Safety & Wellness - FAQs:

Reducing your exposure to smoke in the air will help prevent health effects. You can reduce your exposure to smoke by staying indoors where you are safe, and, if possible, keeping windows closed. Run your air conditioner, if you have one. The fresh-air intake on air conditioners should be closed to prevent outdoor air from entering your home. Be sure your filters are changed regularly.

Avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves and candles, when smoke levels outside are high. Do not vacuum or stir up dust in your house. And do not smoke.

Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large particles, will not help protect you against smoke as they allow the more dangerous smaller particles to pass through to your lungs. For more information about effective masks, see the Respirator Fact Sheet provided by CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Regularly check the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your area. You can find out about the AQI for your area at: http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local

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Is there a diet that helps you get healthy?

DASH is an eating plan to help you lower your blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.

For more information about DASH, visit:

Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH [PDF] (NIH)
Dash Diet Shown to Lower Heart Attack Risk Almost 20% (healthfinder.gov)

Related Information:

Healthy Weight - it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle! (CDC)

Where can I go if I can't afford immunizations for my child?

Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your income. Health centers provide

checkups when you're well
treatment when you're sick
complete care when you're pregnant
immunizations and checkups for your children
dental care and prescription drugs for your family
mental health and substance abuse care if you need it

Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas. To search for the Health Center in your area, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/

Are tattoos and permanent makeup safe?

While temporary and permanent tattoos are subject to regulation as cosmetics and are under the jurisdiction of the HHS Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local agencies have direct jurisdiction over the practice of tattooing by salon technicians. FDA is currently evaluating the safety of tattoos and permanent makeup as a result of their growing popularity. Among the issues being considered are tattoo removal, adverse reactions to tattoo colors and infections and infectious disease that result from the use of these products.

The inks, or dyes, used for tattoos are color additives. Currently no color additives have been approved for tattoos, including those used in permanent makeup.

Consumers should be aware of some of the risks presented by tattoos and permanent makeup:

1. Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious disease, such as hepatitis; it is extremely important to confirm that all equipment is clean and sanitary before use;

2. Tattoos and permanent makeup are not easily removed and in some cases may cause permanent discoloration; think carefully before getting a tattoo and consider the possibility of an allergic reaction; and

3. Blood donations cannot be made for a year after getting a tattoo or permanent makeup.

Learn More:

Think Before You Ink: Are Tattoos Safe? (FDA)
Piercing and Tattoos (Medline Plus)
Can I get HIV from getting a tattoo or through body piercing?
Tattoos and Permanent Make-Up (FDA)
Body Art (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC)
Temporary Tattoos and Henna/Mehndi (FDA)