Health & Safety
The health and safety of our community is important. We hope the information provided here adds to the well-being of you and your family and is a useful guide for emergency preparedness.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. August 19, 2010 – Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa today is expanding its voluntarily recall of eggs produced by its farms because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Eggs affected by this recall are packaged under the following brand names: Albertson, Boosmsma, Dutch Farms, Farm Fresh, Glenview, Hillandale, James Farms, Kemps, Lucerne, Lund, Mountain Dairy, Pacific Coast, Ralphs, Shoreland, Sunshine and Trafficanda. The eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (six-egg, dozen-egg and 18-egg cartons) with dates ranging from May 16 to August 17 (Julian dates 136 to 229) and plant numbers 1026, 1413, 1720, 1946 and 1942. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for example: P-1720 223.

There have been confirmed Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses associated with the recalled eggs, although none in Illinois that are linked to the eggs at this time. Investigations are ongoing.

Symptoms of salmonellosis may include headache, muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, chills, fever, nausea and dehydration. Symptoms usually appear six to 72 hours after ingestion of the bacteria, but can be longer. Salmonella can, in rare cases, cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

Consumers who believe they may have purchased these eggs should not eat them but should return them to the store where they were purchased. This recall is of shell eggs only. Other egg products produced by Wright County Eggs are not affected. Consumers with questions should visit www.eggsafety.org or call 866-272-5588.

Egg Safety Recommendations:

• Don’t eat recalled eggs that might still be in grocery stores, restaurants, and consumers' homes.
  
  
• If you think you have eaten recalled eggs and become ill, contact your doctor.
  
  
• Wash hands, cooking utensils, and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after contact with raw eggs.  
  
  
• Eggs should be cooked until both the white and the yolk are firm and eaten promptly after cooking.
  
  
• Avoid eating raw eggs.

Back to School Safety
The Bartlett Police Department reminds drivers to slow down and be extra cautious as most Bartlett students return to school on Wednesday, August 25. Drivers are urged to obey school speed zone signs, refrain from using their cellular telephones while driving in school zones, be extra cautious when school buses are picking up and dropping off students at school and in residential neighborhoods. Police also urge motorists to allow for longer commute times when traveling to and from work due to the increased congestion around schools.

Students who walk to and from school are reminded to always look both ways before crossing the street, obey school crossing guards, watch for turning vehicles, be alert during inclement weather, and walk with a sibling, friend or a neighbor.

Bartlett Police will be monitoring the elementary schools and surrounding neighborhoods and will also be conducting expanded traffic enforcement activities in school speed zones during the first few weeks of school.

Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is an emerging problem and a significant highway safety issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, nearly 6,000 people were killed in crashes in which distracted or inattentive driving was a factor.

The Bartlett Police Department would like to remind motorists that it is illegal for a person to operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device, such as a wireless telephone, personal digital assistant or a portable or mobile computer, to compose, read, or send an electronic (text or email) message. The law does not apply when a driver is using the device in an emergency situation, in hands-free mode, while parked on the shoulder of a roadway, or while stopped in obstructed traffic if the vehicle is in neutral or park.

It is also illegal for a person, regardless of age, to use a wireless telephone at any time while operating a motor vehicle in a school speed zone and in a construction or maintenance speed zone, unless there is an emergency situation or the driver is using the device in hands-free mode.

Certainly most of the attention surrounding distracted driving has been on texting while driving, but there are a host of other distractions. Cell phone calls (both handheld and hands-free) continue to pose a safety risk for drivers as do more traditional distractions, such as eating, adjusting the radio, using the CD player or talking to passengers. The Bartlett Police Department encourages all motorists to properly manage these activities while driving and to always drive safely.

When Summer Storms Strike
Summer brings warm temperatures and the potential for severe weather. The Bartlett Police reminds residents to take the possibility of severe weather seriously and make appropriate preparations now. When a community is prepared, the response and recovery is much more effective. Here are some tips for weathering any storm.

WATCHES & WARNINGS
Know the terms used to describe the threat from severe storms:
•Tornado or Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Conditions are right for a serious storm or tornado to develop. Watch for danger signs and be ready to seek shelter quickly. Stay tuned to the radio or TV for National Weather Service bulletins.
•Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property to those in the path of the storm.
•Tornado Warning: A tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Warning sirens will be sounded and you should find shelter immediately.

BEFORE A STORM
•Purchase a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with a battery backup and tone-alert feature. It will automatically alert you when a Watch or Warning is issued. Know the county where you live and work. The National Weather Service uses county names when advisories are broadcast.
•Check the weather forecast before going outdoors and postpone plans if storms are imminent.
•Keep a list of emergency phone numbers. Teach children how and when to call 911.
•Choose a friend or family member who lives out of the area that separated family members can call to report their whereabouts and condition.
•Keep important documents and records in a safe deposit box or other secure location.
•Maintain a disaster supply kit.

DURING A STORM
•Close all windows and doors. Draw the shades or blinds to reduce the risk from flying glass if window or door glass breaks due to high winds.
•Avoid using the telephone or other electrical appliances until the storm passes.
•Turn off air conditioners. If lightning strikes, a power surge could damage the compressor.
•Delay taking baths/showers until after the storm.
•If outdoors, seek shelter immediately. If you can hear thunder, you are probably close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.
•If you are in a boat when a thunderstorm threatens, try to reach shore as quickly as possible.
•If you are driving, pull safely to the shoulder away from trees and power lines. Lightning can flash from trees or power poles into a vehicle through the radio antenna. Normally, in the open, a vehicle is a safe shelter from lightning.
•Avoid touching metal parts of the vehicle when lightning is nearby.
•If you find yourself in a position where there is no immediate shelter available, find a low spot away from trees and power poles where you can squat low to the ground. Make yourself the smallest target possible.

AFTER A STORM
•Check for injured victims. Render first aid if necessary. Most lightning strike victims can be revived with CPR. Do not attempt to move severely injured victims unless absolutely necessary. Wait for emergency assistance to arrive.
•Photograph or videotape the damage to your home or property.
•Do not make unnecessary telephone calls.
•If driving, be alert for hazards on the roadway.
•Check on neighbors or relatives who may require special assistance.

Warning Sirens The Village of Bartlett is equipped with several warning sirens to notify you in the event of a weather emergency. These sirens are tested at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. Other than testing, the signals will only be sounded if a tornado warning is issued. If you hear the siren, take cover immediately and turn on a radio or television for further information. As a Storm Ready Community, Bartlett reminds its residents that the weather sirens will NEVER be used to signal that conditions are now safe. It is up to the individual to determine when it is safe to leave places of shelter.

State Emergency Contact Database
The Illinois Secretary of State has a new emergency program that allows Illinois instruction permit, driver’s license and identification card holders to enter their emergency contact information into a voluntary, secure database. In the event of a motor vehicle crash or other emergency situation where a person is unable to communicate directly, law enforcement may access this database to help locate the person’s designated emergency contacts.

To submit information, visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com and click on “Emergency Contact Database.”

Participants can add, modify or delete their emergency contact information at any time by visiting this web page. If you hold both an Illinois driver’s license or permit and an Illinois ID card, the emergency contact information can be entered for both cards in one transaction if you so choose.

You may select one or two persons as your emergency contacts and are encouraged to share your participation with the contacts you have chosen.

Clean Air Counts in Bartlett
If the air around Bartlett starts to seem cleaner, it may have something to do with the Village joining the Clean Air Counts campaign. Clean Air Counts is a northeastern Illinois initiative to reduce ozone-causing emissions to improve air quality and reduce energy consumption. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, City of Chicago, United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The Village of Bartlett is now one of more than 30 different municipalities that have joined this group. As a member of Clean Air Counts, the Village will promote ways in which homeowners, businesses and people can work together to reduce air pollution. Such promotions include articles in the Bartletter, informational handouts at Village Hall for businesses, homeowners and contractors, and news about upcoming programs on the Village’s website. 

For more information on the Clean Air Counts initiative, please visit www.cleanaircounts.org 

Be Prepared for Emergencies
Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. According to the American Red Cross, “Disaster can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can confine you to your home. Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Therefore, the best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.”

Make a family communications plan that includes an evacuation plan and coordinates with your school, work and community communication plans. Practice this plan with your entire family. Build a disaster supplies kit that includes enough supplies for each family member for three days.

Disaster supplies kit
There are six basics you should stock for your home in case of an emergency: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items for medical conditions. Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to carry container. Possible containers include a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack or a duffel bag.
Water: Store water inplastic containers such as soft drink bottles, one gallon of water per person per day. Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person for drinking, sanitation and food preparation. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.
Food: Store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. If you must heat food, pack a can of sterno. Include ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables; protein or fruit bars; dry cereal or granola; peanut butter; dried fruit; nuts; crackers; canned juices; non-perishable pasteurized milk.
First Aid Kit: Assemble first aid kits for your home and for each car. Include assorted sizes of bandages, sterile dressings and gauze pads; antiseptic wipes; large medical grade non-latex gloves; adhesive tape; anti-bacterial ointment; cold pack; scissors; tweezers; CPR breathing barrier, such as a face shield. Include non-prescription medicines, such as aspirin or pain relievers; anti-diarrhea medication; antacid; syrup of ipecac and/or activated charcoal; laxative.
Clothing and Bedding: Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person. Include sturdy shoes or work boots; rain gear; blankets or sleeping bags; hat and gloves; thermal underwear; sunglasses.
Tools and Supplies: Mess kits, or paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils; emergency preparedness manual; battery-operated radio, flashlight and extra batteries; cash or traveler's checks, change; non-electric can opener, utility knife; small fire extinguisher; tube tent; pliers; tape; compass; matches in a waterproof container; aluminum foil; plastic storage containers; signal flare; paper, pencil; needles, thread; medicine dropper; shut-off wrench, to turn off household gas and water; whistle; plastic sheeting; map of the area (for locating shelters). For sanitation, stock toilet paper, towelettes; soap, liquid detergent; feminine supplies; personal hygiene items; plastic garbage bags, ties (for personal sanitation uses); plastic bucket with tight lid; disinfectant.
Special Items & Family Documents: Remember family members with special requirements. For babies, formula; diapers; bottles; powdered milk. For adults, heart, high blood pressure and other prescription medication; insulin; denture needs; contact lenses and extra eye glasses.
Don’t forget important family documents. Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container: will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds, passports, social security cards, immunization records, bank account numbers, credit card numbers and companies
inventory of household goods, important telephone numbers, family records (birth, marriage, death certificates).
Store your kit in a place known to all family members. Keep a smaller version of the kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items in airtight plastic bags. Change your stored water supply and replace stored food every six months so it stays fresh. Replace batteries, update clothes, and re-think your kit and family needs yearly.
Emergency Preparedness information taken from the American Red Cross website at www.redcross.org