RECENT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Breast Cancer Awareness Day will be held on Wednesday, October 21 at the Murray County Health Department from 8 AM to 4 PM! Free breast exams will be offered with no appointment necessary and breast cancer prevention education will be available to everyone. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Chatsworth Mayor Dan Penland signed a proclamation declaring it to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month for the city of Chatsworth. So, find out more about how you can prevent breast cancer for yourself or for someone you love at Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the Murray County Health Department on Old Dalton-Ellijay Road in Chatsworth. Call (706) 695-4585 for details. For more information about Breast Cancer Awareness and the prevention of other types of cancer, log onto www.cdc.gov/cancer.
September is National Preparedness Month
Whitfield Community Disaster Awareness Day Event is October 3!
DALTON, Georgia – September is National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Whitfield County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will culminate the month with Community Disaster Awareness Day at Home Depot at 875 Shugart Road in Dalton from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, October 3.Community Disaster Awareness Day is being held in conjunction with Home Depot’s Safety Day and Whitfield’s PrepareAthon! campaign.
The public is invited to attend this fun, family event and learn how to prepare for and protect against disasters. Call (706) 259-3730 for more information.
The theme for National Preparedness Month (NPM) 2015 is Don’t Wait. Communicate. MakeYour Emergency Plan Today.
Residents are urged to take action now – make a plan with your community, your family, and for your pets. Plan how to stay safe and communicate during the disasters that can affect your community. Everyone is asked to participate in America’s PrepareAthon! and the national day of action, National PrepareAthon! Day, September 30, the final day of National Preparedness Month.
The Whitfield County EMA and LEPC encourage everyone to take time to prepare for a disaster before it happens. Floods, wildfire, hurricanes, power outages . . . these are just a few disaster-related events that residents need to prepare for AHEAD of time.
Go to ready.ga.gov for information regarding preparedness and learn how you can prepare yourself, your family and your community for disaster!
North Georgia – Residents can once again roll in, roll up a sleeve and arm against four strains of flu at Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics opening soon throughout North Georgia.Always fast, safe, and convenient, public health departments in Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties have conducted the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics annually since 2008. These clinics are designed to serve people quickly and efficiently as they remain in their vehicles.
Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics in each of these counties will offer the four-in-one quadrivalent flu vaccine plus the Fluzone High Dose vaccine for people who are sixty-five and older.
Marie Smith, immunization and child health coordinator for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health, said, “Quadrivalent flu vaccine is designed to protect against four different strains of flu, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses.”
The Fluzone High-Dose influenza vaccine has four times the amount of antigen (the part of the vaccine that prompts the body to make antibodies) contained in regular flu vaccine to provide extra protection for people 65 and older whose immune systems have become weaker with age.
The cost of the quadrivalent flu shot at the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics will be $25 and the Fluzone High-Dose flu shot will cost $50. Cash, Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield Health Insurance will be accepted, as well as some other forms of payment and insurance, depending on the county.
The Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics also provide public health staff and community partners with the opportunity to test their plans for rapidly administering medication during a public health crisis such as a widespread disease outbreak. Participating community partners include local law enforcement, volunteers, businesses and first responders such as the county Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Medical Services and Fire Department.
The Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics are scheduled in each county, as follows:
Cherokee: Wednesday, October 14th, 7:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., Woodstock Health Center: 7545 North Main Street, Woodstock, GA. Call (770) 928-0133 or (770) 345-7371 for more details.
Fannin: Thursday, October 1st, 9 A.M. – 5 P.M., The Farmers Market: East First Street, Blue Ridge, GA. Call (706) 632-3023 for more details.
*Gilmer: Thursday, October 15th, 8 A.M. – 4 P.M., Pleasant Grove Baptist Church: 115 Pleasant Grove Road, Ellijay, GA. Call (706) 635-4363 for more details.
Murray: Tuesday, October 13th, 8 A.M. – 6 P.M., Murray County Parks and Recreation Department: 651 Hyden Tyler Road, Chatsworth, GA. Call (706) 695-4585 for more details.
Pickens: Tuesday, September 22nd, 8 A.M. – 4 P.M., Mt. Zion Baptist Church: 1036 North Main Street, Jasper, GA. Call (706) 253-2821 for more details.
Whitfield: Tuesday, October 6th, 8 A.M. – 5:30 P.M., Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center: 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, GA. Call (706) 226-2621 for more details.
*Please note the new location for Gilmer County’s Drive-By Flu Shot Clinic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each season.
The most convenient way to get that vaccination in North Georgia will be at the nearest county health department’s Drive-by Flu Shot Clinic.
For additional details about the Drive-by Flu Shot Clinics, call the local county health department (phone numbers can be found by clicking on the LOCATIONS tab above) or continue to visit us here at www.nghd.org for updates. To learn more about influenza and flu protection, log onto the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/flu/.
Fun for Everyone. . . Register TODAY!
Canton (GA) – The Express Your SuperPower 5K is on Saturday, September 19 and will be a fun, family event that starts and finishes in the brand new Etowah River Park at 600 Brown Industrial Parkway in Canton. The goal of the Express Your SuperPower 5K is to raise awareness of breastfeeding and the health of babies and children throughout Georgia and the surrounding areas.Participants are urged to come early. Registration is at 7 a.m. and activities are planned for people of all ages.
Both a walking and running event, the Express Your SuperPower 5K begins at 8 a.m., followed by a 1 Mile Fun Run at 9 a.m. and a Tot Trot at 9:30 a.m. The Awards Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m.
Bubbles and face painting will be part of the fun; plus, participants who express their superpower by dressing up like their favorite superheroes will be eligible to win prizes for best costumes.
“The North Georgia Health District and the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition are presenting this first-of-its-kind 5K in Georgia as an extension of our celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, observed annually August 1 – 7,” said Carol Hendrix, WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator for the North Georgia Health District. “Proceeds from the Express Your SuperPower 5K will go to the Northwest Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition and the Georgia Breastfeeding Coalition.”Breastfeeding is a vitally important public health issue that affects all Georgians.
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report card shows that breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive health measures for infants and mothers. According to the CDC, support for breastfeeding is needed in many different arenas including hospitals and birth centers, worksites, and communities. However, the CDC report shows that Georgia still lags behind the national average on infant breastfeeding rates.
The CDC states, “The success rate among mothers who want to breastfeed can be greatly improved through active support from their families, friends, communities, clinicians, health care leaders, employers, and policymakers. Given the importance of breastfeeding for the health and well-being of mothers and children, it is critical that we take action across the country to support breastfeeding.”
For more details about the Express Your SuperPower 5K and to register online, log onto nwgabfcoalition.com/express-your-superpower-5k or search for it at www.active.com.
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Express Your SuperPower 5K schedule of events and details at a glance:
- Packet pick-up will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 17th at the Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Pkwy., Canton.
- Race day registration will begin at 7 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 at Etowah River Park, followed by these events:
- 5K - 8:00 a.m.
- 1 Mile Fun Run - 9:00 a.m.
- Tot Trot - 9:30 a.m.
- Awards - 10:00 a.m.
- Course starts and finishes in the Etowah River Park, with only one small hill (4% grade) and a water station is at the top.
- Early arrival is urged. Late arrivals will not be allowed to run the race.
- Parking will be in Etowah River Park. Carpooling is recommended. Overflow parking will be in the nearby Industrial Park.
- All runners must sign a liability waiver to race.
- Wearing technical clothing (non-cotton) is best while running.
- Registration information and other event details are at nwgabfcoalition.com/express-your-superpower-5k or search for Express Your SuperPower 5K at www.active.com.
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Blue Ridge (GA) – When is a child's car safety seat not safe? It is never safe when it is improperly used, according to Debra Thomas of the Fannin County Health Department.
She is ensuring car safety seats for children are installed and used correctly.
Thomas has been trained as a certified child safety seat technician through the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant, funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.1
Since 2007, at least 283 children in Georgia who were involved in crashes were saved from serious injury or death by car seats, booster seats, and education provided through the Mini-Grant.
“Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children and it’s up to all of us to do everything we can to protect our children on the road,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. “Buckling up our children is the best way to save lives and reduce injuries.”
Thomas has been working with community partners such as the Fannin County Fire Department to educate parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use child car safety seats, offer child car seat inspections and provide car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families. Through the Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant, the Fannin County Health Department is one of more than 135 counties working with community partners to keep Georgia’s children safely buckled up right, every trip, every time.
Thomas said, “When correctly installed and used, child car safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71 percent in infants and 54 percent in toddlers, according to CDC’s Injury and Prevention and Control division.”2
As part of her job, Thomas provides child car safety seat checks at the health department as well as at partner-sponsored safety events in Fannin County and surrounding areas.“Most people think they use their child car seats correctly,” said Thomas. “But actual car seat inspections show that 80 to 90 percent are installed or used incorrectly.”
She said reasons for this confusion range from unclear car seat instructions and vehicle owner manuals to the fact there is such a wide variety of car seat designs, automobile seat belt systems and vehicle seat shapes and sizes.
VACCINATION MAINTENANCE IS IMPORTANT FOR US ALL
North Georgia – August is a busy month: planning the last family vacation, back-to-school shopping, registering for classes, moving off to college and looking forward to family reunions and the holiday season. Recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) reminds Georgians to stay up-to-date and get a head start on vaccinations required for school.“August is a great time of year to engage the community regarding vaccinations”, said Sheila Lovett, director of the Georgia Department of Public Health Immunization Office. “There is a lot of publicity about preparing kids for school. It’s the perfect reminder to make vaccinations a priority for both adults and students.”
In fact, county health departments throughout the North Georgia Health District have conducted back-to-school health clinics offering screenings and vaccinations to prepare children for school, and health departments in Cherokee (refer to clinic announcements under our NEWS tab), Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield Counties continue to provide these services during normal business hours.
However, as important as it is for children to remain current on their vaccinations, adults should also maintain a vaccination schedule.
Every adult in Georgia (19 years and older) should follow the recommended immunization schedule by age and medical condition. Vaccinations protect you and they protect others around you; especially infants and those individuals who are unable to be immunized or who have weakened immune systems. It is always a good idea to have the adult vaccine schedule nearby as a reference and to make sure you are current on your own immunizations. Link here to the recommended adult immunization schedule.
Students born on or after January 1, 2002 and entering the seventh-grade need proof of an adolescent pertussis (whooping cough) booster and adolescent meningococcal vaccinations. Every child in a Georgia school system (kindergarten – 12th grade), attending a child care facility, or a student of any age entering a Georgia school for the first time is required by law to have a Georgia Immunization Certificate, Form 3231. Below are the immunizations required for child care and school attendance:
- Diptheria
- Tetanus
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Measles
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (or, PCV13 – up to age 5 years)
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Hepatitis A and B
- Hib disease (up to age 5 years)
- Varicella
- Meningococcal Conjugate
Ellijay (GA) – A fox that has now tested positive for rabies attempted to attack two hikers in Gilmer County on Sunday, July 19.
Gilmer County Environmental Health officials reported that a man and woman were walking along a road in the Eagle Mountain section of Coosawattee River Resort when a fox started coming towards them in a menacing manner. The man kicked the fox twice in the head and it landed in a ditch. The stunned fox got up and was approaching them again when a local woman saw what was happening and drove over the fox with her car.County environmental health was notified of the incident on Monday, July 20, and they prepared the specimen for shipment to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. The lab confirmed on Tuesday, July 21 that the fox had tested positive for rabies.
It appeared the man who kicked the fox incurred no scratches or bites in the incident; however, as a precaution, environmental health officials have encouraged him to seek medical advice from his physician to determine his level of exposure.
Ray King, director of environmental health for North Georgia Health District 1-2 of the Georgia Department of Public Health, said, “Rabies exists in wildlife populations, so, naturally, rabid animals periodically come into contact with humans.”
King advises the public to be cautious when encountering either wild or domestic animals that are exhibiting unusual behavior and report them to animal control or their county environmental health office.
It is critical to also report any attacks or bites by a stray or wild animal.
Waleska (GA) – A Waleska couple was recently attacked by a fox that has now tested positive for rabies.
Cherokee County Environmental Health officials said the fox attacked the couple on Sunday, July 12 as they were in the yard of their home located off Chickasaw Drive in the Lake Arrowhead area. The woman was scratched on her leg and the man was bitten.
The fox was shot and animal control collected the body, which was picked up by environmental health staff on the following Monday and shipped to the Georgia Public Health Laboratory for testing.
The laboratory reported on Wednesday, July 15 that the fox was positive for rabies.
Meanwhile, following health officials’ recommendations, the couple has begun post-exposure rabies treatment.
Ellijay (GA) – Gilmer County Environmental Health officials have reported that five local residents were either exposed or potentially exposed to rabies in separate incidents on July 4th.
According to Andrea Martin, manager of Gilmer County Environmental Health, the first exposure took place mid-morning of the 4th as a couple in the Mountain Creek Hollow subdivision in Talking Rock, Georgia was attacked by a raccoon. The wife was bitten and scratched by the raccoon on her leg, and then as the husband fought off the animal, he was also scratched.The couple immediately went to Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper to receive treatment while two of their neighbors searched for the raccoon in the subdivision.
Soon, the neighbors spotted the raccoon as it ran out of the garage of a nearby home after having attacked the homeowner, who then kicked the animal with his leg. One of the neighbors shot and killed the raccoon and turned it over to Martin on Monday.
“The Department of Natural Resources called to report the incident early Monday morning,” Martin said. “I immediately went to pick up the raccoon to prepare it for shipment to the state public health lab for rabies testing.”
Later on Monday, another incident was reported to Martin that had also happened on July 4th and involved a bat in the Coosawattee River Resort community.
Martin stated, “A resident was on his front porch early that evening when he spotted the bat in a recessed lighting fixture. He first tried to shoo the bat away with a broom, but when it didn’t budge, his adult son, who was visiting the home that day, turned on the light and the bat flew out and around to the back of the house.”
Later that night, the wife who lives in the home went through doors leading to the back porch from a guest room that remains closed to the rest of the house. When entering back inside the room, she saw a dead bat on the floor.
“It is believed this was the same bat that had earlier flown from the front porch to the back of the house and had died while clinging to the doors leading to the back porch from that guestroom,” said Martin. “Then, when the wife opened the doors, it fell inside without her noticing it until she walked back into the room. The husband, using very protective precautions, picked up the dead bat and brought it to me on Monday.”
One-Stop-Spot for Schools' State Health Requirements
School will be back in session before you know it! Is your child ready? The Whitfield County Health Department will conduct two Back-to-School Health Clinics to help get them ready. Join us at the health departmen
t from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on either Tuesday, July 28th or Tuesday, August 4th.
t from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on either Tuesday, July 28th or Tuesday, August 4th.At the Whitfield County Health Department Back-to-School Health Clinics, the required Hearing, Dental, Vision and BMI/Nutrition Screenings will be available: Total cost for screenings is forty dollars. Also, immunizations will be provided for school-age children (there is a charge for vaccines). Acceptable methods of payment are Medicaid, Blue Cross/Blue Shield (immunizations only), Peachcare, WellCare, Amerigroup, PeachState, Cigna and Aetna Insurance.
The Whitfield County Health Department is located at 800 Professional Boulevard in Dalton. For more information, call (706) 226-2621.
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The North Georgia Health District is part of the Georgia Department of Public Health. This District is comprised of six counties including Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield. Many programs and services exist throughout the district, all of which are designed to meet the needs of the people of North Georgia.
Our Vision
Our vision for the North Georgia Health District is healthy people, families and communities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote and protect the health of the people in the North Georgia Health District wherever they live, work and play, through population-based preventive programs including:
Prevention of epidemics and the spread of disease
Protection against environmental hazards
Injury prevention
Promotion and encouragement of healthy behaviors
Responding to disasters and assisting communities to recover
Assisting communities in assessing the quality and accessibility of health services.
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2025
by North Georgia Health District. All rights reserved.