H1N1 Vaccination Appointments

HINI
VACCINATIONS

Appointments available at
Columbia County Public Health Department,
1010 S. Third Street,
to receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine.


For the following target groups only:
· Pregnant women
· Health care and emergency services workers
· All children age 6 months to 24 years of age
· Persons age 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions
· Parents and caregivers of children under 6 months of age



Supply of vaccine is limited at this time.
Please call 382-2181 to schedule an appointment for these groups only!

Thank You.

How to Shelter-in-Place

Shelter-In-Place

If there is a chemical emergency or hazardous material release, you may be better protected in your home or car than trying to evacuate. Shelter-in-place protects you from the most toxic vapors as the cloud passes.

Home

Stay inside and Shelter-In-Place
Work or School
Stay inside and Shelter-In-Place
Outdoors
Go into a building or vehicle and Shelter-In-Place
Parked
Shelter-In-Place. Do not start the engine! Close windows, vents: turn off AC or heater.
Tune your radio to KONA Radio 105.3 FM or 610 AM.
Driving
Continue driving unless directed otherwise. Close windows, vents; turn off AC or heater.
Tune your radio to KONA. If your vehicle stalls, Do not start the engine. Shelter-In-Place

· Go inside immediately and bring pets indoors with you.
· Close and lock all doors and windows. Make sure they are closed tightly.
· Shut off all fan devices, ventilation systems, and any system that circulates air.
· Close the damper to your wood stove or fireplace if it's not in use.
· Go to the room you have selected to Shelter-In-Place. If possible, this should be a small room with few or no windows, and doors only from the center of the house or building.
· Seal this room off quickly, using duct tape and plastic sheeting to close off ventilation systems, air or fan vents, doors, windows, and other outlets. Use wet towels to seal the bottoms of all doors. If necessary, use wet washcloths to cover your nose and mouth.
· Monitor your radio or TV for Emergency Alert System messages and further instructions.
· Do not make unnecessary phone calls. Tying up telephone lines prevents emergency crews from using them. If you have an elderly neighbor or know someone who may need assistance, quickly make that call.
· Stay inside in your selected area until you receive the "all clear" signal. This will be announced on the radio and TV.
· After the "all clear" announcement, open all windows and doors, and go outside until the building has been well aired.

How to Make a Shelter-in-Place Kit

Be prepared for an emergency such as a chemical agent incident or hazardous materials accident near your home. Make your Shelter-in-Place Kit now so that you can seal your shelter immediately if your local officials instruct you to shelter-in-place.The basics: Store them in your shelter room.



What you will need:

• 
  A large bucket (and another container if needed) with lid to hold your supplies


• 
  Pre-cut and labeled plastic sheeting to cover doors, windows, vents and inset cabinets, mirrors, electrical outlets and switches, etc. (Make sure you cut the plastic at least six inches larger than openings so you can tape it to the wall or floor.)


• 
  Duct tape (a couple of rolls) to cover smaller openings and cracks that can’t be covered with plastic sheeting and to tape plastic sheeting to walls, ceiling, floor and doors.


• 
  Extra plastic sheeting in case the pre-cut sheeting tears or you need more.


• 
  Scissors to cut the tape and sheeting


• 
  A radio with extra batteries


• 
  Bottled water (at least one gallon per person)


• 
  Toilet tissue (The bucket can be used as a toilet.)


• 
  A large plastic bag for any contaminated clothing (Seal it with the duct tape.)

The last-minute additions:

• Make a list of these items and put it in a prominent place so you can find it and the items quickly on your way to your shelter room.


• 
  A cordless or cellular phone, if you have one


• 
  Any special health and safety items you can’t store in advance but would need if you have to stay in your shelter for several hours, such as medications and eye glasses


• 
  Pets

Items you may need or want (depending on who will be in your shelter):

Put any of these or other items you feel you’ll need or want with the basics in your shelter room now. Don’t delay taking shelter to search for them. • Baby supplies (diapers, formula, etc.)• Pet supplies• Pillows, blankets• Toys, books, magazines, puzzles, etc.• Snacks with a long shelf life.• Change of clothing for each person in your shelter.

Ready, Set, Act:

Be Ready. Have your Shelter-in-Place Kit Set in your shelter room. Act immediately if instructed to shelter-in-place. Remember, you won’t need to stay in your shelter for more than a few hours.

H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinic for Pregnant Women

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Columbia County Health Department

1010 S. 3rd Street, Dayton, WA

Call 382-2181 to schedule an appointment

H1N1 (Swine Flu) and Seasonal Flu

Arm yourself against the seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) flu.This year there are two types of flu to protect against, the seasonal and H1N1 strains. Both require their own vaccine, and certain groups of people should get one or both of these vaccines. Help protect yourself from seasonal flu with a flu vaccination. Everyone should get a seasonal flu shot, but it’s especially important for:
•
Children 6 months old up to their 19th birthday
•
Anyone 50 or older
•
Anyone with a chronic health condition
•
Pregnant women
•
Health care workers
•
H1N1 (Swine) Flu and the Seasonal flu aren’t really that different. A lot of what you already know about the seasonal flu applies to the H1N1 flu (swine flu). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people recover from the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu on their own, without medical attention. .The seasonal flu vaccination does not protect against the 2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) virus. An H1N1 vaccine has been developed and approved.

Because of the limited supply of H1N1 vaccine, the CDC has established a list of which groups should get the vaccine first. Get up-to-date information to help protect yourself and your family during this outbreak, go to cdc.gov to view a list of frequently asked questions, health guidelines, and symptoms to watch for.

Information provided by Kaiser Permanente

National Fire Prevention Week Oct 4-10, 2009

Monday, October 5th, 8:30 - 2:00 - Dayton Elementary School

Columbia County Fire District 3 will be hosting a fire safety day for the Dayton School Children grades K-4 on Monday, October 5th, 8:30 - 2:00 near the bus staging area.

Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned!


Testing the water before putting a child in the bath may sound like common sense. Wearing short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking on the stovetop may show foresight. This and other simple actions may be all it takes to prevent devastating burns.


Olympia, WA 2009 — Once a child touches a hot stove, as the cliché goes—he learns his lesson, stay away from a hot stove. This cliché does not take into account the pain and suffering from burns and burns should not be part of the learning process.


That’s why State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for Fire Prevention Week 2009 – October 4-10 – to urge Washington residents to “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.” This year’s campaign focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns. Additionally, fire safety educators will be teaching local residents how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs.
The statistics are staggering. Based on a five-year average, approximately 5 people die in fires each month in Washington State.


“The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns,” said State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick. “Burns are painful and can result in serious scarring and even death. When we take extra caution in our homes to ensure that the curling iron is out of children’s reach or pot handles are turned away from the edge of the stove, such injuries are entirely preventable. Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen.”

By following simple safety rules, you can “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.”

• 
  Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over.
• 
  Have a 3-foot “kid-free” zone around the stove.
• 
  Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage.
• 
  Be careful when using things that get hot such as curling irons, oven, irons, lamps, heaters.
• 
  Install tamper-resistant receptacles to prevent a child from sticking an object in the outlet.
• 
  Never leave a child alone in a room with a lit candle, portable heater, lit fireplace or stove, or where a hot appliance might be in use.
• 
  Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking.
• 
  Set your hot water temperature no higher than 120 degrees.
• 
  Install anti-scald valves on shower heads and faucets.

Fire Prevention Week is actively supported by fire departments across the country. For 85 years, fire departments have observed Fire Prevention Week, making it the longest running public health and safety observance on record.

Dayton School District Evacuation Drill

September 30th, 2009

Columbia County Emergency Management has been working collaboratively with the Dayton School District, Columbia County Fire District 3, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, the Columbia County Commissioners and Crisis Management Consulting to update the Columbia County School Emergency Plan.

After many months of work, Columbia County Schools have an up to date School Emergency Plan. A video containing emergency instructions and evacuation procedures was made for staff members and the community. The video will be made available to the community Fall, 2009.

On September 30th, the Dayton Public Schools held their first evacuation drill using the new procedure's. Columbia County Emergency Management, Columbia County Fire District 3 and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office also participated. The drill was a success.