Vol. 6, No. 5
Back-to-School Season
Here we are, at the beginning of another school year unlike any before. There’s some familiarity in the back-to-school hustle and bustle along with some uncertainty and new procedures to learn and do. It’s amazing how much of the “new” procedures rely on “old” techniques like frequent hand washing, covering coughs and staying home if not feeling well. Here are some resources to help make back-to-school as safe as possible for you and your family.
Helpful tips for kids and masks:
- Focus on fit – masks only work if kids are wearing them! Make sure that they are comfortable enough for all day and that they fit well over the nose and under the chin.
- Choose masks with two or more layers if possible and avoid neck gaiters and bandanas.
- Re-usable cloth masks need to be washed every night. Wash in warm water and dry on low.
- Make sure that children have extra masks in their backpacks in case their primary mask gets dirty.
If you’re having a difficult time right now, you’re not alone. Try to find time to focus on what you’re grateful for. Look for joy and comfort in the little things and what’s going well for you and your household. If you’re in need of assistance, please take a look at the amazing list of community resources that the Crisis Clinic maintains. If you’re not in need right now, consider sharing this list to help others. We’re all in this together. |
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Focus on Dusting
One of the ways that we can regularly limit our exposure at home to toxics, allergens and mold is a simple act that makes a huge difference - weekly dusting!
Why does Public Health care about dusting?
Dust gets into our bodies when we breath it in and we ingest it when it gets in our mouths. Babies and toddlers are most at risk for exposure because they spend a lot of time near the ground and put their hands, toys, and other objects into their mouths. They are also more vulnerable to the exposures because of their small, growing bodies.
What’s in dust?
- Insect parts
- Pollen
- Spores
- Dust Mites
- Skin and Hair Particles (from people and pets)
- Animal Dander
- Soot
- Pesticides
- Chemicals (flame retardants, plasticizers)
- Bits of auto tires and brake pads
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium, copper
Three actions that make the biggest impact for dust control:
- Keep shoes off inside. Shoes track in a lot of dirt and particles that contribute to house dust. Take shoes off at the door to reduce the amount of dust in your home.
- Vacuum at least once or more per week. A vacuum with a HEPA filter is most effective for reducing dust.
- Dust surfaces with a water-dampened cloth once a week. Microfiber cloths work great wet or dry on dusty surfaces. If dusting your entire home each week isn’t possible, prioritize the high traffic areas.
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Keep Weed and Bug Killers Outdoors
Even if you don’t use fertilizers or weed and bug killers in your own yard, they can still get inside your home, hitching a ride on shoes and paws. Keep toxic materials out of your home where they can build up in house dust and linger in carpets and rugs, by removing your shoes at the door and wiping off pets’ paws.
Shoes walk you through the grocery store, parking lots, playgrounds and everywhere else you wander. Wipe them off on a high-quality mat outside any entryway. Once indoors, trade them out for a comfy pair of slippers or indoor shoes for a simple way to create a healthier home. Having a basket of slippers and non-slip socks near the entry way can offer inspiration for your visitors to be comfortably shoe-free.
Pets can bring bug and weed killers and fertilizers indoors on their paws and fur. Wipe off paws whenever they come inside and keep them combed and bathed to limit the amount of dust and dirt they carry in on their fur.
Creating a shoe-free home and wiping off pets are important ways to limit the amount of unwanted toxic materials that can come from outside, into our own personal sanctuaries.
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We talk a lot about choosing plants that will thrive in the conditions that you have in your yard. It can be challenging enough to find plants for the exact soil and sunlight in your yard, but what about when the conditions are extra challenging? In the next few issues, we’ll focus on plants that work well in challenging areas.
September is septic health month and we’re focusing on what to plant over your septic drainfield.
General: Remember that drainfields should never get rototilled, fertilized, watered or treated with weed or bug killers. To keep the drainfield working well, never put paving stones, landscape fabric or heavy mulch over it. In general, a low maintenance grass cover works best. You can mow it or let it grow wild like a meadow.
If plants over your drainfield are important to you, choose plants that have shallow roots and won’t require much maintenance like the suggestions below. Plant in the fall to help plants get established without the need to water. The suggestions below are drought tolerant, won’t need fertilizers, and are resistant to bugs and disease.
For sunny areas: Ornamental Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis or Fragaria ananassa), Sedums (Sedum spp.), Blue Hyssop and Rose Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), and Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys or Teucrium x lucidrys)
For Shady areas: Wild Ginger (Asarum caudatum), Wood Sorrel (Oxalis oregana), evergreen ferns like Sword Ferns (Polystichum munitum), and Barrenwort (Epimedium spp.)
Part shade and part sun: Well’s Delight Creeping Blueberry (Vaccinium crassifolium), Creeping Raspberry (Rubus calcinoides or pentalobus), and Blue Star Creeper (Laurentia fluviatilis)
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Q: I’m excited for my kids to go back to school. I’m not so excited about packing lunches. I have a hard time coming up with different nutritious lunches over the year. Do you have any resources that could help with that?
A: Great question! MyPlate.gov has lots of information on nutritious eating for all ages. They also have the My Plate Kitchen, a site with lots of recipes. This article on FoodSafety.gov has some tips on meal inspiration, planning and food safety for packing your kids’ lunches. Kids who get to help pack their lunches tend to eat more of them. If possible, work together to create a list of foods that you know they’ll eat that include fruits, vegetables and easy protein sources like nut butters, hard boiled eggs and turkey slices. If they get to have a say in what goes in, they’ll waste less of it!
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Hand Sanitizers
Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best way to kill germs. Hand sanitizers are helpful if water is not available but choose carefully.
In general, choose a hand sanitizer that uses alcohol as the active ingredient. Hand sanitizers with at least 60% ethanol alcohol work best. Choose a product that does not contain fragrances. Simple is best when it comes to an ingredient list. Always read the label to make sure that you are using as directed. Children need help applying hand sanitizer correctly, to make sure that they don’t over apply and are actually sanitizing.
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Connect to Farmers
Olympia Farmers Market
Thursday - Sunday
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
700 Capitol Way N
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 352-9096
Tumwater Farmers Market
Sundays
11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
May - September
237 Dennis St. SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
(360) 867-3957
Yelm Farmers Market
Saturdays
10:00 a.m.- 3:00 pm
May 29-October 30
Yelm Community Center
301 Second St. SE
Yelm, WA 98597
(360) 352-8939
Tenino Farmers Market
Saturdays
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
May - September
213 Sussex Ave
Tenino, WA 98589
(701) 552-3032
The Farmer's Basket is an online resource designed to connect people seeking local, farm-fresh food with the wealth of our local farmers.
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Community Events
With many local events moving online because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, check these great local calendars for up-to-date information about what's coming up.
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