Let’s talk about our ticker, the heart. It’s the unsung hero that keeps us going! Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States, according to the CDC. It’s truly the one thing we can’t live with out and you only get one. So take charge of your heart health with these four steps to make sure you can continue to do all the things you love!
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“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art,” Eleanor Roosevelt once said.
Mecklenburg County works to preserve that artwork—and their dignity—with services to help neighbors keep their mobility and independence. That includes the Mecklenburg Transportation System. It offers rides to the doctor, pharmacy, grocery store, hairdresser, library, part-time job, or maybe to a free, hot meal. All trips that make their lives easier.
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Eating healthy? Check!
Exercising (at a Park and Recreation greenway, recreation center or fitness center)? Check!
Getting plenty of rest? Check! (Sometimes.)
Up-to-date immunization?
If you and your family are making great strides at living your best and healthiest life, make sure your immunization records are part of your health checklist.
You might be thinking “I never get sick,” or “I just don’t have the time.” However, it’s important to remember that immunizations not only protect you, they also protect those you spend time with the most. And if you have children, North Carolina law requires that students show proof of certain required vaccines within the first 30 days of the school year.
Continue ReadingThere’s nothing like Sunday dinner with a table full of veggies fresh from the garden.
Growing up in western North Carolina, I recall frequent visits to my grandparents’ farm in the mountains. In addition to grazing cattle, haylofts for us to play in and endless acres to romp through, across the road and down by the creek was the garden.
Tended by my grandmother, every summer it yielded baskets of tomatoes, squash, corn, beans, onions, beets, potatoes, and much more. All wound up on the summertime table or in canning jars to last through the winter.
Continue ReadingLove should not hurt. It should not bring fear, pain or sadness. But too often in Mecklenburg County—and other communities—love turns into sorrow. And someone is left broken and trying to survive.
Mecklenburg County is home to a powerful number of domestic violence survivors. Now they’re sharing their experiences in an engaging art display—a series of stories published on mobile banners available for organizations to display in Mecklenburg County.
Continue ReadingWhen Mother Nature or other emergency strikes, Mecklenburg County is ready. We’re standing by to deploy an army of leaders, staff and volunteers to keep you safe.
That readiness applies to more than bad weather. We’re prepared for any event or crisis that threatens our community. That could range from snow, hurricane or tornado, a train or airline crash, a chemical spill or nuclear hazard, and yes, a pandemic.
Continue ReadingWritten by Betsy Abraham, Community Support Services
Escaping a domestic violence relationship is never easy. But, it’s even harder when you can’t communicate with police officers or have to rely on your abuser to translate for you. This is the challenge many Deaf, Deafblind, and hard-of-hearing people face.
There aren’t many studies on domestic violence in the Deaf, Deafblind, and heard-of-hearing community. But one report shows they were 1.5 times more likely to be victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault, psychological abuse, and physical abuse. The Justice for Deaf Victims National Coalition says over 60% of Deaf individuals have experienced, or will experience, abuse by a partner in their lifetime. That’s a pretty astounding percentage.
So how does this abuse look different than in the hearing community? How can we help? Let’s dive in.
Continue ReadingThe eyes of the world are on police interactions with communities across the United States. So what’s Mecklenburg County doing about it? Since 2008, the County has been a part of the Crisis Intervention Team program, or CIT. The program better prepares officers to respond to people in crisis with a serious mental illness.
Continue ReadingPublic Health professionals have been in the spotlight for their work around the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve heard all about the testing sites, call centers, and vaccination clinics. They’re also the ones on the other end of the phone (or screen) answering your questions about the virus – how can I protect myself? What should I do if I think I have COVID-19? Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe? (Yes, it’s safe and effective! Learn more here.) They are real life HEROS, and our community owes them all a huge THANK YOU!
The reality is, Public Health professionals track epidemics every day, and while the job isn’t always as glamorous as Hollywood would suggest (have you seen Contagion!?), it is an essential public health service. It’s one of 10 essential services, in fact.
Continue ReadingPhone, wallet, keys, mask. The Centers for Disease Control recommends a mask anytime we are in public, at a gathering, or around other people. We know it’s one of the best ways for us to protect our health and our families. But, it’s also one of the best ways for us to support our community and the local economy!
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