Snow isn’t as soft as it looks – and Alaska health professionals say no matter how much we enjoy the outdoors; kids especially need to protect their brains. Is your family hitting the slopes, a sledding hill, pond or snowmachine trails this winter? Alaska health professionals have one heartfelt request for you: Remember your helmet, and your kids’ helmets, too. Too many Alaskans will hit their heads while playing outdoors this winter, including children and teenagers. Most of the time, ...

With cold weather encouraging people to stay inside near a warm fire, now is a good time to think about how the proper maintenance of our woodstoves can protect our safety and health, as well as the longevity of the stove. It’s important to keep tabs on what you are burning and how it burns. For instance, a black, soot-filled window on your woodstove can be an indication that maintenance is needed, or burning practices need to be changed. A ...

Whether it is trying to stay physically distant – while socially connected, finding ways to keep our children involved in activities and education, or businesses changing the way they reach customers, all Alaskans are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Coping with these changes has led to responses and situations that can be characterized as critical incidents. At  ANTHC, the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team, comprised of trained staff and behavioral health providers, supports the mental health and well-being of ...

A new study published today indicates that successful ongoing vaccination efforts appear to have nearly eliminated hepatitis A virus infections among the Alaska Native population in Alaska. Hepatitis A is a short-term liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Adults are more at risk than children of developing severe illness, which can cause liver failure and even lead to death. Before the introduction of an effective vaccine in the 1990s, the hepatitis A infection rate was high in the ...

September is recognized as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and this year COVID-19 has put undue strain and anxiety on our people, families and communities across Alaska. During the month, the ANTHC Injury Prevention Program wants to provide resources and actions that show the resiliency and strength of our people and Alaskans across the state. Bounce Back Photo Contest – submit your photos here About the contest: Open to all Alaskans.Three age groups: under 19; 20-39; 40 and older.One winner from ...

Today, the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which accredits all U.S. education programs for dentists and dental hygienists, granted accreditation to a dental therapy education program for the first time, acknowledging the successful program at Iḷisaġvik College in Utqiaġvik. This is a victory for community-driven and equity-focused health policy, which instead of imposing solutions on communities, lifts up the solutions communities devise for themselves. Dental therapists are now working or authorized in at least some settings in ...

Thank you to ANTHC staff member Danielle Larsen for sharing her first-hand experience with COVID-19. The story below is shared with her permission to help raise awareness about how easily this virus can be spread and precautions she recommends our community members take. Let me first tell you, I always wore a mask when I left my house and religiously used hand sanitizer. I work in health care and knew all the precautions to take after months of creating materials ...

Missing out on regular activities is a common story across Alaska. As we begin to put dates back on our calendars, remember to put your health care appointments back in too. Chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure don’t take a break during a pandemic. Children still need their well-child visits and immunizations to be protected from diseases. Cancer can still spread undetected and heart attacks can still strike. Your health is important. Protect it now and in the ...