Public Health News
Prevent Rabies
Help prevent rabies in our community by following these rabies prevention tips. And learn more from the New York State Department of Health health.ny.gov/.../rabies/fact_sheet.htm and the CDC cdc.gov/rabies/animals/
How to Remove a Tick
Grasp the mouthparts with tweezers as close as possible to the attachment (skin) site. Be careful not to squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids.
Pull firmly and steadily upward to remove the tick. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash hands.
See or call a doctor if there are concerns about incomplete tick removal. Do not attempt to remove ticks by using petroleum jelly, lit cigarettes or other home remedies because these may actually increase the chance of contracting a tick-borne disease.
World Rabies Day
Let us celebrate this milestone of uniting towards a common goal to #EndRabiesNow through #OneHealth4All. Each and every 1 of us has a part to play. Together, we can! #WRD2023 #WorldRabiesDay rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day
Social Media Tips
A young persons mental health can be negatively impacted by social media. Comparing themselves to others and cyberbully are examples.
Open discussion with children and use of social media in moderation can help.
Prepared not Scared
Be Prepared, Not Scared. September is National Preparedness Month. Follow these tips to make an emergency kit for any disaster.
Safe Crawls
Did you know children’s hands, toys and pets can pick up household dust and exterior soil that is contaminated with lead? Wet wipe surfaces and wet mop at least weekly and move play areas away from bare soil to reduce the risk of lead exposure.
epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-exposures-lead#soil
Free COVID Tests
It’s back to school season!
Did you know you can get FREE rapid at-home COVID tests? Each family is eligible to order 4 at-home tests for FREE. Visit covid.gov/tests or scan the QR code to order yours today!
Fulton County Public Health Rabies Clinic in November
Fulton County Public Health will be holding their next Rabies Clinic on Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 from 5:30-7:30 pm. The rabies vaccination clinic will take place at 2714 State Highway 29, Johnstown NY (at the County Services Complex behind the Public Health building).
Pets that can receive a rabies vaccination include: dogs, cats and ferrets. Dogs must be leashed to attend. Cats and ferrets must be in a carrier or box.
Appointments are by pre-registration ONLY! Registration begins October 11th, 2023. To pre-register call Fulton County Public Health at 518-736-5720.
This is the last of three rabies clinics Fulton County Public Health will be offering in 2023.
Backpack Safety
It’s back to school season!
Read through this list of backpack basics to make sure your kids and students are safe from backpack related injuries this school year.
Vocabulary at Home
Are you a parent or caregiver looking for ideas to build your child’s vocabulary at home?
Join other families in this on line event on Tuesday October 10 from 4:00-5:30. Learn how to turn everyday activities into extra supports for your child’s reading and vocabulary development.
Click the link to register: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=8t5gtbebb&oeidk=a07ejyuzw5h1eb32087
Special Education task Force Webinar
Special Education Task Force is presenting a webinar reviewing how to navigate Special Education system when the child is in Foster Care. Registration is required for the September 26, 2023 webinar, and it runs from 10am to noon.
International Awareness Month
September is International Awareness Month. Here is a short video to watch with your children to help them gain some self-awareness.
Indoor Cats and Rabies Vaccination
Talk to your veterinarian to make sure your cat’s rabies vaccination is up-to-date.
See www.fultoncountyny.gov/rabies to view the Fulton County Public Health Rabies Clinic schedule for 2023.
To learn more about why indoor cats need to be vaccinated for rabies, check out Q&A from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/.../ask-elizabeth-need-rabies.
To learn more about rabies visit NYS Department of Health https://www.health.ny.gov/.../rabies/ or the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/.
National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month. The life you live is worth protecting. Prepare for disasters to create a lasting legacy for you and your family. Follow these tips to create an Emergency Kit today.
ready.gov/september
Lead and Moms
Lead is toxic and harmful to developing babies and children. Lead can be passed through a pregnant woman’s placenta to the fetus, or through breast milk to a baby. Minimize the risk to you and your baby. Learn more from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
https://www.healthychildren.org/.../Blood-Lead-Levels-in-Pregnant-Breastfeeding-Moms.aspx.
Emergency Information
How you #StayInformed in an emergency isn’t carved in stone. Find several trusted sources of #emergency information & have multiple ways to receive alerts & warnings. Learn more at https://www.cdc.gov/prepyourhealth/planahead/stayinformed/index.htm #PrepYourHealth
To find Rehab Centers that provide alcohol, drug, and other substance abuse rehabilitation you can call 1-866-972-0589. To find a list of rehabs in each state, visit https://freerehabcenters.org/
A growing public health crisis is suicide. Freerehabcenters.org has put together resources for the prevention of suicide including crisis lines, veterans suicide resources, youth suicide resources, and other mental health and suicide prevention resources. Visit https://www.freerehabcenters.org/article/suicide-prevention-resources to learn more.
The Fulton County Public Health Department under the direction of the Fulton County Board of Supervisors and the New York State Department of Health, seeks to promote wellness, to protect from disease, to prevent injury/disability, to prepare for emerging illness/disease and to assist Fulton County residents in attaining and maintaining optimal health.
Each person and/or their family will be educated in accessing health care and will be empowered to be responsible for the decisions regarding their health care needs. Many services offered by FCPH are provided free of charge; others have eligibility criteria and sliding fee scales are available for the uninsured.
For immunization or car seat appointments call 518-736-5720 to schedule your visit.
If you are calling after hours, you will be directed to leave a message and your call will be returned the following business day. If it is an emergency you will be advised to hang up and call 911. If you need to speak to a Public Health On-Call Nurse, call 518-736-2100.
Pet immunization clinics are held periodically throughout the year. A copy of the current Rabies Clinic Vaccination flyer can be accessed here: https://www.fultoncountyny.gov/rabies. A nominal donation is requested. Rabies clinic dates are also advertised in local newspapers, on Facebook and posted in town halls. Clinic pre-registration is available by calling 518-736-5720 three weeks prior to each clinic.
Please visit the New York State Department of Health's website at www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/ or the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm. For specific questions, please contact our Lead Nurse here at Fulton County Public Health at 518-736-5720.
You or your child need to have some type of public assistance (WIC benefits, Medicaid, food stamps) or be below WIC income guidelines (200% of poverty). Additionally, you need to have a valid reason for needing a car seat. You can sign up for an appointment by calling our office at 518-736-5720 and asking to speak with our Child Passenger Safety Technician.
Fulton County Public Health can provide copies of immunizations that were obtained in their office. If your immunizations were not done at Fulton County Public Health, immunization records can be obtained from doctors' offices and schools (K-12 or college) attended.
Visit the NYS Department of Health at https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/weather/cooling/about.htm
Visit the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) site at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#cooling-assistance
Visit the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) site at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#regular-benefit
Visit the NYS Department of Health Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program site at https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/hpnap/