Nassau County - Long Island, New York

Mangano Offers Autumn Health And Safety Tips To County Residents

With the arrival of autumn, more and more people in Nassau County will be enjoying the change of the leaves and the cooler temperature. Unfortunately, some autumn–related events such as children returning to school, flu season, turning the furnace back on, cleaning the chimney, and trick-or-treating do present their share of hazards. To help ensure everyone in the community enjoys a safe autumn, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano has created an autumn checklist to keep Nassau County residents safe this fall.

“The Autumn Safety Checklist is all about taking simple precautions to minimize the risk of an emergency and being prepared so that you know what to do if there is an emergency, while safely enjoying all of the wonderful activities that come with autumn season,” said County Executive Mangano.

Back to School Safety Tips:

  • Walk and ride to school safely. Obey traffic lights and signals, walk only in crosswalks, and listen to the crossing guard
  • If your kids’ bike to school be sure they wear a helmet
  • If possible, always walk your child to the bus stop and pick them up as well
  • Keep backpacks light – a child’s backpack should only be 5 to 10 percent of his or her body weight, according to the American Chiropractic Association
  • A backpack with wheels is easy to maneuver and reduces back stress. If your child does choose to wear a backpack, utilize both straps. Slinging the backpack over one shoulder may cause spinal curvature

Tips to Prevent the Flu and other Illness:

  • Take time to get a flu vaccine (especially children under 5 years old, pregnant women and people over 65 years old)
  • Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs (including frequent hand washing, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze and staying home when sick)
  • Symptoms of the Flu include: fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue
  • Learn your family health history as a precaution to prevent illness and disease
  • Antibiotics can cure bacterial infections, but not viral infections such as: colds or flu, most coughs and bronchitis, sore throats not caused by strep or runny noses
  • The common cold and the flu are viral infections; avoid using antibiotics if you have one of these
  • Using antibiotics when they are not needed causes some bacteria to become resistant to the antibiotic, and therefore stronger and harder to kill
  • See your doctor or nurse to find out if your illness is bacterial or viral

Test and Replace Batteries:

  • Check and/or replace carbon monoxide batteries
  • Replace smoke alarm alkaline batteries at least once a year
  • Test alarms every month to ensure they work properly

Chimney and Furnaces Safety Tips:

  • Have your chimney inspected and cleaned on a regular basis
  • When possible, burn seasoned woods (the dryness of the wood is more important than hard wood versus soft wood)
  • Smaller, hotter fires will burn more completely and produce less smoke than larger fires
  • Do not burn cardboard boxes or trash, as they can spark a chimney fire
  • Don't burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn't vented
  • Install stovepipe thermometers, which help monitor flue temperatures where wood stoves are in use, then adjust burning practices as needed

Hiking and Camping Safety Tips:

    • Check the weather forecast before heading outdoors for a hike. It is not safe to hike when thunderstorms or heavy snowfall is expected
    • Carry drinking water. Don’t drink from streams, springs, or lakes without first properly treating the water
    • Observe wildlife from a safe distance. Don’t try and get too close to wild animals
    • Stay on the trail – if you leave it, you may get lost
    • To help prevent food poisoning, keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot, don’t store perishable foods in a hot car
    • Clean all surfaces and utensils that come into contact with raw meat or meat juices before re-using them
    • Wash hands frequently when preparing food, and before serving and eating
    • Keep kids away from grills and lighter fluid, and keep grills away from anything that can burn them
    • Be aware of tiny deer ticks that carry Lyme disease and know which symptoms to watch out for. When in a potentially infested area, apply insect repellant, wear light-colored, long sleeved-shirts, pants, and socks
    • Do not build a fire near tree trunks, fallen trees, or over hanging branches
    • When extinguishing a campfire, let it die down, then break up the coals or logs, spread the pieces, soak them with water, and then cover the area with dirt or sand

Halloween Safety Tips:

    • Rather than buying a mask, use makeup to decorate children. That way, they can see more easily
    • If your kids go trick-or-treating after dusk, make sure they have a flashlight and are wearing retro reflective material. Dress children in warm, light colored clothing so that they may be easily seen when crossing the street
    • Do not purchase Halloween costumes and other items which are not marked “Flameproof” or “Flame-Retardant”
    • Remind children to skip houses that are not well-lit
    • Check candy before allowing kids to eat it
    • Avoid tricks that could cause bodily injury, destroy property, or cause a fire

Pet Safety:

  • Many brands of antifreeze are highly toxic. Store new and used antifreeze in a sealed container
  • Chocolate is a special treat for most humans during Halloween and Thanksgiving, but it is toxic to dogs, cats, and birds
  • Holiday meals can be hazardous to pets. Chicken and turkey bones can get stuck and pierce the digestive tract. Rich foods can cause pancreatitis or bloating
  • Indoor pets not acclimated to winter temperatures should not be outside in cold weather for long periods. Outdoor pets can withstand fairly cold temperatures, but make sure they have proper shelter from wind and rain, and provide them with good bedding. Frostbite is a winter hazard to pets

Fall Cleanup:

    • When lifting heavy bags of mulch, use a wheelbarrow when possible, and remember to lift with your legs, not with your back.
    • Be careful when pruning. Pruning from a ladder is especially dangerous.
    • To avoid blisters when doing yard work, wear gloves.
    • If you are doing a lot of raking, try an ergonomic rake, which can be found at most hardware stores and garden centers.

 

Be prepared for cold weather:

 

  • Exposure to cold temperatures can cause serious health problems.
  • Infants and the elderly are particularly at risk, but anyone can be affected.
  • Know how to prevent health problems and what to do if a cold-weather emergency arises.
  • Remember that using space heaters and fireplaces can increase the risk of household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

 

*MOST IMPORTANT – CALL 911 IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENY*

For more information please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Women’s Health website at: www.cdc.gov/family/autumn/index.htm