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August 6, 2010

Senator John Pippy E-News

Pennsylvania's West Nile Virus Control Program Detects Disease in 10 Counties

Pennsylvania's West Nile Virus Control Program, operating in all 67 counties across the Commonwealth, has detected the disease in 10 counties and is continuing its statewide monitoring and detection efforts, according to the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). 

The mosquito-borne disease can cause flu-like symptoms typically lasting only a few days and not causing any long-term health effects.  In severe cases, WNV can cause encephalitis, a brain inflammation accompanied by headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis.  It is estimated that 1 in 150 persons infected with the West Nile virus will develop a more severe form of the disease lasting several weeks and causing permanent neurological effects. 

While there is no specific treatment or vaccine for WNV, DEP recommends we reduce the number of mosquitoes around our homes and neighborhoods.  Because mosquitoes breed in standing water, it is important to note that even a small bucket that has stagnant water in it for seven days can become home to up to 1,000 mosquitoes. 

Tips from DEP to eliminate standing water include: 

• Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers, ceramic pots or similar water holding containers that have accumulated on your property. Do not overlook containers that have become overgrown by aquatic vegetation. 
• Pay special attention to discarded tires that may have accumulated on your property.
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left out of doors.  Drainage holes that are located on the container sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed.
• Clean clogged roof gutters on an annual basis, particularly if the leaves from surrounding trees have a tendency to plug up the drains.  Roof gutters are easily overlooked but can produce millions of mosquitoes each season. 
• Turn over plastic wading pools when not in use.  A wading pool becomes a mosquito producer if it is not used on a regular basis. 
• Turn over wheelbarrows and do not allow water to stagnate in birdbaths.  Both provide breeding habitat for mosquitoes. 
• Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with fish.  Water gardens are fashionable but become mosquito producers if they are allowed to stagnate.  Clean and chlorinate swimming pools that are not being used.  A swimming pool that is left untended by a family that goes on vacation for a month can produce enough mosquitoes to result in neighborhood-wide complaints.  Be aware that mosquitoes may even breed in the water that collects on swimming pool covers.   

Consult the WNV Control Program website (http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/), contact your West Nile Virus County Coordinator, or call 1-877-PA-HEALTH toll-free for this or other health-related questions. 

Before You Go Consult 511PA 

August finds travelers heading out for vacation, shopping for back-to-school supplies, and transporting the college-bound in anticipation of that first day at a new institution.  Throw into the mix those commuting to work, and the highways take on another dimension for motorists, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Smooth traveling begins at 511PA, Pennsylvania’s official travel information service.  The service provides motorists with reliable, current traffic and weather information, as well as links to other transportation services.  511PA helps motorists reach their destination in the most efficient manner when traveling in the Commonwealth.

Access the list of roads included in the 511PA System before the tires hit the macadam.  Then, consult the statewide list of highway and bridge construction and maintenance projects that may cause detours or delays.  Rely on real‐time traffic information accessed through your computer, by dialing 511, or calling 1-877-511-PENN if your telephone carrier does not support the 511 service.

Motorists may also choose to receive 511 PA Personalized Traveler Alerts, a free service that notifies subscribers of accidents, incidents and construction on state highways and toll roads.  Alerts are sent to subscribers' cell phones, PDAs or e‐mail accounts to keep motorists on top of relevant travel conditions.

Boating Under the Influence is a Crime 

The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PF&BC) is issuing a reminder -- boating under the influence (BUI) is a crime.

During 2009, PF&BC officers arrested 57 individuals for boating under the influence.  So far this year, 24 individuals have been charged with boating under the influence.

The Commission and the PA Liquor Control Board (PLCB) want to remind boaters the legal limit for BUI is the same as DUI – a .08 percent blood alcohol content (BAC).  Note that an individual may be convicted of operating a boat or motor vehicle under the influence at a BAC of .05 percent and above if there is supporting evidence of impairment.

The PA Liquor Control Board offers blood alcohol charts for females and males unaware of the limits for both boating and driving under the influence.  Because alcohol can affect each person differently depending on gender, the pace of consumption, and food intake, the BAC charts serve merely as a guide but not a guarantee of an individual’s metabolism of alcohol.

Tips for Consumers:
Buying a New Wireless Phone
Helpful Information from the
Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers 

Remember those days when you called up Ma Bell to have phone service installed in your house? Those days are rapidly fading and it seems we use our phones everywhere except our house these days. 

Deciding on a new wireless provider and cell phone can be easy, but not if wireless service providers have anything to say about it. All wireless companies are competing for the right to send you a monthly bill. They offer a multitude of calling plans, free phones, and other incentives to get your business. The good news is that you can find the perfect plan for you, if you apply a Who, Where, What, and When strategy. 

Who asks which wireless provider has the strongest signal in your area? It is the most important consideration for most consumers. All wireless providers are not created equal in all areas. Talk to friends, family and co-workers to find out which provider has the best reception in your area. Everyone’s bottom line is a strong cell phone signal.

To figure out Who you also need to figure out Where. Will you use your phone mostly at home, the office, or in your car with a hands-free set? Will you be traveling overseas to Europe or Asia? Do you live in a large city surrounded by tall buildings? Do you use your cell phone mostly indoors or outdoors in the open country air?

Where is important because there are two different wireless networks operating in the US. The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network is very strong in the US, particularly in rural areas. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network has more global coverage. Both of these networks are used by wireless service providers. But they are used exclusively, so when a wireless provider offers the GSM network, it does not offer the CDMA network.

You’ve chosen a wireless service provider. Now it’s time to choose a plan. What will you mostly use your phone for? Will you be calling more than texting? How about checking emails or browsing the internet?

When you make calls is also important in choosing a plan. How many minutes a month will you use in peak times, those daytime hours where minutes count against your monthly total? Off-peak minutes are in the evening and on weekends, and normally do not count against your monthly minutes. Know when off-peak hours start and stop. Find out if your plan carries over un-used minutes from one month to the next. Also ask about plans that offer free minutes any time of day to friends you call frequently, or to friends that use the same wireless provider.

The final step is choosing a phone. All wireless service providers have many models. When you select a phone, focus on comfort and ease of use. Does the phone fit in your hand when talking and typing? Access the menu screen. Does it feel intuitive? Can you read the screen without straining your eyes?

There are many websites that offer impersonal advice on buying cell phones. It’s easier to figure out in advance how you will use your new phone and then ask friends and co-workers about their experiences. Most phones come with a contract and penalty for premature service cancellation. To avoid this penalty do your research and get the best phone the first time around.

This information is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers with the understanding that the association is not engaged in rendering specific legal, accounting, or other professional services. If specific expert assistance is required, the services of a competent, professional person should be sought.  

Information provided as a public service by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers.

Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers |  www.pacb.org |  717.231.7447