Space heater tips:

* Place the heater on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep the heater at least three feet from bedding, drapes, furniture and other flammable materials. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.

* To prevent the risk of fire, NEVER leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or place a space heater close to any sleeping person. Turn the space heater off if you leave the area.

* Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features; older space heaters may not meet the newer safety standards. An unvented gas space heater that meets current safety standards will shut off if oxygen levels fall too low.

* Make sure your heater is correctly rated for your home. An oversized heater could deplete the available oxygen, causing excess carbon monoxide to be produced. Keep a window in the room open at least one inch and keep doors open to the rest of the house to ensure proper ventilation. This helps prevent pollutant build-up and promotes proper combustion.

* Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to provide sufficient combustion air to prevent carbon monoxide production.

* Have gas and kerosene space heaters inspected annually to ensure proper operation.

* Do not use a kitchen range or oven to heat your house because it could overheat or generate excessive carbon monoxide.

* Have a smoke alarm with fresh batteries on each level of the house, inside every bedroom, and outside the bedrooms in each sleeping area. In addition, have a carbon monoxide alarm outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area.

Fireplace safety tips:

* Have flues and chimneys inspected before each heating season for leakage and blockage by creosote or debris.

* Open the fireplace damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. Never close the damper or go to bed if the ashes are still warm. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases inside the home.

* Never use gasoline, charcoal lighter or other fuel to light or relight a fire because the vapors can explode. Never keep flammable fuels or materials near a fire. Never store flammable liquids in your home.

* Never use charcoal in a fireplace because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

* Keep a screen or glass enclosure around a fireplace to prevent sparks or embers from igniting flammable materials.

By: Health And Hospital Corporation Of Marion County – Thu, 01/15/2009 – 14:30

“Carbon monoxide poisoning is more common during the cold weather months in Wisconsin,” said Dr. Henry Anderson, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health Services. “State records show that nearly half of all accidental carbon monoxide deaths occur in winter months.”

Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because it is colorless and odorless and can come from things you use in your home every day. Poorly functioning or unvented furnaces or other appliances, such as portable generators, heaters and stoves, can quickly create dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. In 2007, 15 of the 32 deaths due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning occurred between January 1st and March 31st.

“One of the best defenses is a carbon monoxide detector,” Anderson said. “These detectors work like smoke alarms to alert you to dangerously high levels of carbon monoxide. Battery powered detectors are also available so you can take one with you any time you use gas and oil burning appliances away from home.”

It is recommended that families install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of their home, especially near sleeping areas.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea and mental confusion. High levels of exposure may lead to more serious health problems, including loss of consciousness and death.

By: Wisconsin Department Of Health And Family Services – Thu, 01/15/2009 – 16:17

“Even those without lung diseases are at risk during this time,” said Norman Edelman, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the American Lung Association. “With the rising air pollution levels we are seeing in the affected areas, there is increased risk of coughing and wheezing, asthma attacks, as well as heart attacks and strokes, especially for older adults and outdoor workers. Take special care to protect children. They are more susceptible to smoke, because their respiratory systems are still developing.”

The American Lung Association recommends people downwind of fire-stricken areas should stay indoors and avoid breathing heavy smoke or ash filled air. Those living in surrounding areas of the fires should avoid exercising outdoors, particularly if they smell smoke or notice eye or throat irritation. When driving through smoky areas, car windows and vents should be kept closed. Air conditioning should be set to “recirculate” to avoid exposure to unhealthy outside air.

“People with respiratory problems and chronic heart disease are at greatest risk during this time,” said Edelman. “Due to the extremely high levels of pollutants, many people may be experiencing increased symptoms and should contact their doctor promptly, especially those using oxygen. People using oxygen are strongly cautioned to not adjust their levels of intake without consulting their doctor first.”

Those individuals with asthma are also encouraged to contact their physician regarding any changes in medication that may be needed to cope with smoky conditions. The American Lung Association advises asthma patients who cannot reach their doctor to continue to take their medication and closely follow their asthma action plan as prescribed.

People living near fire-stricken areas are encouraged to stay inside as much as possible, with doors, windows and fireplace dampers shut — with clean air circulating through air conditioners and/or air cleaners. The American Lung Association reminds residents to use the recirculation setting on their home air conditioners to avoid outdoor air contamination, but warns against using whole house fans, which can bring in unfiltered outside air.

Ordinary dust masks, designed to filter out large particles should not be used as they still allow the more dangerous, smaller particles resulting from the fires to pass through. Disposable particle masks available at hardware and home supply stores can better help filter out harmful fine particles. Look for masks labeled “N95″ or “P1000″ that come with two straps, which can be adjusted to fit tightly on the face. It should be noted that these types of masks can be difficult for people with lung disease to use, so a doctor should be consulted before purchasing.

The volunteer response for clean up has been tremendous and is commended by the American Lung Association. At the same time, the Association advises clean up workers to use caution to protect their lungs. Areas covered in dust and soot should be thoroughly wet prior to clean up as a means to reduce further air pollutants. Workers should wear an N95 mask described above and replace it daily. Areas where asbestos and other hazardous materials are suspected should be avoided.

By: American Lung Association – Sat, 07/05/2008 – 13:16

“From a public health standpoint, the flood cleanup phase is a very dangerous and serious situation,” said James Merchant, dean of the UI College of Public Health. “During this time, there needs to be an emphasis on adequate protection and awareness of public health hazards.”

CPH and UHL experts are addressing flood recovery topics through informational materials presented to the media and the public. A set of public health fact sheets on water quality, infectious disease, mold, environmental hazards, mental health, injury prevention and fraud are available at www.uiowa.edu .

Videos on coping with the stress of a natural disaster and assessing the safety of well water are also available on the site.

“The flood of 2008 left many Iowans with the daunting job of cleanup and rebuilding their homes,” said Christopher Atchison, UHL director. “Our goal in providing this flood-related information is to help guide people through the public health risks they might face as they work.”

Planned future topics for the site include preparedness for future storms, tracking the rate of illness following a flood, and mold cleanup.

By: University Of Iowa – Mon, 07/07/2008 – 12:53

According to recent figures released by the Rand Corp., one in five veterans of these two wars may suffer from psychological health problems, which can add strain on military family members.

Now, a program initiated at UCLA and supported by the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery is reaching out to military families to help prevent the personal and family problems such stress can bring. Project FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) is now being rolled out to nine military bases across the nation and in Okinawa, Japan.

“There is increasing awareness that military families, especially the children, can be significantly affected when a parent is deployed, and there is even greater psychological wear and tear when there are multiple deployments,” said Dr. Patricia Lester, UCLA assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry and director of the FOCUS program. “The spouse left behind is suddenly thrust into the role of being a single parent; routines are interrupted, the children may not understand where their mom or dad has gone, and the service member on the front lines is constantly worried about how their family is doing back home.”

Given that about 40 percent of U.S. service members are parents, a large number of military families are at risk and stand to benefit from what FOCUS can offer — targeted coping skills that are designed to be preventive.

The FOCUS program provides both parents and children customized training that will address the impact of wartime deployment on families, and helps them learn very specific communication and problem-solving skills to address these challenges. In addition, FOCUS trainers will provide outreach to groups within military communities to raise awareness about the kinds of pressures families face and to let them know help is available to cope with deployment.

“We build resiliency,” Lester said. “It’s a three-pronged approach to restore a psychological balance to the family, promote future resiliency and increase knowledge and understanding among the military family culture.”

Families meet with counselors in multiple sessions. Some of the sessions are with parents alone, some with the children alone and the rest are family sessions. Each session focuses on helping each family member identify and share their concerns and fears about a spouse or parent being deployed to a war zone. In separate sessions with parents and children, FOCUS trainers teach family members skills to help manage their emotions, solve problems within the family, set goals and communicate with one another.

One session, for example, might include working with children and adolescents to develop their ability to describe their feelings about being separated during a deployment and then sharing these feelings with their parents. Skills are developed and practiced in the context of the family’s own experiences — that is, the specific problems family members may be having with one another. That, according to Lester, is central to addressing potential misunderstandings between parents, and between parents and children.

“If there are five family members, there’s a good chance that there are five different stories of what that most recent deployment experience was like,” Lester said. “Family members often don’t want to ‘burden’ each other with their personal problems, but in these exceptional circumstances of long-term separations, building a shared family narrative can be very helpful in reestablishing a close family identity and building its strength.”

According to Cpt. Robert L. Koffman, a combat and operational stress control consultant and director of psychological health for the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, “For married service members, one of the best ways leadership can enhance psychological resilience is to ensure the family unit remains, strong, healthy and intact.”

By: UCLA Healthcare – Mon, 07/07/2008 – 12:56

Samples taken June 30 at Holmes Lake were above the state’s health alert threshold of 20 parts per billion (ppb) of total Microcystins (a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae.) Although levels were below the threshold at Iron Horse Trail Lake this week, a health alert remains in effect. Lakes that are on health alert must have two consecutive weeks of readings below 20 ppb before the alert is removed.

Signs are being posted at both lakes to advise the public to use caution, and the swimming beach at Iron Horse Trail Lake will remain closed during the health alert. The public is advised to avoid activities that could involve accidental ingestion of water and to make sure their pets don’t drink from the lakes. People can still use the public areas for picnics and other outdoor activities.

Both lakes will continue to be monitored weekly throughout the 2008 recreational season. The state is also taking periodic samples at 45 other public recreational lakes through September. Sampling results for toxic algae and bacteria will be updated every Friday and posted on NDEQ’s web site, www.deq.state.ne.us .

By: Nebraska Department Of Health – Wed, 07/09/2008 – 13:57

In the run-up to the Twelfth of July, the minister met with Robert Saulters, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland to call for respect for emergency workers, including the Fire and Rescue Service. The minister also drew attention to the need for safe practises at bonfire sites and to the dangers of binge drinking.

Mr McGimpsey said: “Bonfires are an important part of the Twelfth celebrations but they have to be planned properly with a responsible adult in charge of the site. It’s also vital that children should not be allowed anywhere near the fire itself.

“If anything does go wrong it’s important that the Fire Service is contacted. However, remember that our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to save lives in their communities. By attacking them, there is a very real risk that a firefighter will be injured or equipment may be damaged, resulting in a fire engine not being available for a real emergency.

The minister also addressed the issue of binge drinking and said: “Alcohol remains a major public health issue in Northern Ireland; we know the wide range of problems that can occur when it is misused and consumed irresponsibly, and I remain committed to reducing the overall level of alcohol-related harm in Northern Ireland.

“My message over the Twelfth celebrations is clear – enjoy yourselves but it is important to stay safe. Don’t drink excessively and don’t attack firefighters – you will only be putting yourself and others in danger.”

Robert Saulters, Grand Master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, said he was delighted to be associated with the initiative.

“Bonfires are a very important of the Protestant culture. The Orange Order does not build the bonfires but we work very closely with the community organisations who do.

“It is terrific that so many people enjoy the bonfires, but they must always remember about their own safety and the safety of others.

“We want people to enjoy an important part of their tradition but ensure that the events are safe, friendly and enjoyable for all the family and people who live in the area.”

Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland said: “The police service has been working as part of a multi-agency approach to reduce the number of incidents and increasing public safety around bonfire sites.

“We encourage everyone to ensure all bonfires are safe, and are of no threat to life or property.”

By: Northern Ireland Health Department – Fri, 07/11/2008 – 14:05

CareGiverHelper offers families an easy way to organize and share critical information on a secure online platform. Families can put all their support information in one place, such as contact numbers of doctors and caregivers, medications and dosages, a common calendar with appointment reminders, and events such as birthdays or anniversaries. There is also a place to store medical, legal, insurance and other pertinent documents. CareGiverHelper streamlines the organization and communication between family caregivers facilitating daily activities, handling emergencies and assisting with long-term planning.

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According to the MetLife Caregiver Cost Study, large and small businesses face relatively the same costs of care: $2,110 – $2,441 per employee. This translates to an estimated cost of $33 billion annually in absenteeism, tardiness, workplace errors, increased supervisory costs and employees exiting the workforce resulting in additional recruiting and training costs.

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“CareGiverHelper makes it easier to coordinate care among family members and avoid burn-out and the premature institutionalization of a loved one” said Dworkin.

By: CareGiverHelper, Inc. – Thu, 07/17/2008 – 13:18

The amount of respite care available in a long-term care facility has been increased from 28 days to 60 days per year.

“Family caregiving is rewarding, but it is also very challenging and can put a lot of physical, mental and emotional strain on the individual and on the family,” said Health Minister Chris d’Entremont.

“By increasing the amount of respite care, we are fulfilling our promise to better support caregivers, while recognizing the crucial role they play in caring for some of the most vulnerable people in Nova Scotia.”

The increase in the number of respite days will allow family caregivers to take more time away, go on vacation, attend to personal and business matters, while their loved ones are given quality care in a safe environment.

Respite care beds are available in many nursing homes and some residential care facilities across the province. The standard daily charge is $29.75, although a reduced rate may be available for people with low incomes. The maximum continuous stay in a respite care bed at one time cannot be more than 30 days. Also, no more than 30 days can be taken between July 1 and Oct. 1, the peak demand period.

By: Nova Scotia Health Department – Tue, 07/01/2008 – 13:09

“Family Care has proven our seniors and people with disabilities can get the long-term care they need, while living in their home or community,” said Secretary Timberlake. “Family Care keeps people healthy and independent, while saving money. We are pleased to have the Community Care as a partner in this program.”

Secretary Timberlake was joined in West Bend by Community Care’s Chief Operating Officer Paul F. Soczynski, community leaders, advocates and service providers to celebrate the occasion.

“Community Care is proud to partner with Washington County providing extraordinary service through the Family Care program,” said Paul F. Soczynski. “This is a positive step forward to ensuring that frail seniors, adults with developmental disabilities and adults with physical disabilities get access to quality services when they need them and don’t sit on a waitlist for years.

”Community Care is managing Family Care in Racine, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, and now Washington County. Washington County residents have been able to enroll in Family Care since April 1, 2008, with anticipation of more than 530 Family Care members in the community by the end of the year.

Family Care allows seniors and people with disabilities the choice to receive long-term care services in their own homes and communities. Family Care provides eligible seniors and people with disabilities with long-term care, using Medicaid dollars flexibly and not just earmarking dollars for nursing home care. While Wisconsin has been a national leader in offering community-based alternatives to nursing home care, about 11,500 people are on waitlists for community care statewide.

Family Care currently operates in 14 counties around the state. In an independent assessment of four counties, Family Care saved an average of $452 per person, per month in total Medical Assistance expenditures. The program will expand to at least 25 additional counties by early 2009.

By: Wisconsin Department Of Health And Family Services – Tue, 07/01/2008 – 13:11