Emergencies can happen when we least expect them — but being prepared doesn’t have to be complicated. Commissioner @DrJuthani has 5 simple steps to help you prepare before an emergency happens: 💧 Stock up: Have fresh drinking water and non-perishable food on hand and store them properly. 💊 Plan for medications: Make sure you have the medications and essential health supplies you may need. 🔦 Prepare for a power outage: Keep flashlights and extra batteries somewhere easy to find. 📄 Keep important information accessible: Store important documents and emergency contacts in a safe, easy-to-access place. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Make a family plan: Choose meeting points and plan for transportation and accommodations if you need to evacuate or relocate. Download the DPH Preparedness Guide for more information and tips on preparing for different types of emergencies before they happen: ow.ly/Fj1C50ZRoLo #EmergencyPreparedness #BePrepared #Preparedness #CTDPH

Preparing for a storm starts with knowing what to do. With a nor’easter expected in Connecticut this weekend, CT DPH’s Preparedness Hazard Cards are a helpful resource to have on hand. ➡️ Swipe through for guidance on flooding, hurricanes, tropical storms and power outages. 📲 Download our free Preparedness Guide for more information on how to prepare for these and other emergencies: ow.ly/lkMw50ZRoJ3 Be Prepared, Not Panicked! #CTDPH #Preparednessplan #BePreparedNotPanicked

Who’s on your Falls Prevention Team? 🏈 Preventing falls takes a team, and everyone has a role to play. From your doctor and pharmacist to your physical therapist, occupational therapist, family and friends, there are people who can help you stay active, safe and independent. And remember: you’re the MVP. 🙌 Learn more and find helpful falls prevention resources: 🩺 Talk to your doctor about falls: ow.ly/UTKn50ZNsER 💊 Get tips for reviewing your medications: ow.ly/Rwj050ZNsES 💪 Find evidence-based falls prevention programs: ow.ly/1gUm50ZNsEP 🏠 Make your home safer: ow.ly/U07G50ZNsEQ ❤️ Learn more about Falls Free CT: ow.ly/rzn850ZNsEO #FallsPreventionAwarenessWeek #FPAW26 #CTDPH

Today, we're celebrating the pharmacists who help keep Connecticut healthy! From answering questions and providing vaccinations to ensuring medications are safe and effective, pharmacists are trusted partners in our communities every day. Thank you for the dedication, expertise, and compassion you bring to our state. Happy #WorldPharmacistsDay! 💊💙 #CTDPH #ThankAPharmacist

Want to improve your balance and strength? Let’s get moving. 💪 Regular exercise can help improve balance, strength and flexibility, which can help reduce your risk of falling. Find a program that works for you and get moving! 🚶 👉 Find an exercise program near you: ow.ly/NZaB50ZNuR6 #FallsPreventionAwarenessWeek #FPAW26 #CTDPH

🎗️ Leukemias and lymphomas are among the most common types of cancer diagnosed in children in Connecticut and across the country. Knowing the signs and symptoms can help families recognize when something may be wrong and seek care early. The more we know, the better equipped we are to support children and families, raise awareness and advance research. 🔬🧒 Learn more: ow.ly/76Hz50ZPQiX #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth #ChildhoodCancer #Lymphoma #Leukemia #CTDPH

How confident are you about your risk of falling? 🤔 The National Council on Aging’s Falls Free CheckUp® is a quick, 13-question online tool that can help older adults learn more about their personal risk for falling. In just a few minutes, you’ll get an overview of factors that may increase your risk and tips for what you can do about them. Knowing your risk is a good place to start. 👉 Take the Falls Free CheckUp®: ow.ly/VlwH50ZNuQ6 Looking for more falls prevention resources? Check out the National Council on Aging’s Falls Prevention Toolkit: ow.ly/BZN550ZNuQ5 #FallsPreventionAwarenessWeek #FPAW26 #CTDPH

A bat in your bedroom? Here’s what to know. 🦇 A recent story about a Virginia woman who woke up to a bat has a lot of people asking questions about bats and rabies. In Connecticut, bats are one of the animals that can carry rabies. Because bat bites can be difficult to see, a bat found in a room with someone who was sleeping, a young child, or someone who may not know if they were bitten should be taken seriously. If you have a possible exposure: 🦇 Avoid touching the bat with your bare hands. 🦇 Wash any bite, scratch or wound with soap and water. 🦇 Contact your healthcare provider or local health department to discuss whether rabies post-exposure treatment is recommended. Rabies is preventable when treatment is given before symptoms develop. Remember, take a possible exposure seriously, but it’s important you don't panic! Learn more: ow.ly/FHx350ZQ8hq

Aging well takes a village. Good thing Connecticut has one. 💙 You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Connecticut has organizations that can help you find information, services and support as you age. 🤝 AgingCT connects older adults and families with local aging services and programs. 🏡 Department of Aging and Disability Services offers information and services related to aging, disability and long-term support. Need a little help finding your way? Start here: 👉 AgingCT: ow.ly/lJ2B50ZFe05 👉 Department of Aging and Disability Services: ow.ly/wEIR50ZFe06 #HealthyAgingMonth #CTDPH

Falls prevention takes all of us. 🤝 Falls Free CT brings together people and organizations across Connecticut who are working to help older adults stay safe, active and independent. That includes health care providers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, first responders, public health teams, aging services, senior centers, community organizations, caregivers and, most importantly, people with lived experience of falls. Together, we’re sharing resources, raising awareness, using data to understand where help is needed, and finding new ways to make our homes and communities safer. Want to be part of the work? 💪 Join Falls Free CT and connect with others working to prevent falls across Connecticut. 👉 ow.ly/6MWM50ZPOsH #FallsPreventionAwarenessWeek #FPAW26 #CTDPH

🍂 Hello, fall! As the seasons change, it's the perfect time to refresh your healthy habits. Help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy this season by: 🍎 Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables 💧 Staying hydrated, even as the weather cools 🏃 Getting outside and staying active 😴 Prioritizing sleep to support your immune system 🧼 Washing your hands regularly to help prevent the spread of illness 🛡️ Staying up to date on recommended immunizations, especially your annual flu shot Here's to a healthy, happy fall across our state! 🍁

What you carry can affect the people you love. 🧬 Men can carry certain inherited genetic mutations that may increase cancer risk—and they can pass those mutations on to their children. During Ovarian & Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, remember: understanding your family health history is something the whole family can do. Knowing about inherited cancer risk can help loved ones have important conversations with their healthcare providers and make informed choices about their health. One conversation today could make a difference for generations to come. 💜🩵 #OvarianCancerAwareness #GynecologicCancerAwareness #KnowYourRisk #FamilyHealthHistory #CTDPH

💜 Memory loss and changes in thinking can be a normal part of aging, but they can also be signs of something more. World Alzheimer’s Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia and to remind families that support is available. If you notice changes in yourself or someone you love, talk with a health care provider. Early conversations can help families better understand what’s happening, explore treatment and support options, and plan for the future. Alzheimer’s affects more than the person diagnosed. It affects families, caregivers and communities, too. 💜 #WorldAlzheimersDay #AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaAwareness #CTDPH

❤️ HIV prevention and care are important at every age. As people living with HIV live longer, healthier lives, more people are reaching older adulthood with HIV. National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day highlights the unique health and care needs of older adults living with HIV. Regular HIV testing, prevention, treatment and ongoing health care can help people stay healthy throughout their lives. Learn more about HIV prevention, testing and care in CT: ow.ly/66Tm50ZBzq6 #HIVAgingAwarenessDay #HIVAwareness #EndTheStigma #UequalsU #CTDPH

Awareness can save lives. 🩵💜 This September, during Ovarian & Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, take a moment to learn the signs, understand your risk, and talk with your healthcare provider about your health. Knowing your personal and family health history can help you make informed decisions about your care. Paying attention to changes in your body and speaking up about concerns are important steps toward protecting your health. One conversation. One share. One reminder could make a difference. #GynecologicCancerAwareness #OvarianCancerAwareness #CancerAwareness #WomensHealth #CTDPH

Clean spaces. Safer care. Healthier Connecticut. Environmental Services (EVS) professionals are an important part of the healthcare team. Every day, they help reduce the spread of germs by cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms, high-touch surfaces, and shared spaces. Their work may happen behind the scenes, but it plays a visible role in keeping patients, healthcare workers, and visitors safe. This Environmental Services Week, we’re proud to recognize the EVS professionals across Connecticut who help make safe, clean care possible. 🧼💙 Learn more about Environmental Services Week: ow.ly/I2k050ZNpWQ

🩺 Your health care team is there to help you feel informed and confident in your care. On World Patient Safety Day, we’re highlighting the important role everyone plays in making health care safer. You can help by: 💬 Asking questions when something is unclear 📝 Sharing your medications and health history 🔎 Speaking up if something doesn’t seem right 👥 Bringing someone with you to an appointment when helpful 📋 Following instructions and asking what to expect next Patient safety is a team effort. When patients, families and health care professionals communicate and work together, we can help make care safer for everyone. ❤️ #WorldPatientSafetyDay #PatientSafety #HealthLiteracy #CTDPH

🎙️ New Episode of Connecticut's Health Report is here! September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and this episode takes an in-depth look at what families face when a child is diagnosed and how Connecticut communities can show up for them. Host Brittany Schaefer talks with Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani and Dr. Michael Isakoff, Division Head of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at @ctchildrens, about: ✅ What childhood cancer looks like and how it differs from adult cancers ✅ What families can expect during diagnosis and treatment ✅ How schools, providers, and communities can offer meaningful support ✅ Where families can turn for trusted resources and hope Tune in to learn how awareness and community support make a difference. 🎧 Listen to the new episode of Connecticut’s Health Report: YouTube: ow.ly/LAV350ZNvBm Spotify: ow.ly/xGWK50ZNvBl Vimeo: ow.ly/BGz050ZNvBk

💻 Whether you’re working from home, taking an online class, or spending part of your day in front of a screen, small healthy habits can make a big difference! Try these simple ways to take care of your body and mind throughout the day: 🪑 Set up a comfortable, supportive workspace. 👀 Give your eyes a break with the 20-20-20 rule. 🚶 Stand up, stretch, and move around regularly. 💧 Keep water nearby and stay hydrated. 🧠 Make time to step away from your screen, disconnect, and recharge. This #NationalOnlineLearningDay, remember to make time for your health—wherever you work or learn. 💙 #HealthyHabits #RemoteWork #OnlineLearning #CTDPH

🍎 How long has that leftover been sitting in your fridge? 👀 September is National Food Safety Education Month, making it a good time for a quick refresher on keeping food safe at home. A few fridge rules to remember: 🍝 Leftovers: 3–4 days 🍗 Cooked meat & poultry: 3–4 days 🥩 Raw beef, pork & lamb: 3–5 days 🍗 Raw chicken & turkey: 1–2 days 🥚 Eggs: 3–5 weeks Keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below and refrigerate perishable foods within 2 hours. And remember the four steps: 🧼 Clean your hands and surfaces 🥩 Separate raw foods from ready-to-eat foods 🌡️ Cook foods to a safe temperature ❄️ Chill food promptly When in doubt, throw it out! Learn more about food safety and download the safe minimum internal temperature chart: ow.ly/z9tO50ZLtJC ow.ly/mL1r50ZLtJB #FoodSafetyEducationMonth #FoodSafety #CTDPH