Aug. 16 Public Health Update

sAFETY
IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND
DRIVERS.

A Mesa
County child was hit by a car while walking to school, this week.
Drivers and
pedestrians alike should take precautions to stay safe, especially during busy
times, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 2:30 and 5 p.m.
Tips for drivers:

Look out for
pedestrians everywhere, at all times.
Slow down
and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
Never pass
vehicles stopped at crosswalks –people may be crossing that you can’t see.
More than
3,000 people were killed in 2014 distracted driving crashes – 520 of those
people weren’t in the vehicle. Don’t be
a distracted driver. Put your phone away.
Be extra
cautious when backing up – pedestrians can move into your path.

Always walk
on the sidewalk facing traffic. If there is no sidewalk, walk along the
shoulder of the road, also facing traffic.
Cross
streets at marked crosswalks or intersections if possible.
Don’t rely
on pedestrian signals. Look left, right and left again before crossing a
street.
Watch for
turning vehicles. Make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
Don’t play
games on a cellphone, talk on a cell phone or wear headphones while crossing.

Safety is a
shared responsibility. Be a courteous and observant driver and/or pedestrian.

Take
precautions to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke

Multiple
wildfires are creating smoke across Colorado, including the 621 acre Spring
Creek 2 Wildfire, burning in Mesa County, about 5 miles south of Parachute.
Although recent
updates indicate the fire is 70 percent contained, smoke may continue to impact
residents.
If smoke is
thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood, consider remaining indoors.

This is especially true for sensitive
groups, such as people with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very
young and the elderly.

Limit
outdoor activity when moderate or heavy smoke is present.
Sensitive
groups should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
If smoke is
thick, turn off your swamp cooler to help keep smoke from entering your home.
Consider
running an errand or relocating temporarily to a building with a closed cooling
system, like a mall or grocery store, if smoke is present indoors and is making
you ill.
If visibility is less than
five miles in your neighborhood due to smoke, smoke has reached levels that are
unhealthy.
Contact your health care provider if you experience respiratory
symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing and sore throat.