Don't see graphics and text from DPH?Click here Follow Us! Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! DPH Runners Don Their Holiday Gear for the Jingle Bell Walk/Run Between the reindeer head gear, Santa Claus get-ups and elf ears, you may not have realized the people running through downtown Atlanta this past weekend were not in a Christmas parade - they were participating in a 5K race organized by the Arthritis Foundation. Headquartered in Atlanta, the Arthritis In This Issue Foundation helps people take control of arthritis by providing public health DPH Runners Don Their Holiday Gear for the Jingle Bell Walk/Run education, pursuing public policy and legislation, and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for Celebrate Responsibly: DPH those living with arthritis. The organization Encourages Safe Alcohol is also the largest private, non-profit Consumption this Holiday Season contributor to arthritis research in the The Flu Clinic Goes Mobile: Cobb world, funding more than $450 million in & Douglas Public Health Offers research grants since 1948. Abby Parker, an 8-year-old from Woodstock, Georgia living with juvenile arthritis, was On-Site Flu Vaccine Appointments 'Tis the Season for Giving: How to appointed this year's Jingle Bell Walk/Run youth honoree. Know If a Charity if Legitimate DPH Safety Experts Offer Tips on Celebrate Responsibly: DPH Encourages Safe Keeping Warm Inside While It's Cold Outside Alcohol Consumption this Holiday Season App of the Week: MedSimple With the winter holidays PHEVENTS right around the corner, it is a time of year for Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule festive celebrations that often include a variety of flavorful alcoholic on our website. beverages. PHTRAINING Two for Tuesdays Join the Office of Human Resources on the second Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. for the learning series Two for Tuesdays. This series provides an opportunity for programs to explore new ideas, share knowledge and highlight teams and their work. To learn more about the training and to register, click here. Check out Saba for these January Courses When consumed in moderation, some types of alcohol have been shown to be associated with some reductions in health risks and in some studies, even improve cardiovascular health. On the contrary, alcohol can be responsible for motor vehicle crashes, domestic and sexual violence, and chronic disease when consumed in excess. Excessive alcohol use costs Georgia $6.3 billion annually. DPH urges Georgians to use alcohol responsibly to protect yourself and those around you this holiday season. Crucial Conversations Tues., Jan. 6 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Two for Tuesday - Emergency Preparedness Tues., Jan. 13 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. The Flu Clinic Goes Mobile: Cobb & Douglas Public Health Offers On-Site Flu Vaccine Appointments Manager Fundamentals for Success Tues. - Weds., Jan. 20 - 21 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. True Colors: Discovering Your Personal Best Tues., Jan. 27 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Procurement Services: Navigating the Process Weds., Jan. 28 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Computer Training (Instructor-Led) Access Basics Tues., Jan. 6 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Access Intermediate Queries Thurs., Jan. 8 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Access Form & Report Design Tues., Jan. 13 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The onset of this year's flu season was met with a series of alarming news for families in Georgia. More than 90 percent of influenza specimens tested nationwide are Influenza A H3N2 (H3N2), according to nationwide flu tests. Seasons when H3N2 is the dominant flu strain tend to have higher rates of hospitalization and deaths due to flu-related health complications. Cobb & Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is offering a convenient flu shot option by taking its flu clinic on the road. Businesses and community events can now book flu vaccine appointments through the CDPH mobile clinic for groups of 20 or more people. Furthermore, half of the H3N2 viruses found this flu season don't match the vaccine produced for the 2014- 2015 season, indicating that the virus has changed since the vaccine was formulated. Access Tables & Database Design Tues., Jan. 27 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Access Advanced Queries Thurs., Jan. 29 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. __________ For employees not at 2 Peachtree, classes can be attended remotely; however, remote attendees must be registered 48 hours prior to class. Register for all classes through SABA (2 Peachtree attendees register for "Instructor-Led" and remote attendees register for "Virtual" classes). View monthly training calendars on PHIL. Contact Lisa Miller if you have questions. Look for Access classes in January. Free Online Courses Available from Lynda.com DPH has a limited number of licenses for lynda.com which is an online library of high-quality, easy-to-use instructional videos on the latest software, creative and business skills. Licenses are available for check out on a first come, first served basis. To check out a license, simply email Lisa Miller from your Public Health email account. Submit calendar entries to communications@dph.ga.gov by 12 noon on Wednesday. PHNEWS 'Tis the Season for Giving: How to Know If a Charity if Legitimate 'Tis the season to make plans for gift giving and charitable contributions. With the holidays coming, the opportunity to donate to notable charities and heart-warming causes are plentiful. There are more than 1.4 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, including public charities and private foundations according to the National Center for Charitable Statistics. Before you compile a list of charities you'd like to support this holiday season, you should learn how to determine if your charity of choice is legitimate. Far too many generous people, old and The holiday season is always a great time to support charities young, fall prey to individuals and organizations that advocating for causes important to you. By following simple precautionary actions, you can protect yourself from potential scams and ensure those in need benefit from your donation. misrepresent their intentions for your financial donations. Dallas Physician in Nation's First Ebola Case Acknowledges Errors in Treatment CDC Warns Flu Season Could Be Severe Got a Minute? Let's Work Out DPH Safety Experts Offer Tips on Keeping Warm Inside While It's Cold Outside Winter can be a beautiful time of year. Better worry about shingles. It hurts. And vaccination may help Georgia Department of Public Health develops a Hepatitis C Testing Toolkit for Primary Care ... Text Messages Remind People to Take Medications New HPV Vaccine Broadens Cancer Protection PHRECIPE Snow-capped mountain tops, landscapes peppered with fallen leaves and lakes sitting still as if they were frozen in time make for the picture-perfect wintertime scene. Although some of us fair better in cold weather, low temperatures that force us to enjoy the winter in the comforts of our own home can cause unforeseen health risks. Each year, thousands of Americans are impacted by foodborne illnesses. With proper food handling and preparation, citizens can Each year, fires that occur during the holiday greatly reduce the chances of contracting a food-related illness during this year's holiday season. or winter season are some of the most devastating disasters to impact families, causing deaths and costing thousands of dollars in property damage and health care costs. Tortilla Scramble Serves: 4 Prep Time: 25 min Click Here for Full Recipe PHWEEK App of the Week: MedSimple Sometimes remembering to take your medication each day can be difficult. It may also be challenging to remember how your doctor instructed you to take it. MedSimple can help make that easier for you with a free medication reminder application and other features. Editor Ebony Brooks Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith-Lindsey With MedSimple, you can find generic versions of brand-name meds that can save you money each month and access the MedSimple Drug Discount Card! 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