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Quiana's Corner |  Do you remember that famous Will Smith song from the nineties? That song puts you in the mood to just hang outside for hours and enjoy the hot summer days. Well if you have a little one, you really don't have a choice. I don't think I've met a kid yet that doesn't like to play outside, and with the warm days ahead you better bet most of it will be spent at the pool! So it's no secret that big kids and little kids love the water. Water activities are fun but can also be dangerous. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children age one to four. The solution is to start teaching water safety sooner rather than later!
My little one's curiosity is flourishing and she is intrigued by water and runs to it as soon as she sees a water fall, pond or pool so this year we're heading to swim class to receive some much needed lessons on water safety and swimming. It's important to introduce children to water safety at a young age because of the higher risk in drowning the younger the child. Water safety is not only important at the pool but also in the home and around the home in the following areas: - Retention ponds
- Spa tubs/Jacuzzi
- Bath tubs
- Toilets
- Buckets of water
A few safety tips from Consumer Product Safety Commission: - Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim
- Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults
- A fence of at least four feet in height should surround the pool or spa on all sides and should not be climbable for children.
- Install proper barriers, covers and alarms on and around your pool and spa.
- Keep rescue devices and first aid supplies near the pool. A floating shepherds crook is useful
- Always provide competent adult supervision when the pool is in use
- Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards and if you do not know, ask your pool service provider about safe drain covers
- Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments
- Don't leave children unattended around any water
- Always know where children are located
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Nidec Motor Recalls Swimming Pool Motors Due to Electrical Shock Hazard | 
Name of product: Swimming pool motors Recall date: June 7, 2017
Recall number: 17-174 Hazard: The pump control cover can be improperly grounded, posing an electrical shock hazard Units: About 16,000 (in addition, about 22 were sold in Canada) Description: This recall involves variable speed swimming pool motors with a programmable user interface on the top. "Emerson" or "EcoTech EZ" is printed on top of the control box and the model number is printed on the rating plate located on the side of the pump. The model numbers included in this recall are listed below: Incidents/Injuries: No injuries have been reported - Report an Incident Involving this Product Remedy: Repair. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swimming pool motors and contact Nidec Motor Corp. (NMC) to schedule a free repair by a qualified technician to install an external ground lead. Consumer contact: NMC toll-free at 877-282-0223 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday or online at www.nidec-motor.com and click on "RECALL" for more information.
Sold at: Leslie's Pool Supply and other retail stores, wholesale pool suppliers including Pool Builders Supply, Pool Corp., Pool & Electrical Products, and United Aqua Group from September 2010 through October 2016 for between $400 and $500.
Manufacturer: Nidec Motor Corp., of St. Louis, Mo.
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Helpful Links | Marion County Public Health Dept. Environmental Complaints Housing Code Enforcement Database EPA: Lead Poisoning Prevention Information on Healthy Homes |
Events Calendar | June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Free Blood Lead and Consumer Product testing
3901 N. Meadows Dr.
No appointment necessary
Please note that the Marion County Public Health Department will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day. |
| | Greetings! | 
Thank you for subscribing to the Marion County Public Health Department's Healthy Homes,Consumer Product Management and Senior Care newsletter. We hope to provide you with current and relevant information about healthy homes, consumer products and senior care. In each newsletter, you will find out what we are up to in the community and get some tips on keeping your home, children and seniors safe. |
Stay safe in the sun! | 
Home and recreation-related injuries affect people of all ages, from infants to older adults, and account for about a third of all injury-related emergency department visits. Preventing unintentional injuries is a step toward ensuring that all Americans live to their full potential. This summer, keep your kids safe and healthy while they enjoy summer fun. Warm weather brings more opportunity for outdoor activities like swimming, fishing, biking, and hiking. Summer's a great time for kids to relax, unwind, and have fun. Whether they are young children or teens, help them stay safe and healthy this summer. Beware of the sun: Avoid excessive sun exposure, which can cause sunburns and contribute to skin cancer. Consider these facts and statistics: - You can sunburn even on a cloudy day.
- On average, children get three times more exposure than adults.
- Concrete, sand, water, and snow reflect 85 percent to 90 percent of the sun's UV rays.
- Depletion of Earth's ozone continues to increase your exposure to UV rays.
- In some parts of the world, melanoma is increasing at rates faster than any other cancer.
- More than 1.2 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the US.
- Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, kills one person every hour.
- One blistering sunburn can double a child's lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.
Heat stress is when the body is unable to cool itself by sweating, several heat-induced illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke can occur.
Heat stroke: The most serious heat-related disorder. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
- Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
- Hallucinations
- Chills
- Throbbing headache
- High body temperature
- Confusion/dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Call 911 and notify their supervisor.
- Move the individual to a cool shaded area.
- Cool the individual using methods such as:
- Soaking their clothes with water.
- Spraying, sponging, or showering them with water.
- Fanning their body.
Heat Exhaustion: The body's response to an excessive loss of the water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Individuals most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly, those who have high blood pressure, and those working in a hot environment. - Heavy sweating
- Extreme weakness or fatigue
- Dizziness, confusion
- Nausea
- Clammy, moist skin
- Pale or flushed complexion
- Muscle cramps
- Slightly elevated body temperature
- Fast and shallow breathing
- Have them rest in a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area.
- Have them drink plenty of water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
- Have them take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.
Heat Syncope: Is a fainting (syncope) episode or dizziness that usually occurs with prolonged standing or sudden rising from a sitting or lying position. Factors that may contribute to heat syncope include dehydration and lack of acclimatization. - Light-headedness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Sit or lie down in a cool place when they begin to feel symptoms.
- Slowly drink water, clear juice, or a sports beverage.
Heat Cramps: Heat cramps usually affect individuals who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Muscle pain or spasms usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs. - Stop all activity, and sit in a cool place.
- Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
- Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Seek medical attention if any of the following apply:
- The individual has heart problems.
- The individual is on a low-sodium diet.
- The cramps do not subside within one hour.
Heat Rash: Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather.
- Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters.
- It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
- Try to move to a cooler, less humid environment when possible.
- Keep the affected area dry.
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Healthy Homes Month | Fostering a healthy home environment may very well be the single most important action one can undertake when raising a family. June is Healthy Homes Month and it's the perfect time to assess your current environment and bring about those changes that will ensure that your family is safe and secure. Over the month of June, families can be enriched with information on how to protect themselves from in home hazards. Federal and local resources have been identified by the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes and have made programs available to them. Here are some of the topics that can be addressed when seeking opportunities to better your home: - Childhood lead poisoning prevention
- Slips and falls
- Smoke-free public housing
- Integrated pest control
- Residential asthma prevention
- Radon testing
To learn more, contact the Marion County Public Health Department's Healthy Homes, Environmental Consumer Management & Senior Care Programs (HHECM&SC) at (317) 221-2155. Safety tips for your home: - Install smoke detectors on every floor of your home and carbon monoxide detectors near sleeping areas. Test them!
- Avoid overload usage of extension cords.
- Make sure bookshelves and other furniture are firmly secured with wall brackets to prevent tipping.
- Check the house for loose paint. If re-painting, use work safe practices.
- Cover all unused outlets.
- Extension cords should not be placed under rugs or heavy furniture, tacked up or coiled while in use.
- All major appliances should be grounded. Be sure to check your ground fault circuit interrupters regularly.
- Prepare and practice a fire escape plan with your family. If your home has two floors consider an escape ladder.
- Place all-purpose fire extinguishers in key locations in your home - the kitchen, bedroom and basement. Check expiration dates regularly and know how to use them safely.
- Keep emergency numbers and contacts readily available by the phone.
- Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use and store them out of reach.
- To avoid potential lead paint poisoning, make sure that all painted cribs, bassinettes and high chairs were made after 1978.
Visit the http://www.cpsc.gov/ for information about product recalls. |
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