Posts tagged residents
Plague identified in City of Boulder
Jun 3rd
Go ahead, try to pet me!!(I’ll rip yer face off)
Boulder, CO – A domestic cat living in the 2500 block of 6th Street has tested positive for plague. Additionally, a dead squirrel found at the intersection of 8th and Maxwell Avenue has tested positive for plague. As a result, the Mapleton Hill neighborhood has been posted with signs listing precautionary measures to avoid plague.
This is the first time plague activity has been confirmed in Boulder County this season, and public health officials want to remind residents about how to protect themselves against plague.
“We want people to understand what steps they should take to protect themselves, their family members, and their pets,” said Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) Environmental Health Division Manager Joe Malinowski. “Because plague is most commonly transmitted by fleas, taking steps to avoid flea exposure will be most helpful in preventing this disease.”
Public health officials recommend the following precautions to reduce the likelihood of being exposed to plague:
· AVOID FLEAS! Protect pets with flea powder, and keep pets on a leash and out of wild rodent habitats.
· STAY OUT of areas that wild rodents inhabit. If you enter areas with wild rodents, wear insect repellent and tuck your pants cuffs into your socks to prevent flea bites.
· AVOID all contact with wild rodents, including squirrels; do not feed or handle them.
· NEVER TOUCH sick or dead animals with your bare hands. Use a long-handled shovel to place dead animals in a garbage bag, and then place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.
· PREVENT rodent infestations around your house. Clear plants and materials away from outside walls, reduce access to food items, and set traps.
· TREAT known rodent sites around your home with flea powder or a suitable insecticide.
Plague occurs naturally in Colorado and is an infectious disease spread by fleas to wild rodents and other small mammals, such as squirrels, rats, prairie dogs, and rabbits. Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and occurs after a bite from an infected flea. Plague can spread to humans when infected fleas from squirrels, prairie dogs, and other wild rodents bite a human.
Household pets, such as dogs and especially cats, can either get plague or carry infected fleas home to their owners. In rare instances, plague can be transmitted to people from cats sick with plague. “Keeping cats indoors is the best way to protect them from getting plague,” said Malinowski. “In addition, pet owners should discuss with their veterinarians the best way to protect pets from fleas.”
Symptoms of plague infection include high fever, extreme fatigue, and painful swollen lymph nodes (called bubos). If you observe these symptoms in a person or pet, it is important to contact your health care provider or veterinarian immediately. Plague can be treated with antibiotics, but this treatment is most successful when the disease can be diagnosed quickly.
For more information about plague, please visit the BCPH web site at www.BoulderCountyHealth.org, or call the Health Alert Hotline at 303-441-1460.
Community flood preparedness meeting set for Wednesday, May 25
May 20th
Boulder, Colo. – The Boulder Office of Emergency Management will host a community meeting this Wednesday, May 25 to discuss community flood risks and what residents can do to prepare for an emergency.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Boulder Public Library Auditorium at 1001 Arapahoe Ave.
Residents who live along Fourmile Creek, Fourmile Canyon Creek or Boulder Creek and all interested members of the community are encouraged to attend.
Boulder County and City of Boulder employees will present information about the impacts from the Fourmile Canyon Fire and the increased flood potential for properties below the burned area and in the city of Boulder. Individual preparedness and flood safety will also be discussed.
To learn more about flood preparedness and the Fourmile Canyon Fire recovery efforts, visit www.boulderfloodinfo.net and www.bouldercounty.org/fourmilefire.
For more information, contact Emergency Management Coordinator Merrie Leach (303-441-3647 / mleach@bouldercounty.org) or Fourmile Canyon Fire Recovery Manager Garry Sanfaçon (720-564-2642 / gsanfacon@bouldercounty.org).
Boulder Carbon monoxide detector awakens residents, saves lives
May 13th
Carbon monoxide detector awakens residents, saves lives
The Boulder Fire Department responded to a small fire at an apartment in the 2000 block of Spruce Street at 8:54 a.m. on May 13. The two residents were awakened by a carbon monoxide detector.
The fire was caused by a bathroom fan which had been left running. The residents were able to extinguish the fire by themselves. When firefighters arrived, they made sure the fire was completely out and cleared smoke out of the apartment and attic.
One of the residents’ was taken to the hospital as a precaution to be treated for smoke inhalation. The other resident was not injured.
Boulder Fire Marshal Dave Lowrey says people need to use caution with these types of fans.
“Bathroom fans are not made for continuous use. Boulder Fire Rescue has responded to numerous fires caused by bathroom fans overheating, melting and starting fires. We want to remind everyone to turn off their fans before leaving the house to prevent fires such as these.”
This situation, Lowrey said, is also a good reminder of the value of detectors. The carbon monoxide detector sounded because of the smoke and gases produced by the fire.
“We encourage all Boulder residents to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes and check them regularly to insure they are working,” Lowrey said. “These devices can help prevent serious injuries and save lives.”
