July 2017
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Did You Know? is a weekly feature from the Office for State, Tribal, Local and Territorial Support to inform your prevention activities. We invite you to read, share, and take action!
View the Current Did You Know?
July 28, 2017
- On average, extreme heat kills more than 600 people in the United States every year.
- Older adults, children, athletes, outdoor workers, and people with low income or chronic conditions are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.
- You can learn the warning signs and symptoms of heat injury and find out what to do to prevent harm from extreme heat.
July 21, 2017
- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) assessed nearly 950,000 people in 2016 for exposure to toxic substances; 230,000 of them had exposures that were potentially harmful to their health.
- In 2016, ATSDR responded to 520 requests in 35 states and territories to assess exposure to dangerous substances such as asbestos, lead, mercury, and trichloroethylene (TCE).
- Through cooperative agreements and petitions, health departments can work together with ATSDR to reduce people’s exposure to toxic substances in the environment.
July 14, 2017
- About 198 million people—or almost two-thirds of the US population—are now served by a health department accredited through the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB).
- More than 90% of accredited health departments report that accreditation stimulates quality improvement, strengthens accountability and transparency, and improves management processes.
- Health departments preparing for accreditation can use a crosswalk of PHAB accreditation standards and CDC’s Prevention Status Reports, as well as other tools and resources from CDC and its partners.
July 7, 2017
- Opioid prescribing remains high overall in the United States but varies from county to county, suggesting that people receive different care depending on where they live, according to this month’s Vital Signs.
- Too many people get opioid prescriptions for too many days at too high a dose [PDF-4.7MB], which puts them at risk for addiction and overdose.
- Healthcare providers can use CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain and related resources to ensure appropriate prescribing.
Did You Know? information and web links are current as of their publication date. They may become outdated over time.
- Page last reviewed: July 21, 2017
- Page last updated: July 28, 2017
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