Ness County Health Department

07/23/2026

The Pratt County health Hub is a website developed by the Pratt County Health Department offering vital insights into residents' lifestyles and activities across living, learning, working, and recreational spheres. Together, we strive to cultivate a healthier, more equitable Pratt County.

07/23/2026

Give your kids a healthy start this school year.

Add these to your back-to-school checklist:
🏫 A yearly physical
🏫 Recommended vaccinations
🏫 A balanced diet
🏫 Adequate sleep

Vaccinations for children: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-children/index.html

07/23/2026

07/22/2026

07/16/2026

07/16/2026

BE 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 carry diseases that make people and animals sick. These include Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and the red meat allergy, Alpha-Gal Syndrome.
🚫Take measures to prevent tick bites.
🚨Perform careful tick checks on yourself, children, and pets.
🩺Watch out for symptoms for 30 days after a tick bite. See your doctor right away if you develop fever, headache, rash, fatigue, or any symptoms suggestive of tickborne disease. Early treatment can prevent severe illness.

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

07/16/2026

07/06/2026

Taking care of your mental health is an important part of overall well-being.

During Men's Health Month, we recognize that mental well-being is just as important as physical health. Whether it's talking with a friend, connecting with a counselor, taking time to recharge, or seeking professional support, every step toward better mental health matters.

No one should struggle in silence. Start the conversation, check in on a friend and remember: seeking support is a positive step toward better health.

Learn more: https://kansaspreventioncollaborative.org/get-help/

07/06/2026

It's very common for diseases in humans to spread between animals and people. That's why One Health matters. Healthy people, healthy animals and a healthy environment all work together to reduce the risk of these zoonotic diseases.

Learn more about the One Health approach: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1911/One-Health

07/02/2026

🥵Did you know that extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US and in Kansas?
Heat-related illnesses include heat rash, sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

☀️☀️PREVENT heat-related illness:
💧Stay hydrated. Drink fluids before you feel thirsty and check your urine – if it's dark you need to drink more fluids. Avoid dehydrating fluids like alcohol, coffee and sugary drinks.
🆒 Stay in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible.
🏃‍♂️‍➡️Pace outdoor physical activity and schedule heavy labor or exercise early morning or evening, if possible.
🍉Eat lighter meals.
👵🏽Check on the vulnerable, e.g., the elderly, the very young, the disabled and the unhoused.
🧴Prevent sunburn.
🚘Never leave anyone in cars.

⭕⭕SYMPTOMS of heat-related illness include:
😵‍💫Feeling faint and dizzy.
🥴Headache.
🤮Nausea and vomiting.
😥Heavy sweating, or no sweating.
😣Muscle cramps.

🩺🩺FIRST AID for heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
🌳Move to a cool and shaded area.
👚Remove as much clothing as possible.
💧Drink liquids if able. Don't give liquids to someone if they are confused.
🌡️Cool quickly by:
💦Bathing in cold water or ice if available.
🫗 Wetting the skin and clothing.
🧊Putting cold, wet cloths and/or ice on head, neck, armpits and groin.
🍃Circulating air.
🔴🚨🚑HEAT STROKE IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY – CALL 911🚨🚑🔴

Heat-related illness: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/heat-stress/about/illnesses.html

What to look for: https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/about/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fextreme-heat%2Fabout%2Findex.html