Join Us in Confronting Public Health Challenges: March Focus - HIV and STDs

This year, we are committed to addressing the top 10 public health challenges. In March, our focus is on HIV and STDs, persistent threats to our community's well-being. Shockingly, Kern County saw a record number of HIV diagnoses in 2022, with someone being diagnosed every other day. STDs like syphilis are also reaching crisis levels, affecting even our most vulnerable infants with congenital syphilis.

But there is hope. Our clinic, alongside community efforts, provides an array of services. Kern County Public Health offers FREE HIV rapid tests, delivering confidential results within 20 minutes! Empower yourself. Protect your community. Get tested and treated.

Clinic Services Information:

• Location: Kern County Public Health Clinic
• Address: 1800 Mt. Vernon Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93306
• Phone: 661-321-3000
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 11:15 am and 12:45 pm to 4:15 pm

Confidentiality:

Confidentiality is strictly observed for all patients aged 12 and older.

Appointments and Walk-ins:

Appointments are available; call 661-321-3000 to schedule and reduce wait time. Walk-ins are accepted.

Insurance and Family Pact:

• We accept various insurance plans, including Medi-Cal
• Don’t have insurance? Call 661-321-3000 for questions. 

Taking charge of your health is a powerful choice. Together, we can overcome these health challenges and build a #HealthierKern one heart at a time.

Join Us in Confronting Public Health Challenges: April Focus – Food Insecurity and Malnutrition

This April we spotlight food insecurity and malnutrition as one of our top health challenges. In Kern County, more than 117,000 people do not know if they will be able to get enough food to eat or where their next meal is coming from. Almost 50,000 children in Kern County are food insecure. Additionally, almost 40% of children report they are not getting the recommended two or more servings of fruit per day while more than 80% of teenagers report eating less than five servings of fruit or vegetables per day.

Good nutrition is essential in keeping us healthy! In fact, people with healthy eating patterns live longer and are at lower risk for serious health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. For people with chronic diseases, healthy eating can help manage these conditions and prevent complications.

Waste Hunger Not Food

To help address hunger and malnutrition in our community, Public Health has the Waste Hunger Not Food program that collects uneaten wholesome food from local schools and redistributes free throughout Kern County to those in need. Since our 2018 launch, not only has Public Health forged partnerships with more than 11 school districts to rescue food that would otherwise be thrown away, but we also work with dozens of local churches and non-profits to get this fresh food to our most vulnerable community members. 

To find a food distribution location near you, visit our website. 

Join us in Confronting Public Health Challenges: May Focus – Mental Health & Substance Abuse

This May we highlight mental health and substance abuse as top health challenges and invite our entire community to join us to help create a healthier Kern County!

It’s a crisis close to home. In 2022, there were 376,217 prescriptions for opioids in Kern County. That same year, there were 675 visits to local hospital emergency rooms and 308 people died from opioid overdose. Additionally, the Kern County Child Death Review Team reports that in 2022 Kern had 7 total overdoses due to opioid related drugs and all of these deaths were in individuals between 14 and 17 years of age.  This was 2.8 deaths per 100,000, which was 180% higher than the State which had 1 death per 100,000. 

Public Health Narcan Distribution Project

Public Health distributes Narcan to residents at no cost. Narcan is a nasal spray and the brand-name of Naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose. Public Health staff will provide individuals with one box of Narcan and give brief training on how to respond to an opioid overdose.

Narcan is available in our Public Health Clinic located at 1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Bakersfield. Staff will train residents in groups of up to two people as walk-ins, with training time 10-15 minutes. Larger groups and local businesses are encouraged to visit our website for more information.

Mobile Health Vehicle

We now offer Narcan and training on our traveling Mobile Health Vehicle. This expansion is due to the increasing health crisis pervading our communities that heightens the need to make Narcan available throughout Kern County while providing residents the opportunity to receive training and information on how to respond to an opioid overdose.

Hands-Only CPR

Residents are encouraged to learn Hands-Only CPR as a tool in responding to opioid overdoses and other medical emergencies.

Public Health provides Hands-Only CPR training to residents in the following ways:

• Walk-ins:  Individuals can walk into Public Health located at 1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Monday - Friday between 8:00am and 4:00pm to request a brief Hands-Only CPR training.
• Organizations or large groups are encouraged to contact our EMS Team to request a training by calling 661-321-3000.

Join us in Confronting Public Health Challenges:  June Focus - Prepare NOW for a Safe and Healthy Summer

Summer is a busy time of year as kids are out of school and many events and activities are happening around Kern County. There are steps we all can take to prevent medical emergencies in our daily lives, in and around our homes. This June, Public Health will release weekly health and safety tips to empower families to have a happy and safe summer!

Heat poses a substantial health risk, especially for vulnerable populations including young children, the elderly, those with chronic diseases or disabilities, and pregnant women. People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to cool themselves properly.  Heat-related illness includes cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and death. Warning signs of heat-related illnesses may include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headache, and nausea. Vomiting, paleness, fatigue, and dizziness can also be indicators of heat-related illness.

Tips to stay safe during heat risk:

• Drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar.
• Avoid outdoor physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover the face and neck and loose-fitting clothing.
• Regularly check on any elderly relatives or friends who live alone. Many may be on medications which increase likelihood of dehydration.
• Use cool compresses, misting, showers and baths. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience a rapid, strong pulse, you feel delirious or have a body temperature above 102 degrees.
• Never leave infants, children, elderly or pets in a parked car. It can take as little as 10 minutes for the temperature inside a car to rise to levels that can result in death.
• Visit this website to see if there are any Cooling Centers available in your area.

Save a Life - Become a Water Watcher!

When in and around water, children must always be kept in sight of a responsible adult. Drownings can happen quickly and silently, so there is no room for error.

Designate a Water Watcher to supervise children during water activities. This Water Watcher wears a lanyard that can rotate between adults to ensure that someone is always focused on the children. That means not engaging in conversations with others, texting, watching videos or reading a book. Pick up your free Water Watcher lanyard at Public Health located at 1800 Mt. Vernon Avenue in Bakersfield.

There are steps we all can take to prevent drownings in and around our homes:

LOOK:

• Never leave children unattended, especially near water.
• Children who cannot swim should remain within your reach.
• Keep a phone near you – to call 911 if there is an emergency.

LOCK:

• Put a fence around all sides of a pool or spa with a self-closing and latching gate.
• Have alarms on doors and pool gates.

LEARN:

• Adults and children should learn how to swim.
• Teach your child to always swim with a buddy.
• Use life jackets and avoid using air filled toys as floatation devices.

Only Call 911 in a Real Emergency

Our emergency medical services response system continues to be impacted as Kern County experiences high volumes of 911 calls. The community can help support our local emergency medical services system and hospital teams by only calling 911 for life-threatening illnesses and emergencies. 

Join us in Confronting Public Health Challenges: July Focus – Obesity & Diabetes

Threat of Prediabetes

Prediabetes means you have a higher than normal blood sugar level. It's not high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes yet. But without lifestyle changes, adults and children with prediabetes are at high risk to develop type 2 diabetes.

About 98 million American adults—more than 1 in 3—have prediabetes.

More than 8 in 10 adults with prediabetes don't know they have it.

Prediabetes increases the risk of:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Stroke

Symptoms of Diabetes

If you have any of the following diabetes symptoms, see your doctor about getting your blood sugar tested:

• Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night
• Are very thirsty
• Lose weight without trying
• Are very hungry
• Have blurry vision
• Have numb or tingling hands or feet
• Feel very tired
• Have very dry skin
• Have sores that heal slowly
• Have more infections than usual

Prevent Diabetes

There isn't a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active can really help. Other things you can do to help:

• Take medicine as prescribed.
• Get diabetes self-management education and support.
• Make and keep health care appointments

Certified Healthy

Three in five Americans eat dinner out at least once a week. Without a plan in place, that can be a recipe for overeating. If you have prediabetes, losing weight by eating healthy and being more active can cut your risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half.

Certified Healthy is a restaurant initiative launched by Kern County Public Health in 2018. This program empowers YOU to choose restaurants in your area that offer nutritious foods. Learn more by visiting our website.

Resources

• CDC - Diabetes and Eating Out
• CDC - How Overweight and Obesity Impacts Your Health

Join us in Confronting Public Health Challenges: August Focus – Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by harmful pathogens that get into your body.  The most common causes are viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.  Infectious diseases usually spread from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and through bug bites. 

Valley Fever is an infectious disease that is endemic to California, especially in the Central Valley. Valley Fever is just one of the infectious diseases that Public Health tracks and provides vital services such as testing, education and awareness. Other diseases include West Nile virus, Measles, Tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases just to name a few.  

Valley Fever has been on the rise throughout California and comes from a fungus that grows naturally in the soil.  It is too small to see with your eyes, but breathing in the tiny spores can make you sick.  Valley Fever is not known to be transmitted from person to person. 

Learn more by visiting our Valley Fever webpage.

Join us in Confronting Public Health Challenges: September Focus – Foodborne Illness

Kern County Public Health asks residents to help us protect the health of our community from foodborne illness. Each year, 1 in 6 Americans gets sick by consuming contaminated food. Foodborne illness is a common, yet preventable, public health problem. To help prevent foodborne illness, we encourage everyone to “look for the sticker” and only eat at permitted restaurants and mobile food vendors.

All facilities that sell food to the public must obtain a health permit. Restaurants have a letter grade in their window and mobile food vendors have a sticker affixed to their vehicle or cart.  Health inspectors from our Environmental Health Division perform regular inspections at all permitted food facilities throughout Kern County. The purpose of health inspections is to ensure that food is prepared and handled safely with a goal of preventing foodborne illness. Vendors that sell food without a permit or a sticker have not been vetted for food safety. These unpermitted vendors potentially use unsafe food practices and risk making our community sick through foodborne illness.

Safe Diner App

Download Safe Diner FREE Today!

• App Store
• Google Play

Features:

• Restaurant inspection reports, updated daily, including any violations.
• Searching capabilities by both restaurant name or restaurants located near you.
• Ability to sort restaurant results by letter grades.
• Ability to filter restaurants that are Certified Healthy for healthier dining options.
• Report unpermitted food vendors like food truck or food carts.
• Ability to file a complaint and include a picture or video.

Permitted restaurants are inspected for safe food handling practices, correct hand washing, proper refrigeration and cooking temperatures, and overall cleanliness of the facility. View the latest inspection report and letter grade of your favorite restaurant. If you have concerns, submit a complaint that goes directly to our Environmental Health Team. If you see a mobile food vendor operating without a permit sticker, use the app to report it to ensure they are operating safely.

Resources

• CDC - Estimates of Foodborne Illness in the United States
• FDA - What You Need to Know about Foodborne Illnesses

Join us in Confronting Public Health Challenges:  October Focus – Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a kind of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the breast tissue. After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States. But breast cancer doesn't just happen in women. Everyone is born with some breast tissue, so anyone can get breast cancer.

Breast cancer survival rates have been increasing. And the number of people dying of breast cancer is steadily going down. Much of this is due to the widespread support for breast cancer awareness and funding for research. Advances in breast cancer screening allow healthcare professionals to diagnose breast cancer earlier. Finding the cancer earlier makes it much more likely that the cancer can be cured. Even when breast cancer can't be cured, many treatments exist to extend life. New discoveries in breast cancer research are helping healthcare professionals choose the most effective treatment plans. 

Resources

• Links for Life
• Mayo Clinic
• Center for Disease Control 
• American Cancer Society