Celebrate Healthy & Safe Swimming Week with these Safety Tips

Summer is here! The best way to beat the heat is to chill in the water. Whether you are heading to the pool, the beach, the river or the lake, safety is key.

If you plan to be in or on the water, learn to swim. Knowing how to swim can reduce the risk of drowning.

Other ways to prevent drowning include:

• Provide adult supervision for all children in the water.
• Learn CPR.
• Always swim with a buddy. Never swim alone.
• Avoid swimming after dark.
• Watch for swimming hazards like rip currents and rough waters.
• Observe any advisories and listen to lifeguards.
• Wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. “Floaties,” arm bands or water wings are not safety devices.

Germs may be in the places you swim and can be a threat to your summer fun.

Remember these tips to prevent illnesses when swimming:

• Do shower with soap and water BEFORE and AFTER swimming.
• Don’t swim if you are ill.
• Don’t swim or play in water if you or your child has been sick with diarrhea in the past two weeks. Diarrhea and swimming don’t mix!
• Do use swim diapers on infants and toddlers.
• Don’t swallow the water you swim in! A mouthful of water with germs can make you sick for 2-3 weeks.
• Do cover any open wounds or cuts. Don’t swim if your skin has cuts or open wounds.
• Don’t swim after rainfall. Heavy rain picks up anything it encounters including germs from overflowing sewage, polluted storm water, and runoff from land.
• Don’t swim in water with a foul or chemical odor or discolored water.
• Don’t swim near or touch dead or dying fish.
• Do check the water and the area around it before swimming. Avoid going in water if there is a green film on the water or if the water is cloudier than usual. Some harmful algal blooms can be dangerous.
• Don’t swim near piers, pipes, storm drains or livestock.
• Do properly dispose of waste. Boaters should safely dispose of boat waste at pump outs. Pet owners should pick up after their pets!

Visit swimhealthyva.com for more information on pool safety and open water and beach safety. Remember: swim safe, stay safe!

National Nurses Week is May 6-12, 2025

During this week, we honor the service and commitment of public health nurses across the Commonwealth.

There’s never been a more exciting time to be part of public health in Virginia. Communities are working hard to tackle a variety of complex public health challenges. Innovative solutions are needed to help communities stay safe and healthy. Public Health Nurses (PHNs) are a critical part of that solution. As a PHN, no two days are alike. In this specialty, we use our clinical skills and public health knowledge to make significant impacts across family groups, communities, and larger community systems. The work of public health nursing is deeply rooted in prevention, program development/evaluation, community engagement, advocacy, and education. Whether a nurse is providing services out in the community, within the walls of the health department, or at the Central Office; we all serve a critical role in preventing disease and promoting health.

Kyndra Jackson, DNP, MPH, RN-BC
Director, Public Health Nursing
Virginia Department of Health

Virginia PHNs are committed to protecting and promoting an environment of healthy behaviors through education, partnership, prevention and response. They are vital to agency services across both the Central Office and local health districts. They are made up of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and other specialized healthcare professionals. The responsibilities of Virginia PHNs are varied and long reaching. They can include:

• Review the quality of public health services.
• Plan, investigate and respond to public health emergencies.
• Educate populations about healthy lifestyle choices.
• Design and carry out evaluation plans for research and policy development.
• Screen and track communicable diseases to prevent outbreaks.

In addition to the varied responsibilities, PHNs are ingrained throughout most programs at local health departments. PHN staff can be found on a daily basis helping meet the needs of patients on nutrition, maternal health, sexual health, and more.

What’s Your Nursing Superpower?

Each year, VDH staff nominates PHNs that they work with to be the VDH Nurse of the Year. Each district will select a nurse as the district winner. The district winner will go on to compete at the region level. Winners are then selected for each respective region. Once regional winners are selected, a panel votes on which regional winner is to be named the VDH Nurse of the Year for all of Virginia. Each 2025 regional winner and the 2024 Nurse of the Year were asked what their nursing superpower is. See their responses and learn about their work.

Thank a Nurse

During this National Nurses Week and the rest of the year, take a moment to thank the next nurse you see for their hard work and dedication that they give through their craft and to their patients.

Happy National Nurses Week 2025!

The Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water Invites You to Celebrate Drinking Water Week May 4-10, 2025  

During Drinking Water Week, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Office of Drinking Water (ODW) highlights the vital role water plays in our daily lives. We also reflect on the importance of having access to healthy and reliable drinking water. Sponsored by the American Water Works Association, Drinking Water Week is a time to recognize the incredible work performed by water professionals. It’s also a time to recognize the importance of protecting our source water systems (like lakes, rivers and water underground) and the ongoing work to improve and maintain our drinking water.   

ODW serves as Virginia’s advocate for safe drinking water and provides technical assistance to drinking water issues. It’s important to contact your water utility or local health department if you’re concerned about the quality of your tap water.  

Did you know…  

• Drinking water comes from two main sources:
  • Groundwater: underground aquifers that can be accessed through wells and natural springs.  
  • Surface water sources: lakes, rivers, streams and reservoirs.  

• A boil water advisory tells you that the system in place to protect drinking water is working.  
  • A boil water advisory is issued to confirm water is properly disinfected before returning to normal use without restriction.   
  • A boil water advisory can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a water main break or water line repair.   

• Water and wastewater professionals play a crucial role in protecting drinking water. These experts design, implement, and maintain treatment and monitoring systems to ensure drinking water is safe. 

Having trusted, safe, and reliable drinking water is necessary for public health. Learn more about VDH’s Office of Drinking Water. 

Don’t Delay: Get Prepared During National Hurricane Preparedness Week.

This week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 4-10, 2025). Hurricanes and tropical cyclones bring powerful winds, and heavy rainfall. They also have the potential for flooding and tornadoes. They can cause significant damage – even in areas faraway from Virginia’s coastline.

Now is the time to get ready:

• Make a plan or update your existing plan.
• Know your evacuation zone and have an evacuation plan if you live in a coastal area.
• Check the contents of the emergency kits in your home and car. Replace items that may have expired.
• Don’t have a kit? Here’s a supply checklist with basic items for every supply kit.
• Keep a list of your medications and instructions.
• Include information about your condition, medical supply needs, and allergies.
• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about how you can create an emergency supply of medicines.
• Don’t forget to prepare your pet for an emergency.
• Make sure you recognize the alerts and warning.
• Download the FEMA app to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. Colorado State University hurricane researchers forecast an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. They predict 17 named storms. Nine are forecasted to become hurricanes. Four are expected to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3 or higher). Overall, the U.S. has a 51% chance of experiencing at least one major hurricane this year.

Don’t wait for a storm warning to prepare for it. Most major hurricanes can get very strong very fast, leaving coastal areas little time to prepare. But the effects of tropical storms can impact the entire state. In 2024, Tropical Storm Helene caused tornadoes, flooding, and severe weather far inland.

Remember, it only takes one storm to change your life and community. Don’t delay, take action today! 

For more information on hurricane preparedness, see the Virginia Hurricane Preparedness Guide.

The Importance of Safe Drug Disposal

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) holds National Drug Takeback Day twice a year. This is often called “Take Back Day.” These days are the last Saturday of April, then again in October. The purpose of Take Back Days is for people to safely dispose of their unused prescription drugs. April 26 will be the first of these two days in 2025.

The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present threat to public health, public safety, and national security. Take Back Day reflects the DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health. DEA encourages Americans to remove unneeded medications and dispose of them safely. Disposing of unneeded medications prevents medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

DEA is committed to making communities safer and healthier. You can join in this commitment, too. Dispose of your unneeded medicines at and help reduce overdoses and overdose deaths.

Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. The DEA commented on last year’s event, “That’s why it was great to see thousands of folks from across the country clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in — safely and anonymously — a record amount of prescription drugs.”¹

Past Participation

In April 2024, a total of 4,607 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. participated in Take Back Day. They operated 4,869 collection sites. Those sites collected a total of 335 tons of unused prescription drugs. Those 335 tons of drugs were removed from circulation and potentially dangerous misuse.

Virginia operated 161 collection sites for Take Back Day in 2024 across the state. 17,425 pounds of unused prescription drugs were collected throughout the Commonwealth.

To find a collection site near you for the April 2025 Take Back Day, use this locator tool.

How to Prepare

• Locate all medications in your household. Ensure that they are securely stored. Ensure that all lids are closed tightly on bottles. Keep all bottles away from the reach of children, pets, etc.;
• Inventory the medications and identify which are unwanted and/or have expired dates;
• Label each of those identified medications with clear signage that indicates disposal; and
• Take them to a collection site between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

It’s that simple and that easy! Protect your family from the dangers of unused and/or expired prescription drugs.

Year-Round Drug Disposal

Many locations in Virginia are authorized year-round drop-off locations for unneeded medications. Find an authorized year-round drop-off location on the DEA website.

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¹ United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Take Back Day. https://www.dea.gov/takebackday#:~:text=Too%20often%2C%20unused%20prescription%20drugs,record%20amount%20of%20prescription%20drugs

Volunteer work involves donating one’s time, skills, and resources. This helps a cause, organization or community in need. Virginia’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) offers a perfect chance for anyone looking to help others or who may be searching for a way to give back to their community.

Established in 2002, the MRC is a national network of volunteers. It is locally organized to improve the health and safety of its communities. Throughout the Commonwealth, there are 25 local MRC units with more than 22,000 volunteers statewide. These units, consisting of medical and non-medical community members, support ongoing public health initiatives. One recent example is when MRC volunteers were called upon to assist those facing the devastation left behind by Hurricane Helene. The help provided by MRC volunteers was much needed throughout Southwest Virginia.

MRC volunteers work diligently to improve and protect their community’s public health. These efforts include:

• Public health outreach
• Training efforts
• Vaccination clinics
• Health screenings
• Emergency response
• And more

While there is only one week each year formally dedicated to acknowledging the vast contributions of volunteers, the unwavering support of MRC volunteers is noticed year-round. This year, National Volunteer Week will be held April 20-26.

During this special time, we celebrate and commend the MRC volunteers for their invaluable service to Virginia. Whether providing disease preventative measures or responding to health emergencies that cripple many communities each year, we give thanks to all generously giving their time and resources in so many ways. Their efforts truly make a difference in the lives of others.

You, too, can give back by becoming a Virginia Medical Reserve Corps volunteer. Take the first step by registering through the Virginia Volunteer Health System (VVHS).

Many people have heard myths about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).  Maybe you were told you could get pregnant from a toilet seat – you can’t.  Maybe you remember hearing about the “blue waffle disease.”  That was a fictional STI talked about online in the early 2010s.  For many years people have talked about how it is not safe to share plates or cups with someone who has HIV.  Sharing utensils or food with someone who has HIV is safe!

STIs are a historically taboo subject.  People don’t like to talk about STIs, and many STIs often do not have symptoms.  These factors make it easy for rumors to spread about who gets STIs, and how they are spread.

From April 13-19, Virginia will observe STI Awareness Week.  During this time, we shine light on the reality of how STIs are contracted, treated, and prevented.  STIs are very common.  In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that one in five people in the U.S. has an STI on any given day.  STI infections have increased dramatically over the five years since that time.  Syphilis is being diagnosed nationwide at levels not reported since 1950.  In Virginia, more cases of chlamydia are diagnosed than cases of the flu.

STI Prevention

Many people assume they will know if they get an STI.  However, getting tested is the only way to know for sure.  Most people infected with a bacterial STI will not have noticeable symptoms.  Bacterial STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.  Even without symptoms, STIs can still be spread from person-to-person.  They can also cause serious health problems.  For example, untreated gonorrhea or chlamydia can result in being unable to have children.  They can also become life threatening in rare cases.  People with syphilis can experience permanent organ damage.  This usually occurs if the infection spreads to their brain, eyes, or ears.

Finally, most people are also aware of the most common ways to prevent an STI:

• not having sex (abstinence),
• only having sex with one partner who has tested negative for all STIs (monogamy), and
• correctly using barriers made of latex (or other materials): such as condoms and dental dams—during sex.

Medical Interventions

Taking certain medications before sex can significantly reduce HIV/STI risk.  People who are HIV-negative can take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before sex.  This will reduce the risk of getting infected with HIV by 99%.  People who are HIV-positive can take their HIV medications as prescribed.  This prevents passing the virus to others.

Some medications taken after sex reduces the risk of getting an STI.  People who may have been exposed to HIV can take post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).  If taken within 72 hours, it may prevent infection.  Similarly, people who may have been exposed to some bacterial STIs can take DoxyPEP.  If taken within 72 hours DoxyPEP reduces the risk of bacterial STI infection.

What You Can Do This Week

Please join us in observing STI Awareness Week 2025.  Share reliable information about STIs.  Talk about your experience if you have had one before.  Consider encouraging people you know to get a free or low-cost test.  Virginia has a variety of options for testing, including:

• local health departments,
• nonprofit organizations,
• self-testing programs, and
• partnerships with private organizations.

Talk to your medical provider about whether PrEP or DoxyPEP are right for you.  By working together, we can make Virginia the healthiest state in the nation.

Beginning on, or about, April 2, USDA Wildlife Services will be distributing oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits.  This will occur in portions of Southwest Virginia.  Specifically, the areas of:

If you or a pet find an ORV bait

If your pet finds an ORV bait, do not try to remove the bait from your pet’s mouth.  You could be bitten.  Eating the baits will not harm your pet.  Confine your pet and look for other baits in the area.  Remove any bait from areas where your pet could eat them.

Instruct children to leave baits alone.  Wear gloves or use a towel when you pick up any bait.  Although there is no harm in touching an undamaged bait, they have a strong fishmeal smell.  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water if there is any chance that the ORV packet has been ruptured.

Call to report a bait exposure

The ORV baits which will be distributed are “coated sachets.”  They are a plastic packet of vaccine coated with a sticky, scented substance to attract raccoons.  Each packet is marked with a toll-free number.  Call 877-722-6725 if you come into contact with a bait and need help or information.

If a person or pet is exposed to the vaccine within the bait, also call the number on the bait and report the bait contact.  Again, that number is 877-722-6725.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

For FAQs about the ORV baits, please visit the USDA website.

More information about the program

Please contact USDA for any questions about the USDA Wildlife Services Oral Rabies Vaccination Program.  They can be reached at (540) 230-7067.   More information about the program can be found on the USDA website.