June is National Safety Month

Details: Published on Friday, 01 June 2018 09:27

June is National Safety Month

Injuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages – and they are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. The good news is everyone can get involved to help prevent injuries. During National Safety Month, the Andrew County Health Department is working with community members to help reduce the risk of injuries. This June, we encourage you to learn more about important safety issues like prescription painkiller abuse, transportation safety, swimming safety, fireworks safety, and slips, trips, and falls.

Prescription painkiller abuse: Prescription painkiller overdoses are a growing problem in the United States, especially among women. About 18 women die every day from a prescription painkiller overdose – more than 4 times as many as back in 1999.
Transportation safety: Doing other activities while driving – like texting or eating–distracts you and increases your chance of crashing. Almost 1 in 5 crashes (17%) that injured someone involved distracted driving.
Swimming safety: Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. Drowning can happen so fast — sometimes in less than 2 minutes after a person's head goes under the water. That leaves very little time for someone to help.
Fireworks safety: Fireworks are synonymous with our celebration of Independence Day. Yet, the thrill of fireworks can also bring pain. 230 people on average go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday.
Slips, trips, and falls: One in 3 older adults falls each year. Many falls lead to broken bones and other health problems.

You can make a difference. Find out ways to help reduce the risk of these safety issues.

Prescription Painkiller abuse; http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pubs/index.html

Transportation Safety; http://www.nhtsa.gov/

Swimming Safety; http://www.safekids.org/tip/swimming-safety-tips

Fireworks Information Center; http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/Fireworks/

Slips, trips, and falls; http://www.nsc.org/NSCDocuments_Advocacy/Fact%20Sheets/Slips-Trips-and-Falls.pdf

This project is/was funded in part by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Maternal and Child Health Services Contract #DH150006012 and is/was supported by the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant #B04MC28109, Maternal and Child Health Services for $9,095,311, of which $0 is from non-governmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Caregivers urged to Use Restraints with Inclined Sleep Product

Details: Published on Thursday, 31 May 2018 14:29

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – News Release

Release Date: May 31, 2018

Release Number: 18-171

CPSC CONSUMER ALERT: CAREGIVERS URGED TO USE RESTRAINTS WITH INCLINED SLEEP PRODUCTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding parents: Always create a safe sleep environment for babies in a crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper.

In particular, CPSC is alerting consumers to be aware of hazards when infants are not restrained in inclined sleep products.

Inclined sleep products are bassinet-like products with an inclined back to elevate the baby’s head and torso. There are many different styles of infant inclined sleep products available for infants and newborns. These can include frame-type, semi-rigid and compact inclined sleep products.

CPSC is aware of infant deaths associated with inclined sleep products. Babies have died after rolling over in these sleep products.

CPSC, therefore, urges consumers: Always use restraints and stop using these products as soon as an infant can roll over.

Parents can be surprised and may not know the exact moment their baby first rolls over. Therefore always use the restraint and adjust it to fit snugly to keep the baby face up, with the baby’s face free to breathe when baby is placed in an inclined sleeper.

CPSC encourages consumers to practice safe sleep always, and be sure to follow manufacturers’ instructions when using these sleep products.

Caregivers should follow these simple safety steps every time baby is placed down to sleep:

Bare is Best: Do not add blankets, pillows, or other items to the sleep environment.
Back to Sleep: Always place infants to sleep on their backs.
Check www.cpsc.gov to find out if your crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper has been recalled.

About U.S. CPSC:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

For more lifesaving information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC or sign up to receive our e-mail alerts. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054for the hearing impaired.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline

800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)

Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime

Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact

Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.

Phone: 301-504-7908

Spanish: 301-504-7800

Keep All-Terrain Vehicles Off Roads

Details: Published on Wednesday, 23 May 2018 11:14

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – News Release

Release Date: May 22, 2018

Release Number: 18-161

CPSC Urges Riders to Keep All-Terrain Vehicles Off Roads in New Public Service Announcement

https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2018/CPSC-Urges-Riders-to-Keep-All-Terrain-Vehicles-Off-Roads-in-New-Public-Service-Announcement

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Memorial Day weekend approaches and the ATV riding season begins, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is launching a new public service announcement, urging riders to keep all ATVs – OFF paved public roads. Every year, there are about 650 deaths and 100,000 injuries involving ATVs, according to CPSC’s Annual Report.

VIDEOS: ATV safety public service announcement, :30 and :90 available in English and Spanish

“Even if your county or town law permits ATVs to be driven on paved public roads, we urge you to take caution and keep your ATVs off these roads,” says Ann Marie Buerkle, CPSC Acting Chairman. “Off-road vehicles are not designed to be driven on paved surfaces, and collisions with cars and other on-road vehicles can be deadly for ATV operators.”

Nearly one-third (32%) of reported deaths, or at least 770 deaths (during a four-year period from 2010 to 2013*), were related to incidents involving ATVs being ridden on paved roads or parking lots. It’s important for every rider at every age to know:

Off-road vehicles are designed to be driven only on off-road terrain, not paved surfaces.
Off-road vehicles are difficult to control on paved surfaces and are at-risk of overturning.
On paved roads, off-road vehicles are at a higher risk of colliding with cars, trucks and other vehicles.
In many states, it is illegal to ride off-road vehicles on paved roads.

More than 2,400 deaths related to ATVs were reported for the four-year period from 2010 to 2013,* for all surface types, including paved surfaces. An estimated 430,000 ATV-related injuries were treated in emergency rooms during this same period.

In addition to knowing the dangers of riding on paved surfaces, all riders should always follow the safety tips below when operating an off-road vehicle:

Always wear a helmet and other protective gear, such as eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
Never ride with more passengers than there are seats. Most ATVs are designed for one rider.
Get hands-on training from a qualified instructor.
Riders younger than 16 should only drive age-appropriate youth model ATVs, never adult ATVs.

For more information, including deaths by state, visit www.ATVsafety.gov.

*Reporting for 2014-2017 is ongoing.

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline

800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)

Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime

Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact

Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.

Phone: 301-504-7908

Spanish: 301-504-7800

Ticks can carry diseases

Details: Published on Tuesday, 08 May 2018 11:44

Ticks can carry many diseases

Whether people are enjoying the beautiful outdoors in Missouri or elsewhere, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services recommends awareness of diseases transmitted by ticks.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo – Tick season is here and milder winters and warm spring temperatures could result in a higher numbers of ticks and tick-borne disease. National numbers recently released May 1 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that cases of diseases transmitted by ticks doubled from 2004 – 2016. In addition, new disease-causing agents that can be transmitted by ticks have been discovered in the past few years. Missouri is home to large numbers of ticks, which means that tick-borne diseases can pose a risk to persons who work or play outdoors.

“As with the flu, we stated in October it looked like it might be a difficult year with high rates of flu and potentially severe strains and encouraged everyone to get a flu shot. Unfortunately, we did experience a very tough flu season,” said Dr. Randall Williams, DHSS Director. “Based on last week’s CDC report, we are again reminding every one of the potential of tick-borne illness in Missouri and encouraging you to take simple precautions to lower your risk of tick bites and tick-borne illness.” At least six different types of tick-borne diseases have been reported in Missouri residents, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Lyme or Lyme-like disease, and disease caused by Heartland and Bourbon viruses. The majority of these cases occur in May, June and July.

Symptoms of these diseases typically begin within two weeks of a bite by an infected tick and for most people include a sudden fever, body aches and headache. “As I often told patients, if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms in the summer when it is not flu season, you should talk with your doctor about the possibility of tick-borne illness,” continued Dr. Williams. Another possible sign of tick-borne disease is fever and a pus-filled wound that appears at the site of a tick bite, or a spreading rash that follows a tick bite or exposure to tick habitat. Not all ticks transmit these infections, and not all tick bites lead to illness. The majority of Missouri’s tick-borne illnesses can be successfully treated if they are caught early, but sometimes they are deadly.

As DHSS stated in April, everyone can safely enjoy the outdoors, whether at home or traveling, by using some simple precautions to avoid tick bites.

DHSS recommends the following precautions to prevent tick bites:

Use an insect repellent with a minimum of 20% DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 on exposed skin and clothing. Choose a product that lasts several hours whenever you spend time outdoors. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age.
When possible, wear protective clothing (light colored, long sleeved shirts and pants) when outdoors to keep ticks off skin.
Avoid tick infested areas including brushy areas, tall grasses, wood piles and leaf litter. When hiking, stay near the center of trails to avoid ticks.
Reduce ticks around your home by keeping lawns mowed short, shrubs and trees trimmed, and remove leaf litter, wood piles, fallen branches, trash and debris from yards.
People with pets should talk with their veterinarian about use of tick prevention treatments. You should regularly check your pet for ticks.
Check for ticks while outdoors and again after returning from the outdoors. If possible you should change clothes and shower soon after spending time outdoors.

If you find an attached tick, remove it promptly. The longer it is attached the greater the risk of infection. To remove ticks:

Using tweezers, grasp tick near its mouth and as close to your skin as possible.
Pull tick firmly, straight out, away from skin. Do not jerk or twist the tick.
Do NOT use alcohol, matches, liquid soap or petroleum jelly to remove a tick.
Wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water after the tick is removed. Apply an antiseptic to the bite site.

If symptoms occur following a tick bite, or even after exposure to a tick habitat, be sure to tell your health care provider. For more information visit www.health.mo.gov/ticks.

About the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services: The department seeks to be the leader in protecting health and keeping people safe. More information about DHSS can be found at health.mo.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter @HealthLivingMo.

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