Hurricane season is right around the corner and although we may not get the same destructive winds and damage to property seen at the coast, the Piedmont area has experienced its share of high winds and flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms. Creating a plan and knowing what resources are available are your best bet for staying safe. Fortunately, we have the information you need to get ready.
Continue ReadingTag: Public Health
When you think of the County, your first thought is probably 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. But some of our departments are working some unusual hours.
We’ll go ahead and get this out of the way: You can use our website any time you want. That’s our number one, super-secret (OK, not at all secret) tip. But there are other County services and staff at work during unusual hours — some even in the middle of the night. This list isn’t all-inclusive (that would get boring fast!), but we’ll walk you through a few that might matter most to you.
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!
Continue ReadingFootball is back this week, and we’re ready to celebrate (go Panthers!) While the pandemic may limit your usual tailgating plans, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy football season while staying safe. Keep these tips in mind:
Continue ReadingIf you’re like me, a beautiful Labor Day weekend conjures up memories of summer block parties, crowded pools, and afternoons at packed breweries. But this year is– well, different. COVID-19 requires that we consider not just the weather, what guests to invite, and what we’ll include on the barbecue menu. We also have to think about what risks our holiday activities have. Our health and the health of our loved ones depend on it.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate! In fact, we should. We’ve made it through six months of this global pandemic and our trends are starting to improve. That’s good news. But none of us want our Labor Day fun to be the reason a friend or family member get sick. That just means we need to find ways to have fun safely. To that end, you might be running a little low on ideas. I know I am! So here’s a little inspiration.
Continue ReadingIf you think you have COVID-19, first of all, don’t panic. There are a lot of experienced medical professionals in our area who can help you. We’ll take you through what you should do, step by step.
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