Staying safe is a full-time job.  There are so many different and creative ways for people to get hurt.  Traffic accidents, falling through the ice, bothering a hive of bees, the list is endless!!  What about your own home?  What hazards lurk right underfoot?  We are going to talk about fall prevention in your home. 

Trips and Falls:

• Trips and falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries across almost all age groups in the United States, and according to the National Institute on Aging, 6 out of 10 falls happen at home. Furthermore, according to the National Floor Safety Institute, falls account for half of accidental deaths in the home. Much of the time, these falls occur at ground level and not at an elevation such as a staircase.

Tips to fall-proof your home: (From the National Institute of Aging)

Floors, Stairs, and Hallways:

• Ensure there are handrails on both sides of any stairs, and make sure they are secure. Hold the handrails when you go up or down stairs, even when you are carrying something. Don’t let anything you’re carrying block your view of the steps.
• Ensure there is good lighting with light switches at the top and bottom of stairs and on each end of a long hall. Consider using motion-activated lights that plug into electrical outlets and automatically turn on when you walk by them to help illuminate stairwells and pathways.
• Keep areas where you walk tidy. Don’t leave books, papers, clothes, or shoes on the floor or stairs.
• Check that all carpets are fixed firmly to the floor, so they won’t slip. Put no-slip strips, which you can buy at any hardware store, on tile and wooden floors.
• Don’t use throw rugs or small area rugs.
• Don’t walk on slippery, newly washed floors.

Bathrooms:

• Mount grab bars near toilets and on both the inside and outside of your tub and shower.
• Place nonskid mats, strips, or carpet on all surfaces that may get wet.
• Remember to leave a light on in the bathroom at night or use a night light that turns on automatically in the dark.

Bedrooms:

• Put night lights and light switches close to your bed.
• Keep a flashlight by your bed in case the power goes out and you need to get up.
• Place a landline or well-charged phone near your bed.

Kitchen:

• Keep frequently used pots, pans, and kitchen utensils in a place where they are easy to reach.
• Clean up spills immediately.
• Prepare food while seated to prevent fatigue or loss of balance.

Outdoor spaces:

• If you have steps leading to your front door, make sure they are not broken or uneven.
• Add non‐slip material to outdoor stairways.
• Keep the lawn, deck, or porch areas clear of debris, such as fallen branches.
• Consider installing a grab bar near the front door to provide balance while you are locking or unlocking the door.
• Turn on your porch light at night and if you leave during the day but plan on returning home after dark.
• In the winter, treat outdoor walkways with an ice melt product or sand to make them less slippery.

Other living areas:

• Keep electrical cords near walls and away from walking paths.
• Arrange your furniture (especially low coffee tables) and other objects so they are not in your way when you walk.
• Make sure your sofas and chairs are the right height for you to get in and out of easily.
• Keep items you use often at waist level or within easy reach.
• Don’t stand on a chair or table to reach something that’s too high — use a “reach stick” instead or ask for help. Reach sticks are special grabbing tools that you can buy at many hardware or medical-supply stores. If you use a step stool, make sure it’s steady and has a handrail on top. Have someone stand next to you.
• Don’t let your cat or dog trip you. Know where your pet is whenever you’re standing or walking.
• Keep a list of emergency numbers in large print near each landline phone and save them under “favorites” on your mobile phone.

You may also be interested in:

• Reading more about falls and falls prevention
• Checking out this video on balance exercises
• Exploring balance problems older adults may face

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/preventing-falls-home-room-room#:~:text=Keep%20electrical%20cords%20near%20walls,in%20and%20out%20of%20easily.

Hello Mineral County, 

Disasters and big events are not the only emergencies worth preparing for. Supposing one of your children fell down the stairs and broke a leg, do you know what to do?  Your neighbor falls and has a bleeding head wound, what can you do to help? Your baby ate some ant bait, who can you call? If you can’t answer these questions, maybe you could benefit from a First Aid Class.

 The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following: (The Items in Bold are my personal suggestions)

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches) 
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes), also found within our Family First Aid Kit 
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch) 
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram) 
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets 
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each) 
• 1 emergency blanket
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve) (Pocket Mask)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large) (10 pair your size)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each) 
• 1 3 in. gauze roll (roller) bandage
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide) 
• 5 3 in. x 3 in. sterile gauze pads 
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches) (more like 25)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/non-glass) (ear thermometer)
• 2 triangular bandages 
• Tweezers (EMT Shears)
• Emergency First Aid instructions
• 2 Ace Wrap
• Tourniquet
• Solar Charger for Cell Phone (nice to have!)
• A box of Kleenex

When is an emergency going to happen?  You never know!  I find that if I’m ready for something, it won’t happen.  Not always true but being ready to leap into action and help someone during a very bad day is great thing to do!

Nevada weather is a wonderful, eclectic force.  We have had lots of rain this summer and that can produce a variety of wildlife that may not normally be abundant.  In this instance, I’m talking about the lowly mosquito.  I have lived in Hawthorne for 15 years and can count on one hand the number of times I have had mosquito bites.  This year is exceptional for above-average rain which causes an excess of standing water in dry creek beds, tire tracks in roads, abandoned tires, and hundreds of other places. 

If you think you or a loved one may have West Nile Virus disease, talk with your healthcare provider.  Your provider will take a history of possible exposure to mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus, signs and symptoms of the disease and order blood or spinal fluid testing.

Recovery may take several weeks or months and some central nervous system effects may be permanent.

About 1 of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.

There is no vaccine or specific medications for West Nile Virus infection. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses.

All of this information and much more can be found on the CDC web site at: https://www.cdc.gov/westnile/

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Preventing Mosquitoes:

Emptying any standing water around your property will help reduce their numbers. These will include buckets that've been filled with water from a rainy day or bird baths that haven't had their water exchanged. Mosquitoes reproduce by laying their larvae in this water and eventually they become Mosquitoes in the area