Health education is any combination of learning experiences designed to help individuals and communities improve their health, by increasing their knowledge or influencing their attitudes.
Physical Activity and Nutrition
Regular physical activity helps improve your overall health and fitness, and reduces your risk for many chronic diseases, helps control weight, and strengthens muscles, bones and joints. Fitting regular exercise into your daily schedule may seem difficult at first, but the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are more flexible than ever, giving you the freedom to reach your physical activity goals through different types and amounts of activities each week. It’s easier than you think!
Proper nutrition is critical to good health. Priorities from the CDC to improve nutrition include increasing access to healthy foods and beverages and promoting adoption of the Food Service Guidelines or other nutrition standards.
Recognizing an Emergency – Sirens
There are many different ways that the public is notified of emergency events. You’ve probably heard many of these before, including radio and television announcements that beep several times and say “This is a test of the emergency broadcast system.”. These systems help ensure that people in Putnam County and throughout the area will be notified in the event of a real emergency.
Immunizations
Are you and your children up-to-date on vaccinations? The Putnam County Health Department conducts routine immunization clinics for children, adolescents and adults. We also offer Overseas Travel and Occupational Health vaccinations. We carry all vaccines and offer them at cost with an additional small administration fee.
STD Prevention & Treatment
An STD is a type of infection that is spread through some sort of sexual activity. There are a variety of STDs which range from HIV, HPV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia. Some STD’s have severe and obvious symptoms, but some go undetected, causing people to be unaware that they are at risk. Bacterial STD’s can often be cured, but viral STD’s can only be treated, not cured.
Tuberculosis (TB) Testing
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States.
Emergency Response Volunteer
Your participation as a public health volunteer could make the difference in our county’s ability to respond. The Putnam County Health Department’s Emergency Response Team volunteers enhance the county’s emergency preparedness efforts by ensuring that a trained group of public health volunteers are ready to assist in response to a public health emergency. We are […]
Community Initiatives
The Kanawha-Putnam Household Preparedness Initiative (KPHPI) is a community driven effort to promote emergency preparedness amongst people living in Kanawha and Putnam counties through social groups, support groups, and accountability partners.
Tips for Being Prepared
Being prepared for an emergency is as simple as having a kit and having a plan. You should have an emergency kit in your home that contains essentials that you will need in the event of an emergency. There are many different kits available for purchase online in a variety of sizes, or you can make your own very easily.
Information for Providers and Laboratories
Current health news, alerts, and more information on reporting outbreaks or other communicable diseases.
Epidemiology Reports
Click on the link for each county to view the Epidemiology Report.
- FY 2017, Q1 – Kanawha County | Putnam County
- FY 2017, Q2 – Kanawha County | Putnam County
- FY 2017, Q3 – Kanawha County | Putnam County
- FY 2017, Q4 – Kanawha County | Putnam County
Information for the Public
Information on specific illnesses or diseases and ways you can protect you and your family from getting sick. Here are five easy steps you can take to help protect yourself and your loved ones from getting sick.
Health Advisories
Developed as a primary method to share information with federal, state, territorial, and local public health practitioners, clinicians, and public health laboratories, CDC’s Health Alert Network (HAN) is the primary method to share information on urgent public health incidents. The State of West Virginia has a similar system (WV-HAN) designed to share information on urgent public health incidents specific to West Virginia as well.
Food Safety
Environmental Health is responsible for promoting and protecting the public’s health by ensuring that the county’s food supply is safe and sanitary. There are hundreds of permitted food establishments in Putnam County. PCHD permits and inspects all businesses or establishments that sell food to the public. Examples include restaurants, bars, schools, hospitals, day cares, temporary food stands, retail establishments, etc.
Water
The purpose of the water program is to ensure that the public’s health is protected through safe drinking water, proper well and water supply system construction and site location evaluation for wells before installation. Prevention from contamination of the on-site water supply is a high priority of the program.
Storm Information
Sewage
Many residents of Putnam County utilize individual home sewage disposal systems since sanitary sewers are not accessible to all parts of the county. PCHD staff work hard to ensure that sewage disposal systems function properly and do not compromise drinking and ground water quality. PCHD permits, inspects and approves on-site wastewater system installations and works with subdivisions, sewage treatment plants, home aeration units and septic tank cleaners to ensure that the regulations governing them are followed.
Recreation
The Recreation Program deals mainly with summertime outdoor programs, with the exception of the Indoor Water Facilities. Swimming pools, spas, hot tubs and bathing beaches are governed by the new State Bureau of Public Health Recreational Water Facilities Rule which came into effect July 1, 2002. The KCHD inspects over 105 water facilities in the county.
Housing
Housing encompasses a wide range of programs. The main purpose of any program in the housing division is to ensure a clean, safe and sanitary environment. All permitted establishments in each program are inspected a minimum of two times a year, except public schools, which are inspected bi-annually. The KCHD permits Child Care Centers, Bed and Breakfasts, Mobile Home Parks, Hotel/Motels, and Public and private Schools.
Flood
During natural disasters like flooding, floodwaters carry disease-causing organisms that can lead to serious illness or even death, the Putnam County Health Department recommends that you take precautions. As you begin the task of cleaning up your home or business and salvaging belongings remember to take the proper precautions to protect your health. Resources Instructions […]
Disaster and Disease
The Putnam County Health Department provides a wide range of services dealing with disaster and disease. PCHD provides instruction and technical assistance during natural disasters; conducts animal encounter investigations and submits rabies samples as required; and advises and assists with solid waste and indoor air pollution problems as needed.