Topics Related to Chronic Disease and Injury

Drowning can happen to anyone. It happens fast and is often silent.  

The number of unintentional drowning deaths has increased by 50% over the past 10 years. Teens and adults usually drown in natural water, like lakes, rivers or the ocean. Most drownings occur in July.

Drowning is the number one cause of death for young children ages 1 to 4 years. Most young children drown in swimming pools.

More than half of boating-related deaths were drownings without a watercraft accident. Almost all boating-related injuries were related to watercraft accidents. 

As July 4th gets closer and our country celebrates its 250th birthday, NCDHHS wants everyone to use fireworks safely. Fireworks can seriously hurt people if they aren’t used the right way.

In 2025, North Carolina emergency rooms treated 104 people for fireworks injuries during the July 4th weekend.

From 2020 to 2024, there was an average of 192 emergency department visits each year for fireworks-related injuries. More than 70% of those occurred in July. More than one in 10 firework injuries required hospitalization.

Who says you can’t be Sherlock Holmes when you grow up? NC public health professionals track and test for diseases to help stop them and keep communities safe.

Or maybe you want to keep playing in the dirt as a grown-up. NC environmental health experts dig holes, test the soil and make sure our groundwater is safe.

You can now learn more about public health careers in a new TV series called “Health Heroes.” The children’s educational series is on PBS North Carolina. 

Did you know underage drinking often takes place in the summer?  

Summer months bring vacations, parties and time with friends. During this time of year, it is important to be aware of how alcohol can impact young people.

Injuries affect people in every community in North Carolina – from car crashes and falls to overdoses and violence. Many of these injuries can be prevented, but we need to first understand when, where and how they happen.

That’s where injury data comes in.

Alcohol Awareness Month began in 1987. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence created it to help people understand how alcohol affects our communities.

Alcohol use has a big impact on the health of people in North Carolina.

Thinking about a fresh start in the New Year?

Dry January is a great way to kick off 2026 on a healthy note. Start the year by taking part in a month-long break from alcohol. You may experience certain health benefits, such as improved sleep or weight loss.

No amount of alcohol is safe for your health. Each drink increases the risk of harm.

Alcohol use can increase the risk of:

Diabetes affects more than 1.3 million people in NC — and that number keeps growing. Even more people are at risk. About 1 in 3 adults has prediabetes. Prediabetes can often be prevented or reversed with healthy lifestyle changes.

This November, for Diabetes Awareness Month, take steps to lower your risk and help others do the same. Small changes can make a big difference.

Halloween is a time for costumes, fun and lots of candy! But before you or your kids dig into that trick-or-treat bag, take a few minutes to check the treats to make sure they’re safe.

Be aware that some candy-like products, known as edibles, can contain ingredients that are not safe for children. They often look just like regular sweets, which makes it hard to tell the difference.

Here are some simple ways to stay safe this Halloween:

Pharmacies in NC can now give COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription after a short discussion on the benefits and risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its recommendations to allow this change.

Due to this update, NCDHHS ended standing orders that allowed pharmacies to give COVID-19 vaccines without prescriptions. These orders are now not needed with the updated CDC recommendations.