Crawford County Health Department

10/15/2026

Today is Global Handwashing Day. Did you know handwashing with soap and water is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stop the spread of germs? 🦠

🧼 Wash your hands and teach your kids to wash their hands during these key times:

• Before, during and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone sick
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or helping a child use the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After touching garbage

10/12/2026

STAY TICK AWARE

🏕️ Ticks are common in Kansas, and a natural part of the environment. If you spend time outdoors you will encounter ticks.

🤒Ticks can cause diseases such as Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Heartland virus, Bourbon virus, alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease.

🚫Prevent tick bites:

🚨DRESS🚨
• Wear light-colored long shirts and pants.
• Treat clothing with permethrin before spending extended periods outdoors.

🚨DEFEND🚨
• Use EPA-registered insect repellants.
• Avoid brushy areas and stay in the middle of trails.
• Shower when returning indoors.
• Heat clothes in dryer at high heat for 10 minutes.
• Use vet recommended tick preventatives for pets. NEVER use insect repellents on animals.
• 🏡Keep your yard tick free by keeping grass and bushes trimmed, removing fallen leaves, stacking wood in dry areas, keeping bins tightly lidded, having a 3-foot wide wood chip or gravel barrier between your lawn and wooded areas, keeping wildlife out and positioning recreational areas away from yard edges.

🚨DETECT🚨
• Check yourself, children and pets from ticks.
• REMOVE any ticks quickly and safely: Grasp the tick close to the skin, pull upwards evenly without twisting. Wash hands and the bite site. Don’t use nail polish, petroleum jelly, essential oils, or heat.

🩺 Call your DOCTOR if you develop a fever, rash, or flu-like illness within 30 days after tick exposure. Early treatment can prevent severe illness.

🔗Learn about ticks in Kansas: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2241/Ticks

🔗Learn about tickborne diseases: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/57611/Tickborne-Diseases-Infographic-PDF

10/09/2026

NOTICE: The Crawford County Health Department will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Columbus Day.

10/08/2026

Roads connect us to the people and places that matter most: work, school, family, friends and our communities.

Everyone deserves to reach their destination safely, whether they’re driving, walking, biking or rolling. Creating safer roads takes all of us.

Be part of making our communities safer, one trip at a time.

10/06/2026

10/06/2026

Your lungs work around the clock, taking thousands of breaths every day. Healthy Lung Month is a reminder that it’s never too late to give them a break. Even after years of to***co use, quitting can begin to improve your lung health.

The Kansas To***co Quitline offers free, confidential support. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or visit https://kansas.quitlogix.org/.

10/01/2026

Prenatal Classes will begin October 5! 🍼

The CCHD will offer Prenatal Classes in 6 sessions. If you attend all 6 sessions, you will receive a large baby item of your choice! 🥳

Note: You will only sign up once and that will be for all 6 sessions. Individuals will not be able to sign up after the first session. Once all 6 sessions are complete, a new 6 session course will be scheduled.

For more information, contact Diana or Janeth: (620)-231-5411

09/30/2026

Flavored to***co products can make it easier for young people to start using ni****ne, and hard to quit later. Talking openly with youth about va**ng and ni****ne can help them make informed decisions and avoid addiction before it starts.

Learn more about youth to***co prevention and quitting resources at https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2112/To***co-is-Changing

09/30/2026

Fall is here! 🍂 A change in season is a good time to refresh and get your household ready for emergencies.

• Test smoke alarms & replace batteries.
• Check expiration dates on emergency food, water & medications.
• Update emergency contacts for the new school year.