According to a 2009 American Heart Association survey, only half of women indicated they would call 9-1-1 if they thought they were having a heart attack and few were aware of the most common heart attack symptoms. Heart attack treatments work best when given within one hour of when your symptoms started. Within one hour, your risk of dying is cut in half. Within three hours, your risk of dying is cut by 25 percent.

The Coastal Health District will host two events in February as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health "Make the Call. Don't Miss a Beat." campaign to promote heart attack awareness. The first Let's Dance, Savannah: Don't Miss a Beat! event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 11, at Savannah Mall's Center Court and the second event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, at Oglethorpe Mall.

Let's Dance Savannah: Don't Miss a Beat! will include free dance classes, blood pressure checks, body mass index screens, and blood glucose testing. The local events are part of a national campaign to educate, engage and empower women and their families on the seven symptoms of a heart attack that most commonly present themselves in women. The purpose of Let's Dance Savannah: Don't Miss a Beat is to make participants aware of the signs of a heart attack and the importance of calling 9-1-1 when they experience any of these signs.

The Office on Women's Health urges women to make the call to 9-1-1 immediately if they experience any one or more of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain, discomfort, pressure or squeezing
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Light-headedness or sudden dizziness
• Unusual upper body pain, or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach
• Unusual fatigue
• Breaking out in a cold sweat

Let's Dance, Savannah: Don't Miss a Beat! will feature Maxine Patterson School of Dance, One Spirit Dance Academy, Curves, Abeni Cultural Arts, Silver Liners, Lotus Dance Company, bluknowledge, Champions Training Center, and St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School's Dance Crew. Partners for the events include the Community Cardiovascular Council, Armstrong Atlantic State University Health Science Department, and CVS.

For more information on the national Make the Call. Don't Miss a Beat. campaign, visit www.womenshealth.gov/heartattack.

To hear a catchy tune that will help you remember the symptoms of a heart attack, click here.

For more information on the Savannah events, please call 484-1885.

Click Let's Dance 2012 for an event flyer and line-up of dance groups participating

Let's Dance Savannah: Don't Miss a Beat! will include free dance classes, blood pressure checks, body mass index screens, and blood glucose testing. The local events are part of a national campaign to educate, engage and empower women and their families on the seven symptoms of a heart attack that most commonly present themselves in women. The purpose of Let's Dance Savannah: Don't Miss a Beat is to make participants aware of the signs of a heart attack and the importance of calling 9-1-1 when they experience any of these signs.

"Many women don't recognize symptoms such as chest pain and pain in the arm, neck, and shoulders as the typical symptoms of a heart attack," said Director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the Coastal Health District, Cristina Gibson. "These events will not only promote dance as a fun way to exercise, but will also will provide an opportunity to make women aware of heart attack symptoms and what they need to do if they experience any of those symptoms."

The Office on Women's Health urges women to make the call to 9-1-1 immediately if they experience any one or more of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain, discomfort, pressure or squeezing
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Light-headedness or sudden dizziness
• Unusual upper body pain, or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach
• Unusual fatigue
• Breaking out in a cold sweat

Let's Dance, Savannah: Don't Miss a Beat! will feature Maxine Patterson School of Dance, One Spirit Dance Academy, Curves, Abeni Cultural Arts, Silver Liners, Lotus Dance Company, bluknowledge, Champions Training Center, and St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School's Dance Crew. Partners for the events include the Community Cardiovascular Council, Armstrong Atlantic State University Health Science Department, and CVS.

For more information on the national Make the Call. Don't Miss a Beat. campaign, visit www.womenshealth.gov/heartattack.

For more information on the Savannah events, please call 484-1885.

SCD occurs when the red blood cells, which are usually round, become hard and sticky and end up shaped like the tools (sickles) used to cut wheat. Those misshaped cells die quickly causing a shortage of red blood cells and anemia. Also, when the sickle cells die, they can cause a clog in blood flow which can result in pain, damage to organs and infections.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these are some things that people with SCD can do to stay as healthy as possible:

• Get regular checkups. Regular health checkups with a primary care doctor can help prevent some serious problems.

• Prevent infections. Common illnesses, like influenza quickly can become dangerous for a child with SCD. The best defense is to take simple steps to help prevent infections. Click here for five tips to help prevent infections.

• Learn healthy habits. People with SCD should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water every day and eat healthy food. They also should try not to get too hot, too cold, or too tired.

• Look for clinical studies. New clinical research studies are happening all the time to find better treatments and, hopefully, a cure for SCD. People who take part in these studies might have access to new medicines and treatments.

• Get support. People with SCD should find a patient support group or other organization in the community that can provide information, assistance, and support.

There is blood test that can detect SCD. Detecting sickle cell trait is important for couples who want to have children and who may be carriers of the sickle cell trait.

Check out the CDC's website for more information on SCD.

All women should begin cervical cancer screening within three years of becoming sexually active, but no later than 21 years old. Screenings should be done every year. One way to prevent several types of cervical cancers is to get vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a one time series of HPV vaccine for females and males aged 11-26 years old.

Close to 100 percent of women diagnosed in a pre-cancer stage will survive; however, an estimated 134 women in Georgia will still die this year from this preventable disease. Health departments throughout the Coastal Health District offer low or no-cost screening through the BreasTEST & More program for eligible uninsured or low-income women.

RISK FACTORS FOR CERVICAL CANCER
A risk factor increases a person's chance of getting a disease.

• HPV: Almost all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is passed from one person to another during sex. The risk of getting HPV increases the earlier a person becomes sexually active or if a person or his/her partner has had sex with multiple partners. However, anyone who is sexually active is at risk for getting HPV. Because HPV can occur in male and female genital areas that are not covered by a condom, condom use is not guaranteed to prevent HPV infection; however, condom use has been associated with lower rates of cervical cancer.

• Age: The risk of having this cancer is very low among girls less than fifteen years old. The risk goes up between the late teens and mid-thirties, so unlike many other cancers that rarely affect young adults, cervical cancer can affect young women in their twenties and even in their teens. Although cervical cancer risk does not increase very much after 40, it doesn't get any lower either. Many older women do not realize that they have the highest risk of developing cervical cancer and that it is important for them to continue having Pap tests.

• Not getting regular Pap tests: Women should receive annual Pap tests. The Pap test can detect pre-cancerous cells (cervical dysplasia). Treatment can stop cervical dysplasia before it develops into an invasive cancer.

• Race and ethnicity: African-Americans, Hispanic/Latinas, Vietnamese and American Indians also have cervical cancer death rates that are above the national average.

• Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): HIV and chlamydia, which are passed from one person to another during sex, increases the risk for cervical cancer. Having unprotected sex and multiple partners increases the chance of getting an STI.

• Weakened Immune System: Infection with HIV or taking drugs that lower the immune system defenses can increase the risk for cervical cancer.

• Smoking: Women who smoke are about twice as likely as non-smokers to get cervical cancer. Researchers believe tobacco smoke causes damage to the cells of the cervix.

• Diet: Diets low in fruits and vegetables may be linked to an increased risk of developing cervical and other cancers.

• Obesity: Women who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for cervical cancer.

• Birth control pill use: Long-term use of birth control pills increases the risk of cervical cancer.

• Having many pregnancies: Women with an HPV infection who have had many full-term pregnancies (5 or more) may have a slightly increased risk of cervical cancer.

• Family history: Women whose mother or sister had cervical cancer are at increased risk of developing the disease. It is not clear why, but some researchers believe this is due to an inherited condition which makes some women less able to fight off HPV; others believe women in the same family are more likely to share other non-genetic risk factors.

• Low socioeconomic status: Many women of low socio-economic status do not have adequate access to screening, like Pap tests, and are therefore at a higher risk for developing cervical cancer.

• DES (diethylstilbestrol): DES was given to some pregnant women in the United States between 1940 and 1971. The daughters of women who took this drug during their pregnancy may have an increased risk of a rare form of cervical cancer.

For more information on the BreasTEST & MORE program and eligibility criteria, contact health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties.

Give Kids a Boost is a statewide partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the Georgia State Patrol and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to educate parents on Georgia's car seat and booster seat law. A new state law went into effect in July 2011 that requires children under age eight to be properly secured in an approved car seat or booster seat.

The new law brings Georgia in line with the age recommendations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Georgia is already one of 47 states that require booster seats or other appropriate devices for children who have outgrown their car seats but are still too small to use an adult seat belt safely.

Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3 to 14 years old. Children are protected when parents correctly install a car seat that is appropriate for a child's height, weight and age.

Funding support for 80 percent of this project is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Injury Response, Core II and the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety.

For more information, call 912-754-6850.

"The only thing that will change at our health departments is the hours of operation," said Camden County Nurse Manager, Debbie Melton, R.N. "It is still our mission to provide quality public health services to all of the citizens in Camden County."

Camden County Health Departments are conveniently located in St. Marys and Woodbine. The St. Marys clinic is located at 905 Dilworth Street (Phone: 912-882-8515) and the Woodbine clinic is located at 1501 Georgia Avenue (Phone: 912-576-3040).

The Camden County Health Department offers a wide range of services including immunizations for children and adults, family planning, STD testing, health checks, and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

You Can Quit
Quitting smoking can be challenging and may require multiple attempts. But you can quit, and it's important to keep trying. Don't give up! You learn something new every time you try. Almost 50 million smokers have successfully quit. In fact, since 2002, the number of former U.S. smokers has exceeded the number of current smokers.

Improve Your Health
Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and chemical compounds, many of which are toxic or carcinogenic (i.e., cause cancer). Smoking is one cause of dangerous plaque buildup inside your arteries. Plaque is made of cholesterol and scar tissue. It clogs and narrows your arteries. This can trigger chest pain, weakness, heart attack, or stroke. Plaque can rupture and cause clots that block arteries. Completely blocked arteries can cause sudden death.
Fortunately, people who stop smoking can greatly reduce their risk for disease and premature death. And the younger you are when you quit, the better your chance for avoiding these problems. So don't wait!

Quitting smoking:
• lowers the risk for lung and other types of cancer.
• reduces the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
• reduces respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
• reduces the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
• reduces the risk for infertility among women during their reproductive years. Women who stop smoking during pregnancy also reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby.
If you quit smoking, you will also help protect your children, family, and friends from exposure to secondhand smoke that can cause immediate harm to the nonsmokers who breathe it.

Harm to Others Exposed to Tobacco Smoke
When others are exposed to secondhand smoke from cigarettes, platelets in their blood get sticky and may form clots, just like in a person who smokes. This exposure increases their risk for heart attack and death. Secondhand smoke can also cause lung cancer.

Harm to Children
If babies and children are exposed to secondhand smoke from cigarettes, they may suffer from bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections. Exposure may make them wheeze and cough more often. If they have asthma, breathing in secondhand smoke from cigarettes can trigger an attack that may be severe enough to send them to the hospital. Secondhand smoke also causes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

There is no safe amount of secondhand exposure. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be dangerous. Quitting smoking will improve your health and protect others from exposure to secondhand smoke.

How to Quit
You can get ready by setting a quit date in the next few days and by changing your environment (e.g., get rid of ALL cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work and don't let people smoke in your presence). Also, think about your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not. And once you quit, don't smoke--NOT EVEN A PUFF!
Get support and encouragement. Studies have shown that you have a better chance of being successful if you have help. You can get support in many ways. For example, tell your family, friends, and coworkers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them.

Talk to your health care provider (e.g., doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, psychologist, or smoking cessation coach or counselor). Get individual, group, or telephone counseling. Counseling doubles your chances of success. The more help you have, the better your chances are of quitting. Counseling can help you identify and overcome situations that trigger the urge to smoke. Free programs are available at local hospitals and health centers.
Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task. When you first try to quit, change your routine. Use a different route to work. Eat breakfast in a different place. Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise, or read a book. Plan something enjoyable to do every day. Drink a lot of water and other fluids.
Talk to your doctor about medication. Medications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to smoke.

• * Over-the-counter "nicotine replacement therapies," or NRTs, can help. These are medications that contain nicotine to help reduce your cravings and withdrawal symptoms so you can focus on changing the behavior and habits that trigger your urge to smoke. NRTs available without a doctor's prescription include nicotine lozenges, nicotine gum, and nicotine patches.
• You can also get a prescription from your doctor for NRTS such as nicotine inhalers and nasal sprays that act much like the over-the-counter NRTs.
• Other prescription medications like bupropion SR and varenicline tartrate do not contain nicotine and work in different ways to help reduce your urge to smoke. These medications are FDA-approved and proven to be effective in helping smokers to quit. Talk to your doctor or health care provider.

Quit counseling can be combined with over-the-counter or prescription medications, too. Counseling and medication are effective when used by themselves for treating tobacco dependence. However, the combination of counseling and medication is more effective than either alone.

Regardless of how you decide to quit, whether you use medicines, counseling, or simply stopping smoking now, the most important thing is to try and stick to it.

Support to Quit
Call the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line at 1-877-270-STOP (7867) for support, advice, help with a personal quit plan, and * nicotine replacement therapy for those who qualify. Regardless of insurance status, the Georgia Tobacco Quit Line provides free and confidential, professional counseling tailored to tobacco users ages 13 and older including pregnant Georgia women.

Also, anyone interested in free smoking cessation classes in Bryan, Chatham, Camden, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long or McIntosh Counties, should call 912-644-5209 or e-mail cpgibson@dhr.state.ga.us.

Information for this article provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Tdap vaccine protects against Tetanus (commonly known as Lockjaw) which causes painful muscle spasms and can lead to tightening of the jaw muscles so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow; Diphtheria which causes a thick covering in the back of the throat and
can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death; and Pertussis (commonly known as Whooping Cough) which causes severe coughing spells, vomiting, and disturbed sleep and can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures and passing out from violent coughing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an increase in the number of cases of pertussis, particularly among preteens and teens and babies younger than 6 months of age, since the 1980s. In 2010, there were 27,550 reported cases of pertussis nationally and several states reported an increase in cases. Because infants cannot be vaccinated against pertussis, it's important for those who are in close contact with children under the age of 12 months to get vaccinated.

Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins will be accepted. For more information, please call the McIntosh County Health Department at 912-832-5473.

The Tdap vaccine protects against Tetanus (commonly known as Lockjaw) which causes painful muscle spasms and can lead to tightening of the jaw muscles so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow; Diphtheria which causes a thick covering in the back of the throat and
can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death; and Pertussis (commonly known as Whooping Cough) which causes severe coughing spells, vomiting, and disturbed sleep and can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures and passing out from violent coughing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an increase in the number of cases of pertussis, particularly among preteens and teens and babies younger than 6 months of age, since the 1980s. In 2010, there were 27,550 reported cases of pertussis nationally and several states reported an increase in cases. Because infants cannot be vaccinated against pertussis, it's important for those who are in close contact with children under the age of 12 months to get vaccinated.

Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins will be accepted. For more information, please call the Liberty County Health Department at 912-876-2173.

The Tdap vaccine protects against Tetanus (commonly known as Lockjaw) which causes painful muscle spasms and can lead to tightening of the jaw muscles so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow; Diphtheria which causes a thick covering in the back of the throat and
can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death; and Pertussis (commonly known as Whooping Cough) which causes severe coughing spells, vomiting, and disturbed sleep and can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures and passing out from violent coughing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been an increase in the number of cases of pertussis, particularly among preteens and teens and babies younger than 6 months of age, since the 1980s. In 2010, there were 27,550 reported cases of pertussis nationally and several states reported an increase in cases. Because infants cannot be vaccinated against pertussis, it's important for those who are in close contact with children under the age of 12 months to get vaccinated.

For more information, please call the Effingham County Health Department at 912-754-6484.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following tips to help you stay safe and healthy this holiday season.

Wash your hands often.
Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don't have tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

Stay warm.
Cold temperatures can cause serious health problems, especially in infants and older adults. Stay dry, and dress warmly in several layers of loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing.

Manage stress.
The holidays don't need to take a toll on your health. Keep a check on over-commitment and over-spending. Balance work, home, and play. Get support from family and friends. Keep a relaxed and positive outlook. Make sure to get proper sleep.

Travel safely.
Whether you're traveling across town or around the world, help ensure your trip is safe. Don't drink and drive, and don't let someone else drink and drive. Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle. Always buckle your child in the car using a child safety seat, booster seat, or seat belt according to his/her height, weight, and age.

Be smoke-free.
Avoid smoking and breathing other people's smoke. If you smoke, quit today! Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or talk to your health care provider for help.

Get check-ups and vaccinations.
Exams and screenings can help find potential problems before they start. They can also help find problems early, when the chances for treatment and cure are better. Vaccinations help prevent diseases and save lives. Schedule a visit with your health care provider for a yearly exam. Ask what vaccinations and tests you should get based on your age, lifestyle, travel plans, medical history, and family health history.

Watch the kids.
Children are at high risk for injuries that can lead to death or disability. Keep a watchful eye on your kids when they're eating and playing. Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items, choking hazards (like coins and hard candy), and other objects out of kids' reach. Learn how to provide early treatment for children who are choking. Make sure toys are used properly. Develop and reinforce rules about acceptable and safe behaviors, including electronic media.

Prevent injuries.
Injuries can occur anywhere and some often occur around the holidays. Use step stools instead of furniture when hanging decorations. Leave the fireworks to the professionals. Wear a bicycle helmet to help prevent head injuries. Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboarding to help prevent head injuries. Keep vaccinations up-to-date.
Most residential fires occur during the winter months. Keep candles away from children, pets, walkways, trees, and curtains. Never leave fireplaces, stoves, or candles unattended. Don't use generators, grills, or other gasoline- or charcoal-burning devices inside your home or garage. Install a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Test them once a month, and replace batteries twice a year.

Handle and prepare food safely.
As you prepare holiday meals, keep you and your family safe from food-related illness. Wash hands and surfaces often. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs (including their juices) away from ready-to-eat foods and eating surfaces. Cook foods to the proper temperature. Refrigerate promptly. Do not leave perishable foods out for more than two hours.

Eat healthy, and be active.
With balance and moderation, you can enjoy the holidays the healthy way. Choose fresh fruit as a festive and sweet substitute for candy. Select just one or two of your favorites from the host of tempting foods. Find fun ways to stay active, such as dancing to your favorite holiday music. Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day.

The new $8.5 million, 40,000 square foot building will house a variety of public health programs including child health, family planning, the Women, Infant, and Children's program, vital records, and a laboratory. In addition, the Environmental Health Division, currently located on Mall Boulevard, will also be located in the new health department. Health department officials will pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification in an effort to ensure that the building is as energy efficient as possible.

Several city and county officials were on hand for the ceremony. Participants included Chatham County Commission Chairman, Pete Liakakis; Savannah Mayor and outgoing Board of Health member, Otis Johnson; outgoing Chatham County Board of Health Chair, Dr. Roslyn Taylor; incoming Chatham County Board of Health Chair and Chatham County Commissioner, Harris Odell, Jr.; and Ms. Libby Fay, daughter of the late Dr. Martha B. Fay, a lifelong public health advocate for whom the health department was renamed in 2008. Remarks on behalf of the Fay family were made at the ceremony by Ms. Libby Fay.

"The citizens of Chatham County deserve a health department that will meet the growing demand for public health services," said W. Douglas Skelton, M.D., Health Director of the Coastal Health District. "The new building will help facilitate better patient flow and provide our community with a complete range of services all under one roof."

"People of every race, class and environment are equally susceptible to flu infection," said Steven Mitchell, immunization director for the Georgia Department of Public Health. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that everyone 6 months and older receive a flu shot and failure to get vaccinated accounts for countless needless infections each year."

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, communication lapses between patients and doctors are partly to blame. A recent survey by the CDC concluded that one in five adults believes vaccines are optional for healthy adults.

Operating under this impression, a significant portion of the population will fail to arm itself against the flu this coming season, putting everyone at higher risk for continued infection and transmission of the disease. CDC survey results show only 40.5 percent of Georgians were vaccinated in 2010-2011. In this category, Georgia ranks 41 out of the 50 states. Each year, on average more than 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from the flu or flu-related illness.

"An influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent flu and potentially serious complications," said Coastal Health District Immunization Coordinator, Beth Hausauer, R.N. "Parents who take their children to get the flu vaccine can rest a little easier knowing they are helping to protect their family against a potentially serious illness."

National Influenza Vaccination Week emphasizes the importance of flu vaccinations and presents an ideal time to improve Georgia's rankings. Flu season starts as early as August but can extend as late as May. The CDC recommends that everyone get to a doctor's office, pharmacy or health department and invest in good health through vaccination this winter.

The Georgia Department of Public Health encourages all Georgians to protect their friends, family and themselves from vaccine-preventable diseases by getting vaccinated. For more information on immunization, visit http://health.state.ga.us/programs/immunization.