Monthly Archives: June 2010

Fun in the Sun

Posted on June 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Summer is nearly here! While the long days and warm temperatures increase the amount of time people spend outside, it is important to remember to protect your skin from sun damage. 

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun cause the most damage to our bodies. Too much sun without protection can cause skin cancer, premature aging, and other health problems. 

The American Cancer Society recommends the following to protect your skin from the sun throughout the summer. 

  1. Cover Up- Wear clothes to cover as much skin as possible such as pants and long sleeve shirts. 
  2. Use Sunscreen- Apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to all skin exposed to the sun. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 2 hours or more often if you are sweating or swimming.
  3. Wear a Hat- A hat with a 2-3 inch brim all the way around will protect the face, ears, and neck.  
  4. Wear Sunglasses the Block UV Rays- Sunglasses should block 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays. 
  5. Limit Direct Sun Exposure During Midday- The sun is most intense between 10:00am and 4:00 pm. Try to limit outdoor activities during that time. 

For the complete list of recommendations from the American Cancer Society, go to http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/ped_7_1x_Protect_Your_Skin_From_UV.asp?sitearea=PED

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Health Department Gives Back

Posted on June 10, 2010 | Leave a comment

The Chatham County Public Health Department regularly serves the public through its various programs and services. In celebration of Public Health Month, on two occasions in the last couple of months, the health department has given back to the Chatham County community through service projects.

Several health department staff members
gave up their Saturday morning in mid-April to help construct a Habitat for Humanity home in a Pittsboro neighborhood. When the group first arrived, many had never done any type of construction work before. But by the end of the morning, health department staff were handing hammers and saws like pros! Everyone felt that it was time well spent and would gladly volunteer again.

Health department staff also recently visited a Chatham County nursing home. They brought the residents goodies such as hand sanitizer, tissues, lotions, and toothbrushes to encourage healthy habits and visited with residents as well. Social support from friends, families, and others is an important factor to living a long, healthy life.

Health department staff enjoyed giving back to the community and has already talked about additional service projects in the future.

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Will the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Reach North Carolina?

Posted on June 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

Oil has been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico since the BP owned oil drilling platform, Deepwater Horizon, suffered an explosion on April 20th.  Even though the platform was 40 miles from the coast of Louisiana, oil has been found along the coasts of Gulf States such as Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. For an update on BP’s response to the oil spill, go to http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=40&contentId=7061813

There is some concern that oil from the spill will appear on North Carolina beaches on the East Coast. The U.S. coast guard finds there is a low chance of this happening. The state of North Carolina is prepared just in case.

The North Carolina oil spill response plan is available on the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety’s Web site at www.nccrimecontrol.org/div/EM/documents/NCEOP-2009-PublicVersion.pdf on pages 433-480.

If oil does reach our coast, the North Carolina Division of Public Health advises the following:

  • Avoid direct skin contact with oil, oil spill-affected water and sediments. 
  • Do not swim or ski in areas affected by the oil spill, and if you must travel through the area by boat, take precautions when hoisting the boat anchor.  
  • Do not fish in the oil spill-affected waters.
  • Do not harvest and eat dead seafood, seafood with oily residue, or seafood that has a petroleum odor.  
  • Young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and individuals with underlying respiratory conditions should avoid affected areas.  
  • Do not let pets enter oil-affected areas.  
  • If you get oil on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water or hand-cleansers meant to remove oils and grease. If you develop a rash, see your doctor and tell them how you came into contact with the oil.

For a complete list of guidelines, go to http://www.nccrimecontrol.org/div/em/OilSpillFactSheet.pdf.

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2010 Hurricane Season is Here

Posted on June 4, 2010 | Leave a comment

June 1st begins another Hurricane Season and it will last until November 30th.  North Carolina is ranked 4th in the number of cyclones produced by hurricane force winds in the United States.  August, September, and October tend to be the most active months for hurricanes, but they can occur anytime during the season.  

As you know, most of the damage caused by a hurricane(s) occurs along North Carolina’s coast.  Obviously, this can be devastating for the coastal county residents.  Because of its location, Chatham County has a lower chance of being in the direct path of a hurricane. However, hurricanes can come inland and still produce significant damage.  Even if the hurricane doesn’t reach Chatham County, we can easily be affected by wind, rain, and power outages from a hurricane.  So let’s get ready and be prepared!

The following websites provide a lot of information and checklists to help prepare you and your family (including pets!) for 2010 Hurricane Season:

American Red Cross- www.redcross.org

Federal Emergency Management Agency- www.fema.gov

Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed- www.ready.gov

Ready North Carolina- www.ReadyNC.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters

North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety- www.nccrimecontrol.org

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Safe Summer Fun

Posted on June 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

Summer is almost here and with summer
comes good times around pools, lakes, and oceans.  Good times could be diminished if we don’t take a few precautions to prevent Recreational Water Illness (RWI).

Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) are various illnesses caused by germs that can contaminate water in pools, lakes, and oceans.  The most common RWI is diarrheal illness caused by germs like “Crypto” and E. coli 0157:H7.  Please read the seven precautions below to help protect you and your family from Recreational Water Illness:

Three Precautions for All Swimmers

Keep germs from causing recreational water illnesses:

  1. Don’t swim when you have diarrhea.  You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
  2. Don’t swallow the pool/lake/ocean water.  Avoid getting water in your mouth.
  3. Practice good hygiene.  Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.

Four Precautions for Parents of Young Kids

Keep germs out of the pool:

  1. Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often.  Waiting to hear “I have to go” may mean that it’s too late.
  2. Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside.  Germs can spread in and around the pool.
  3. Children should wear tight-fitting swim diapers, and diapers should be checked before entering the water.
  4. Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming. Invisible amounts of fecal matter can end up in the pool.

Also always remember to:

  • Keep an eye on your child at all times, remember, kids can drown in seconds and in silence.
  • Use appropriately fitted life jackets instead of air-filled or foam toys. 
  • Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and both UVA and UVB protection, and be sure to reapply it after swimming.  Just a few serious sunburns can increase the risk of getting skin cancer.

Finally, remember to have FUN!!!!

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