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A Safe Home is a Welcome Home

The Hancock County Veterans Service would like to thank you for your service and say Welcome Home! We are honored and excited that you have chosen to join our community where many Veterans live, work and thrive. We hope that you’ll stop by our office for an in-person greeting, the opportunity to learn more about your earned benefits, and connect to Hancock County. You’ve helped keep us safe, and now we would like to help you stay safe as you settle in. Please check out our great resources below!

Mental Health Emergencies

Call 988 or chat through the website Lifeline (988lifeline.org). Help and hope are available 24/7/365. Clinicians are available to talk to you if you’re having a suicidal crisis or feeling emotional distress. 988 is for everyone, but if you served in the U.S. Military, you can press 1 at the prompt to be transferred to the Veterans Crisis Line where responders have military culture training and can provide follow-up through the local VA. If you would like items that have the crisis line on it to place around your home as a reminder of these services, contact the Hancock County Veterans Services for 988 swag materials.

Firearm Safety

Securely storing your firearms is vital in preventing accidental firearm discharges and also to protect yourself or your family during a time when they may be experiencing a suicidal crisis. Firearm injuries in the home can be prevented by making sure firearms are unloaded, locked, and secured when not in use, with ammunition stored in a separate location. More information from the National Shooting Sports Foundation & VA Partnership: Toolkit_Safe_Firearm_Storage_CLEARED_508_2-24-20.pdf (va.gov)
There are several effective ways to safely secure firearms, such as a cable lock, lockbox, gun safe, or working with a firearms retailer who provides off-site storage. You can obtain free cable locks from the Hancock County Veterans Service Office. Learn more at Life Side Ohio | About.

Male Mental Health

“A mustache is no place to hide your feelings”. Check out Man Therapy to learn if you may be dealing with anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. The site is full of humor and education about men’s mental health.

 

Women Veterans Call Center

The Women Veterans Call Center is a resource for information about a variety of services and benefits that you have earned and deserve through your military service. Talk to a provider with military culture training to specific to Women Veterans. Women Veterans Call Center – Women Veterans Health Care (va.gov)

Emergency Preparedness

Prepare for an emergency by having a conversation with members of your household about safety plans for the whole family. Some tips include:

  • Ensure the numbers on your home are clear for first responders to locate you.
  • Keep flashlights with batteries available for power outages.
  • Consider purchasing a battery-powered radio
  • Subscribe to your local weather and news alerts for local emergencies
  • Annually test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries
  • Identify a meeting spot in your neighborhood in case you need to leave your home
  • Keep a first aid kit and consider purchasing a survival kit for your home

Medication Safety

Medications can be an important tool for physical and emotional wellness. It is important to safely dispose medications when they are no longer needed. Safely disposing medications through a medication disposal box in the community or a deterra bag that renders the medication ineffective is safe for the environment and prevents accidental and intentional overdose. Dispose medications at:

City of Findlay Municipal Building
Hancock County Sheriff’s Office

Opioid Safety

Individuals who take opioids are at risk for accidental or intentional overdose, along with those who reside in the home. Mixing opioids with alcohol or other substances can contribute to overdose. Using opioids that are not prescribed from healthcare sources can be mixed with fentanyl, xylazine, and other substances that can cause risk of death. Using an opioid after recently stopping or reducing the amount will reduce your tolerance and put you at risk for an overdose if you take the previously prescribed amount. Narcan is a medication that can reverse the effects of an Opioid overdose and save a life. Anyone who resides in a home that contains opioids is encouraged to keep Narcan on hand in the event of an opioid overdose. You can obtain free Narcan and Narcan Training through Project DAWN at Hancock Public Health at 419-424-7420.

Health Safety

Hancock County Public Health offers a variety of services including safe sex supplies, health screening, immunizations, Hepatitis C and HIV testing, and syringe services. Call 419-424-7441 for more information.

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