2. Test your home. Instructions are provided with the test.

3. Mail your completed test to the lab. Return postage included with the test.

4. The lab will contact you directly with the test results.

Check out the video below for more information on testing your home for radon -

The Farmington Valley Health District has completed the first draft of our Community Health Assessment (CHA)! This has been a months-long undertaking which involved analysis of data from a variety of sources, including the Census Bureau, the Connecticut Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and focus group discussions with town social services directors. The end product provides an overview of the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health in the FVHD as well as the health behaviors and health outcomes of FVHD residents.

Some key findings from the Farmington Valley health assessment include:

• Significant mental health and substance use needs
• High levels of obesity
• Low seasonal flu vaccine uptake
• High household radon levels
• Lack of affordable housing
• High number of older adults who have fallen, and high proportion who subsequently required medical attention or whose fall contributed to their death

As we move from finalizing the CHA to developing the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), the FVHD along with our many community partners and residents will identify health priorities from the key findings of the CHA. These health priorities will drive the development of projects to address these priority health areas. The CHIP will serve as a roadmap for collaborative health improvement activities over the next five years. This plan will prioritize areas that affect the conditions where people live, learn, work, and play that will enable our residents to achieve the highest attainable standard of health.

The FVHD encourages resident participation in the CHIP process! If you are interested in being involved in the identification of health priorities that will drive the work of promoting health across the Farmington Valley, please email kcarew@fvhd.org or omorris@fvhd.org. Be on the lookout for further information on how residents can get involved in the CHIP process. 

Winter is a beautiful season in Connecticut. However, colder weather also mean challenging weather conditions. Be weather-aware to ensure your safety. 

Tips for winter preparedness include:

• Monitor daily weather forecasts
• Be prepared with ice melt, sand, and shovels
• Have winter boots with good traction
• Have an all-weather radio available in case of power outages
• Wear temperature appropriate clothing and accessories such as gloves, hats, and scarves
• Stay home if bad or severe weather is forecast
• Plan ahead if you know a storm is coming- get necessary items from the grocery store, fill up gas tanks in car and generator (if available), and ensure flashlights and batteries are ready
• Prepare for power outages due to heavy wet snow or ice accumulation 

Signs of hypothermia include:

Early Signs:

• Shivering
• Fatigue
• Loss of coordination
• Confusion

Late Signs:

• No Shivering
• Blue Skin
• Dilated Pupils
• Slowed Pulse and Breathing
• Loss of Consciousness

Being caught unprepared in a winter storm can mean life or death. Hypothermia can set in quickly, especially if your car dies or an accident occurs.

First Aid for hypothermia:

• Immediate medical assistance
• Move to a warm place
• Remove wet clothes
• If conscious provide warm beverages
• Keep warm and dry
• Cover head with hat or blanket
• If no pulse, begin CPR

When snow shoveling or snow blowing: 

• Keep in mind that this is considered strenuous exercise. If you are not someone who regularly exercises, pace yourself. 
• Remember to bend at the knees with your back straight to avoid injury. Heavy, wet snow can weigh up to 25 pounds.  
• Take frequent breaks to hydrate and warm up. 
• If you feel short of breath or develop any sudden chest pain, neck, jaw or arm pain, or nausea, stop and rest immediately. These may be signs of a heart attack. Call 911 for transportation to the hospital for evaluation. 

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless and odorless gas. You may not be aware of a gas leak or CO poisoning until it’s too late. In the United States, CO poisoning causes 500 deaths per year!

What are the symptoms of CO Poisoning?

• Mild headache
• Breathlessness
• Flu-like symptoms
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Nausea
• Impaired judgement/memory/coordination

What to do if you suspect a CO leak:

• Open doors and windows immediately
• Get outside
• Turn off stoves, ovens, heaters and generator
• Call 911 - it is important that the fire department respond as well as the emergency medical services

Change you CO Alarm batteries every year. Install on every floor of your home, especially outside sleeping quarters, where you can hear them.

We want you to be safe this winter and enjoy what Connecticut weather has to offer. Don’t forget your annual influenza vaccine and stay up to date with your COVID boosters. Call the FVHD for information or visit www.vaccinefinder.org or www.fvhd.org for additional details.

For many, the arrival of the holiday season brings feelings of warmth, excitement, and anticipation of celebrations with family and friends. It’s the season of giving and gathering, sharing meals and affection, and indulging nostalgia and wonder.

For others, however, the holiday season can feel overwhelming, and stressful. Expectations and demands can be high. Not everyone has family or friends with whom to celebrate.

Picture Source

Not all stressors have the same effect on all people, but chances are, each of us struggles with something to some degree this time of year. For those already dealing with a diagnosed mental health challenge, the additional stress can be even more challenging. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 64% of people with a diagnosed mental health challenge found the holidays made their condition worse.

We’ve all been guilty of setting ambitious New Year’s resolutions. A 2020 study identified that the three most popular resolutions are improving physical health, losing weight, and changing eating habits. These are all so easy to achieve, right? 

Not so! Achieving these goals requires lifestyle and behavioral changes that can take a year or more to accomplish. In fact, the same study that identified these resolutions also found that more than half of them were dropped within 4 weeks.

With no quick fix for these common concerns, how do you feel when the end of January approaches and nothing has changed? Guilty? Dejected?

If failing to meet your goals causes you stress, you may actually be doing yourself more harm than good. The reason is that stress itself can negatively impact your psychological and physical health. Negative mental health conditions such as chronic stress, depression, pessimism, anxiety, or a generalized dissatisfaction with life can lead to harmful body responses including elevated blood pressure, inflammation, and digestive problems. On the other hand, positive mental health conditions such as happiness, gratitude, optimism, and a sense of purpose or life satisfaction can result in lower blood pressure, less inflammation, and better glucose control, all of which lowers heart disease risk.

So this year, why not commit to working on lowering your stress level?

February is Heart Month and managing stress is a great way to improve both your psychological and physical health, including lowering your risk of developing heart disease. The American Heart Association offers several ways in which you can manage or reduce stress such as regular exercise, spending time with friends and family, getting good sleep each night, maintaining a positive attitude, utilizing relaxation techniques, and finding a hobby.

Check out the videos below on lowering stress. Whatever goals you choose to set for yourself in 2023, we wish you all the best!

Topics discussed at the 2022 No Wrong Doors event included:

• Importance of understanding military culture
• Impact of PTSD and TBI (traumatic brain injury) on student veterans
• Impact of grief and moral injury on a veteran’s ability to assimilate to civilian life
• Understanding the pathway to substance misuse disorder and why this is a risk factor for veterans
• Tunxis Pathway to Success – a veteran specific pathway to support veteran students in their educational journey
• Challenges of being a caregiver for veterans
• QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention training

FVHD wants to thank Tunxis Community College and the Tunxis OASIS Center for their tireless support of our veteran students and for their partnership with FVHD and RGH in improving the educational experience for those who have served our country.

Everyone knows the health department inspects restaurants,

but did you know we also inspect salons?

What counts as a salon?

Public Act 19-177 defines a salon as any shop, store, day spa, or other commercial establishment at which the practice of barbering, hairdressing, and cosmetology, or the services of a nail technician, esthetician, or eyelash technician are offered and provided.

What does the health department look for?

Bacteria and fungi can easily flourish in unsanitary conditions and spread between clients. To protect the public's health, all salons undergo routine inspections. The Farmington Valley Health District inspectors ensure technicians are properly licensed and follow proper sanitation standards, such as disinfecting their tools and work areas.

What can you look for when you go?

Follow your gut! There are general things that you can look for when entering a facility as well, including overall cleanliness, single-use or sterilized tools, and proper handwashing.

If you still have concerns, you have the right to ask to see the professional’s license if it is not posted on the wall. Also know that you can ask to see previous inspection results to ensure cleanliness and that routine inspections are being conducted.

Our environmental health program provides information and resources to our community residents and businesses. If you are interested in other inspectional services offered by the Farmington Valley Health District, please visit our website at www.fvhd.org and look out for future highlights in this newsletter. 

Did you know financial assistance is available for COVID-19 funeral costs? FEMA may provide up to $9,000 in financial assistance per deceased individual for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.

The Farmington Valley Health District understands that the COVID-19 pandemic brought overwhelming grief to many. We are providing information to our community about federal assistance that may ease the financial stress caused by the pandemic.

Currently, there is no deadline to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. To apply or learn more, please call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333. You may also visit FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website for more information.

The health department strives to prevent disease outbreaks and conditions that give rise to poor health, promote health programs and policies that support good health, and protect members of our community from health threats.