From household appliances to children’s toys, product recalls can impact items we use every day. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) monitors and announces recalls to protect the public from potential hazards like fire risks, electrical malfunctions, or choking dangers. To stay informed about the latest product recalls and safety alerts, visit the official CPSC Recalls page: Recalls & Product Safety – CPSC.
Author: aspetuckhd
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Food & Safety Recalls: U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Staying informed about food and product recalls is an important part of protecting your health and the well-being of your family. From contaminated food items to mislabeled allergens, recalls happen regularly—and catching them early can make a big difference. To help you stay up to date, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) maintains a comprehensive list of the latest recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts. You can view the most recent updates here: FDA Food & Safety Recalls.
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Measles Information
Wondering whether you need the measles vaccine?
Please read this to see if you have evidence of immunity. “Evidence of laboratory immunity” means that you have had your blood tested for a measles antibody titer. If you think you need titers to check your immunity status or that you need the MMR vaccine, please contact your primary care provider’s office. Some pharmacies may also carry the vaccine. Aspetuck Health District does not carry the vaccine for adults currently.
Connecticut Department of Public Health Urges Residents to Stay Up to Date on Measles Vaccination
Traveling abroad and concerned about measles? Read more.
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Radon Testing Kits Available
Radon Test Kits Available for Easton, Westport and Weston Residents
The Aspetuck Health District has free radon test kits for residents, while supplies last. Residents can pick up one radon test kit per address at the Aspetuck Health District, 180 Bayberry Lane, Westport, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Residents are asked to follow the instructions when conducting the radon test and to submit results to Air Chek Inc. Results will be shared with homeowners as well as the Health
District.Radon is an invisible and odorless gas that can enter homes through cracks in the basement floor or from well water. Prolonged exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Only one in five homes has a radon problem. But the only way to know if your home is free of radon is to test it.
Radon levels vary throughout Connecticut. Because you cannot see, taste, or smell radon, the only way to determine if you have a radon problem in your home is to test for it. Testing involves placing a small device in your home for at least 72 hours and then sending the device to a laboratory for results. If levels of radon are high (4 pCi/L or higher), the Connecticut DPH strongly recommends that homeowners enlist a radon mitigation professional to help lower the levels. However, radon exposure at any level poses some health risk, and according to the CT DPH, homeowners may want to consider reducing radon levels if they are greater than 2 pCi/L.
Radon mitigation professionals are trained to reduce radon in homes using ventilation and depressurization systems and other techniques. As with many home repairs, the cost of radon mitigation varies. The CT DPH estimates that the service may cost $1200 to $1500. A list of radon professionals is available on the CT DPH website (http://www.ct.gov/dph/radon).
Testing kits can also be purchased at the American Lung Association website at https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/radon or by calling 1-800-LUNG-USA or 1-860-289-5401 to order a testing kit. Radon test kits can also be purchased at local hardware stores.
For more information about radon and radon testing, visit Radon | CDC.
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West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause inflammation of the brain. It is spread to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes, primarily Culex pipiens. A mosquito is infected by biting a bird carrying the virus. WNV is not spread by person-to-person contact or directly from birds to people. Anyone living in an area where virus activity is present is at risk of contracting this disease, however, the elderly and persons with comprised immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. Symptoms generally occur 5 to 15 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Most infections are mild and symptoms include slight fever, headache, rash or swollen nodes. More severe symptoms include rapid onset of severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, disorientation, muscle weakness, and coma.
To identify areas where viruses are circulating, and help access the threat to public health, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) conducts annual mosquito trapping and testing from June through October. Traps at sites in southwestern (Fairfield and New Haven counties) and in central (greater Hartford area) Connecticut are responsible for collecting WNV infected mosquitoes.
Residents are encouraged to take precautions to limit their exposure to mosquitoes, particularly in the hours from dusk to dawn.
Protect yourself and your family:
- Limit outdoor activities from dusk to dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
- If you are outdoors, wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, and use an FDA-approved mosquito repellent.
- Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing. Do not use under clothing.
- Carefully follow the directions on labels for insecticides or repellents.
- Cover arms and legs of children outdoors or near swamps or areas with stagnant water.
- Playpens or carriages can be protected by covering with mosquito netting.
Around your home/property:
- Remove tin cans, tires, buckets, bottles or any objects in which standing water may collect.
- Potholes, holes, ditches, tree trunks or stumps where water may accumulate should be filled in with sand or cement.
- Keep gutters and drains clean of leaves and debris so water can drain.
- Empty recycling bins, invert trash can tops and empty wadding pools every 4-7 days. Store indoors.
- Do not leave swimming pools uncovered without chlorination and filtering.
- Eliminate collected water on boat and pool covers.
- Avoid over-watering of lawns by irrigation or hose.
- Replace water in bird baths and plant saucers every 4-7 days.
- Fix any holes in screens and make certain that they are properly attached to windows.
- Construction sites should be cleaned weekly. Remove standing water in machinery, buckets and ditches.
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