Macomb County Community Health Survey

Because your opinions and experience matter, the Macomb County Health Department is conducting a Community Health Survey.

All those who live, work, and play in Macomb County are encouraged to participate, so forward this survey to all your friends and family in the county. The results of this survey will help Macomb prioritize current health concerns and enhance future services throughout the county. The survey is completely anonymous and only takes about 3-5 minutes.

Follow the link to Survey Monkey in order to complete the survey:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCcomhealth

Holiday Safety

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many residents are preparing for the familiar dinner fare – turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. It’s a day to step back and appreciate all that we are thankful for. However, this day of gratitude can also be dangerous. From road hazards to kitchen fires, there are many things that one needs to prepare for.

When hosting Thanksgiving and preparing a feast, there are many things to keep in mind when it comes to safety:

1. The kitchen is the setting for the majority of fires in homes. The biggest culprit of these fires is when food is left unattended. Be sure to always have an eye on the meal you are preparing.
2. Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing while cooking since the fabric may be in the way. Be sure that sleeves are rolled up tightly as to not catch on loose items on the counter or flames on the stove.
3. If a fire starts on the stove in a pan, cover the pan with a lid or use a fire extinguisher to put out the flame. Never use water, flour, or any other similar substances as they can flare-up.
4. If a fire starts in the oven, turn off the oven, keep the door closed, and call 911. While waiting for the firefighters, stay outside of the house.
5. If using a turkey fryer, be sure to follow all of the manufacturer’s directions completely. Never use a fryer indoors (despite how tempting the warm garage looks.) Be sure to completely thaw and then dry the turkey before beginning the process. Moisture in the meat can cause the grease to bubble, possibly up over the side, and onto the flame, causing a fire. Be sure to use the proper sized turkey for the fryer, and that it is cooked in the right amount of oil at the correct temperature. Also, be sure to have a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.

If you are going to be one of the 43 million Americans traveling this Thanksgiving, 90% of whom will be driving, here are some safety tips to keep in mind when you head out on the road:

1. Give yourself plenty of time when making your travel ETAs. Unexpected, bad weather and traffic jams in Michigan are a given. By allowing extra time for your travels, you won’t feel as if you are in a rush when one of these events were to slow you down. No rush = less stress.
2. Make sure that everything in your car, people and all, are strapped down and secure. In the event of having to come to a quick stop, items in the car will have less of a chance of becoming a driving hazard. I know cleaning cranberry sauce off of the windshield is not something I would want to do.
3. Make sure you are well rested for both your trip there and back. For most of us morning travelers, that won’t be too hard to do. However, beware of the third and fourth helpings of turkey. Turkey contains a natural sedative called L-tryptophan, which can make indulgers tired.

And of course, as always,

4.  Do not drink and drive!

From the Charter Township of Shelby family to yours, we wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!