Crawford County Health Department

08/03/2026

🦟Kansans are currently at HIGH risk of being bitten by West Nile Virus carrying mosquitoes. Most people don't develop any symptoms, but when they do symptoms can range from mild flu-like illness with fever, headache, body aches, rash, vomiting and diarrhea, to severe illness. Some people develop neurological infection, causing brain damage and even death. Each year, dozens of Kansans develop neuroinvasive West Nile virus disease. Preventing mosquito bites prevents disease.

🟠DRESS: Wear long sleeved, loose-fitting shirts and pants. Avoid the outdoors at dusk and dawn. Keep window and door screens in good repair. Use mosquito netting on strollers and playpens.
🟠DRAIN: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Eliminate mosquito breeding habitats by tipping and tossing standing water at least twice a week. Empty water from buckets, tires, tarps, toys and other containers. Refresh bird baths and pet water bowls every three days. Keep wading pools empty when not in use and drill drainage holes on tire swings. Check for hidden water sources like clogged gutters and plant saucers. If you have a pond, consider stocking mosquito-eating fish. Treat standing water that can't be drained with appropriate larvicides.
🟠DEET: Use EPA-registered repellents. Apply permethrin to clothing and gear. Store insect repellents safely out of reach of children.

🔗Check out KDHE's West Nile Virus (WNV) risk level in your area. It is updated on Fridays during mosquito surveillance season (June to October): https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1519/West-Nile-Virus
🔗KDHE's West Nile Virus Dashboard: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1937/West-Nile-Virus-Data
🔗EPA-registered repellents: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents
🔗Learn more about mosquito bite prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/prevention/index.html

08/03/2026

Looking for simple ways to keep your little one learning and having fun this month? 🌈📚

This August Parents as Teachers Activity Calendar is filled with easy, screen-free ideas to encourage learning, creativity, and family time each day.

Whether you’re counting steps to the mailbox, reading a favorite book, or making a family gratitude list, every little activity helps support your child’s growth.

Save this calendar and try an activity each day! 💙

07/31/2026

🥑 Looking for a delicious and nutritious addition to your meal? Try adding some avocado! Avocados are a great source of healthy fats and fiber as well as B vitamins, potassium and vitamins C, E, and K. These nutrient powerhouses can help with digestion, heart health, inflammation, and weight management. Celebrate National Avocado Day by slicing on toast, adding to salad, blending into a smoothie, or enjoying as guacamole!

07/30/2026

Group B streptococcus (GBS), a normally occurring bacteria, has been associated with uterine infection during pregnancy and postpartum. Symptoms of uterine infection include fever, pain in the stomach and increased heart rate. Without treatment, a uterine infection may increase the chance of preterm labor and still birth. Attending all prenatal appointments and sharing any concerning symptoms with a provider is very important.

07/30/2026

07/27/2026

1 in 4 pregnant people carry a naturally occurring bacteria called Group B streptococcus (GBS). Undiagnosed or left untreated, GBS in pregnancy can be dangerous since it can be passed to baby during birth and cause serious illness. Attending all prenatal appointments is incredibly important. All pregnant persons should be screened for GBS by their provider at 36-37 weeks gestation.

07/27/2026

🥵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

07/23/2026

Family meals are not just about eating, they are about learning, bonding and developing. Regular family meals establish a sense of structure while allowing social interaction and communication. Sit down together as a family and watch your child grow into a confident, adventurous eater!