Onondaga County Health Department

10/24/2025

10/24/2025

The most common way children are exposed to lead is from lead-based paint in older homes, but lead can also be found in toys, soil, water, and even dust.
💡 The good news: Lead poisoning is completely preventable—and small daily actions can make a big difference!
✅ Keep kids away from areas with chipping or peeling paint.
✅ Damp mop floors and wipe surfaces often to remove lead dust.
✅ Wash children’s hands and faces before meals and naps.
✅ Feed them foods rich in iron, calcium, and vitamin C—these nutrients help block lead absorption.
Onondaga County’s Health Department and partners are here to help every family build a lead-safe home. Visit https://onondaga.gov/health-lead/ for more tips and local resources.

10/24/2025

Did you know? Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that can only be detected by a carbon monoxide detector. Keep your home safe by installing and maintaining your carbon monoxide alarm!

Tips for maintaining carbon monoxide alarm:

✅ Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home and outside of sleeping areas.
✅ Test your carbon monoxide alarms monthly to ensurethat they are working.
✅ Replace batteries every 6 months, or immediately if the alarm beeps.
✅ Replace your CO alarm every 5-7 years.
✅ If an alarm sounds, get out of the house immediately and call 9-1-1.

For more information on carbon monoxide safety, visit: https://www.firstalert.com/blogs/safety-corner/7-things-to-know-about-carbon-monoxide-alarms

10/23/2025

Curious if you’re a good fit for taking PrEP? PrEP for HIV prevention is for all people of all sexual and gender expressions – straight, gay, bisexual,
cisgender men, cisgender women, transgender individuals, or gender non-conforming individuals.

Did you know there are three ways to take PrEP to prevent HIV?
1. A once-a-day pill
2. On-demand (also known as 2-1-1)
3. An injection you take every 2 months or every 6 months

Learn which option is right for you at PrEPforSex.org

Healthcare providers across the State of New York can prescribe PrEP for HIV prevention. Find a PrEP provider near you at PrEPforSex.org

Medicaid and most insurance plans cover PrEP for HIV prevention at no cost to you. Ask your doctor if PrEP is right for you and how you can start
taking PrEP for free. To learn more, visit PrEPforSex.org

10/23/2025

🫁 October is Healthy Lung Month & it’s National Respiratory Care Week!
Protect your lungs by staying up to date on routine vaccines. 💉

Need help finding vaccines? Call our Immunization Program at 315-435-2074 or talk to your healthcare provider.

10/23/2025

Join us for something special during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week! 🌟

We’re hosting a StoryWalk® featuring the children’s book “Happy, Healthy, Lead-Free Me!” — a fun way for kids and families to learn about lead safety while enjoying a walk and some reading time together.

📍 Location: Onondaga County Department of Social Services, 2nd Floor
🕙 Time: 10am – 2pm
Meet our mascot Leo the Lion, talk with our friendly Health Department team, and take home a FREE copy of the book!

Every step toward awareness helps protect our children from lead. 💙

10/23/2025

This week, we’re celebrating our amazing Tobacco-Free CNY Public Health Educators who work every day to create a healthier community!

Camryn Chaffee – Our Youth Engagement Public Health Educator – teaches youth about the manipulative tactics the to***co industry uses to target kids. She also leads our Reality Check Youth Group, empowering youth to become advocates for to***co control in their communities.

Marie Saba – Our Community Engagement Public Health Educator – works with municipalities, worksites, and housing partners to promote and implement to***co-free policies, helping reduce illness and death from to***co use.

We’re so proud of the work Camryn and Marie do through the Tobacco-Free CNY program and the Onondaga County Health Department! 💙

10/22/2025

Health Commissioner Dr. Katie Anderson joined NewsChannel 9 during Lead Poisoning Prevention Week to discuss the efforts the County is making to protect our children from lead.

Onondaga County’s lead initiatives bring together tested solutions and dedicated experts to support families in need. Our proven process ensures every member of the community has easy access to programs, resources, partners and, most importantly, local experts to help families reduce lead exposure and create healthy homes.

The Onondaga County Health Department is taking steps to reduce lead poisoning in the community, including testing and diagnosing lead poisoning, training lead-safe contractors, and providing grant…

10/22/2025

💙 In honor of National Health Education Week, we’re celebrating Tess, our amazing Public Health Educator with the Cancer Services Program (CSP) grant!

Tess works tirelessly to educate the community about the importance of regular breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings. She also partners with local organizations to help uninsured individuals access free cancer screenings through the CSP.

Thank you, Tess, for your dedication to the health and well-being of our community! 💪💙

10/22/2025

💪 Stretch, strengthen, and feel amazing with Pilates! 🧘‍♀️
Pilates is a fun workout class that focuses on building muscle and improving flexibility

You don’t even need to leave home—try these easy at-home Pilates workouts 👉 https://www.womenshealthmag.com/uk/fitness/workouts/a707014/best-pilates-youtube-workouts/

10/22/2025

Children who live in older homes with chipping or peeling paint are at the highest risk for lead poisoning. Lead isn’t always easy to see—it can be hiding in paint, dust, soil, or even old windows and doors.

If your home was built before 1978, there’s a good chance it contains lead paint. That’s why Onondaga County offers free home lead inspections for eligible families with young children or pregnant women living in older rental units.

When hazards are found, our inspectors provide education and connect families with grants and resources to make homes safer.

🏠 Call (315) 435-3271 or visit: https://onondaga.gov/health-lead/ to learn more.
Together, we can create healthier homes for our kids!

10/21/2025

If a child is exposed to lead, the impacts are felt long term. That is why Onondaga County is raising awareness during Lead Poisoning Prevention Awareness Week. County executive Ryan McMahon, healt…