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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER • OUR 20th YEAR

The Loneliness Epidemic

The importance of a sense of

BELONGING W

Part 7 of our 5-part series on the senses

ith all the information at our fingertips about the importance of matters like good nutrition, regular exercise, and adequate sleep, it might be somewhat surprising that a sense of belonging is emerging as one of the most powerful determinants of good health that we have. The sad irony is that its importance has been revealed by its disappearance in place after place: the workplace, schools, neighborhoods, and even families. The impact on health has been huge, although few people fully comprehend the issue. One who certainly did was Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, who in 2023 compared the health effects

of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. He wasn’t just blowing smoke. There are specific health risks that have been established by researchers: • heart disease risk goes up by nearly 30% among lonely people • the risk of a stroke rises by more than 30% • among older adults, loneliness increases the risk of dementia by more than 50% These are not obscure issues: half of all adults in the U.S. report loneliness, either as an occasional or chronic experience. Don’t imagine, however, that loneliness is a problem just for adults and the elderly. Young adults (ages 15 to 24) are particularly affected, with one study showing a 70% drop in time spent with friends compared to 20 years ago. It’s little wonder that loneliness has been estimated to contribute billions to the costs of healthcare in America Somewhat surprisingly, being lonely has nothing to do with one’s surroundings. Someone who lives alone

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may be quite content with their own company, while another person who commutes to work in a crowded bus or train and deals with hundreds of people every day might feel crushed by loneliness. The same is true within families: living in a household with a number of others doesn’t necessarily protect against feelings of isolation. Experts say there are several kinds of loneliness, among them: • the new kid You’ve just moved to a new city or school or job; you don’t know anyone and you’re surrounded by strangers • nobody else is like me You’re in an environment where no one shares your interests. They’re at best indifferent and at worst, actively hostile toward what makes you you • your heart is crushed The person you thought you would be spending the rest of your life with moved away, broke up with you, or died. Or they’re fully in your life and they are distant, disinterested, or mean • you’re lost in the shuffle The people around you are friendly enough, but it’s all very superficial. Or your longtime friends have entered new chapters in their lives — marriage or having babies — and all the things your circle used to do are gone now. They don’t have time for you anymore. Think about the long-standing bedrocks of social stability and how they have changed in your lifetime. Not that long ago it wasn’t rare for three generations to live under one roof. More recently, the number of single-occupant households more than tripled as a percentage of all households between 1940 and 2020, and is currently the fastest-growing segment of the housing market. The social infrastructure of today’s workplace would be almost unrecognizable to someone from the Ad Men era. Remote work (working from home), high turnover, farmed out/contract work, and increased performance pressure have made office camaraderie and gossip sesPlease see LONELINESSS page 3

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THE FIRST 40 YEARS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST

THOUGHTS ABOUT

PARENTHOOD THOUGHTS 60

by Dr. Warren Umansky, PhD

Your daughter has gone off to college for the first time. You are both proud and fearful. She worked hard to get into her first college choice. Her grades have been good and she made good choices in friends and extracurricular activities. You hope she will continue to make good decisions without you there to support her. But, what about all the things you hear in the news about drugs and campus protests and faculty members being suspended for criminal actions? It’s all pretty frightening. What can you do? A. You made a mistake. You shouldn’t have let your child go off to college because of the unrest on campuses and the wildness that goes on there. B. Be sure to talk to your child each day on the phone. Make it a morning or evening tradition. C. Make sure your daughter has pepper spray, whistles, and other devices to ward off anyone who might bother her. D. Encourage her to come home on weekends and you should plan to visit campus randomly so you can check up on her. And, call her randomly through the day to be sure she is safe. If you answered: A. Your child has proven that she is ready to move to the next level. Take pride in the role you played to prepare her for this. Colleges always have had reputations for being centers of free expression and discovery. It’s part of the growing up process. If you have prepared your child well, she will flourish with your support from afar. B. A daily phone call (not a text) will tell you a lot about how your child is doing. No need to go on and on. She has a lot to do as a college freshman! You should be able to hear loneliness, anxiety, sadness and other emotions that will encourage you to direct her to the counseling center on campus or other resources that you and she should have learned about during orientation. Hopefully, you will hear more in her voice of excitement and success. Finish your conversations with, “Let us know if there’s anything you need. I love you.” C. Protective devices are wise to carry. You also should have given her advice, from an early age, about knowing who is around her, keeping her eye on her drink cup, always having a trusted individual nearby in risky environments, and having someone to call when she needs help. You don’t want her to live in fear. You want her to be wise and always plan with safety in mind. D. If this is your plan, you might wish to speak with other parents who have sent children off to college. You should discover that your child will not benefit from your intrusive behaviors, as well-intended they might be. You want her to make friends, feel comfortable on campus, and to navigate the many exciting activities college-life offers. You and your child have worked hard to get to this point and it is worthy of celebration. You want her to be successful and enjoy the challenges that being away at school provide. If you have done your work as a parent, she is ready to make decisions, to prioritize work and play, to negotiate the social environment, to realize that she has to do well in her classes. Be a great supporter. Celebrate the good times with her on the phone and during her occasional home visits. Be a good listener and offer advice when it is requested. Dr. Umansky has a child behavioral health practice in Augusta.

PANIC DISORDER “I THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK”

Editor’s note: Written by local mental healthcare professionals, this series explores how people may think and act when affected by common and lesser-known mental health conditions.

One afternoon while sitting at home, Michael’s heart suddenly began racing. Within seconds, his chest tightened. He became dizzy and struggled to catch his breath. His hands started tingling, and an overwhelming sense of terror came over him. “I’m dying,” he thought. His wife called 911. At the emergency room, Michael underwent an extensive medical evaluation. His heart rhythm was checked. Bloodwork was completed. After several hours, he was told that his tests were normal. The doctors explained that he had likely experienced a panic attack. Michael left relieved—but confused. A week later, it happened again. Then again. Soon, Michael began avoiding driving, exercising, and being alone. He became increasingly focused on every sensation in his body, afraid that doctors had missed a serious medical condition.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 • Shortness of breath • Sweating • Trembling or shaking • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Nausea or abdominal distress • Numbness or tingling sensations • Feeling hot or experiencing chills Emotional Features • Intense fear or terror • Fear of losing control • Fear of dying • Feeling suddenly overwhelmed Cognitive Patterns • “Something is seriously wrong with me.” • “I’m having a heart attack.” • “I’m going to pass out.” • “I’m losing my mind.” • Persistent worry about when the next attack will occur Behavioral Patterns • Repeated emergency room or medical visits • Avoiding exercise or physical exertion • Avoiding driving or unfamiliar places • Refusing to be alone • Avoiding situations associated with previous panic attacks

What Is Panic Disorder? Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by repeated, unexpected panic attacks and ongoing concern about future attacks. A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that typically reaches peak intensity within minutes. During an attack, the body’s threat-response system becomes activated—even when there is no immediate external danger. The physical symptoms can be so severe that many individuals believe they are experiencing a heart attack, stroke, respiratory emergency, or other life-threatening medical event. For individuals with panic disorder, the problem often extends beyond the individual panic attack itself. They begin to fear the possibility of fear. This can lead to a cycle in which anxiety about another attack increases sensitivity to normal bodily sensations, making future panic more likely.

Why Does Panic Feel So Physical? When the brain detects danger, the body activates the fight-or-flight response. Stress hormones increase heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, and alertness in preparation for survival. During a panic attack, this system can activate without a clear external threat. These sensations are then often interpreted as evidence that something dangerous is happening. That interpretation increases fear, and more fear creates more physical symptoms. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle: Physical sensation >catastrophic interpretation> increased fear > intensified physical symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms Physical Symptoms • Racing or pounding heartbeat • Chest pain or tightness

ER Visits and Misdiagnosis Chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and palPlease see THOUGHTS page 3

Michael was not imagining his symptoms. His physical experience was completely real. He may have been experiencing Panic Disorder — a condition in which intense episodes of physiological fear become recurrent and are followed by persistent fear of having another attack.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

THOUGHTS... from page 2 pitations may be associated with both panic and genuine medical emergencies. For this reason, new or severe symptoms should never automatically be assumed to be psychological. However, once serious medical conditions have been appropriately evaluated, repeated emergency visits may continue because the person remains convinced that something dangerous is being missed. Panic disorder can also be misdiagnosed as: • Heart disease • Asthma or respiratory disorders • Thyroid problems • Medication side effects • Generalized anxiety • Depression The reverse can also occur: Physical illness should not automatically be dismissed as anxiety simply because a person has a history of panic disorder. A careful medical and mental health evaluation is essential. What Causes Panic Disorder? There is no single cause, but several factors may contribute: Biological Factors • Family history of anxiety disorders • Increased sensitivity to physical sensations • Differences in brain systems involved in threat detection Psychological Factors • Fear of bodily sensations • Catastrophic interpretations of normal physical changes • Previous traumatic or frightening experiences Environmental Factors • Major life stress • Chronic anxiety • Trauma • Significant health scares

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Some individuals experience a first panic attack during an especially stressful period. Others report that the attack seemed to occur “out of nowhere.” Common Misconceptions

X “A panic attack is just

someone being dramatic.” Panic attacks involve genuine and intense physiological symptoms.

X “If medical tests are nor-

mal, nothing happened.” A normal cardiac or medical evaluation does not mean the person did not experience a significant physical event, but that symptoms were caused by panic rather than a life-threatening medical condition.

X “People with panic disorder should just calm down.” Simply telling someone to relax is rarely effective.

X “Panic attacks are danger-

ous.” Panic attacks themselves are generally not physically dangerous. However, new or unusual symptoms should still receive appropriate medical evaluation.

X “Avoiding triggers prevents panic.” Avoidance may provide temporary relief but can reinforce fear over time and make the individual’s world increasingly smaller.

Treatment Panic disorder is highly treatable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps individuals understand the connection between thoughts, physical sensations, and anxiety. Treatment focuses on identifying catastrophic interpretations and learning to respond differently to symptoms. Exposure-Based Therapy can help individuals become less fearful of bodily sensations and situations associ-

LONELINESS... from page 1 ated with panic. Over time, the brain learns that uncomfortable sensations are not necessarily dangerous. Medication such as antidepressant medications and others may be used to reduce the frequency and severity of panic symptoms when clinically appropriate. Breathing and Nervous System Regulation involves learning techniques that reduce physiological arousal, including: • Slow, controlled breathing • Grounding techniques • Muscle relaxation • Mindfulness strategies Reducing Avoidance and gradually returning to activities that have been avoided because of fear are a critical part of recovery. Prognosis With appropriate treatment, many individuals experience substantial improvement and regain confidence in their ability to function without fear. Recovery does not necessarily mean never experiencing anxiety again. It means learning that uncomfortable physical sensations do not have to control behavior. For many individuals, the turning point comes when they understand one important fact: The symptoms are real— but they are not always a sign of danger. Learning the difference can transform panic from something that controls a person’s life into something they can understand, manage, and overcome. About Us IPS provides inpatient and outpatient mental health services, with or without a referral, to help patients and their families progress through the care journey. To make an appointment, call 706-204-1366 or visit integratedpsych.care.

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sions around the water cooler the stuff of film fiction. Schools, from the viewpoint of many social scientists, have gradually been transformed from community hubs — places where parents and grandparents attended games, plays and school festivals — to places where students are often isolated by digital teaching methods rather than classroom connections. Another factor that not everyone has heard of are known by sociologists as “third places” — not home, not work, but informal “third places” like barber shops, diners, rec centers, churches, libraries, etc., where people would spend time in the company of others. Between budget cuts, our ever more car-centric communities, and online substitutes that don’t foster real connections, third places are less and less a factor in socializing with our neighbors. But experts also say that loneliness can be a good thing in the same way that hunger or thirst is: it can motivate you to fill the need, to satisfy what’s lacking. Let’s imagine how someone who is extremely lonely, shy, withdrawn, and struggling with depression because of it all — in other words, a worst-case scenario — can break the bonds of isolation. • Start at a place where people naturally congregate without any expectation of conversation: the library, parks, even the grocery store. No purchase required! Spend time, not money. • As a second step when ready, create one extremely simple and brief daily interaction, ten seconds or less, with a co-worker, neighbor, mail carrier, or librarian. • Find an activity you would enjoy participating in where the focus is on the activity, not talking: art lessons, a cooking class, a walking group. These simple starter steps illustrate how even the most solitary individual who wants to make a change can retool their life and banish loneliness — or at least make a start. The benefits can be enormous. The science is clear that loneliness is lethal: it increases the risk of premature death from a host of physical and mental maladies by about 30%. Even better, perhaps (because if you’re dead you don’t know you’re lonely), is the fact that social interactions improve the quality of life, every single day. So to review: a longer life and a better life...those are the dividends paid when we interact with others. Say goodbye to loneliness, and hello to a neighbor.

MEDICALEXAMINER AIKEN-AUGUSTA’S MOST SALUBRIOUS NEWSPAPER www.AugustaRx.com

The Medical Examiner’s mission: to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing options that promote better health, and to serve as a central source pf salubrious news within every part of the Augusta area’s medical community. Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to: Daniel Pearson, Publisher & Editor Email: Dan@AugustaRx.com Augusta Medical Examiner PO Box 397, Augusta Georgia 30903-0397 (706) 284-7287 Website: www.AugustaRx.com • Email: Dan@AugustaRx.com www.Facebook.com/AugustaRx Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., nor its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2026 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

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#264 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

ADVENTURES IN

Middle Age MY BLOOD SUGAR ALMOST BOUGHT ME A BOAT, PART ONE BY J.B. COLLUM

s long as we’re already in the 1700s (see the doctor profiled in our last issue) we might as well stay there for a little while before heading back to all the chaos of the 21st century. And we might as well profile this man, who might very well be the most undoctorly doctor you know — or don’t know. The reason for that statement is that millions of people have heard of this man and know his name — school children learn about him — but perhaps very few know he was a physician. Among the millions are presumably close to 100% of the citizens of the Augusta area. After all, this man died at Shell Bluff in Burke County, roughly 10 miles upriver from Plant Vogtle, and is buried in downtown Augusta. Perhaps you have deduced that this may be either George Walton or Lyman Hall. They are two of the three signers of the Declaration of Independence from Georgia interred under the Signer’s Monument on Greene Street (the location of Button Gwinnett’s remains had not been found when the monument was erected in 1848, and are still the subject of dispute and mystery). This man is none other than Lyman Hall, one of four physicians who signed the Declaration (the others being Josiah Bartlett, Matthew Thornton, and Benjamin Rush). It wouldn’t be fair to describe Hall’s life as checkered, but he definitely had his ups and downs. He was a Yale grad (class of ‘47 uh, that’s 1747) and served as a pastor on the side while he pursued medical training. Apparently being a pastor wasn’t the only thing he had going on the side, because soon after being ordained he was accused of immoral conduct. He confessed, expressed remorse, and was restored to good standing, but never again served a permanent pastorate. If historians knew more about his medical career we wouldn’t just now be getting around to that aspect of his life, but leaving the ministry allowed him to fully focus on medicine, and records show he got a second degree from Yale, this one in medicine, in 1754. Three years later he moved from Connecticut to near Charleston, and from there into Georgia and the town of Sunbury, subsequently burned to the ground by British troops, destined to become a ghost town after that attack. From 1757 until the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Hall treated nearby plantation communities in and around Sunbury. As a delegate to the Continental Congess he helped procure medical supplies for the army. He was governor of Georgia for a year (1783-1784) before returning to his medical practice in Savannah. He died in 1790 at Shell Bluff and was buried there until being reinterred on Greene Street in 1848.

Due to my poor memory—and the fact and were now beginning to realize that that I am too lazy to go back and check—I boat ownership wasn’t for them. don’t know whether I have mentioned this Our plan was to wait patiently and then before, but I have been using the FreeStyle buy their mistake at a substantial discount. Libre 3 Plus continuous glucose monitor for We decided to wait until Louie retires about three weeks now. So far, so good. in two years. Between now and then, we When you first look at the applicator, the promised to figure out how we are actually needle appears far too large to be voluntari- going to afford it. And we will. After all, at ly driven into your arm. Fortuour age, two years pass about as nately, the actual insertion isn’t If only we didn’t quickly as two months do to a especially painful—or perhaps kid. have sensible None of that caused the probmy neuropathy is lying to me. Either way, it goes in without that day. The problem began wives to fear. lem much trouble, and each sensor with where we had chosen to eat lasts for up to 15 days. breakfast before going to Bass About three weeks ago, that little sensor Pro Shops. contributed to an interesting turn of events We went to Bojangles. at Bass Pro Shops in Augusta. Even that wouldn’t necessarily have been My buddy Louie and I had decided to do a problem, but my wife wasn’t there to give some window-shopping there, mainly so me the evil eye while I ordered and keep we could fantasize about owning a boat me from behaving like an unsupervised again. I say “fantasize” because, after diabetic at a candy store. Consequently, I seeing today’s boat prices—and with the decided to treat myself. possibility of retirement little more than a I ordered a steak-and-egg biscuit, a gravy speck on a distant horizon—we have begun biscuit and a large order of Bo-Tato Rounds. to wonder whether boat ownership will I think there were about a dozen rounds ever again be realistic for either of us. in the package. Naturally, I put ketchup on At least not a new boat, anyway. them too. Of course, it could become a reality I tried to calculate how many carbohytomorrow if we didn’t have sensible wives drates were in the meal, but my calculator who would drop us where we stood if we couldn’t produce an answer. It displayed an came home with a boat and seven years’ error message, and when I pressed the butworth of payments. So because of our fear ton again, a little puff of smoke came out. of them—and not because of any wisdom So now I need a new calculator. What a on our part—we still don’t own a boat. bad day—but it was about to get worse. We climbed aboard several boats in the About an hour after breakfast, as Louie nicely air-conditioned showroom and imag- and I were wrapping up our drooling over ined all the fun we would have. We looked the boats and preparing to look at fishing at some that cost more than our trucks, rods and other things we might actually be which is saying something, and then we able to buy, I began to feel strange. looked at a few that were slightly closer I felt loopy and even slightly euphoric. to what people in our financial condition I found myself seriously considering the should be allowed to touch. possibility of ignoring the penalties I would We eventually “decided” that perhaps face at home if I bought a boat. we should split the cost of one. It would Fortunately, I caught myself. I knew I “just” be a 15- to 17-foot model with a wouldn’t be thinking that way if I were in modest outboard—something that wouldn’t my right mind. cost very much or drink gasoline the way a I had also broken out in a profuse sweat thirsty camel drinks water. even though the showroom was comfortEven after reducing our ambitions to this ably cool. On top of that, the heart flutter I supposedly modest level, we were lookhad not experienced since starting insulin ing at somewhere between $21,000 and had returned. $24,000—and those were end-of-modelLiterally as I was noticing these sympyear sale prices. toms, an alarm sounded. We finally determined that somewhere No, I had not—in my sugar-induced out there were two other guys just like us narcotic state—hooked a boat and trailer to who had decided to buy one of these about my truck and attempted to drive away with three years ago. They had bought the boat, them. It wasn’t a burglar alarm. used it enough to wear off some of the new, Please see ADVENTURES page 5

SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

an eye on his little sister, which he is fully capable of doing. I was only gone for a few minutes. When I returned, I discovered that Freyja had greatly enjoyed her chocolate milkshake and had generously decided to share it with my truck. She gave some to the window by fingerpainting with it. She gave some to the floor and contributed a substantial amount to the seat as well. With the exception of what she had eaten, the remainder appeared to be distributed among her face, hands, clothing and the interior of my truck. I sat there for a moment contemplating my options. Eventually, I decided I should at least make some effort to clean up the worst Last week, circumstances conspired to of it with whatever I had on hand. I could leave us with no choice but for me to handle finish the job properly once we got home. both dropping off and picking up the kids I pulled out my wet wipes and cleaned from school. Since it was also a workday Freyja and every “gifted” surface as well for me, I had to rearrange my schedule to as I could. Then I threw all the now-brown accommodate it. wipes into a trash bag that, fortunately, I School is a 25-minute drive each way, so happened to have in the truck. the four legs of the two round trips already I also learned an important lesson. When added up to more than an hour and a half. someone asks whether you want whipped Once I factored in traffic and the time spent cream on a child’s milkshake, the answer is collecting the kids—including no. signing one of them out early so Always no. It looked I could make two trips instead of Why? Whipped cream means three—it took nearly two hours the milkshake comes with a so easy. out of my day. wide opening in the lid to make What made it even longer were room for it instead of a mostly the things I hadn’t factored in. closed top with only a plus-shaped hole For one thing, I discovered that Freyja likes for the straw. That distinction had never to take off her shoes and socks as soon seemed especially important to me before. as she is buckled in and the vehicle starts Live and learn. Live and learn. heading toward school. She has apparently Once I got the kids home and safely inlearned that if she does it before we get on side where their aunt was waiting for them, the road, someone will put them back on. I brought out the stronger cleaning solution Once we are moving, however, she knows and fabric cleaner. I gave the window, floor she has bought herself some barefoot time. and seat a much more thorough cleaning. I briefly considered stopping and putting Of course, Freyja had removed her socks them back on, but I realized that would be and shoes again on the ride home, so I also useless. She would simply take them off had to carry her from the truck into the again as soon as we started moving. house—all 90 pounds of her, including the Once we arrived at school, I put her socks sticky shirt. Once I got inside, I had to clean and shoes back on and walked her to the myself up and change shirts too. door, where her teacher was waiting. That It had looked so easy. Drive the kids to wasn’t too bad, I thought to myself. I even school, pick them up and bring them home. stopped and bought breakfast on the way How difficult could that be? home. It was kind of a nice change of pace. Apparently, school transportation is less For the afternoon trip, I decided to make a driving assignment than a small mobile being picked up by Grandpa especially fun. logistics operation. If you are ever asked I want to be the cool grandpa, so I took the to take the kids to school or pick them up, kids to get milkshakes. Unfortunately, I also learn from me: Allow plenty of extra time, needed to stop at Kroger on the way home. I decline the whipped cream, and bring cleanleft the kids in the truck to enjoy their milking supplies and a great deal of patience. shakes and had my teenage grandson keep

Special Forces

Parenting

ADVENTURES... from page 4 The alarm was coming simultaneously from my phone and my watch. I instinctively looked at my watch first. The number on the screen explained both the sweating and, possibly, my sudden willingness to buy a boat. My blood sugar was 334 and climbing. That’s all we have space for this issue, so please pick up the issue coming out in two

weeks to find out what happened next. Spoiler alert: I lived. And I met a really cute puppy. J.B. Collum, the author of this column and Special Forces Parenting, is a local novelist, humorist and columnist who wants to be Mark Twain when he grows up. He may be reached at johnbcollum@ gmail.com

5 #40 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

Not everyone in healthcare can be Florence Nightingale, right? Despite the long-running series on page 4, there are clunkers in medicine, and we will examine some of them in this series. Unfortunately, there’s enough material to keep this side of the page going for a while.

ometimes evil hides behind a bland, innocuous mask, and that seems to be an accurate way to describe this man, Arnfinn Nesset. He looks harmless enough, but he holds the record for the most murderous man in the history of Norway. Sadly, his is a story we have seen before in this space: people who work in nursing homes using patients as their personal science projects. It all started in 1977 when he was hired as the administrator of a new nursing home. The placed seemed to have more than the usual number of deaths among its residents, but that happens sometimes with an elderly population. No one seemed to take notice until 1981, when an employee thought it odd that a large purchase had been made of a drug used to cause short-term muscle relaxation or paralysis, such as to help facilitate tracheal intubation. It wasn’t the drug that raised the question, it was the quantity. It might have gone unnoticed even then, but there was also that unusually high number of patient deaths. Police got involved and questioned Nesset, who freely admitted ordering the drug, explaining that he planned to use it to kill a pack of dogs around the nursing home. Investigators may have thought they were making routine inquiries in a matter than would come to nothing. But Nesset abruptly changed his story, confessing to killing 27 patients. Then he changed his tune again, telling police, “I’ve killed so many I’m unable to remember them all.” Before it was all over, he would recant all of his confessions. Even so, investigators continued to do what investigators do, looking at patient records at Nesset’s previous places of employment dating back almost 20 years. That yielded a potential victim list of 62 patients. Autopsy records and exhumations were either useless or impractical since the drug in question (suxamethonium chloride) is quickly processed by the body, meaning it would be unlikely to be detected post-mortem. In the end, Nesset was charged in 1983 with 25 counts of murder or attempted murder and convicted on 22 of them. His sentence? The maximum under Norwegian law at the time: 21 years. He was released after 12 years for good conduct, to be followed by 10 years of supervision. He moved to an undisclosed location and lived under an assumed name, dying last December at age 89. And where did he die? A nursing home.

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY? WE ARE! ESF-8 (Public Health and Medical Services). EMERGENCY RESEARCH PREPAREDNESS Georgia’s Departby Christine O’Meara, MA, ment of Public Health MPH (DPH) is tasked under HEALTH TREATMENT PROMOTION the Georgia Emergency Operations Plan to lead Deadly. Record breakWere you ready? ESF-8 efforts, providing ing. A once-in-a-thouWere you prepared technical assistance, sand-year event. Sustained when communities guidance, communiwinds between 70-75 throughout our regions cation, and logistics miles per hour. Wind of East Central Georgia support to local public gusts of 100+ mph and and West Central South health districts during Emergency preparedness maximum sustained Carolina were thrashed by from a public health per- disasters or emergencies. winds of 140 mph. Histor- Tropical Storm Helene in Thus, in Georgia, DPH spective ic rainfall, 10-15 inches. the early hours of Septemleads this effort and supPublic health emerFlash floods. Landslides. ber 27, 2024? The Emerports local health districts gency preparedness is all Buildings and homes van- gency Preparedness team — like the East Central about protecting people’s ished - washed away. Tor- at the Georgia Department health before, during, and Health District — with nadoes spawned. A swath of Public Health East after a disaster — whether guidance, resources, and of destruction in Florida, Central Health District logistics when disaster it’s a hurricane, disease Georgia, South Carolina, was prepared and sprang strikes. outbreak, chemical spill, North Carolina, Tennessee, into action. Our team and or act of terrorism. While and Virginia. Over 6,000 disaster relief community East Central Health Disemergency management homes impacted. Damages partners throughout the trict’s role focuses on infrastructure of $78.7 Billion. AgriculCentral Savannah River A public health reand safety, public health’s ture and timber losses of Area had been preparsponse to disaster does job is preventing illness $5.5 billion. ing for days, even before and death, controlling dis- not occur in a vacuum. September 27 marks Helene made landfall as a ease spread, and making Based in Augusta, the East the second anniversary Category 4 at about 11:10 sure medical care services Central Health District 6 of Hurricane Helene, the pm September 26 on Flor- don’t stop. (ECHD-6) covers 13 coundeadliest hurricane in the ida’s Big Bend gulf coast ties, with each county imThis work falls under a contiguous U.S. since Karegion. national framework called plementing local emergency preparedness responses and coordination provided by the district. Like all of Georgia’s 18 health districts, the ECHD runs a dedicated Office/ Program of Emergency Preparedness that plans for and responds to events affecting the health of the district’s populatio, in partnership with county emergency management agencies (EMAs), hospitals, healthcare coalitions, and law enforcement. The District’s Emergency Preparedness office prepares for an “all-hazards” range of emergencies, including: WANDA KEMP • Natural disasters — hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding, ice storms, and extreme heat • Infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics — from seasonal outbreaks to novel disease events (e.g., COVID-19, pandemic influenza) Part 8 in a series “What is Public Health?”

trina in 2005, in which 175 people died directly from Helene and 250 fatalities occurred overall according to the National Hurricane Center.

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SEPTEMBER 4, 2026

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nutmeg and red pepper. Pour the egg mixture evenly over spinach. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until set. Let stand for 5 minutes, then cute into wedges and serve. Yield: 4 servings Nutrition Breakdown: Calo-

ries: 230, Fat 15g (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 300mg, Sodium 700mg, Carbohydrate 8g, Fiber 1g, Protein 23g Carbohydrate Choice: ½ Carbohydrates Diabetes Exchanges: 3 Medium Fat Meats, 2 Vegetables

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EMERGENCY... from page 6 conveyed. Plans are made to ensure that essential clinic services (WIC, immunizations, disease clinics) continue, temporarily pause, or relocate and these decisions are communicated to the public. During the storm (response) shelters are staffed and storm-related injuries, carbon monoxide poisoning (from generator misuse), and disease risks are monitored. Medical surge needs are assessed and coordinated with hospitals and healthcare coalitions. After the storm (recovery) our public health

emergency preparedness teams conduct environmental health assessments — testing water systems, inspecting food establishments, and issuing boil-water or food-safety guidance. They engage in disease surveillance for post-storm risks like waterborne illness, mosquito-borne disease (standing water), and mold-related respiratory issues. The community emergency management agencies conduct an after-action review to refine plans for future events. Throughout a disaster response, the district operates as one piece of a lay-

SEE AL SO PAGE 16

ered system — local EMA, county government, the district health office, Georgia DPH, and (for federally declared disasters) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) — all coordinating so that public health needs are addressed alongside general emergency management and public safety responses. Remember, your local health department and the East Central Public Health

District has a team standing by to help communities stay safer when the next natural or man-made disaster strikes. About the author. Christine O’Meara, MA, MPH is a Grant Specialist at the East Central Health District. The “What is Public Health?” Series is authored by public health experts at the Georgia Department of Public Health, East Central Health District (ECHD) with administrative offices in Augusta. GA. Learn more about the ECHD at our website: https:// ecphd.com. • Facebook www.facebook.com/ECPHD • Twitter http://twitter.com/eastcentralph

References • Hagen AB, Cangialosi JP Chenard M, Alaka L, and Delgado S. National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Helene (AL092024). 2427 September 2024. February 17, 2026. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). U.S. Department of Commerce. National Weather Service. www.nhc.noaa. gov/data/tcr/AL092024_ Helene.pdf • Georgia Department of Public Health. Emergency Preparedness. https:// dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/emergency-preparedness • Emergency Preparedness. East Central Health District 6. https://ada. ecphd.com/programs/ emergency-preparedness

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hether we like it or not, humans are her own driving irregularities. Here’s one: social creatures, and our behavior is “I” was traveling through a neighboraffected by those around us. We can’t help hood that had speed humps every few it: somebody yawns, and first thing you hundred feet. They are smooth humps; at know, we’re yawning too. the speed limit there really is no need to That’s harmless enough, but social conbrake. I came up behind a driver who was tagion on the road can be lethal. Simply crawling over these speed bumps like he put, it’s the tendency, deliberately or subor she had a diamond cutter working in consciously, to drive like those around us. the back seat. We have probably all seen it After enduring this for half (and perhaps done it): you’re a dozen speed bumps, yours tooling down the interstate truly passed the slow poke SOCIAL and a pack of cars comes up on a straight stretch and CONTAGION proceeded on at 25 mph. behind you in a tight cluster, every one of them driving way That was unacceptable to over the speed limit. You’re the slow poke, who suddenly thinking, “there’s no way all found the gas pedal and tailthose people know each other; that can’t gated me through the entire neighborhood be some kind of convoy.” to, I presume, teach me a lesson. And you are undoubtedly correct. They That was a harmless and uneventful are all complete strangers bound for a few example on quiet neighborhood streets, miles in a contagion contest. but on high speed roads or crowded city If one driver is speeding, others will too. streets such episodes can involve dozens If one driver is driving aggressively by tailor even hundreds of drivers and result in gating or weaving or honking, others will crashes, injuries and fatalities. respond in kind. And it is not an exaggeration to say Conduct breeds like conduct. hundreds of drivers. Have you ever been Example 1: a left-lane driver gets anbehind the wheel and thought, “Wow, noyed because someone is tailgating him. what is with everybody today?” SomeHe finally pulls over into the right lane times it can seem like someone decreed where he should have been all along that it’s Aggressive Driving Day and you (because that’s the law), and the tailgater never got the memo. passes him. It isn’t your imagination. It is social That’s not the end of the story. contagion at work on the roads. The left-lane driver may accelerate and What is the solution? get right behind the former tailgater in a Just as one aggressive driver can set let’s-see-how-you-like-it move. off a chain reaction of other aggressors, a Clearly this is foolish behavior, but it calm driver can influence others too. happens. And in most cases using male To make that happen, refuse to respond pronouns, as we are doing, does not mean to provocation. Set your own pace and both genders. It means just one. stick with it, and don’t let another driver’s Example 2: a left-lane driver is apbad actions infect you. Leave space beproached from behind by a potential tailtween your vehicle and others; familiarity gater. But after just a few moments, the breeds contempt - and aggression. Don’t second driver passes in the right lane and camp out in the left lane, stubbornly redisplays his annoyance by quickly cutting fusing to move over. in front of Mister Left Lane, who responds If you find yourself through no fault of by speeding up and tailgating the passer. your own in a pack of speeding, tailgating Once again, conduct (even bad conaggressors, slow down and let them pass. duct) spawns similar conduct. If it happens in town, turn into a parking Fortunately, this column does not dislot or side street, wait a minute and resume play a byline, so the author, whoever he your drive. Enjoy the journey, even if it’s or she may be, can freely confess to his or just to the grocery store.

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Confessions of a Semi‑Stable Human

Why Cats Get Away With Everything

There’s something about cats that has always puzzled me: they get away with everything. People call them selfish. Independent. Ungrateful. Sometimes, a little psychotic. And honestly they’ve got a point.

Cats ignore us, wake us up at three in the morning, and knock our favorite things off the table while maintaining direct eye contact. They’ve never apologized. Never explained themselves. Never promised to do better.

Now imagine your brother-in-law acting like that. You’d stop inviting him over. So why do cats get away with it? My cat, Ollie, has never climbed into my lap. Not once. He has standards. But if he climbs into a cardboard box, I can pick up the whole box, set it in my lap, and he’s perfectly happy. I don’t understand it. I quit trying. That’s just Ollie. And something finally occurred to me; I accepted the cat instead of expecting the cat to accept me. That may sound like a silly observation. I’m not sure it is. Cats don’t pretend. They don’t flatter you. They don’t compliment your haircut because they want something. They don’t laugh because you’re the boss. They don’t say,“We need to talk.” And they’ve certainly never posted a cat video. Cats don’t perform. They don’t have a public relations department. What you see is what you get. Every single day. People are different. Including me. I’ve spent a lot of my life disappointed in people. I thought it was because people kept letting

me down. I’m beginning to wonder whether my expectations did most of the damage. Maybe I expected people to overcome being people. All day every day. To always understand. Always be fair. Always know what to say. Always appreciate us. Always agree with us. Always rise above fear, pride, ego misunderstanding. It’s a pretty demanding list. Especially considering I don’t always manage it myself. You know what’s funny? We judge cats by what they are. But we judge people by what they do. A cat scratches the sofa. “That’s just a cat.” A person scratches our feelings and suddenly they’re a terrible human being. Maybe that’s not entirely fair. Because every person you’ve ever argued with has a narrator inside their head, just like you do. Every one of them thinks they’re trying to be reasonable. Just like you. Every one of them wants to be understood. Just like you. Different stories. Same fears. Same hopes. Same blind spots. There’s an old statement that says, “Not all flesh

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Remember how we used to stare at our phones back in the day?

11 is the same flesh.” That’s true. Cats aren’t. Dogs aren’t. Birds aren’t. But people…people are astonishingly alike. We all carry our own version of hope. Fear. Pride. Insecurity. Love. The desire to matter. The desire to be understood. Different personalities. Same flesh. Maybe that’s why cats seem easier to love. Not because they’re better than people. Maybe it’s because we’ve already accepted them for exactly what they are. Maybe peace begins when we stop demanding that everything become something it was never meant to be. Ollie still won’t sit in my lap. But he’ll sit in a cardboard box that’s sitting in my lap. I don’t argue with the cat anymore. I’m starting to think the same strategy works pretty well with people. After all they’re not cats. They’re us.

by the semi-anonymous TALMADGE of the YouTube channel, TALMADGE IN THE VOID, kind of a mixture of George Carlin and Mister Rogers.

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PUZZLE ACROSS 1. Hyper letters 5. Relating to the foot 10. Kitty in an office wager 14. Hawaiian feast 15. Nimble 16. Doing nothing 17. Shakespeare was one 18. Collection of fact books 20. Large area employer 21. Ready to eat 22. Pyromaniac’s deed 23. Go from second to first 25. Drug category, in brief 26. Type of net 28. USC Aiken team 31. Liquid waste 32. Noted art family 34. I Like _____ (50s campaign slogan) 36. Assemble 37. Orchard of local note 38. Egg cell 39. NBC show (in brief) 40. Aquatic opossum 41. Over or under follower 42. An ad (in the UK) 44. Justly 45. North American deer 46. Spider identified by this word (and its color) 47. Sound of a bagpipe 50. Rational 51. It was between GRU and AU 54. Not divided; whole 57. Sudden sharp pain 58. Eating regimen 59. Body landmark 60. Skin eruption 61. Legal postponement 62. Mimicry 63. Norse god of thunder

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21 23

Heard what?

DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

DOWN 1. Hollywood’s Jessica 2. Couple or pair 3. Longest-serving mayor in Atlanta history 4. A flop 5. Placate 6. The Nile flows through it 7. Gaming cubes 8. Entirely 9. Zodiac sign 10. Georgia county named for the 14th US president 11. Probability 12. Potpourri 13. Containing little fat 19. Cabbage ______ 21. Ceremony 24. Seize (archaic or poetic) 25. Solemn promise 26. Totals 27. James Brown for one 28. Quarter bushel 29. Main artery here

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30. Cranium 32. Cried 33. NBA’s Ming 35. TV award 37. Riverwalk, for example 38. Home of Case Western Reserve University 40. Shouts 41. Walk in shallow water 43. Truth 44. In a very skilled manner 46. Word that can precede log or pistol 47. Unexplained death of a baby (acronym) 48. Make a sweater 49. “The very ____!” 50. Ballesteros, to friends 52. Monte’s last name? 53. Lyft competitor 55. Entry level nurse (abbrev) 56. Knock vigorously 57. Calendar abbrev.

, 1 8 6 5 9 4 W I E L 3A 7 S F R W 5 1 S I L M 2 9 8 6 E 4 3 7 2 — Benjamin Franklin

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

1 2 3 4

A 1 2 3 4 5 1

L 1 1 2 3 4

H 4 5

3 2

A A 1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 4

B 1 2 3 4 5 6

— Ann Landers

1 2 3

1.BADTTTWINLA 2.RRHHASILEE 3.WEEELKAUT 4.ASNETTL 5.DYESH 6.RSE 7.D

SAMPLE:

1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS

You think it’s because of the tariffs?

Canada Geese no longer exist. He renamed them Donald Ducks.

Have you noticed there aren’t as many Canada Geese around compared to I have seen previous years? exactly none.

by Dan Pearson

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3 7 2 4 6 8 5 9 1

7 8 3 6 2 5 4 1 9

2 1 5 9 7 4 3 8 6

9 4 6 8 3 1 2 7 5

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The

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fees, and become fabulously wealthy.” “At what price?” the lawyer asked skeptically. “Just your soul,” replied the devil. “And the souls of your wife and children, and all of your relatives for the next five generations.” The lawyer paused in thought for a few moments, then asked, “What’s the catch?”

Moe: How’s your new job? Joe: It’s great. The atmosphere the comhe instructor at a driving school posed pany has created makes it just like one big a situation to his students: “You’re driving along and suddenly you see an old family. Moe: Really? woman and a young child in front of you. Joe: Really. Nobody communicates, Given that situation, what would you hit?” there’s a ton of passive aggression, and “There is no good choice,” said one of somebody always has to finish the other the students, “but I guess I would hit the guy’s job, and nothing gets done unless old lady. The child has their whole life there’s a threat, and even then it’s all ahead of them.” about fear and guilt. “Wrong!” said the instructor. “You hit Moe: Oh wow. Are they hiring? the brakes!” Moe: What happened to your new girlfriend? Joe: She broke up with me Moe: Why? A sad, lonely and depressed lawyer Joe: Because I’m colorblind. was contemplating his sorry life on a Moe: That’s it? park bench late one night when the devil Joe: She’s just funny about that. I begged himself suddenly appeared before him in a her, “Violet, please don’t do this!” puff of black smoke. Moe: What did she say? “I know what you’re going through,” Joe: She said, “SCARLETT! MY NAME IS the devil said. “But I can make you the greatest lawyer who ever walked the earth. SCARLETT!” You’ll win every case, command enormous Moe: I bought a hairpiece for a dollar! Joe: Whoa. That’s a small price toupee.

Why subscribe to theMEDICALEXAMINER? Because try as they might, no one can stare at their phone all day.

Staring at my phone all day has certainly had no effect on ME!

Dear Advice Doctor, This summer my family and I had the opportunity to visit Japan. What an amazing adventure! We loved the calming serenity of beautiful Zen gardens surrounding ancient temples. We didn’t exactly care for the opposite — being packed like sardines into the commuter trains of Tokyo — but from our arrival to the day we left it was a fascinating look at a culture very different from our own. I’d like to recommend it to all your readers. — Back Home and Happy Dear Back Home, Thank you for sharing your experience. Welcome home! Even though you’re now back in your American routine, I want to change your mind about something you mentioned: you apparently don’t have a positive opinion of sardines. I’d like to suggest a few reasons for you to reconsider that viewpoint. Sardines are actually a very salubrious food — and they taste good too! They’re a great source of calcium, iron, vitamin D, and Omega-3 fatty acids. A Harvard University study revealed that eating just one or two servings of sardines per week provides enough Omega-3s to reduce the #1 cause of death in the US — heart disease — by more than a third. That’s huge, but there’s more: Omega-3 can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Making sardines a regular part of a diet can also help reduce inflammation, providing a good-tasting source of relief for conditions like arthritis. As we age, bone health becomes increasingly important, and thankfully sardines help promote stronger bones. That’s because sardines are an excellent source of calcium, iron, and vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, so their presence in sardines makes for a very convenient combo. Sardines are also a great source of phosphorus, which helps neutralize acids that otherwise can attack and weaken bones. Sardines are also a great source of vitamin B12, which promotes optimal nerve function. There are drawbacks for some people: sardines can be high in sodium, which isn’t a good thing for those with high blood pressure. The solution if you love sardines? Go salt-free with the rest of your meal and low-salt with the rest of your diet. People with gout or who are susceptible to kidney stones may also have to go easy on sardines and get their Omega-3 fix from fish oil supplements. Not nearly as flavorful! Thanks again for writing. I hope I answered your question. Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to Dans@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.

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THE PUZZLE SOLVED A D H D P E D A L P O O L L U A U A G I L E I D L E B A R D C Y C L O P E D I A A D T R I P E A R S O N S H I F T O T C S A F E T Y P A C E R S U R I N E W Y E T H I K E M E E T P E A C H O V U M S N L Y A P O K W H E L M A D V E R T F A I R L Y E L K W I D O W S K I R L S A N E A S U I N D I S C R E T E S T A B D I E T N A V E L A C N E S T A Y A P E R Y T H O R

SEE PAGE 12

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QUOTATION PUZZLE SOLUTION If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few.” — Ben Franklin

WORDS BY NUMBER The naked truth is always better than a well-dressed lie.

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JUST IN CASE

PREPARE YOUR FAMILY FOR A WEATHER DISASTER by Christine O’Meara, MA, MPH

Whether preparing for a hurricane, severe tropical storm, or other natural and man-made disasters, there are many things to consider. First, take the time to plan ahead. Together with your family, make an emergency PLAN, then practice your plan long before the threat of a hurricane or major tropical storm knocks at your front door. Can you answer these questions posed by the national “Ready” campaign? 1. How will we receive emergency alerts/warnings? 2. Do we have a shelter plan? 3. Do we know our evacuation route? 4. What is our family communication plan? 5. Is our emergency preparedness kit up-to-date and ready to go?

Your emergency kit The following list is not exhaustive but covers some critical essentials as you plan and prepare for another hurricane or disaster. Create an emergency kit to store indispensable items in a sturdy, waterproof bin with a tight fitting lid. Include basics such as matches or lighter; candles; battery powered light sources; a battery powered radio; canned foods to last 3-7 days and a mechanical can opener; an ample supply of water, including filling your bathtub with water for bathing and flushing; emergency blankets; a pair of large scissors; duct tape; plastic sheeting; whistle (to signal for help); dust masks; markers; paper and pencils; tools like pliers and wrenches (for shutting off pipes); local maps; soap; hand sanitizer; disinfecting wipes; a well-stocked first-aid kit; and some cash.

Make sure the gas tank in your vehicle is full when a storm or other potential emergency is anticipated. Stay informed if you lose power Losing electricity usually means not being able to access Wi-Fi and TV – here’s how you can stay in the loop anyway: • A battery powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio is your best bet. These are inexpensive, don’t need electricity, and are built specifically to broadcast official weather alerts and emergency instructions 24/7 — even during widespread outages. It’s worth keeping one in your emergency kit year-round, not just during hurricane season. • A battery-powered or car radio tuned to local AM/

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FM stations works well too. Local news stations usually stay on the air during outages and broadcast emergency updates. If you have a vehicle with gas, your car radio is a handy backup source (just don’t run your car in an enclosed garage). A simple battery-operated radio is cheap insurance when everything else goes dark. • A charged phone with a power bank can still get texts and alerts, since cell networks sometimes stay up even without home power. Texting or checking county alert apps can still work if your phone has a charged battery. • Sign up in advance for your county’s emergency alert system for texts or voice alerts sent straight to your phone. Many Georgia counties use something like CodeRed; Augusta-Richmond County uses Everbridge Mobile App; Columbia County uses the Hyper-Reach platform, and Aiken County, SC uses the CodeRED notification service and Smart911. Aiken County also promotes the statewide SC Emergency Manager app for personal disaster planning. The big takeaway when your power goes out: don’t rely on just one method for your information needs.

georgia.gov The GEMA website provides information about staying safe and preparing for hurricanes, identifies each county’s GEMA/HHS field office, and identifies coastal areas’ evacuation zones. • North Augusta Public Safety offers city residents access to CodeRED, a notification service used by Aiken County, SC. For additional information visit: www. northaugustasc. gov/government/ city-departments/ public-safety/ codered-notification-service. • The Ready Campaign is a national public service campaign designed to educate and enable people to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies and disasters. Emergency supply kit checklists, planning ideas and templates, and resources for families, businesses, and caregivers in multiple languages are available. https://www. ready.gov • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) via the FEMA App https://www. ready.gov/fema-app and FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) https://www. ready.gov/alerts#ipaws offer nationwide safety strategies, real-time weather alerts from the National Weather Service, and local open shelter locators.

SEE AL SO PAGE 8

Other resources • Everbridge.net Augusta-Richmond County uses Everbridge Community to provide time-sensitive messages via phone, text, and email about a variety of situations including severe weather, road closure, missing persons, and building/neighborhood evacuations. https://www. everbridge.com https://www.everbridge. com/platform/applications • Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (800) 879-4362 https://gema.

The “What is Public Health?” Series is authored by public health experts at the Georgia Department of Public Health, East Central Health District (ECHD) with administrative offices in Augusta. GA. Learn more about the ECHD at our website: https://ecphd.com. • Facebook www.facebook. com/ECPHD • Twitter http://twitter.com/ eastcentralph References The Ready Campaign. https:// www.ready.gov/be-informed