- Author: Chris M. Webb
Cal/OSHA’s 2012 Heat Illness Prevention Campaign provides multiple approaches to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. The campaign is a combination of education, outreach and enforcement efforts.
Education resources for employees are available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi and Mixteco. These free resources include DVD that features workers from agriculture, construction and landscaping occupations.
Employers can also find resources to help minimize heat illness.
In addition to the online resources, Cal/OSHA will be providing free, one-day programs designed for educators and leaders from community organizations who can help reach workers at risk for heat illness. These “Train-the-Trainer” programs will be held throughout the state, with a class in Ventura on June 15. To learn more about the training program please see the following links in English and Spanish.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
There are several types of fleas found in California. Some are more common than others.
Cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, are the fleas most commonly found on domestic cats and dogs. Female cat fleas can lay about 20 to 50 eggs per day. The eggs are laid on the pet and easily fall off and land on bedding, carpets and other surfaces. The eggs hatch in approximately 2 to 5 days.
Once hatched the larvae feed and develop for about 8 to 15 days before building cocoons in which they pupate and develop into adults. A relative humidity level of at least 75% is necessary for their development. The larvae develop more quickly at higher temperatures and prefer temperatures of 70 (add degree symbol) to 90 (add degree symbol) F. If temperatures are too cool, fully formed fleas can remain in their cocoons for up to a year.
Cat fleabites can cause minor irritation to severe reactions to pets and people. In addition to skin irritation, cat fleas serve as intermediary hosts of dog and cat tapeworms. These common fleas may also be capable of transmitting a murinelike typhus disease in humans, cat flea rickettsiosis. The symptoms are similar to murine typhus but less severe, including headaches, chills, fever, vomiting, and rash.
To learn more about these pests and how to best manage them, please see UC ANR’s publication, Fleas: Pests of Homes, Structures, People, and Pets.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
UC IPM (Integrated Pest Management) has a collection of resources to help educate the public and water treatment professionals about mosquitoes. Some species of mosquitoes found in California have the potential to transmit microorganisms that can cause disease to people, pets, and livestock.
While mosquitoes are best managed on an area-wide basis by public agencies organized specifically for this purpose, the combined actions of individuals can greatly improve larger mosquito control efforts. And because some areas of our state do not have organized public mosquito management programs, the individual actions of residents are all the more important.
Main mosquito subjects found at UC IPM are:
- Mosquitoes Pest Notes
- Mosquitoes Quick Tip
- Managing Mosquitoes on the Farm
- Managing Mosquitoes in Surface-Flow Constructed Treatment Wetlands
- Managing Mosquitoes in Stormwater Treatment Devices
- West Nile Virus and related mosquito information and links
The Mosquitoes Quick Tip resource is available in Spanish.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Water is essential to life. Clean water supplies require the efforts and cooperation of many. It is our responsibility to learn about this life sustaining natural resource, and take steps to ensure our supply is safe to drink.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an extensive collection of resources to educate the public about drinking water. Titled, Protect Your Drinking Water for Life readers have many topics to explore and a variety to learn about their water supply and takes steps to protect it.
Topics include:
- Drinking water
- Education & training
- Grants & funding
- Laws & regulations
- Our waters
- Pollution prevention & control
- Resources & performance
- Science & technology
- Water infrastructure
- What can you do?
- Adopt your watershed
- After the storm
- Emergency preparedness
- Good Samaritan
- Nonpoint source toolbox
- Pollution prevention
- Protect your health
- Protecting drinking water
- Volunteer monitoring
- Water efficiency
There is also a collection of resources designed for youth, which includes games and activities, and curriculum for teachers.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Ventura County Health Care Agency has a wonderful new online resource intended to improve the wellbeing of our community.
From their site:
“Wellness Everyday is committed to supporting the mental, physical and social health of all individuals living within our community. By providing education, resources and information on the latest programs and projects offered within our community, we believe the Wellness of our Ventura County community can belong to each of us.”
The site is nicely designed and easy to navigate. The three main sections: mind, body, and relationships each have many suggestions and links for further resources.
Subtopics include: parenting, exercise, nutrition, creativity, resilience, sleep, and much more. There is even a section dedicated to healthy aging.
This fabulous online resource is available in Spanish.