Free Car Seat Checkpoint

CEDAR CITY, UT-- Safe Kids Utah and the Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) are hosting a free car seat checkpoint for the public on Thursday, June 30th from 3-6pm at Boulevard Home Furnishings (990 S. Main) in Cedar City.

Participants can bring their vehicles to the checkpoint, where Child Passenger Safety Technicians will be available to make sure car seats and booster seats are installed properly.

According to Click-It Utah, three out of every four child passenger safety devices (car seats, booster seats, etc.) are installed incorrectly.  Child fatalities in vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death for younger children, and death is often prevented when a child is properly restrained.

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Intermountain Sunset Clinic Recognized by Utah Million Hearts Coalition

Saint George, UT—The Utah Million Hearts Coalition recently recognized Intermountain Healthcare’s Sunset Clinic for Excellence in Blood Pressure Control. With only 13 clinics recognized statewide, this exclusive achievement demonstrates the clinic’s expertise in heart health and its dedication to its patients.

"Intermountain Healthcare's Sunset Clinic’s award shows that we are on a path to better heart health across Utah,” says Kelly Robinson, Utah Million Hearts Coalition spokesperson. “More Utah providers are using evidence-based strategies to help patients keep blood pressure down—a strong sign that we’re making progress in preventing heart attacks and strokes.”

Nearly 1 in 3 American adults has hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. Only half have it under control, putting them at greater risk of developing heart disease or stroke—two of the leading causes of death in the U.S.

To achieve the award, Intermountain Healthcare's Sunset Clinic met the highest standards of blood pressure measurement and control through patient education, precise measurement, engaging patients with a treatment plan to improve medication adherence, utilizing electronic health records, and working as a team to ensure positive outcomes. The clinic's rate of hypertension patients having control of their blood pressure is 73%. 

The Southwest Utah Public Health Department is offering to provide free quality improvement training to local clinics that are interested, and they can also apply for next year's award. Contact Audrie Frehner at 435-986-2567 or email afrehner@swuhealth.org. 

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The Healthy Kane County Coalition is Here For You!

We are lucky to live in Kane County, Utah.  Small and friendly communities located in naturally beautiful settings are conducive to a healthy lifestyle.  For those of you who want to maximize your opportunities to get and stay healthy, the Healthy Kane County Coalition is a resource for you!

Chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes are affecting an increasing number of people.  Diabetes is the 7^th leading cause of death in the U.S. and the CDC estimates that 40% of Americans will develop type 2 diabetes at some point in their lifetime.  The good news is that you can choose to live a healthy (or healthier) lifestyle and reduce your chances of developing chronic diseases.  Physical activity, healthful eating habits, and good mental health are the basics and the Healthy Kane County Coalition can give you the information and inspiration you need to build the foundation for your own improved quality of life and well-being.

And there is more good news:  living a healthy lifestyle can be fun!  You can go on a new hike, play pickleball with family, or make easy and healthful meals with your children.  So make the commitment to yourself and your family to begin a healthy lifestyle.  The Healthy Kane County Coalition is here to help you reach that goal!

You can find the Healthy Kane County Coalition on Facebook (healthykanecounty) or on our website (HealthyKaneCountyCoalition.org).  Watch for updates on community events and information about physical activity and nutrition.

By Lori McGuire, RN, coalition member and nurse for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department

Low Cost Mobile Dental Clinic Returns to Kanab

KANAB, UT – The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD) is partnering with a mobile dental clinic for residents of all ages who are uninsured or have Medicaid. Adults with PCN will also be accepted. There is a $30 co-pay per person, which covers the exam, x-rays, cleaning, sealants, fillings, and extractions. The co-pay will be waived for Medicaid clients who are pregnant or under 18, or are adults on PCN. All exams will be scheduled for Monday, April 4th, with additional services scheduled later in the week.

Eligibility:

·         U.S. citizen and Utah resident

·         Uninsured (or on Medicaid or adults on PCN)

·         Household size and income limits

Openings are limited. To schedule an appointment and get more information, call 435-644-2537

Full-Scale Exercise to Test Pandemic Response, Volunteers Needed

ST. GEORGE, UT –  The Southwest Utah Public Health Department (SWUPHD), along with several partner agencies, will conduct a full scale emergency exercise on Thursday, March 17th throughout the southwest Utah region. The purpose of this drill will be to test local response to a "medical surge". This is a scenario in which a disease outbreak would overwhelm hospitals and back up plans would be activated to provide care in the community.

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to act as patients who will arrive at local hospitals in Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, and Garfield counties on March 17th between 8:00 am and noon. Some volunteers will also be asked to phone into emergency response agencies. Breakfast and training will be provided.  

Volunteers are also needed for an hour at 7:00 pm that night to show up as a client at a Point of Distribution (POD) site. PODs are set up to give out preventive medications for certain diseases.

"This is a great opportunity to see how our hospitals and emergency services would respond in a pandemic event," says Paulette Valentine, SWUPHD Emergency Preparedness & Response Director. "Although local agencies have practiced many time before and work well together, this will be the largest exercise we've ever done. We hope a lot of community members will join us as volunteers as well."

To register as a volunteer and get more information, visit swuhealth.org, where you will find a link to the Surge Pandemic Exercise on the front page.

KCYC Youth Return From DC, Take Message to Utah's Capitol Hill

KANAB, UT –  Representatives from the Kane Community Youth Coalition (KCYC) returned home from the Community of Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference in Washington, DC on Saturday, February 7th. As a follow up, they headed to the Utah State Capitol last week to educate policymakers on the effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes on local youth.

KCYC members joined over 350 youth from around the state as they met state legislators to discuss increasing drug-use rates among young people in southwest Utah. One topic of concern was the 300% increase in e-cigarettes use among teens over the past two years in some local communities.

The KCYC was excited to share what they had learned in Washington, DC and hopes that policymakers will use the information they presented to prioritize preventive legislation on the state level.

KCYC President Hailey Rogers spoke alongside Representative Kraig Powell at a press conference held at the Capitol Hill Rotunda on February 17th. She was joined by Kason Chavez, Katie Chamberlain, Raquel Clarkson, and Sarah Kelly, along with adult coordinators Lexie Little and Ashley Heaton.

You can follow the KCYC on Twitter @KCYCUt or on Facebook (Kane-Community-Youth-Coalition)

                                                    

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Left to right: Ashley Heaton, Katie Chamberlain, Kason Chavez, Representative Michael Noel, Raquel Clarkson, Sarah Kelly, Hailey Rogers and Lexie Little.

WCYC Youth Return From DC, Take Message to Utah's Capitol Hill

ST. GEORGE, UT –  Representatives from the Washington County Youth Coalition (WCYC) returned home from the Community of Anti-Drug Coalitions of America conference in Washington, DC on Saturday, February 7th. As a follow up, they headed to the Utah State Capitol this week to educate policymakers on the effects of tobacco and e-cigarettes on local youth.

WCYC members joined over 350 youth from around the state as they met state legislators to discuss increasing drug-use rates among young people in southwest Utah. One topic of concern was the 300% increase in e-cigarettes use among teens over the past two years in some local communities.

The WCYC was excited to share what they had learned in Washington, DC and hopes that policymakers will use the information they presented to prioritize preventive legislation on the state level.

WCYC President Abigail Dickie spoke alongside Representative Kraig Powell at a press conference held at the Capitol Hill Rotunda on February 17th. She was joined by Natalie Grisier, Megan Band, Maddie Gates, Katie Powell, Gracie Haslem, Ashley Bang, Brianna Bloxham, Hannah Curtis, Madison Baxter, Brenda Brown, Emma Dickson, Dallen Moody, Darby Wagner, Tristan Craig, August Wood, Taylor Armstrong, Matt Jensen, Caleb Larson, Danny Porras, and Nolan Porras. Adult Coordinators Kaysha Price with the Southwest Utah Public Health Department and Teresa Willie of Southwest Behavioral Health Center accompanied the youth.    

“The Washington County Youth Coalition has become a driving force for policy change, with regard to tobacco and underage alcohol use," says Teresa Willie, WCYC Coordinator. "For the past several years, the coalition has met annually with local and federal legislators to advocate for policies that promote substance abuse prevention. We are so proud of the passion, knowledge and commitment of these young people, to create a safer environment for their peers, both now and for the future."

You can follow the WCYC on Twitter @_WCYC_ or on Facebook (Washington County Youth Coalition).

                                                            
WCYC youth pose with mascots for the Utah Tobacco Free Alliance at the Utah State Capitol

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