities before disasters, supporting them during emergencies, and facilitating recovery after catastrophic events.
A little closer to home, the Blue Ridge MRC is a network of more than 1,200 volunteers that commit their time, energy, and expertise to keeping our community safe and healthy. We’d like to give our sincere thanks to our volunteer medical professionals, public health experts, and many others who help make their communities stronger and healthier during disasters and every day.
If you’re ready to make a difference, consider joining our amazing team!
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Mosquito Prevention HealthWhys | |
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Almost everyone has been bitten by a mosquito. While most mosquito bites are harmless, some can carry germs and serious infections like West Nile Virus, Zika, dengue fever, and malaria.
But have no fear! There are a few easy things we can do to prevent bites:
- Apply an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered insect repellent, such as those with 10-30% DEET, to skin and clothing.
- Wear long sleeves and trousers when outside, especially in the evening.
- Cover strollers and baby carriers with mosquito netting.
- Keep windows and doors shut and use air conditioning as much as possible.
- Use, install, or repair window and door screens.
But we can do even more. Remember that anywhere water collects could potentially be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs by removing standing water from around your house and neighborhood. Drain plant saucers, pets’ water bowls, and birdbaths routinely, turn over buckets and wheelbarrows, and make sure gutters and roof drains stay clean.
Learn more about mosquito prevention in our latest Healthy Whys!
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The Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) is one of 35 health districts under the Virginia Department of Health. We have five health departments and one community-based clinic providing public health services to over 250,000 people in Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson.
If you are passionate about public health and ready for your next opportunity, joining the BRHD team might be your next step! We are currently hiring a:
For more information on these job opportunities, visit our website.
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Tobacco & Vape Free Worksites | |
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The Virginia Department of Health recommends all worksites have tobacco and vape-free indoor policies, as well as completely tobacco-free grounds to protect all from secondhand vape and aerosol. If you’re ready to make the move to a healthier workplace, our Regional Tobacco Coordinator Tiffany Eustice can help create a tobacco-free policy and find ways to strengthen the policy to ensure that it includes vapes and e-cigarettes/emerging products.
For more resources, download the Tobacco Use Control Project’s Tobacco Free Worksite Toolkit.
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