Health News
Health notes from the Oklahoma State Department of Health and other sources.
Oklahoma State Department of Health website
DEQ Recommends Caution on Lakes, Rivers and Streams
Don’t Let One Disaster Follow Another
New Tdap Vaccine Requirement for 7th Graders Begins This Fall
Check with Your Doctor Before Using Medications During Pregnancy
DEQ Recommends Caution on Lakes, Rivers and Streams
As the Labor Day holiday approaches, many Oklahomans may be planning a trip to one of the state’s lakes, rivers, or streams to enjoy swimming, boating, canoeing and other water activities. While the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) encourages Oklahomans to visit the state’s many natural water bodies, the agency reminds residents to be cautious.
Certain bacteria, viruses and protozoa can be present in untreated bodies of water. Some of these microorganisms occur naturally while others are carried into surface waters from a variety of sources. Some of these microorganisms are harmful and can cause mild problems such as ear infection, swimmers itch, gastrointestinal upset, or relatively rare but serious conditions such as eye infections and some forms of meningitis.
Swimmers should pay close attention to water conditions. Also, it is important to pay attention to posted signs and follow the recommendations. There has been an increase in blue green algae blooms this summer at multiple lakes. The most common symptoms of blue green algae exposure include upper respiratory problems, eye irritation, vomiting, and gastrointestinal upset.DEQ recommends the following precautions when swimming in any body of untreated water to reduce exposure to waterborne microorganisms:
- Hold nose or wear nose plugs when jumping into the water
- Wash open skin cuts and scrapes with clean soap and water immediately after swimming
- Avoid swallowing water when swimming
- Wear ear plugs to prevent ear infections
- Wear swim goggles or masks to prevent eye infections
- Avoid swimming near storm drains (pipes that drain polluted water from streets)
- Take children to the restroom frequently/Use swim diapers on infants
- Stay away from any area that has floating debris, stagnant water, oil sheens or dead fish
For more information, please visit www.deq.state.ok.us
Don’t Let One Disaster Follow Another – State Health Department Urges Simple Steps to Assure Safety After Tornadoes Strike
The old saying “one disaster after another” shouldn’t apply in Oklahoma if everyone will follow a few simple steps in cleaning up after the recent tornadoes.
“Oklahomans should take safety precautions before they begin cleaning up after the storm,” said Scott Sproat, chief of the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Service. “Be sure that you have a current tetanus shot and that you wear boots or substantial shoes and heavy gloves to protect hands and feet from injury while picking through debris. You should also understand how to use a generator properly, and if you use a chain saw, you should wear appropriate protection and follow basic safety rules. There is no need for this to be worse than it already is because of accidental injury.”
Anyone in need of a tetanus shot should contact their local county health department or their personal physician. In some areas hit hard by yesterday’s storms, mobile health department trailers have been dispatched to provide tetanus shots and basic first aid. Tetanus shots are recommended for anyone who hasn’t had a tetanus booster within the last ten years.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is also a concern as residents without power use generators near homes. Never use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.
Generators should be a sufficient distance from a home and anyone feeling dizzy around a generator should immediately get outside to fresh air. In addition, never connect the generator directly to the home’s electrical system due to the potential of backfeed electricity harming crews trying to restore power.
If you must use a chain saw, follow the instructions to be safe. Wear a hard hat, safety glasses, ear plugs, thick work gloves, chaps, and boots. Always hold the saw at waist level or below, and make sure that others remain far away. Take extra care in cutting “spring poles” – trees or branches that are bent, twisted, hung up on, or caught under another object during a high wind.
For more storm recovery information, visit the Coping After The Storm section of the Oklahoma State Department of Health website at www.health.ok.gov .
New Tdap Vaccine Requirement for 7th Graders Begins This Fall
A new immunization requirement will be in effect this fall to help fight the spread of whooping cough in Oklahoma schools and communities. All students entering seventh grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and acelluar pertussis vaccine) before the start of the 2011-2012 school year.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) believes that the new requirement will help Oklahoma avoid outbreaks of the disease that other parts of the country are experiencing. Thousands of cases of whooping cough have been noted in California and Texas.
“While Oklahoma has been fortunate thus far in avoiding an outbreak of whooping cough, we did see an increase in the number of cases reported in the state last year,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline. “One hundred seventy cases were reported in 2010 compared to 100 cases in 2009. We are hopeful that this new vaccine requirement will help assure our students, families and communities are protected against this dangerous disease.”
“Pertussis is a potentially deadly infection that can strike persons of any age, but is particularly dangerous for babies,” said Don Blose, chief, OSDH Immunization Service. “Most persons infected with pertussis experience severe coughing fits that may last over a period of months.”
The sound of pertussis is like no other, often marked by a “whoop” made when gasping for breath. Vomiting after coughing fits may also be an indicator of pertussis.
Tdap vaccine is a combination vaccine that provides a booster dose of pertussis (whooping cough) along with the tetanus and diphtheria booster (Td). Tdap vaccine is routinely recommended for all children at 11-12 years of age.
OSDH officials urge parents of sixth graders to seek vaccination for their children now, rather than waiting for the July and August back-to-school rush. Children of this age should also receive meningitis and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines, although these vaccines are not currently required for school entry.
There is no grace period allowed for students to comply with this requirement with the exception of military children transferring from another state. Military children may be allowed up to 30 days from the date of enrollment to obtain state required immunizations. All other students must receive the vaccine and present an immunization record before entering the seventh grade.
Tdap vaccine is available from doctors, clinics, and county health departments statewide. For more information about the vaccine, contact your health care provider or the county health department in your area.
Check with Your Doctor Before Using Medications During Pregnancy
Women of childbearing age should talk with a doctor about which medications are safe to take while pregnant, according to public health officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is joining over 350 members of the National Birth Defects Prevention Network to share this message of caution with women of childbearing age. Medication use during pregnancy is common with two out of every three women taking prescription medications during pregnancy.
“Women of childbearing age should discuss any medications they are using, whether prescription or over-the-counter, with a doctor,” says Oklahoma Birth Defects Registry Coordinator Kay Pearson. “Though many women know that certain prescription medications can cause birth defects, they may not be aware that some dietary supplements and herbal remedies may also harm a developing baby.”
Not all medications should be discontinued during pregnancy; some may need to be changed or adjusted. Medical conditions such as diabetes, influenza, and asthma need to be managed during pregnancy and may harm both mother and baby if left untreated. In some cases, doctors may need to weigh the benefits of a medication against the potentially harmful effects.
A baby’s organs, such as the heart, brain, and spine, begin developing in the first few weeks, before a woman may realize she is pregnant. For that reason, it is important for women to have conversations with their health care providers about medications before pregnancy.
“Every woman should take a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid daily, starting before pregnancy, to improve the likelihood of delivering a healthy baby. Pregnant women should also eat a healthy diet, avoid alcohol, and get a flu shot,” said Pearson.
The National Birth Defects Prevention Network has members from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. The Network collects and distributes information about birth defects and their prevention, encourages research, and provides technical support to state and local birth defects monitoring programs.
To learn more about the Network, visit www.nbdpn.org . The Oklahoma Birth Defects Registry is a member of the Network and works to reduce the prevalence of birth defects through prevention education and monitoring trends. For additional information, contact Kay Pearson at (405) 271-6617 or kayp@health.ok.gov, or visit http://obdr.health.ok.gov .
To learn more about having healthy babies, view the “Preparing for a Lifetime, It’s Everyone’s Responsibility” public education campaign on the OSDH Web site at http://iio.health.ok.gov .
