News from VashonBePrepared: Staying Safe and Healthy

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, June 21, 2023

News reports of yellow smoky skies in eastern U.S. cities are nothing new for us on Vashon.

We have had multiple wildfire smoke air quality warnings in recent years. The microscopic particles in wildfire smoke can severely affect those with compromised health and even harm healthy folks’ lungs.

Fortunately, most of us have a supply of N95 masks after three years of the COVID pandemic. Hold on to the masks you got for COVID protection and use them to protect your lungs if we get wildfire smoke on Vashon again this year. There’s lots more advice on why air quality matters and how to protect yourself on the Washington Department of Health website.

Free Narcan in the Mail

You can add Narcan (Naloxone) to your household first aid kit in just a few clicks. That’s important because a squeeze of the lifesaving nasal spray can reverse an opioid overdose and buy crucial time while first responders are on the way to render further aid.

The crisis of opioid overdoses with drugs such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and fentanyl has reached everywhere, and our island is no exception. It makes sense to keep Narcan on hand, especially since it is free, easy to obtain, and easy to use. Here’s a link to the free Narcan website set up by The People’s Harm Reduction Alliance.

Switch to Rechargeable Batteries

You can have more dependable emergency battery power and help the planet by switching to rechargeable batteries.

Modern rechargeable batteries can work for years. Single-use batteries lose power on the shelf and cost more in the long run than rechargeable batteries. Rechargeables are good for 500 to 1,000 recharge cycles.

Even better, modern rechargeable batteries retain 80% to 85% of their power for a year in storage, and may even have 70% of their power left after ten years. They initially cost more than single-use batteries, but over time they can more than pay for themselves through re-use and by providing dependable power when you most need it.

These days, most rechargeable AA and AAA batteries are NiMH batteries, short for nickel-metal hydride. You’ll want to be sure your battery charger works with modern rechargeables, to avoid overcharging and overheating.

COVID Basic Risk

VashonBePrepared’s risk level tool is based mostly on COVID hospitalization rates. Some other factors are also evaluated, including COVID virus levels in wastewater in our region.

At the Basic Risk Level, it is recommended to wear an N95 mask indoors in public if you are exposed to COVID or at risk for health or other reasons, or live with or spend time with someone at high risk.

Keep vaccinations up to date, including boosters. Maintain good ventilation at home and at work, and avoid those with suspected or confirmed COVID.

If exposed to COVID, wear a mask in public and avoid contact with those at high risk for 10 days.

Always home-test if you have symptoms. If you test positive, isolate for at least five days and until you test negative. If immunocompromised, discuss additional prevention actions with your healthcare provider.