Winneshiek County Public Health encourages every family to be prepared for any type of public health threat.
What is a public health threat? It can be anything from a tornado or snowstorm to extreme heat or cold to an outbreak of shigella or meningitis or an influenza pandemic.
How can you prepare? Just before a snowstorm do find yourself at the grocery store stocking up on just about anything? Some of that cannot be avoided but, there are things you...
Manual can opener
Paper plates
Plastic utensils
Flashlights
Batteries
Emergency radio
Candles
Matches
Garbage bags
Toilet paper
Kleenex
Portable heater
Scissors
Non-electric clock or watch
Bleach
Mop and bucket
Paper
Pens
Waterproof marker
Vehicles full of fuel
Photocopies of important documents (birth certificates, driver’s license, etc)
Everyone can get it. Unlike poison ivy, you don't need to be sensitized by a prior exposure. Wild parsnip causes a non-allergic dermatitis that can occur with the right combination of plant juice and sunlight exposure afterwards. The burn and blister will develop in 24 to 48 hours.
You can touch and brush against the plant -- carefully -- without harm. Parsnip is only dangerous when the juice gets on skin from broken leaves or stems. Fair-skinned people...
Winneshiek County Public Health is pleased to announce the newest addition to our skilled nursing services with the in home telemonitoring systems. Our agency has been placing the monitors in some of our client’s homes since September of 2006. The HomMed monitor system is hospital grade quality, it consists of a small compact monitor, a blood pressure cuff, a finger probe and a scale. If the client has difficulty with balance, the monitor can be used witho...
What is pertussis (whooping cough)?
Pertussis is a disease caused by a bacteria. It causes severe spells of coughing. These spells can interfere with eating, drinking and breathing. Pertussis can lead to pneumonia, convulsions, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and sometimes death.
Who can get pertussis?
Pertussis can occur at any age. It is most common in infants less than one year old, but anyone can get it. Pertussis can be hard to diagnose in...
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recalled more than 3 million toys because some of the paint used on the toys contained excessive levels of lead in the paint. Parents, child care providers, and others who want more information about these toys should go to the following web page: www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/default.htm . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put together this web page, which lists recalls of lead-contaminated pr...
Winneshiek County Public Health reminds you to stay safe when cleaning up flood waters. The recent heavy rains, and more anticipated have resulted in some area basements filling with water.
Do not drive or walk into the flood waters. You cannot be sure of the depth or if the road or bridge is truly present. The water moves fast and it only takes a small amount of water to move a vehicle. Children and adults should not swim in floodwaters no matter how g...
Tips on what to do with food during and following power outages from Iowa State Extension Service:
When the power goes out
Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as is possible
Refrigerator will keep foods cold for 4 hours or so/ freezer will hold for around 48 hours if full 24 for half full.
If prolonged then procure dry ice. 50 lbs/18 cu ft.
Do not put food out on the snow – sun may cause warming
Once power is restored
Check ...
