August 2025 - Summit County Health News

As the new school year begins, it’s the perfect time to celebrate fresh starts, new friendships, and exciting opportunities for learning and growth. It is also a great time for us to reset and focus on habits that help us feel our best. For kids, that might mean getting back to consistent bedtimes, eating a balanced breakfast, and finding fun ways to stay active every day. For families, it can be as simple as making time for walks together, cooking healthy meals, and keeping a routine that balances school, work, and downtime. Although this time of year can be busy, it is important to carve out meaningful moments to connect with family and friends whether over dinner, at a local event, or just chatting together in the backyard. Doing so strengthens our bonds and boosts our overall well-being. By looking out for ourselves and each other, we can make this coming school year one where our kids—and our community—truly thrive.

With an unwavering commitment to public health,
Dr. Phil Bondurant

Let’s Talk About Air Quality

Summit County typically enjoys cleaner air than the Wasatch Front. However, seasonal inversions and wildfire smoke from both regional and distant fires still pose a significant threat to the quality of our air. Each summer, our area sees wildfire-driven pollution where smoke can spike levels of fine particulate matter well above healthy limits.

The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) is part of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality and offers real-time data on the amount of fine particulate matter and ozone in our area through monitoring platforms Air.Utah.gov

“What is ozone?” Ozone is a small air pollutant that is harmful to the lungs. It forms when chemicals from cars and industrial manufacturing combine in sunlight. Breathing ozone can make it difficult to breathe, particularly for children, older adults, or individuals with asthma. There are two kinds of ozone. This harmful one differs from the "good ozone" in the upper atmosphere, which shields us from the sun's harmful rays.

Why does Utah have issues with air quality?

1. Persistent ozone issues. As of 2025, the Salt Lake City–Provo–Orem area ranks 9th worst in the U.S. for ozone pollution, driven by pollutants from transportation, industry, and oil/gas activity reacting in heat and sunlight.
   

2. Unique terrain. The combination of mountain-ringed valleys, vehicle emissions, and wood burning often traps pollutants—especially during winter inversions—raising levels of fine particulate matter.
   

3. Summer wildfire activity and drift smoke. Fire season typically peaks July through October, especially under hot, dry conditions. Stay informed about the smoke outlook in your area thanks to this resource by the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program.

What you can do:

• Protect your health during poor air quality days by staying informed with the UtahAir real-time & forecast tool, an official site for monitoring current air quality conditions and forecasts. Be prepared with strategies like masking, filtering indoor air, and timing outdoor activity.
  

• Learn about trends, policies, and long-term planning by the Utah DEQ Air Quality Metrics & Smoke Management Program.
  

• Explore ways you can contribute to keeping our air clean at home, at work, and in your community.

Back-to-School Immunization Scheduling

We stand by the fact that vaccines keep doing what they’ve always done: protecting us from diseases that can cause serious harm. School is right around the corner—are your child’s vaccines up-to-date? Make sure your student is protected and ready to learn!

Back-to-School Sustainability Tips

• Shop at home first. Avoid overbuying and overspending by seeing what you already have on hand. You might be surprised by how many supplies you can use year after year.

• Repair and reuse. Find simple fixes for a broken zipper or a loose binder ring instead of buying new and share with your kids the value in taking care of what they own.

• Make smart swaps. Whether it's paper, pencil cases, backpacks, or binders, look for brands that offer reusable and durable options made from up-cycled or recycled materials and can last longer than one school year. Take these efforts a step further by choosing companies that use minimal or no packaging.

• Share your surplus. Bring supplies that your household no longer needs to the Park City Christian Center or other donation sites to help students in the community prepare for the school year ahead.

• Share the "Why". Communicate to your kids why reducing waste matters and the difference these practices and everyday habits can make in our community.
  

Upcoming Events

Summit County Health

• 8/15: FREE Family Movie Night in Kamas
  Watch “The Wild Robot” at the Kamas Rodeo Grounds + City Park. Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets, we will provide free dinner and popcorn. The event runs from 5pm - 9pm.
  

• 9/22: Mammography Bus - Coalville - Call 435-333-1500
  

• 9/29: Mammography Bus Intermountain - Kamas | 9am-4:30 pm
  

• 9/30: Climate Change + Public Health Speaker Series Event
  Why Care About Our Air? Understanding changes in local air quality and how it impacts your health. Register here.

Recycle Utah is hosting three tours this fall:
See behind the scenes of essential services in our community like water, wastewater, and solid waste. Learn more and sign up today:

• 9/23 @ 10am: Summit County Landfill Tour

• 10/9 @ 10am: Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District Tour

• 10/16 @ 9:30am: 3 Kings Water Treatment Plant Tour

Overdose Awareness Month

Overdose affects more people than you might think.

An overdose happens when someone takes more of a substance than their body can handle—this could be anything from alcohol to street drugs to prescription medications. It’s not just about illegal drugs: even medications prescribed by a doctor can be dangerous if misused.

What’s one big risk factor? Tolerance. When someone builds up a tolerance to a substance, they need more of that drug or alcohol to feel the same effects. But using more can push the body past its limit—sometimes with deadly consequences.

In just 5 to 7 days, someone can start down the path toward addiction. Here’s a shocking fact: according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 80% of heroin users started with a prescription opioid.

So, what can you do to help prevent overdoses?

• Safely dispose of medications you’re no longer using. Click here for drop-off locations in Summit County.

• Keep prescriptions locked up or out of reach. Half of all misused prescriptions are taken by friends or family.

• Talk to your doctor about non-opioid options for managing pain for yourself and your loved ones. Visit knowyourscript.org for tips and resources to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Breastfeeding Awareness Month

Breastfeeding is one of the most important ways to support the health and well-being of babies and their mothers. Workplaces play a critical role in helping their employees feel supported as they return to work while continuing to breastfeed or pump.

A breastfeeding-friendly workplace provides:

1. Flexible break times for milk expression

2. A private, clean space (not a bathroom) to pump

3. Supportive policies and a culture that values work-life balance

These simple accommodations lead to big benefits—including increased employee satisfaction, retention, and productivity—as well as reduced absenteeism due to infant illness.