November is COPD Awareness Month. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing problems including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Along with COPD awareness month, World COPD Day is November 15, and this year’s theme is “Breathing is Life—Act Earlier.” Both COPD awareness day and month hope to educate communities about lung health, symptoms of COPD, risk factors and available treatments.
Continue readingIt’s November, and the holiday season is in high gear! While it’s hard to have too much good cheer or too many warm moments with friends and family, it’s easy to end up with too much food.
Did you know that injuries and violence are the number one killers of people 1 to 44 years old?
The Division of Injury and Substance Abuse is working to address the increase in preventable injuries and violence taking place in South Carolina. Please help make a difference by promoting the “Shine a Green Light – Pathway to Safety” supporting National Injury Prevention Day – November 18, 2023! Join DISAP in raising awareness about the burden of injury and violence in SC and the need for change by wearing green on Friday November 17, 2023.
DHEC also is asking South Carolina injury prevention partners to join this nationwide effort. Take notice of the different buildings and city landmarks across the country that shine green lights raising awareness for injury prevention.
DHEC also wants to recognize MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital as an Injury Free partner in Charleston, SC. MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital is an ACS-verified Level 1 pediatric trauma center. The trauma center’s Injury Prevention Program operates within four core areas: community outreach, education & training, research and policy.
Mary Beth Vassy, MPH, is the Injury Prevention Coordinator at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and the Coalition Coordinator for the Safe Kids Charleston Area.
“MUSC is proud to support National Injury Prevention Day,” she said.“Families deserve the best combination of high quality, lower cost and easily accessible care. MUSC Children’s Health puts the needs of patients and their families first.”
In addition to raising awareness to prevent injuries and acts of violence, communities across the country will be empowered with knowledge about safety practices, products and policies. Injury prevention programs continue to support:
In addition to addressing risk factors, it is equally important to foster resiliency and address inequities so that all people can build safe and nurturing relationships. Our children, our young people and their families deserve to live injury free.
November 15 is GIS Day, and we wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate DHEC’s own Geographic Information System (GIS) team.
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Working with the South Carolina Lowcountry Healthcare Coalition (LCHCC), DHEC’s Public Health Preparedness team contributed to the development of an app that connects individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and their caregivers to information and resources that can help them find treatment before, during and after a disaster.
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Live Healthy S.C. 