March 2025 Summit County Health News

March 20, 2025

Spring is here, bringing longer days, warmer weather, and a fresh opportunity to focus on our physical health and mental well-being. As nature renews itself, it's a great time to embrace healthy habits like outdoor exercise, nutritious seasonal foods, and mindful self-care. The changing season also reminds us to schedule important health checkups and evaluate our individual wellness goals. I hope we are all able to take advantage of the sunshine, flowers, and fresh air to boost our mood and energy levels. Here’s to a season of renewal, growth, and a commitment to a healthier community for all.

—Dr. Phil Bondurant

Measles

With Measles cases on the rise around the country, we want to show you how to look up vaccine history for you and your children. Access your immunization records here (or call your healthcare provider), and learn more about the measles virus, including case counts nationwide, here.

The MMR vaccine is widely available at local pharmacies, doctor's offices, or from Summit County Health. Make sure you're protected with the MMR vaccine, which is over 97% effective in preventing measles.

Vaccine recommendations vary:

  • Children: 1st dose at 12-15 months, 2nd dose at 4-6 years

  • Adults born before 1957 are generally already immune

  • Adults vaccinated before 1968 may need a 2nd dose

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that can cause lung cancer.

Before winter turns to spring, test your home for radon. This gas seeps through the ground and into our homes through cracks in the foundation, walls, and floors, as well as through water systems, making the air we breathe unsafe.

Summit County Health offers radon test kits for you to sample the air in your home at all three department locations. The cost for each kit is $10 and includes lab analysis.

Protect your family by testing for radon in your home and help Summit County track high areas of radon in our community.

Learn more about reducing radon levels in your home here. Questions? Contact our Environmental Health team at: 435-333-1511.

Our 2024 Annual Report is LIVE

See what the Health Department was up to last year! Read this 2-page, easy-to-read report we made just for you!

New Sharps Disposal

Our Park City Clinic has a sharps disposal bin in the entryway for our residents to dispose of their sharps. Collect your sharps in a puncture-proof container and dispose of them safely in this bin. Learn more here.

We are giving out FREE gun safes

For gun owners, protecting your family involves more than keeping them safe from accidents or attacks. It also involves being aware of the warning signs of suicide and the steps to prevent it. 

  • 86% of firearm deaths in Utah are suicides.

  • 48% of individuals who have thoughts of suicide, go from thought to intent in 10 minutes or less.

Any strategy that adds time for someone in crisis from accessing a gun will keep them safer.

If you are in a crisis or would like help/advice for yourself or a loved one, call or text 988. Fill out a survey and pick up a FREE gun safe at the Park City health clinic.

Spring into…

Gearing up for allergy season

There is no cure for allergies. Allergies can be controlled and symptoms reduced or eliminated by:

Avoiding allergens
- Most pollen is released between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Keep outdoor activities to a minimum during this time.
- Keep your car windows closed, and use air conditioning when possible.
- Remain indoors during peak pollen periods.
- Keep bedroom windows closed during pollen season.
- Avoid wearing shoes in the home.
- Shower before bed, if possible.

Taking your medicine: Take medications as prescribed by your allergist; it is easier to prevent allergy symptoms than alleviate them.