The holiday season can be a time for making memories and celebrating with those you love. It can also be a time of poor decision-making and adverse health effects due to alcohol overindulgence.  Binge drinking has potential legal consequences and can also be detrimental to your health and safety. By understanding the reasons and risks for binge drinking, you can take steps to consume alcohol safely during the holidays and beyond. You might also consider observing Dry January to start your new year.  Binge Drinking During the Holidays  It can be difficult not to drink when family members visit...

A recent article in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice raises the question again, “How do we rebuild our state and local public health workforce after years of neglect and now in a post-pandemic world?” The purpose of the article is to estimate the number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) needed to fully implement Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) at the state and local levels in the United States. However, before we proceed with the number of FTEs, a definition of why Foundational Public Health Services seems necessary.  Foundational Public Health Services  The bare...

The coming winter months may prove challenging as people grapple with illness and the lingering COVID pandemic. As people continue their holiday shopping and get together with loved ones, viral infections will be in full force. Given the lack of social distancing and uptick in viruses, most public health experts warn about a tripledemic, which they define as a simultaneous surge of COVID-19, the flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).  To more efficiently safeguard your health this winter, consider getting a COVID shot and a flu vaccine simultaneously. Because no RSV vaccine exists, you...

The global fight against AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) presses on every day of the year. However, each year on December 1, governments and health authorities worldwide pause to recognize World AIDS Day. This important health holiday serves as a reminder of the efforts of researchers, healthcare providers, and patients alike whose lives have been impacted by the battle against this virus.  On the most recent World AIDS Day, in 2022, the Biden administration released a global strategy to end AIDS. This new five-year strategy aims to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic by the year 2030. Public...

A Communication Toolkit about Christmas Tree Safety and More...  According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPSA), half of all Christmas tree fires are caused by either an electrical problem or a heat source too close to the tree.  The most recent NFPSA data indicates that U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 160 fires per year that start with Christmas trees. These fires cause, on average, two deaths, 12 injuries, and more than $10 million in direct property damage.  Fortunately, you can prevent these accidents by taking proper safety measures when purchasing, setting...