Tips for Surviving Warm Summer Days

July and August are the months in Maryland that are notoriously hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms. This Summer has already seen a number of Red Heat Alert Days that call for the use of caution when spending time outside in the blistering heat.

Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard County Health Officer, advises that on days when the heat index rises to uncomfortable levels, it is wise to follow the tips below to stay cool and safe.

• Increase your fluid intake; drink non-alcoholic and caffeine- free liquids.

• If possible stay out of the sun during the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm

• NEVER leave children or pets unattended in a parked car or other hot environment.

• Check on elderly friends, family and neighbors who live alone.

• Be aware of the warning signs of heat-related illness, such as light-headedness, mild nausea or confusion, sleepiness or profuse sweating.

If you or someone you know does experience any symptoms of heat-related illness or injury, call 911.

For more information about heat related illness and how to prevent it click here.

"Just a Minute is Too Long” to Leave Your Child in a Vehicle.

County Executive Ulman and Health Officer Beilenson talk to the press about the dangers of leaving your child in a car unattended and gave tips to prevent a tragedy from happening.

In the wake of the recent cases of several children’s near-death and tragic deaths after being left in a vehicle unattended, the Howard County Health Department is helping parents and others who care for children to prevent the tragic consequences of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.

Hyperthermia (becoming over-heated) is the third-leading non-traffic related cause of death in children. Each year, an average of 36 children a year dies from hyperthermia after being left unattended in a car. Some believe that cracking the window will help keep the car’s temperature cool. It has been proven that this has little effect on cooling the inside of a vehicle. Even temperatures as cool as 70°F outside, can kill a child left inside a vehicle.

Dr. Peter Beilenson, Howard County Health Officer says, “close to 500 children have died because of being left on overheated cars in the last ten years. This tragedy can be averted by following a few simple tips.”

* Start a “Look before you leave routine”: be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when unloading. Do not overlook sleeping babies.

* Place your purse, wallet or cell phone on the back seat as a reminder you have a child in the car.

* Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat; when the child is put in the car seat, place the animal in the front with the driver.

* Have a plan that your childcare provider will call you if your child does not show up for daycare.

* Look into new child reminder technologies that connect wireless car seat alarms to key rings.

Maryland is one of only 15 states with a law that prohibits leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.

Remember if you see a child unattended in a car, call 9-1-1 immediately.

For additional information click here.

Dr.'s Rx for a Safe & Healthy Summer

(Joel Schlossberg, General Manager of Life Time Fitness and Health Officer, Dr. Peter Beilenson talked about having a safe and healthy summer in front of Lifetime's pool on June 10.)

Summer is a time for fun in the sun and pool. It is also a time to remember how to stay healthy and safe while still having fun. Skin protection is a must under the Summer sun to reduce the chance of melanoma. Utilizing healthy hygiene prevents Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) caused by E coli found in fecal matter. A tragedy in the pool may be preventable with a practice called “Active Supervision”. Howard County Health Officer, Dr. Peter Beilenson says, “Summer is a wonderful time for most us and by following just a few simple guidelines we can have fun, be healthy and safe.”

Click here for tips to a healthy and safe Summer.

Did You Know What You Flush or Pour Down Your Drain May Affect Your Rivers, Lakes, and Coastal Waters?

What you can do to keep the Bay and it's tributaries safe.

Most importantly DO NOT FLUSH unused medications and DO NOT POUR them down a sink or drain.

Traditional advice was to flush unused, unneeded, or expired medications down the toilet. That advice changed for almost all prescription medications. When you flush medications down the toilet or pour them down the drain, they flow through your community’s sanitary sewer system to a wastewater treatment facility. Recent studies show that municipal wastewater treatment facilities may not always successfully remove medications or their by-products. This treated wastewater is then released into local waterways where it may harm fish and wildlife.

New recommendations advise to:

Be proactive and dispose of unused medication in household trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects:

* Pour medication into a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.) crush it or add water to dissolve it.

* Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets and children to eat)to the plastic bag.

* Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash.

* Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from all medication containers before recycling them or throwing them into the trash.

* Check for approved state and local collection programs or check for approved state and local collection alternatives such as community based household hazardous waste collection programs.

Click here for more information about the SMARxT Disposal Program

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