Belmont County Health Department

11/26/2025

OHIO DEER GUN SEASON TIPS
Safety during Ohio's deer gun season involves key practices such as mandatory hunter orange clothing, strict adherence to firearm safety rules, and situational awareness.
Immediate actions after the kill
• Field dress: Open the body cavity and remove the internal organs immediately after the kill to begin cooling the meat.
• Clean the cavity: Rinse the body cavity with cold, clean water. Wipe away any blood and trim away any bruised or "blood-shot" meat.
• Keep it cool: Spread the rib cage open to allow air circulation. If the temperature is over 41∘ pack the cavity with ice to cool it faster.
• Sanitize: Use clean utensils and wash your hands often to prevent cross-contamination. Use a clean towel to wipe your hands.
• Process promptly: Get the meat to a refrigerator or processing facility as soon as possible, especially in warm weather.

• Refrigerate: Store cuts of meat at or below 41∘
You can refrigerate whole cuts for up to three to five days.

Key Safety Guidelines
• Hunter Orange Requirement: During the youth deer gun season, deer gun seasons, and the deer muzzleloader season, hunters are required to wear a visible vest, coat, jacket, or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange.
• Basic Firearm Safety: Always follow the four primary rules of firearm safety:
o Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
o Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
o Be sure of your target and what lies in front of, behind, and beyond it.
o Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
• Tree Stand Safety: Tree stand use is a leading cause of injury. Always use a proper safety harness and never climb with a loaded firearm.
• Know the Regulations:
o Ensure you have a valid hunting license and deer permit.
o Be aware of legal hunting devices and hunting hours (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset).
o Familiarize yourself with the county bag limits and the game-checking process using the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System or the free HuntFish OH mobile app.
• ** situational Awareness and Planning:**
o Inform someone of your hunting plans, including your location and expected return time.
o Hunt with a partner when possible to enhance safety and assistance.
o Plan for weather conditions, dress in layers, and carry emergency supplies and high-calorie food to avoid hypothermia.
o If you are a non-hunter (e.g., hiker) in a hunting area during gun season, you should also wear hunter orange and stay on established trails to be visible.

11/25/2025

OHIO DEER GUN SEASON TIPS
Safety during Ohio's deer gun season involves key practices such as mandatory hunter orange clothing, strict adherence to firearm safety rules, and situational awareness.
Immediate actions after the kill
• Field dress: Open the body cavity and remove the internal organs immediately after the kill to begin cooling the meat.
• Clean the cavity: Rinse the body cavity with cold, clean water. Wipe away any blood and trim away any bruised or "blood-shot" meat.
• Keep it cool: Spread the rib cage open to allow air circulation. If the temperature is over 41∘ pack the cavity with ice to cool it faster.
• Sanitize: Use clean utensils and wash your hands often to prevent cross-contamination. Use a clean towel to wipe your hands.
• Process promptly: Get the meat to a refrigerator or processing facility as soon as possible, especially in warm weather.

• Refrigerate: Store cuts of meat at or below 41∘
You can refrigerate whole cuts for up to three to five days.

Key Safety Guidelines
Hunter Orange Requirement: During the youth deer gun season, deer gun seasons, and the deer muzzleloader season, hunters are required to wear a visible vest, coat, jacket, or coveralls that are either solid hunter orange or camouflage hunter orange.
Basic Firearm Safety: Always follow the four primary rules of firearm safety:
Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.
Be sure of your target and what lies in front of, behind, and beyond it.
Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
Tree Stand Safety: Tree stand use is a leading cause of injury. Always use a proper safety harness and never climb with a loaded firearm.
Know the Regulations:
Ensure you have a valid hunting license and deer permit.
Be aware of legal hunting devices and hunting hours (30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset).
Familiarize yourself with the county bag limits and the game-checking process using the Ohio Wildlife Licensing System or the free HuntFish OH mobile app.
** situational Awareness and Planning:**
Inform someone of your hunting plans, including your location and expected return time.
Hunt with a partner when possible to enhance safety and assistance.
Plan for weather conditions, dress in layers, and carry emergency supplies and high-calorie food to avoid hypothermia.
If you are a non-hunter (e.g., hiker) in a hunting area during gun season, you should also wear hunter orange and stay on established trails to be visible.

11/25/2025

Thank you to Barnesville High School for letting us be a part of the career day event, we love getting to educate youth on careers in public health!🩺🤍

11/24/2025

We will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

11/24/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

For safety and doneness, the internal temperature should be checked with a food thermometer. The temperature of the turkey and the center of the stuffing must reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F. Check the temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. Leftover foods must be discarded if left at room temperature for more than two hours. Keep food cool, 41 F or less.

11/21/2025

Lets Talk Men's Health!
Movember is celebrated for the month of NOvember to raise awareness for men's health issues, including: prostate cancer, mental health and su***de prevention, and testicular cancer. Call for an appointment! Get a screening scheduled. 740-695-1202

Support the initiative and grow a mustache!

11/20/2025

Proposed Authorization of Ohio Hazardous Waste Management Program (RCRA) Revisions – Accepting Public Comment;
The current deadline to submit comments is December 18, 2025

Please see the attached letter regarding EPA’s Proposed Authorization of Ohio’s Hazardous Waste Management Program (RCRA) Revisions.

On November 18, 2025, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register notice proposing to authorize Ohio for additional regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The State program revision includes, but is not limited to, the following provisions: Organic Air Emissions Standards, the revised Definition of Solid Waste, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, and Addition of Aerosol Cans to the Universal Waste Regulations.

EPA is accepting public comments on EPA’s proposed decision to authorize Ohio for changes to the State’s hazardous waste management program. The current deadline to submit comments is December 18, 2025. Instructions on how to submit comments are included in the November 17, 2025, Federal Register notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2025-20129. Information regarding EPA’s proposed decision can also be found at EPA’s website: https://www.epa.gov/publicnotices/ohio-proposed-authorization-state-hazardous-waste-management-program-revisions.

For further information please contact me at leonard.daniel@epa.gov.

Dan Leonard
RCRA State Authorization Specialist
Land, Chemicals, and Redevelopment Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5

Send a message to learn more

11/19/2025

Universal Children's Day - November 20th

Tomorrow is Universal Children's Day! Every child, everywhere, has the right to a safe, healthy, and fulfilling life. Tomorrow, the whole world comes together to stand up for kids! We're talking about their right to go to school, to be protected, to be treated fairly, and to have their voice heard.

WIC is here to support children and families by providing access to nutritious foods, health care referrals, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and so much more - from pregnancy to your child's 5th birthday!

Call Belmont County WIC at 740-676-2232 to sign up!

11/19/2025

Fall Movement

Staying active doesn't have to be boring! Getting outside and playing a game or going on a family walk can bring you together while also teaching kids about healthy routines like regular movement or exercise!

How does you family like to stay active in the fall?

Build healthy habits and get nutrition support with WIC: www.signupwic.com

11/19/2025

Breastfeeding Support - Know Your Rights

Did you know you have legal protections for breastfeeding at work and in public?

You deserve to feed your baby with confidence, wherever you are! Luckily, WIC is here to support lactation in the workplace by providing breast pumps and support through peer counselors and breastfeeding experts to program participants.

Know your rights and find a WIC clinic near you by visiting:
https://signupwic.com/resources/know-your-rights-breastfeeding

11/17/2025

Our Health Department is proud to partner with the Ohio Department of Health to provide technical assistance to businesses, agencies, and schools in developing breastfeeding policies and creating designated spaces for employees.

We know that returning to work after maternity leave can be challenging, but when employers provide support, it makes a meaningful difference.💕

Breastfeeding employees need:
✅Appropriate break times
✅A private, comfortable space to pump or breastfeed

We want to recognize and thank all the Belmont County businesses, schools, and agencies that have taken steps to support their employees by implementing these important policies and spaces.

Your participation in this project shows a true commitment to the health and well-being of your workforce.👏

Interested in getting your business involved?
We'd love to hear from you - please reach out to us at 740-695-1202 ext. 140!

11/12/2025

Involve Kids in Meal Prep

Get kids involved in meal preparation! Let them pick out fruits and veggies at the grocery store or farmers market, and then have them help wash, peel, and chop them for meals.

When kids are involved in food preparation, it can encourage them to try new foods and learn where our foods come from. And with WIC, you can get fresh, canned, or frozen fruits and veggies to accommodate your families specific needs and preferences!

Not enrolled in WIC yet? Learn more about the benefits and get started today: https://signupwic.com/about