LEARN THE SIGNS OF A STROKE - ACT F.A.ST.

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:

* Face: Does the face look uneven? ask the person to smile.
* Arm: Does one arm drift down? Ask the person to raise both arms.
* Speech: Does their speech sound strange? Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.
* Time: If you observe any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Stroke Symptoms include:

* Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg especially on one side of the body.
* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
* Sudden trouble seeing in one eye or both eyes.
* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
* Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any of these symptoms.

Note the time you experienced your first symptom. This information is important to your healthcare provider and can affect treatment decisions.

Protection of tick - borne diseases!

Protect yourself and your animals

With warm weather approaching, ticks will be at high risk. Ticks can be found in most of the United States and generally in a wooded area, near the ground. People of all ages can be infected. Early detection is vital to avoid sickness. Early symptoms of tick - borne disease may include the following:

* Fever
* Fatigue
* Headache
* Rash

See your physician if any of these sysmptoms develop after a tick bite.

Take these precautions to reduce your risk...

* Avoid areas with lots of ticks
* Apply insect repellant to protect your skin
* Perform routine tick checks

for more information contact www.cdc.gov/lyme

Emergency Preparedness!

Planning ahead for an emergency gives you peace of mind and will help keep your family and friends safe. Deerfield officials are preparing for a range of possible emergencies, from hurricanes and blizzards to a possible flu pandemic and acts of terrorism. You can help also. Here are some steps you can take to prepare.

 Water (1 gallon/person/day)
 Canned Soup
 Crackers/Peanut Butter
 Granola/Protein Bars
 Juice Boxes/Canned Milk
 "Ready to Eat" (canned) meats,veggies,fruits
 Baby Food/Formula

Have a 3 day supply for each person in your home as a minimum. A two week supply is better. Remember individual diet needs.

 Sterile/Adhesive Bandages in assorted sizes
 Sterile Dressings
 Roller Gauze Bandages
 Non-Latex Gloves
 Anti-Bacterial Ointment
 Thermometer
 Cold Pack
 2x4 Inch Gauze Pads
 Scissors
 Pain Reliever
 Anti-Diarrhea Medication
 Antacid

Planning can be a family project. Involve children and discuss why you are planning. Encourage others to plan ahead. Remember neighbors need help.

Your plan and emergency supplies should meet your family’s needs. You may add to this list as you think of other essential items.

Welcome

We would like to welcome you to our newly created blog of the Deerfield Health Department. Our primary goal is to create an online information service to update the residents of the Town of Deerfield on any health related information. Within this blog, you may find the following:



* Emergency Preparedness
* Postings related to health issues
* Links to public health and governement websites