🦟💧 More BIG NEWS for Licking County! The Licking County Health Department (LCHD) has been awarded funding through the 2026 Ohio EPA Mosquito Control Grant Program to support local mosquito surveillance and control efforts across the county! 👏 This funding will help LCHD: ✅ Monitor mosquito activity throughout the season ✅ Identify areas with high mosquito populations ✅ Detect mosquito-borne illnesses like West Nile virus ✅ Respond quickly to protect public health How YOU can help: ✔️ Eliminate standing water around your home ✔️ Use insect repellent when outdoors ✔️ Wear protective clothing during peak mosquito hours Every small step makes a big difference in protecting our community! 💚

What is the best way to protect yourself in a crash? Wear your seat belt! Thank you to all the amazing teams that participated in this year's Licking County Quick Click Challenge, where organizations throughout the county joined together to compete in seat belt relay race and show just how easy it is to buckle up. Special congratulations to the Licking County Sheriff's Office, who were this year's winner! To hear the buckle up message from the Licking County Sheriff's Office, click the video in the comments below!

Summer is finally here! And with the summer sun comes summer heat. It’s important to keep you and your pets safe from heat-related injuries. Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after being in the heat. Avoid outdoor activities during midday, when it is hottest. Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and a hat when outside. Make sure your pets get plenty of water and shade and keep them off asphalt or dark pavement. Go to ready.gov for more summer safety tips.

🎉 LOOKING FOR A FUN NEW WAY TO STAY ACTIVE? 🎉 Join us for Bingocize® — a FREE 10-week wellness program that combines the game of bingo with gentle exercise, movement, laughter, prizes, and health education! 💪🎲✨ Bingocize is designed to help older adults improve: ✅ Strength & balance ✅ Mobility & flexibility ✅ Social connection ✅ Overall wellness ✅ Fall prevention awareness Exercises can be done seated or standing, making the program welcoming for all activity levels! 📍 TWO COMMUNITY LOCATIONS AVAILABLE: Licking County Health Department 675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055 June 16, 2026 – August 20, 2026 Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Sharon Glyn Senior Apartments 914 Sharon Valley Rd., Newark, OH 43055 June 8, 2026 – August 10, 2026 Mondays | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Wednesdays | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 🎁 Free prizes • New friendships • Fun movement • Community connection To register, please call 740-349-6535 and ask for Bingocize or email health@lickingcohealth.org. Come move, laugh, learn, and play with us!

A trained rider is a safe rider. Find a training course near you and sharpen your skills. Motorcyclists’ Safety Is Everyone’s Safety.

A healthy school year starts with prevention! 🍎 Back-to-school will be here soon, call now to schedule your child’s vaccines.

The Licking County Health Department conducted audits of 64 tobacco and nicotine retailers across Licking County during 2025–2026. These audits evaluated tobacco marketing, product availability, required age-of-sale signage, and more. This work helps us better understand our local environment and supports healthier communities. Check out the 2025–2026 Tobacco Retailer Store Audit Report to learn more!

🦟 This week's spray schedule 🦟 (weather permitting): Tuesday, 6/9: Village of Hebron,N/S Buckeye Lake (KOA) Kirkersville Alexandria

In need of a car seat check? The Licking County Health Department will be at Catholic Social Services providing free car seat checks for families at its Little Blessings Resource Fair on June 12th. Register for a car seat check here: forms.office.com/r/jaFTzZ1AE… or scan the QR code below.

Licking County has multiple Harm Reduction Vending Machines that provide free, confidential access to naloxone (Narcan) and other harm reduction supplies. Creating easy access to harm reduction materials means more lives saved! ❤️ For more information on harm reduction resources please contact the Licking County Health Department at 📞 (740) 349-6535 or visit our website 🖥️ lickingcohealth.org/drug-pro…

🎉 LOOKING FOR A FUN NEW WAY TO STAY ACTIVE? 🎉 Join us for Bingocize® — a FREE 10-week wellness program that combines the game of bingo with gentle exercise, movement, laughter, prizes, and health education! 💪🎲✨ Bingocize is designed to help older adults improve: ✅ Strength & balance ✅ Mobility & flexibility ✅ Social connection ✅ Overall wellness ✅ Fall prevention awareness Exercises can be done seated or standing, making the program welcoming for all activity levels! 📍 TWO COMMUNITY LOCATIONS AVAILABLE: Licking County Health Department: 675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055 June 16, 2026 – August 20, 2026 Tuesdays & Thursdays | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Sharon Glyn Senior Apartments: 914 Sharon Valley Rd., Newark, OH 43055 June 8, 2026 – August 10, 2026 Mondays | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Wednesdays | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 🎁 Free prizes • New friendships • Fun movement • Community connection To register, please call 740-349-6535 and ask for Bingocize or email health@lickingcohealth.org. Come move, laugh, learn, and play with us!

Our staff will be onsite partnering with the American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region today at Newark Catholic High School for a blood drive honoring these incredible young ladies. Didn’t register in advance? No problem—walk-ins are welcome! Please consider stopping by to donate today from 12:00PM to 6:00PM

Not sure what resources are available to your family? Stop by the Little Blessings Resource Fair hosted by Catholic Social Services to learn more about safe sleeping techniques, nutrition planning, maternal medical services, and more. Please register for the event using the link on the flyer. The Licking County Health Department will also be providing free car seat checks for families at the event. Register for a car seat check here: forms.office.com/r/jaFTzZ1AE….

As National Water Safety Month comes to a close, we would like to remind everyone that water safety is a year-round responsibility. Thank you to everyone for following along this month, and remember to stay vigilant as we enter the summer, and all of the water related fun to come.

The consequences of not buckling up can be more than a ticket. Don’t find out firsthand. Click It or Ticket.

Today’s letter from the Safe Sleep Alphabet is B! B is for Back. Babies should always be placed on their back to sleep. If baby can roll over, they can stay in the position they assume. Remember back is best! If you need a safe sleep space for your baby, click here to see if you qualify for a free pack n’ play! forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/…

🚗 Need a ride to your medical appointment? We've got you covered! Licking County Health Department is partnering with Uber Health to make it easier for individuals to get to your medical appointments. Eligible riders must: ✅Request ride 24 business hours in advance ✅Must have a mobile phone with texting capabilities ✅Must be located in Licking County ✅Request rides through our website @ lickingcohealth.org/uber-hea…

The Licking County Health Department (LCHD), in partnership with the Licking County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), remains committed to protecting the health and safety of our community through tobacco compliance checks. Under Ohio’s Tobacco 21 law, which took effect on October 17, 2019, it is illegal to sell or provide tobacco, e-cigarettes, or alternative nicotine products to anyone under the age of 21. 📊 2025 LCHD Compliance Results: • 60 compliance checks conducted • 55 retailers were in compliance • Compliance rate: 91.7% 📊 Preliminary LCHD 2026 Results (Report Pending): • 63 compliance checks conducted • 57 retailers were in compliance • Compliance rate: 90.4% These efforts help ensure retailers are keeping tobacco and nicotine products out of the hands of youth. LCHD and LCSO will continue working together to support a healthier, safer Licking County.

This week's spray schedule (weather permitting): Tues., 5/26: Hebron, north and south (see map) Buckeye Lake (KOA) Kirkersville Thurs., 5/28: Pataskala

If you or your child has a food allergy, intolerance, or other adverse reactions to certain foods, WIC staff can customize your food package to fit your needs. That means more choices, fewer worries, and better support for your family’s nutritional health! 🍽️💜 To learn more about WIC and connect with a clinic near you, visit signupwic.com. For food allergy resources, visit wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resour…. #FoodAllergyAwareness #HealthyStartsHere #FoodAllergies