Protecting Our Children: Healthy Living

4/10/2008

The Wake County Board of Commissioners proclaimed the week of April 7-11, 2008, "National County Government and Wake County Government Employee Appreciation Week" in Wake County. The proclamation was made in conjunction with the National Association of Counties (NACo) National County Government Week, which is observed each April. This year, the theme for County Government Week is Protecting Our Children.

Wake County works to Protect Our Children each day through programs such as immunizations, car seat checks and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) talks designed to keep kids of all ages healthy and safe.

Immunizations

The primary benefit of immunizations is the reduced incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases and their subsequent morbidity and mortality. A secondary benefit is that children grow up healthy and protected from disease.

Vaccinated children protect vulnerable populations by offering "herd immunity." "Herd immunity" is the theory that in diseases passed from person-to-person, it is more difficult to maintain a chain of infection when large numbers of a population are immune. Vaccines act as a "firebreak" in the spread of disease, slowing or preventing further transmission of disease to others.

Because of the vaccination efforts in the United States, the incidence of many diseases such as Polio and Measles has been eradicated. As a result, we usually see these diseases in persons traveling from other developed and undeveloped countries in the world.

Wake County consistently achieves a 90 percent or greater level of immunization compliance among 19 to 35 month old children.

Wake County Human Services offers the following immunization services:

Public Health Center (Clinic E)
10 Sunnybrook Road in Raleigh
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 8:30 – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. by appointment, with limited walk-ins accepted.

Eastern Regional Center
1002 Dogwood Lane in Zebulon
Call 919-404-3900 for information or to make an appointment.

Northern Regional Center
350 East Holding Ave.in Wake Forest
Call 919-562-6300 for information or to make an appointment.

Southern Regional Center
130 North Judd Parkway in Fuquay-Varina
Call 919-212-7000 to make appointments. Ask for an appointment at Southern Regional Center.

For more information, contact Dr. David Damsker at 919-250-4549.

Car Seat Checks

Members of the Love Us and Buckle Us Child Passenger Safety Team educates parents and ensures the safety of thousands of Wake County children each year by providing car seat installations and checks throughout the community. The group attends health fairs, community and agency events where they provide interactive activities that save lives.

Today, Thursday April 9, 2008, Love Us and Buckle Us will provide car seat checks at:

Eastern Regional Center
1002 Dogwood Drive in Zebulon
1 – -3 p.m.

Love Us and Buckle Us has received numerous national and local awards. In February, the team received "Program of the Year" which was awarded by the NC Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

For more information about the Love Us and Buckle Us program, contact Suzanne LeDoyen at 919-250-3989

EMS Talks

Wake County EMS actively engages children all over the County with talks designed to help keep them and their families healthy and safe. In 2007, Wake County EMS held interactive discussions and demonstrations with nearly 10,000 citizens. The majority of these talks occurred at over 70 preschools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and family health events at churches and other community organizations.

Pete the Paramedic Panda, a life size mascot, and Andy the Ambulance, an interactive remote control ambulance participate in many EMS talks. These interactive props help make learning about safety fun.

Today, Thursday April 9, 2008, Wake County EMS stff will speak to students at:

Durant Road Middle School
10401 Durant Road in Raleigh
10:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Presentation topics include calling 9-1-1, wearing a seatbelt and bicycle helmet, and the importance of exercise and a healthy diet. The presentations use the inherent intrigue and excitement of the EMS profession to capture the imagination and attention of young minds, and work in the important messages about safe and healthy lifestyles.

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