Severe Weather Awareness Week: April 7th - 13th

We all know April showers bring May flowers. Those showers can also bring thunderstorms, tornadoes and flooding. Be weather ready so you and your family can ride out the storm safely:

How to be weather ready:

• Sign up for Winnebago County alerts through the AlertSense System.
• When bad weather arrives listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay informed.
• Learn the difference between advisories, watches and warnings.
• Join us Thursday, April 10th for "How to Thrive in Any Emergency: Tips from a Preparedness Specialist" to learn more! Call 920-232-5300 to register.
• Learn more about preparedness on our website here.

For your information:

As part of severe weather awareness week there will be a state wide tornado drill on Thursday, April 10th at 1:45 pm/6:45 pm.

"In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours." - Mark Twain

Drug Take Back Day: Everyday in Winnebago County!

Too often, unused and expired medications find their way into the wrong hands or into our environment. This can be dangerous, and often tragic. Prescription Drug Take-Back day is an opportunity to safely discard of unused or expired medications. This year it occurs on April 26th for the State of Wisconsin, but in Winnebago County we have a number of resources available everyday so you don't have to wait. Take care of those extra medications when it works for you:

Deterra Drug Deactivation Bags

These pouches permanently and irreversibly deactivate over the counter and prescription medications, rendering them safe for disposal and preventing harmful medications from contaminating landfills and water systems. These bags are available for FREE in our Public Health Vending Machines.

Deterra Pouches How-To Guide (English/Espanol)

Public Health Vending Machines - How to Access

Safe Drug Drop-Off Locations in Winnebago County

If you would rather drop your medications off in person, the following locations provide safe disposal of leftover or expired medications free of charge 24/7:

Oshkosh Public Safety Building

Neenah Police Department

Menasha Police Department

Town of Menasha Police Department

Learn more here.

Dog Bite and Rabies Prevention

In 2024 Winnebago County Public Health and local law enforcement agencies investigated 137 dog bites. Dogs bite: young or old, big or small. Dogs bite for a variety of reasons, but most commonly as a reaction to something. Fortunately, there are several things we can do to prevent dog bites from happening. Get tips about preventing bites as a pet owner and ways to protect your family from the American Veterinary Medical Associate Dog Bite Prevention website.

If a dog (or any animal) bite occurs, follow these steps:

• If the dog's owner is present, request proof of a rabies vaccination and get the owner's name and contact information.
• Clean the bite wound with soap and water as soon as possible. Seek medical attention if warranted.
• Contact the dog's veterinarian to check vaccination records.
• Contact your local health department (920-232-3000) and your health care provider regarding animal bite/rabies concerns.
• Report to local law enforcement.

Learn More:

DHS Animal Bite Management and Potential Rabies Exposures

Adolescent Immunization Action Week

It's okay to have questions about immunizations and vaccination schedules. This year for adolescent immunization action week vaccine officials are asking parents to stay on TASK with vaccines:

T = Trust good resources

A = Ask questions

S = Schedule an appointment

K = Know where to get vaccinated

Contact Winnebago County Public Health at (920) 232-3000 for vaccination questions, information about vaccine providers, or information about our Vaccines For Children program.

Learn More:

Winnebago County Public Health: Vaccines for Children Program

DHS: Childhood and Adolescent Vaccine Information

HHS: Let's Get Real - Reasons For The Vaccination Schedule

CDC: Adolescent Immunization Action Week

Unity: United for Adolescent Vaccination

A Great Tip From WIC

Everyone is looking for ways to make their grocery budget stretch further these days. If you have WIC benefits and FoodShare Benefits, WIC recommends that you use your WIC benefits first to purchase the foods included in your food package. Then, use your FoodShare benefits to cover the additional foods your family needs maximizing both programs!

Looking for menu inspiration? Check out this recipe for Tuna Burgers using WIC and Foodshare approved ingredients!

Staff Spotlight: Get to Know Jennifer!

How long have you been working at WCPH?

15 years this month.

Please describe your role at WCPH.

As a communicable disease (CD) public health nurse, I investigate, monitor, and provide case management for individuals with communicable diseases. We focus on prevention of spread, control, and education to protect public health. I conduct phone interviews, review medical records, work with healthcare partners, and do home or field visits. For many years, I led WCPH's immunization program and currently I am an immunization team nurse.

What is one WCPH accomplishment that you feel particularly proud of?

I co-led the clinical portion of our COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics. We protected tens of thousands of people through immunization and I'm very proud to have kept people healthy and saved lives.

What project/program/initiative at WCPH are you most excited about right now and why?

Our CD team has been connecting with and presenting to healthcare providers in our area. This enables us to work smoothly together during disease outbreak situations or simply improved communication to streamline processes.

What do you love about working at WCPH?

The common thread that each person in our health department holds above all is caring for those who need us most. Our residents may need assistance for a short while, or longer. We are all here to serve and for that I'm very thankful.

What do you want the community to know about you and/or your role at WCPH?

Our nurses aim to make our county residents' lives a little better and healthier. We know that may look different for each person we are given the opportunity to work with. We help people, from newborn babies through the elderly, and the organizations that support them. It's pretty cool to be a part of this wonderful group here at the health department!

What's an interesting/fun fact about you?

Last year, along with my daughter and daughter-in-law, I went to two US Women's National Team games at the Summer Olympics in France! We had a wonderful time touring France and cheering our soccer team on to victory!