Saratoga County Department of Health

01/09/2026

🤰 There are many factors to think about when planning a family, and making sure you get enough folic acid is important to supporting a healthy pregnancy and reducing the risk of birth defects.

💊 Folic acid is a form of folate, a B vitamin that helps the body make new cells and is especially important during early pregnancy to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida.

🧸 The Saratoga County Family Health Dashboard provides data on birth trends and outcomes, including maternal risk factors and adverse newborn outcomes. This information can help expecting parents and families understand how factors like prenatal nutrition, including folic acid intake, relate to maternal and infant health and support informed birth planning.

💻 The dashboard can be viewed by visiting: www.saratogacountyny.gov/data.

01/07/2026

🚭 Think va**ng e-cigarettes is safer than smoking? Nothing is safe about va**ng ni****ne.

🧠 Despite this common belief, va**ng remains widespread among young people. Last year in the United States, an estimated 1.63 million middle and high school students reported current e-cigarette use. Ni****ne can affect brain development, increase addiction risk, and expose users to potentially harmful chemicals.

🙌 If you or someone you know wants help in quitting va**ng, please visit DropTheVape.org for help.

01/05/2026

❄️ The winter season often brings an increased risk of accidental poisonings, many of which occur at home.

📈 In 2025, there was an increase in poison center calls from Saratoga County related to carbon monoxide (CO) exposure as compared to previous years. The majority of these incidents were unintentional and occurred in the exposed individuals’ own residence.

🥶 Other potential poisonings to keep in mind include antifreeze, safe heating practices at home, and general winter safety.

📲 If you suspect an accidental poisoning, call the Upstate New York Poison Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
📌 For more local poison-related data and poison prevention tips, please visit: www.saratogacountyny.gov/data.

12/29/2025

⚠️ You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide (CO), but it can be deadly. CO is created when fuel (gas, oil, wood, charcoal) burns, and malfunctioning or misused appliances can cause dangerous levels to build up.

🚧 Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars.

👏 Stay safe by practicing the DO’s and DON’Ts of carbon monoxide.

📌 To learn more about CO poisoning, please visit: https://loom.ly/1iE_dD0.

12/22/2025

🍽️ This holiday season help protect your loved ones by reducing their risk of foodborne illness or food poisoning.

☑️ Follow these food safety tips:
🔹Clean – keep everywhere clean.
🔹Separate – don't give bacteria a chance to spread.
🔹Cook – kill harmful bacteria.
🔹Chill – refrigerate foods quickly.

📌 For more information on food safety, please visit: www.cdc.gov/foodsafety.

12/19/2025

🎁 December is National Safe Toy and Gifts Month!

⚠️ Lead can still be found in certain toys, especially older items painted before 1978 or painted toys made outside the United States. Children younger than 6 years are more likely to be exposed because they often put toys in their mouths, and even dust from household surfaces can transfer onto toys.

🧼 Keep kids safe by staying informed about toy recalls, washing toys and hands often, and contacting your child’s doctor if you’re concerned about lead exposure.

📌 Learn more about product recalls, including toys containing lead: https://loom.ly/H3sSTBU.

12/17/2025

🎄 It’s okay not to feel merry and bright. The holiday season can bring up difficult emotions of loneliness and grief. Remember, hope, help, and healing are within reach.

💚 If you or someone you know is struggling, call, text, or chat 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline. 988 is available 24/7, 365 days and is free and confidential.

📌 For more information on 988 and other available resources, please visit: https://loom.ly/bC6oN6Y.

12/15/2025

🩵 If you welcomed a child in 2024 or 2025, we want to hear from you!

📝 The Saratoga County Department of Health is overseeing a quick, anonymous survey to help us better understand local health trends and strengthen programs for families.

🧸 Both you and your partner are encouraged to complete the survey. Please only complete the survey if you live in Saratoga County!

📌 Take the survey here: https://www.saratogacountyny.gov/departments/health/programs-for-children/

12/11/2025

🤧 Respiratory virus season is here, but simple steps can help stop the spread of illness. One of the easiest and most effective is washing your hands regularly.

🫧 Remember to wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, or after coughing or sneezing. Your hands can make a big difference in keeping yourself and your community healthy!

12/10/2025

12/08/2025

🗣️ If you live, work, or go to school in Saratoga County, we want to hear from you!

📋 Your input is important to us as we work to improve the health of all people who live in Saratoga County.

🖇️ Please complete our Community Health Survey at www.SaratogaCountyNY.Gov/Health.

📌 The survey closes on 12/12/2025.

12/05/2025

‼️ This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week, a reminder that flu season is here. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and those around you.

🗣️ The flu shot is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. It can reduce the severity of illness if you do get sick and lower your risk of hospitalization from the flu.

📌 Tips to stay healthy this season:
▪️Get your flu vaccine if you haven’t already.
▪️Wash your hands frequently and cover your coughs and sneezes.
▪️Stay home if you’re feeling sick.

📞 To schedule your flu vaccine today, contact your local pharmacy or healthcare provider.