Don't see graphics and text from DPH?Click here Follow Us! DPH Launches National Influenza Vaccination Week Campaign in Time for Flu Season Influenza season has arrived in Georgia, bringing with it fever, Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! cough, sore throat and runny nose. Just in time for flu season, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is encouraging people 6 In This Issue months of age and older to not delay getting their DPH Launches National Influenza Vaccination Week Campaign in Time for Flu Season flu shot as we launch National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), Dec. 7-13. Giving the Gift of Health: Tips for Healthier Food Donations NIVW was established in New Research Promotes Toy 2005 by the Centers for Safety Among Holiday Shoppers Disease Control and Holiday Food Safety University of Georgia Study Reveals Chemical in Coffee May Prevent Obesity-related Disease University of Georgia Study Reveals Chemical in Coffee May Prevention (CDC) to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond. First Lady Sandra Deal recently visited the Floyd County Health Department to secure her flu vaccination this year. Prevent Obesity-related Disease App of the Week: Glucose Buddy PHEVENTS Giving the Gift of Health: Tips for Healthier Food Donations Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule on our website. PHTRAINING Computer Training Word Columns & Graphics Mon., Dec. 8 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Word Tables & Forms Tues., Dec. 9 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Word Automatic Features Tues., Dec. 9 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 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. It's easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Between travel plans, shopping and holiday celebrations, we often overlook those in our very own communities that are in need during this season. In Georgia, many families struggle with securing shelter, clothing and even food. Food insecurity, or the inability to access adequate food due to Thousands of Georgians struggle with food insecurity and chronic health conditions each year. To combat this issue, DPH health experts limited finances or resources, is one of are encouraging citizens to donate healthier foods to their local food banks this holiday season. Georgia's growing public health challenges. The Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB), a Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) partner, is a participating member of Feeding America, a network of food banks that serve 5.4 million people nationwide. These member food banks collaborated earlier this year to conduct Feeding America's 2014 Hunger in America Study which documents food insecurity statistics throughout Georgia. 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 Atlanta Falcons Teaming Up To New Research Promotes Toy Safety Among Holiday Shoppers The holiday season is now in full swing and it's the perfect time for gift exchanges and toy shopping for young kids. While these activities often become the centerpiece of the perfect holiday celebration, popular toys incite increased risks for injuries among young children. Improve Children's Health, Wellness And Nutrition Too Many Infants Still Sleep With Blankets Pooler Smoke-Free Rule New research published in Journal for Clinical Pediatrics examines the The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) published new data connection between toys collected over the span of more than 20 years citing a connection and pediatric emergency between toys and pediatric emergency room visits. room visits, and provides a timely reminder about child safety procedures during Safe Toys and Gift Month this December. Abortions Decline to Historic Low, 33% of Pregnancies Used to End in Abortion, Now Just 18% Food Safety 101: Tips to Proper Food Preparation US Smoking Rate Hits Historic Low and Handling for the Holidays PHRECIPE Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Chickpeas Serves: 4 Prep Time: 35 min Click Here for Full Recipe PHWEEK Editor Ebony Brooks The holiday season wouldn't be the same if it weren't for the celebrations and meals we share with friends and family. Food is often the centerpiece of our life events, and keeping everyone healthy and safe during these gatherings should always be a priority. Although cooking is passion for many, the safety protocols associated with meal preparation are often overlooked or misunderstood. Each year, thousands of Americans are impacted by foodborne illnesses. With proper food handling and preparation, citizens can greatly reduce the chances of contracting a food-related illness during this year's holiday season. Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith-Lindsey Graphic Designer Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts University of Georgia Study Reveals Chemical in Coffee May Prevent Obesity-related Disease Researchers at the University of Georgia have discovered that a chemical compound commonly found in coffee may help prevent some of the damaging effects of obesity. In a paper published recently in Pharmaceutical Research, scientists found that chlorogenic acid, or CGA, significantly reduced insulin resistance and accumulation of fat in the livers of mice who were fed a high-fat diet. Yongjie Ma, a postdoctoral research associate in UGA's College of Pharmacy, is the lead author of a paper about a compound found in coffee that could help in obesity treatment. "Previous studies have shown that coffee consumption may lower the risk for chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease," said Yongjie Ma, a postdoctoral research associate in UGA's College of Pharmacy and lead author of the paper. "Our study expands on this research by looking at the benefits associated with this specific compound, which is found in great abundance in coffee, but also in other fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, tomatoes and blueberries." Prevent Blindness Georgia and the Hearts and Hands Clinic to Host Vision Clinic for Bulloch County Residents Every 11 minutes, another person in America goes blind. Incredibly, half of these people lose the miracle of sight needlessly. Blindness and other vision problems are often a silent problem in society, being overshadowed by more- talked about and widely understood health issues in America. Georgia non-profits Prevent Blindness Georgia and The Hearts and Two organizations in Georgia are collaborating Hands Clinic are teaming up to host an inaugural eye exam clinic. This event will provide affordable vision care to medically uninsured and low-income families of Statesboro, Georgia. to shed light on vision diseases by putting eye health front and center in the state's health community. Prevent Blindness Georgia (PBGA) will partner with The Hearts and Hands Clinic to hold eye exams on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. This first-time partnership will improve the quality of living for the medically uninsured and prevent further vision loss for Bulloch County residents in need of vision care. App of the Week: Glucose Buddy Blood sugar monitoring is a frequent necessity for people with diabetes. The easier it is to log and track your numbers, the more likely you are to monitor your health information at the appropriate times. Glucose Buddy stores the data you need to manage diabetes without a lot of hassle. Users can track various types of data about their health including: Blood glucose Carbs (Food) Medication (Insulin Dosages) Activities Blood pressure Weight With handy notifications, those times of forgetting to log your numbers are over! You can sync your data so you can view it online or even print it out for future reference. 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