Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District

10/17/2025

🎗️ Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week- October 17-23 🎗️

While breast cancer in men is rare—making up less than 1% of diagnoses in the U.S.—it’s still a serious risk. The lifetime risk for men is about 1 in 726, with most cases diagnosed between ages 60 and 70.

Men face a higher mortality rate than women, largely due to lower awareness and delays in seeking treatment.

👉 Know the signs. Don’t ignore changes. Early detection can save lives.
Learn more from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/about/men.html

10/16/2025

🧴 Not all skincare is skin-friendly.

Cleveland Clinic warns against:
• Toothpaste as a spot treatment
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Fragranced products
• Antibiotic ointments (like neomycin)
• Harsh scrubs

👉 Stick with gentle, fragrance-free options and patch test new products.

Learn more: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/worst-skin-care-products

10/16/2025

10/16/2025

❤️ Today is World Restart a Heart Day ❤️

Every second counts in cardiac arrest. You don’t need to be a doctor to save a life — just remember two simple steps:
1️⃣ Call 911
2️⃣ Push hard & fast in the center of the chest

Hands-only CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.

👉 Learn more about CPR from the American Heart Association: https://cpr.heart.org

10/16/2025

🚗📵 It’s National Do Not Disturb While Driving Day!

Stay safe on the road by silencing distractions. Turning on Do Not Disturb While Driving helps you stay focused and prevents incoming calls and notifications from pulling your attention away.

👉 Switch it on. Protect yourself and others.
Learn more: usnddc.org/dndwd

10/16/2025

🕶️ Protect your eyes — and your skin — with sun-safe habits 🌞

Even on cloudy days, your eyes and the delicate skin around them are exposed to harmful UV rays.

• 🕶️ Wear sunglasses that block 99–100% of UVA and UVB rays
• 👒 Choose a hat with a 3-inch brim or more
• 🧴 Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30+) around the eyes — mineral formulas are less likely to irritate
• ❄️🌊 Be careful near snow, water, sand or at high altitudes — UV reflects and intensifies
• 🌳 Seek shade when the sun is strongest

Learn more about eye protection and sun safety from The Skin Cancer Foundation:
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/eye-protection

10/16/2025

🚨 Health alert: Your protein shake might be hiding lead

A recent investigation from Consumer Reports revealed that more than two-thirds of 23 popular protein powders and shakes had lead levels in a single serving that exceed safety thresholds — in some cases by over 10×. Plant-based powders were especially concerning.

👉 What you can do:
• Cut back on daily use of protein supplements
• Favor brands that test for heavy metals (look for third-party certifications)
• Meet your protein needs from whole foods (beans, eggs, lean meat, dairy, legumes)
• Stay informed and question “natural” claims

CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.

10/15/2025

⚠️🍳 The FDA has issued a warning about certain imported cookware that may leach dangerous levels of lead into food. Some aluminum, brass, and alloy cookware products have tested positive for lead contamination, putting families—especially children and pregnant or breastfeeding women—at risk.

✅ Check your kitchen for affected products
🚫 Don’t use, donate, or refurbish cookware on the FDA list
👩‍⚕️ Contact your healthcare provider if you’re concerned about lead exposure

Stay safe and learn more, including the full list of recalled items: https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-issues-warning-about-imported-cookware-may-leach-lead-august-2025

10/15/2025

🍂🔥 Fall fire season is here in Virginia, and with dry conditions, the risk of wildfires is higher than ever. Most wildfires are caused by people—escaped debris burning being the leading culprit.

Protect your community and our forests by practicing fire safety:
🚫 Skip outdoor fires on dry, windy days
🔥 Keep fires small and away from vegetation
🪣 Always have tools and water nearby
📱 Keep your phone ready to call 911
👀 Never leave a fire unattended—stay until it’s out cold

Learn more from the Virginia Department of Forestry: https://ow.ly/Lm4B50XbOnn

10/15/2025

Here’s how you can perform breast self-examination:

Look for changes in size, shape, or skin.
Touch & feel – for lumps or thickening.
If you notice an abnormal lump, seek medical care—even if the lump doesn’t hurt.

If something feels off—even if it doesn’t hurt—talk to a doctor.

10/15/2025

🩺🎗️ October is RSV Awareness Month

👶 Infants, 👵 older adults, and those with weakened immunity are most at risk.

Symptoms to watch for: 🤧 runny nose, 🌬️ cough/wheezing, 🤒 fever, 😴 unusual tiredness.

Prevention tips: 🧼 wash hands, 🚫 avoid sick contacts, 🧴 disinfect surfaces.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html

10/15/2025

🕷️ Think you’ve been bitten by a spider? Here’s what to do — and when to worry.

👉 Mild bites? Most spider bites cause redness, swelling, itchiness, or discomfort.
👉 First-aid: clean the area, apply a cold (not freezing) compress for ~15 min each hour, take over-the-counter pain relievers or antihistamines if needed.
👉 But if you notice: spreading redness, fever, intense pain, muscle cramps, nausea, trouble breathing, or dark/ulcerated skin — seek medical attention immediately.

Find more information from WebMD:
🔗 https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/what-to-know-about-spider-bites