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News You Can Use November 3, 2006 Leaf Burning Versus Composting If a bit of Indian Summer is motivating you to do one more fall cleanup before the cold weather settles in over Pennsylvania and the rush of the holidays leaves you with little time, you may want to hear what leading authorities have to say. According to the Environmental Protection Agency and Air Quality Partners, a single household burn barrel may emit as much toxic chemicals as a well-controlled municipal incinerator. The Air Quality Partners website clears the air on the effects of open burning:
Whether it is leaves, your weekly trash, or a combination of natural and man-made products, open burning contributes to the country's air pollution. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) takes a look at the dangers of open burning and solutions in "Open Burning Information" DEP recommends the natural process of composting to avoid contributing to air pollution and to create a valuable gardening resource. Natural nutrients and organic materials in leaves and yard waste can be returned to your lawn and gardens next spring in the form of compost. Consult "Compost its Mulch Better" Flu Shot Locator & Electronic Updates Enter your zip code, the number of miles you are able to travel, and when you are available. Click on "Clinic Search" and you will have before you a list of sites conducting flu shot clinics complete with address, phone number, and dates and times. To top it off, each listing includes the distance and a link to map your travel. You may choose from among clinics located within 5, 10, 20, or over 25 miles from your home or work. Sign up to receive influenza updates as easily as you located a clinic and you won't be waiting for the newspaper to confirm the latest flu-related information throughout the 2006-2007 flu season. If you'd like, you may even enter "Yes" to receive a flu shot reminder prior to the kick off of the 2007-2008 season, as well as an alert so you don't forget that day and time for your influenza shot this year. The American Lung Association, in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur, the nation's leading influenza vaccine manufacturer, will expand its annual influenza awareness efforts to educate the public about influenza and the need for vaccination. If you believe you may have come into contact with someone infected with influenza, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fact Sheet, "Influenza Symptoms, Protection, and What to Do If You Get Sick" "Second Chance" Online Auctions Shopping on eBay has become a U.S. and international cultural experience for buyers of all ages and walks of life. Winning bidders are purchasing products from sellers located around the world. The scope of online buying and selling makes it especially vulnerable to scams and their perpetrators. The PA Office of Attorney General (PA OAG) is issuing a consumer warning for online transactions. The "Second Chance" scam is among the latest related to eBay. Losing bidders receive an email message notifying them a previous auction in which they unsuccessfully bid has fallen through but a "second chance" is being offered. The recipient of the email is lead to believe they are the only one being offered another opportunity to purchase the item. The reality is a thief poses as a seller and does not actually have the item to sell and takes the money and runs. Steps to identify and avoid a "Second Chance" scam among the proactive actions advocated by the PA OAG to avoid scams. Campaign to Prevent Use of Smokeless Tobacco Nearly 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with mouth and throat cancers annually, nearly 8,000 die from the disease, according to reports from the Center for Disease Control. Equally frightening are the numbers of youth using chewing tobacco. Reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that of the 12-14 million smokeless tobacco users in this country, one third are under the age of 21 and more than half developed the habit before the age of 13. Upon closer examination, we learn that in 2005, more than 11 percent of Pennsylvania's high school seniors were using chewing tobacco compared to 7 percent of adults. The PA Department of Health reports that youths are not simply relying on retailers to obtain chewing tobacco products. Recent surveys reveal our kids are obtaining chewing tobacco from other sources, including family members. PA's latest anti-tobacco campaign, delivered through TV, radio and the internet, emphasizes healthy choices for kids and parents. Oral health issues and the health consequences of using smokeless tobacco can be explored at http://www.whereispete.org. You will find among other resources, the television spots, interactive learning tools for children, and facts about smokeless tobacco. PA is a leader and one of only a handful of states to dedicate a portion of its tobacco settlement funds to combat smokeless tobacco. For more on quitting smoking or using tobacco products, call or visit Pennsylvania's Free Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Deer Movement & Motorists The Pennsylvania Game Commission advises motorists to slow down after sundown and before sunrise to reduce their risk of having a close encounter of the wrong kind with a white-tailed deer. Deer collisions are an annual occurrence that will continue through Thanksgiving week and begin to slow down in mid-December. Contributing to the movement of deer and close encounters are a number of factors both natural and manmade. The fall breeding season, referred to as "the rut" contributes to the increased movement of deer. The end of daylight savings time finds more motorists driving to and from work at the peak hours of deer activity – dawn and dusk. Outdoor enthusiasts hiking, biking, horseback riding, and hunting flush deer from amidst the briar bushes and forested areas. The PGC announcement includes important information related to a motorist's responsibilities if there is a car-deer collision. For these and other tips go to: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=169991 To understand deer movement and behaviors, take a moment to look at PGC Wildlife Notes on the Pennsylvania White-tailed Deer: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?a=465&q=150279 Salmonella Outbreak Update The PA Department of Health is working very closely with the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct public health investigations into the current multi-state salmonella outbreak. Five cases have been discovered in five counties -- Adams, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland and Philadelphia. Investigators are currently searching for a link to a specific food source to prevent additional outbreaks of salmonella. Authorities report approximately 2,000 cases of salmonella are reported each year in Pennsylvania. Salmonella is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis, which can include diarrhea and vomiting and sometimes can affect the bloodstream and other organs. The illness usually occurs in 24 to 72 hours and patients usually recover in 5 to 7 days. See the Health Department announcement: http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?Q=246053&A=190 Access the CDC's "Frequently Asked Questions" related to salmonella. Find answers to prevention and treatment as well as an explanation of what the government is doing about salmonella: |
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