January is National Radon Action Month

Test Your Home. Protect Your Health.

During January’s National Radon Action Month, the U.S. Surgeon General and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urge all Americans to protect their health by testing their homes for radon. This is especially important in Zone 1 areas such as Clay County.  Radon is a natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste but could be present at a dangerous level in your home. As the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. and the first leading cause among non-smokers, radon claims more than 20,000 lives in the U.S. annually. If a high radon level is detected in your home, you can take steps to fix it to protect yourself and your family. For more information about what you can do to protect your health and take action against radon during National Radon Action Month, please visit www.epa.gov/radon/nram/public.html.  Radon test kits are available at the Clay County Extension Office in Ashland.

Marsha S. Moorehead – moorems@aces.edu
County Extension Coordinator
P.O. Box 23
Ashland, AL  36251
256-354-5976
(fax) 256-354-7787

Fall Gardening Workshop in Roanoke Alabama

October 2, 2009
9:00 am	to	2:00 pm

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is sponsoring a Fall Gardening Workshop in Roanoke for gardeners in this region.

Friday, October 2nd – 9 am to 2 pm.

Download the promotional flyer which includes the registration form – [Download not found]

Or for more info, contact:

Marsha S. Moorehead
moorems@aces.edu
County Extension Coordinator
P.O. Box 23
Ashland, AL  36251
256-354-5976
(fax) 256-354-7787

Hand Washing Reduces Spread of Infectious Germs

Hand Washing Reduces Spread of Infectious Germs

With the unfolding health crisis, it’s easy to become concerned about the spread of germs. Most health experts agree that one of the best lines of defense against H1N1 flu (swine flu) is properly washing your hands.

Cold and flu germs are generally spread by inhaling micro droplets that others have expelled through coughing and sneezing and by picking up germs from contaminated surfaces, then touching one’s mouth, nose or eyes.

Frequent hand washing, using warm, soapy water helps fight the spread of germs, says Dr. Jean Weese, a food safety scientist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. All public areas — shopping malls, offices, schools, child care centers and churches — are full of surfaces that are touched. The transmitted germs come home and can be transferred to doorknobs, light switches, refrigerator handles and food.

Germs live for different lengths of time. Some are harmless almost immediately, while others live for weeks. One sure way to shorten their life-span is to frequently wash your hands. A good routine to get into is to wash your hands immediately upon returning home, says Weese.

Young children come in contact with many germs through other children, teachers and staff, especially in day care or school settings.

Many health experts consider hand washing to be the single most important way to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, as hands are the most common way germs spread, Weese adds. Therefore, it is important to practice proper hand washing techniques. Follow these simple steps:

Wet hands with warm, running water.

Add soap and rub your hands to make a lather. Do this away from the running water so you won’t wash suds away.

Wash front and back of hands, between the fingers and under the nails for 20 seconds or as long as it takes you to sing the alphabet song or happy birthday.

Rinse hands well under running water to wash away the germs that are suspended by the soap.

Dry hands thoroughly with a clean paper towel and then throw towel away

The County Extension Office is available to present programs on hand washing as well.
There is a link to swine flu information on the Cooperative Extension homepage at www.aces.edu

Marsha S. Moorehead
County Extension Coordinator
P.O. Box 23
Ashland, AL  36251
256-354-5976