August 2, 2007

County Report

Take extra precautions to beat summer heat and pests

By Santa Clara County
Supervisor Ken Yeager
Special to the Times

It’s nearing the first of August, and ’tis the season to have fun in the sun. As temperatures rise, however, so does the danger of heat-related illnesses. By following a few easy tips, residents can be better prepared to beat the heat.

Make sure to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water or drinks with lots of electrolytes, which help replenish fluids. Avoid alcohol, caffeine and large amounts of sugar, because these use up the water in your system.

Perform physical activities in the morning or evening, when temperatures are lower. The hottest part of the day is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., so save exercising, gardening and other activities for before and after work.

Never leave pets or family members in parked cars, even for a few minutes. In less than 10 minutes, the temperature inside a car can skyrocket to 20 degrees hotter than outside temperatures.

If your house or apartment doesn’t have air conditioning, consider visiting a mall, library, movie theater or community center to cool down, even if it’s only for an hour or two.

San Jose has set up cooling locations at community centers around the city so residents can avoid staying in the heat too long. For more information, call San Jose’s Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services at (408) 277-2741.

For more tips on how to beat the hot weather, visit www.sccgov.org and click on “Hot Weather Tips.”
County Vector Control fights the bite

Summer is perfect breeding time for mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes comes West Nile Virus, which is spread when mosquitoes bite humans or animals.

The Santa Clara County Vector Control District discovered the potentially fatal virus in mosquito populations in southern Campbell and the Cambrian Park neighborhood in San Jose. Residents are being warned to take steps to address conditions that encourage mosquito breeding.

To prevent the virus from spreading and to reduce populations of mosquitoes, the Vector Control District sprays mosquito-killing fog in areas where West Nile Virus has been found.

Fogging is the most environmentally friendly method for eliminating mosquitoes, and Vector Control workers will only perform the operation at night. The fogging does not harm people or pets, and residents do not need to make any special arrangements before or after the operation.

The virus can kill many small animals, and dead birds with symptoms of West Nile may be in the neighborhood. If you spot a dead bird or tree squirrel, call 1-800-968-2473 or visit www.westnile.ca.gov to report it to the California Department of Public Health.

Although West Nile Virus causes no symptoms in about 80 percent of the people who contract the disease, some will develop mild symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting, and a few will experience severe symptoms for several weeks. People over the age of 50 are most at risk, but anyone infected can experience symptoms.

The first step to preventing West Nile Virus is eliminating backyard breeding areas. Mosquitoes need water in order to breed, and getting rid of standing water in the backyard by draining pools when not in use will greatly reduce the locations for mosquitoes to breed.

If your backyard contains a pond, Vector Control can provide free fish that will keep the pond free of mosquitoes and their eggs. Call (408) 918-4770 or visit www.sccvector.org to send a request online.

When outside, use insect repellant that includes DEET or Picaridin as its active ingredient. The busiest time for mosquitoes is between dusk and dawn, so working outside before or after this time period can reduce your exposure to mosquitoes.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me any time. I can be reached at (408) 299-5040 or ken.yeager@bos.sccgov.org.