MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR ORANGE COUNTY CLINICIANS R EG IN A CH IN SIO -K W ON G , D O MA Y 1 5 , 2 0 2 6
COUNTY HEAL TH O FF ICER
May - Focus on Mental Health and Preparedness As warmer weather arrives and more Orange County residents head outdoors for walking, biking, hiking, and increasingly riding e-bikes, May offers an important reminder of the vital role that injury prevention and mental wellness play in community health. This month brings together Mental Health Awareness Month—guided by our county theme Hope, Heal, Thrive—along with National Trauma Injury Prevention Month and Stop the Bleed Month. Mental health is foundational to overall well-being, and clinicians play a key role in helping residents recognize stress, seek support early, and build resilience. Encouraging patients to prioritize mental wellness through connection, physical activity, counseling, or moments of pause supports our broader commitment to helping every resident Hope, Heal, and Thrive. OC Health Care Agency - About Us
At the same time, National Trauma Injury Awareness Month highlights that injuries remain one of the most significant and preventable threats to health nationwide. More than 275,000 people in the US die from injuries each year—one every three minutes—and injuries remain the leading cause of death for individuals ages 1 to 46. The financial burden is equally staggering, exceeding $4.2 trillion annually, with more than 64,000 deaths related to traumatic brain injury in 2020, according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data. In Orange County, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams see the daily impact of rising e-bike injuries and warm-weather trauma, reminding us how quickly a routine outing can turn into an emergency. Prevention, situational awareness, and preparedness remain essential. Your clinical guidance—on helmet use, safe riding, fall prevention, and general safety practices—helps reduce preventable harm before EMS arrives. Trauma prevention and preparedness go hand in hand: the same awareness and lifesaving skills that reduce injuries also strengthen community resilience. This month encourages us not just to raise awareness, but to equip more residents with practical tools that improve safety and save lives.
In this newsletter you can expect:
Press Releases/News Highlights – pg. 2
Public Health Communicable Disease Updates - pg. 4 Preparedness – pg. 8 Community Collaborative Updates – pg. 9 Observance Topics – pg. 10 Safety Alerts/Recalls/ Outbreaks/Foodborne Illnesses – pg. 11
Training & Webinar Opportunities –pg. 13
Thank you for your continued commitment to keeping Orange County healthy and safe as we enter the summer season.
Stay safe, stay prepared, and get Stop the Bleed trained.
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