___________________________________________________________________________
Date July 22, 2008
Contact: Larry Michael
Notice of Scam Targeting Food/Lodging Establishments
NC Division of Environmental Health has received reports
from a few counties concerning a scam targeting Bed and Breakfast
Homes/Inns and other food service/lodging establishments. Apparently, a
"business" calling itself "Federal Medical Services" is contacting
establishments and telling them that there are new health/federal
regulations requiring posting of health cards and posters in
establishments or else they face thousands of dollars in fines. This is
not true. They offer the materials for around $200.
For immediate release
Date:
June 30, 2008
Contact: Carol Schriber, NC DHHS Public Affairs, (919) 733-9190
N.C. Public Health tips for beating the heat
Hot, humid weather can be more than just
uncomfortable—it can pose a threat to people’s health or even their lives,
say experts at the North Carolina Division of Public Health. On Friday,
two toddlers died in Dare County after climbing unnoticed into a
neighbor’s parked car in the 90-degree heat. In 2007, at least 12 North
Carolinians died from the effects of hot weather, and heat-related illness
sent many more to emergency rooms or doctors’ offices.
Heat exhaustion can occur at temperatures above 90
degrees, and heat stroke can occur when temperatures rise above 105
degrees. If not treated immediately, heat exhaustion can lead to heat
stroke and possibly to death.
During the summer months, the temperature inside a
parked car can reach more than 120 degrees in as little as 10 minutes.
Direct sunlight and a dark-colored car further speed the process. Children
should never be left in a parked car, even for a few minutes and even with
the windows open. Lock parked cars to prevent children from playing in
them.
Heat can be dangerous to people of any age, indoors or
out. To stay safe and healthy during hot weather, know the signs of heat
stress and the simple things people can do—like drinking plenty of
water—that can prevent heat-related illness and death.
Children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and
people on certain medications like tranquilizers or diuretics are
especially at risk from high summer temperatures. So are older people who
live in homes or apartments without air conditioning or good air flow and
people who don’t drink enough water. Hot weather also adds to ozone
levels, making those with respiratory illness more vulnerable.
Being exposed to high temperatures for too long can
cause muscle cramps, swelling in feet or ankles, or dizziness, progressing
to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Heat exhaustion, if not treated, can
progress to heat stroke. Heat stroke is an emergency and requires
immediate medical help—it can be fatal.
Heat exhaustion may make you feel dizzy, weak,
uncoordinated, nauseated, and perhaps thirsty, and you may sweat a lot.
Your skin may feel cold and clammy, although your body temperature may be
normal. What to do: rest in a cool place, out of the sun; drink plenty of
water or fluids (but not alcohol or caffeine); wash off with cool water if
possible; and get medical care. If not treated, heat exhaustion can turn
into life-threatening heat stroke.
Signs of heat stroke include fainting; a body
temperature of over 104o; a change in behavior such as confusion,
grouchiness, staggering or acting strangely; dry flushed skin and a strong
rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse; not sweating in spite of the heat;
acting delirious; slipping into a coma. What to do: call 911; get the
person out of the sun and heat and have them lie down; give them plenty of
water or juice to drink if they are conscious; cool their body down with a
cool shower or bath or by sponging with cool water. Prompt medical
attention is critical—people can die of heat stroke.
To avoid heat-related illness on hot days:
 | Drink plenty of water or fruit and vegetable juices.
Avoid caffeine or alcohol. |
| Limit your time outdoors, especially in the afternoon
when the day is hottest. |
| Be careful about exercising or doing a lot of
activities when it is hot. Stay out of the sun, take frequent breaks,
drink water or juice often, and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or
heat stroke. |
| Dress for the weather. Loose-fitting, light-colored
cotton clothes are cooler than dark colors or some synthetics. |
| If you live in a home without fans or air
conditioning, open windows to allow air flow, and keep shades, blinds or
curtains drawn in the hottest part of the day or when the windows are in
direct sunlight. Try to spend at least part of the day in an air
conditioned place like a shopping mall, a store, the library, a friend’s
house, or the movies. Cool showers can help, too. Do not use a fan when
the air temperature is above 95o – it will blow hot air, which can add
to heat stress. |
| Never leave a child or a disabled or elderly person
or a pet in an unattended car, even with the windows down. A closed
vehicle can heat up to dangerous levels in as little as ten minutes.
|
For more information about avoiding heat-related
illness, see the National Institutes of Health heat illness web page at
health.nih.gov/result.asp/317.
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For Immediate Release
Date: June 30, 2009
Contact: Carol Schriber, NC DHHS Public Affairs, (919) 733-9190
Six Months Later: Revisiting Commitments to Eat Smart,
Move More
RALEIGH – Last January, on the heels of the successful
Eat Smart, Move More…Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge, thousands of
North Carolinians made New Year’s resolutions to eat better, be more
physically active, and achieve a healthy weight. But, most of those
resolutions were abandoned by mid-February. Now, six months later, the
summer is a great time to get back on track towards accomplishing those
goals.
During the month of July, local health departments and
cooperative extension agents will be encouraging people to revisit their
resolutions or make new mid-year resolutions through the “Revisit Your
Resolutions” campaign. This campaign is part of the Eat Smart, Move More
NC movement and was developed by the N.C. Division of Public Health.
“This is a way to remind people of their resolutions,
get them back on track, and re-establish their commitment to these goals,”
said Marie Shelton, healthy weight communications specialist at the N.C.
Division of Public Health. “Oftentimes, we don’t realize that making a
change in our lives is a process that takes time. It is not uncommon to
fail the first time we try. The important thing is to try again. We had
great success with helping people to maintain their weight over the
holidays last year and are hoping that this campaign will give them a
little push to stay or get back on track.”
A little push was all people needed last November when
the Eat Smart, Move More…Maintain, don’t gain! Holiday Challenge enrolled
over 3,500 people from across the state, country and world. Ninety-seven
of North Carolina’s 100 counties were represented, along with 23 other
states and two other countries. Of those participants, 84 percent
maintained their weight during the holidays…and more than half of the
other participants reported actually losing weight.
The “Revisit You Resolutions” campaign will provide tips
for getting enough sleep, eating more fruits and vegetables, getting more
physical activity, choosing better drinks, and eating smart and moving
more while on vacation.
Eat Smart, Move More NC is a statewide initiative that
seeks to reverse the rising tide of obesity and chronic disease among
North Carolinians by helping them to eat smart, move more and achieve a
healthy weight. More information is on the Web at
www.EatSmartMoveMoreNC.com.
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