Press
Release
By Risë Smythe-Freed,
BSN, RN, Health Officer -Town of
Share Care!
It’s Infectious!
More
than 50 families in
Sadly,
we can now only wonder how different things might have been if the
inevitability of a level 4 hurricane hitting a below sea level major
metropolitan area had not only been assessed, but anticipated and accommodated
as well. Most people did not die directly
from the hurricane, but from human failure to anticipate and accommodate an
accurate, appropriate and adequate response before and after the hurricane.
From individuals, neighbors, communities and up through local, regional and
state governments and agencies, this failure to anticipate the inevitable and
plan a response resulted in the further loss of life; especially of the
medically and socially dependent or frail.
Hurricane
Katrina offers to teach us an expensive lesson. Whether we learn the lesson or
not is up to each of us. In
Rather
than fall victim to the inevitable Nor’easter, flood, or mosquito, what would
it look like if we were to put concern and care for our neighbors into everyday
practice now? I doubt that any of us would have to shoulder burdens alone
during the next disaster if we practice shouldering those burdens together well
before it happens. Most problems can be foreseen when we take the time to ask
each other what our needs are and how best to provide for those needs in the
event of this or that type of disaster.
You
neighbor might be on kidney dialysis or an elderly neighbor or dependent adult
who is lonely, or alone, and afraid of strangers. Your neighbor might be a
single parent and overwhelmed with providing for dependent children. You might
even be that neighbor in need of the care and concern of others. Identify your
needs and share your concerns with and about your neighbor. Get to know your
neighbors’ needs now; each need deserves consideration when planning,
preparing, and practicing for disaster.
Given
the reported stories of human caring, perhaps Hurricane Katrina gave us a gift.
She showed us that even with the stated good intentions of local, state and
federal governments and agencies, the best help will come from concerned people
caring for and about each other’s welfare before, during and after any disaster
and everyday, too.
Share Care!
Ø Get to know your neighbors. Our
neighbors are often our best resource in times of trouble and joy!
Ø Share your care and concern about your
neighbor’s welfare.
Ø Does your neighbor depend upon prescription
medicine, medical equipment and supplies? If so, ask your
neighbor if they have a month’s reserve of medicine and supplies and if they
have a backup plan for electrical medical equipment. Your Town Welfare Officer
is a resource. The State of
Ø Does your neighbor need help with
transportation or cannot get out because of increased gas prices? The
New Hampshire Attorney General wants to know about the impact of increased gas
prices on
Ø Does your neighbor have a pet or farm
animals needing more food or medical attention than your neighbor can reliably
provide? If so, share your care with the Animal Rescue League of New
Hampshire at 472-3647.
The Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire wants to help pet owners keep their
pets. They can help with food and veterinarian care.
Ø Does your neighbor need help managing their
family’s needs? If so, many resources exist locally, regionally, and through
the State of
Ø Does your neighbor need help with parenting
effectively? For information, programs and services to help parents parent
their children more effectively, call Prevention and Family Support Services at
271-4451
Ø Does your neighbor have concerns that a
child or adult is abused or neglected? Call the NH Help Line at 1-800-852-3388
Ø Does your neighbor need help getting their trash
to the recycling center? Offer to throw an extra couple of bags in
with your load. If food waste, trash and garbage are already overflowing, call
your Town Health Officer; we are here to help.
Ø Does your neighbor have enough heating fuel
for the winter? The price of heating fuel could reach an all time high
causing severe hardship. Do you have fuel on reserve that you could share with
your neighbors? The New Hampshire Fuel Assistance Program can help with fuel
expenses and weatherization of homes. Contact Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc.,
Ø Does your neighbor have an alternative
source of light and heat if there is an electricity outage?
Flashlights are fine for short-term needs, but batteries are expensive and
candles are a fire hazard. Does your neighbor have a safe oil or propane
lantern and reserve fuel?
Ø Does your neighbor have an
alternative/accessible water supply that is not dependent on
electricity? Are your neighbors able to store drinking water? Do you have
enough stored drinking water to share with your neighbors?
Ø Does your neighbor have non-perishable food
reserved for emergencies? Do you have enough non-perishable food to
share if the electricity is out and road conditions make travel too dangerous?
Ø Does your neighbor need help eliminating
standing water on their property? The NH Division of Communicable
Disease Control and Surveillance has information about preventing the spread of
West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) at http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/CDCS/West+Nile+Virus/default.htm
Ø
The New
Hampshire Help Line can direct you and your neighbors
to a wide variety of resources, agencies and programs for help. Call the NH Help Line at 1-800-852-3388
Ø
Ø Does your neighbor know your name, phone
number and who you would like called if you are ill or need help?
Ø Give your neighbor a hand up and you will
have a neighbor alongside you in times of trouble and joy!
For
more information or to speak with