Thursday, January 24, 2013
This letter was submitted by the executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, January 24
Although transportation and public health are often viewed separately, transportation has a direct impact on public health. The addition of bike lanes and sidewalks encourages exercise while reducing emissions and the impact of asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions. Expansion of public transportation allows greater access to parks, jobs, healthy food stores, and health care facilities, which are all intimately tied to well-being. Increased use of public transportation also reduces injuries and fatalities caused by traffic accidents. With the Governor’s transportation proposal currently on the table, it is important to identify policies and projects that will work to improve public health. During this legislative session there …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia, and remember to check on your elderly neighbors.
- AWARENESS
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The following column was provided by Boston Emergency Medical Services. For many of us, when we think winter, we think ice skating on the Frog Pond, sledding with the kids on the neighborhood hill, sipping hot chocolate and watching the snow fall. These are the parts of winter that we all enjoy. Then there’s shoveling the sidewalk and digging out the cars after a storm, slipping on icy steps, downed trees and power outages. The more we prepare for problems and bad weather, the safer we’ll all be. At Boston EMS, our crews are ready for any call. And there are several things people can do to keep themselves and their families safe this winter: Carbon Monoxide is an odorless, tasteless and poisonous gas that develops when things burn. …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Residents are invited to a public hearing with Boston Public Schools and the Boston Public Health Commission on Tuesday night to address mental health issues, especially in light of the recent tragedy in Newtown, CT.
Tuesday's Boston City Council hearing addressing the stigma of mental health illnesses comes just days after a tragic school shooting in Newtown, CT. As the nation continues to mourn and wonder why the shooter did what he did, the question of his mental health is being openly discussed. Were there warning signs? Did he ever seek treatment? For many people, there is a stigma attached to seeking mental health help. On Tuesday night, At-Large Boston City Councilor Felix G. Arroyo is hosting a hearing on "ending the mental health stigma and how the city can be a part of the effort." Previously, Arroyo assembled a task force of mental health organizations that will be represented at the hearing to discuss their work and the collaborative …
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The most recent victim marks the third human case of West Nile Virus in Boston this season.
The Boston Public Health Commission announced on Tuesday another confirmed human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) this year. The victim, a Boston resident in his 50’s, was hospitalized but has been released. Officials say it is unclear at this time where it was contracted. This most recent case is the third Boston resident this summer to become infected with West Nile Virus this season. Earlier this month, a woman in her 50’s from Beacon Hill and a man in his 40’s from Dorchester were both hospitalized with WNV and released. There haven't been any cases yet in the South End, although mosquito pools have tested positive for the virus in several Boston neighborhoods. “It’s clear that mosquitoes aren’t gone yet,” said Dr. Anita Barry, director…
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced the third human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a Massachusetts resident.
A third Massachusetts resident has been hospitalized for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), this time a female under the age of 18 in Western Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Based on this finding, the EEE threat level has been raised in several towns in Franklin County and Worcester County. The EEE threat level has been raised to “Critical” in Athol, Orange, and Royalston, and to “High” in Erving, Petersham, Phillipston, Templeton, Warwick, Wendell, and Winchendon. The current EEE threat level for all of Boston is "High." Although there have been no cases of EEE in the Boston area to date this year, there have been two cases of West Nile Virus, another mosquito-borne disease, including a Beacon …
Friday, August 24, 2012
A Cambridge man in his 70s is hospitalized with the disease. He represents the second human case of West Nile Virus confirmed in the state this year.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Thursday raised the threat level for West Nile Virus in Boston to high. The move comes after a Cambridge man in his 70s was confirmed to have West Nile Virus, according to an announcement from the public health department. He represents the second confirmed human case of West Nile Virus in the state this year. The first case, confirmed on Aug. 15, was also discovered in a Cambridge resident, according to the announcement. The most recent West Nile Virus patient is currently hospitalized, the announcement says. The Department of Public Health has also raised the threat level to high in Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont, Somerville, Brookline and Watertown. A "high" threat level means multiple cases…
Sunday, July 1, 2012
There are several neighborhood resources for your family, but mental health experts recommend you contact your primary physician to start.
Boston's families have new tools to deal with mental illness and stress in children, thanks in part to new federal grants. There are numerous mental health resources and services available in Boston, but the first line of prevention is the family's pediatrician, said Debby Allen, Boston Public Health Commission's Director of the Bureau of Child, Adolescent and Family Health. One new program is Project Launch, which is targeted to help very young children, who don’t have serious manifestations of serious illinesses, but are acting up, or in life situations such as being homeless, or instability, such as a having mother suffering from depression. These programs are available at three Boston sites, and employ early childhood clinicians: …
Joseph
10:38 am on Friday, January 25, 2013
Not well said Mr. Fisher!! The only reason for this puff piece is to say how great it is to continually overtax hard working citizens of this Commonwealth. Of course you're happy, you receive the benefits of our hard work. The failure for you, Jay K, The Patch, Gerald Robbins and others not to see how Patrick is refusing to address the real problems with his (our) government is mind boggling. Oh … more ›