CT Public Health

Public health updates from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Have a question? Feel free to ask us on Twitter!

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🚲 Your legs called—they’re ready for something other than scrolling.

Happy World Bicycle Day, Connecticut! Whether you're riding for fun, fitness, or your daily commute, biking is a great way to support your health while enjoying the outdoors.

Wherever you ride, remember:
✔️ Wear a helmet
✔️ Follow traffic laws
✔️ Stay visible
✔️ Ride safely

So go ahead—log off, gear up, and get pedaling!

#WorldBicycleDay #CTDPH #HealthyCT #BikeCT #RideSafeCT #PublicHealth

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🎓 Congrats, Future College Students!

You’ve chosen your school—now it’s time to get campus-ready 📚

Many colleges and universities have immunization requirements to help support health and safety in shared living and learning spaces.

As you get ready for move-in, it can be helpful to:

✔️ Check your school’s requirements
✔️ Review your immunization records at https://t.co/kGzJZZ2piu
✔️ Talk with a healthcare provider if you have questions

Planning ahead can help make for a smooth start to this exciting new chapter!

#CollegeReady #HealthyCommunities

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

On #HeatActionDay, we’re reminded that extreme heat is one of Connecticut’s most serious — and most preventable — public health risks. 🌡️

Last summer showed how quickly conditions can escalate, with heat index values over 100°F, rising ozone 😷, and multiple 90°+ days across the state ☀️. Heat can quickly become dangerous, leading to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Stay cool, stay connected, and check on those most vulnerable 💧. Need a cool place to go? Call 211 or visit https://t.co/MPEC7ubnu3 to find a cooling center near you.

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

June is Pride Month, a time to recognize the history, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ+ communities.

It is also a reminder that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported where they live, work, and play.

Take time this month to learn, listen, and help support inclusion and belonging for all. 💙

Learn more about the history of Pride Month: https://t.co/sZNWHAnMU4

#PrideMonth #PublicHealth #CommunityWellbeing

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

June is Men’s Health Month — a time to raise awareness about the health challenges men face and the importance of prevention. 💙

Heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, and other serious conditions can often be better managed — or even prevented — through routine screenings, healthy habits, and early action.

Take charge of your health this month: schedule a checkup, know your risks, and encourage the men in your life to do the same. #MensHealthMonth

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🚭 Tobacco-free looks good on you. ✨

This #WorldNoTobaccoDay, there’s no sugarcoating it—tobacco use takes a real toll on your health, your looks, your energy, and your future. The good news? Quitting can start to reverse some of that impact sooner than you think.

If you’re ready (or even just thinking about it), support is available. Call the CT Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit https://t.co/ouKWzV3PnN for free, confidential help when you need it.

#WorldNoTobaccoDay #CommitToQuit #CTQuitline #TobaccoFree #QuitSmoking #PublicHealth

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

Happy National Creativity Day! 🎨💡

It’s in the person who finds a new way to fix something, the friend who turns a tough moment into a laugh, the parent who improvises dinner from whatever’s left in the fridge, and the neighbor who always knows how to make things work.

However it shows up for you, it matters—and it’s worth celebrating. 💙

#NationalCreativityDay #CreativityDay #CTDPH

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🔥 Heat doesn’t play around—neither should we.

National Heat Awareness Day is a reminder that extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S.—and it’s largely preventable when we take it seriously.

Outdoor workers, young children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with chronic conditions face the highest risk when temperatures climb.

Drink water regularly (even before you feel thirsty), plan breaks in shade or air conditioning, wear light clothing, and avoid prolonged activity during the hottest part of the day.

Know the warning signs of heat illness—and act quickly if they appear. 💧

Bookmark CDC’s Heat and Health Tracker for a 7-day heat risk forecast: https://t.co/ftltrrBxb7

#HeatAwareness #PublicHealth #ClimateAndHealth #StaySafe #HeatSafety

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

As Women’s Health Month comes to a close, we’re reminded that supporting women’s health is a year-round commitment. 🤍

Across every stage of life, women deserve access to care, information, and support that helps them stay healthy and thrive.

Thank you for helping us raise awareness this month—and for continuing to support women’s health every day!

Explore available services and support here:
https://t.co/1gwfPm3spC

#WomensHealthMonth #CTPublicHealth #HealthyCommunities #WomensHealth

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🦟 Who is most at risk for West Nile virus?

While most people infected with West Nile virus don’t get sick, some are more likely to develop severe illness.

Higher risk includes:
• Adults over 60
• People with weakened immune systems
• Those with chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, or kidney disease

Protect yourself by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves, and removing standing water around your home.

Learn more: https://t.co/SdybIMHd8p

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

Across Connecticut, communities are coming together to celebrate, reflect, and honor LGBTQ+ pride through festivals, performances, parades, film screenings, and family-friendly events 🌈

All month long, there are opportunities to connect, learn, and show support in ways that feel meaningful to you.

✨ Explore what’s happening across the state and find an event near you: https://t.co/0tapfxKblT

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

DYK? Stroke risk can increase with factors like:

❤️ High blood pressure
🚬 Smoking
🍔 High cholesterol
🩺 Diabetes
🫀 Heart disease

The good news? Many risks can be reduced through healthy habits, regular checkups, and managing chronic conditions.

If you or someone else shows signs of stroke:
📞 Call 911 immediately
🕒 Note the time symptoms began
🏥 Get emergency care fast

Learn more: https://t.co/ks4uyfM63S
#StrokeAwarenessMonth #StrokePrevention #KnowYourRisk #CTDPH

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROP | Connecticut's Health Report

This Women's Health Month, we're dedicating an entire episode to YOU — the women of Connecticut.

In our latest episode, we sit down with Commissioner Juthani and Deputy Commissioner Morrissey to talk about the health topics every woman in Connecticut deserves to hear and take action on:

✅ Routine screenings that save lives
🤱 Maternal health
⚖️ Health disparities
🦴 Menopause & bone density

This is the episode to share with your mom, your sister, your best friend and your daughter.

Your health is always worth showing up for.

▶️ Listen Now:
YouTube: https://t.co/hcN6z6ovM5
Spotify: https://t.co/fJiFs3mDku
Vimeo: https://t.co/79a8nuK8FN
DPH website: https://t.co/ZjvqckvRpn

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🌼 Happy Memorial Day from CTDPH!

Today, we honor the brave men and women who sacrificed for our freedom. Let’s celebrate with family gatherings, backyard BBQs, and heartfelt remembrance. 🕊️💖

#MemorialDay #RememberAndHonor

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

😎 Connecticut’s forecast this summer: hot, humid, and worth preparing for.

Extreme heat can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke fast.

Here's your heat survival guide:
💦 Water first
🧢 Dress light
❄️ AC when possible
📞 Check on others
🌅 Save outdoor plans for cooler hours

Summer should be memorable for the fun — not the emergency room.

Learn more: https://t.co/hSqhidwvgA

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

Splash pads, pools, and water parks = peak summer fun 💦

Help keep the good times rolling:
⏰ Take kids on hourly bathroom breaks
🚫 Stay out of the water if sick
🙅 Remind kids not to sit or stand on splash pad jets
🧼 Practice healthy swimming habits

Because the only thing you should bring home from the pool is great memories. 😎

Learn more about how to stay healthy at splash pads: https://t.co/KgodsBVBx7

#HealthyAndSafeSwimmingWeek #HealthySwimming #SplashPadSafety #PoolSafety #SummerVibes

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

Your pet loves the outdoors. Ticks do too. 🐜

Dogs and cats can pick up ticks outside and bring them into the home, where those ticks can still bite people. Pets can also get sick from tickborne diseases, and symptoms don’t always show up for days or even weeks after a bite.

Most tickborne diseases in pets can’t be prevented with vaccines (except Lyme disease in dogs), which is why prevention matters.

Talk to your veterinarian about tick risks in your area and how to protect your pet.

Learn More: https://t.co/o8A4LPZJTP

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🎙️ NOW on Connecticut’s Health Report 🎙️

You may have heard recent headlines about the Andes strain of Hantavirus — but what does it actually mean, and what should people know? We've got the answers straight from infectious disease expert, Commissioner Manisha Juthani.

Tune in now to learn more about:
🦠 What the Andes virus strain is
📍 How it spreads
❓ Whether there’s any risk to people in Connecticut
✅ And the practical steps people can take to stay informed and safe

YouTube: https://t.co/xkmOq7vrQq
Spotify: https://t.co/oGfaUuaVCC
Vimeo: https://t.co/8fXF5qrMiS
DPH website: https://t.co/HDLQaSXiwO

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

♿ Accessibility isn’t an add-on—it’s how we make space for everyone.

On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we recognize the importance of designing environments, tools, and information that everyone can access and use with dignity.

When barriers are removed, people can fully participate—in school, work, healthcare, community life, and everything in between. 💙

#GAAD #GlobalAccessibilityAwarenessDay #AccessibilityMatters #Inclusion #DesignForAll

[CT Public Health @CTDPH]

🚗 Running inside “for just a minute”? Think twice.

A parked car can heat up nearly 20°F in just 10 minutes — even with cracked windows.

Never leave:
👶 Children
🐾 Pets
👵 Vulnerable adults

Not even briefly. Not ever.

When you leave the car, everyone leaves the car.

#HeatSafety #StayCool