Author: tracygramajo

Plan Ahead for a Healthy and Safe Holiday

As you and your family prepare to travel during the holiday season, the VDH reminds you to take important steps now to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Holiday travel and festive gatherings can increase the risk of spreading infectious diseases and encountering unexpected emergencies.

Tips to healthy and safe holiday travel:

• Check Immunization Status: To check your immunization status, call your healthcare provider or request records through the VDH Record Request Portal. Make sure you are up-to-date on all of your recommended vaccines. Measles and other infectious diseases can spread quickly in a large group of unvaccinated people. Bring a copy of your official immunization records with you when you travel.
• Prevent Seasonal Illnesses: Protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV by doing three little things: washing your hands, covering your cough and getting vaccinated. Everyone aged six months and older should get a flu shot every year, with a few exceptions. Talk to a healthcare provider about which vaccines are recommended for you and your family.
• Monitor Travel Advisories: Check current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of State travel advisories before departure.
• Pack Smart: Pack enough prescription medications for the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays. Keep medications in their original containers and carry them in your hand luggage. Pack a travel health kit.
• Stay Home if Sick: Postpone your travel and stay home when you are sick. Consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance to cover expenses if you must change your plans due to illness.

VDH wishes everyone a safe, healthy, and festive holiday season.

Ring in the New Year and focus on becoming healthier. VDH Norfolk wants to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions by offering simple, sustainable habits for a year of health and wellness.

Here are some tips to help you be healthier in 2026:

• Get Active: Try to move more and sit less. Take the stairs when you can. Find fun ways to be active, like walking or doing yoga. Aim for about 150 minutes of exercise each week.
• Eat Well: Eat more foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. Drink lots of water. Eliminate sugar and junk food/limit alcoholic drinks.
• Manage Stress: Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Try mindfulness or meditation. Spend time with friends and family, manage your stress, and maybe write in a journal.
• Schedule Screenings: Visit your doctor and dentist for regular checkups and screenings. Drink enough water and wash your hands often to stay healthy.
• Quit Smoking: Now is a good time to quit bad habits. Smoking and vaping can hurt your body, so it’s best to stop. Quit Now Virginia is a free service that helps people quit smoking, using tobacco, or vaping.

Keep working on your goals to build healthy habits this year. If things don’t always go as planned, be kind to yourself and keep trying. Do things that make you happy and take care of yourself.

Let’s make health a shared goal!

Reminder: Winter weather can be dangerous and unpredictable. Snow, ice and freezing conditions can lead to unexpected injuries and accidents. These conditions can increase the risk of hazardous travel, power outages, and health impacts, especially for older adults, children, and people with chronic health problems.

By preparing ahead of time you can avoid emergencies, protect your health and keep your loved ones safe. Follow these tips to be better prepared for the cold weather season.

• Have an emergency kit with supplies such flashlights, batteries, blankets, food, and water.
• Winterize your home by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows.
• Check batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors.
• Prepare your vehicle with emergency supplies.
• Use space heaters safely. Keep heat sources at least three feet away from drapes, furniture, bedding, or other flammable materials. Never cover your space heater.

Preparation before dangerous winter weather arrives is critical. The best time to prepare for severe winter weather is now, before temperatures drop significantly and staying safe and warm becomes a challenge. Take these precautions to lower your risk of illness.

• Wear cold appropriate clothing like gloves, hats, scarves and snow boots.
• Be aware of the wind chill factor.
• Remove any wet clothing immediately.
• Limit your time outdoors.

If you plan to travel, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides travel advisories on current road conditions and weather forecasts. Travelers can easily access weather information by dialing 511, 24 hours a day, seven days a week or via the website at 511.vdot.virginia.gov.

Virginia’s Fuel Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible households with heating costs during the winter months, is accepting applications through November 14.

Fuel assistance provides support for:

• Home heating costs
• Furnace re-starts
• Delivery charges
• Installation charges
• Connection or re-connection fees

Find out if you qualify and apply at commonhelp.virginia.gov or call (855) 635-4370.

Paper applications are available in English and Spanish at Norfolk Department of Human Services (741 Monticello Ave.)

More program info and downloadable applications at Norfolk.gov/energyassistance

Join the Hampton Roads Chapter of Project Nana for the ‘Tee Up to End Women’s Cancers’ Golf Tournament! Swing for a cause as we raise awareness for gynecologic cancers.

Mammogram Screenings in Your Community

 

Local pet owners are invited to bring their furry friends to Howl-O-Ween, a special community event offering FREE rabies vaccinations on Saturday, October 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 830 Southampton Ave., Norfolk, VA 23510.

This fun and family-friendly event combines pet wellness with Halloween spirit. In addition to free rabies vaccines (while supplies last), attendees can enjoy swag giveaways and show off their pets’ best Halloween costumes.

“Rabies prevention is an essential part of protecting both pets and people,” said Dr. Susan Girois, Director of Norfolk Department of Public Health. “Howl-O-Ween is a great opportunity for the community to safeguard their animals’ health while enjoying a festive, seasonal celebration.”

Requirements for Vaccines:

• Pets must be at least 12 weeks old.
• Dogs must be on leashes. Cats must be in carriers.
• Owners must bring their previous rabies certificate for eligibility for a 3-year vaccine. Without it, a 1-year vaccine will be provided.

Vaccines are first come, first served while supplies last.

Additional Highlights:

• Swag giveaways
• Pet costume fun – dress your dog or cat in their best Halloween outfit!

This event underscores the importance of community health and responsible pet ownership. Pet owners are encouraged to arrive early to ensure availability.

Did you know that adjusting fluoride in public water systems is one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay?

For nearly 80 years, water fluoridation has helped improve oral health across the U.S.—and the Virginia Department of Health fully supports it!

Here’s what you should know:
✅ Fluoride is a natural mineral, not a medication—just like adding iodine to salt or vitamin D to milk.
✅ It’s safe and effective. Thousands of studies over decades confirm it doesn’t cause harmful side effects at the levels used in U.S. drinking water.
✅ You still have personal choice—if you prefer not to consume fluoride, you can use water filters.
✅ Other countries use different methods to provide fluoride—like adding it to salt or milk.
✅ Fluoride in water + toothpaste = a double shield for your teeth!
✅ Local communities—not the federal government—decide whether to fluoridate their water.

🖱 Learn more from the Virginia Department of Health:
👉 https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/oral-health/cwf

Let’s keep our smiles strong, Virginia! 😁💙 #OralHealth #FluorideFacts #VDH