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Press Releases February 10, 2012
ServSafe Class to be Held in February The Environmental Health Division of the Dare County Department of Public Health will conduct its next ServSafe class on February 29- March 1, 2012 at the Outer Banks Welcome Center on Roanoke Island. The class will be held from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days. The course educates food service workers in the county’s restaurants about safe food-handling. Instructors provide information on topics including keeping food at safe temperatures, knowing what those temperatures are, proper hand-washing and personal hygiene and more. The overall goal is to provide attendees with the ability to pass on their knowledge to fellow employees creating a safer food handling environment, thus better protecting the public against potential food-borne illnesses. To encourage owners and managers to attend an approved course, the State of North Carolina allows two points to be added to a restaurants final inspection grade if a person responsible for the restaurant successfully completes the ServSafe course and passes a final exam. In order to enroll in the class, the $100.00 enrollment fee (per individual) must be paid in advance to the Dare County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division. Payment can be made at the Kill Devil Hills Office at 2601 N. Croatan Highway, at the Frisco Office Building on Hwy 12, or by credit card by calling the Environmental Health Division at (252) 475-5080. The fee covers the cost of the course books and test forms which must be ordered by the Health Department from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. There are only 25 spaces available, so interested persons are encouraged to register early to ensure a seat. The class is limited to two individuals per establishment. Lunch and refreshments will be on your own. Enrollees are strongly encouraged to review the ServSafe materials before class begins to maximize learning and chances of doing well on the final exam. For more information please contact the Dare County Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Division at 252-475-5080. February 3, 2012 Norovirus Infections Spreading Widely Across North Carolina: State Public Health Officials urge precautions to prevent possible exposure [more] January 23, 2012
DCDPH Awarded funding to
Continue TRU Initiative The Dare County Department of Public Health (DCDPH) was recently awarded a grant that will build upon the DCDPH’s work in tobacco prevention for the residents of Dare County. This grant was awarded by the Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch of North Carolina Division of Public Health and is part of the Tobacco Reality Unfiltered (TRU) Sustainability project. With this funding, the DCDPH will make the opportunity to quit smoking more convenient by providing tobacco users with cessation opportunities in their community, worksites or on school campus. The DCDPH will implement a public education awareness campaign to educate the community on the health benefits of quitting, the dangers of secondhand smoke and the benefits of a tobacco free Dare County. The TRU Initiative has already proven its success by advocating for over 100 restaurants to go smoke free. The Merchant Education component of the program has assisted in bringing our non-compliance rate of tobacco sales from 42% in 2004 to 21% in 2011. The TRU program is active in Dare County high schools, with tobacco prevention and education activities being taught by peers in the middle schools. Since The TRU campaign launch in 2003, North Carolina has 53,000 fewer teen cigarette smokers. For more information on the TRU Initiative, please contact the Dare County Department of Public Health’s Health Education Specialist, Lisa Phillips at (252) 475-5077. January 18, 2012
Dutton Receives Recognition
from NCPHA Debbie Dutton, School Health Program Supervisor for the Dare County Department of Public Health (DCDPH), was recently awarded the Citation of Merit from the North Carolina Public Health Association (NCPHA). The Citation of Merit is conferred upon individual members of NCPHA who, by long years of noteworthy service have made significant contribution within the recent past, have advanced public health in North Carolina. Dutton began working for the DCDPH as a school nurse in 1991. From the beginning she demonstrated strong leadership qualities, and a deep compassion for and commitment to the children of our community. In 1997 she was promoted to lead school nurse, responsible for coordinating and overseeing the day to day operations of the school nurse program in 9 schools throughout Dare County. In her role as lead school nurse, she serves as a champion for programs that improve the health of our children. Dutton has been instrumental in bringing a case management program for children with chronic diseases to Dare County. This program works with the children, families, and health care provider(s) to develop a plan of care to help keep children at their optimum level of health. This in turn leads to children playing a more active role in school activities and ultimately higher academic standards. She has also worked with DCDPH and Dare County Schools staff to provide in-school influenza vaccine clinics at each elementary school for the past three years. In addition to serving as lead school nurse, she also manages the school based dental van program to assure dental care for children who would not otherwise be able to receive dental care. Dutton maintains her school nurse national certification and has recently celebrated her 20 year anniversary with the Dare County Department of Public Health. “Debbie is a true public health leader that understands the link between good health and strong academics. Debbie’s compassionate nature makes her not only a care provider for her students, but a listening ear and mentor. Her contributions have enhanced public health services for the entire community. It is employees like Debbie who make our organization successful,” comments Health Director, Anne Thomas. For more information on the school health program, please contact Dare County Department of Public Health at (252) 475-5003.
January 9, 2012
An Important
Message for Women in Childbearing Years Many women of childbearing years are unaware of an important vitamin that should be introduced into their daily vitamin intake or eating habits. Folic acid can prevent major birth defects. Some experts say it plays a role in heart health and preventing cell changes that can cause cancer. A deficiency in folic acid can cause certain types of anemia (low red blood cell count) and can cause birth defects in unborn children. Folic Acid is a B-complex vitamin needed by the body to manufacture red blood cells. The Dare County Department of Public Health (DCDPH) recommends taking a multivitamin with folic acid every day. Taking folic acid supplements before the first few weeks of pregnancy greatly reduces the chances of birth defects like spina bifida or other spinal cord problems. For women in their childbearing years, it is particularly important to have the recommended amount of folic acid daily. Taking folic acid can reduce the risk of the most common spinal birth defects by up to 70 percent. Many believe they do not need to take multivitamins because they eat healthy foods. B complex vitamins may be destroyed in cooking. Multivitamins help fill in nutrition gaps in the diet, especially when it comes to getting enough folic acid. Folic acid is found in multivitamins and fortified foods like breakfast cereal, pasta and bread. There are two easy ways to consume enough folic acid each day: 1.Take a vitamin that has folic acid. Check the label to be sure it contains 100% of the daily value (DV) of folic acid, which is 400 micrograms (mcg). 2. Eat a bowl of breakfast cereal that has 100% of the daily value of folic acid. Check the label on the side of the box and look for one that has “100%” next to folic acid. The DCDPH has programs in place to promote the use of folic acid and help women reduce the risk of birth defects. Folic Acid supplements can be provided for enrolled, uninsured or underinsured women through the prenatal program. The WIC Program also provides nutrition education and information, and promotes healthy nutrition for eligible pregnant women through vouchers to buy healthy foods with folic acid. For more information on folic acid or prenatal care, please contact the Dare County Department of Public Health’s Maternal Health Nurse, Laurie White at (252) 475-5001. |
