Are You Ready for Summer Thunderstorms?

Thunderstorms can be a threat to life and belongings, no matter where you live. They are most common in spring and summer, but can happen any time.

Did you know that lightning kills an average of 27 people a year in the US and injures many more? Heavy rains can cause flash floods. Sometimes hail and tornadoes can form in thunderstorms; these can cause expensive property damage.

Here are some tips to help you survive thunderstorm season:

• If you are outdoors when a severe thunderstorm warning is given, or if you see lightning as a storm approaches, either get into a car with a roof or a sturdy building. While it is tempting to shelter under a tree to stay dry, that’s not safe. Lightning often strikes the tallest object around.
• When indoors during a thunderstorm, don’t run water or use a landline phone. Lightning’s electricity can travel through phone lines and plumbing.
• Unplug computers and other appliances to keep them safe from an electric surge.
• If you are in a car during a thunderstorm, avoid flooded roads. Six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet if you try to wade in it. A foot of floodwater can sweep your car away.
• If a tornado warning is issued during a thunderstorm, go into the basement or the lowest level of the building, preferably in a room without windows. Stay there until the All Clear is issued.
• When planning outdoor activities, check the FEMA app for real-time alerts from the National Weather Service. Learn about the meaning of alerts and warnings (the URL is not a typo) and sign up for alerts in your local community.

Learn more about thunderstorm, lightning, and hail safety from FEMA,

Remember, it’s great to get out and be part of nature, but Nature isn’t always gentle.

There’s Still Time to Comment on Medical Diagnostic Equipment

Uncle Sam Needs Your Comments!

The US Access Board is a federal agency that ensures access to federally funded facilities for people with disabilities. It creates design criteria for buildings, transit vehicles, information and communication technologies and medical diagnostic equipment in accordance with the ADA.

Recently the Access Board has been working on standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment on which the patients may lie (supine, prone, or side-lying) or sit. In order for persons in wheelchairs to transfer to these surfaces, the Access Board intends to require a lowest transfer height of 17 inches, and allow intermediate heights up to 25 inches.

There are several ways to submit your comment about this proposed transfer height. You can email docket@access-board.gov (be sure to include docket number ATBCB-2023-0001 in the subject line of your message).

Or you can mail a written message to: Office of Technical and Information Services, U.S. Access Board, 1331 F Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004-1111.

Your comments are due by August 31.

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for August 2023

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this blog post. Click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images. 

If you click each poster, you will get a message with additional information and live links.

** indicates exhibits of particular importance in the ongoing heat wave

Cataracts

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

 

Excessive Digestive Gas

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

 

Self-Management for Chronic Conditions

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

 

**Health in the Heat

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

 

August is National Immunization Awareness Month

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

 

Phantom Limb Pain

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

 

Shampoo

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

 

**Eating in the Heat (includes recipe notecards!)

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32

 

Thanks to Mook for assistance with the posters this month.

Accessibility Features at US Airports

Both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) require specific assistance be provided at American airports for persons with disabilities. The Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights describes the fundamental rights of air travelers. These rights apply to all flights of all US airlines, and to flights originating at or ending in the US by foreign airlines. Here’s how to access that assistance.

First, when you make your reservations early, advise the airlines of the type of assistance you will need. Will you need someone to guide you to the gate, or someone to push your manual wheelchair, or will you be using your power wheelchair which must be gate-checked? Remember to call and confirm your accessibility needs before you leave for the airport.

When you arrive at the airport, identify yourself to an airline staff member as a person with a disability who has pre-booked specific assistance. You should be provided assistive services that address your needs. If you are traveling with your motorized wheelchair, be aware that each airline has its own procedures for storage of such wheelchairs and wet-cell batteries.

To express your gratitude for assistance, it is polite to tip the airport accessibility assistant. They are often low-paid workers and a small tip is usually appreciated. Their job is usually considered a tip-wage position by their employer, which allows them to be paid below the minimum wage.

Some of the rights passengers with disabilities have, in addition to assistance through the airport check-in and boarding process, include accessible airport facilities, priority aircraft boarding, assistance in getting to the onboard lavatory, and the right to travel with assistive devices and service dogs. Airline staff must have had training on how to properly assist a person with a disability.

What if you’re not disabled, but would find the long hike between check-in and boarding too strenuous? Can you request wheelchair assistance? Yes, you can, but the airlines may choose to transport you on a cart instead of in a wheelchair.

Have a safe trip and remember to book your accessibility needs well in advance of departure.