Tag Archive for CDC

Love that Face Mask

September 14, 2020 Comments Off on Love that Face Mask

Cloth face masks are so much nicer than the manufactured type. We enjoy expressing ourselves with words on them, making half our face into an animal or clown, adding a big smile, showing our patriotism–anything to lift our spirits. We must remember, though, that those masks must be washed, both before the first use and every day after that. Many can go into the washing machine; all can be hand-washed.

HOW to wash them is equally important. Here’s a site that reveals what research has shown to be the best wash/dry method. It gives some very helpful tips to ensure that your reusable mask continues to keep you and others healthy. Go to https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/how-to-wash-a-face-mask

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A Mask that Cheats You of Money and Protection

June 15, 2020 Comments Off on A Mask that Cheats You of Money and Protection

Health professionals, including the CDC, are warning us about masks with exhale valves ( a certain type of N-95 mask) being sold as more comfortable and cooler. Don’t buy them. They don’t meet requirements of the CDC or some areas, because it’s questionable about how effective they are in stopping the spread of COVID-19.

Here’s the thing. Most valves don’t have a filter. That means that when you exhale, everything — including droplets — are pushed out through the valve and into your surroundings. In other words, theses masks, like most others used properly, give you a little protection from other people, they do NOT protect your friends, loved ones, acquaintances, or strangers you get near to. So you may be spreading the virus. (Remember: you may be symptom-free or have been infected but not know it.)

And that’s the point of masks — to protect others while they’re protecting us.

Save your money and keep fighting this virus!

Read more: A Certain Type of N95 Mask May Do More Harm Than Good.

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CDC guidelines for grocery shoppers

April 28, 2020 Comments Off on CDC guidelines for grocery shoppers

You know some or all of these things, but a reminder from the experts can’t hurt:

  • Only shop in person when you absolutely need to.
  • Avoid shopping if you are sick.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from others.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering.
  • Shop during off-peak hours or during special hours for high-risk people (65 or older, and those with serious underlying medical conditions).
  • Disinfect shopping cart with wipes if available.
  • Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • Use touchless payment if available.
  • Use hand sanitizer right after paying with cash or touching a keypad.
  • Use hand sanitizer after leaving store, then wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds at home.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Coronavirus: What’s Better Protection than Masks?

March 3, 2020 Comments Off on Coronavirus: What’s Better Protection than Masks?

Masks of any type are not that effective, because any part of a mask not tightly against our skin can let in germs. And none of us can keep, either consciously or unconsciously, from reaching up to adjust it so it’s more comfortable or we want to scratch under it. Besides, our eyes–touching them can bring infection into our bodies–are still out in the open.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that the most effective guard against disease, including Coronavirus, is hand-washing. But not the way we often tend to do it. We should do it often, but especially under certain circumstances. See their article. The article also discusses hand sanitizers (always 60% alcohol!), their effectiveness, and how to use them. Here are their 5 steps the CDC says to take for effective hand-washing:

  1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
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Guns: Where we stand in the World

December 14, 2018 Comments Off on Guns: Where we stand in the World

The CDC has compiled all its 2017 statistics and revealed a startling fact: almost 40,000 people died last year from guns in the U.S. That’s the highest number in 40 years. (1999 saw 30,000 such deaths.)  It’s also the third year in a row of increase, after years of stable numbers.

Worldwide, our country makes  up 14.2% of gun deaths, surpassed only by Brazil, with 17.2% of the world’s gun-related deaths. Note that we aren’t talking war here–except individually against other individuals and ourselves. A good number of U.S. gun deaths (60%) are suicides, and we see daily news reports about someone shooting people in schools, venues, and places of worship.

You can read more specifics in the Huffington Post article U.S. Gun Violence Claimed More Lives In 2017 Than Ever: CDC.

I don’t care if you’re pro-gun, anti-gun, or something in between. It’s obvious that gun violence is an epidemic in America, one that needs a cure. Studies have shown that it isn’t because we have more people with mental health problems here–countries with similar numbers of those people don’t have the gun violence we have.

So what is the cause? We don’t know but must get serious about finding out. And what is the cure? Again, we don’t know but MUST get serious about finding out.

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Measles Outbreak!

August 20, 2018 4 comments

It seems like a small number–107 kids in 21 states with measles–but the year is only a little more than half over. (There were 118 cases in 2017 and 86 the year before, according to  the CDC.) But measles spreads so easily. In fact, you can get it if you enter a room within two hours after a person with the disease has been there, because that’s how long it stays in the air.

Measles hadn’t been a problem since the introduction of inoculations for it. So why are the numbers of cases increasing? Because the number of unvaccinated people is rising. Yes, some of those people come from other countries, but more people right here are refusing to have their children vaccinated.

Be sure to ask your child’s school or daycare center if they require that the children under their care be vaccinated. Some charter/private schools do not. And keep your kids’ vaccinations up-to-date. Don’t take a chance with the health of your child and family.

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Protect your Friends & Loved Ones

October 1, 2013 Comments Off on Protect your Friends & Loved Ones

Your lack of action can bring great harm to your friends and loved ones.  It can even contribute to their death if they have COPD or lung infections that reduce their chances of living through the flu (or even a cold).  The CDC says that 200,000 people land up in the hospital annually due to flu-related illness, probably because only 42% of Americans tend to get vaccinated against the flu.

Some people play Russian Roulette.  Knowing that the vaccination is good for only a year, they wait until late in the year to get their shot so it “lasts longer.”  Yet, the virus is already floating around, and it does take two weeks after the shot for the body to develop the necessary protective antibodies.

I got my inoculation, partly to protect myself but also because I feel a responsibility to help protect those around me.  The flu is a potential killer.  It’s up to each of us to stop it and to take care of each other.

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