Don't see graphics and text from DPH?Click here Follow Us! Governor Deal Proclaims Feb. 2-6 as Severe Submit your story suggestions, ideas, comments or a story of your own! In This Issue Governor Deal Proclaims Feb. 2-6 as Severe Weather Preparedness Million Hearts: A Population Health Aproach to Reducing the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Speaking Up to Prevent Teen Dating Violence Weather Preparedness Week in Georgia Devastating tornadoes, destructive thunderstorms and other severe weather events can strike at any time. In order to prepare all Georgians for the possibility of a disaster, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA)/Homeland Security's Ready Georgia campaign once again joins forces with Gov. Nathan Deal to raise awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness. Severe Weather Preparedness Week, Feb. 2-6, is a dedicated time when all Georgians are encouraged to prepare for unexpected events, practice emergency response procedures for all types of weather and learn more about local threats. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency /Homeland Security's Ready Georgia campaign for severe weather offers tips to help residents prepare for floods, tornadoes, thunderstorms and more. Keeping Pulse: School Nurses at Heart of Student Body Rosemary Hernandez Remembered Million Hearts: A Population Health Aproach to for Inspiring Thousands to Quit Tobacco Use App of the Week: Hearth Health Mobile PHEVENTS Reducing the Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the single leading clinical cause of death in Georgia, accounting for more than 20,000 deaths a year, or about 1 in 5 deaths Looking for DPH events? Visit the Events Schedule on our website. overall. A significant proportion of these deaths are premature and preventable. CVD is responsible for more than 88,000 hospitalizations, $7 billion dollars in direct and indirect costs, and 136,000 years of PHBRIEF potential life lost in Georgia alone each year. For Heart Month this February, DPH is encouraging its partners and community members Reminder: Contact Information Updates The Georgia Department of Public According to data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, nearly 1 in 3 adults in Georgia have ever statewide to take the Million Hearts pledge to help reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease throughout Georgia. Health (DPH) utilizes an agency- been told they have hypertension, and an wide emergency communications estimated additional nearly 1 million may have undiagnosed hypertension, bringing system that allows us to transmit the total number of adults in Georgia with hypertension to well over 3 million. vital emergency information to staff via email, text messaging and pre-recorded telephone messages. We use the system to Speaking Up to Prevent Teen Dating Violence convey important information during inclement weather or other emergencies, such as building or facilities closures, hazardous situations and emergency response information. Please be sure to access SelfService and update your contact information to ensure you receive these messages in the future. Couples just about everywhere are making plans for Valentine's Day. But February is also the perfect time to talk with your teenagers about relationships. Each year, the month that so prominently celebrates love also brings with it increased pressure for many to find relationships, especially teens still learning the ropes of dating and relationships. 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. Without knowledge about constructive relationship-building, many teens find themselves experiencing dating violence Throughout February, parents, caregivers, community leaders and public health specialists will or other forms of abusive relationship unite to observe National Teen Dating Violence behavior, often without even realizing it. Awareness Month and examine how to help teens That's why it's vital that teens and their parents, educators, caregivers and learn how to foster and maintain healthy dating relationships. community leaders recognize February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Check out SABA for these February Courses Saba LMS has a new home! Log into Learning- Development.dph.ga.gov . Keeping Pulse: School Nurses at Heart of Student Body Two for Tuesday - Office of Inspector General Tues., Feb. 10 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. The school nurse at the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy said she has to be prepared for anything on any given day. Manager Fundamentals for Success Tues. - Wed., Feb 17-18 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Introduction to Public Health in Georgia Tues., Feb. 24 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Grants Management Wed., Feb. 25 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Budgets 101 Thurs., Feb. 26 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. "I come in here fully aware that I am medically responsible for anybody in the building, whether that be the pregnant teacher down the hallway or the teacher with high blood pressure or any of the students and their issues," said Kelly Krivsky. "So I have to come in here prepared to handle any situation." School nurse, Kelly Krivsky, talks with a student at the Krivsky said helping children who Marietta Sixth Grade Academy in Marietta last week. otherwise might not get help is one of the main reasons why she does it. Computer Training (Instructor-Led) Excel Basics Tues., Feb.10 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Rosemary Hernandez Remembered for Inspiring Thousands to Quit Tobacco Use Excel Formatting Tues., Feb. 10 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Excel Formulas & Functions Thurs., Feb. 12 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Excel Data & Management & Pivot Tables Thurs., Feb. 19 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Excel Graphical Charts Tues., Feb. 24 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Excel Intermediate Functions Tues., Feb. 24 1:30 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. 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. In a recent announcement from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Smoking and Health, Rosemary V. Hernandez, one of the Tips From Former Smokers campaign participants, was recognized for sharing her story with millions to encourage them to quit smoking or to never start. Hernandez died last month at the age of 60, but her story and inspirational words of advice will live on through the CDC's tobacco cessation efforts. She was diagnosed with lung cancer from smoking cigarettes just two years ago. Months after lung cancer surgery, Hernandez found out she also had brain tumors. Hernandez not only fought a courageous battle when smoking gave her lung cancer, but also openly discussed how smoking dramatically impacted her health. In her Tips video, Hernandez shares that family support, faith and quitting smoking gave her hope and strength. Rosemary V. Hernandez was a participant in the highly successful Tips From a Former Smoker campaign presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She died last month, but left a lasting impression on the thousands of former smokers inspired by her story. App of the Week: Hearth Health Mobile Heart Health Mobile, created by the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, was launched in support of Million Hearts, a national initiative launched by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in September 2011 to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. The resource was the winning mobile application from the Million Hearts Risk Check Challenge. The app provides information about a person's risk for heart disease based on answers to questions about height, weight, cholesterol levels and blood pressure, diabetes and smoking status. PHNEWS Fight Disease With Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes? Florida's Considering It More Differences Than Similarities Are Found in Autistic Siblings In areas with participating pharmacies and other retail clinics, the app steers users to convenient locations for cholesterol and blood-pressure screening. A feature that tracks users' histories allows people to easily see if they have made progress as they work to lose weight or lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Smoking burns up as much as $2 million in a lifetime Realistic Targets May Boost Exercise Rates Falls can pose serious health hazards for elderly High Rates of Opioid Prescriptions Among Women Raise Alarm PHRECIPE Greek Style Pasta Serves: 6 Prep Time: 20 min Click Here for Full Recipe PHWEEK Communications Director Shawn Ryan Editor Ebony Brooks Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith-Lindsey Graphic Designer Darryl Moreland Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr. Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts Georgia Public Health Observances | February 2015 Forward email This email was sent to gadocs@uga.edu by communications@dph.ga.gov | Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribeTM | Privacy Policy. 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