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Westchester County Executive George Latimer Reginald A. LaFayette Friday, June 16 100 E. First Street, Mount Vernon, N.Y. 10550 Westchester County Democratic Election Commissioner Reginald LaFayette was a storied veteran of In 1999, he was appointed the Westchester County Democratic Election Commissioner, a position he held for
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Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles <2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) that can enter the lungs and irritate our respiratory linings.
A limited number of epidemiological studies have evaluated the cumulative effects of breathing in wildfire smoke, but most studies have been among firefighters.
One scientific review found exposure to wildfire smoke over multiple days has an impact on lung function and heart problems. However, it’s unclear if and how these results translate to the general population.
Regardless, more caution is warranted the longer you’re exposed to smoke and the more dense the smoke. Symptoms can range from mild (e.g., eye irritation) to serious health impacts (e.g., exacerbation of asthma). Particularly high-risk groups include the following:
CDC suggests multiple ways for reducing your exposure. These include:
Stay safe out there!
Love, YLE
“Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE)” is written by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, data scientist, wife. During the day she works at a nonpartisan health policy think tank and is a senior scientific consultant to a number of organizations, including the CDC. At night she writes this newsletter. Her main goal is to “translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support this effort, subscribe below:
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In light of the ongoing Canadian wildfires and the subsequent impact on air quality, Westchester County has taken proactive steps to prioritize the health and safety of its residents and employees. The County has announced precautionary measures to mitigate potential risks associated with the poor air quality caused by the fires.
Effective immediately, Westchester County has made the following decisions for today, June 7:
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. To remain updated on the air quality index, monitor the DEC website for air quality index updates.
Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive. Residents should keep all windows closed if possible.
Additional information is available on DEC and on DOH websites.
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Westchester County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD, recommends all residents limit any strenuous outdoor activity and the very young, those with respiratory conditions or heart disease reduce their time outdoors due to the fine particulate matter in the air from Canadian wildfires in Quebec that is causing a haze across our region.
Amler said: “Infants and people with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory conditions should limit their time outdoors while this haze of fine particulate matter is present in our area. With the air quality index at an unhealthy level today, all residents should limit strenuous outdoor activity. This may be a good day to skip that outdoor run.”
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Department of Health issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. To remain updated on the air quality index, monitor the DEC website for air quality index updates.
Exposure can cause short-term health effects, such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive.
Additional information is available on DEC and on DOH websites.
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Last Friday, my daughter and I celebrated the start of summer by beginning the weekend a bit early and heading for a swim. It was a boiling hot day and the pool was packed.
Within twenty minutes of our arrival, something startling happened.
I heard a long whistle blow and everyone in the pool froze.
Right away, a manager came sprinting across the pool deck. When I looked where he was headed, I saw a soaking wet lifeguard standing at the edge. Her hat was floating in the water and some piece of equipment, maybe a radio, was at the bottom of the pool. She had clearly jumped in to pull someone out, just days into the pool season.
Still, the moment reminded me of how unexpectedly we can find ourselves in an emergency.
Can you spot a swimmer in trouble? If someone collapsed or was bleeding heavily, would you know what to do?
Today, I’m including a series of videos that I first shared in January, following the shocking collapse of Damar Hamlin on the football field. I specifically chose these videos because they are only 2-5 minutes long, so you can get through the entire set on your coffee break. There are plenty of high-quality, longer tutorials on YouTube if you want a deeper dive. Either way, I hope you’ll find some time to review these important lessons.
(Also note that CPR and choking procedures are different for infants, so if you have babies in your life, please look up specific instructions for them!)
These videos are best as a refresher. If first aid skills are new to you, I recommend taking an in-person course. Most community centers offer classes for free or at a low cost. Don’t skimp on these valuable skills—they could make all the difference.
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WPCNR MILESTONES. June 6, 2023:
It is 77 years today since allied troops died and lived on Normandy beaches in the largest military operation in history to turn the tide against Nazi Germany, the ultimate evil Third Reich.
It is a day to remember, reflect. Examine ourselves.
Would we have the courage those men and women did?
Do we have their believe in truth, justice and the American Way?
I thought in preparing my simple news program, what kind of a visual should I put up to remember those brave who faced massive, withering fire hitting them and killing them instantly on those beaches? Should it be the sobering pictures of the wounded? The shock of the lineups of corpses in the sand? An empty soldier’s helmet upside down on the beach? The overhead awe-inspiring photographs of the landing?
I chose this: thousands of crosses to remember who died together fighting tyranny and evil because you must always fight tyranny and evil and hate together. You cannot negotiate with it. There is no excuse for it then and certainly not today.
The crosses are all the same.
There are thousands of them in graveyards like the one shown here. The horror of sacrificed humanity, all the same in death, united in death, whether black, latino, Brit, American, Canadian, Australian, no matter their nationality, creed, religion. They were all equal in death comrades in death. All the same equal in every way.
Next time you hear the speeches of hate and prejudice and superiority, please remember this picture and this day.
| Seventy-Seven years ago this morning, thousands of troops stormed the beaches in Normandy, France in the largest invasion in history. The bloody assault against a heavily defended coastline requiring incredible courage and sacrifice (certain deaths) of allied troops, landing craft, paratroops, signaled the beginning of the end of the Third Reich and the evil regime of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany.The quiet beaches of Normandy today. The hundreds of rows of white crosses in cemeteries around the little town bear silent eternal testimony and tribute to the sacrifice of those brave men and women who fought, died, and triumphed this day 77 years ago today. |
We can in no way, or through any motion picture know what any veteran experienced that day. The veterans who still are with us do not like to talk about their combat experiences. And they do not.
One veteran of D-Day, asked what he thought of Saving Private Ryan, the movie of a few years ago depicting the landing and the realism of it, said the real D-Day was worse. However, veterans we have interviewed remark that they think of their combat experience every day. It is always with them.
The great battle was at its height this morning. Horror. Hell. Suffering beyond imagination.
It is inconceivable to me that I could ever be able to do what these men and women did. I would like to hope I could have.
The dead did.
The veterans did.
They had it.
They left ordinary lives as teenagers office workers, factory workers, farmers, accountants, and what have you and were able to go to war and “rise to the occasion,” or as they say today, “step it up to the next level.” The highest level.
Rising to the occasion is hard. Stepping it up to the next level is hard. Giving all in vain is heartbreaking.
Today another struggle is underway the struggle to preserve peace, justice and the American Way: the battle against hate, injustice and do the right thing.
Today the dead sacrifices should be remembered.
They gave the last full measure.
Are we all in today?
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MIGRANTS ARRIVE TODAY IN A PICTURE PROVIDED WPCNR
WPCNR CITY LIMITS. From a White Plains CitizeNetReporter. June 5, 2023:
Migrants have arrived to live temporarily in White Plains, Mayor Roach firmed to other media today.
There was no Monday County Briefing today, at which this event probably would have been reported by the County Executive.
Mayor Tom Roach confirmed the arrival this evening, reporting that 40 have been housed so far.
The housing is expected to be temporary. This brings the total of migrants housed in Westchester to about 140 in Yonkers and White Plains.
Other possible places are the empty Arrowhead Hotel and the empty Rye Town Hilton. No construction or renovation has begun on either of those properties since the two closed during the time of Covid.
