DOVER – On Tuesday, President Obama ordered American flags at all U.S. government buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff until sunset on July 25, 2015, “as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.” In concurrence with the President’s order and as an expression of Delaware’s sympathy for the people affected by the tragedy in Chattanooga, Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities also be flown at half-staff until the end of the day on July 25, 2015.

MEDIA ADVISORY
To promote breastfeeding, All Delaware hospitals discontinue formula gift bags to new mothers

WHO: Rita Landgraf, Secretary, Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS)
Karyl T. Rattay, MD, MS, Director, Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH)
Penny Short, Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer, Nanticoke Memorial Hospital
Nancy Hastings, IBCLC, Lactation Consultant, Beebe Healthcare
Kate Libby, a breastfeeding mother
Breastfeeding Coalition of Delaware

WHAT: Press conference announcing that all Delaware hospitals have discontinued the decades-old tradition of providing formula gift bags to new mothers. Delaware is the third state to “ban the bags.”

WHY: Breastfeeding is an infant’s best nutritional source. Breastfeeding protects babies from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, allergies, and asthma. Babies who are breastfed for six months are less likely to become obese. Additionally, mothers who breastfeed have less risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and lose pregnancy weight faster.

WHEN: Thursday, July 23, 2015, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Nanticoke Memorial Hospital – Board Room
801 Middleford Rd.
Seaford, DE 19973

Directions:
http://www.nanticoke.org/locationsanddirections/

VISUAL: Mothers holding their breastfed infants.

QUESTIONS: 302-744-4704.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

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Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Emily Knearl, DPH Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-354-2852
Email: emily.knearl@delaware.gov

Delaware Health and Social Services – Division of Public Health

DOVER – Delaware is in the midst of a classic summer heat wave with soaring temperatures and long, humid days. Very hot weather can cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and severe respiratory conditions, which can be fatal. Extreme heat especially endangers seniors, young children, people with disabilities, and individuals with breathing conditions and other chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

The Division of Public Health recommends that every household be prepared for soaring summer temperatures. Keep air conditioners on and use electric fans. Drink lots of water and carry bottled water when running errands or spending time outside. Check in regularly with vulnerable family members and neighbors. In the event of power outages, listen to news reports of the location of community ‘“cooling centers”’ (often public libraries or churches) which may be opened to help beat the heat when the power goes down.

Delaware 2-1-1 connects Delawareans with critical services and supports. By dialing 2-1-1, eligible callers can receive referrals to summer cooling and crisis assistance and the City of Wilmington’s Free Electric Fan Program for seniors.

Tips to prevent heat illness:

• Do not leave a child or pets alone in a parked car, even for a minute. Call 911 if you see a child left unattended in a vehicle. Carry water with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks containing sugar, alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. (Check with a doctor before increasing fluid intake if you have epilepsy, heart, kidney or liver disease, or if you are on a fluid-restrictive diet. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.) Visit cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/water.html for more information.
• Stay indoors on the lowest floor possible. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Wear a hat or use an umbrella. Use sunscreen. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself, and has been linked to skin cancer. Avoid extreme temperature changes. Be careful trying to cool down too quickly; a cold shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can lead to hypothermia, particularly for the elderly and children. In these cases, cool water is better than ice cold water.
• If you have no air conditioning, visit public places with air conditioning such as shopping malls and libraries.
• Limit outdoor activity, especially mid-day when the sun is hottest. Work out or hold team practices early in the morning or early evening. A CDC online course for coaches, athletic trainers, students, school nurses, parents, and teachers is at cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/extreme/Heat_Illness/index.html

Heed the following heat danger warning signs and take suggested actions:

• Heat cramps occur in the muscles of the limbs or abdomen during or after physical activity in high heat. Sweating results in loss of fluids and salts, which causes muscle cramps. Address heat cramps by resting in a cool place and drinking plenty of water.
• Heat exhaustion is more severe, occurring when a person is overheated along with reduced or unbalanced intake of fluids. Symptoms include dehydration, fatigue, weakness, clammy skin, headache, nausea and/or vomiting, rapid breathing, irritability, and fainting. Take these simple steps to reduce heat exhaustion: Move the person indoors or into shade. Loosen or remove the person’s clothing. Encourage the person with heat exhaustion to eat and drink. Get the person to a cool shower or bath. Call your doctor for further advice.
• Heat stroke occurs when the body can no longer cool itself, and can be a life-threatening event. Prompt medical treatment is required. Symptoms include: flushed, hot and dry skin with no sweating; high body temperature (above 103 F, taken orally); severe, throbbing headache; weakness, dizziness, or confusion; sluggishness or fatigue; decreased responsiveness; and loss of consciousness. If heat stroke occurs, take these steps: Call 9-1-1 immediately. This is a medical emergency. Get the heat stroke victim indoors or into shade. Get the person into a cool shower or bath, or wipe them down with continuously soaked cool washcloths while awaiting emergency responders.
  For more information, visit the CDC at cdc.gov/extremeheat/warning.html.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, drink almost no sugary beverages.

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Rita Landgraf, Secretary
Emily Knearl, DPH Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-354-2852
Email: emily.knearl@delaware.gov

Delaware Health and Social Services – Division of Public Health

 (DOVER, DE)- Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart today named attorney Hardy Drane as Deputy Commissioner for the Delaware Department of Insurance.

“I am happy to announce that I talked Hardy out of retirement and convinced him to come back and serve as my Deputy Commissioner,” said Stewart. “He has extensive knowledge of insurance and the law, and his expertise will be invaluable as the Department continues to grow.”

Drane was a lawyer with a major Wilmington law firm for almost 30 years, where his practice focused on insurance and environmental law. Following retirement from private practice, Hardy served as a Deputy Attorney General representing the Department of Insurance through July 2014. He has served on the boards of directors of a number of local nonprofit organizations including the Community Legal Aid Society, the Cathedral Choir School of Delaware, and the Rodney Street Tennis and Tutoring Association.

Drane was sworn in during a brief ceremony this morning and starts work immediately.

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For Immediate Release.
Media inquiries? Please contact Director of Communications Jerry Grant at 302-674-7303.

Lewes – In his weekly message, filmed at Lewes Dairy, Governor Markell highlights Local Produce Week and the significant impact the agricultural industry has on Delaware’s economy. 

“Events held across the state were meant to showcase the quality of the products our farm families grow, along with the tremendous impact their businesses have on our economy,” said Governor Markell. “Supporting local farmers and enjoying the fruits of their labor means you get to enjoy some of the freshest products possible, while continuing to support one of the oldest industries in our state and that will keep Delaware moving forward.” 

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on: 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/npbQASMa9Ak
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Growing a Stronger Economy by Supporting Local Farmers