This is the Riskiest Florida City to Have a Baby
Having a baby in Florida is apparently risky. That’s according to the latest March of Dimes report card, which gives the state a grade of D+ for infant mortality. Yikes. I’m shocked. What’s more, I’m surprised by the failing grades for states across the U.S. There are certain Florida cities that are actually the riskiest to have a baby, too.
The March of Dimes Report Card highlights key indicators that describe the state of maternal and infant health in America. “We continue to provide updated rates and grades for preterm birth and data on infant mortality and maternal health,” they state in the report. “New this year is the inclusion of maternal mortality, leading causes of infant death, and data describing selected risk factors for preterm birth.”
So, let’s get into the numbers. According to the report, the preterm birth rate in Florida was 10.6% in 2022, lower than the rate in 2021. That’s good news. But, that’s where the positive news ends. Looking at their graph, preterm birth rates have been increasing for the majority of the past decade. That’s not a trend we want to see. But, it’s promising that the rate did decline between 2021 and 2022. However, in more bad news, the report states that, “Birthing people in Florida have a very high vulnerability to poor outcomes and are most vulnerable due to general healthcare accessibility.”
Now, let’s get into the riskiest cities in Florida to have a baby. Jacksonville is the riskiest, with a preterm birth rate of 11.9% and grade of F. Yes, as in flunking. As for counties, unsafe are Duval with an F, Volusia with a D-, Lake with a D, Broward with a D, Lee with a D, Pasco with a D, Polk with a D+, Palm Beach with a D+ and Orange with a D+. Find the full list for Florida here.
How to Avoid Getting Norovirus
Wash your hands really well
Di you know that hand sanitizer isn’t effective against norovirus? I learned that the hard way. My mom always tells me to slather my hands in the stuff, but it won’t help for this bug. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
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Handle and prepare food the safest way
The CDC says that before preparing and eating your food, you should wash fruits and vegetables well; cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 145°F; and routinely clean and sanitize kitchen utensils, counters, and surfaces. Also, “noroviruses are relatively resistant to heat and can survive temperatures as high as 145°F,” they warn. Also, they say to avoid preparing and handling food or caring for others when you are sick.
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Fully clean and disinfect surfaces
Good ol’ bleach is where it’s at. The CDC says that “after someone vomits or has diarrhea, always clean well and disinfect the entire area immediately.” Bleach kills this stuff. Also, when cleaning, make sure to wear rubber or disposable gloves and wipe the entire area with paper towels and throw them in a plastic trash bag. The CDC also recommends to “leave the bleach disinfectant on the affected area for at least 5 minutes.”
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Wash laundry very well
Any clothing with vomit or poop should be removed and washed right away. The CDC says to “wear rubber or disposable gloves” and “Wash the items with detergent and hot water at the maximum available cycle length and then machine dry them at the highest heat setting.” For more tips, go here.
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