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Yavapai County was ranked #1 in health factors which looks at areas that affect people’s health within four categories including: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment. Leslie Horton, Director of Yavapai County Community Health Services says, “Although we still have work to do to improve the health of all citizens living in Yavapai County, I’m excited to be at the top of the charts for health factors and encourage everyone to enjoy our beautiful outdoor recreational opportunities.”

Areas of strength are our low percentage of adults reporting physical inactivity, lower number of cases on STIs, an increased high school graduation rate, and clean air. Areas of concern are the percentage of adults who are current smokers, the percentage of population under age 65 without health insurance, and the high rate of deaths due to injury.

Yavapai County ranked sixth among Arizona’s 15 counties in the health outcome category. Health outcomes were measured by the average life expectancy (78.7), the percent of people who report being in fair or poor health, the numbers of days people report being in poor physical and poor mental health, and the rate of low-birth weight infants.

Please see other dates and times to attend Food Worker Training.  

More cases of measles could soon emerge in Arizona, state officials said two days after the state confirmed its first case of 2019 in Pima County. Dr. Cara Christ, Arizona Department of Health Services director, said the agency is still probing whether the 1-year-old child who contracted the disease exposed others to measles. The baby’s family recently brought the infant on a trip to Asia, according to Azcentral.com. “We likely will start seeing the next round of cases—it's usually about 14-to-21 days—so I believe that [health officials] are looking at the onset at the beginning of March,” Christ said. While Christ said she wasn’t “particularly concerned” that vaccinated people would get sick, given the vaccine’s 97-percent prevention rate, unvaccinated people who come in contact with measles have a 90 percent chance of infection.

Do you know of a school in Yavapai County who is going above-and-beyond to meet the health and wellness needs of their students? A school that strives for best practices in school wellness policy, nutrition, worksite wellness, emotional, mental and physical health and caring for the whole student?

If so, now’s your chance to give that school a little recognition by nominating that school for the Yavapai Healthy School Award. Nominations will be open January 15 - February 15th, 2019 on the Yavapai Healthy Schools website.  Absolutely anyone may nominate a worthy school. Simply visit YavapaiHealthySchools.com and take five minutes to share who you believe is deserving of the Yavapai Healthy School Award and why. Schools must be within Yavapai County to be eligible.

All nominated schools will be notified in mid-February and top nominated schools will be invited to apply for the Yavapai Healthy Schools Award. Winners will be announced April 15, 2019.

Past winners of this award are Beaver Creek Elementary School in 2017, and Coyote Springs Elementary in 2018.

The Yavapai Healthy Schools (YHS) Coalition was created to empower teachers, staff and students in making healthy choices.  YHS Coalition is a partnership of over twenty county partners who work to promote healthy living in our county schools.

With autumn just ahead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging consumers to plan to get their flu vaccination early this year. Arizona Department of Health Services reports there have already been 12 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza in the past two weeks, from five counties. This is similar to the same time last year.

In the wake of last year’s particularly severe flu season, health officials are stressing the importance of getting a flu shot in the hope that the 2018-2019 flu season won’t be as deadly. The CDC notes that 180 children died from the flu during last year’s flu season; approximately 4 out of five of those children weren’t vaccinated. It was reported that over 700,000 people were hospitalized with flu symptoms last season.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination every year. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.

Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance approved by the Board of Supervisors 9/5/18 - effective 1/1/2019

Notice is given that the Yavapai County Community Health Services is recommending to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors (BOS) an update to the currently adopted Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance to be made effective January 1^st 2019.  The courtesy presentation to the BOS will be on August 15, 2018 at 10 S. 6^th St. Cottonwood 86323 at 9:00 AM.  The formal hearing will be on September 5, 2018 at 1015 Fair St. Prescott 86305 at 9:00 AM.   The Yavapai County Health Code describes the legislative authority delegated by the State of Arizona to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, by way of the county health department, to administer establishment licensing procedures; plan reviews (building and operating); requirements which may include beverages, mobile food establishments, catering and food processors; and Food Worker and Management certification and requirements. The last revision of this Health Code occurred in 2016. The changes made in this current version of the Health Code are described in summaries of proposed revisions, which can be obtained online by going to yavapai.us/chs or by calling 928-771-3149 in the Prescott area or 928-639-8138 in the Verde Valley. At this time, we feel that these changes bring the Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance up to a suitable standard for our industry of food safety and public health protection.  This will include the 2017 FDA Model Food Code.

Summary of Food Code Changes follow:

Notice is given that the Yavapai County Community Health Services is recommending to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors (BOS) an update to the currently adopted Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance to be made effective January 1^st 2019.  The courtesy presentation to the BOS will be on August 15, 2018 at 10 S. 6^th St. Cottonwood 86323 at 9:00 AM.  The formal hearing will be on September 5, 2018 at 1015 Fair St. Prescott 86305 at 9:00 AM.   The Yavapai County Health Code describes the legislative authority delegated by the State of Arizona to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, by way of the county health department, to administer establishment licensing procedures; plan reviews (building and operating); requirements which may include beverages, mobile food establishments, catering and food processors; and Food Worker and Management certification and requirements. The last revision of this Health Code occurred in 2016. The changes made in this current version of the Health Code are described in summaries of proposed revisions, which can be obtained online by going to yavapai.us/chs or by calling 928-771-3149 in the Prescott area or 928-639-8138 in the Verde Valley. At this time, we feel that these changes bring the Yavapai County Health Code & Ordinance up to a suitable standard for our industry of food safety and public health protection.  This will include the 2017 FDA Model Food Code.

A summary of changes to the Health Code follow:

Valley fever is caused by breathing airborne fungal spores, called Coccidioides, or cocci, found in Arizona soil.  With the recent Haboobs in PHX, there is more concern about valley fever – haboobs may kick up a lot of dust, but they typically last only a few hours, whereas spores of the valley fever fungus are in the air day in and day out.  So the real risk is living in or traveling to areas like Phoenix where the spores are consistently present.  This year, in Yavapai County 25 people have had symptoms and were tested for valley fever.

The long, hot days of summer can bring dangerously high temperatures.  Here are steps people can follow to stay safe when it’s hot outside.

You can prepare for extreme heat by:

• Stocking up on food, water and medicines so you don’t have to go out in the heat. Visit your doctor to check if changes are needed to your medicines during extreme heat.
• Storing medicines safely at the recommended temperature.
• Checking that your fan or air-conditioner works well. Have your air-conditioner serviced if necessary.
• Looking at the things you can do to make your home cooler such as installing window coverings, shade cloths or external blinds on the sides of the house facing the sun.