Storm Drain: Where Does the Water Go?Do you know that difference between a "storm drain" and a "sewer drain"? Most people don’t realize that these are two separate systems. The sewer drain carries sewage from your house and is processed and treated at the Water Pollution Control Facility. The large circular plates you see in the middle of the street are actually manhole covers for the sewer lines.
Storm drains or catch basins are the open or grated drains you see at the sides of the road by the curb. These drains collect all the water run-off from street to help in flood control. The big difference between these systems is that this water is NOT processed or treated. This water goes directly to streams, brooks and rivers. Some of these water sources are actually part of the public drinking water system.
Many people ask "so why put a storm drain in an areas that have the potential to directly pollute our water ways". The answer is that storm drains are designed to reduce the potential for road flooding, including parking lots and highways. It is the responsibility of all residents to protect the water, both drinking and recreational.
How do we do this? Simple: Don’t' put anything directly into the storm drains that could pollute the water. Some examples include waste oil or other auto fluids generated from routine car maintenance, leaves that you remove from your property, litter and dog feces. These items are also called "non-point source pollution".
So what do you do with your auto fluids, leaves and dog feces? Auto fluids and yard waste should be properly recycled, contact your local Public Works Dept. concerning the location and operation times of recycle centers or create a backyard compost for yard debris. Dog feces should be bagged and placed with your normal household garbage. Teach young children not to throw gum wrappers or other litter into the street.
What should you do if you see someone dumping in a catch basin? First, try to educate the person, maybe they don't realize that they are polluting the water. Also contact your local health department so that we may educate the person dumping. If the person continues to dump, they may face legal action. You should also contact your local Public Works Department if you notice a catch basin in need of cleaning.
Safe and clean water is everyone’s responsibility.
Submitted by: Scott Bryden, RS, MBA
Environmental Health Administrator
City of Meriden, Health Dept.
National Public Health Week
Public Health? What is Public Health? According to the mission statement of Center for Disease Control (CDC), the role of Public Health is: “To promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.” In other words, Public Health is physical, social and mental well being and not merely the absence of disease.
This year Public Health Week is April 2- 8, 2007. In 1995, former President William Jefferson Clinton proclaimed the first full week of April as National Public Health Week (NPHW). Each year since then, the public health community has celebrated this observance by focusing on issues that are important to improving the public’s health.
Although we have one week that is noted as Public Health Week we are here everyday to protect the health and safety of the people of Wallingford. We are here to educate the public, such as “Wear Red for Women” which Mayor Dickinson proclaimed as Healthy Heart Day. Throughout the year, we have a display board that highlights health promotion and health prevention activities that include informative material and free give-a-ways.
Public Health is the silent partner in the medical healthcare system. We are here to promote the prevention of disease and educate the public on everything from flu vaccine, Lyme disease prevention, and cardio vascular risks to local preparedness. We partner with the Fire Department, Police Department, and Volunteers to conduct response drills and are always looking for additional volunteers.
Let’s not forget about our partnership with the Wallingford VNA to provide cholesterol management and smoking cessation programs, preventable life style changes that impact the quality of life.
We are here inspecting restaurants daily to make sure proper food handling is carried out to prevent food borne illnesses. We also supply information on recalls to inform the public and especially the establishments like the spinach recall.
Most folks don’t think about Public health unless something goes wrong like a failed septic system or food illness, but our silent “behind the scene prevention” occurs everyday!
Submitted by: Mary Fazzino, Wallingford Health Department, 294-2065
MidState Teaches Us How to Age Gracefully
You’re never too young to start aging well. As Adlai Stevenson said, “It’s not the years in your life, but the life in your years that count.” Beginning April 2, 2007, the LaPlanche Clinic will present a five-week series entitled, Successful Aging: A Holistic Approach. The series will discuss how lifestyle considerations and changes can determine your health and vitality. Each Monday the MidState Medical Center sponsored program will feature a different topic of discussion that promotes health and wellness for a balanced life.
The program schedule is as follows:
April 2: Spirituality and Prayer
In the first part of the series, the role of spirituality will be discussed in relation to health and wellness; more specifically, the lecture will address how spirituality can actually help you heal. Studies have shown that those with a greater belief in a higher power are less likely to die of heart disease, have half the risk of depression, require less medication, and are less prone to surgical complications.
April 9: Maintaining and Enhancing Mental Function
The second part of the series focuses on activities that improve mental function. Reading, traveling, completing puzzles, and exercising all keep the mind sharp. Furthermore, studies have shown that the body’s ability to heal is linked to immune system function, which in turn, is linked to mental wellness—being more optimistic and less pessimistic.
April 16: The Role of Exercise and Fitness in Maintaining Health
The third part of the series will emphasize how exercise produces beneficial effects. In fact, it may be the single most important thing an older person can do to remain healthy. According to John W. Rowe, MD, president of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and co-author of Successful Aging,” it is the “crux of successful aging.”
April 23: Nutritional Strategies
In the fourth week of the series nutrition will be at the forefront of discovering how to age well. Attendees will learn the components of a healthy diet as well as the additional nutritional needs of aging people. Researchers at Georgia State University in Atlanta estimate that one-half to one-third of health problems experienced by older people are directly or indirectly related to nutrition.
April 30: Looking Good, Feeling Great
The final installment of the Successful Aging series will comprise how to look good as you age. Kelli Moore, of Kelli’s Hair Salon, will present information on flattering hairstyles, makeup application, and skin care.
All programs will be held in the 1st floor meeting room of the Meriden Senior Center, 22 West Main Street, Meriden, CT from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. For more information, please call Jackie Hackbarth at 237-0300 (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).
MidState Radiation Oncology service rated as best in the nation.
Results released from the most widely used patient satisfaction survey in the country have placed MidState Medical Center’s Radiation Oncology team on top. The survey, which asks patients a variety of questions about the care they’ve received, placed MidState in the top 1% overall among all hospitals surveyed nationwide.
Lucille Janatka, President and CEO of MidState Medical Center, elaborated: “I am very happy to announce that MidState scored in the 99th percentile in both the overall score and for three quarters of the individual questions. We are very, very pleased with these results and the performance of our Radiation Oncology team.”
In addition to its overall high ranking, the hospital earned perfect scores on a number of key questions: overall quality of care, staff courtesy, explanation of treatment, likelihood of recommending our service to others, and more.
Dr. Gary Tansino, Medical Oncologist and Director of the cancer program at MidState, explains the significance of the results: “Patients with cancer, understandably, want the best care they can find. So when they’re diagnosed, they’ll often shop around. Our perfect scores on several questions … but especially the question, “Overall Care Given At This Facility” … send an important message about the quality of care and the quality of the team here at MidState.”
Press Ganey, an independent testing service that ranks hospitals nationwide on a wide range of performance criteria, conducted the patient satisfaction survey. MidState’s high score in the survey represents the second time in a year and a half that the hospital has been rated the best in the nation for radiation oncology. MidState’s cancer program has also been designated as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the prestigious American College of Surgeons.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment,” says Lucille Janatka. “It speaks to both the quality of our cancer care and the commitment of our team, as well as this hospital’s mission to provide the very best and most comprehensive cancer care possible. To patients in the communities we serve, it also makes it clear that they don’t have to travel great distances to receive first-rate care.”
In quarterly patient satisfaction surveys conducted by Press Ganey, MidState consistently rates among the top hospitals in Connecticut and the nation. Based in South Bend, Indiana, the Press Ganey testing service “has been committed to providing information that allows our more than 7,000 health care client facilities to continuously improve their performance” for more than 20 years.
Spring is coming – and so are youth sports!
Calling all sports fans! April is National Youth Sports Safety Month, and the Meriden Health Department would like to encourage parents, coaches, and kids to review sports safety tips before hitting the field.
Sport safety is very important in order to avoid injury. You can reduce the chance of a sports injury, by following these steps:
Follow the rules of the sport. Parents should remind children to pay attention to the rules of play and listen to the adult in charge when playing organized sports.
Youth should wear protective equipment, such as shin guards, a helmet, body guards, eye protection, and mouth guards at all times during play. Your child’s coach can recommend specific protective equipment for the sport your child is playing.
Always stretch and warm up before starting any activity to prepare your muscles for play.
If in pain do not participate. You can make your injury worse.
Take a first aid and CPR course to learn how to properly handle breathing, cardiac, and physical injury emergencies. Remember the acronym R.I.C.E. – rest, immobilize, cold, and elevate – when taking care of a potential muscle, bone, or joint injury.
Unfortunately, injuries can happen during play or even practice. Parents and coaches should contact a doctor if a child has pain that persists for more than a few days and prevents daily activities from taking place, or if a body part swells and does not go down.
Free sports physicals for students competing in high school sports for the 2007-2008 school year will be done after May 1 for students attending Platt and Maloney High Schools. Eighth graders who are entering the ninth grade in the fall are also eligible to receive a free sports physical. For more information please contact your child's school nurse office.
And remember: toddler, child, youth, and adult-size bike helmets are available at the Meriden Health Department, 165 Miller Street, for $7.50 each. Call 630-4234 for more information.
Sources of information: www.clevelandclinic.org, www.kidshealth.org
Got Public Health?
Celebrate National Public Health Week
April 2-8, 2007
National Public Health Week 2007 will be observed April 2-8. Do you know what public health is? You’ve probably seen the term in newspapers or heard it on the radio or television. Public health promotes health, prevents disease, and prolongs life through a variety of services such as providing educational programs and doing research on diseases and health conditions.
The Meriden Health Department provides these and many other essential public health and human services to keep you and your community healthy. Below is a brief description of the many services offered by the divisions of the
Meriden Health Department:
Health Education (630-4238)
The Health Educator provides health information to help residents make voluntary decisions to better improve their health and the health of their community. Smoking cessation services are available by calling 630-4104.
Social Work (630-4222)
Our social workers provide a variety of services including health insurance counseling, geriatric assessment, and planning and developmental screenings for children 18 months to 4 years of age.
School Readiness (630-4236)
Meriden School Readiness provides access to affordable preschool programs to Meriden residents. All-day or part-day options are available.
Youth Services (630-4225)The Youth Services Division offers counseling to youth and their families, provides juvenile assistance to youth who commit their first offense, and is a resource for community service opportunities.
Senior Center (630-4273)
Services at the Senior Center include mini-bus transportation, medical transportation, Meals-on-Wheels and various recreation activities and trips. Meriden residents who are 60 years of age and older can join the Senior Center for free.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (630-4245)
WIC provides healthy foods and nutrition education to eligible participants, including pregnant women, mothers, and children under the age of five.
HIV/AIDS Program (630-4176)
Confidential, bilingual, and anonymous HIV/AIDS testing and counseling is available for residents and non-residents of Meriden. Educational materials are available as well.
School Health Services (630-4237)
School Health provides services to Meriden’s public and parochial schools, from kindergarten through 12th grade. Nurses conduct vision, hearing and scoliosis testing, as well as provide emergency care and first aid to students in need.
Environmental Health (630-4226)
The Environmental Health Division inspects and provides licensing to places which prepare and sell food such as restaurants, supermarkets, and bakeries. The Division also investigates nuisance complaints such as rodents, stagnant water, and bulky waste.
Health Clinic (630-4235)
The Health Clinic provides free immunization services for children; adult immunizations are available for a nominal fee. Bicycle helmets are available for $7.50 each. Hearing and vision screenings are also available for children aged 3 to 5 years of age.
The Meriden Health Department has published a brochure that further highlights the wide variety of services available through the department. Brochures are available at the Health Department, 165 Miller Street, or you can call 630-4226 to have one mailed to your home. Brochures, along with a variety of health education materials, are available at the public library and City Hall.
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