Category: Blog posts

Landlords and Tenants: Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning is a serious health issue for many young children and their families. Lead has been shown to be particularly harmful to children between the ages of nine months and six years.  The only way to know for sure if a child has been poisoned is to get the child tested for lead.

Philadelphia’s Lead and Healthy Homes Program works to ensure that Philadelphians have safe and healthy homes, free from lead and other hazards. Landlords and tenants also play an important role in ensuring that rental homes are healthy and safe.

https://www.phila.gov/2018-11-16-landlords-and-tenants-preventing-childhood-lead-poisoning/

Public Health Accreditation

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) was among the first big city public health departments in the U.S. to receive national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).  PDPH achieved accreditation in November 2015 after undergoing a rigorous, peer review assessment process to ensure we met or exceeded a set of quality standards and measures for public health. The five-year designation recognizes the PDPH’s capacity and commitment to protect and promote the health of all Philadelphians.

https://admin.phila.gov/2018-10-31-public-health-accreditation/

Sexual Violence as a Culture

Helping young men and women to avoid high risk situations may reduce the likelihood of being a victim, as well as being a perpetrator. This means rethinking how we talk and think about sexual violence to include ways how each and every one of us can take responsibility and accountability for our actions, in that moment, in the weeks after, and in the decades after. Too often the emphasis is on the victim and how they should or should have conducted themselves to avoid the predatory actions of others; rather than giving everyone the tools they need to navigate risky situations and the consequences of their behavior.

https://www.phila.gov/2018-09-27-sexual-violence/

Philadelphia: more progress protecting our children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced new data that show that Philadelphia is protecting its residents from dangerous diseases with immunization rates that are among the highest in the country.

High immunization rates prevent disease outbreaks – and Philadelphia’s immunization rates are frequently higher than nationwide rates, meeting national goals and protecting our population from preventable diseases.

https://admin.phila.gov/2018-09-05-philadelphia-more-progress-protecting-our-children/

West Nile Virus and Mosquitoes

Everyone knows that familiar buzzing sound. Everyone knows that awful itch that only gets better for like a second before it comes back even worse.

MOSQUITOES: the bane of every summer.

While we might not like mosquitoes, they are actually a lot more than just annoying. They are actually disease spreaders. That’s right, they can get you sick.

https://beta.phila.gov/2018-07-31-mosquitoes-are-more-than-just-annoying/

Observing Ramadan Safely and Healthily

Fasting during Ramadan can be deeply meaningful, and the Iftar meal after a day of fasting provides both much-needed nutrition and a chance to gather and celebrate with friends and family. But fasting can also be a challenge to efforts to follow a healthy lifestyle. After fasting all day, many people overdo things in the evening, drinking sugary drinks and eating heavy meals full of fatty and sugary treats. This can leave you feeling tired and sluggish and wondering how you can be gaining weight while fasting daily.

https://beta.phila.gov/2018-06-04-observing-ramadan-safely-and-healthily/

National Laboratory Workers Week

Did you also know that the Philadelphia Public Health Laboratory performs over 300,000 tests per year? Did you even know that the Health Department has a lab?!

The tests our laboratory professionals do include everything from general health screenings, diabetes testing, sexually transmitted disease testing, and general microbiology testing.  In addition, testing is also performed on samples collected from any disease outbreaks that we investigate.

https://beta.phila.gov/2018-04-26-national-laboratory-professionals-week/

Questions about CUES in Philadelphia

The City just provided an important update on our continued work to reduce opioid abuse in our city.

Philadelphia will encourage organizations to develop Comprehensive User Engagement Sites (CUES). CUES will help people experiencing a substance abuse disorder related to opioids.

https://beta.phila.gov/2018-01-24-cues-the-latest-effort-in-the-battle-against-the-opioid-crisis/

Primary author Harrison Morgan

Choosing Your Body Art

We love body art here at the Health Department. Many of us sport elaborate tattoos and body piercings. Some of us have small, hidden personal tattoos and just ear piercings. With so many great shops in Philly to get tattooed or pierced, it makes it easy to sport beautiful art.

One thing we insist on, though, is that body art is done safely. And safe body art can only be done in a licensed, inspected shop. Remember, it’s not just about the art, it’s about your life. Here are the top six things you should look for every time you enter a shop.

https://beta.phila.gov/2018-02-09-what-should-you-be-looking-for-when-you-choose-a-body-art-studio/

The Healthiest Super Bowl Party

The Super Bowl. Ready or not, the biggest football game in Philly is coming up quickly.

Planning snacks for your Super Bowl party is part of the fun, but you don’t have to destroy your New Year’s resolutions to enjoy it. You’ll want something to crunch down on while gripping the couch cushions nervously, and something to celebrate with (of course) at the moment of victory (because we’re not even considering other possibilities). Here’s some ideas to round out your menu for the big game.

https://beta.phila.gov/2018-01-29-how-to-have-the-healthiest-super-bowl-party-ever/