Meriden Health Talk

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Part 1

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are kicking off National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week by talking about lead - what it is, its harmful effects, and what we do in local health if your child tests positive for lead. 
What is lead? Lead is a metal found in the natural environment.  Over time, it had been found to be useful in things like paint, gasoline, varnish, and car batteries.  It increased the durability of paint, made the colors more vibrant, and increased the power generated in gasoline.  It was a cheap additive that was introduced to many different things.  
Lead poisoned? But I feel fine.  The unfortunate thing about lead poisoning is that there are no early symptoms. There is no safe level of lead in any body, and it can be especially harmful for young children and pregnant women. It affects several systems in the body, like the brain and nervous system, and can results in developmental & growth delays, hearing and speech problems, with potential for difficulty in learning and paying attention.  At extreme exposure levels, it can lead to serious illness and sometime worse.  
How do I know if I’m lead poisoned?  The only way to see if you are poisoned is be a venous blood draw.  Lead screening is done via a capillary finger blood draw.  If this comes up elevated, it is encouraged to get a venous level done by a medical health professional.
 What to do if you or your child tested positive for lead?  As your local health department, we have staff trained and certified to inspect homes to see what potential lead hazards may be present.  We would be able to come to the home, do a visual inspection, perform lead dust wipe sampling, and recommend things to do.  In certain situations, our staff would be required to perform a more comprehensive inspection, which would include paint, soil, and water testing.  If you need more information, please call the Environmental Health Department at 203-630-4226, and ask to speak to someone about lead.  

Meriden Early Start - Programa Círculo de Seguridad para Padres

En este episodio de Meriden Health Talk, Escuchamos a nuestros padres embajadores del programa Meriden Early Start!
Hola familias de Meriden,
¿Se sienten perdidos como padres? ¡No están solos!
Mi nombre es Karla Vega/Yamayra Rivera y soy Embajadora de Padres con Meriden Early Start. Meriden Early Start es el nuevo programa de cuidado y educación temprana financiado por el estado que se lanzó el primero de julio de 2025. Este programa combina 3 programas existentes: contratos de guardería infantil, subvenciones para preparación escolar, y subvenciones de preparación escolar y subvenciones suplementarias estatales de Head Start- en un solo programa nuevo.
Nuestra función es servir como defensoras de las familias con niños pequeños en Meriden. Ayudamos a los padres a conectarse con programas y servicios locales de la primera infancia y a sentirse empoderados en la educación y desarrollo de sus hijos.
Les invitamos a unirse al programa Círculo de Seguridad para Padres – un enfoque poderoso, basado en la investigación, para construir relaciones entre padres e hijos mas sólidas y seguras.
En esta capacitación aprenderán a intrepetar las necesidades emocionales de sus hijos, maneras de apoyar su capacidad para manejar las emociones, consejos para aumentar la autoestima y cómo confiar en su propia sabiduría como padres.
Esta es una capacitación de 8 semanas que se llevará a cabo virtualmente los lunes de 6:00 p. m. a 7:30 p. m., a partir del lunes 27 de octubre. Para registrarse, visite la página de Facebook del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de la Ciudad de Meriden y escanee el código QR o haga clic en el enlace publicado: https://forms.office.com/g/r1afYQtP7U. Esperamos que se una a nosotros.

Meriden Early Start - Circle of Security Parenting Program

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we hear from our Parent Ambassadors from the Meriden Early Start program!
Feeling lost as a parent? You are not alone!
My name is Karla Vega - I am a Parent Ambassador with Meriden Early Start. Meriden Early Start is the new state-funded early care and education program that launched
July 1,2025. It combines 3 existing programs- Child daycare contracts, School Readiness Grants, and State Head Start Supplement Grants- into 1 new program.
Our role is to serve as advocates for families of young children in Meriden. We help parents get connected with local early childhood programs and services and help them feel empowered in their child’s education and development.
We invite you to join the Circle of Security Parenting Program- a powerful, research-based approach to building stronger more secure parent-child relationships.
In this training you will learn how to read your child’s emotional needs, ways to support their ability to manage emotions, tips to boost self-esteem and how to trust your own parenting wisdom.
This is an 8-week training that will be held virtually on Mondays from 6pm-7:30 pm. Beginning Monday October, 27th. To register visit the City of Meriden Health and Human Services FB page and scan the QR code or click the link: https://forms.office.com/g/r1afYQtP7U. We hope you’ll join us.

Tick Prevention This Fall

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are reminding residents that ticks can still be active in your yard even in the fall season! Although we often associate ticks with the warmer spring and summer months, the cooler fall weather does not mean ticks are gone for the year. 
Some ticks are more active in the autumn. Adult blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks) can be found in October and November looking for an animal on which to feed. The bite of a blacklegged tick can cause Lyme disease and other lesser-known tick-borne diseases (such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and deer tick virus) that can make people and animals sick.
Ticks thrive in moist, shaded environments, and leaf piles offer the perfect hiding spots for these tiny creatures.
Take these precautions during your fall cleanup:
Wear long pants, long socks, and long-sleeved shirts to reduce ticks' access to your skin and reduce your risk of being bitten.
Use insect repellent that has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency; this can be found on the label. Always follow label instructions when using insect repellent. You can also wear permethrin-treated clothing.
After being outdoors, scan for ticks. Ticks can attach anywhere on the body, but they prefer more covered or enclosed areas, such as in the hair, under the arms, along the waistband, and between the legs.
If you find a tick on yourself or a family member, our Environmental Health Office can send the tick out to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station for identification and testing for common tick-borne illnesses. This is done as a public service free of charge. Call Environmental Health Office at 203-630-4226 for submission instructions; staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Food Safety Fact Friday Week 4

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about the importance of properly thawing out food. Perishable foods should never be thawed on the counter, or in hot water and must not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. The safest ways to thaw out food include:
Putting items in the refrigerator where the temperature is 41 degrees F or less.
Completely submerging food under running water at or below 70 degrees F.
Thawing food as part of the cooking process. 
For more information about safe defrosting methods please visit: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/big-thaw-safe-defrosting-methods 

National Preparedness Month Week 4 - Staying Informed

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we want to talk about staying informed. One way to do this is by signing up for the CT ALERT Emergency notification system.  
CT ALERT is a statewide system that enables state and local 911 emergency communication centers to provide essential information quickly in a variety of emergency situations.
The City of Meriden participates in CT Alert.  By signing up you will be informed via text, phone call and/or email during emergencies in the Meriden area including public health threats, dangerous weather, fires and public safety incidents. 
Registering with CT Alert allows you to instantly receive alerts any way you choose - home phone, mobile phone, email, work number, text message. To register text your zip code to 888-777 OR sign up at www.ctalert.gov. 

Food Safety Fact Friday Week 3

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about the 4 simple steps to food safety! Following these four steps at home can help protect you and your loved ones from food poisoning.
Clean - wash your hands and surfaces often.
Separate - don't cross-contaminate.
Cook - to the right internal temperature.
Chill - refrigerate leftovers promptly. 
For more information on food safety please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/prevention/index.html

National Preparedness Month Week 3 - Making An Emergency Plan

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we want to provide tips about how to make an emergency plan. 
This plan helps you think about:
The types of emergencies that could happen close to you,
List what you will do and need in an emergency, and
Helps you tell people who support you how to help you in an emergency.
To start, it may help to ask yourself and your family a few questions such as:
How will you receive emergency alerts and warnings? Is it by cell phone or email?
What emergencies that may require your family to shelter in place (such as a winter storm), vs. emergencies that may require evacuation (such as a hurricane)?
What is your family/household communication plan in emergencies? How will you communicate with each other?
Do you need to update your emergency preparedness kit?
Include these Common Emergency Scenarios When You Plan:
#1 - Plan for the emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live
#2 - Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency
#3 - Plan what to do if you have to evacuate
#4 - Plan for everyone in your home
To learn more about how to make a plan please visit www.ready.gov/plan.
 
 
 
 

Food Safety Fact Friday Week 2

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about foodborne illness or food poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 48 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the United States each year. This translates to approximately 1 in 6 Americans becoming ill due to foodborne pathogens. 
Symptoms can range from mild to serious and can last for a few hours or several days. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:
Diarrhea
Stomach pain or cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
If you think you have a foodborne illness it's important to follow up with your healthcare provider for guidance on treatment. 

National Preparedness Month Week 2 - Building An Emergency Kit

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about the importance of building an emergency kit. 
If you are just planning to build your kit, consider making one with the following items. Your kit can be a plastic bin, duffle bag, or back pack with the following:
Bottled water and non-perishable food or food with a long shelf-life, such as granola bars
A flashlight
A First Aid Kit and medications
Copies of important family documents
Items for Infants and small children, such as formula, bottles, diapers, and wipes
Pet supplies, such as food and medication
Money
A Change of clothes
A charger for your cell phone, and
Personal hygiene items, including feminine hygiene products.
To learn more about building an emergency kit please visit www.ready.gov/kit.