Regarding this morning's PES fire:
Air Management Services was on-scene immediately and took air samples. Preliminary testing at the refinery, and in the community around, found no ambient carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons (combustibles), or hydrogen sulfides.
— Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) June 21, 2019
Month: June 2019
Update to PES Fire Summation
Health Center 10 Pediatrics Suite
Philadelphia Department of Public Health officials on Wednesday, June 12, cut the ribbon on a new pediatric suite at Health Center 10, the Northeast’s only community health center and the busiest city-run clinic.
Officials hope the $500,000-plus project will allow the doctors at Health Center 10, 2320 Cottman Ave., to see additional children in a more timely manner.
https://northeasttimes.com/2019/06/20/cottman-avenue-health-center-gets-new-pediatric-suite/
By Jack Tomczuk
TransWellness Conference Sponsorship
This is at least the 10th year that the Philadelphia Department of Public Health is sponsoring the Trans Wellness Conference, said Coleman Terrell, director of the agency’s AIDS Activities Coordinating Office.
PDPH contributed a grant of $25,000, which Terrell said symbolizes the department’s commitment to “providing competent and affirming services to people of transgender experiences.”
http://www.epgn.com/news/local/14822-trans-wellness-conference-scores-big-funding
By Josh Middleton
Helping Mind and Body in City Health Centers
Life can be stressful for all of us. Life can be far more stressful for someone who has lost a child to gun violence, or lost a job, or been evicted from her home. The mental toll that these experiences take can lead to or worsen physical illness. So it makes sense – even if it’s not common – for medical clinics to care for their patients’ mental health as well as their physical health. Our City health centers now offer the support of Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs) to help manage the life stress of our patients.
https://www.phila.gov/2019-06-18-helping-mind-and-body-in-city-health-centers/
Lead on Playground Equipment
“There are no known cases of elevated blood lead levels in the city linked to outdoor exposure, like from parks, playgrounds, or dust in the air,” said Caroline Johnson, deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
https://www.inquirer.com/health/philadelphia-lead-playground-east-poplar-disston-chew-20190613.html
By Frank Kummer
What happens when the City declares a Heat Health Emergency
During very hot weather, the City will declare a Heat Health Emergency. When we declare a Heat Health Emergency, we activate several City services to ensure our residents stay safe.
During a Heat Health Emergency it’s important to check on loved ones, neighbors, and pets and look out for each other. When daytime temperatures reach the 90s or triple digits and are accompanied by high humidity for two or more days, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke can happen. If you think someone is having a medical emergency, call 911.
https://www.phila.gov/2019-06-11-what-happens-when-the-city-declares-a-heat-health-emergency/
PES Fire
The Health Department said in a statement it’s working with PES to identify any negative effect of the fire to the community.
https://whyy.org/articles/philly-refinery-fire-under-investigation-pollution-impact-unclear/
By Catalina Jaramillo
Sheriff’s Deputy Death
The Root
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the city’s first openly gay deputy sheriff died by suicide, according to findings confirmed by the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office.
https://www.theroot.com/philadelphias-first-openly-gay-deputy-sheriff-found-dea-1835414722
By Jay Connor
Inquirer
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday confirmed what many suspected: Dante M. Austin, the city’s first openly gay deputy sheriff, whose body was found Friday morning, died by suicide.
By Mensah Dean
MetroWeekly
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that the wound was self-inflicted.
By John Riley
Access to Naloxone in Philadelphia
Mayoral spokesman Mike Dunn said Friday that Philadelphia does plan to follow up with pharmacies this summer to check compliance and see if more education is needed.
Philadelphia officials said a 2016 study found 40 percent of pharmacies in areas with the highest rates of heroin possession and distribution stocked naloxone, and fewer than half of surveyed pharmacists knew about the standing order. Pharmacy students also canvassed 85 pharmacies in 2017 to educate pharmacists and encourage them to stock naloxone.
Dunn said the city again checked with pharmacies early last year and found about 75 percent had naloxone in hand.
By Mark Scolforo
The Collected Works of Jim Garrow 