health and safety podcast: june 30, 2010

Health and Safety Podcast

June 30, 2010

Topics

June 30, 2010: Pulling over for emergency

vehicles. Breaking the “grip of the rip.” Swimming safety. Guarding against mosquito bites. Pet friendly shelters

Emergency Vehicles

Virginia law requires drivers to give active emergency vehicles space. Slow down and be alert. If there are two or more lanes

available in your direction, and it is safe to do so, move over a lane. 

Break the “Grip of the Rip”Rip currents can pull swimmers away

from shore. Check for surf zone forecasts at

weather.gov. Swim at a beach with lifeguard

protection. Look for signs and flags posted to

warn about rip currents. 

Break the “Grip of the Rip” Don’t swim against a rip current. Swim in a direction following the

shoreline until you are free. If you are unable to swim out of the

rip current, float or calmly tread water… when out of the current, swim towards the shore.

Never swim alone.  

Break the “Grip of the Rip”

www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov

Swimming Safety Learn to swim and teach kids to

float and swim as soon as possible.

Children should alwaysbe supervised in andaround water.

Never swim alone. 

Swimming Safety Foam noodles, inflatable water

wings and inner tubes are toys and won’t keep a child safe in the water.

If you want a flotation device that will keep you or a child safe in the water, get a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket and wear it properly.

www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety

Mosquito Bites Turn over or remove containers in

your yard where rainwater collects, such as potted plant trays, buckets or toys.

Empty bird baths once a week. Clean roof gutters and make sure

corrugated drain pipes do not hold water. www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fightthebite

Mosquito Bites Eliminate standing water. Standing

water that cannot be drained and lasts longer than a week should be treated with a mosquito larvicide.

Limit exposure to mosquito bites by wearing long, loose and light-colored clothing and using a repellent.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fightthebite

Pet Friendly Shelters

Pet-friendly shelters orhotels may not beavailable during anemergency, so makealternate housing arrangements in advance. 

emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/

Additional Information www.fairfaxcounty.gov www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency

9-1-1 – Emergency police, fire, medical.

703-691-2131 – Non-emergency.