Author: bryanhooten

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) remind community members to celebrate New Year’s Eve safely by avoiding celebratory gunfire and ensuring firearms are securely stored. As the holiday approaches, we urge families to review basic firearm-safety practices to help keep our community safe. 

Firearm injuries are a public health issue that can affect anyone, regardless of their sex, age, race, ethnicity, or place of residence. The Virginia Department of Health reported 2,488 firearm injury emergency department (ED) visits in 2023. 

“New Year’s Eve is a time to gather with friends and family and celebrate the promise of the year ahead,” said Richmond and Henrico Deputy Director Melissa Viray, M.D. “We encourage our communities to celebrate responsibly, keep firearms safely stored, and avoid celebratory gunfire.” 

Safe alternatives for celebrating include using noisemakers, making music together, or preparing traditional New Year’s Day foods. 

If you hear or witness celebratory gunfire, call 911 immediately and do not confront the person responsible.  

RHHD urges community members to:  

• Store all firearms unloaded, locked, and keep ammunition separate. 
• Use lockable firearm cases, firearm safes, or cable locks to prevent access.   
• Remove firearms from the home if you or a loved one is struggling.  
• If you are a parent or caregiver, ask about firearm storage practices before you send your child to someone else’s home to play. 
• Teach your children about the dangers of firearms and the importance of safe storage. 
• Review your own firearm safety practices and make sure they are up to date. 

While the holidays can spark joy and celebration, they can also create stress or bring up difficult emotions. If you or a loved one is going through a tough time, call or text 988 for help and support.  

RHHD serves as the operating agent for the Trauma Healing Response Network (THRN) and coordinates the THRN as part of an overall gun violence prevention program. THRN coordinates, tracks, and monitors community-based, culturally responsive, resident-led programs to facilitate healing and respond to acts of gun violence through an evidence-based, trauma-informed lens. Community members can learn more about the THRN by visiting their Instagram and Facebook pages. For more information on the RHHD Youth Violence Prevention Program, contact Lorraine Wright at lorraine.wright@vdh.virginia.gov or call 804-482-8016. 

RHHD’s goal is to keep Virginians injury-free this New Year’s Eve and into the New Year. RHHD wishes you a happy, healthy, and safe holiday.  

For more information, please Visit rhhd.gov for more health and safety information. Follow RHHD on Instagram (@richmondcity_hd) and Facebook.  

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Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities. Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs. 

rhhd.gov | henrico.gov/health | RHHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd 

As you and your family prepare to travel during the holiday season, Richmond and Henrico Health District (RHHD) remind 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. 

“Gathering with friends and family is one of the highlights of the holiday season,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D. “When we take steps like checking our immunization status, preventing seasonal illness, and making smart travel decisions, we protect our health and the health of our loved ones. Have a safe and memorable holiday, whether you are traveling or staying close to home.” 

RHHD shares these 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.  

• 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. 

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage community members to stay aware of food and toy recalls during the holiday season. Recalls let consumers know if there have been possible illnesses or injuries associated with items they’ve purchased.  

“We encourage everyone to be aware of safety recalls during the holidays,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Environmental Health Manager Cindy McKelvy. “Recalls protect consumers when a safety issue is found in food or in consumer products like toys. Anything from a missing allergen label to burn and fire hazards can cause a recall. Once a recall has been initiated, consumers should check their pantries, refrigerators or freezers, and their children’s toys for any recalled items. Community members should ensure their safety and the safety of their families by carefully following recall instructions for return or disposal of the items.” 

Recent Food-Related Outbreaks and Product-Related Injuries and Deaths 

There have been food-related outbreaks of salmonella, listeria and infant botulism in the U.S. in 2025.  

According to the 2024 Annual Report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 62 deaths and an estimated 87,709 emergency department-treated injuries associated with use of child nursery equipment and supplies. There were 13 deaths and 180,224 emergency department-treated injuries associated with the use of toys.  

These organizations post recall information: 

• Foodsafety.gov, the Food and Drug Administration, and the CDC post food recalls. 
• SaferProducts.gov and the Consumer Product Safety Commission post toy recalls. 
• Retailers will often use store loyalty card programs to notify customers if they have purchased items that have been recalled. 
• Many local news sources will also highlight recalls.  

If you have purchased a recalled product:  

• Do not eat or use the product. 
• Return the food or toy for a refund, as instructed by the recall. 
• Dispose of the product safely, as instructed by the recall. 
• In the case of a food recall, clean surfaces, drawers, or utensils that came into contact with the food.  

Follow these tips to ensure all holiday gifts are safe for children:  

• Make sure any toy you buy is age appropriate. Children under three should not use toys with small parts that can easily go into a mouth. If you’re not sure about size, try fitting toy parts through a toilet paper roll — toys that can pass through the roll will pose a choking hazard.  
• Follow all packaging instructions about safe usage.  
• If you’re gifting a bike, skates, or scooter, add a helmet to the package. 

Richmond and Henrico Health Districts RHHD encourage community members to prepare for winter weather at home and on the road by building emergency kits and understanding cold weather hazards. 

“Don’t let winter weather take you by surprise,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Acting Local Health Emergency Coordinator Alyssa Lewis. “Now is the time to make sure your home, family, friends, and neighbors are ready for the winter season. We encourage everyone to create basic kits for your home and vehicles, know what hazards affect your area, and know how to keep your loved ones safe. A little preparation now can prevent an emergency later.” 

RHHD offers these tips to help you and your family prepare for winter weather: 

• Keep at least one emergency kit at home and one in your vehicle. Ready.gov has a great list of basic kit necessities and options for making low-cost kits. If there’s a baby in the home, make sure the kit includes formula and/or breast milk supplies, diapers, and other necessary items. Anyone with prescription medications should place a few weeks’ worth in their kit. If you freeze or refrigerate breast milk or prescription medication, add a cooler to your kit checklist. Finally, Don’t forget about your pets. 
• Keep warm safely. The improper use of some heat sources can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or death. In the event of a power outage and freezing temperatures: 
  • Avoid using stovetop burners or an oven to heat your home.  
  • Keep generators outdoors and separate from the home. 
  • If your car becomes stranded: 
  • Clear snow from the exhaust pipe. 
  • Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat. 
  • While running the motor, open an upwind window (the direction the wind is coming from) slightly for ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. 
• Write down the contact information and directions to your local Inclement Weather Shelter or warming center. 
  • City of Richmond Inclement Weather Shelter (IWS)
    1900 Chamberlayne Parkway
    Richmond, VA, 23222
    Open 5 p.m.-8 a.m.
    The IWS is for single adult men and women and can accommodate service animals. All guests can access heated indoor space, restrooms, seating, light snacks and beverages, dinner, ADA-accessible areas, hygiene kits, weekly health services van, mobile showers twice monthly, bed bug treatment, and onsite security. Access to the shelter is on a first-come, first-served basis.
    • Extended Hours: The IWS may remain open after 8:00 a.m. in the event of: 
      • Temperatures ≤ 40°F, or 
      • Freezing rain or snow greater than one inch over a 24-hour period 
  • Families may access the Community Resource & Training Center (CRTC) between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    1900 Chamberlayne Parkway
    Richmond, VA, 23222
    Call 804-646-3111 or email homeless@rva.gov for more information. 
  • Richmond Public Library branches serve as warming spaces during normal operating hours. 
  • Henrico County libraries and recreation centers are open to the public during normal operating hours.  
• Check weather conditions before driving. If you’re not familiar with driving in the snow, or your vehicle isn’t built for extreme weather, consider delaying your trip. A wet day with freezing temperatures overnight can create icy streets the following day. Visit the Virginia Department of Transportation for more winter driving tips. 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. 
• Check for impairment before driving. Distractions, drowsiness, drugs, and alcohol can impair your driving. Traffic crashes are preventable. Keep loved ones and community members safe by arranging for a designated driver, making use of rideshares or the Greater Richmond Transit Company’s (GRTC) fare-free bus lines, or by gathering at home. 

For more information and winter weather safety tips, visit ready.gov/winter-ready.