Ellis County Health Department

03/30/2026

Just a quick reminder that ECHD is closed Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 1 while our team is away for training. We’ll be back Thursday, ready to take care of you!

03/24/2026

Did you know that today is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day?
Why TB Testing Matters...

This is a good time to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB), a disease that mainly affects the lungs and can spread through the air when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes.

You may have noticed that our health department does a lot of TB skin tests, and here’s why:

✔️ TB doesn’t always make people feel sick right away.
Some people can carry TB bacteria without symptoms. Testing helps us find those cases early before it becomes active or spreads to others.

✔️ The TB skin test is quick, simple, and cost-effective.
A small amount of testing solution is placed just under the top layer of skin on your arm.

📅 Why we schedule on Mondays & Tuesdays:
This allows us to read your test on Wednesdays & Thursdays, right within that important window. It must be checked 48-72 hours later. You’ll come back so we can look at the area and see if your body reacted to the test.

🏥 Why some jobs require TB testing:
People who work in places like hospitals, schools, and childcare settings are around others every day, including those who may be more vulnerable to illness. TB testing helps make sure employees are not carrying TB bacteria and helps keep these environments safe for everyone.

🩻TB is preventable and treatable, and testing is one of the best tools we have to protect our community. You can have latent (inactive, not contagious) TB and not feel sick. This is why testing is so important! It can be caught early and is treatable and curable.

✔️Cost for the test is only $15, private pay.

If you need a TB test for work, school, or peace of mind, we’re here to help!

03/20/2026

☠️⚠️Kids see gummy medicine like vitamins and melatonin, and think “candy!”
But they can be dangerous. Here’s how to help your kids stay safe:
🍬 Store gummies up, away, and out of sight, preferably in a locked box or cabinet.
🍬 Never call gummy medicines “candy”.
🍬 Keep gummies in their original container.
📲Call the Help line at 1-800-222-1222 to get connected to your local poison center.
Poison Centers are here for you with confidential, non-judgmental, and free expert advice.

03/18/2026

How do you know if you should call Poison Help or911?
Call 911 when someone is having trouble breathing, unresponsive, or having
a seizure. For all other poisoning symptoms, call the Poison Help line to connect
with an expert! The Poison Help line is fast, free, and available 24/7, 365 days a year. You never know when you might need it.
1-800-222-1222.

03/17/2026

ECHD will be closed Monday, March 30 through Wednesday, April 1 while our staff attends the annual Governor's Public Health Conference.
This conference offer sessions tailored to every area of our health department, allowing our team to continue learning and strengthening the services we provide year-round to our community.
We appreciate the opportunity for further development and will be happy to schedule appointments around these dates. Thank you for your understanding! 

03/16/2026

March 15-21, 2026 is National Poison Prevention Week.
The unexpected happens, and when it does, Poison Help is here
for you.
Stop by ECHD this week for free magnets and other poison control information! Monday-Thursday, 7a.m.-5:30 p.m.

03/07/2026

🚨 The BEACON Program launches March 24th! 🚨
Are you a working parent in Ellis County trying to finish a degree, certification, or job training online?

The BEACON Program provides evening childcare while you study on-site.
✔ Supervised childcare ages infant–13
✔ $5 per night
✔ 6:30–8:30 PM
✔ Tuesday & Thursday evenings
✔ Childcare provided by Bright Minds Academy

📍 Bob & Pat Schmidt Community Center
2510 Canterbury Dr, Hays

⚠ Limited pilot spots available
📞 Call James at 785-628-3102 to sign up

👉 First night: March 24th
Please share this post if you know a parent who could benefit!

SIGN UP HERE https://forms.gle/GJ754aqzWVxKXJ4J6

03/06/2026

The National Weather Service (NWS) is hosting free Storm Spotter
Training sessions at the Emergency Services Building on Thursday,
March 12. There will be two sessions: one at 3PM and another at 6PM, with each expected to last about an hour. Both sessions are open to the public, and no registration is necessary. Come and
learn how to identify and report severe weather.

03/04/2026

Our health department staff participated last year and it was so fun!

Registration for Walk Kansas is open now! Get your teams together and register here: http://WalkKansas.org 🚶‍♀️‍➡️🚶‍➡️✨

03/04/2026

Applications for the 2026 season of the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) are due at the end of this month.

If eligible, LIEAP provides a one-time per year benefit to help you pay for a portion of your home heating costs including:
🔌Electricity
🔥Propane
⛽Gas
⚡Other home heating fuels

Learn more, find an application event near you or apply online at LIEAP.dcf.ks.gov.

Applications for LIEAP must be received by DCF by 5 p.m. on March 31, 2026.

03/03/2026

🌪️ Kansas Statewide Tornado Drill – Wednesday, March 4th, 2026

A reminder that the Kansas Statewide Tornado Drill will take place on Wednesday, March 4th. During the drill, many communities across Kansas will sound their outdoor warning sirens around 10:00 AM, central standard time, as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
This is only a test, but it’s a great time to:
• Review your severe weather safety plan
• Identify your safe place at home, work, or school
• Make sure your weather alerts and notifications are working

02/18/2026

Becoming a Mom classes begin tomorrow, don't miss them!