Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell swings open his office door just a crack, careful not let too much of his precious air-conditioned air out. Held in his mittened hands is a shivering city memo, which he slips through the crack in the door before slamming it shut, knocking the icicles from the door frame. This week was no exception.
tom is super hot
Temperature-wise
With the hot summer weather upon us, the public is advised to exercise care to avoid heat-related illnesses and injuries that may occur when temperatures rise into the 80s and 90s. Everyone is at risk when temperatures rises above 90 degrees, Aspell writes, but the elderly and very young are most susceptible to heat and heat-related illnesses, which can cause serious injury and even death if untreated. The following precautions are advised to prevent heat-related illness:
Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear a hat. While shorts may seem beneficial too, be careful not to sacrifice the safety afforded by long pants. There is no evidence to support that shorts help lower body temperature.
Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which dehydrates the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m. Plan work schedules accordingly. Coaches and recreation supervisors should plan activities to ensure that heat-related injuries do not occur. Scheduling water and rest breaks is essential.
Symptoms of heat-related illness include nausea, dizziness, flushed or pale skin, heavy sweating, and headaches. Victims of heat-related illness should be moved to a cool place, given cool water to drink and ice packs or cool wet cloths applied to the skin. If the victim shows signs of heat stroke, which is a life threatening condition, call 911 immediately. Signs of heat stroke include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Do not give a victim of heat stroke anything to eat or drink if they are not fully alert.
While waiting for emergency responders, move the person to a cooler place and quickly cool the body. Wrap wet sheets around the body and fan the surrounding air. If you have ice packs or cold packs, wrap them in a cloth, placing one on each wrist and ankle, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. (Do not use rubbing alcohol because it closes the skin's pores and prevents heat loss.) Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.
For more information about heat-related illnesses visit redcross.org.
this is not a drill!
Just kidding
The Concord Fire Department communications center recently participated in an emergency exercise with Unitil to simulate a response to a disaster in the capital area, Aspell writes. The drill was intended to assure that communications worked effectively between front line responders and utility crews.
I've fallen. . .
And I CAN get up!
The Concord Fire Department is working with the Concord Regional Visiting Nurses Association to provide referrals for persons over the age of 65 who experience a fall. The referral is optional, Aspell writes, and will allow the person to have a consultation to prevent future falls. Falls are a leading cause of death and disability for the senior population and preventing falls will allow persons to remain independent for a longer period.
tom is the duke of hazard
Mitigation, that is
On Aug. 10 from 6-7:30 p.m., the city's draft hazard mitigation plan will be available for public review at fire headquarters, 24 Horseshoe Pond Lane. A team has been working on revising the plan since the fall of 2010. Following the public review, Aspell writes, the plan will be submitted to FEMA for their approval, followed by submittal to city council for adoption. No, we don't know what that means.
That's all for Tom this week, hopefully he'll provide us another memo next week. We've been knocking on his door for the past 45 minutes; maybe he can't hear us through the earmuffs.
