Air Quality
Declining air quality has been a persistent issue in the bluegrass this summer, caused by drifting wildfire smoke from Canada. Your smartphone weather app will provide a daily measure of air quality. If you are having trouble breathing or have a pre-existing lung condition such as asthma or COPD, have heart disease or are an older adult, child or teen, stay indoors as much as possible when air quality declines.
Everyone else should choose less strenuous activities, shorten the amount of time being active outdoors or be active outside when air quality improves.
Back to School Immunizations
Lexington Fayette Health Department’s Public Health Clinic can help with back-to-school immunizations for all grade levels, as well as COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months and older.
Call 859-288-2483 to make your same-day appointment and learn more at www.lfchd.org.
Participants must be 18 years or younger and be uninsured or underinsured. Medicaid is accepted. Immunization records must be brought to the appointment, and physicals will not be provided. A legal guardian must be present.
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions.
Fayette County students who are new to the school district or are entering kindergarten are required to bring a Kentucky immunization certificate in order to enroll. Sixth-grade students and 16-year-olds are also required to have certain boosters and must bring an up-to-date immunization certificate.
AUGUST HEALTH CALENDAR
AUG 8
Join the Central Bank Blood Drive in Lexington on August 8 from 10 am-3 pm at 300 W. Vine St. All donors will receive a KBC “Give Local” T-shirt (while supplies last) as a thank you for donating. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
SAT AUG 12
How many steps do people walk while at McConnell Springs? That’s the question. When you come out on this day use your own pedometer or borrow one from the front desk and tell the staff how far you walked. At the end of the year, McConnell Springs will report how far we all walked in 2023.
SAT AUG 12
The 2023 A Midsummer Night’s Run is an in-person race in downtown Lexington scheduled for Saturday, August 12th, at 7:30pm. (There is a virtual participant option.) The Fastest Kid In Town Kids Races (Ages 2-12) will be held at 6pm.
SAT AUG 26
The Walk to end ALS is 9 am at the Kentucky Horse Park, rain or shine. In person participants must check in at the registration table, turn in any outstanding donations, and sign a waiver. Participants who raise $100 or more receive an official Walk to Defeat ALS t-shirt. Pick up yours at the Walk.
On Walk Day, be sure to bring a photo of your ALS hero for the Honor and Memorial area.
Please note that the Kentucky Horse Park charges for parking.
This article appears on pages 12-13 of the August 2023 issue of HJ. To subscribe to the full digital edition, click here.
