Centers for Disease Control Gives the Scoop on Poop in Public Swimming Pools

/

Last summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) did a public pool study that concluded that feces are frequently introduced into pool water by swimmers.

I debated whether to publish this, well, not particularly pleasant information, but we should all be aware of prepared when we venture out into public swimming areas (such as this compilation of several dozen fun water activities in and around Ventura County).

The CDC collected samples of water from public pool pool filters last summer and tested the samples for genetic material of multiple microbes. Fully 58 percent of the pool filter samples tested were positive for E. coli, bacteria normally found in the human gut and feces.

Finding a high percentage of E. coli-positive filters indicates swimmers frequently contaminate pool water when they have a "fecal incident" in the water or when feces rinse off of their bodies because they do not shower thoroughly before getting into the water.

The study did not address water parks, residential pools or other types of recreational water. The study does not allow CDC to make conclusions about all pools in the United Stat

Read More

Make a Splash: Stay Healthy Under the Sun and In the Water This Summer

/

Make a Splash!

Stay healthy under the sun and in the water this summer - a reminder from the CDC

As schools let out and summer approaches, remember to stay healthy and safe under the sun and in the water. Skin cancer is the most common kind of cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the most deadly kind of skin cancer. Just a few serious sunburns at any age can increase a person’s risk of skin cancer. We all share the water we swim in, and each of us needs to do our part to help keep ourselves, our families, and our friends healthy while swimming.

To help protect yourself and others from disease and germs, here are a few easy and effective steps to take this season:

  • SEEK shade- especially during midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight are the greatest during the late spring and early summer in North America.
  • PROTECT your body- wear clothing that protects the skin such as a wide-brimmed hat to shade the face, head, ears, and neck; and wraparound sunglasses that block as close to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays as possible (sunglasses safeguard the eyes from UVA and UVB rays, protect the tender skin around the eyes from sun exposure, and reduce the risk of cataracts).
  • APPLY sunscreen- sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection. Remember to reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, and toweling off.
  • CHECK pools– before getting into the water, check the pool to see if it is at the proper chlorine level (1–3 mg/L or parts per million [ppm]) and pH (7.2–7.8) to maximize germ-killing power.
  • KEEP the poop and pee out of the water while swimming- don’t swim when ill with diarrhea; chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly; mixing of chlorine with pee and sweat uses up the germ-killing chlorine in the pool and creates those chemicals that sting your eyes and make you cough.
  • DON’T swallow the water you swim in.

Enjoy your time outdoors and in the water, and take steps to be healthy.

Here are some great outdoor activities in and around Ventura County this summer:

Beaches spanning from Carpinteria to Ventura

Beaches spanning from Oxnard to Malibu

4th of July festivities and fireworks

Water parks, splash pads and community swimming

Summer concerts in the park

What Does It Take to Gain an Entry Into the 2014 Boston Marathon?

/

Dating myself a bit with this photo....ran the 100th Boston Marathon quite some time ago :)The 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings and subsequent pursuit of the culprits this past week overshadowed the race itself. Approximately 23,000 people were signed up for the 2013 race but because of the bombings, thousands of runners were unable to complete it.

On Thursday, Boston Marathon organizers indicated via Facebook that they will "address the issue of those who could not cross the finish line on Boylston Street due to the tragic events which occurred near the finish line," which tells me that perhaps they may offer up entries to the 2014 race to these people. But we shall see.

All of this tragedy and publicity will make 2014 quite an interesting year for the Boston Marathon, which is run on the 3rd Monday of April, Patriots' Day, each year. In 2014 that date will be April 21st.

Will people steer clear or will demand skyrocket in support of those who lost lives and limbs last Monday? Well my opinion is, we're talking Americans....I think everyone and their mother will be trying to get into the 2014 Boston Marathon.  So what will it take to gain an entry into the 2014 race? Let's review the qualifying standards for 2014:

  • Qualifying times must be run on or after 9/22/12.
  • Runners must be 18 or older on race day.
  • By 7/1/13, marathon organizers will announce specific  registration dates in September 2013.
  • Organizers allow faster runners, those who finished well under the qualifying standards shown below, to register first.
  • 2014 qualifying times are as follows:
    • Ages 18-34: Men 3:05; Women 3:35
    • Ages 35-39: Men 3:10; Women 3:40
    • Ages 40-44: Men 3:15; Women 3:45
    • Ages 45-49: Men 3:25; Women 3:55
    • Ages 50-54: Men 3:30; Women 4:00
    • Ages 55-59: Men 3:40; Women 4:10
Read More

Children's Medical Services Available to Qualified Ventura County Residents

/

The Ventura County Health Care Agency (VCHCA) has several Children's Medical Services to improve healthcare services for Ventura County infants, children and teens. The programs are described below.

Californa Children's Services (CCS) is for children under age 21 who have chronic medical conditions such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, cerebral palsy, heart disease, cancer; traumatic injuries; and infectious diseases that cause major medical problems. CCS is funded with state, county and federal support.

If a child’s condition is eligible, VCHCA can provide lab tests, x-rays, physician services, hospital care, physical and occupational therapy through the Medical Therapy Program (MTP) and obtain certain medical equipment.

To qualify for CCS (as of January 2013), the indvidual must come from a family income of less than $40,000 or whose out-of-pocket medical expenses for a child who qualifies are more than 20% of family income. Or the child has Healthy Families medical insurance coverage.

The Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program assures access to preventive health care for eligible infants, children, and teens.  CHDP Public Health Nurses assure comprehensive health check ups by certifying physicians and clinics. These health check-ups include a complete health physical examination, growth and development check, all needed shots and lab tests, dental, vision, and hearing screening and appropriate health education information.

Children eligible for CHDP include those with Medi-Cal from birth through 20 y

Read More

Celebrate Conejo Recreation & Park District's 50th in 2013 with the Play Conejo Challenge!

/

The Conejo Recreation & Park District turns 50 in 2013! To celebrate, CRPD presents the Play Conejo Challenge! The Play Conejo Challenge entails completing activities and attending events throughout the year, accumulating at least 50 points and receiving a cool "PLAY CONEJO CHALLENGE CHAMPION - 50 FOR THE 50TH" t-shirt for your efforts!

Visit www.crpd.org/playlist to download the Play Conejo Challenge activity list, find things to do, and start accumulating points. Then either have a CRPD staff member write in the completion date or keep track yourself by writing down an observation. You have the entire year to acccumulate points!

This is about more than getting a free t-shirt! This is about having fun and celebrating along with CRPD! There are over 100 activities to choose from and as many as 151 points achievable. Activities and events on the list include the following CRPD locations and available points:

  • Conejo Valley parks (up to 5 points)
  • Borchard Community Center (up to 11 points)
  • Conejo Community Center (up to 11 points)
  • Thousand Oaks Community Center (up to 14 points)
  • Dos Vientos Community Center (up to 7 points)
  • Goebel Senior Adult Center (up to 12 points)
  • Alex Fiore Teen Center (up to 13 points)
  • Hillcrest Center for the Arts (up to 14 points)
  • Therapeutic Recreation Unit (up to 8 points)
  • Aquatics (up to 7 points)
  • Districtwide/General Activities (up to 33 points)
  • CRPD Partner Events (up to 16 points)

Have fun with the Play Conejo Challenge!

Cool, Blustery New Year's Day 2013 in the Conejo Valley

/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Today was a beautiful, dry New Year's Day in the Conejo Valley, with cool temperatures, partly cloudy skies and plenty of wind. We were out and about around town  and plenty of people were enjoying the outdoors, appropriately dressed!

If one of your new year's resolutions is to become more active, you are in the right place! Here are some great activities to look into in 2013:

Trails and hiking around Ventura County

Hiking groups around Ventura County

Hundreds of community parks around Ventura County

Fish and fishing options around Ventura County

Golf courses and tennis courts around Ventura County

Horseback riding options around Ventura County

Running and cycling groups throughout Ventura County

Thousand Oaks Named to BICYCLING Magazine List of Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities

/
TOBikeTrail.jpg

BICYCLING Magazine recently published a list of the top 50 bike-friendly cities in the United States for 2012. The list was completed based on cities with populations of 95,000 or more (roughly 300 U.S. cities are in this category) based on input from various sources, including the League of American Bicyclists. To make the list, BICYCLING indicates the city must also possess a robust cycling infrastructure and vibrant bike culture.

Congratulations goes out to the City of Thousand Oaks for placing 38th on this list! Thousand Oaks was one of only 3 Southern California cities to make the list, which included Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The top 10 cities named on the list were: Portland, Oregon, Minneapolis, Boulder, Colorado, Washington, DC, Chicago, Madison, Wisconsin, New York City, San Francisco, Eugene, Oregon and Seattle.

BICYCLING noted the 2011 addition of the 1.2 mile Conejo Creek Bike Path and the Conejo Valley Cyclists' recruitment of 300 cyclists for the 2011 Ride of Silence as factors in the City's ranking. The Conejo Creek Path connects Gainborough Road to Conejo Creek Park, Thousand Oaks Library and Thousand Oaks Teen Center.

Conejo Creek Bike Path

Conejo Creek Bike Path

The City of Thousand Oaks maintains approximately 80 miles of bikeways, including about 3 miles of bike paths, roughly 54 miles of bike lanes and other 20 miles or so of bike routes. The City takes bicycling very seriously...the City Council adopted a comprehensive Bicycle Facilities Master Plan in November 2010 to help prioritize future improvement projects around town.

Conejo Valley Cyclists is a popular local bicycling club offering beginning to advanced recreational rides as well as race paced training rides. The club organizes the extremely popular annual Cruisin' the Conejo bike ride in the spring of each year. Visit www.cvcbike.org to learn more.

Other local cycling clubs/groups in and around Ventura County at THIS LINK.

And of course, since its launch in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California is the biggest bike race in the United States. Learn more at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. In 2011, the final stage of the tour was right here in Thousand Oaks.

Amgen Tour of California 2011 (Photo Credit: Marcella Ketelhut of Thousand Oaks)

Amgen Tour of California 2011 (Photo Credit: Marcella Ketelhut of Thousand Oaks)

BikeSafelogo.gif

And finally, check out the City of Thousand Oaks "Bikesafe" website at www.toaks.org/government/depts/public_works/streets/bicycle/home.asp for tips and information to ensure safe bicycling around town.