Crawford County Public Health

08/31/2026

On International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31st) we want to share the 2025 Drug Overdose Fatality Review Annual Report. This report provides a summary of the overdose deaths from 2025 for Crawford County Residents, the number of emergency department visits due to unintentional overdose, types of substances involved in the fatalities, noted trends among the decedents, and recommended next steps for our community.
To learn more, read the 2025 Drug Overdose Fatality Review Annual Report:https://crawfordhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2025-Overdose-Fatality-Review-Annual-Report-March-2026-Final.pdf

08/29/2026

Monday, August 31st, is International Overdose Awareness Day. For 25 years, August 31st has been recognized as a day to bring people together to remember those we've lost and to take action to save lives. Overdose can be prevented. Join us today at Bucyrus and at Crestline to come together to learn how to reduce risk and keep people safe. Join us to learn from one another, to treat each other with care and respect, and to build a community where fewer lives are lost.

08/28/2026

Our WIC Chicks are awesome! To see if you qualify for Crawford County WIC Program services, call (419)562-5859. We are here to serve families of all shapes, sizes and structures. Two working parents with a baby on the way can qualify, single parents raising their kids, blended families, grandparents raising grandkids, foster parents --- we serve all kinds of families that qualify. And we promise, you'll love our WIC Chicks too!

This month, the WIC Chicks of Crawford County have been celebrating Breastfeeding Awareness Month (BAM) in so many special ways!

We were honored to help with the "Celebrating Your Breastfeeding Journey" event at Avita Galion Hospital, we partnered with Avita to host the "24th Annual Baby Shower", and- just as we do all year long- continued supporting moms with their breastfeeding questions, concerns, and needs. 💟

But our support doesn't end when August does! We want every mom who is breastfeeding, combination feeding, pumping, or working toward their breastfeeding goals to know that we support you and we are cheering you on!

*Missing WIC Staff from the photos are: Melissa Freeman, R.D, L.D. and Deanna Grube, IBCLC

08/27/2026

Local gardens are still producing a lot of cucumbers! Need some inspiration for eating all those cucumbers? Here are a few links to help: https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/meals-menus/g73345936/best-cucumber-recipes/
https://www.spendwithpennies.com/cucumber-sandwiches/

08/26/2026

A few years ago, the Crawford County WIC Clinic was blessed to have a Dolly Parton Imagination Library bookcase and reading space created in our waiting area.

It has become such a special little corner of our office-a place where children can look at books, flip through colorful pages, and most importantly, enjoy special moments while their parents read to them.

Today, we honor the incredible legacy of Dolly Parton- her dedication to children and families and her advocacy of early literacy. We are so grateful for her kindness, generosity, love for humanity, and her belief that every child deserves opportunities to grow up with the joy of reading. Her heart for children and all of her passion for helping others has touched so many lives, including the families we serve right here in Crawford County.

We are proud to be a small part of the Imagination Library legacy!

08/26/2026

National Dog Day is celebrated every year on August 26th to honor dogs and promote adoption.
Did you know:
*Dogs are the most popular pet on the planet.
*Dogs can learn over 100 words and gestures!
*Dog noses are at least 40x more sensitive than people's noses.
*They only sweat from their paws, and have to cool down by panting.
*They can be right or left-pawed!
*Dogs use body language to express their feelings.
Dogs provide companionship, keep us safe, and aid those in need. Dogs have been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve your overall health. They also keep us healthy, both physically and mentally. Hug your dog! (And feel free to post a pic of your pooch in the comments!)

08/25/2026

There is still time to register for the Annual Walk for Su***de Prevention on September 12th at 9:30am. The walk goes from the Bucyrus Avita parking lot down Sandusky Ave. to Schines Art Park. The registration deadline that includes a shirt is August 28th -- don't delay! Walk-ins are welcome on the day of the walk, but shirts are available by pre-order only. After the walk, there will be a family-friendly butterfly release ceremony to honor and remember your loved one. See the registration forms for more details.

08/24/2026

Head lice spread easily during the back-to-school season through close head-to-head contact (like when taking a selfie), sharing of combs and brushes, or sharing head coverings like hats or scarves. While it's true that head lice live on human blood, they are not known to spread any diseases. If you find yourself battling a head lice infestation, here is information on the treatment of head lice: https://www.cdc.gov/lice/treatment/

08/22/2026

Got a garden full of produce? Freezing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to preserve your vegetables while keeping their flavor, color, and nutrients intact. In fact, frozen veggies often taste fresher than canned or dried ones!
But here’s the secret to success: Don’t skip the blanching!
Blanching—briefly boiling or steaming your veggies, then plunging them into ice water—helps:
✅ Destroy surface bacteria
✅ Stop enzyme activity that causes spoilage
✅ Preserve texture, color, and nutrients
✅ Save freezer space by compacting leafy greens like spinach or broccoli
🕒 Following the right blanching times is key. Over-blanch and you’ll lose flavor and texture. Under-blanch and spoilage can sneak in.
Want to freeze like a pro? Check out this helpful guide from Extension:
🔗 Freezing Vegetables at Home https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-5333

08/21/2026

As we near the end of summer, we are also reaching peak mosquito population size in Ohio. Mosquitoes are active in Ohio from May through October but their numbers increase throughout the warm summer months as new generations hatch and then mature to breed and create even more generations. There are about 59 different species of mosquitoes in Ohio, but only a few of these species can carry diseases. We won't see a decrease in mosquito activity until the first hard frost in the fall. In the meantime, it is important to take steps to eliminate potential breeding sites near your home and to take measures to prevent mosquito bites. For more information, visit: https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/zoonotic-disease-program/animals/mosquitoes-in-ohio