Have you heard? MoDOT, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Society on Aging, is encouraging older drivers to use alternative transportation when they must limit or stop driving. Sounds good to me, and they are looking for ways to help seniors drive longer with some training and learning techniques. With that in mind, they are instituting 5 core programs in 5 cities in Missouri, one of which is the St. Louis area. Other Missouri cities include: Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Kansas City, and Springfield.
They (MoDOT) say that older drivers were involved in 15 percent of the fatal traffic crashes and 12 percent of the crashes involving a serious injury in the last 3 years. As people age, vision can change, limited mobility, slower reflexes, delayed reaction time, drowsiness, and trouble judging distances and speed all can become issues. Growing older doesn’t HAVE to mean giving up driving but we all need to be sensitive to these changes. Physicians need to be pro-active in their observances of problems stated above.
MoDot will work with NHTSA, ASA and community coordinators in each of the cities to stage training and outreach efforts on the programs. For a description of the programs click HERE. Time to take a refresher class?
Uh-oh! Here they come!
We’ve got Trouble, with a capital T! Right here in River City! Yep, they’ve found mosquitos that tested positive for the West Nile Virus right her in Chesterfield and some areas of unincorporated Creve Coeur.
Ok, so there are no reported human cases of the West Nile Virus in St. Louis County this year (as yet!), but you need to know what you can do to do to help prevent that from happening. The St. Louis County Health Department Director Dolores J. Gunn reminds us that we need to minimize our exposure to the critters. Do it by elimination of standing pools of water, cleaning out the gutters of leaves and using repellants (see below).
Here’s a list of things you can do to help:
1) At least once a week, empty all standing water from gabage cans, wading pools, pet dishes, buckets, and any other areas that may collect water.
2) Use a product with the active ingredient methoprene or Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israclensis) to place in birdbaths or ponds, to prevent mosiquitos from developing.
3) Repair screens on doors/windows
4) Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and light colored colors outdoors.
5) Spray clothing with repellents containing DEET
To find out when the county will be spraying, call 615-4-BUG for the nightly spray schedule. For more information on mosquito prevention contact the County Vector Control office at 314-727-3097 or click here.
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