Read More

Lake County General Health District Officials Expecting an Increase in Mosquitoes

June 12, 2017NEWS RELEASE                                                                                                                         CONTACT: Bert Mechenbier, (440) 350-2453June 8, 2017                                                                                                                                   LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICTLAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT OFFICIALS EXPECTING AN INCREASE IN MOSQUITOESLake County General Health District (LCGHD) officials are expecting an increase in the amount of mosquitoes in Lake County due to forecasted high temperatures.   The rains over the past few weeks have left large areas of standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs. While there are currently no known cases of Zika virus in Lake County, mosquitoes are also the source of West Nile Virus, which is native to Lake County, as well as a nuisance.  “The best advice is to get rid of standing water around your house if you can and use personal protection against mosquitoes,” noted Bert Mechenbier, Supervisor of Mosquito Control at LCGHD.Mechenbier provided the following tips for homeowners to keep mosquitoes from breeding in your backyard:Dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools, plastic covers or other containers that collect and hold water.Keep roof gutters unclogged. Clean gutters in the spring and fall.Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs. Keep them covered when empty.Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted trays at least once a week, if not more often.Make sure children’s toys are not holding water.Fill or drain puddles, ditches, and swampy areas and either remove, drain, or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar.Eliminate seepage from cisterns, cesspools, and septic tanks.Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs.Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.LCGHD would also like to advise the following to protect yourself from biting mosquitoeLCGHD would also like to advise the following to protect yourself from biting mosquitoes:Avoid being outside at dawn/dusk. If you cannot avoid those times, use a repellent.Use an insect repellent containing  active ingredients which have been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing. Of the products registered with the EPA, those containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection than other products.Use repellents according to label instructions.Insect repellents can be used on pregnant women. EPA does not recommend any additional precautions for repellent use by pregnant or nursing women..Most insect repellents can be used on children. Products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not to be used on children under the age of three years.. Do not allow children to handle or spray insect repellents. When using on children, apply to your own hands first and then put it on the child. Avoid applying repellent to children’s hands because children frequently put their hands in their eyes and mouths. EPA does not recommend any additional precautions for using registered repellents on childrenRepellents containing a higher percentage of the active ingredient typically provide longer-lasting protection. Regardless of what product you use, if you start to get mosquito bites, reapply the repellent according to the label instructions.Wash treated skin and clothing after returning indoors.Wear light-colored clothing.Wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks if you go outside when mosquitoes are most active (from dusk until dawn).Avoid wearing perfume, cologne and aromatic scents.Make sure window and door screens are “bug tight”. Repair or replace torn screens.Replace outdoor lights with yellow “bug lights”.If you have a concern about standing water, please call LCGHD at (440) 350-2543. If the standing water is on private property, permission will be needed to enter the property. For general information on mosquitoes and mosquito control, please visit the LCGHD’s website at www.lcghd.org. ###

Read More

Lake County Kicks Off Local Click It Or Ticket Campaign

May 26, 2017PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                     CONTACT: MICHELLE HART (440) 350-2464May 24, 2017                                                                                                             LAKE COUNTY GENERAL HEALTH DISTRICT LAKE COUNTY KICKS OFF LOCAL CLICK IT OR TICKET CAMPAIGN ON MAY 25, 2017The Lake County Safe Communities Coalition, in collaboration with the Painesville Farmers Market and law enforcement partners, will hold its local Click It or Ticket Campaign Kickoff on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. at Veterans Park, 1 Liberty Street in Painesville. The presentation will take place at the gazebo. Speakers include Painesville Municipal Court Judge Michael Cicconetti, Lieutenant Charles Gullett of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Chief Anthony Powalie of Painesville City Police Department, and Sheriff Daniel Dunlap or a representative from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.“Currently Lake County has two traffic fatalities in 2017 and both were unrestrained. The focus of the Click It or Ticket Campaign is to bring awareness to the importance of seat belt usage, as many know the dangers but still refuse to buckle-up,” says Lake County Safe Communities Coalition Coordinator Michelle Hart. Painesville Police Chief Anthony Powalie adds, “Safety is planned for and injuries are preventable”.Click It or Ticket is a national enforcement mobilization that will be taking place across the country May 22 – June 4, 2017. The Click It or Ticket program began in North Carolina in 1993, which later expanded to include eight states in a regional campaign in 2001. Ohio became involved in a national pilot program in 2002 and, as of 2004, all States and U.S. territories participate in Click It or Ticket annually. The mobilization is supported by national and local paid advertising and earned media campaigns aimed at raising awareness. The primary audience continues to be men ages 18 to 34, which research shows are less likely to wear seat belts.In addition to the presentation, Lake County Safe Communities Coalition will be hosting a booth at the Farmers Market, engaging shoppers with the Seatbelt Safety Prize Wheel and providing a lunchtime snack. During the Farmers Market, Barrio Food Truck will be serving lunch and vendors such as Middle Ridge Gardens, Carhops Burger Sauce, Rainbow Farms, Backattack Almonds will be selling items. All news media, public officials and the general public are invited to attend. ###

Read More