July 2026

Volume 5, Issue 7

Enjoying Summer Safely:

On the Road and Around Michigan

Welcome to the July edition of Happenings!

Road trip season is here! Whether you're heading to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, your favorite campground, or a weekend getaway, taking a few simple precautions can help keep you and your loved ones safe.

Before you hit the road, take a few minutes to prepare. Make sure everyone is buckled up, check your tires and vehicle, plan your route, and avoid driving while distracted, impaired, or fatigued. Follow posted speed limits, leave plenty of space between vehicles, and stay alert—especially in construction zones and areas with increased summer traffic.

As you enjoy everything Michigan has to offer, it's also important to stay informed about current public health concerns. In recent weeks, our state has experienced several health-related challenges, including an ongoing investigation into a cyclosporiasis outbreak and periods of reduced air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires. Staying informed can help you make the best decisions for yourself and your family while enjoying summer activities.

We encourage you to take a few moments to explore this month's newsletter for important updates and seasonal safety tips. Together, we can help keep ourselves, our families, and our communities healthy while making the most of a Michigan summer.

Show Us Your Best & Brightest

If you're a shutterbug who would like to share one of your best photographs, please email it to Olivia at o.vanelslander@nwhealth.org for potential inclusion in the next edition of HDNW Happenings.

If you have questions about HDNW and the programs we offer, please reach out to us through our socials, calling staff at 800-432-4121, or by emailing media@nwhealth.org.

Leadership in Public Health

1. Tell us about your role at HDNW.

As the Environmental Health Director at HDNW, I have the opportunity to protect both public health and the environment. My work involves partnering with local businesses, property owners, and community members to help ensure the places where we live, work, eat, and recreate are safe and healthy. Every day is different, which keeps the job interesting and rewarding.

2. What motivates you to do your best work?

What motivates me most is knowing that the work we do makes a real difference. We’re not only serving our community, but we’re also helping protect the environment for future generations. It’s rewarding to be part of a profession that improves people's health while preserving the natural resources that make Northern Michigan such a special place to live.

3. What led to your career in public health?

My career path started with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, with an emphasis in Ecology and a minor in Criminal Justice. Originally, I was interested in careers such as becoming a conservation officer or park ranger because I wanted to help protect our natural resources. At the time, I wasn’t very familiar with environmental health as a career.

After graduating, I came across a job posting for a Food Sanitarian with Oakland County. As I learned more about the field, I realized it perfectly combined my passion for environmental protection with the opportunity to serve the public. It was a career I hadn’t originally considered, but it turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. I’m grateful to use my education every day to help protect both our environment and the health of our community.

4. When you're off work, what's your passion?

If I’m not at work, you’ll almost always find me outdoors. I enjoy hiking, hunting, fishing, and mushroom foraging. Spending time outside gives me an even greater appreciation for the natural resources I help protect through my work.

5. What are your plans for the summer?

This summer, we're keeping things low-key. We’re looking forward to the Venetian Festival, spending weekends boating, and supporting our kids as they participate in 4-H at the Emmet-Charlevoix County Fair. Summer in Northern Michigan is hard to beat, and we enjoy every opportunity to get outside and spend time together.

Michigan Air Quality Alert

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), has issued an Air Quality Alert for July 17, for elevated levels of fine particulate matter due to wildfire smoke.

Concentrations will be in the Hazardous range.

Everyone should seek cleaner air indoors and keep activity levels low. If you must be outdoors for short periods of time, consider wearing KN95 or N95 masks. Do not use masks for children under the age of 2.

HDNW has free KN95 masks available for community members who want them at all of our clinic locations, while supplies last.

Clinic locations:

Charlevoix: 220 W. Garfield

Harbor Springs/Petoskey: 3434 Harbor-Petoskey Rd., Suite A

Gaylord: 95 Livingston Blvd.

Mancelona Family Resource Center: 205 Grove Street

Bellaire: 209 Portage Dr.

More Information on Air Quality Index

Beat the Summer Heat

National Drowning Prevention Week serves as an important reminder that drowning can happen quickly and often more quietly than many people realize.

Drowning can happen in as little as 20–60 seconds, especially for young children, making constant, attentive supervision around water essential. Whether you're visiting a pool, lake, or beach this summer, stay within arm's reach of young children.

Drowning is preventable. Whether you're enjoying a backyard pool, a local beach, or one of Michigan's many lakes and rivers, these simple safety steps can help protect you and your loved ones:

Watch children closely. Always provide constant, undistracted supervision when children are near or in the water. Stay within arm's reach of young or inexperienced swimmers
Wear a life jacket. Use a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating, fishing, paddling, or participating in other water activities—especially for children and weak swimmers
Never swim alone. Swim with a buddy and choose locations with lifeguards whenever possible
Learn to swim. Swimming lessons help people of all ages build confidence and develop lifesaving water skills
Avoid alcohol and drugs. Impairment increases the risk of drowning by affecting judgment, coordination, and reaction time
Know your surroundings. Be aware of water depth, currents, weather conditions, and underwater hazards before entering the water
Learn CPR. Immediate CPR can improve survival while emergency responders are on the way
Secure home pools. Install four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, and remove toys from the pool area when not in use to help prevent unsupervised access

A few simple safety steps can help prevent tragedy and ensure everyone enjoys Michigan's waterways safely.

Drowning usually doesn't look like the dramatic scenes in movies, it is often quick and silent. Good news! Drowning is preventable with undistracted supervision and wearing a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

Rabies Awareness: What to Know About Bat Encounters

HDNW was notified on July 2 that a bat collected in Emmet County has tested positive for rabies. There have been no human cases of rabies associated with this incident.

Defining an Exposure

Bat bites and scratches can be small and difficult to detect, and an exposure may have occurred if a bat is found:

In a room with a sleeping person
Near an unsupervised child\
With a person who is mentally impaired or intoxicated
In direct contact with a pet or person

If any of these situations occur, do not release the bat. Keeping the bat for testing may prevent unnecessary rabies treatment. Although rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, it is entirely preventable with prompt medical care after an exposure.

How to Safely Capture a Bat

If you believe a bat may have exposed a person or pet, safely capture it by following these tips:

Put on thick leather gloves or work gloves
Wait for the bat to land
Place a plastic container or coffee can over the bat
Slide a piece of cardboard or stiff paper underneath
Secure/tape the cardboard to the container
Avoid touching the bat with bare hands

Bringing a Bat in for Testing

Bats submitted for rabies testing must be humanely euthanized before being brought into a HDNW clinic location. To ensure accurate testing the bat’s head must remain intact and undamaged, keep the bat refrigerated until it can be dropped off, never freeze it. Bring the euthanized bat to any HDNW clinic location as soon as possible.

Stay Safe Around Water During Thunderstorms

Summer storms can develop quickly, and lightning poses a serious risk to anyone near or on the water.

At the first sound of thunder or sight of lightning, leave the water immediately and seek shelter inside a sturdy building or a fully enclosed vehicle.

Because water is an excellent conductor of electricity, lightning can travel across its surface and put swimmers, anglers, and boaters at risk—even if the strike occurs some distance away.

Remember the 30-30 Rule: If you see lightning, begin counting the seconds until you hear thunder. If the time is 30 seconds or less, the storm is close enough to be dangerous. Stay out of the water and wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before returning.

Avoid taking shelter under open structures such as picnic pavilions, beach shelters, or boat canopies, as they do not provide protection from lightning.

If you're boating, head back to shore as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are unable to reach land, remain inside a boat with a fully enclosed cabin, if available, and avoid touching metal surfaces or electrical equipment until the storm has passed.

A little planning and quick action can help keep you and your family safe while enjoying Michigan's lakes, rivers, and beaches this summer.

HDNW Reaffirms Commitment to Dental Care During DCN Transition

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNW), serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties, is providing information regarding the transition of operational management for Dental Clinics North (DCN).

At the June Board of Health meeting, the Board reviewed an evaluation of DCN’s operations. The evaluation identified operational inefficiencies that were creating financial strain for the organization. Following that review, the Board voted to terminate its existing contract with DCN Non-Profit for staffing and management services of the DCN clinics.

As a result of that action, operational leadership of the nine DCN clinics will transition directly to HDNW. HDNW owns all DCN clinics including buildings, equipment, and supplies. Currently, HDNW provides financial management, information technology, billing, facilities management, equipment, and purchasing services. Following this transition, HDNW will assume responsibility for payroll, human resources, and executive leadership.

HDNW remains committed to transparency throughout this process and will continue providing timely updates as this transition progresses. Our priority is ensuring uninterrupted access to quality dental care for patients.

Farmers Market Season is Here

As farmers market season returns, it is a great opportunity to support both personal health and our local communities. Choosing fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and other foods is one of the healthiest ways to nourish yourself and your family while supporting local farmers and businesses.

Whenever possible, consider walking or biking to your local farmers market instead of driving. Incorporating physical activity into your routine, even through simple daily choices, can improve heart health, reduce stress, and positively impact mental well-being.

Healthy eating and active living work together to support both physical and mental health, helping create a stronger, healthier community for all.

Check out local markets below:

Cyclospora Outbreak Update

Public health officials continue to investigate the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak. While the exact source has not yet been identified, current evidence suggests that lettuce or other leafy greens may be a potential source of infection.

You can help reduce your risk of illness by following these food safety practices:

Wash your hands with soap and water before, during, and after preparing food.
Rinse fresh produce thoroughly under clean, running water before eating, cutting, or cooking it.
Choose whole heads of lettuce instead of bagged salad mixes when possible, and remove and discard the outer leaves before preparing.
Cook foods to an internal temperature of at least 160°F when appropriate.

Cyclospora is a parasite that can cause prolonged diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, fatigue, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. If you develop these symptoms, especially after eating fresh produce, contact your healthcare provider for evaluation.

We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.

What You Should Know About Kratom

Kratom comes from a tree native to Southeast Asia, where its leaves have traditionally been chewed or brewed into tea. In the United States, kratom is commonly sold as powders, capsules, extracts, and in beverages. Kratom can be used to relieve pain or manage symptoms of opioid use disorder. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved kratom for any medical use, and research on its safety and effectiveness is ongoing.

"As more people use kratom, it is important to understand that these products are not regulated the same way as medications and may carry health risks,” says Dr. Josh Meyerson, HDNW Medical Director. “If you are using kratom to manage chronic pain, talk with your health care provider about treatment options that have been more thoroughly studied and are more consistently regulated.”

Possible Side Effects of Kratom:

Nausea, vomiting, or constipation
Increased heart rate or blood pressure
Drowsiness or dizziness
Confusion or agitation
Dependence and withdrawal symptoms with regular use

Join the Team!

If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on public health and well-being, then look no further than the Health Department of Northwest Michigan!

Whether you're an experienced healthcare professional, an aspiring public health advocate, or a dedicated support staff member, we offer a wide range of positions that cater to various skill sets and career aspirations. Come join our team!