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By Linda Richter
Thursday, Jun 12 2008, 08:36 AM
Wisconsin, already reeling from all the rain we’ve gotten recently, has more rain forecast for this week. Basement or other rooms flooded? There are several sources of information about flooding cleanup available via the internet.
The US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) web site advises:
- Flood water can make the air in your home unhealthy. When things get wet for more than 2 days they usually get moldy.
- Failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and mold. They can cause disease, trigger allergic reactions, and continue to damage materials long after the flood.
- Mold may be more likely to make some people with asthma, allergies or other breathing problems sick. Consult your doctor or other health care professional if you have questions about cleaning or working in a home that has been flooded.
- Throw away anything that was wet with flood water and can’t be cleaned.
- During cleanup, wear goggles without vent holes, gloves, boots, long-sleeve shirt and pants.
- Wear an N-95 respirator (not a dust mask or handkerchief) over your mouth and nose, so that you do not breathe in a lot of mold. You should be able to find N-95 respirators at hardware stores.
- Because power sometimes goes out during flooding, some people use portable generators for electricity during cleanup. The EPA advises against using portable generators inside buildings. It warns that fumes, from a portable generator could kill you in minutes if you breathe it in. Use portable generators outside and far away form buildings.
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By Linda Richter
Tuesday, May 6 2008, 08:19 PM
Today's New Berlin NOW.com (Community Watch) conveys that Alderman Poshepny, who has been in the hospital since Sunday, is scheduled to come home on Wednesday.
I hope he’s feeling better each day and wish him a speedy recovery.
Want to know more about congestive heart failure? The American Heart Association presents information about heart failure on its web site.
Here’s an excerpt from it: “More than 5 million Americans are living with heart failure and 550,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.”
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By Linda Richter
Monday, Apr 28 2008, 09:55 AM
April is Autism Awareness Month
I’ve purchased stuff from Toys “R” Us for my infant grandson and am on their emailing list. A recent email from Toys “R” Us communicates that for the second consecutive year, Toys “R” Us and the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund have partnered with Autism Speaks to raise funds and awareness to fight autism. To learn more about it click on this link.
The Toys “R” Us email also conveys that there are nearly l.5 million cases of autism in the United States, with one in 150 children diagnosed each year--and autism currently affects more children than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.
Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, provides a lot of information on its Web site http://www.autismspeaks.org/
Autism Speaks describes autism as a complex neurobiological disorder---part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders. Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others. Autism is also associated with repetitive behaviors and rigid routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to severe.
According to the Autism Speaks Web site, research indicates that early intervention in an appropriate educational setting for at least two years during the preschool years can result in significant improvements for many young children with autism spectrum disorder. As soon as autism is diagnosed, early intervention instruction should begin. Effective programs focus on developing communication, social, and cognitive skills.
Given that such early intervention therapy is considered so critical, parental frustration with reluctant insurers, waiting lists, and governmental (legislative) delays or inaction, is understandable. See March 16, 2008 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel news report “Autism care outlasts bill”.
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By Linda Richter
Tuesday, Mar 25 2008, 11:42 AM
Some individuals are so determined or desperate to get their hands on certain prescription drugs, they swipe their own family’s medications or rob pharmacies.
Earlier this month, New BerlinNOW reported that Stone Pharmacy,14105 Greenfield Ave. was robbed of drugs (sucessfully or unsuccessfully) three times plus there was an unsuccessful attempt to rob the pharmacy of OxyContin in February ( the thief fled empty handed). NOW had also reported that Walgreens at 3855 S. Moorland Rd. was robbed of $2,300 worth of OxyContin in January.
What’s OxyContin? It’s a very strong narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine. OxyContin is a prescription drug that can be misused--with serious, even fatal consequences. OxyContin (oxycodone), an opioid, has become a popular “street drug”.
NPR had a scary 2005 report about OxyContin use titled: “Teen Abuse of Painkiller OxyContin on the Rise”.
I spoke with Lieutenant Mike Glider of the New Berlin Police Department about these issues recently. He expressed concern about the growing abuse of drugs like OxyContin by young people--and the “explosion of armed robberies” in our area to obtain drugs.
According to Lieutenant Glider, many of the individuals who’ve engaged in these kinds of illegal activities (stealing prescription medications from pharmacies or family members) had no previous criminal record. Parents need to be aware that high school and college- age kids are taking, abusing or selling medications.
Lieutenant Glider urges parents to be vigilant and keep closer tabs on their prescription drugs. He recommends they discard unused medications-- or keep them locked up in a safe place where their kids can’t get access to them.
OxyContin use and abuse information can also be found on the US. Food and Drug Administration Web site.
The following chart is on the National Institute on Drug Abuse (National Institute of Health) Web site. Prescription Medications
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Brief
Description:
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Prescription drugs that are abused or used for nonmedical reasons can alter brain activity and lead to dependence. Commonly abused classes of prescription drugs include opioids (often prescribed to treat pain), central nervous system depressants (often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (prescribed to treat narcolepsy, ADHD, and obesity). |
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Street Names:
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Commonly used opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon), hydrocodone (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), and diphenoxylate (Lomotil). Common central nervous system depressants include barbiturates such as pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), and benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). Stimulants include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) and methylphenidate (Ritalin). |
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Effects:
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Long-term use of opioids or central nervous system depressants can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Taken in high doses, stimulants can lead to compulsive use, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures, and irregular heartbeat. |
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Statistics
and Trends:
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According to NIDA's 2005 Monitoring the Future study, 9.5% of high school seniors used hydrocodone (Vicodin) in the past year. Source: NIDA Infofacts: High School and Youth Trends. |
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By Linda Richter
Monday, Sep 24 2007, 05:45 PM
“The fact of the matter is the former school district’s administration did not inform the school board of the mold situation at EHS/EMS,” states School Board President Keith Heun (in his letter posted on Matt Thomas’ Aug. 21 blog.) That raises several questions--- WHO knew about the mold? WHEN did they know about it? WHY didn’t administration inform the School Board? ARE they being held accountable? If not, WHY NOT? WHY weren’t parents notified immediately about mold problems? IF, as Heun says, “the School Board you elected is working hard to ensure that facilities are safe for children”, shouldn’t it have a policy requiring prompt notification of parents and the School Board of any health or safety hazards present in the schools? HAS the School Board implemented such a policy? ARE there other significant health, maintenance, or safety problems at NBPS that weren’t reported to the School Board or parents? I sent the School District an email requesting information and got a letter response dated August 23. Here are some questions I posed and the District’s answers: Q. What prompted the scan for mold at Eisenhower? A. Staff at Eisenhower had detected the mold. Q. What was the source of the mold? A. An antiquated HVAC system needing replacement. At a School Board meeting, the Building & Grounds Director reported that a pipe broke during mold abatement and water gushed onto the floor at Eisenhower. He blamed it on old pipes.
In a Journal-Sentinel interview on the mold issue, the Superintendent spoke of a single-pipe system for hot & cold water, which he called a “design flaw”.
Are there old pipes and "design flaws" in the other schools, too? Q. Which schools in the District besides Eisenhower have been tested for mold? A. “At this time we do not have reason to suspect that there is mold in any of our other buildings. Regardless, we are working with EMC, the company who headed the mold abatement project at Eisenhower, to determine possible future mold testing within all of our facilities.” Possible future testing? No reason to suspect mold is in any of the other schools?
Ummm, what about leaky roofs/ceilings at District Schools? Can't that cause mold? For example: Poplar Creek Elementary School’s roof leaked. It was only after a parent complained about it publicly in her privilege of the floor speeches at School Board meetings in February and March 2006, that the roof was “fixed”. Prospect Hill Elementary School had buckets on the floor to catch water dripping from the school’s ceiling. Later, the District closed the school, but chose to rent the facility to a church group. Do an internet search of “mold” or “mold in schools” and you’ll find such information as: a 2000 article on the USA Weekend site that claims mold is on the rise and making kids sick; chronic leaks can turn ceiling tiles, wallboard, or wood into ready-to-eat mold food. Common molds can grow to toxic levels, triggering allergic reactions, including asthma, sinus infections, headaches, coughing, and eye & throat irritations. A doctor/ former chairwoman of the Committee on Environmental Health of the American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that children are more susceptible to mold-related illness than adults because their lungs and other organs are still developing. A chief scientist for an air quality testing firm contends that mold can start growing any time water leaks. The Center For School Mold Help web site provides comprehensive information regarding prevention, education and solutions. It reports that mold grows in buildings if the indoor air quality is damp or if there have been water leaks--and that when any building material or furnishing is damp for more than 48 hours, mold may grow. Children and people with existing respiratory conditions, such as allergies or asthma, tend to have a higher risk for health problems. The Dept. of Health and Human Services Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) site states: “If you believe your children are ill because of exposure to mold in their school, first consult their health care provider to determine the appropriate medical action to take. Contact the school’s administration to express your concern and to ask that they remove the mold and prevent future mold growth. If needed, you could also contact the local school board.”It's commendable that the NB School District administration is taking steps now about Eisenhower’s mold problem. Parents and staff need to let administration know about mold--and other health and safety problems in our schools--so administration can act on it promptly. Both administration and School Board should actively encourage that communication. Eisenhower was t
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By Linda Richter
Tuesday, Aug 14 2007, 09:46 AM
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A New Berlin Eisenhower parent sent a July 5 e-mail to the School Board complaining about money being spent on West’s renovations/ additions while students & faculty were still being exposed to mold problems at Eisenhower.
West’s spiffy renovations/additions include a cavernous, immense auditorium and an extravagant Field House sports facility.
Keith Heun (School Board President, New Berlin Public Schools) initially fired back an outlandish e-mail reply (a public record) on July 6 stating----
“School district money belongs to the taxpayers, not individual schools. I disagree with your assessment of the situation. The renovations at West were needed and long overdue. The severe mold and asbestos problems that you claim at EHS are simply not true. I believe these rumors are made up by people who have a bad case of jealousy about the renovations at West and will spread any misinformation they can to try to get even more and bigger renovations at EHS. My advice would be to stop believing it, stop spreading it, and confirm anything sensational that you hear with the district office.”
Guess what? Two weeks later at the July 23 School Board Meeting, District Superintendent Paul Kreutzer disclosed publicly that mold had been positively identified at Eisenhower! (The District had hired a company called EMC to conduct a scan for mold in the lower level of the school.)
Kreutzer stressed that administration was exercising its authority to deal with the school's mold problem--and that it was considered a priority.
He reported on the District’s “significant abatement project” underway--about a $142,000 expenditure--to abate the mold in every lower level classroom and hallway at Eisenhower.
And he said the District was contracting with EMC to look at the rest of the Eisenhower building, as well.
According to Kreutzer, the Eisenhower mold abatement project will stretch this year’s facility budget for maintenance to the maximum (and he hoped it wouldn’t exceed it).
When Buildings and Grounds Director Bob Pulliam was summoned to comment, he praised the aggressive mold abatement effort at Eisenhower. He indicated they had run into problems, however. Some pipes broke while being cleaned--resulting in chemicals and water going onto the floor. Pulliam said that was due to old pipes and bad valves.
Kudos to Dr. Kreutzer and Bob Pulliam for acknowledging publicly that Eisenhower has mold and taking steps to eradicate it. Isn’t that a better approach than ignoring problems or trying to sweep them under the rug?!!!!
It’s heartening that Dr. Kreutzer is striving to make Eisenhower a more healthy environment for its students, faculty and visitors. That’s caring, responsible leadership.
By the way, I am a registered nurse (retired) who has asthma and allergies to mold. Mold literally makes me sick.
Heun chooses to send his own kids to private schools rather than NBPS. Nevertheless, as Board leader of New Berlin Public Schools, he should genuinely care about the well-being of every NBPS student. He shouldn't be clueless or in denial of significant problems at a District school. Certainly, concerns raised by Eisenhower parents should be treated seriously and respectfully, not condescendingly or dismissively. Nor should those parental concerns be belittled, trivialized or arrogantly brushed off.
At minimum, Keith Heun exercised hasty, bad judgment when he sent that offensive e-mail containing false/misleading information and incredibly biased, mean-spirited, and preposterous assumptions/statements about people’s motives.
Perhaps Heun should take his own advice and confirm anything sensational with the school district office first --and get his facts straight, of course ---rather than believe or spread malicious misinformation himself.
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