Category: pr

• Get tested – all adults 18 years and older should be screened for hepatitis B and C at least once in their lifetime.
• Avoid sharing or reusing needles, syringes or any other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs, steroids, hormones, or other substances.
• Avoid using personal items that may have come into contact with an infected person’s blood, even in amounts too small to see, such as glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes.
• Avoid getting tattoos or body piercings from an unlicensed facility or in an informal setting.

RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) offer safety tips to help the public increase its awareness of ticks and the potential for tick-related illness. “Tick bites can lead to a number of potentially serious illnesses,” said Richmond and Henrico Deputy Director Melissa Viray, MD. “It’s important to take a few key steps to protect yourself and your family.”

RHHD offers the following guidelines to help the public stay safe from tick-related illness during the summer months.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 17, 2024

Media contact for the recreational water advisory: Brookie Crawford, VDH,  brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov

Media contact for the sewer main repairs:Rhonda Johnson, COR DPU, rhonda.johnson@rva.gov

VDH Issues Recreational Water Advisory for the James River from Manchester Bridge to Osborne Landing Due to Sewage Release
Public Advised to Avoid Contact with Contaminated Water

RICHMOND, Va. – Effectively immediately, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is issuing a recreational water advisory for the James River beginning at the Manchester Bridge (9^th Street) in the City of Richmond and ending at Osborne Landing in Henrico County. For the safety of people and pets, VDH is advising that recreational water activities, such as swimming, wading, tubing, and whitewater kayaking (where submersion in the water is likely), should be avoided. The advisory is issued out of an abundance of caution due to an ongoing sewage release from a City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (COR DPU) sewer pipe.

On July 16, a sewer release near the Pipeline Trail, along the James River, was first reported to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and VDH. The situation is being actively monitored by both DEQ and VDH. The advisory will be lifted once bacteria levels are at levels acceptable for recreational contact.

The COR DPU is in the process of shutting down the pipeline and making assessments. Repairs will begin as soon as possible. DEQ is conducting water sampling along the James River to assist VDH in determining advisory updates. Additional samples will be taken once the sewer repair is complete.

To ensure public safety in this high-recreational use waterbody, the advisory extends from the James River at the Manchester Bridge (9^th Street) in the City of Richmond to Osborne Landing in Henrico County (approximately 12 miles of the James River). Public access points to the James River in the impacted area include Great Shiplock Park and Chapel Island, Dock Street Park, Wharf Street/Intermediate Terminal, Ancarrow’s Landing, and Osborne Landing.

Activities, which are not likely to result in water submersion (boating, fishing, canoeing), may continue with proper caution to avoid contact with the water.

VDH has observed no evidence of impacts to drinking water at this time. The Richmond drinking water intake is upstream from the impacted site and remains unaffected.

Swallowing contaminated water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, with vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, or fever. Contact with contaminated water can also cause infections of the ears, nose, throat, and skin.

To prevent recreational water illnesses due to exposure to the sewage release event, people should:

• Avoid contact with the waterbodies noted above and observe advisory signage posted at waterbody access points.
• Avoid any area of the waterbody where there is water with a foul odor, dead or dying fish, or discolored water.
• Promptly wash skin with soap and water if you cannot avoid contact with water in the vicinity.
• Seek medical care and notify your practitioner of the waterbody exposure if you experience adverse health effects after contact with the waterbody.

For more information on recreational water safety, visit www.SwimHealthyVA.com.

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NOTE: The attached warning sign will be posted at water access points accessible to the public. If private landowners within the vicinity of the advisory would like to post the below signage at their water access points, they may print, laminate, and post the signage.

RICHMOND, VA – Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD)’s own Peter Braun served as lead author on the paper “A Heat Emergency: Urban Heat Exposure and Access to Refuge in Richmond, VA,” which was recently published in GeoHealth, a transdisciplinary open access journal.

Braun is a built environment policy analyst with RHHD. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, built environment can generally be described as the human-made or modified structures that provide people with living, working, and recreational spaces.

GeoHealth publishes high-quality original research articles and commentaries across the intersections of the Earth and environmental sciences and health sciences. From Braun’s article’s Plain Language Summary:

While human-caused climate change is driving average global temperatures to rise, some communities and neighborhoods in Richmond, Virginia experience hotter temperatures than others. This is largely due to a historical lack of government investment in Black and low-income neighborhoods. Hotter, less resourced neighborhoods experience more heat-related health emergencies like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. This study found significant relationships between the location of heat-related illness Emergency Medical Services data from Richmond, Virginia and areas which are measurably hotter.

The research group that Braun worked with also looked at the relationship between the locations of heat-related illness Emergency Medical Services responses and built refuge locations like libraries, cooling centers, and bus stops. They found that many of the heat-related illnesses in the study period occurred within a short walking distance of cooling centers and in close proximity to unsheltered bus stops. The research group included faculty and staff from University of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University, and staff from Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services.

“Spending just a few hours at a cooling center can help prevent heat-related illnesses, but a lot of Richmonders might not know these cooling centers exist or they might not have a safe way to get there,” said Braun. “In some neighborhoods, if you have to walk down a street without sidewalks or shade from street trees or if you have to wait at a bus stop without a shelter, you’re going to be exposed to extreme heat.”

The City of Richmond offers cooling refuge at the following locations:

·         Monday – Saturday

• Department of Social Services Marshall Plaza: 900 E. Marshall St., Suite 160, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Department of Social Services – Southside Plaza: 4100 Hull Street Road, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

• Monday–Sunday
  Richmond Public Libraries

Henrico County provides cooling refuge at several recreation centers and at all Henrico Public Libraries.

GRTC bus service is zero-fare this summer and all GRTC buses are air-conditioned.

RHHD raises awareness on heat and heat-related illness through social media, internal and external newsletters and messaging, and by providing alerts to community health workers who serve vulnerable populations. For more tips on how to stay cool this summer, please see this recent post on the VDH blog.

RHHD invites Richmond and Henrico residents to sign up for RHHD’s weekly newsletter to receive more information on heat and heat related illness.

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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.us/health | RCHD Facebook | HCHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd

• Mondays & Wednesdays – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. & 1 – 4:30 p.m.
• Fridays – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Mondays – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., 12:30  – 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesdays – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• Thursdays – 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.

• Wednesdays – 8:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.

RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) and Richmond Public Schools (RPS) encourage families to schedule appointments for rising 7th and 12th graders to receive their school-required immunizations and/or physicals. Families can schedule appointments with their primary care provider or attend an at-school immunization and physical clinic provided by RHHD and RPS in June and July. For these at-school clinics, physicals can be scheduled using this link and immunizations are offered on a walk-up basis.

“Its a great time to see your primary care provider for your wellness visit and get the vaccines your child needs,” said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Community Health Nurse Supervisor Virginia Slattum. “Richmond and Henrico Health Districts partners with Richmond Public Schools to provide another convenient place to get the required 7th and 12th grade vaccines to ensure students stay healthy and start school on time.”

“We want every student ready to learn on the first day of school, and physicals and immunizations are a critical component of that,” said Richmond Public Schools Chief Wellness Officer Renesha Parks. “We’re proud to partner with Richmond and Henrico Health Districts to offer these services to families easily and free of charge, in locations that are also offering families summer learning, meals, and other community resources. At RPS, we love you here.”

Rising RPS 7th and 12th graders are invited to attend at-school immunization and physicals clinics. These events are for RPS students only. See below for additional immunization appointment options.

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap)
  Booster dose required after age 11 and prior to 7th grade entry.
• Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY)
  The first dose shall be administered after age 11 and prior to 7th grade entry.
• Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV), Effective July 1, 2021
  Two properly spaced doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (for males and females). The first dose shall be administered after age 11 and prior to 7th grade entry. Parents may opt-out of this vaccine after they have received information from RPS and are encouraged to speak with their child’s pediatrician to make an informed decision. Students are not excluded for HPV non-compliance.

• Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACWY) Effective July 1, 2021
  Two properly spaced doses of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY). The first dose shall be administered after age 11 and prior to 7th grade entry. The second dose shall be administered prior to entry to the twelfth grade. One dose is required for 12th -grade entry if the first dose is received at or after 16 years of age.

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts encourage residents to complete the 2024 Community Health Assessment. A Community Health Assessment (CHA) is an anonymous survey that can be completed online or on paper that tries to answer big questions: What’s helping our neighborhoods stay healthy and well? Which communities need more resources to solve harder problems? A CHA shows community leaders and officials what health and social issues matter most to community members.

“The CHA will support our continued efforts towards improving the overall health and quality of life of Richmond and Henrico residents,” said Jasmine Carmichael, RHHD health equity specialist. “We can only make these improvements when we hear directly from residents who will be impacted.”

Richmond and Henrico residents can fill out the CHA in English or Spanish until July 31 either online at rhhd.gov/2024-CHA or by visiting one of the following locations and using a paper form:

RHHD Henrico East Clinic
1400 N. Laburnum Ave.
Richmond, VA 23223

RHHD Henrico West Clinic
8600 Dixon Powers Dr.
Henrico, VA 23228

RHHD Cary Street Clinic
400 E. Cary St.
Richmond, VA 23219

RHHD Resource Centers
Whitcomb, Creighton, Fairfield, Gilpin, Hillside, Mosby, Southwood

Paper copies of the CHA will also be available at a variety of community events throughout the summer. CHA responses are anonymous and no personally identifiable information will be collected. Residents who need help completing the survey or have questions are encouraged to contact RHHD Health Equity Specialist Jasmine Carmichael at Jasmine.Carmichael@vdh.virginia.gov.

Community members and stakeholders can follow the progress of the CHA by signing up for RHHD’s weekly newsletter.

RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) observe Asthma Awareness Month in May and encourage residents to connect with a physician for diagnosis and care if they or their children are experiencing the symptoms of asthma, including chest tightness or pain, wheezing when exhaling, and/or trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing. These symptoms may be worsened by a cold or the flu. The American Lung Association emphasizes the connection between asthma and climate change:

Climate change is causing extreme heat, contributing to poor air quality, increased allergens, extreme weather events, and more frequent and intense wildfires. Hot, humid air can cause asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Heat can trigger asthma symptoms because high temperatures and humidity can trap pollutants that can irritate the airways. Humidity helps common asthma triggers, like dust mites and mold to thrive. Air pollution, ozone, and pollen also increase when the weather is hot and humid.

American Lung Association

“We know that where a person lives can greatly impact their health,” said Becca Bruhl, RHHD Children’s Health Advisor. “Unfortunately, Richmond is one of the most challenging cities in the US to live in when you have asthma, according to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. At RHHD, we’re working together with local school and health systems to implement asthma education and intervention programs, advance policies and improvements to improve indoor and outdoor air quality and improve access to primary and specialty care to help people with asthma get the treatment and support they need to thrive.”

“Local governments have a lot of tools at their disposal to protect residents from extreme heat and improve local air quality at the same time,” said Peter Braun, RHHD Built Environment Policy Analyst. “Investing in tree planting, growing parks and greenspaces, and prioritizing active transportation have significant public health benefits.”

RHHD encourages residents experiencing the symptoms of asthma to reach out to a primary care or other physician to receive diagnosis and treatment. Residents can get help connecting to a primary care physician, regardless of insurance status, by visiting rhhd.gov/connect-pc. RHHD encourages residents with school-aged children to use the month of May to make sure their child’s asthma action plan is in place for the coming school year. Parents can find more information at RHHD’s school health hub, rhhd.gov/school-health-hub.

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.us/health | RCHD Facebook | HCHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd

RICHMOND, VA — The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) celebrate National Nurses Week May 6 – 12. National Nurses Week gives staff and residents the opportunity to recognize nurses for their service and dedication to caring for others.

RHHD’s own Nicole McCurrach has been named Virginia Department (VDH) of Health Central Region Nurse of the Year, making her a candidate for VDH Nurse of the Year for the entire commonwealth. Nicole is a dedicated and experienced public health nurse with a diverse work history in various healthcare settings including the Newborn Nursery in a hospital setting, child/adolescent mental health unit, home healthcare delivery, and public health nursing. Nicole was integral in RHHD’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics, administering vaccines to the community and providing educational presentations about the importance of vaccination. Since then, Nicole has been instrumental in RHHD public health clinics and rabies response work.

“Nicole embodies a passionate, spirited public health nurse who is focused on serving our community, no matter what the work entails,” says Amy Popovich, RHHD  Community Health Nurse Manager. “She is dedicated, hard-working, and quality-driven. She makes clients feel comfortable and addresses their needs while making sure they receive accurate and timely medical information. We are thankful to have Nicole on our team!”

RHHD Nurses will participate in celebratory breakfasts and lunches throughout the week. For more information on how RHHD is celebrating National Nurses Week, look for daily updates on social media and on Well Read, the RHHD blog, at rhhd.gov/blog.

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.us/health | RCHD Facebook | HCHD Facebook | IG: @richmondcity_hd