DON'T LET HALLOWEEN TURN INTO A HORROR STORY ON OUR HIGHWAYS

News Release from: Oregon State Police

Posted: October 27th, 2009 9:31 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2009-10/1002/Porch.png

Big home football games, excitable trick-or-treaters, and costumed party-goers – these are just a few reasons why this Saturday - Halloween – might be a little more dangerous for people out driving, walking or riding along Oregon's roads. Irresponsible celebrating and other distractions can quickly make the evening a frightening one, so the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon State Police (OSP) and partner law enforcement agencies urge parents, children and motorists to be alert and drive sober.

"With Halloween falling on a Saturday, we want to make sure one foolish decision doesn't turn that night into a real-life horror story," said Captain Joel Lujan, director of the OSP Patrol Services Division. "Don't take the party to the roadways, putting trick-or-treaters and responsible motorists at risk."

Halloween is a particularly deadly night due to impaired drivers. ODOT Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data reveals a sobering reminder and startling fact that 90 percent of the fatalities (10) on Halloween night (6:00 p.m., October 31st to 5:59 a.m., November 1st) between 1998 and 2008 in Oregon occurred in alcohol and/or drug-involved traffic crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, 58 percent of all highway fatalities across the nation on Halloween night last year involved a driver or a motorcycle rider with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher, which is illegal in every state.

If the challenge of young children running through neighborhoods isn't enough, the Interstate 5 corridor and several roads around Eugene and Corvallis will see a significant traffic increase associated with UO and OSU home football games. Planning, patience and attentiveness are key to making any trip a safe one this weekend.

"We've got a perfect opportunity, with football fans and trick-or-treaters celebrating together to remind motorists: please drive sober and pay attention to the task at hand," said ODOT Director Matthew Garrett. "We want everyone to be safe and enjoy the weekend."

Law enforcement agencies around the state want to help make Halloween safe for all. OSP, working with county and city police agencies, is putting extra patrols out, especially along the Interstate 5 corridor.

"Our goal is to keep Halloween night from becoming a true nightmare for someone," said Lujan.

The cooperative law enforcement effort looking out for ‘scary' drivers is part of the aggressive "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." national campaign, October 25 – 31. OSP troopers reported last year over the Halloween night the arrest of 15 DUII drivers. In support of the enforcement effort, ODOT will post a reminder on many variable messages signs for several days leading up to Halloween night to "Drive Sober. Save lives this Halloween".

ODOT, OSP and local law enforcement agencies offer these simple reminders for a safer Halloween:

For all drivers:

* Slow down in residential neighborhoods and obey all traffic signs and signals.
* Slow down on streets where there are no sidewalks and children are walking on or near the shoulder of the road.
* Watch for children walking in or near the street or on medians or curbs.
* Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and cautiously. Have child passengers enter and exit cars on the curb side, away from traffic.

For adult traffic safety:

* Be responsible — never drive impaired.
* If you plan to drink, choose your sober driver before going out.
* If you plan on going to one of the football games, leave early, be patient and don't get distracted at any time while driving.
* Once impaired, use mass transit, call a cab or ask a sober friend to get you home.
* If all else fails, just stay where you are and sleep it off.
* Always buckle up — it's still your best defense against an impaired driver.
* If hosting a Halloween party, make sure all guests leave with a sober driver.

For parents and children:

* Dress children in bright costumes. Use reflective tape or stickers on dark costumes.
* Apply face paint or cosmetics appropriate for children directly to the face. It is safer than a loose-fitting mask that can obstruct a child's vision.
* If a mask is worn, cut the eyeholes large enough for full vision.
* Have children carry flashlights or glow sticks to improve their visibility.
* Secure hats so they will not slip over children's eyes.
* Remind children to cross streets only at intersections.
* Teach them to stop and look for cars, looking to the left, right and left again before crossing, and then to keep looking both ways for cars while they cross.
* Teach them never to dart into a street or cross a street from between parked cars.

Elementary age pedestrians are at highest risk because they:

* Have a field of vision one-third narrower than an adult's.
* Are unable to determine the direction of sounds.
* Cannot accurately judge the speed or distance of moving vehicles.
* Overestimate their abilities.
* Are easily hidden by parked cars, bushes, leaf piles, trash bins, etc.

(For local Halloween plans, contact your local OSP office and law enforcement agencies)

Everyone plays an important role in keeping our roads and children safe. Immediately report aggressive, dangerous and intoxicated drivers to the Oregon State Police at 1-800-24DRUNK (1-800-243-7865) or call 9-1-1.

Swine Flu Emergency Reshapes Hospital Plans

http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Swine-Flu-Emergency-Reshapes-Hospital-Plans/oMfBBREoZ0aHKlynXgoe8Q.cspx?rss=1100
Reported by: Tim Gordon
Email: tgordon@koin.com
Last Update: 8:45 am


PORTLAND- The national emergency declaration by President Barack Obama has little to do with the speed the H1N1 vaccine wil be produced and distributed. But it does affect the way medical centers are able to treat patients.

The declaration loosens some federal regulations regarding patient privacy, access to care, and the movement of patients from one facility to another.

Leaders at Legacy Health System have been discussing emergency treatment options for some time. They met Monday to make potential plans that the declaration allows.

"It allows hospitals, nursing homes all kinds of medical facilities all kinds of alternatives to deal with what could be burgeoning patient loads", according to Brian Terrett, Legacy's Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications.

The tents that are set up outside Legacy Emmanuel and other medical centers are an example of what the declaration allows more easily: patient privacy regulations being eased means a triage center can be set up in a more public place like a parking lot.

The declaration could allow patient treatment centers in places as large as a warehouse or even Memorial Coliseum. For now, Legacy is looking at smaller venues. A corner building next to Good Samaritan Hospital has a vacancy; the former FedEx Kinkos could become an H1N1 patient center under the emergency declaration, if Legacy decides it needs it. For now, it doesn't.

Lots of Snow Out West

Severe Storms and Blizzard
THE WEST GETS HIT BY A BIG STORM. SNOW IN DENVER THIS WEEK... SEVERE STORMS BY THURSDAY. BLIZZARD FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...
http://www.accuweather.com/mt-news-blogs.asp?partner=accuweather&blog=Meteomadness&pgurl=/mtweb/content/Meteomadness/archives/2009/10/lots_of_snow_out_westsevere_storms_and_blizzard.asp

The big story this week will be the storm coming through the West into the western Great Lakes. Many areas of the West will get heavy snow and high winds. Please see Ken Clark's blog for California weather specifics. Some comments from me...

1. Denver will get heavy snow and probably 6-12 inches by Wednesday into Thursday...

2. Areas from eastern Oregon to Utah and Wyoming will have 2-6 inches of snow.

3. Severe weather will develop from Missouri to Texas Thursday and Friday. Looks to me that a good outbreak of wind damage and tornadoes may occur.

4. High winds will hit the Great Lakes region Friday into Saturday. Winds will be gusting 40-60 mph.

5. Winnipeg will have a blizzard Friday and Saturday that will shut down the city the way I see it right now. I can see over a foot of snow with winds over 50 mph.

Update on Flu vacines in parts of Portland Metro area

Vaccine:
The H1N1 vaccine remains in short supply nationwide due to delays by manufacturers producing the vaccine.

In the Portland area, the delays mean some public clinics have been canceled. Other clinics are offering only a limited number of doses. The small amounts currently available are being targeted toward children under five years of age and pregnant women, who are six times more likely to die from H1N1. Some counties are also reaching out to school children.

The production delay has led CDC officials to revise downward their vaccine delivery targets by 25 percent through the end of October. CDC officials say the revision reflects the unpredictability of the manufacturing process, which involved growing the virus in chicken eggs. Two manufacturers achieved smaller yields from this process than they had projected.

Health officials continue to expect that shipments will ramp up and availability of the vaccine will increase.

Shipments arriving in the Portland metro area this week will be about the same size as last week’s batch. Here is the rough breakdown of what is expected here:

County Doses
Clackamas 3,100
Multnomah 6,000
Washington 4,500

Earlier this month marked the first time that some clinics received injectable vaccine, which contains a H1N1 virus that has been “inactivated” or killed.

Until now, the only form of vaccine available was the FluMist nasal spray. Because FluMist contains a live flu virus, it is only appropriate for healthy people age 2 to 49. Pregnant women and children under age 2 need the injectable vaccine, which contains virus that has been “inactivated” or killed.

Outbreaks
From Sept. 1 throught Oct. 21 , a total of 449 people in Oregon were hospitalized and 15 died from Influenza A virus. Not all of these patients were tested for H1N1, but nationally nearly all samples that have been laboratory sub-typed in recent weeks were H1N1.

All Influenza A cases, Sept. 1 through Oct. 21
County Hospitalizations Deaths
Clackamas 46 0
Clark and Region IV 15 0
Columbia 0 0
Multnomah 62 1
Washington 54 0

Schools throughout the region report seeing an increase of absences due to influenza-like illness.

Response
Oregon has now adopted a temporary rule allowing some emergency medical technicians and paramedics to administer flue vaccine to the general public. Before, EMTs could only vaccinate other EMTs. Clark County, Wash., adopted similar rules.

State and county epidemiologists are monitoring school absences and reports of hospitalizations to track the spread of the virus.

Public information officers regionally are pooling information and coordinating availability of key spokesperons in response to requests from news organizations.

OBAMA declared H1N1 flu emergency

Washington (CNN) -- President Obama has declared a national emergency to deal with the "rapid increase in illness" from the H1N1 influenza virus.

"The 2009 H1N1 pandemic continues to evolve. The rates of illness continue to rise rapidly within many communities across the nation, and the potential exists for the pandemic to overburden health care resources in some localities," Obama said in a statement.

"Thus, in recognition of the continuing progression of the pandemic, and in further preparation as a nation, we are taking additional steps to facilitate our response."

The president signed the declaration late Friday and announced it Saturday.

Calling the emergency declaration "an important tool in our kit going forward," one administration official called Obama's action a "proactive measure that's not in response to any new development." Having trouble finding vaccine? Share your story

Another administration official said the move is "not tied to the current case count" and "gives the federal government more power to help states" by lifting bureaucratic requirements -- both in treating patients and moving equipment to where it's most needed.

The officials didn't want their names used because they were not authorized to speak on the record.

Obama's action allows Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements" to help health care facilities enact emergency plans to deal with the pandemic.

Those requirements are contained in Medicare, Medicaid and state Children's Health Insurance programs, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy rule.

Since the H1N1 flu pandemic began in April, millions of people in the United States have been infected, at least 20,000 have been hospitalized and more than 1,000 have died, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Watch how to find out if you have H1N1

Frieden said that having 46 states reporting widespread flu transmission is traditionally the hallmark of the peak of flu season. To have the flu season peak at this time of the year is "extremely unusual."

The CDC said 16.1 million doses of H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine had been made by Friday -- 2 million more than two days earlier. About 11.3 million of those had been distributed throughout the United States, Frieden said.

"We are nowhere near where we thought we would be," Frieden said, acknowledging that manufacturing delays have contributed to less vaccine being available than expected. "As public health professionals, vaccination is our strongest tool. Not having enough is frustrating to all of us."

Frieden said that while the way vaccine is manufactured is "tried and true," it's not well-suited for ramping up production during a pandemic because it takes at least six months. The vaccine is produced by growing weakened virus in eggs.


Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/24/h1n1.obama/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

KTVZ Flu Tip - When To See A Doctor

http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=11315586

Over at KTVZ they are running an article about flu symptoms and whether or not you should see your doctor.

"So far, the H1N1 flu is not more serious than regular flu, so if you are sick, stay home to avoid spreading it to others and take good care of yourself," says Mel Kohn, M.D., Oregon Public Health director. "If you have other conditions that put you at high risk or if symptoms get serious, that's when you should call your doctor." (See list of conditions below.*)

Some health conditions increase the risk of severe illness from influenza:
• Pregnancy;
• Long-term aspirin therapy in children and adolescents (aged 6 mos.--18 yrs.);
• Chronic lung disease (including asthma), heart, kidney, liver, blood, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes);
• Immuno-suppression (including that caused by medications or HIV);
• Any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizures or neuromuscular disorders) that affects respiratory function or handling of respiratory secretions or that increases the risk for aspiration; and
• Residence in a nursing home or other chronic-care facility.Also, children aged 6-59 months (up to 5 years) and adults aged 65 years and older are considered at increased risk for severe illness from influenza.People who have severe illness or are at high risk for flu complications should contact a health care provider who will determine whether treatment is needed. If you are directed to see a health care provider, ask if the facility has any special procedures for flu sufferers who visit.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing;
• Bluish or gray skin color;
• Not drinking enough fluids;
• Severe or persistent vomiting;
• Not waking up or not interacting;
• So irritable that the child does not want to be held;
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough;
• Fever with a rash.

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;
• Sudden dizziness;
• Confusion;
• Severe or persistent vomiting;
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and cough.

Go to the KTVZ page for the full article. Stay home - take care of yourself - try not to expose other people. Most people will recover within a week.