Community Nurse's Page

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

• Please view the COVID-19 page for updates and more information.

Please note that the influenza infections is high in Massachusetts. It is not too late to get a flu shot. Call the Bedford Board of Health at 781-275-6507 to sign up for appointment. Please practice the following infection prevention activities:

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Frequently clean touch common touchpoint surfaces, including but not limited to electronics, door knobs, and countertops
• Avoid sharing food utensils, containers, and other personal items
• Distance yourself from someone who appears sick
• Practice proper cough etiquette

DC Information

Youth Education

• Know the Risks: A Youth Guide to E-Cigarettes

Vaping Cessation Resources

Massachusetts Resources

• My Life, My Quit is a free resource to help youth quit vaping. Massachusetts promotional materials coming soon.
  • Teens can call or text "start my quit" to 855-891-9989 or they can visit the My Life, My Quite website for real-time coaching.
  • Through the program, teens work with a coach who listens and understands their unique needs, provides personalized support, and helps them build a quit plan to become free from nicotine.
• The Department of Public Health released a 2 minute video to educate parents about the harms of vaping: The New Look of Nicotine Addiction. The video can be used as a public service announcement on public access channels, newsletters, blogs, emails, social media (especially parent Facebook groups), presentations, etc.

National Resources

• Become a Smoke-Free Teen - online resources including Smokefree text, quitSTART app, online expert consult, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. It also has resources for adults.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
  • Tobacco-Free Kids partnered with Michael Bloomberg for a new $160 million initiative called Protect Kids: Fight Flavored E-Cigs.
    • Visit the Protect Kids: Fight Flavored E-Cigarettes Twitter for updates and information
• Truth Initiative
  • Truth confronts JUUL and other e-cigarette manufacturers in new campaign, 'Tested on Humans'
    • Don't Test on Humans - Animals are Joining the Fight Against JUUL
    • No One Knows The Long-Term Effects of JUULing. Not even… the CEO of JUUL.
    • Now This: The Dangers of Vaping as a Teen, With Truth and Doug the Pug
• FDA Real Cost Campaign
  • FDA launches 'Magic' television ad campaign with magician Julius Dein to curb teen vaping
• New FDA Webpage on Respiratory Illnesses Associated with Use of Vaping Products

Updates

• President Trump announced Wednesday that the administration will move to force e-cigarette companies to take flavored vaping products off the market
  • FDA Press Release: Trump Administration Combating Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use with Plan to Clear Market of Unauthorized, Non-Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarette Products
• CDC Health Advisory: Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with Using E-Cigarette Products
  • Youth and young adults should not use e-cigarette products
  • Women who are pregnant should not use e-cigarette products
  • Adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not start using e-cigarette products
  • If you do use e-cigarette products, you should not buy these products off the street (for example, e-cigarette products with THC or other cannabinoids)
  • You should not modify e-cigarette products or add any substances to these products that are not intended by the manufacturer
  • Adult smokers who are attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments, including counseling and FDA-approved medications. If you need help quitting tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contact your doctor or other medical provider
• CDC Urges Clinicians to Report Possible Cases of Unexplained Vaping-associated Pulmonary Illness to their State/Local Health Department
  • The MA Department of Public Health released an advisory regarding vape-related pulmonary illnesses using the MDPH Health and Homeland Alert Network listserv to all MA registered Internal Medicine, Pediatrician, Family Practice, General Practice, Pulmonologist, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Physicians and Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
    •  https://emergency.cdc.gov/newsletters/coca/081619.htm Subject line: Mass. Clinicians: Please Inform Mass. DPH of Possible Cases of Vaping Related Pulmonary Illness
    • Body of email: A new recommendation from the CDC encourages physicians to report cases of significant, unexplained respiratory illness and a history of vaping to the state health department. As a result, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health is requesting that clinicians flag any cases of respiratory illness possibly linked to vaping
• FDA Warns JUUL Labs for Marketing Unauthorized Modified Risk Tobacco Products; Requests Additional Documents and Information
  • FDA says JUUL illegally marketed their products as safer than smoking
• Please note that the influenza infections is high in Massachusetts. It is not too late to get a flu shot. Call the Bedford Board of Health at 781-275-6507 to sign up for appointment. Please practice the following infection prevention activities
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Frequently clean touch common touchpoint surfaces, including but not limited to electronics, door knobs, and countertops
• Avoid sharing food utensils, containers, and other personal items
• Distance yourself from someone who appears sick