USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness

Whether you’re in an office, on a construction site, or in a warehouse, how you move matters. Ergonomics is all about "fitting the job to the person" to prevent muscle strains and nerve injuries.

For Men’s Health Month, let’s focus on preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)—injuries caused by lifting heavy objects, reaching overhead, or repetitive motions.

🔗 Check out OSHA’s guidelines for a safer workspace: https://www.osha.gov/ergonomics

📢 BIG NEWS!
We’re excited to share an important update about the John P. Norris Memorial Symposium.

Beginning with our next event, we’re shifting our focus from general first responder health and wellness to the holistic health and wellness—physical, mental, and spiritual—of disaster responders. This means our content will be even more tailored to those who deploy into large-scale crises and long-term recovery work: disaster response teams, specialized units, chaplains, clinicians, and partners who stand alongside communities when everything has changed.

Mark your calendars: the newly focused Disaster Responder Health & Wellness Symposium will be held:

📅 March 22–24, 2027
📍 Pflugerville, TX

We’ll be sharing more details on speakers, sessions, and registration soon, but we wanted our disaster response community to hear this first: this gathering is being built for you, with your unique challenges and needs at the center.

If you serve in disaster response we’d love for you to join us in 2027.

www.firstrespondersymposium.com

Last week, our USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness had the opportunity to attend the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Conference. It was an inspiring week filled with meaningful conversations, innovative ideas, and opportunities to strengthen partnerships that support communities across our state.

Our team connected with longtime colleagues, met emerging leaders in emergency management, and learned about new strategies and technologies shaping the future of preparedness and response. We’re excited to bring these insights back to our work and continue supporting rural communities with resilience and readiness at the forefront.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared their expertise, or collaborated with us throughout the conference. Together, we’re building a safer, stronger Texas.

Gentlemen, this month is for you. Did you know that on average, men live about five years less than women? A big reason for that is men are often less likely to seek help or schedule regular check-ups.

This June, we’re changing the narrative. Men’s Health Month is all about:
✅ Awareness: Understanding the health risks men face.
✅ Prevention: Catching small issues before they become big ones.
✅ Action: Getting those screenings and doctor's visits on the calendar.

🔗 Read more about why this month matters and how to get involved:
bit.ly/4x5LtGC

The AHRQ Health Literacy Toolkit is designed to help healthcare providers ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, can understand health information and navigate the healthcare system.

Why it matters:
✅ It reduces the "complexity" of healthcare.
✅ It helps patients take their medicine correctly.
✅ It builds a more supportive, easy-to-use environment for all.

The goal is simple: Create a "health-literate" space where no patient is left feeling confused or overwhelmed by their care plan.

🔗 Explore the toolkit and start improving your practice: https://www.ahrq.gov/health-literacy/improve/precautions/index.html

The Board of Regents has appointed Tracy Foster as Executive Vice Chancellor, selecting a longtime Texas A&M System leader to help oversee one of the nation’s largest systems of higher education.

Think Before You Click! 🖱️🔍

Not all health info online is accurate. Before you trust a website, ask these 4 quick questions:
1️⃣ Who? Is the site run by experts (like a .gov or .edu)?
2️⃣ Why? Is the site trying to help you or sell you a product?
3️⃣ When? Is the information current and recently updated?
4️⃣ Where? Does the info come from proven research?

🔗 Learn how to spot the facts:
https://medlineplus.gov/evaluatinghealthinformation.html

When health information is technical, complex, or vague, it becomes a barrier to well-being. That’s why the National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy was created as a multi-sector effort to change how we communicate.

The plan is built on two core principles:
1️⃣ Everyone has the right to health information that helps them make informed decisions.
2️⃣ Health services should be delivered in ways that are understandable and beneficial to health, longevity, and quality of life.

By following this blueprint, organizations and professionals can work together to create a society where everyone can find, understand, and use the information they need to stay healthy.

🔗 Review the plan and see how you can take action:
https://www.cdc.gov/health-literacy/php/develop-plan/national-action-plan.html