May 16, 2013
EMS WEEK RECOGNIZES EFFORTS OF FIRST RESPONDERS IN VIRGINIA
May 19 - 25 is EMS Week in Virginia
(Richmond, Va.) Day in and day out, Virginia’s EMS providers stand ready to respond to citizens in need, providing pre-hospital care to the sick or wounded. Last year alone, EMS providers responded to over 1.2 million calls for help in the commonwealth. That’s approximately 3,327 incidents per day. more>>
May 9, 2013
Health Commissioner Announces Virginia Public Health Nurse of the Year
Central Shenandoah Health District Nurse Cathy Halterman Honored
(RICHMOND, Va.)—State Health Commissioner Cynthia C. Romero, MD, FAAFP, today announced Cathy Halterman, public health nurse in the Central Shenandoah Health District, as Public Health Nurse of the Year for the Virginia Department of Health. more>>
April 1, 2013
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROTECTING CHILDREN
April 20-27 is National Infant Immunization Week
(Richmond, Va.) In addition to being a requirement for school entry, childhood immunizations are also among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. Giving babies the recommended immunizations by age 2 is the best way to protect them from 14 serious childhood diseases, like whooping cough and measles. more>>
April 1, 2013
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CLOSE A PORTION OF THE LYNNHAVEN RIVER TO THE HARVESTING OF SHELLFISH
(RICHMOND, Va.)— The Virginia Department of Health announced today that 607 acres of the Lynnhaven River will be closed for shellfish harvesting effective April 12, 2013. The river will be closed to shellfish harvesting because fecal coliform concentrations in the affected area no longer meet the criteria of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. more>>
March 20, 2013
National 2013 County Health Rankings Show Where Virginia Localities Do Well, Provide Roadmap for Improvement
Richmond, Va. –The fourth annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, released today by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, indicates that Fairfax County has the healthiest residents in Virginia while the city of Petersburg ranks as the least healthy locality in the state. more>>
March 5, 2013
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFERS GUIDANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER
(RICHMOND, Va.)— As severe winter weather moves into the state, the Virginia Department of Health urges Virginians to prepare for the snowstorm and offers tips to say safe during cleanup activities following the storm. more>>
February 15, 2013
Funding Available for Organizations Serving Summer Meals to Virginia Children
Deadline to apply for this year’s Summer Food Service Program is April 26, 2013.
(Richmond, Va.)— The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is looking for financially viable organizations that can serve meals to children during the summer months. Organizations that participate in the Summer Food Service Program will be reimbursed by VDH for the meals that are served as well as the administrative costs of serving the meals. In addition, all participants receive technical assistance from VDH. New participants are required to attend Summer Food Service Program training. more>>
February 11, 2013
NEW SCREENING PROJECT CATCHES HEART DISEASE EARLY IN INFANTS
Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening Saves Babies
(Richmond, Va.) A new screening offered in hospitals around Virginia can identify if a newborn has critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) before the child leaves the hospital. Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defects in the United States, affecting about one in every 110 babies. A few babies born with CHD have more serious forms of heart disease, or CCHD. CCHDs are heart defects that can cause serious illness or even death if not found quickly, and they affect about two of every 1,000 babies. more>>