UPDATE:  Due to recent rainfalls, the burn ban has been lifted.   County residents are reminded that the 4 PM Burn Law remains in affect until April 30, 2012.

Fincastle, VA – Botetourt County Officials have expanded the existing statewide 4:00 PM ban on open-air burning. Effective at 3:00 PM on Friday, April 13, 2012, all open air (outdoor) burning is prohibited, 24 hours a day. Extremely dry conditions persist and pose an increased danger of wildfires. This risk is compounded by seasonably windy conditions which can quickly accelerate the spread of grass and brush fires.

All open air burning, including campfires, is banned until further notice.

Once significant rainfall has reduced the threat of wildfire, the expanded ban will be lifted and public notification will be made.

For more information, contact

Spencer Suter, Assistant County Administrator
540-473-8301

Virginia’s winters can be cold, snowy, icy and dangerous. Protect yourself and your home with these tips:

• If you heat with a fireplace or wood stove: Have a professional check it, especially if it has been a long time since the last cleaning. Residue can build up and cause fires.

• Don’t use candles during power outages: Many home fires in winter are caused by candles. Flashlights are much safer. Be sure to have extra batteries on hand.

• Safe use of space heaters: Never plug them into extension cords; plug into wall outlets. Keep space heaters at least three feet from other objects, and turn off before going to bed.

• Using kerosene or propane heaters: These must be used with great caution. The room must be ventilated by opening a window. Keep heaters at least three feet away from flammable objects such as curtains, blankets and furniture. Place heaters on a hard surface, not on carpet. Refuel them outdoors after they have cooled.

• Get where you need to be before the weather gets bad. It’s always best to stay off roads during winter storms. Most traffic crashes happen within the first two hours after a storm starts. Stay aware of winter storm watches and warnings. Get road conditions by calling 511 or visiting www.511Virginia.org.

• Stay informed during power outages. Be sure you have a battery-powered or hand-crank radio (and extra batteries). Get one with Weather Radio so you can hear local radio stations and reports directly from the National Weather Service. These are available at electronics and sporting goods stores, department stores, boat and marine accessory stores, through catalogues and online. Prices range from $20-100.

• Most importantly: You need a family emergency plan. If your family cannot return home because of severe weather or closed roads, you need to decide now on where you will meet to reunite. You also need an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family emergency contact. Learn more about making a plan for winter weather and all emergencies – and get a free family emergency plan worksheet – at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

With the holiday season is right around the corner, it’s once again time to focus on holiday safety. This is a time for happiness and celebration, but in the midst of preparing food and entertaining our guests fire safety is often the last thing on our minds.

Once again Botetourt County Emergency Services is participating in the ‘Keep the Wreath Green’ fire prevention campaign. This is a visual fire prevention campaign used to remind the citizens of Botetourt County to remain fire safe during the holiday season. By looking at the wreaths the public is able to track the number of house fires in the county by the number of red light bulbs in the wreath.

This program started on November 25^th and runs until New Years. Emergency Services will exchange one green bulb for a red bulb every time there is a house fire in the county during this period.

Fire prevention should be a prominent part  of our everyday lives, but sometimes with the holiday season we all need a little friendly reminder. This campaign is used as that reminder for everyone to stay fire safe for the holiday season. Gathering further information on fire safety can be obtained by visiting www.yourbces.org or calling Emergency Services at 473-2098.

For additional resources, please refer to our public education page.

Botetourt County Emergency Services would like to remind everyone to have a safe Halloween.  In light of this occasion, we’d like to share the following safety tips below from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Going trick or treating?

	Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
	Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
	Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
	Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
	Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.
	Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
	Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
	Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
	Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
	Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
	Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
	Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.
	Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

	Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
	Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
	Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
	Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
	Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.
	Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
	Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
	Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
	Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
	Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
	Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
	Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.
	Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Botetourt County Emergency Services would like to remind everyone that extreme temperatures drastically increase the risk of heat-related illness.  Individuals who spend time outdoors, especially the elderly, should consume plenty of fluids, take more frequent breaks, and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours of the day.

From the National Weather Service:

Child Safety Tips

• Make sure your child’s safety seat and safety belt buckles aren’t too hot before securing your child in a safety restraint system, especially when your car has been parked in the heat.
• Never leave your child or pets unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.
• Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.
• Always lock car doors and trunks–even at home–and keep keys out of children’s reach.
• Always make sure all children have left the car when you reach your destination. Don’t leave sleeping infants in the car ever!

Adult Safety Tips

• Slow down. Reduce, eliminate or rescheduled strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Children, senior and anyone with health problems should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
• Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
• Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods, like meat and other proteins that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.
• Drink plenty of water or other non-alcohol or decaffeinated fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, are on fluid restrictive diets or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages and limited caffeinated beverages.
• During excess heat period, spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, go to a library, store or other location with air conditioning for part of the day.
• Don’t get too much sun. Sunburn reduced your body’s ability to dissipate heat.
• Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, if you suspect a heat related illness, seek immediate medical attention.

From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related disorder. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

• Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
• Hallucinations
• Chills
• Throbbing headache
• High body temperature
• Confusion/dizziness
• Slurred speech

Take the following steps to treat an individual with heat stroke:

• Call 911
• Move the sick individual to a cool shaded area.
• Cool the individual using methods such as:
  • Soaking their clothes with water.
  • Spraying, sponging, or showering them with water.
  • Fanning their body.

Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Individuals most prone to heat exhaustion are those that are elderly, have high blood pressure, and those working in a hot environment.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Heavy sweating
• Extreme weakness or fatigue
• Dizziness, confusion
• Nausea
• Clammy, moist skin
• Pale or flushed complexion
• Muscle cramps
• Slightly elevated body temperature
• Fast and shallow breathing

Treat a individual suffering from heat exhaustion with the following:

• Have them rest in a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area.
• Have them drink plenty of water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages.
• Have them take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath.

Heat Syncope
Heat syncope is a fainting (syncope) episode or dizziness that usually occurs with prolonged standing or sudden rising from a sitting or lying position. Factors that may contribute to heat syncope include dehydration and lack of acclimatization.

Symptoms of heat syncope include:

• Light-headedness
• Dizziness
• Fainting

Individuals with heat syncope should:

• Sit or lie down in a cool place when they begin to feel symptoms.
• Slowly drink water, clear juice, or a sports beverage.

Heat Cramps
Heat cramps usually affect individuals who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles causes painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

Muscle pain or spasms usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs.

Individuals with heat cramps should:

• Stop all activity, and sit in a cool place.
• Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
• Do not return to strenuous work for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
• Seek medical attention if any of the following apply:
• The worker has heart problems.
• The worker is on a low-sodium diet.
• The cramps do not subside within one hour.

Heat Rash
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather.

Symptoms of heat rash include:

• Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters.
• It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.

Individuals experiencing heat rash should:

• Try to work in a cooler, less humid environment when possible.
• Keep the affected area dry.
• Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.

Other Resources:

• National Weather Service Heat Safety
• CDC Heat Stress Safety
• Safe Kids – Never Leave your Child Alone