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Resources in preparation for Hurricane Earl (9/2/2010)
The CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response web site has the following hurricane preparedness messages and materials to help impacted communities immediately after the storm.
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Air Quality Alert (8/31/2010)
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is warning people that the air quality in Maine over the next several days will likely be the worst we have seen in several years.
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Two new resources about pest control released (8/20/2010)
The Maine Department of Agriculture has launched a new website that provides information on various pests found in Maine. Meanwhile, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released information specifically about bed bugs.
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Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (Red Tide) Reminder (8/3/2010)
The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has released the following Health Alert regarding paralytic shellfish poisoning (red tide).
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Air Quality Alert (7/27/2010)
Ground-level ozone concentrations are expected to reach unhealthy levels for the Southwest Coastal region (Kittery through Boothbay Harbor) on Wednesday, July 28, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
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Time to clean out the medicine cabinet! (6/3/2010)
Public Health Division will host a medication collection drive for over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
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New environmental health reports released (5/28/2010)
New environmental health reports related to chemicals in canned foods and fragrances have been released.
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New studies released on sunscreens and indoor tanning (5/25/2010)
Learn how to protect your skin.
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Britain's General Medical Council bars doctor who linked vaccines with autism (5/24/2010)
Source: New York Times. A doctor whose research and public statements caused widespread alarm that a common childhood vaccine could cause autism was banned on Monday from practicing medicine in his native Britain for ethical lapses, including conducting invasive medical procedures on children that they did not need.
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May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month (5/10/2010)
With May being Lyme Disease Awareness Month, the Maine Center for Disease Control has released a Health Alert on Information for Clinicians on Lyme Disease.
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Environmental Working Group releases 2010 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce (4/30/2010)
EWG's annual list ranks common fruits and vegetables by the level of pesticides they contain.
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National Infant Immunization Week (4/27/2010)
National Infant Immunization Week is April 24 to May 1, 2010.
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High Browntail Moth population in parts of Cumberland County (4/15/2010)
Maine Forest Service personnel have completed the 2010 winter web survey for Browntail Moth. In Cumberland County, the area most affected by this infestation is Brunswick, with small infestations in Freeport and Falmouth.
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America releases (4/15/2010)
The Portland, Maine metropolitan area ranks 90th out of the 100 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States on AAFA's "Most Challenging Places to Live with Asthma."
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2008-2009 Public Health Division Annual Report Now Available (3/31/2010)
The 2008-2009 Public Health Division Annual Report is now available online.
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Portland gets $1.8 million for projects to fight obesity (3/30/2010)
The schools will be given $500,000 and the city will receive $1.3 million to work on obesity rates in adults.
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Portland Community Health Center Phone Number Change (3/24/2010)
The Portland Community Health Center phone number has changed to 874-2141.
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1.2 Million 'Unstable' Graco High Chairs Recalled (3/18/2010)
Graco Children's Products announced Thursday that it's recalling 1.2 million Harmony high chairs because of stability issues.
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Smoke-Free Housing Coalition of Maine Webinar Series (3/3/2010)
The series takes the audience from the foundations of smoke-free policy adoption, financial and health benefits of going smoke-free, legality and further justification of policy implementation, to drafting policy language and enforcing an existing policy.
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New Resource for Expectant/New Mothers Now Available (2/19/2010)
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health.
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New County Health Rankings Give First County-by-County Snapshot of Health in Each State (2/17/2010)
University of Wisconsin/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project ranks counties on how healthy people are and how long they live.
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Seasonal and H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccines Available For Everyone (2/9/2010)
The Public Health Division has seasonal and H1N1 (swine) flu vaccines available by appointment for everyone.
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British doctor rebuked over research linking vaccine and autism (2/3/2010)
Britain's medical regulator finds that Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who now practices in Texas, conducted his now-discredited research on the MMR shot in an unethical and irresponsible manner.
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Salmonella-Related Sausage Recall Expanded (2/1/2010)
Daniele Inc., the company whose sausage products have been linked to a widespread Salmonella outbreak, expanded its earlier product recall to include another 17,235 pounds of products that may be contaminated by black pepper. Stores that carry the affected products in Maine include BJ's Wholesale Club and Sam's Club.
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McNeil Consumer Healthcare Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Over-The-Counter Products (1/15/2010)
The company is initiating this recall following an investigation of consumer reports of an unusual moldy, musty, or mildew-like odor that, in a small number of cases, was associated with temporary and non-serious gastrointestinal events. These include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea.
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2009 Cumberland County Municipal Health Assessments Now Available (1/14/2010)
New Cumberland County municipal health assessments now available.
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The Hidden Benefits of Exercise (1/5/2010)
Even Moderate Physical Activity Can Boost the Immune System and Protect Against Chronic Diseases
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Vaccine Refusal Raises Chickenpox Risk (1/5/2010)
Kids Are 9 Times More Likely to Get Chickenpox if They Don't Get Vaccinated.
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H1N1 Vaccine Now Recomended for ALL Mainers (12/15/2009)
Based on demand and a large recent increase in H1N1 vaccine supply, Maine CDC is now recommending that H1N1 vaccine be offered to anyone who wishes to receive it.
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Portland Community Health Center Now Open (11/10/2009)
Portland Community Health Center is a full-service, primary care medical facility, and is now open and accepting new patients.
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Report: Smoking Bans Protect Nonsmokers' Hearts (10/15/2009)
A major report confirms what health officials long have believed: Bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and other gathering spots reduce the risk of heart attacks among nonsmokers.
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City of Portland Public Health Division Selected to Test National Accreditation Program (9/24/2009)
The City of Portland Public Health Division announced today it was selected by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) to participate in a test of the new national voluntary public health accreditation program.
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cancer prevention program
contact us
The Breast and Cervical Health Program and The Women First Coalition
The Breast and Cervical Health Program provides free
mammograms and pap tests to those who qualify. For more information
about the program and to see if you qualify for these free screenings
please call 1-800-350-5180.
The Breast and Cervical Health Program also sponsors the activities of
the Women First Coalition whose mission is to reduce breast and cervical
cancer mortality in Greater Portland and the surrounding rural region. The
Coalition is responsible for raising awareness through education and by
increasing access to breast and cervical cancer screening services including
mammography, clinical breast exams, pelvic exams and pap test. The Coalition
includes 21 member agencies representing health care providers, women's
organizations, grassroots organizations, housing, and senior citizens.
These 21 members work together help coordinate services, provide linkages,
and reduce barriers to breast and cervical health services by conducting
outreach and education to women. The focus of the coalition’s resources is on
women over 40, women of low income and those who live in rural areas.
Screening Guidelines for Breast and Cervical Health*:
| Women Age 20 - 40
|
Annual pap test and breast exam
Monthly breast self exam
|
| Women Over the Age of 40
|
Monthly breast self exam
Annual mammogram
|
|
*From the
American Cancer Society
|
Early detection and screening information for breast cancer from
the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Skin Cancer Prevention
Below are several useful guides, created by the Portland Public Health
Division, and websites about sun safety:
Sun safety for ME brochure - This brochure outlines many sun safety tips and
skin cancer facts that affect the entire family.
‘No Sun for Baby’ Guide
- This guide is geared towards coordinators hoping to start a ‘No Sun for Baby’
program of their own. Take a look at this guide for useful information about sun
safety for infants, as well as a pattern to make your baby its own hat to wear
outdoors.
Portland Parks and Recreation Sun Protection Guide
- This is the same guide that the Portland Parks and Recreation Department uses
to educate participants in their summer camps. See this guide for simple and
concise sun safety guidelines you can follow.
www.mfne.org
www.shadefoundation.org
www.skincancer.org
www.epa.gov/sunwise
A Model Community Skin Cancer Prevention Project in Maine
The purpose of this program was to create and test a community skin cancer
prevention model for replication throughout the state of Maine. The project
was a collaborative effort of the Maine Cancer Consortium, American Cancer
Society (ACS), and the City of Portland, Health and Human Services Department,
Public Health Division. The City of Portland served as the pilot site for this
project. This project is described in detail here:
www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2004/apr/03_0032.htm
Cardiovascular Health
Learn about the signs and symptoms of heart disease, check out these
websites:
www.mainecardiohealth.org
www.americanheart.org
www.goredforwomen.org
www.healthymainepartnerships.org/mcvhp/index.aspx
‘Know Your Numbers’
report card – This ‘report card’ gives you the normal levels of HDL and LDL
cholesterol and triglycerides for women.
This information gathered and presented by the Health Promotion Chronic Disease Prevention
Program.
