Safe Disposal of Needles & Other Sharps

“Sharps” is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin.

Sharps may be used at home, at work, and while traveling to manage the medical conditions of people or their pets. These medical conditions include allergies, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, infertility, migraines, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, blood clotting disorders, and psoriasis.

Prevent accidental needlesticks and exposure to bloodborne pathogens in your home and in your community. Always use proper containment and disposal. Never place exposed or used sharps in a garbage can or recycle bin!

Raw Milk?

Developing a healthy lifestyle is a process with many decisions. One option you may be considering is adding raw milk to your diet.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful germs. Germs include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. It's important to understand the risks of drinking raw milk, because you may be hearing claims about the supposed "benefits" of raw milk.

Raw milk contains bacteria, and some of them can be harmful. If you are considering consuming raw milk because you believe that it is a good source of beneficial bacteria, you need to know that it is not and you may instead get sick from the harmful bacteria.

Rabbits available at the County Shelter

County Animal Services has an abundance of bunnies.

Rabbits are the 3^rd most common animal found in animal shelters and the least likely to be adopted. Fortunately, they are growing in popularity as house pets. Rabbits are intelligent, social, and playful animals that need affection, and they can become wonderful companion animals if given a chance to interact with their human families.

As rabbits do require some special care, potential adopters should be prepared. Visit the House Rabbit Society website for more information about preparing for a new bunny.

Where is Radon Found?

Although certain areas of California are more likely to encounter radon problems than other areas, radon is a house-to-house issue. You may live in an area of low radon potential yet your house can have elevated radon while your neighbor's house has no radon.

Radon is odorless, invisible, and without taste, and cannot be detected with the human senses. The only way to detect it is to test for it.

Where does health happen?

Health happens where we live.

What does that mean?

Health Happens Here! In our neighborhoods, in our schools, in our grocery stores and our parks—every moment of the day the places where we spend our lives affect how long, and how well, we live.

Click to learn more!

Search for Adoptable Pets

Featured Adoptable Pets

Monterey County Animal Services offers many of the wonderful animals it receives up for adoption.

An animal can be available for adoption once it has gone through the stray period unclaimed and appears to be in sound medical health and good temperament.

Click HERE to view animals at our shelter

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Mental Health Crisis Services

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, CALL 911 and request an officer who is Crisis Intervention Trained (CIT Trained) to handle psychiatric emergencies and crisises.

You can also call the Mental Health Crisis Line at Natividad Hospital at 831-755-4111

or, the Suicide Prevention Hotline number at (877-663-5433)

Know dose before giving Acetaminophen to infants

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging consumers to carefully read the labels of liquid acetaminophen marketed for infants to avoid giving the wrong dose to their children.

A less concentrated form of the popular medication is arriving on store shelves, and giving the wrong dose of acetaminophen can cause the medication to be ineffective if too little is given or cause serious side effects and, possibly, death if too much is given.

Influenza, commonly called the "flu," is a contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. The flu can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. FluHighRisk_b200px

Anyone infected with the flu virus can potentially develop serious complications, like pneumonia. Certain people are at high risk for developing flu-related complications if they get sick with the flu.
For those living with certain health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, asthma or HIV/AIDS, the flu can be particularly dangerous. In addition, older people, especially those 65 or older, as well as pregnant women, also are more susceptible to flu-related complications.

CDC Reminder: Insulin pens not for more than one person

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become increasingly aware of reports of improper use of insulin pens, which places individuals at risk of infection with pathogens including hepatitis viruses and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This notice serves as a reminder that insulin pens must never be used on more than one person.