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🎁 Support Local This Season
🎁 Support Local This Season
When possible, consider supporting local shops, farmers, crafters, and nonprofits.
Buying local keeps our community strong and helps neighbors thrive — a gift that lasts beyond the holidays.
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🧤 Bundle Up!
🧤 Bundle Up!
Temperatures are dropping — remember hats, gloves, and scarves when heading out.
Protecting your hands, ears, and face helps prevent frostbite and keeps you comfortable during winter activities.
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🚗 Winter Driving Readiness
🚗 Winter Driving Readiness
Before hitting the road this winter:
• Check tires
• Keep at least half a tank of gas
• Carry an emergency car kit
• Let someone know your route
Safe travels start with preparation.
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☀️ Fight the Winter Blues
☀️ Fight the Winter Blues
Shorter days can impact mood.
Try getting sunlight when you can, staying active, connecting with others, and practicing small self-care habits to boost wellbeing.
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📱 Stay Informed
📱 Stay Informed
Be sure to follow Washington County, IA Emergency Management and download the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Mobile App.
Through the app, you can sign up for alerts, receive notifications, and access important resources in the EMA section.
Knowing about storms, road closures, and temperature drops ahead of time helps you plan and stay safe.
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Safe Gift-Giving Tips🎁🔒
Safe Gift-Giving Tips🎁🔒
If you're giving toys or gadgets this holiday season, remember safety first!
• Choose age-appropriate toys
• Check for small parts or choking hazards
• Make sure batteries (especially button batteries) are secured
• Keep chargers and cords out of reach of little ones
Healthy holidays start with safe choices.
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🔦 Happy National Flashlight Day!
🔦 Happy National Flashlight Day!
A great reminder to check your emergency kits, replace old batteries, and make sure every household member knows where flashlights are kept.
Preparedness keeps families safe — especially during winter months.
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Holiday Travel Health Tips🚗❄️
Holiday Travel Health Tips🚗❄️
Heading out of town this month? A few quick travel reminders:
• Pack medications and keep them in your carry-on or personal bag
• Bring extra snacks and water
• Keep hand sanitizer handy
• Check road and weather conditions before leaving
• If you are sick--Stay home
Safe travels and stay healthy out there!
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Winter Handwashing Reminder🧼✨
Winter Handwashing Reminder🧼✨
Cold and flu season is here!
A quick reminder that handwashing remains one of the MOST effective ways to prevent illness.
Wash for 20 seconds (sing the ABC's or Happy Birthday twice) with warm water and soap — especially after being out in public, before meals, and after coughing or sneezing.
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✨🎄 Wishing everyone a warm and peaceful Christmas Eve🎄✨
✨🎄 Wishing everyone a warm and peaceful Christmas Eve🎄✨
May your day be filled with comfort, joy, and time with the people who matter most.
📣Please note: Washington County Public Health will be closed on December 24th and 25th so our staff can spend the holiday with their families.
We will reopen on Friday, December 26th at 8AM.
Stay safe and enjoy the magic of the season!
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🎄💚 Merry Christmas from Washington County Public Health!💚🎄
🎄💚 Merry Christmas from Washington County Public Health!💚🎄
We hope your day is filled with joy, connection, and good health.
Thank you to our community for your continued support and partnership throughout the year!
Please note: Washington County Public Health is closed today, December 25th, so our staff can spend the holiday with their families.
We will reopen on Friday, December 26th at 8AM.
Wishing you a safe and wonderful holiday!
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Carbon Monoxide Safety Tip🔥🚨
Carbon Monoxide Safety Tip🔥🚨
With heaters, fireplaces, and generators being used more often, carbon monoxide risks go up in winter.
• Install CO detectors on every level of your home
• Never use grills or generators indoors
• Check that vents and chimneys are clear of snow
A quick safety check can save lives.
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Mental Health Check-In💙🧠
Mental Health Check-In💙🧠
The holidays can be joyful — but they can also be stressful or overwhelming.
Take a moment today to check in with yourself and your loved ones.
If you’re struggling, reaching out is a sign of strength. Support is available, and you’re not alone.
**Call/Text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
**Your Life Iowa- Call- 855-581-8111, Text- 855-895-8398, Chat at yourlifeiowa.org
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Photos from Washington County Public Health's post
As we wrap up 2025, we’re grateful for another year of serving this wonderful community.
And yes — it also happens to be National Pretend to Work Day 😄
If you’re “working,” we hope your day is light, your coffee is strong, and your evening is full of celebration!
Reminder: Washington County Public Health will be closed on Thursday, January 1st in observance of New Year’s Day. We will reopen on Friday, January 2nd at 8AM.
Stay safe and have a healthy start to the new year!
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🧠 Happy National Trivia Day!
🧠 Happy National Trivia Day!
Let’s celebrate with some surprising health and wellness facts you may not know:
✨ Did you know…
• Laughing 100 times burns about the same calories as a 10-minute light workout.
• Drinking enough water can boost your focus and energy—even mild dehydration can impact mood.
• Your taste buds have a lifespan of about 10–14 days before they regenerate.
• A brisk 10-minute walk can improve your mood for up to 2 hours.
• Sleep is so powerful that missing just 1–2 hours can affect your alertness as much as going without sleep for 24 hours.
• Chewing gum can help improve memory and concentration for some people.
• About 80% of your immune cells live in your gut—your digestive health matters!
• Spending time in nature can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and boost overall well-being.
💬 Want to join the fun?
Share your favorite random trivia fact—health-related or totally silly—in the comments!
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🏡 Home Health: Care That Comes to You
🏡 Home Health: Care That Comes to You
Home health services play a vital role in helping individuals stay safe, healthy, and independent—right in the comfort of their own homes.
Here’s why home health is so important:
✨ Promotes Independence
Home health allows people to recover, manage chronic conditions, and maintain their daily routines without leaving home.
✨ Supports Safety & Minimizes Hospitalizations
Regular nursing visits, medication management, and monitoring help catch concerns early and reduce unnecessary hospital stays.
✨ Personalized, One-on-One Care
Care is tailored to each person’s needs—whether it’s skilled nursing, therapy, wound care, or education for patients and caregivers.
✨ Essential Support from Home Health Aides
Our home health aides provide compassionate assistance with personal cares—such as bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility support, and daily hygiene. Their work helps patients stay comfortable, maintain dignity, and safely perform everyday activities.
✨ Comfort & Familiarity
Being surrounded by familiar people and surroundings boosts emotional well-being and healing.
✨ Helps Families & Caregivers
Home health provides support, education, and guidance, giving families peace of mind.
At Washington County Public Health, we’re proud to provide compassionate, high-quality home health care to help our community stay well at home.
💙 If you or a loved one could benefit from home health services, we’re here to help.
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❄️✨ It’s National Winter Skin Relief Day!
❄️✨ It’s National Winter Skin Relief Day! ✨❄️
If your skin is currently channeling its inner lizard 🦎… don’t worry, we’ve ALL been there.
Here are some fun winter skin “survival tips” to keep you soft, smooth, and feeling like a human again:
💧 Moisturize like it’s your part-time job
Put lotion on after showers, before bed, during commercials… you get the idea.
🚿 Skip the lava-hot showers
Yes, we know they’re amazing. But warm water = happy skin!
💨 Humidifier = winter bestie
Turn your home into a spa (or at least less of a desert).
🥤 Drink water
Because your skin can’t survive on coffee alone… sadly.
🧴 Gentle soaps, please
Let your skin chill without harsh ingredients.
Be kind to your skin this winter—after all, it’s your body’s biggest fan (literally, it covers everything!).
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🚓💙 Today we honor and thank our law enforcement officers
🚓💙 Today we honor and thank our law enforcement officers.
On National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we recognize the dedication, service, and commitment of the men and women who work every day to keep our communities safe.
Washington County Public Health extends our heartfelt appreciation to all local officers, deputies, dispatchers, and public safety staff.
Your hard work, compassion, and courage do not go unnoticed.
💙 Thank you for protecting our communities.
💙 Thank you for supporting our residents.
💙 Thank you for the partnership we share in serving Washington County.
If you see an officer today, take a moment to thank them for all they do.
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