Cathleen Liberty, Webster Health Agent

February begins the start of American Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and steps you can take to prevent heart disease. Heart disease remains the number one disease that kills both men and women, but by reducing or eliminating certain risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, excess weight, stress and diabetes can help prevent heart disease. 

Steps to improving your health:

Having a healthy diet is very important to preventing heart disease. Eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish and lean meat is vital to having a healthy heart.

Taking part in regular physical activity such as walking, dancing, gardening, sports and lifting weights are a great way to reduce weight therefore reducing the risk of heart disease and reducing the risk of diabetes if you are at risk.

Smoking is a risk factor that can increase your chances of getting heart disease. Smoking is also very difficult to stop, so talk to your doctor about ways to go about quitting smoking.

Manage your stress through physical exercise which can improve your mood, mental health and prevent heart disease.

Know your body and the signs and symptoms that something may be wrong with your heart.

Remember

It is never too late to begin taking steps to prevent heart disease and have a healthy heart. Heart disease begins in childhood, so by living a healthy life style and eating a healthy diet you are taking control of your health and your life and can be a role model to others.

Cathleen Liberty, Webster Health Agent

With the holidays right around the corner, it is important to prevent foodborne illnesses from happening in your kitchen while preparing a tasty turkey or a heavenly ham. With a few food safety tips, you should be able to have a food-safe holiday.

Tips on food safety

The most important tip when handling raw meat such as turkey or ham is proper handwashing and sanitizing equipment. Proper handwashing and sanitizing cutting boards, knives, and countertops is the only way to stop the spread of bacteria that can cause contamination. Wash hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, which is the most effective way to properly sanitize your hands before and after handling food.

A refrigerator thermometer comes in handy when storing your raw meat in the refrigerator. Store the thermometer in the coldest part of the refrigerator and make sure the thermometer reads 41 °F or below to ensure your food is stored at proper temperature.

A  meat thermometer is beneficial to making sure meat is cooked at an appropriate internal temperature depending on the type of meat it is.  Temperatures vary for different meats. The thickest part of the meat is the best place to take the temperature, there is no way to tell food is cooked to a certain temperature by looking at it.

Remember, there is a four-hour danger zone that the cooked meat can be held below 140 °F before bacteria begins to infect the meat. Reheating or microwaving does not kill all bacteria from cooked meats, so don’t take a chance, after cutting the meat, store the remainder of the cooked meat in the refrigerator. Divide the leftovers in small shallow containers so that it will cool faster.

Leftovers should not be kept in the refrigerator longer than 3-5 days. When reheating leftovers, make sure there are no cold spots in food where bacteria can survive. Make sure to stir and rotate food being microwaved for even cooking.

Remember, a few tips can prevent foodborne illnesses and can make your holiday meals safe for you and your guests. You can also view Health and Safety Videos on the www.webster-ma.gov, health department web site for more home safety tips.

by Cathleen Liberty
Health Agent

As of late, the Board of Health is hearing about cases of Pertussis.  Most people identify with the more common name, whooping cough, rather than Pertussis, but it is the same highly contagious bacterial disease of the respiratory tract.  Pertussis is transmitted from person to person by coughing or sneezing and is seen more in infants and young children; however, adults can also get Pertussis as well. Symptoms can appear 7-10 days after infection that eventually develops into a cough followed by whooping or a sound a person makes gasping for air after a coughing fit, hence the name whooping cough.

How to protect yourself from contracting Pertussis

Getting vaccinated for Pertussis is a very effective way to protect yourself from the disease and most of the population is vaccinated against Pertussis when babies, however the vaccination is not 100% effective so a fully vaccinated person, regardless of age can catch the disease if exposed. However, the vaccinated person may have a less severe case of Pertussis, therefore, if you experience a very bad cough for a long period of time, the best thing to do is contact your doctor.

How to protect from spreading Pertussis to other people

Spreading the disease can be thwarted by practicing good hygiene etiquette while being ill, especially if you are coughing or sneezing.  Practicing good hygiene etiquette means covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and if there is not a tissue at hand, use the upper sleeve to cough or sneeze into, not your hands.  Washing your hands after coughing or sneezing with soap and water is the smart thing to do or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water is not available.

Remember…

Practicing good hygiene etiquette is the most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of all infections. But, to help stop the spread of any illness, especially Pertussis, it is as important to avoid close contact with people, which includes staying home from work or school while ill. You should know, it only takes one person with Pertussis to infect up to 15 other people.

It is the time of year when families are engaging in outdoor activities and are more apt to be confronted by wild animals such as skunks, raccoons, foxes and bats.  These animals may look cute but they may also be carrying a dangerous virus called rabies.  The rabies virus is found in wild animals and can be transferred to a human if bitten, therefore one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family is to avoid all wild animals even if they seem friendly. If you see a wild animal that is acting strangely, report it to animal control.

Family pets are at risk of getting bit by a rabid wild animal too.. If they are bitten by a wild animal they may also be exposed to rabies, increasing the risk of family members contracting rabies because of close contact with family pets.  Family pets that have not been up-to-date with their rabies shots and have been exposed to rabies must be quarantined for six months, or put down, because of their risk of getting rabies after exposure. Therefore, it is very important to help reduce the risk of rabies expose by:

• Taking your family pet to the veterinarian on a regular basis to keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date.
• Keep cats and ferrets indoors and watch dogs while outdoors.
• Having your family pet spayed or neutered helps reduce unwanted animals from coming in contact with your pet, potentially exposing them to rabies.
• Call animal control if you observe wild or stray animals in your neighborhood.
• Do not feed or provide water to your pets outdoors because it may attract wild or stray animals.
• Keep trash and rubbish in a container with a tight fitting cover to reduce attracting wild and stray animals.

If exposure to rabies has occurred it is important to contact your health provider because rabies can be prevented by a series of shots. It is also important to contact animal control to capture the animal for observation or rabies testing as well. To keep your family safe from exposure to rabies, talk with your family members about the dangers of rabies and what needs to be done to stay healthy and rabies free.

Hot weather can be a health hazard

By Cathleen Liberty
Webster Health Agent

As much as the people in New England love summer, those days when extreme heat occurs, it can be a health hazard. During extreme heat, the body gets too hot and it cannot properly cool itself off.  This is dangerous enough to cause death. Heat-related illness is preventable therefore; people need to know who is at a higher risk and what can be done to prevent heat-related illness during extreme heat.

To prevent heat-related illness;

Take into consideration that age, fever, dehydration, heart disease, poor circulation, sunburn, prescription drug and alcohol use determine if a person can cool off in extreme heat.

Do not take part in strenuous physical activities during extreme heat.

During extreme heat, limit your outdoor activities to morning and evening hours.

If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body's thermostat will have a chance to recover.

If you feel your heart pounding while working or exercising in the heat, be sure to stop all activities and get in a cool shaded area to rest.

The number one protective factor against heat-related illness is being in an air-conditioned environment during extreme heat.

How to help others during extreme heat;

Those who are greater risk to develop heat-related illness should be monitored.  Those at greater risk are;

Infants and children

The elderly population

Overweight people

Physically ill people

It is important to visit the higher risk population at least twice a day watching for signs of heat-related symptoms such as light headiness, confusion and dizziness.

Remember to…

• Stay cool indoors.
• Drink plenty of fluids. (Non-alcoholic).
• Replace salt and minerals.
• Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
• Pace yourself.
• Use a buddy system.
• Monitor people at high risk.
• Adjust to the environment.
• Do not leave children in cars.
• Use common sense.

Stay Informed

Listen to local news and weather channels or contact your local public health department during extreme health conditions for health and safety updates.

by Patriot Staff

WEBSTER – The Board of Health has called for a new public hearing to be held June 18 to revisit the tobacco regulations it amended at its April 2 meeting.

At that time, the board changed tobacco regulations to “ban all paraphernalia, merchandise oriented towards users of marijuana and other illegal drugs, including but not limited to: blunt wrappers, rosebud glass tubes or other non-traditional tobacco smoking apparatus.”

The purpose of the regulation was to stop the sale of items used for illegal drugs. However, several  local merchants of tobacco products were not clear as to what precisely they could and could not sell.

Jimmy Nayfeh, owner of Jimmy’s Convenience store, attended the May 21 board meeting and demonstrated his dilemma. He brought with him blunt wraps and cigars used to make blunt wraps, which might then be filled with marijuana, but obviously could also be used for permitted tobacco.  Rolling papers fall into the same category.

The board agreed that the language needed to be more specific and that the regulation will not be enforced until that happens.

The board will consult with town counsel  as to what appropriate language might be, and Health Agent Cathleen Liberty will also do more research on exactly what to ban and not to ban, and what other communities have done.

“Let’s make this right for the people in town,” said board chairman David Zalewski.

Lyme disease is a vector borne disease that is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. People who have been bitten by an infected blacklegged tick may become infected.  Therefore, as we begin spring activities that take place outdoors, it is important to know more about protecting yourself from getting bit by an infected tick.

How to Protect Yourself from Tick Bites

Blacklegged ticks live in or near wooded areas. To avoid contact, do not walk through wooded or grasses areas, stay on the center of a trail.

Use a tick repellent that contains DEET on the skin or clothing or permethrin on clothing and gear.  These products protect up to several hours, but read the product instruction. While applying repellent to the skin, be careful to avoid hands, eyes, and mouth.

Check for Ticks Daily

After being outdoors, conduct a body check for blacklegged ticks.  Ticks can be found on the entire body, but are more likely to be found;

• Under the arms
• In and around the ears
• Inside the belly button
• Back of the knees
• On the head and in the body hair
• Around the waist.

Also, be sure to check your clothing for ticks that may have been carried in on. To be on the safe side, place your clothing in a dryer set on high heat should effectively kill any ticks that may be hiding.

Any ticks that are found should be removed by using a pair of tweezers or a tick removal kit.

Signs and Symptoms of a Tick Bite

If you have been bitten by a black legged tick, a bull’s eye rash may appear or flu like symptoms may occur within 3- 30 days of being bitten.  If these symptoms occur see your healthcare provider.

Protecting your Pets

Pets get ticks the same way humans do, therefore speak to the veterinarian about tick repellent medicine or tick collars to protect your pet from getting bit and from bringing the ticks into your home.

Create a Tick-Safe Zone in your Yard

There are ways to keep you, your family and pets safe from ticks; keep play and patio areas away from shrubs, bushes and other grassy areas.  Also, by placing wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas keeps ticks away. There are also chemicals that can be applied around your home to reduce the population of ticks and discourage deer from coming into the yard since they are a main food source for adult ticks.

Cathleen Liberty

Bed bugs have invaded many homes over the past couple of years 
and still continue to be a nuisance.

Bed bugs are unique in that they feed off of human and animal blood and produce bites that tend to be itchy, but they don’t transmit infectious diseases.  They feed about every 5 to 10 days but can live up to a year without feeding.

These insects don’t have wings and fly, but they are considered hitchhikers and catch a ride on luggage, backpacks, and second hand furniture that you may bring into your home.  It only takes one bed bug to cause infestation and these buggers are not easy to get rid of.

Bed bugs come in all sizes, the adults are reddish-brown and are approximately ¼ to 3/8 inches long with flat, oval-shaped body. Young bed bugs called nymphs are light brown and are smaller in size and the eggs are whitish color and are pear shaped.  Bed bugs have a variety of hiding places such as seams of mattresses, seams on couches and chairs, the inside and underside of bureau drawers, folds of curtains, seams of wallpaper, in between walls, bed frames and places around the bed.

How do you know if you have bed bugs?

Signs of bed bug infestation may be;

• Smears of a brownish-reddish color on the mattresses, pillowcases or bedsheets.
• You may smell a musty odor.
• Small itchy bumps may be present on the skin.

How to get rid of bed bugs?

• Identify the source.
• Begin with vacuuming your home. Discard vacuum bag after every use if you can.
• Discard the mattress or clean and cover the existing mattress in a zipper cover.
• Seal all cracks, crevices and entry points in the wall with a silicone based sealant.
• Contact a licensed pest control company. Refrain from using an insect killer for it may only spread infestation.
• Launder clothes and put them in a tightly closed bag or bin to prevent re-infestation.

Who is responsible for getting rid of the bedbugs?

According the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code 105 CMR 410.550 the landlord or property manager is required by law “to maintain the dwelling they own without insect infestation.”

• If you are renting a single family home and you have maintained the upkeep of the home, the owner is not responsible for getting rid of the bedbugs.

 If you are a tenant contact your landlord so they can hire a licensed pest exterminator so that the insect can be identified and to develop an extermination plan.

Age limit decision to protect public health went viral

By Patriot Staff Reporter

Webster - “There is a serious epidemic of kitchen tattooing in this town. I know of at least eight or ten kitchen operations where illegal tattooing is taking place. These people are making money off minors who can’t come in and get a legal tattoo.”

These are the words of Ed Masterson, owner of Steel & Ink, one of two legitimate, licensed tattoo parlors in town. He continues, “I see at least three (minors) a week; they come in with botched tattoos, they come in with infections, and scars from infections, and they want me to fix it. I’ve seen just about everything in my many years of tattooing.”

Police had discovered that amateur tattoo artists were advertising on Facebook and told Health Agent Cathleen Liberty about the illegal activity. She had also had a complaint from a neighbor about a local “kitchen artist,”and so  the Board moved to address the problem at a public hearing last week. One attendee at the hearing told of a van that drove up near his property and parked, advertising illegal tattooing services.

In response, the Board amended town regulations to allow 14- to 17 year-olds to obtain a tattoo if a parent approves and accompanies the teen to the tattoo parlor.

The decision was made in the context of known illegal activity and the tenets of public safety. Unlicensed tattooing is known to cause serious health effects, including MRSA, HIV, hepatitis, and bacterial infections.

____________________________________________________________________________

Comments by Dr. Alfred DeMaria, the Department of Public Health’s State Epidemiologist, on the Board of Health decision.

We in public health are always balancing risks against benefits. When amateurs engage in illegal tattooing, there are infection risks. We do worry about that, and that's why there are regulations.

Each community has to deal with this on its own, he said. If a younger person comes in for a tattoo, you want to make sure the parents are involved if possible, and that it is done safely.  Consider this: a 15-year old can't just walk into a body art establishment, and so his options are limited to having friends or illegal tattooists doing it. But, if there's an option to get it done with a parent, they can get it done safely at a licensed shop.

We don't generally think of hepatitis and HIV infection in this age group, but a MRSA infection presents even more of a risk if equipment is not sterilized. Skin infections become an issue, there are multiple possibilities for infection that people don't think of first. If a teenager is getting a tattoo in a controlled establishment, he will be safer; somebody has a reputation to maintain.”

Tattooing was illegal in Massachusetts until 15 years ago, and there was a lot of underground activity. Regulations were adopted to make tattooing safe. The Webster Board of Health's decision extends the regulations to a younger age group.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Along with the decision to allow minors to obtain tattoos, the board tightened up the regulation for who may perform body art. Licensed tattoo artists must now have at least 1800 hours of experience under the supervision of a licensed practitioner before they can operate on their own.

“We wanted to make it as safe as possible for individuals to get tattoos,” said Board of Health member Nancie Zecco, who has a Master's degree in Public  Health, specializing in epidemiology, which is the study of causes , distribution, and control of diseases in populations.

Still, the board’s decision went viral, as they say. All the news media, print, radio, and broadcast, descended on the town hall last week. Channel 5, Channel 7, Channel 3, NPR, WAAF, and the Telegram & Gazette were there onsite, and dozens more picked up the story and relayed it across the state and nation.

Much of the reaction was negative, and Board of Health Chairman David Zalewski announced on Monday that the board will discuss  the age limit again at its next meeting.

“We are dealing with a real situation,” Ms. Zecco said. “We have two regulated, licensed tattoo parlors in town and would rather have younger people go to them for a tattoo.”

“What was lost in all the media attention, all that people heard was that 14-year olds can get tattoos in Webster. What they’re not hearing is that the decision was for safety reasons. If kids are going to get a tattoo you want them to get it in a place that’s safe and regulated, not in a friend’s house.

“We knew there was an issue in town, and we took the initiative to protect the public by amending the regulations. It’s still up to the parents to make the decision for the child,” she said. Like many parents, she herself would not allow a 14-year old to get a tattoo. “However, it’s still up to the parents.” Ms. Zecco had initially moved to lower the age to 16, not 14.

Ed Masterson too said he “would not do it to one of my kids or grandchildren, and I wouldn’t do it to someone else’s child.” He said the kids who are getting the “kitchen tattoos” are the ones that parents can’t control. He tells 14-15 year olds who want a tattoo to hang a picture of it on the wall for two years and come to see him after that.

As for the new regulations, Masterson said that if he sees a lot of 15-year olds with botched tattoos, he might start fixing them.

Massachusetts state law stipulates that individuals must be 18-years old to obtain a tattoo, but towns may amend the regulations. Some have. Auburn, for example, allows tattooing of kids as young as 6.

Andrew R. Pelletier,  Auburn’s Development and Inspectional Services Director in the Public Health Division, explained the history of that decision. In 2004 the State ruled that towns could not outlaw tattoo parlors.

Auburn’s Board of Health, he said, “was very active at the time, and was adamant that we were there to protect the health of the child, not to legislate the morals of the family.”

There was little precedence for an age limit. Auburn was one of the first five or ten towns in the state to address it, he said. “We debated hotly on the issue of age.” The board looked at the age at which mental development would not be affected, and used laws regarding other dangerous products, such as lead paint, as its guide.  “We didn’t want to get involved in the raising of children.

“Body arts are a concern to public health,” he continued. “There’s a lot of nastiness out there. But we’re allowed freedom of expression.” Mr. Pelletier said three or four tattoo parlors have come to Auburn since the law was passed, but “all refuse to work on children.”

As for unlicensed tattoo artists, “we can’t regulate that,” he said. “But we do have enforcement powers and when we find them we can arrest them.”

Webster's Health Agent Liberty echoed that position. “But the hardest part is to catch them,”she said. “There's nothing we can do unless we catch them in the act.”

Will Auburn revisit its age criterion? “We regularly review all of our regulations to see if the codes are still good and to incorporate emerging products and new technologies. Now that Webster has looked at this, we can look at if we want to open it up again.”

Back in Webster, the Board of Health’s next scheduled meeting, when it will revisit the decision, is on May 14.

Lowers age for tattoos to 14

Webster -  The Board of Health amended tobacco regulations this week, banning all paraphernalia and merchandise oriented towards users of marijuana and other illegal drugs, including, but not limited to: blunt wrappers, rosebud glass tubes or other non-traditional tobacco smoking apparatus.

The board held a public hearing on the subject Monday, April 2. Health Agent Cathleen Liberty said that while there had been no complaints from citizens, the board wanted to take those items out of the town of Webster. “It's clear that they can be used for illegal substances,” she said.

There are at least two smoke shops in town which sell the banned items, but notification of the new regulations will be sent to all stores that sell tobacco products, including convenience stores.

The board also removed a contradiction in the town's tobacco regulations by deleting a section which prohibited the sale or distribution of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, or nicotine delivery products from a vending machine. These products can be sold in vending machines, with a permit.

Body art practitioners were also on the health board's radar. New regulations require that, in addition to  having the proper documentation to be a body art practitioner, tattooists will be required to have “1800 hours of apprenticeship under the direct supervision of a licensed body art tattooist.”

Health Agent Liberty said under the old regulations a tattooist didn't need any experience to practice the art. They could take a course, obtain the proper documentation, and start work. The board took the   step as a public safety measure, as improper procedures can cause infection and disease.

“A lot goes into this,” said Ms. Liberty. “Tattooing is a complicated process. The two body art shops we have here in town are very knowledgeable; they are not opposed to this.”

In conjunction with the new rule, the board instituted a $100 fee for the body art apprenticeship, every two years.

The board made a third change in the body art regulations, this to allow “fourteen to eighteen (14 to18) year olds to receive tattoos with a signed consent and also accompanied by an adult or legal guardian.

The old regulations required a person to be 18.

This loosening of the age requirement is also intended as a public safety measure. “We are trying to eliminate infection and disease caused by illegal tattooing, said Ms. Liberty. “There's a lot of tattooing going on in kitchens, and the board felt that the 14- to-18 year-old group was most likely to be involved in illegal tattoos.”

Recognizing the realities of what kids do, the board felt that lowering the age limit and requiring parental consent would make this group safer from a public health perspective.