Local Coalition Members Return From Washington, D.C.

KANAB, UT - Adult and Youth members of the Kane Community Youth Coalition attended the Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) conference last week in Washington, D.C. Members in attendance were Ashley Heaton, Lexie Little, Elizabeth Davis, Staci Wright, Chloe Crosby, Kosha Riedhead, Shaelynn Heaton, and Whitney Cornell.  The conference theme this year was engineering healthy communities. Attendees learned vital skills in preventing substance abuse in their communities.

“CADCA is a wonderful national conference that provides local coalitions with the tools necessary to make an impactful difference it their communities,” said Lexie Little, Community Outreach Specialist for Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD). “I was lucky enough to present with my supervisor, Kye Nordfelt, on the work we have accomplished in Southern Utah with banning or limiting the number of tobacco specialty shops and decreasing youth access to these addicting products.”

Coalition members were able to meet with Senator Hatch and Congressmen Stewart to discuss the substance abuse issues we are seeing in our area and to educate the legislators on the long term effect of these drugs.

“Attending this conference is a wonderful opportunity and we were so lucky to be able to bring so many members this year,” said Ashley Heaton, SWUPHD Prevention Specialist. “We look forward to implementing these strategies in our community.”

Community Preparedness Summit on February 27-28

The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) is sponsoring the Rural Preparedness Summit on February 27th and 28th, at Dixie State University's Gardner Center. 

While attendees will include first responders, emergency managers, medical personnel, volunteers, and community leaders, anyone interested in learning more about emergency and disaster plans for southwest Utah is invited. 

"Our theme for the summit is 'We Can't Do It Alone'", says Paulette Valentine, SWUPHD Emergency Preparedness and Response Division Director. "This event is open to anyone who wants to find out more about how we will work together to respond to a local emergency. That includes people who might play a role in an organization's response, or just individuals with an interest in emergency preparedness on a community level."

Topics will include disaster response from medical, mental health, public safety, and volunteer perspectives; cooperation between coalitions and agencies, psychological first-aid, mass fatality plans, and local communication plans. 

Registration is $25 for residents of Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, or Garfield counties, and $130 for attendees from outside the region. Register online by going to swuhealth.org and clicking the Rural Preparedness Summit screen. Registration deadline is February 15th. For more information, call Steve Rossberg at 435-986-2589.

Co-sponsors of the Summit include Dixie State University, Dixie Regional Medical Center, Southwest Utah Healthcare Preparedness Coalition, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), and Citizen Corps. 

Local Youths in Washington, D.C.

ST. GEORGE, UT – Youth representatives from the Washington County Youth Coalition (WCYC), Kane Community Youth Coalition (KCYC), and the Panguitch Prevention Coalition (PPC) are in Washington, D.C. this week for the 27th Annual National Leadership Forum for CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America). They are joining over 2,500 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from around the country for leadership training and education. 

“We are so excited to be able to spend several days with other youth, learning and honing our prevention skills,” says Jared Martinez, WCYC member from Snow Canyon High School. “We want our community to be a better place, one that doesn’t suffer from the harmful effects of drug and alcohol abuse.”

Youth attending include: Jared Martinez, Nolan Porras, Baylee Calvert, Hannah Curtis, Taibree Coleman, and Abby Ott for WCYC; Chloe Crosby, Kosha Reidhead, Whitney Cornell and Shaelynn Heaton for KCYC; and Lexi Oldham, Kathleen Sullivan, Jessica Roundy, Aubree Hughes, Joe Vasquez and Tyler Roundy for PPC.

The coalitions have recently impacted their communities by working with cities to adopt no smoking ordinances, providing tobacco cessation materials and resources to homeless shelters, and providing e-cigarette education.

During the CADCA forum, they will be trained on a wide range of topics, including prescription drug abuse prevention, synthetic drugs and marijuana abuse, creating tobacco-free environments, and developing policies to reduce underage and excessive drinking. 

The coalition will hear from several federal leaders from the Office of National Drug Control Policy. WCYC will also meet with U.S. congressmen and senators at the CADCA Forum’s Capitol Hill Day event on Wednesday, Feb. 8th to discuss local concerns.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s largest training conference for community prevention leaders (forum.cadca.org).  More information about the WCYC and KCYC can be found on their Facebook pages at washcoyouth and kanecoyouth.

Local Students Place in Radon Poster Contest

ST. GEORGE, UT –  The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced the five Utah student winners for the 2017 National Radon Poster Contest. Among the winners was Sofia Hancock, a seventh-grader from Fossil Ridge Intermediate School in St. George.  She will receive $100, along with $100 for her school, and will have the opportunity to meet Governor Herbert in January for Radon Awareness Month.

There were over 500 entries from around the state; illustrating the dangers of radon, where it comes from, how it gets into our homes, and how residents can test their homes for this invisible, radioactive gas.

Sofia had already taken first place in the Southwest Utah Region for her poster entry. Amy Reveal took 2^ndplace (also receiving an Honorable Mention at the state level), and Gabrielle Lewis took 3^rd.  All Regional winners this year attend Fossil Ridge Intermediate.

To get more information about radon test kits and mitigation, and to view all winning posters from the contest, visit www.radon.utah.gov.

“Bike with Pike” event to unveil new trail signage

ST. GEORGE, UT- St. George residents are invited to join Mayor Jon Pike for a “Bike with Pike” celebration on Monday, October 24^th at Confluence Park. This event will feature music, free hot dogs, a bike rodeo, and a tour of the Mayor’s Loop led by Mayor Pike. Trail system users will also be introduced to newly-installed wayfinding signs which show mileage - and walking and biking times - to local areas of interest. 

“The new wayfinding signs will be a much needed addition to both the trail system and the network of bike lanes being installed throughout the city over the next several years,” says Mayor Pike.

The signage project and Bike with Pike event were made possible by the combined efforts of the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance (SUBA), the St. George City Active Transportation Committee, and the Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD), which provided a grant to purchase the signs. A total of 300 signs will eventually be installed throughout the trail system, with an additional 100 signs on city streets.

“Our goal is to see more residents in our area get physically active,” adds Kye Nordfelt, SWUPHD Health Promotion Director. “The city of St. George City has been promoting active transportation, and improving trail signage will make biking or walking to destinations more inviting. Studies show that these signs encourage residents to walk or pedal for work, shopping, or recreation instead of driving.” 

BIKE WITH PIKE DETAILS: 

• When: Monday, October 24 (5:30 - 7:30pm)
• What: Food, music, bike ride with Mayor Pike, bike rodeo
• Where: Confluence Park trailhead (parking lot just south of the Dixie Convention Center)
• What to bring: Ride your bike or just come and enjoy the event (bring lights in case the ride lasts through dusk)
• Who’s invited: Families, individuals, bikers, walkers, media

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Housing Complexes Going Smoke Free

ST.GEORGE, UT- While living in a smoke free home is something most of us take for granted, people living in multiple-unit housing may not always have a choice. Secondhand smoke can seep into neighboring apartments through windows and ventilation systems. Fortunately, many housing complexes - like Riverside Apartments in St. George - have been making the switch to become smoke free with updated smoking policies.

 “Smoking is now allowed only in a designated area instead of just outside the door,” says Ingrid, manager of Riverside Apartments. “People have been very cooperative, we haven’t had a problem.” She reports that one smoking tenant has even thanked her for the new policy because it has helped him decrease his smoking.

There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure, which can cause heart disease, cancer, and many other health problems. Children are especially vulnerable, and while most Utah children live in smoke free homes, over 14,000 still live in an environment where they breathe secondhand smoke.  

Many housing complexes throughout the community are introducing policies to protect all their residents from smoke hazards. The Southwest Utah Public Health Department is offering free information to help managers implement tobacco free policies for their properties. For more information, contact Audrie Frehner at 435-986-2567 or afrehner@swuhealth.org.

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Flu "Shoot-Outs" Planned for Southwest Utah

ST. GEORGE, UT – The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) will be holding its annual Flu Shoot-Outs starting this month. These events will prepare residents for flu (influenza) season and allow the SWUPHD and community partners to practice disease outbreak response plans.

It is currently recommended that everyone over six months of age get immunized against the flu; although young children, pregnant women, people over 65 years of age, and anyone with chronic health problems are especially encouraged to do so. Flu activity varies each year, often starting in the fall and peaking in late winter. Getting vaccinated is an important defense against this serious disease.

"Shoot-Outs" offer a quick convenient, and inexpensive way to get vaccinated against this serious disease. Each flu shot is $20 (cash, check, or credit card) or no charge with some insurances* (proof required).

Flu Shoot-Outs:

Iron County: Saturday, Sept. 24 @ Cedar City Hospital Health Fair                     

          9:00 am - 1:00 pm, all ages

Washington County: Tuesday, Sept. 27 @ Red Cliffs Mall

          8:00 am - 1:00 pm: Drive-thru for adults 18 and over (mall parking lot)

          12:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Walk-in for all ages (mall Center Court)

          (Flu shots also available at Dixie Regional Medical Center's Health Fair, Sept. 24th, 8am-1pm)

Beaver County: Wednesday, September 28 @ EMS Shed (1090 N. Main, Beaver)

          11:00 am - 4:00 pm, all ages

                       Tuesday, October 4 @ Minersville City Hall

          2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, all ages

Kane County: Saturday, Oct. 8 @ Kanab High School (County Health Fair)

          (FREE vaccine for all Kane County residents)

          9:00 am - 1:00 pm, all ages

Garfield County: Thursday, Oct. 20 @ Fire Station (45 S. Main, Panguitch)

          11:00 am - 3:00 pm, all ages

You can save time by printing the consent form found at www.swuhealth.org/flu. Fill it out and bring it to the Shoot-Out. Don't forget to wear a short-sleeved shirt!

* Insurances accepted: Altius, DMBA, Adult Medicaid, Medicare (depending on HMO plan), PEHP, SelectHealth, Tall Tree, and United Healthcare.

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