Click here to read Partnership For Youth Coalition Coordinator Kat Allen’s recent My Turn in the Recorder.
Archive | July, 2016
Commercial Wood Pellet Heat and Air Quality Workshop
Handouts from the 7/26 workshop presented by Dr. Rick Peltier of UMass Amherst and Marc Wolman of the Department of Environmental Protection are below:
Presentation by Mark Wolman, MassDEP
Presentation by Dr.Rick Peltier, UMass Amherst
Recorder article about workshop
FRCOG Program Updates
Interested in learning a bit more about what has been happening here at the FRCOG in the last three months? Check out the updates presented to our Council members on July 21:
Food Safety After a Power Outage
Power outages can jeopardize the safety of refrigerated and frozen food. Keep food safe before, during and after an emergency by following these guidelines.
Coalition Educates on Youth Marijuana Use
In November, MA residents will vote on the question of legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Whether or not this legislation passes – and how this legislation is implemented if passed – will have a significant impact on the use of marijuana by young people. The FRCOG’s Partnership for Youth, as part of their work with the Communities That Care Coalition, has developed a presentation on what we know about the effects of marijuana on young people, and what works in preventing youth use. Partnership for Youth staff have provided this presentation at several community venues this spring, including as part of the Selectboard Essentials series.
In July staff hosted a “Training of Trainers” where they trained a small group of community leaders (including staff from Clinical and Support Options, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Greenfield’s Safe Schools Safe Streets Coalition, the Opioid Task Force, and the Collaborative for Educational Services) to be part of an informal Speakers Bureau on this topic. If you are interested in learning more or in setting up a presentation for your community, please contact Kat at kallen@frcog.org.
Preventing Mosquito Bites
Public Health Nurse Lisa White recommends the following steps to “fight the bite” and avoid infection with West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE or “Triple E”):
Applying Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Repellents with DEET, permethrin, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 are effective. Be sure to use these according to the instructions on the product label and note precautions for use on infants and children.
Avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes.
Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors to help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Draining standing water where Mosquitoes lay their eggs. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, store wheelbarrows upside down, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
Installing or repairing screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.
Protecting your animals. Flush water troughs at least once a week and keep horses in indoor stalls at night with lights off to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes.
Zika virus, Dengue fever, Chikungunya are other mosquito-borne diseases you can get when traveling abroad. At this time, only people traveling to places with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks or engaging in sexual activity with someone who has traveled to these places are at risk for getting these infections. For up to date information about where Zika virus is occurring: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices.
For more information on WNV, EEE, repellent use and other mosquito-borne illness prevention visit www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito or contact Lisa White, Regional Public Health Nurse for the towns of Buckland, Charlemont, Conway, Deerfield, Gill, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, Monroe, Rowe and Shelburne at 413-665-1400 x114.
Lisa White takes a woman’s blood pressure in her office in the Town Offices in South Deerfield. Recorder/Franz
Escape
If a fire starts in your home, you may have only one to two minutes to escape. Your ability to get out safely depends on having working smoke alarms and planning ahead.
The U.S. Fire Administration has tips for creating a fire escape plan, including having two ways out of every room.
Summer Heat Awareness
Summer temperatures are on the rise. According to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year from heat stroke. Practice Heat Safety!
Being Aware
Being aware of what’s coming is a big part of preparedness. Is severe weather heading your way? Receive preparedness reminders and safety information for more than 20 types of hazards with the FEMA mobile app.
