In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we want to talk about staying informed. One way to do this is by signing up for the CT ALERT Emergency notification system.  

CT ALERT is a statewide system that enables state and local 911 emergency communication centers to provide essential information quickly in a variety of emergency situations.

The City of Meriden participates in CT Alert.  By signing up you will be informed via text, phone call and/or email during emergencies in the Meriden area including public health threats, dangerous weather, fires and public safety incidents. 

Registering with CT Alert allows you to instantly receive alerts any way you choose - home phone, mobile phone, email, work number, text message. To register text your zip code to 888-777 OR sign up at www.ctalert.gov. 

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about the 4 simple steps to food safety! Following these four steps at home can help protect you and your loved ones from food poisoning.

For more information on food safety please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/prevention/index.html

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we want to provide tips about how to make an emergency plan. 

This plan helps you think about:

To start, it may help to ask yourself and your family a few questions such as:

Include these Common Emergency Scenarios When You Plan:

#1 - Plan for the emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live

#2 - Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency

#3 - Plan what to do if you have to evacuate

#4 - Plan for everyone in your home

To learn more about how to make a plan please visit www.ready.gov/plan.

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about foodborne illness or food poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 48 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the United States each year. This translates to approximately 1 in 6 Americans becoming ill due to foodborne pathogens. 

Symptoms can range from mild to serious and can last for a few hours or several days. The most common symptoms of food poisoning are:

If you think you have a foodborne illness it's important to follow up with your healthcare provider for guidance on treatment. 

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about the importance of building an emergency kit. 

If you are just planning to build your kit, consider making one with the following items. Your kit can be a plastic bin, duffle bag, or back pack with the following:

To learn more about building an emergency kit please visit www.ready.gov/kit. 

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are talking about fair season! It's National Food Safety Education Month and this week we want to remind you about the importance of washing your hands at fairs. Whether you are stopping by to visit the animals, going on rides, or enjoying some delicious treats you should to wash your hands with soap and water at the hand washing stations.  

Stay tuned for next week's food safety fact!

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are kicking off National Preparedness Month! Stay tuned for next week's episode to learn more about public health emergency preparedness in Meriden.

To learn more about National Preparedness Month visit: https://www.ready.gov/september

(August 19, 2025) – Mosquitos trapped on August 7, 2025 by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in Meriden have tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). Listen to some simple prevention tips to "fight the bite"!

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we announce some upcoming events in Meriden that staff will be attending. This includes:

In this episode of Meriden Health Talk, we are reminding residents to stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay informed this week as Governor Lamont has activated Connecticut’s Extreme Hot Weather Protocol starting Monday, August 11, 2025 at 12:00pm through Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 8:00pm.