May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays appears to play a significant role in the development of skin cancer. The two most common types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas) are highly curable. However, melanoma, the third most common skin cancer, is more dangerous, especially among young people.

The CDC offers these tips for protecting the skin you're in:

• Seek shade, especially during midday hours (10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.), when UV rays are strongest and do the most damage.

• Cover up with clothing to protect exposed skin.

• Get a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, head, ears, and neck.

• Grab shades that wrap around and block as close to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays as possible.

• Rub on sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.

For more information, visit the CDC website.

Courses are also scheduled in Chatham County for June 12, August 14 and October 16.

Motor vehicle accidents are the #1 killer of teens, and over 200 teen drivers and passengers in Georgia are killed each year. This free, two-hour course is designed to help parents and new drivers, ages 14-16, learn what they need to do during the 40 hours of supervised practice driving time required by Joshua’s Law. This is a program that addresses driver attitude, knowledge and behavior, rather than a technical hands-on driver-training course.

Click here for more information or to register for any of the courses.

Did you know?
• Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school or get married, and are more likely to end up on welfare.
• Children of teen mothers are at a higher risk of being born at low birth weight, having problems in school, ending up in foster care, and either becoming incarcerated or becoming teen mothers themselves.
• The poverty rate for children born to teen mothers who have never married and have not graduated from high school is 78 percent.

But these statistics aren't often on the minds of teenagers as they make critical decisions about sexual activity. That's why parents and other responsible adults need to have open and honest conversations with children and teens about sex - answering questions and helping them understand the consequences of their actions so they're better able to make responsible choices.

Talking to kids about sex isn't easy for many of us, but there are resources to help you start the conversation. Check out www.talkingwithteens.com, the website of the PATHS Coalition. PATHS stands for Promoting Awareness of Teen Health and Sexuality, and is a collaboration of coastal Georgia agencies focused on teen pregnancy prevention.

On that website, you can view a DVD with straight talk from teens, parents and experts about sex. You can also check out some of the materials and photographs from our "Choose Responsibly" campaign, aimed at helping teens make healthy choices about sex.

But whatever you do, don't remain silent. If you're a teen, talk to your parents or a responsible adult about your questions or thoughts about sex. If you're a parent, talk to your kids openly and honestly about sex and healthy relationships. It may be the most important conversation you ever have.

Every week in Chatham County, twelve teen girls find out they’re pregnant. For a teenager it can be devastating news with equally devastating repercussions. Teen mothers are less likely to complete high school or get married, and more likely to end up on welfare. And the effects are felt throughout the community too. In 2004, teen childbearing cost taxpayers $10 million in Chatham County alone.

“Many teens just don’t consider the long-term consequences of the decisions they make today about sex and contraception,” said Karen Terry, Youth Development Coordinator for the Coastal Health District and a PATHS Coalition member. “We’re hoping this campaign will help them make better, more responsible choices to protect their futures.”

The billboards feature photographs of area teens holding up signs with phrases like, “Dance class or Lamaze class?” and “Real Date or Play Date?” The posters carry statements such as, “What will you change first? Diapers or majors?”

The PATHS Coalition consulted with area teen groups to develop the theme for the campaign. “Who better to tell us how to present the message than teens themselves?” said Terry. PATHS then partnered with the students of Savannah College of Art and Design’s Agency 5 to develop the campaign materials, and used a grant from the United Way to help pay for the billboard space and printing costs. In addition, PATHS has added all the new campaign materials and resources to its website at www.talkingwithteens.com. The site also features a new “Ask the Expert” section to allow teens a safe and secure way to get answers to their questions about sex, pregnancy, contraception and STDs.

Wednesday, May 7th is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and teens are encouraged to take the “National Day Quiz,” developed by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. The online quiz challenges teens with different scenarios about sex, relationships & pregnancy and asks them to answer honestly, "What would you do?" Teens are invited to visit the Midtown Clinic of the Chatham County Health Department, the Bull Street Library, or the Long County Health Department on Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. to take the quiz.

Human infection of EEE is rare. Symptoms range from mild flu-like illness to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), coma and death. About 35% of people who develop EEE will die, and another 35% will have neurological deficits.

There have only been 4 human cases of EEE in Georgia since 2003. "The good news is that human cases of EEE don't happen often," says Robert Thornton, District Epidemiologist for the Coastal Health District. "But that doesn't mean we should let our guard down," Thornton adds.

As with any mosquito-borne illness, remembering the 5 "Ds" of prevention is your best defense.

1. Dusk - Mosquitoes carrying EEE usually bite at dusk and dawn.
2. Dawn - Avoid outdoor activity at dusk and dawn if possible. If you must be outside, be sure to protect yourself from bites.
3. Dress - Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants to reduce the amount of exposed skin.
4. DEET - Cover exposed skin with a repellent containing the chemical DEET, which is the most effective against mosquito bites.
5. Drain - Empty any containers holding standing water, because they can be excellent breeding grounds for virus-carrying mosquitoes.

Childhood vaccinations can wear off over time, leaving teens susceptible to serious diseases such as meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, and cervical cancer. That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourage 11 to 12 year olds to get three preteen vaccinations, which are MCV4, which protects against meningitis and its complications; Tdap, which is a booster against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis or "whooping cough," and for girls, HPV vaccine which protects against the types of human papillomavirus that most commonly cause cervical cancer.

The CDC developed a web page specifically highlighting preteen vaccines, and you can visit it at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/preteen/. There are easy-to-read educational materials available in English and Spanish.

More information about childhood, adolescent and adult immunizations is also available by visiting our immunization page.

Facts about Pertussis, Meningitis and HPV/Cervical Cancer from the CDC:
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is one of the most common respiratory diseases in American teens. It causes a prolonged cough that can last weeks or months and can result in pneumonia or hospitalization. Reported pertussis cases in the United States are on the rise - there were more than 25,000 cases in 2005.

Meningococcal infections can be very serious, and can lead to meningitis and even death. These infections are not very common - an estimated 1,400 to 2,800 cases occur in the United States annually. However, about 10 percent of teens who get meningitis die from it, and another 15 percent have long-term disability.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, with about 20 million people currently infected. Women have an 80 percent chance of getting HPV by the time they are 50. Every year in the U.S., about 6.2 million people get a new HPV infection. HPV is most common in young people who are in their late teens and early twenties. In 2007, about 11,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 3,600 women will die from the disease.

1) Teach Children Key Information. Teach your children their full name, address, phone number with area code, parents' names and work phone numbers. Practice reciting this information often as children may forget pertinent information over time. Also practice how to make an emergency call to you or 911 from a pay phone.

2) Teach Children Who is Safe. Children should be taught at an early age what type of "stranger" is okay to ask for help when they are lost or frightened. Good examples are: a mother with children, a counter clerk in a store or a uniformed police officer. Next time you visit a store, practice picking these types of people out with your children.

3) Know Where Your Child is Going. Children should always inform you before they go anywhere. This applies to older children as well since they are equally at risk of abduction. As you give your older children more freedom, reiterate safety rules with them. As a parent, ask the questions: who, what, when, where, why and take the time to follow up on their responses.

4) Teach Children about the Buddy System. Never let your children go anywhere alone. Remind them that there is safety in numbers and they should always use the buddy system. Stress the point that they should avoid situations that might isolate them from others or crowds.

5) Don't let Children be Lured in. Children should be taught not to go near cars or be lured by adults asking for directions, help finding something they lost, an offer of a pet or gift, or by telling them that their parents are in trouble and that they will take them to mom or dad. Make sure your child understands that they should always keep a safe distance from strangers and never get close. Repeat this message over and over.

6) Develop a Password System. Children can be very trusting of adults, especially adults whom they may be somewhat familiar with. It is critical that you and your children have a password system. Work out ahead of time an arranged password that any adult who tries to accompany them must have before they will go anywhere with them. Pick a password that is both easy for your child to remember and something that is not easy for a stranger to determine (don't make a password out of a name or address). Share the password only with your child, family members and trusted friends.

7) Reinforce Safety Skills. Parents should seize opportunities to reinforce safety skills. If an incident occurs in your community, speak frankly about it and use this time to discuss and re-emphasize the safety rules with them. Be sure to comfort them with the fact that there is always someone who can help them. Visit www.goodknight.org for Government Sponsored Abduction Prevention Materials (books, tapes, DVD videos, & programs). These materials are bilingual (Spanish/English). Some of the safety films were written, created, and directed entirely by children so that other children could learn how to protect themselves from dangerous situations by recognizing the behavior patterns of those who might try to harm them.

8) Know How to Report Your Missing Child. Time is a very critical factor in abduction cases. Seventy four percent of children who are abducted and murdered are killed within three hours of the abduction. When you cannot find your child, you should immediately call your local law enforcement and provide your child's name, date of birth, height, weight, and any distinctive marks such as eyeglasses, braces or scars. Request that your child's information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center's Missing Person File. After you have reported your child missing to local law enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

10) Take the Initiative to be Informed. As a parent, be informed by knowing where the child offenders live in your neighborhood and around your local schools. The National Alert Registry has a wealth of information on registered child offenders all in one place, including photos, addresses, degree of criminal offenses, and distinguishable markings. Visit the National Alert Registry at www.NationalAlertRegistry.com or go to the U.S. Department of Justice - Dru Sjodin National Sexual Offender Public Registry website at www.nsopr.gov to retrieve this information. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Sex-Offender Registry is also available online at www.ganet.org/gbi. Be forewarned and alert but do not break the law once you've obtained this information.

Safe Kids Savannah is a local coalition of organizations and concerned individuals with the common goal of preventing accidental childhood injuries and deaths. Safe Kids Savannah is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide’s network of over 600 coalitions, including Safe Kids Georgia.

ACCIDENTS ARE THE #1 KILLER OF CHILDREN.

Each year children are killed or permanently disables by injuries that could have been prevented. The accidental injury-related death rate among children 14 and under in the U.S. declined more than 43 percent from 1987 to 2004, in part due to efforts of coalitions like Safe Kids Savannah all across the United States. However, accidental injury continues to be the leading cause of death for children under age 14. Our efforts work to prevent accidental injuries.

In general, children are primarily at risk of accidental injury-related death from:
-Motor vehicle injuries (passenger/pedestrian/bicycle)
-Drowning
-Fires and burns
-Suffocation and choking
-Unintentional firearm injuries
-Falls
-Poisoning

What can Safe Kids do for you?
-Provide information, referrals and classes on injury prevention for children, parents, grandparents, teachers and students.
-Conduct workshops on a variety of child safety topics.
-Assist with safety fairs and community events.
-Distribute child safety seats, smoke alarms, bike helmets to families and children in need.
-Distribute materials and literature about accidental childhood injuries.
-Advocate for children’s safety.

What can you do for Safe Kids Savannah?
-Participate as a coalition committee member or project volunteer.
-Donate your time, expertise, and financial support.
-Learn to safeguard your children and those entrusted to your care from injuries and death.

Contact Safe Kids Savannah at 912-353-3148 or jbgarrison@dhr.state.ga.us for more information. We are located in the Office of Environmental Health, 420 Mall Blvd, Savannah, GA 31406.

The Chatham County Health Department is the proud leader of the Coalition. Safe Kids Savannah is working to make our community a safer place to be a child.

The delegates won’t be strangers to Coastal Health District Director Dr. W. Douglas Skelton. He visited these same officials in their home in China’s Sichuan province in September as part of a Chinese health education program. He taught classes on the US medical education and healthcare systems. “I enjoyed teaching in China,” says Skelton. “The Chinese health officials were very interested in hearing about the strengths and weaknesses of the US health system. It is an honor to have them visit Savannah and learn about some of the excellent health services available in our community."

Now, in the second part of this health education program, the delegates are touring our country. They’ll visit federal health offices in Washington, D.C., Grady Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta before arriving in Savannah. Their public health tour of Savannah will begin Monday, March 31st with a focus on environmental health issues. The group will have an opportunity to follow environmental health specialists as they inspect a restaurant, a hotel, a pool and a body art parlor. Later that day, the group will visit the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and learn about several environmental research projects underway, including a collaborative study of bacteria sources of the Vernon River basin. The delegates will end the day with a presentation on emergency preparedness, focusing on our plans for a hurricane evacuation.

Tuesday, Dr. Diane Weems of the Chatham County Health Department will take the delegates on a tour of Memorial University Medical Center, the J.C. Lewis Health Center, the Community Health Mission and the Curtis V. Cooper Primary HealthCare Center. Weems is chair of the Safety Net Planning Council, a collaboration of local organizations working to improve access to healthcare, and she’ll talk about barriers to healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured in our community. She’ll also discuss steps the Safety Net Planning Council has taken to help people get the healthcare they need.

This health education program is sponsored by the International Center for Democratic Governance of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia.

The Field Day will be Saturday, April 5th from 9 a.m. until noon at Selden Park off Highway 341 in Brunswick. Activities will include relay races, basketball and kickball games, soccer drills, dance lessons and more. There will also be free food, raffles and prizes. The event is also sponsored by Comcast and Subway.

For more information, or to sign up for basketball and kickball games, contact Karen Terry at 912.262.3018 or via email.

“No single food or meal makes or breaks a healthful diet,” says registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesperson Ruth Frechman. “Your overall pattern of eating is the most important focus. A wide variety of foods can fit within this pattern, if consumed in moderation, in appropriate portions and combined with regular physical activity.”

According to Ms. Frechman, it doesn’t matter if you eat after 8 p.m. The number of calories you ate that entire day, not the time you ate them is what's important. She stresses, however, that everyone should pay attention to the portions of food eaten and when a sweet, high calorie treat is included, enjoy it in moderation. Other things you can do are exercise a little longer the next day or save calories by not eating something else - like skipping your morning latte.

People often have a hard time figuring out the most healthy eating plan because there are so many nutrition myths and different "diets" available that one can follow. That's why it's extremely important to focus on information that is based on scientific research. A good rule of thumb is to follow the advice of organizations such as the American Dietetic Association rather than someone promoting a new book or food line that will make them money. Marketing does not necessarily serve as promotion for a scam, but until you/re sure of an organization's credibility, use your common sense and stick with facts supplied by credible agencies.

While we are told that everyone should eat 2 to 4 servings of fruit and 3 to 5 servings of vegetables every day, the number actually depends on the amount of total calories eaten each day. For example, five servings of fruit and vegetables a day is the minimal recommended number. It is really the minimum requirement for children ages 2 to 6, women, and some older adults (those who eat about 1,600 calories per day). Older children, teen girls, active women, and most men who eat about 2,200 calories per day should have 7 servings. Teen boys and active men who eat about 2,800 calories per day should have 9 servings of fruit or vegetables a day.

Fruits and vegetables are essential for good health and should be included in a daily diet. All forms of fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried, or canned) contain essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients. It is important to eat a “variety” of fruits and vegetables as different fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients. Most fruits and vegetables are low in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. A wide range of studies show that eating 5 or more servings of fruit or vegetables a day may reduce your risk of developing diseases like cancer, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Remember to include one fruit or vegetable high in vitamin A and one high in vitamin C each day. Both Vitamin A and C help to strengthen your immune system and are needed to keep your bones and teeth strong. Vitamin A helps to maintain healthy eyes and skin. Vitamin A aids in reducing your chance of developing “night blindness” as you age. Vitamin A promotes growth and health of cells and tissues throughout your body. Good sources of Vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes, broccoli, spinach, apricots, and watermelon.

Vitamin C helps to keep your gums healthy and helps wounds to heal properly. It also keeps capillaries healthy so you don’t bruise easily and helps in forming connective tissue that hold many structures of your body together. Contrary to popular opinion, Vitamin C is not a cure or prevention for the common cold, but extra Vitamin C may have a mild antihistamine effect that may help to shorten the duration of a cold and make the symptoms milder. Citrus fruits, orange juice, strawberries, broccoli, green pepper, potatoes, and tomatoes are good sources of Vitamin C.

Eating 5 or more servings of fruits or vegetables a day is easy and you don’t have to eat a lot to do it. A serving is:

·1 medium-size fruit
·¾ cup (6 ozs.) of 100% fruit or vegetable juice
·½ cup fresh, frozen, or canned fruit (in 100 percent juice) or vegetables
·1 cup of raw leafy vegetables
·½ cup cooked dry peas or beans
·¼ cup dried fruit

In addition to eating more fruits and vegetables, remember that you should eat more whole grains and choose more nonfat or low-fat milk or milk products—preferably three servings of each per day. A whole grain is the entire edible part of any grain such as wheat, oats, barley, rice and corn. Whole grains contain fiber and other beneficial nutrients.

Dairy foods are an excellent source of calcium, protein and other vitamins and minerals important for children’s growth and development. Calcium is important at all ages but, especially, for growing bones! Adults and kids need three servings of calcium-rich foods every day.

Want to learn more? Visit the nutrition website of the Centers for Disease Control for a wealth of information to help you lead a healthier, more nutritious life!

The Vital Events Information System, or VEIS, is a new method of entering birth data into a state database. The program was piloted at the Chatham County Health Department last year, and was so successful it is branching out to other counties in the state. Now most local county vital records offices can access birth records for residents of other counties.

In addition to giving residents easier access to their birth records from any Georgia county, the new technology is also speeding up the newborn birth record process. “Before, it took six to eight weeks for the state vital records office to provide counties with copies of birth certificates for us to issue to new parents,” says Myron Burke, administrator of the Chatham County vital records office. “But now, many records are available at the local office a few weeks after birth.”

For now, only birth records are available through the VEIS system. However, the state is working to add fetal death and death records to the system as well.

You can request a copy of a birth certificate from the Chatham County Health Department by mail, over the phone utilizing the Vitalchek system @ (877) 400-4439, or in person by coming to the vital records office at 1395 Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. Call the vital records office at (866) 667-3236 for more information or click here for detailed ordering instructions.

The top recipes using the most WIC foods will be cooked and tasted by Coastal Health District staff, and the winners will be announced April 18th. The first place winner will receive a basket full of kitchen items. The second place winner will receive a WIC goody bag.

AHYD programs and services provide a network of community-based support to help adolescents succeed as they move into adulthood by focusing on the "assets" of individual youth and their families. AHYD-sponsored programs reinforce positive attitudes, healthy behaviors and activities, and reduce risk-taking behaviors, such as violence, substance abuse, poor school performance and sexual activity. The program strives to provide all youth ages 10 – 19 with the skills to be healthy, safe, educated and employable.

What does the AHYD program do?

·Provides population based prevention and public education activities programs, aimed at promoting responsible, healthy lifestyle behaviors and abstinence.

·Uses community partnership and collaboration as the mechanisms for involving parents, youth and others in promoting positive youth development.

The conference is designed for physicians, nurses, lactation consultants, dieticians, certified nurse midwives, La Leche League Leaders, WIC employees and anyone who works with breastfeeding moms. Organizers have applied for continuing education credits for nurses, dietitians and lactation consultants.

If you register before March 14, the fee is $70. Add $10 for registrations received after March 14. Coastal Health District and Memorial Health employees receive a discounted registration rate of $45. Students also receive a discounted rate of $30 with valid ID (please include a copy of ID with registration form). Registration fee includes continental breakfast and lunch.

Click here to download a copy of the conference brochure and registration form. If you have any questions, please contact Monica Lightfoot at 912.262.3034 or 912-269-2909 or by email at melightfoot@dhr.state.ga.us.