Guilford County has received an Eat Smart, Move More NC Community Grant for 2010-2012 to fund local physical activity projects targeting youth ages 9 to 14.

Rankin Elementary and Guilford Prep Academy have committed to adopting changes using the Increase Physical Activity and Nutrition in Schools (IPANS) evaluation and intervention project. These policy changes will positively impact physical activity and health at the schools and address the needs of the children who attend and the adults that influence them.

“We are pleased to be selected to implement a project designed to promote healthy behaviors among our youth,” states Merle Green, Health Director.

For the first time, the Eat Smart, Move More NC community grants are being awarded for a two-year cycle to study the impact the grants are having in the communities that receive them. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded funding in the fall of 2009 to the N.C. Division of Public Health’s Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch to work with East Carolina University’s Department of Public Health in evaluating the program. Guilford County will receive funding for data collection in 2010-2012 and for program implementation in 2011-2012.

North Carolina ranks 14th in the nation in overweight and obese adolescents. The percentage of children and adults who are overweight or obese rises each year and despite advances in medicine, the current generation of children may be the first to live shorter lives than their parents. Eat Smart, Move More NC strives to reverse this trend by making the healthy choice the easy choice.

The N.C. Division of Public Health funded 20 county/district health departments for the two-year grant cycle. The Eat Smart, Move More NC Community Grants support the Eat Smart, Move More North Carolinamovement and Eat Smart, Move More: North Carolina’s Plan to Prevent Overweight, Obesity and Related Chronic Diseases, the state’s obesity prevention plan. This plan emphasizes strategies that make healthier eating and increased physical activity easier to achieve by, for example, adding walking paths in neighborhoods or around schools, or changing what foods a school can serve both at lunch and for after-school snacks.

“Making our schools and after school programs, our neighborhoods and our places of worship supportive of healthy eating and active lifestyles is important so that kids learn these habits early and carry them into adulthood,” said State Health Director Dr. Jeff Engel. “It also means each generation of kids gains the benefit of these more sustainable changes to our communities.”

All the funded projects are described on the Eat Smart, Move More NC Web site atwww.EatSmartMoveMoreNC.com. Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina is a statewide movement that promotes increased opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity wherever people live, learn, earn, play and pray. The movement is led by a coalition of more than 60 organizations. For more information on the Eat Smart, Move More NC movement or to find out how your community can promote healthful eating and physical activity, visit www.EatSmartMoveMoreNC.com on the Web.

For more information on Guilford County’s project, contact Candy West with the Department of Public Health at 641-7777.

There are some new national tobacco regulations that went into effect on June 22, 2010, the anniversary of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act).(The Tobacco Control Act grants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products to protect public health and to reduce tobacco use by children and adolescents.) In short, these new regulations: 1) limit the sale, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to individuals younger than18 years of age; 2) require larger and stronger health warning labels to appear on smokeless tobacco advertisements and on smokeless tobacco products manufactured on or after June 22, 2010; and 3) prohibit the tobacco industry from manufacturing for sale or distribution any tobacco products for which the label, labeling, or advertising contains the descriptors “light,” “low,” or “mild” (or any similar descriptor).

Local public health departments have no role in enforcement of these regulations but do have a role in educating the community regarding the regulation, alongside tobacco use prevention and cessation.

According to the CDC’s website, FDA tobacco regulations are to be phased in over an extended period.   Several key provisions of the new regulations became effective on June 22, 2010. For example:

• Larger and stronger health warning labels must appear on smokeless tobacco advertisements and on smokeless tobacco products manufactured on or after June 22, 2010.
• The tobacco industry is prohibited from manufacturing for sale or distribution any tobacco products for which the label, labeling, or advertising contains the descriptors “light,” “low,” or “mild” (or any similar descriptor).
• Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco may not be sold to anyone younger than 18 years of age. (Although states have similar restrictions, the Tobacco Control Act makes this a federal law.)
• Cigarettes and smokeless tobacco may not be sold through vending machines or self-service displays, except in facilities that prohibit entry to persons under the age of 18 years.
• Retailers may not sell single cigarettes or packages containing fewer than 20 cigarettes, except in vending machines located in facilities that prohibit entry to persons under the age of 18.
• Free samples of tobacco products are not permitted, with the exception of free samples of smokeless products in adult-only facilities in certain restricted situations.
• Free branded product tie-ins (such as T-shirts) are not permitted.
• Branded sponsorships of athletic or cultural events are prohibited.

The CDC also reports that despite declines in youth tobacco use over the past few decades, the United States is still faced with troubling statistics that the FDA regulations will help address:

• An estimated 16.7% of NC High School students currently smoke cigarettes, which is below the national average of 20% of U.S. high school students who  smoke cigarettes.
• In Guilford County where there has been a substantial investment of resources in teen smoking prevention.  In a 2008 survey, only 11.3% of high school students have smoked 2 or more cigarettes in the last 30 days, a substantial decrease from 15.8% in 2003.
• Each day in the United States, approximately 3,900 young people between 12 and 17 years of age smoke their first cigarette.
• An estimated 1,000 youth become daily cigarette smokers in the United States each day.

The provisions that went into effect on June 22 will restrict the sale, distribution, and promotion of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to make them less accessible and less attractive to youth.

For more information about the new regulations, visithttp://www.cdc.gov/features/tobaccocontrols/

For more information about youth tobacco prevention programs offered by Guilford County Department of Public Health, call 641-7777.  For information on tobacco use cessation, visitwww.quitlinenc.com , call 1-800-quit now or call the Department of Public Health.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices met yesterday and tentative recommendations are that children between the ages of 6 months to 9 years should receive two doses of next seasons influenza vaccine to overcome a reluctant immune system.  Read more here.

2010 Operation Fan/Heat Relief Now Under Way

RALEIGH: Operation Fan/Heat Relief – a summer fan distribution program that operates each year throughout North Carolina – is now under way.  The Division of Aging and Adult Services in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has managed the program since it began in 1986.

“Chronic health problems in older people often require medication that can affect the body’s natural defenses against heat and humidity,” said Dennis Streets, Division of Aging and Adult Services Director.  “These fans can be a lifesaver for some and help all recipients stay more comfortable and healthier in their home.”

“For many years, Dominion North Carolina Power, Duke Energy, Progress Energy and the Valassis Giving Committee have donated generously to support this important program,” Streets said. “The program has been successful because of the concerted efforts of the 17 regional Area Agencies on Aging and the local aging and adult service provider agencies which purchase and make fans available to eligible people.”

Last year, donations totaled $98,500, and with these funds, 5,423 fans and 51 air conditioners were purchased. In certain counties air conditioners are made available for people with more serious health problems.  There is no public money associated with this project.

People who are 60 or older or people with disabilities are eligible to receive one fan per year to help alleviate heat problems within their home.

More information can be found by calling the Area Agency on Aging or the local aging agency or on the web at www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/heat.htm.

Guilford County Department of Public Health staff will be planting a community vegetable garden this summer, and they look forward to donating bundles of vegetables to area non-profits that feed the homeless or disadvantaged.  A ceremony to officially open the garden will be held on Tuesday, June 29 at 11:30am. The garden is located at the Department of Social Services/Public Health Department building at 1203 Maple Street in Greensboro. Employees will work the garden before and after work and during lunch, and are donating needed tools including plants and seeds.

George R. Kilpatrick, Jr., MD, PA was recognized for his dedicated service to Guilford County Department of Public Health by the Guilford County Board of Health at their Monday, June 21 meeting.  Dr. Kilpatrick was the agency’s tuberculosis (TB) consultant for 30 years.  Dr. Kilpatrick, along with the public health TB staff identified, treated and monitored individuals with TB.

“Dr. Kilpatrick has been a tremendous asset to public health and this community,” states Merle Green, Health Director.

Dr. Kilpatrick was honored with a personalized poem that was written by Pat Hilliard, RN and presented by the TB team.  He also received a wall plaque and many positive accolades.  The Board of Health expressed their appreciation for the dedication and expertise Kilpatrick has shown to local residents and the medical community over three decades.

As Guilford County has increased the number of new residents, both national and international, the infectious disease rates have sometimes fluctuated to ranges that caused local health professionals to prioritize infectious disease control to priority status.  Dr. Kilpatrick has always patiently consulted with the County on patient management and disease control, and has worked closely with the North Carolina Division of Public Health to assure compliance with medically accepted practices

Specific tips for avoiding heat injuries are located on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s web site at:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp.

State Scientists Collecting Fish and Shellfish Samples in Preparation for Any Potential Effects from Gulf Oil Spill

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Release: Immediate                             Contact: Patricia Smith

Date:       June 24, 2010                         Phone: (252) 726-7021

MOREHEAD CITY – State fisheries scientists are collecting samples of fish and shellfish to use for baseline background comparisons for seafood harvested in North Carolina if contaminants from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico reach North Carolina waters.

“We still believe there is a very low probability that our state will see any significant effects from the oil spill, but just in case, we’re collecting these samples and securing them for analysis at a later date,” said Secretary Dee Freeman of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Biologists with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries are collecting fish, shrimp and crabs from different coastal rivers, sounds and ocean waters of the state, following specific scientific collection protocols for handling and storing the samples.

Likewise, environmental specialists with the Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Quality Section of the N.C. Division of Environmental Health are collecting oysters and clams.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has caused extremely large amounts of crude oil to be released into the environment. Oil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are chemical hazards. These contaminants can accumulate in seafood at levels that can cause illness. The presence of petroleum taint can also render seafood unfit for human consumption.

Additionally, fish or shellfish exposure to high concentrations of these toxins, either directly or through eating contaminated plants or animals, may reduce their growth and reproduction, affecting populations. These effects can last for many years, depending on the concentration of oil.

Should state authorities begin to see impacts in North Carolina waters from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the fish and shellfish samples collected now can be tested and used as a baseline to compare to samples collected in North Carolina following observed impact from the oil spill to help determine the extent of contamination.

This information, should it show contamination levels high enough to cause a health risk, could help fisheries officials determine if they should close certain waters to seafood harvesting and fishing. The information would also offer proof of environmental impact, leading to economic impact, should the state seek financial compensation for damages from the oil industry.

For more information, contact Patricia Smith, public information officer with the Division of Marine Fisheries, at (252) 808-8025 or Tricia.Smith@ncdenr.gov, or Laura Leonard, public information officer with the Division of Environmental Health, at (919) 715-3204 or Laura.Leonard@ncdenr.gov.

Public Health Staff Wins Award (Health Information)

Paula Weston-Cox was awarded the 2009 West Piedmont Environmental Health Specialist of the Year Award by the West Piedmont Environmental Health Association on June 17, 2010 at their quarterly meeting.  Weston-Cox is the Senior Environmental Health Specialist for the Children’s Environmental Health Program, with Guilford County Department of Public Health.  Along with providing inspections of local, licensed childcare centers, she is very involved in the community’s Healthy Homes and childhood lead poisoning prevention programs.

FoodSafety.gov is the gateway to food safety information provided by federal agencies. It’s the one-stop shop to help consumers get easy-to-understand information on food safety and foodborne illness from the federal government.