Mahoning County Public Health

09/04/2026

Last Friday, August 28th, one of our Public Health Nurses, Nicole Herczog, participated as a panelist in Groundwork Ohio’s Road Show event in Mahoning County. She shared about the Family Connects program, which offers licensed registered nurses who can visit your home in the first few weeks after birth to:

✅ Check your baby’s growth, vitals, and overall health
✅ Support feeding, sleep, and daily routines
✅ Give guidance on maternal recovery and emotional well-being
✅ Connect families with additional healthcare or community resources

To learn more about the Family Connects program, visit: www.HelpMeGrow.org/FamilyConnects

09/04/2026

September is National Food Safety Education Month! Here are some food safety tips to keep in mind for your Labor Day Weekend cookout:

🧼 Clean your grill with soap and water, scrape away old residue, and let the grill heat up before cooking.

🥩 Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw meats sealed and stored at the bottom of your cooler. Use separate plates, utensils, and cutting boards for raw and cooked foods.

🌡️ Cook to the right temperature, don’t rely on color! Use a food thermometer:
- Beef, pork, lamb & veal: 145°F
- Seafood: 145°F
- Ground meats: 160°F
- Poultry: 165°F

❄️🔥 Avoid the Danger Zone (40°F - 140°F): Keep cold foods at 40°F or below and hot foods at 140°F or above. Don’t leave perishables out for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour when temperatures are above 90°F).

Enjoy the cookout and keep it safe!

Alt text: Cartoon scene of a grill and picnic table with various food items, a food thermometer, a cooler, disposable gloves, and hand sanitizer with the text “Summer cookout food safety”

09/03/2026

The Care Cabinet is a 24/7 outdoor vending machine that offers FREE life-saving supplies. Funded by the OneOhio Recovery Foundation, the Care Cabinet increases access to essential public health resources at no cost and with no identifying information required, just a simple universal PIN number is used to select the items needed. Follow the steps shown in this video to dispense items from the machine - it really is that easy!

Supplies available include:
· Naloxone
· Fentanyl test strips
· Xylazine test strips
· Wound care kits
· Hygiene kits
· Feminine hygiene products

Care Cabinet Vending Machines are available at the following locations:
- MCPH, 50 Westchester Drive, Youngstown, OH 44515
- PLYMC Main Library, 305 Wick Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44503
- PLYMC Newport Library, 3730 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44507

This initiative is part of MCPH’s ongoing commitment to reducing preventable deaths, improving community health, and increasing access to essential services.

09/03/2026

Huge shoutout to our incredible food team who is working hard at the Canfield Fair to ensure your favorite fair foods are safe to eat! Environmental Health Supervisor Cory Powell spoke with WKBN 27 Youngstown OH about how our food team conducts inspections throughout the fair.

The Canfield Fair kicks off its six-day run tomorrow. But first, an important inspection needs to be completed for one of the biggest attractions — food.

09/02/2026

Having fun at the Canfield Fair? Don’t forget one of the easiest ways to help keep everyone healthy: wash your hands!

Remember to wash your hands:
- After touching or feeding animals
- After visiting animal barns or petting areas
- Before eating or handling food
- After using the restroom
- After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- Any time your hands look or feel dirty

Use soap and running water and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds, making sure to clean between your fingers and under your nails, and dry your hands with a clean towel or an air dryer. If soap and water aren't available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol until you can wash properly.

Enjoy the sights, sounds, food, and fun of the county fair, and make clean hands part of your fair-day routine!

Alt text: Cartoon person washing their hands at a sink with text describing when to wash your hands and the proper handwashing steps

09/01/2026

It’s Canfield Fair Week! That means our food safety team is hard at work inspecting the more than 250 food vendors to help ensure you can safely enjoy all your favorite fair foods. 🌭🍦

A huge shoutout to this incredible crew for the many hours they’re putting in this week to help keep fairgoers safe! We appreciate all that you do!

Alt text: Row of fair food stands with a magnifying glass over it and the text “Fair food safety inspections”

08/31/2026

Today, August 31st, is Overdose Awareness Day. An overdose can happen when the body is overwhelmed by a toxic amount of substance or combination of substances. It’s possible to overdose on many substances if they are abused, including alcohol, illicit drugs, and even prescribed medication.

Signs of an overdose may include:
- Discoloration of lips and nails
- Slow or absent breathing
- Unresponsive
- Dizziness of disorientation
- Choking or coughing
- Cold or clammy skin
- Extremely small pupils

Knowing the signs of an overdose and having Narcan (naloxone) on hand can help save a life. Naloxone is a medication that can block the effects of opioids and reverse an overdose. If you give naloxone to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it will not harm them. In Ohio, anyone can legally carry and administer naloxone.

If you need a naloxone kit and live in Mahoning County, visit www.mahoninghealth.org/project-dawn to learn more and request a free kit be mailed to you.

Naloxone is also available for free at all Care Cabinet locations:
- MCPH Office (50 Westchester Drive, Austintown)
- PLYMC Main Library (305 Wick Ave, Youngstown)
- PLYMC Newport Library (3730 Market St, Youngstown)

For more information and resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/ioad

Alt text: Circle graphic with the signs of an overdose

08/28/2026

Childhood Immunizations: Stay Protected, Stay Healthy

There are currently no confirmed measles cases in Mahoning County. However, with the school year underway, now is a great time to make sure children are up to date on all recommended vaccinations. Vaccines help protect against serious diseases such as measles, whooping cough, polio, chickenpox, and more. Staying current on routine childhood immunizations helps keep children healthy and reduces the spread of preventable diseases in our schools and communities. The MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles after receiving both doses.

Check your child's vaccination records and talk with your healthcare provider if you are unsure whether your child is up to date. The best way to protect your family and our community is to follow the recommended immunization schedule.

Need vaccinations? Contact your healthcare provider or the Mahoning County Public Health Nursing Division at 330-270-2855 x125 to schedule an appointment.

[As a local health department, Mahoning County Public Health continues to follow state guidance and the vaccination recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.]

08/28/2026

08/27/2026

As kids head back to school, keep packed lunches safe with these food safety essentials:

- Use an insulated lunch bag to keep food out of the temperature danger zone (between 40 and 140 degrees F)
- Include two cold sources for keeping cold foods cold, such as two frozen ice packs or one frozen ice pack and a frozen juice box or bottle of water. Place the cold sources on the top and bottom of food to keep it cold.
- Consider packing non-perishable snacks that don’t require a cold source such as whole fruits and vegetables, crackers, chips or pretzels, and granola bars.

For more tips, visit http://bit.ly/4l3i8Wa.

Alt text: Lunch box with a sandwich and an apple inside, ice packs, bottled water, and insulated lunch bag