POWDERLY, KY — Muhlenberg County Schools have three confirmed cases of H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) and are taking the necessary precautions to ensure that the virus does not continue to spread as students and staff return for the 2009-2010 school year, according to WKBO-TV.
In Muhlenberg County High School, the location of the district's first confirmed swine flu case, custodians have put alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel and Clorox disinfecting wipes in all the classrooms for students and teachers to use and to wipe down desks and computers after use, the story stated.
Muhlenberg County Schools Superintendent Dale Todd said: "Right now, we have three confirmed cases of swine flu in our schools. I've talked to epidemiologists, as well as the Muhlenberg County Health Department, and they are advising us on what directions to go."
Every available method, including bringing in extra custodians and increasing sanitization efforts, is being utilized to prevent the spread of the virus, the story noted.
Nancy Propes, a registered nurse at Muhlenberg County High School, said: "When the students first come into me, they complain of a headache and body aches. If they have a low-grade fever, I'll call the parents and see if they want them to come home, and usually they do."
Todd says that parents need to understand what the swine flu is and the precautions the district is taking to ensure the safety and well-being of their students, the story added.
Click here to read the letter sent to parents and guardians of Muhlenberg County Schools students.
For more information on the H1N1 influenza A virus, click here.
Click here to read the complete article.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Confirmed MRSA case in Higley High School
GILBERT, AZ — A student athlete at Higley High School recently came down with a confirmed case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a contagious, antibiotic-resistant skin infection, according to KUPT-TV.
The student was hospitalized for treatment and has not practiced with the team since the infection was identified, the story stated.
A letter was sent home to parents and guardians of Higley students notifying them of the situation and offering tips to ensure the safety and well-being of themselves as well as the students, the story noted.
According to the story, the district has taken all the necessary precautions as outlined by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), including cleaning the Higley High School locker rooms, weight room, restrooms, classrooms, door handles and cafeteria areas with a cleaning solution recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC strongly recommends thorough and frequent hand washing, covering of wounds, washing of athletic clothing every day and insists that students do not share clothing articles, towels, razors, personal items, etc., the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The student was hospitalized for treatment and has not practiced with the team since the infection was identified, the story stated.
A letter was sent home to parents and guardians of Higley students notifying them of the situation and offering tips to ensure the safety and well-being of themselves as well as the students, the story noted.
According to the story, the district has taken all the necessary precautions as outlined by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), including cleaning the Higley High School locker rooms, weight room, restrooms, classrooms, door handles and cafeteria areas with a cleaning solution recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC strongly recommends thorough and frequent hand washing, covering of wounds, washing of athletic clothing every day and insists that students do not share clothing articles, towels, razors, personal items, etc., the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Green roof desert oasis in El Paso
EL PASO, TX — The University of Texas at El Paso has taken a step toward sustainability by recently unveiling the first green roof on a commercial building within the Southwest region of the United States, according to KFOX-TV.
The 9,156-square-foot roof, which is covered in plants like regal mist, white evening primrose, sun gold gazania and other native foliage, includes a 6,304-square-foot designated area where faculty can perform environmental research, the story stated.
Ed Soltero, director of Planning and Construction, said: "You know we have neighbors here that are actually able to look into the green roofs, namely the people here at bioscience, the building behind us ... so you're actually able to see migratory birds ... hummingbirds, bees and a lot of other insects, so it's a self-sustainable micro-environment that we're creating."
Not only will the green roof help to maintain a comfortable building temperature while using less energy, but it is also creating a biodiverse environment and providing a sanctuary for plants, animals and insects alike, the story noted.
The green roof on the Biology Building is part of the University of Texas at El Paso Goes Green program and will add to the $2.5 million in annual energy savings resulting from sustainable efforts, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The 9,156-square-foot roof, which is covered in plants like regal mist, white evening primrose, sun gold gazania and other native foliage, includes a 6,304-square-foot designated area where faculty can perform environmental research, the story stated.
Ed Soltero, director of Planning and Construction, said: "You know we have neighbors here that are actually able to look into the green roofs, namely the people here at bioscience, the building behind us ... so you're actually able to see migratory birds ... hummingbirds, bees and a lot of other insects, so it's a self-sustainable micro-environment that we're creating."
Not only will the green roof help to maintain a comfortable building temperature while using less energy, but it is also creating a biodiverse environment and providing a sanctuary for plants, animals and insects alike, the story noted.
The green roof on the Biology Building is part of the University of Texas at El Paso Goes Green program and will add to the $2.5 million in annual energy savings resulting from sustainable efforts, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Mercury contamination prompts district closure
FORSYTH, MO — Classes at the Forsyth R-III School District were cancelled last week due to mercury contamination resulting from inadequate and improper cleanup, according to the Branson Daily News.
According to the story, the mercury, which was brought to the middle school by a science teacher, was released when the plastic container it was stored in was knocked over during class, spilling over a student’s notebook and onto the floor.
Air samples confirmed suspicions that the mercury was tracked throughout the school by students traveling from the spill site to different areas of the building, the story stated.
Superintendent Brent Blevins said: "The administration wasn't notified until after the school day. The cleaning process that had taken place was inappropriate and caused matters to be worse. We contacted the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and after taking readings, we felt the readings were too high to have school."
The building was ventilated and an environmental contractor was brought in to remediate the mercury found in dozens of spots around the school, the story noted.
Because students were only exposed to mercury vapors for a short time, there is no reason to believe any adverse health effects will result from the situation, the story added.
To read the release sent to parents and guardians, click here.
Click here to read the complete article.
According to the story, the mercury, which was brought to the middle school by a science teacher, was released when the plastic container it was stored in was knocked over during class, spilling over a student’s notebook and onto the floor.
Air samples confirmed suspicions that the mercury was tracked throughout the school by students traveling from the spill site to different areas of the building, the story stated.
Superintendent Brent Blevins said: "The administration wasn't notified until after the school day. The cleaning process that had taken place was inappropriate and caused matters to be worse. We contacted the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and after taking readings, we felt the readings were too high to have school."
The building was ventilated and an environmental contractor was brought in to remediate the mercury found in dozens of spots around the school, the story noted.
Because students were only exposed to mercury vapors for a short time, there is no reason to believe any adverse health effects will result from the situation, the story added.
To read the release sent to parents and guardians, click here.
Click here to read the complete article.
Mold delays move-in for some Duke students
DURHAM, NC — Move-in to the Edens dormitory at Duke University was delayed because of the discovery of common mold in the building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, according to The Chronicle, Duke University's independent daily newspaper.
Custodians discovered the "crumbly, moss-like mold" August 13 and worked incessantly to ensure complete remediation before students moved in for the upcoming school year, the story stated.
Wayne Thomann, director of the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office at the university, said: "There was some particulate that came out of some of the diffusers. When I saw it, I was pretty sure what it was based on the particulate ... it was obviously a Cladosporium species."
According to the story, mold of the genus Cladosporium is allergenic, but most need not worry about having a reaction to exposure as the mold is commonly found outside.
Mold was found in Edens back in 2007, and after it was removed, a special coating was installed on ventilation ducts to prevent mold from returning, the story noted.
The Occupational and Environmental Safety Office, with the assistance of third-party professionals, performed indoor air quality tests to ensure the building was safe for human occupation before allowing students to formally move-in on Saturday, August 22, 2009, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Custodians discovered the "crumbly, moss-like mold" August 13 and worked incessantly to ensure complete remediation before students moved in for the upcoming school year, the story stated.
Wayne Thomann, director of the Occupational and Environmental Safety Office at the university, said: "There was some particulate that came out of some of the diffusers. When I saw it, I was pretty sure what it was based on the particulate ... it was obviously a Cladosporium species."
According to the story, mold of the genus Cladosporium is allergenic, but most need not worry about having a reaction to exposure as the mold is commonly found outside.
Mold was found in Edens back in 2007, and after it was removed, a special coating was installed on ventilation ducts to prevent mold from returning, the story noted.
The Occupational and Environmental Safety Office, with the assistance of third-party professionals, performed indoor air quality tests to ensure the building was safe for human occupation before allowing students to formally move-in on Saturday, August 22, 2009, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Dow to close former Rohm & Hass plant
PHILADELPHIA — Dow Chemical Company announced late last week that it will be closing the former Rohm & Haas chemical plant in Philadelphia's Bridesburg section, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Roughly 25 employees from the 63-acre facility will lose their jobs when the plant officially closes "by the middle of 2010," the story stated.
According to the story, some 20 employees will be out of jobs by as early as the end of the month as the company extinguishes less crucial processes immediately.
Dow says that fixed costs are too high to keep the plant operational while maintaining a profit, the story noted.
It remains unclear whether or not the site will be sold and company spokesman Bob Plishka confirmed only that the "environmental decommissioning process will begin when production ends," the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Roughly 25 employees from the 63-acre facility will lose their jobs when the plant officially closes "by the middle of 2010," the story stated.
According to the story, some 20 employees will be out of jobs by as early as the end of the month as the company extinguishes less crucial processes immediately.
Dow says that fixed costs are too high to keep the plant operational while maintaining a profit, the story noted.
It remains unclear whether or not the site will be sold and company spokesman Bob Plishka confirmed only that the "environmental decommissioning process will begin when production ends," the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
U.S. Air Force builds green roof in Germany
RAMSTEIN, Germany — The 10-acre roof on the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, located on the Ramstein Air Force Base, is having work performed so it can be brought to life, according to Stars and Stripes.
The green roof, which was supposed to be completed last year, had to be ripped up during the final planting stage after leaks were discovered in April 2008, the story stated.
Colonel David Reynolds, U.S. Air Force in Europe's engineering programs division chief, said: "We're going to leave the project this time with a working green roof, and a green roof that doesn’t leak."
The idea to make the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center roof green was agreed upon by the U.S. Air Force and the German government in order to meet environmental and energy savings requirements, the story noted.
According to the story, the cost of the green roof was $7 million before it had to be scrapped and rebuilt, a process that added $10 million to the price tag.
The roof repairs are being financed by a loan provided by the German and United States governments and both still need to work out the details of who will ultimately pay those costs, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The green roof, which was supposed to be completed last year, had to be ripped up during the final planting stage after leaks were discovered in April 2008, the story stated.
Colonel David Reynolds, U.S. Air Force in Europe's engineering programs division chief, said: "We're going to leave the project this time with a working green roof, and a green roof that doesn’t leak."
The idea to make the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center roof green was agreed upon by the U.S. Air Force and the German government in order to meet environmental and energy savings requirements, the story noted.
According to the story, the cost of the green roof was $7 million before it had to be scrapped and rebuilt, a process that added $10 million to the price tag.
The roof repairs are being financed by a loan provided by the German and United States governments and both still need to work out the details of who will ultimately pay those costs, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
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