Crawford County Public Health

11/06/2025

Tired of hearing about viruses all the time? We hear you! So let's talk about some bacteria instead...,
It is estimated that listeriosis is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness per year. Nearly everyone with listeriosis is hospitalized and unfortunately, one-quarter of pregnancy-associated cases result in fetal loss or death of the newborn. Listeriosis is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. To learn more about listeriosis and the foods associated with this illness, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/about/index.html

11/05/2025

Disposing of needles, lancets and syringes (sharps) used at home should be done in a manner that reduces the risk of harm to the rest of your family and to the workers that handle household waste. Placing a well-labeled sharps container into the center of your trash bag can help reduce the risk of someone handling that bag of trash from getting poked by a used needle. If you don't have a store-bought sharps container, use a rigid, leak-proof plastic container that has a tight-fitting lid (like a laundry detergent bottle or even a coffee can with the lid securely taped). Do not use milk jugs -- the plastic is too thin and the needles could poke through. For more information about the disposal of infectious waste in Ohio, visit: https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/epa.ohio.gov/Portals/34/document/guidance/gd_462.pdf

11/04/2025

November is Gluten Free Awareness Month. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley & rye. Common foods with gluten include breads, baked goods, soups, pasta, cereals, sauces, salad dressings and many more - even some food colorings. We know many kids have allergies or sensitivities to gluten, which is why it’s so important for us to make sure they have access to gluten-free meals and snacks. WIC agencies offer individualized nutrition guidance to help your little ones get the nutrients they need, even if they have food sensitivities. If you live in Crawford County with little ones (up to age 5) and want to find out if you qualify for WIC, call (419)562-5859. (Yes, WIC is still open!)
If you need some recipe ideas that are both gluten-Free (or have ways to use a substitution to make them gluten-free) and utilize WIC foods, check out this website: https://recipes.doctoryum.org/en/tags/gluten-free/and/wic-food-package

11/03/2025

When Daylight Saving Time ends, that first week (or two) can be a little rough as we learn to adjust. It's also a time to drive with a little extra caution. The sunset times are now before 5:30pm! That extra evening darkness reduces visibility, increases our risk of drowsy driving, and also increases our chances of encountering deer and other wildlife crossing roads. Take some time this week to ensure headlights, taillights and windshield wipers are all in good working condition. Happy November in Ohio!

11/01/2025

Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Here are some things to consider to help you adjust:
🍁It can take several days or even weeks for our brains to fully adjust to the new schedule.
🍁Maximize your exposure to natural light. Open your curtains wide, go for a walk or sit outside or enjoy your morning coffee on the porch.
🍁Set your clocks back before bed Saturday night. Even though the time change doesn’t happen until 2 a.m. Sunday, it’s best to be prepared so you won’t throw off your entire day.

10/31/2025

Happy Halloween from all of us here at Crawford County Public Health! We hope your Halloween is filled with more treats than tricks this year.

10/30/2025

The Crawford County Board of Health will hold a public hearing at 4:30pm on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, for the review of the proposed 2026 license fees for Food Service Operations and Retail Food Establishments located within our jurisdiction. The hearing will take place prior to the regularly scheduled Board of Health meeting at Crawford County Public Health, 1st Floor conference room, 1520 Isaac Beal Rd., Bucyrus, Ohio.

10/29/2025

Getting your flu shot before the holidays is one of the best ways to prevent serious illness or hospitalization during flu season. We still have limited availability of all three vaccines - the Standard vaccine for ages 6 months and older, Flublok (3 times the antigens, egg-free and for ages 9 years and older), and High-Dose (4 times the antigens and for adults ages 65 and older). New this year - all of our flu vaccines are in single-dose formulations that are free of thimerosal as a preservative. Call (419)562-5871 to schedule an appointment or to talk with a nurse to help you decide which flu vaccine is best for you.

10/28/2025

Help is 3 numbers away. The 2-1-1 resource hotline at Pathways of Central Ohio is available 24/7 to anyone in Crawford County and is ready to connect callers with health care services, emergency food and housing, transportation needs, legal services, and more. You may also call 800-544-1601 or search the online Pathways 2-1-1 Community Resource Directory at https://www.navigateresources.net/chic/

10/28/2025

In 2019, the United States Senate passed a resolution designating October 28th as National First Responders Day to honor the men and women putting their lives on the line. They are firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, corrections officers, dispatchers, and military. In an emergency, they’re the first on the scene, often putting their own lives at risk. Serving as a national day of gratitude, we pay tribute to their endless hours and around the clock service provided to our community. Often, the very people saving lives are our neighbors, friends and family members. Thank you to all of our local first responders!

10/27/2025

If you are a mom with extra breast milk, please consider donating it to babies and moms in need. We are partnered with the OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank as a donor drop off site. Let us store your donation and handle the shipping!
To learn more about the OhioHealth Mothers' Milk Bank, visit: https://www.ohiohealth.com/services/womens-health/ohiohealth-mothers-milk-bank

10/25/2025

The risk of severe storms, sudden road closures, flood warnings, tornado warnings and so much more - these are all notices you can receive for FREE directly to your phone. You choose how you want to receive the notices and you choose what notices are important to you. If you haven't already signed up "Crawford Alerts!" don't wait until it is too late. This is an amazing service our Crawford County Emergency Management Agency - Ohio provides to our county and best of all, it's FREE to use! You can sign up here:

Sign up here for Crawford Alerts! In the event of an emergency or severe weather condition, an alert may be sent to the phone number provided by voice, text and/or email. This is a free service provided by Crawford County, OH, however, normal message fees may apply. To receive text messages to your....