al T ip Gu Seasonal Tip Guide Tips to help you stay healthy and safe throughout the year

Transcription

1 Seasonal Tip Guide al T ip Gu n o s ide a Se Tips to help you stay healthy and safe throughout the year HHC Health & Home Care Serving New Yorkers For Over 45 Years NYC-HOME

2 Manage Asthma and Allergies Manage Asthma & Allergies Tips for Spring If you have springtime allergies, use these tips: 1 If you have allergy signs, like sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes, go to your doctor. You do not have to suffer. Your doctor can order medicine to help you feel better. 2 Keep your doors and windows closed in spring months, this helps keep allergens out. An air purifier may also help. 3 Wash your hands and take off your jacket when you come home to get rid of pollen. 4 Clean bookshelves, vents, and any places where pollen or dust may pile up. If you have other allergies, use these tips: 1 Dust, mold, animal dander and cigarette smoke are common allergens. Stay away from them. 2 Buy Allergy-proof covers for your mattresses and pillows. These keep away dust mites. 3 If you have pets, create a pet free area in your home.

3 Keep Cool on Hot Days Keep Cool On Hot Days Keep Cool on Hot Days Tips for Summer During the hottest part of the day: 1 Drink plenty of water. 2 Stay inside, with shades down and windows closed and air conditioner on, if possible. 3 If you do go outside, wear a hat and loose, light colored clothes. 4 Avoid hard work or exercise. 5 Try to use your microwave, instead of your oven or stove to cook. 6 If you feel very hot, take a cool bath or shower and drink water. In the evening: 1 Use fans and open windows to let in cooler evening air. More Tips: 1 To keep cool, you can visit the library, the movies, your senior center, or any other place that has air-conditioning. 2 To find a local cooling center during a heat emergency, Call 311 (TTY: ) or you can visit this website on the internet:

4 Prevent Seasonal Flu Prevent Seasonal Flu Tips for FALL 1 Get your flu shot every year. The virus changes, so the shot you got last year will not protect you this year! 2 To find a place to get a flu shot, call 311. Some places give flu shots for free. 3 Wash your hands often. Your hands can pick up germs easily. 4 Avoid people with colds if possible. If you sneeze or cough, use a tissue and then throw the tissue away. Ask those with colds to do the same. 5 Don t touch your nose, eyes or mouth. Germs on your hands can enter your body easily by these paths. 6 Flu signs are: fever (usually high) pain in your body, headache tiredness and weakness dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose 7 If you think you have flu signs, go to your doctor. Your doctor can tell you what medicine you need.

5 Stay Warm and Safe in Winter Stay Warm and Safe in Winter Tips for Winter 1 Don t fall! Be careful of icy walkways. Wear shoes with rubber treads and walk slowly. 2 Shoveling snow can stress your heart. Be careful and don t do more than you can handle. 3 Eating a balanced diet can help keep you healthy. Drink water and eat soup and foods with a lot of liquids to help protect from dry skin. Using lotion on your skin daily also helps. 4 If you have asthma, breathing cold air can cause an asthma attack. Wear a scarf over your mouth to warm the air before you breathe it. 5 If you have arthritis, always wear gloves! Keep hands moving to reduce stiffness. 6 If you think you have frostbite, use warm water on your skin, never hot. Do not rub the skin. Call your doctor if the skin does not get better. 7 Use a humidifier or place a metal container with water on the radiator, to protect from dry winter air. 8 If you have heat or hot water problems and they are not fixed quickly, call 311.

6 Be Prepared For Emergencies Be Ready For Emergencies Your Emergency Kit Be ready and make a plan for an emergency. That plan should include: a. Decide how your family will find and contact each other in an emergency. b. Pick 2 places your family can meet: a place close to your home and a place away from your neighborhood c. Don t forget family members that are old, don t speak English, or are disabled. Plan for children and pets. Pack an emergency kit with the things you need to stay alive for at least three days. Keep the kit somewhere you can get to fast. Your emergency kit should have 1 gallon of water for each person for each day canned foods and a manual can opener first aid kit battery-operated AM/FM radio flashlight and extra batteries a cell phone and a whistle Pick a friend that lives outside your state that your family can call if they get lost during an emergency.

7 Be Prepared For Emergencies Be Ready For Emergencies Your Go Bag Everyone in your family needs a Go Bag. Go Bag has things you need if you must leave your home or neighborhood because of an emergency. Your Go Bag should be strong and easy to carry, like a backpack. Your Go Bag should have: a. Copies of your important documents in a waterproof and easy to carry container (insurance cards, birth certificates, deeds, photo IDs, etc.) b. Extra sets of car and house keys c. Cash and copies of credit cards and ATM cards d. Bottled water and food that won t spoil, like energy or granola bars e. Flashlight, battery-operated AM/FM radio and extra batteries f. List of the medicines and amounts each person that lives with you takes or Copies of all your prescriptions with your doctors names and phone numbers g. First aid kit h. Child care, pet care, other special items i. Rain gear and an Emergency Mylar blanket j. The address of a place your family can meet and a map of your city or state

8 Be Prepared For A Bio-Terrorism Attack A biological attack is the release of germs or other biological substances. These agents can be inhaled, enter through a cut in the skin, or be eaten to make you sick. Some biological agents can cause contagious diseases. A biological attack may or may not be immediately obvious. If you become aware of an unusual or suspicious release of an unknown substance, get away from the agent as quickly as possible. - Cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric that can filter the air but still allow a. breathing. - Remove and wash clothing, bathe with soap and water and contact authorities. b. In the event of a biological attack, watch TV, listen to the radio, or check the Internet for official news as it becomes available. Health Sustaining Equipment If you use an oxygen concentrator or other health sustaining equipment, ask your utility company if your medical equipment qualifies you as a life-sustaining equipment customer. If there is an emergency, this will make sure you receive priority aid for your equipment, if you are eligible. -- Con Edison: (TTY: ) -- National Grid: LIPA: If you rely on oxygen, talk to your vendor about emergency replacements. Call 911 For ALL Emergencies