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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-01-20, Page 3Cth rfr i Electric Lt - ol. J titer - 4- 04188,9 G otierich, Congratulations to Jason Rylaarsdam on receiving his Master Electrician Licence in December, 2015. Jason is in a management position with Goderich/Bayfield Electric and has been an employee with us for the past nine years. Rex Johnston and Staff are proud to have him on the team. His knowledge and dedication makes him a great asset to the business. Wednesday, January 20, 2016 • News Record 3 Health Unit gives tips on dealing with a Huron County winter Special to Clinton News Record Winter is back! The Health Unit's role is to help the community stay safe and healthy year-round. Here are some tips on mak- ing the most of a Huron County winter. Visit www. huronhealthunit.ca for more information. Staying connected and active: Winter weather can make people feel isolated as they spend more time inside their homes. Getting out- side, being active and stay- ing connected to others is very important! * Has the winter weather got you straying from your usual outdoor activities? If you are 55+ or have a chronic condition check out the free exercise classes in your community offered by ONECARE Home & Community Services. To find a class near you call 1-877-502-8277 or visit www.onecaresupport.ca for a full listing of their classes and locations. * If you are a new mom, meet other moms and see a public health nurse. She can weigh your baby and discuss any concerns you have. Health Unit nurses are at Infant Feeding Clin- ics, BabyTimes and Child and Family Centres across the county. Call the Health Unit at 1-877-837-6143 for more information. * If you have older kids, be sure to like the Healthy Kids Community Challenge Huron Facebook page. It will keep you up to date on events happening in your community, as well as give your family ideas on being active outdoors. * Make sure you and your kids are wearing appropri- ate helmets for skating, tobogganing, downhill ski- ing and of course snowmo- biling. Yes, you too, adults. Kids and teenagers really do look up to you. Visit theywill2.ca to learn more about winter helmets and how to fit them properly. Tips for Seniors: Worried about falling in the winter? It's natural to be worried about falling any- time and especially in the winter. The most important advice: Don't let it get in the way of living your life! The best way to prevent a fall is keeping active and continuing to get out and about. Here are some tips: * Choose a good pair of winter boots - thick non- slip tread sole, wide low heels. * Do the penguin shuffle. Walk with your arms out to your sides for balance (not in your pockets), walk flat- footed, take short steps and walk slowly. Keep your head up and concentrate on balance. * Ice grippers - great for hard packed snow and ice. They must be removed before travelling on a smooth surface or indoors. If you use a cane, get a retractable icepick. * Hip protectors - like a helmet for your hip. A hip fracture is a life changing event. These go on like underwear and absorb the impact of the fall. HipSaver and SafeHip are brand examples. Look for them at Beat the temptation. Jilsmokers'HELPLINE TOLL-FREE medical supply stores or contact the company directly. * Do the Bright Thing. Days are short in winter - wear bright colours to help you be seen by drivers dur- ing the day, and wear ret- roreflective materials when you're out at night. These materials reflect the light from a car, back to the driver. At night, often driv- ers can't see pedestrians until it's too late. * Kitty Litter. Carry a small bag of grit, sand or non -clumping cat litter in your pocket or handbag to sprinkle if you come across icy sidewalks and steps. Being out and about in winter weather: When outside in the cold: * Monitor the forecast so you know what to expect and dress accordingly. * Dress in layers. * Cover up as much skin as possible especially when the wind chill is expected to feel very cold. * Limit time outside and warm up inside when you need to. * Drink warm beverages. * Keep active outside. * Change out of any wet clothing. When shovelling snow: * Avoid exertion. * Listen to your body. It is already working hard to stay warm, so don't overdo it. * Bend with your knees not your back. * If you have heart dis- ease or high blood pres- sure, follow your doctor's advice about shovelling snow. If you are travelling: * Let someone know to expect you and don't travel alone if possible. * Prepare a car kit. Include: blankets, warm clothing, phone and car charger, shovel, booster cables, candle and matches, flashlight and bat- teries, drinking water and snacks. * Do not travel in low vis- ibility conditions. * While parents are eager to put extra layers on their kids, infants and children need to be securely har- nessed in their car seats. Extra layers can reduce the safety of a car seat. Think you know every- thing about winter driving? Test yourself! Check out these interactive videos from the Ministry of Trans- portation and Huron County - Ontario.ca/win- terdriving and www.huron- county.ca. If you become stranded in your car: * Move anything you need from your trunk to the passenger area then stay in your vehicle * Wrap yourself in blan- kets and extra clothing * Stay awake. You will be less vulnerable to cold related health problems * Run the motor and heater in your car for 10 minutes every hour. Open one window slightly to let some air exchange * Make sure snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe * Keep moving your arms and legs to stay warm Be prepared for hydro outages in the winter: * Check on elderly neighbours. CLINTON NEWS RECORD EARLY DEADLINE FOR FEB 3 PAPER DEADLINE FOR CLASSIFIED & DISPLAY ADVERTISING WILL BE 2PM ` THURSDAY JANUARY 28 * Consider having a gen- erator. Never use heat sources such as barbecues or camping equipment inside your home. * Clear snow away from your house and car vents to prevent carbon monoxide from building up. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas with no visible fumes, taste or smell. It can poison people without them even knowing the gas is there. Symptoms can include: flu-like symptoms, headache, runny nose, sore eyes, drowsiness, dizziness, vomiting, disorientation and confusion or uncon- sciousness. Install a work- ing carbon monoxide detector in your home. * Have a home emer- gency kit ready. Include items such as warm cloth- ing, food, water, prescrip- tion medication, extra toilet supplies and keep in mind what you may need to bring to a warming centre if your home cannot be heated. * During a power failure, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to main- tain cold temperatures. If certain foods are not kept at cooler temperatures they risk bacteria growth that if eaten can make people very sick. Food contaminated with bacteria does not nec- essarily smell bad or appear spoiled. A full freezer will keep food frozen for about 48 hours. A half -full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. Any thawed food that has been at room tem- perature for 2 or more hours or has an unusual colour or odour should be thrown out. You can add ice to your refrigerator or freezer to keep the temperatures cooler longer or look for an alternate site to store food such as a friend or neigh- bours house if their power is on. Remember, "If in doubt, throw it out!" Keeping illnesses away: While flu season is off to a slow start this season, it is circulating in the commu- nity. Norovirus has been very active in the commu- nity and has caused at least one outbreak. Noroviruses cause sudden onset of nau- sea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms can also include low-grade fever, chills, headache, tiredness and muscle aches. Here are some important tips to keep illnesses away: * Wash your hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol -based hand sanitizer. * Avoid touching your face as much as possible. * Cough and sneeze into your arm. * Do not share objects that have been in other people's mouths, e.g. drinks/water bottles, lip products, musical instrument mouthpieces. *Avoid close physical con- tact with sick people. * Frequently disinfect key- boards, doorknobs and countertops. * Stay home if you feel sick. *Talk to a healthcare pro- vider if you experience severe flu-like symptoms.