Press Release

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is urging New Hampshire residents not to eat raw Nestle Toll House cookie dough because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7. Nestle has voluntarily recalled all varieties of prepackaged Toll House cookie dough.  New Hampshire has identified two cases related to this recall, one person who was sick in March and one in late May, related to this cluster of illness. Both have recovered.

New   Hampshire  health  officials  are  continuing  to  investigate  in coordination  with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the  Food  and  Drug  Administration  (FDA).   Preliminary results from the multi-state investigation suggest that the Nestle Toll House cookie dough may be the source of the outbreak, but further investigation is ongoing.

“E. coli is a bacteria that produces a toxin that is potentially deadly to people,” said Dr. Jose Montero, Director of Public Health at DHHS, “especially young children and seniors. Though it has not been confirmed yet that this product is the cause of this outbreak, if you have eaten any of this product raw, you should be on alert for possible symptoms of E. coli.   Typically, cooking the product as directed will kill the bacteria, however, consumers should discard the recalled cookie dough since the bacteria can get on their hands and on other cooking surfaces.”

Symptoms of E. coli illness include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.  Most people recover  within  10 days but a small percentage of people  become  extremely  ill,  with  symptoms  including hemolytic uremic syndrome  (HUS),  which  is  characterized  by the destruction of red blood cells and kidney failure. Most people recover from HUS but it can be fatal.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

On April 10, 2009, 2 plumbing-related code amendments were approved by the State of New Hampshire Building Code Review Board.  They are:

1.    Appendix C  Gray Water Recycling Systems of the 2006 International

Plumbing Code of New Hampshire.

2.    Appendix O  Gray Water Recycling Systems of the 2006 International

Residential Code for One- and Two- Family Dwellings of New Hampshire.

Please check with your local code enforcement office regarding permits, inspections and local code requirements.

NOTE:  A permit is required by the State of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) to discharge gray water in or onto the ground from a Subsurface Landscape Irrigation System.  Contact DES at 603-271-3503 for information.

Citing research indicating that 20 percent of private wells in the state have unsafe levels of arsenic, and that even more have unsafe levels of radon, DES urges private well owners to test their well water every few years.  Contamination from salt and other human-caused contaminants such as the gasoline additive MtBE is less common, but does occur.   DES estimates that 36 to 40 percent of New Hampshire residents rely on private wells for their drinking water at home, with the rest relying on public water systems, which are closely regulated.

There are currently no statewide testing or treatment requirements for private wells, although work done by well contractors and pump installers is governed by state rules.

“Only a handful of towns in New Hampshire have meaningful testing requirements for private wells – typically in connection with certificates of occupancy or real estate transfer,”  according to Bernard Lucey, a senior engineer in DES’s Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau.  Lucey has been working on the issue – by trying to educate the public as well as local health officers and other local officials – for more than ten years.  “In the vast majority of New Hampshire towns, it’s up to the homeowner to make the decision to get their water tested, and then to become informed about the treatment options, if indicated,” Lucey added.  “To protect their health and the health of their families, every private well owner should test for arsenic, radon, uranium, and gross alpha.”

DES’s recommendations for homeowners regarding private well testing can be found on DES’s website (search for “NHDES private wells”), or by calling Lucey at 271-2952.

Belmont Historical Society Opens 40th Anniversary Year:

First 2009 Meeting is Friday, January 23 - 7:00 p.m.

The Belmont Historical Society marks a milestone in 2009, celebrating its fourth community decade. This 40th anniversary year will be led by two local citizens who helped found the organization, Suzanne "Sue" Roberts, a retired educator and longtime regional activist, and Wallace Rhodes, Town historian and driving force behind the award-winning Belmont Mill adaptive reuse effort, throughout the 1990s. Mrs. Roberts was elected president, and Mr. Rhodes, who also chairs the Belmont Heritage Commission, will serve as vice president. Additional officers this year include Brenda Paquette, a Town staff member and avid collector of local memorabilia, and Jane McLetchie, continuing as treasurer. Directors continuing terms include Linda Frawley and Diane Marden. Also elected a director was Magnus McLetchie, most recent society president.

The Friday, January 23 meeting at the Belmont Mill, 7:00 p.m. will spotlight the founding years, with recollections presented by Roberts and Rhodes. Additionally, program dates and topics will be established for the next months. As traditional, both meetings and membership of the Belmont Historical Society are open to all. For further information contact belmonthistory@gmail.com or visit http://belmonthistory.googlepages.com/home

Annual individual dues to the Belmont Historical Society are $10. and $15. for families.

Kindly send checks payable to:  Belmont Historical Society % Jane McLetchie, Treasurer  180 Dutile Road, Belmont NH 03220

Other gifts of photographs and local memorabilia are always appreciated, and photos can be scanned and returned. Monetary donations are always welcome, and deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 3, 2007

Contact:

Melissa Heinen, RN, MPH

Education and Research Coordinator

Northern New England Poison Center

heinem@mmc.org

603-271-4520 or 207-232-9832

Don’t die because your power did

During power outages, many people use portable generators to supply their

homes with electricity. Although these can be useful, they can also be

dangerous. One of these dangers is carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Carbon monoxide gas is a colorless, odorless poisonous gas. It is made when

fuels burn improperly or the exhaust is not vented outdoors. The symptoms of

CO poisoning can be similar to the flu (but without a fever). The symptoms

include:

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea

• Dizziness

Every year, hundreds of people die from portable generator-related CO

poisoning. Most often these occur because people used a generator indoors. If

you use a portable generator, you can prevent CO poisoning by following these

important safety tips:

• Never use a generator in garages, basements, crawl spaces and other

enclosed or partially-enclosed areas.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your generator.

• Install battery-operated or plug-in CO alarms with battery backup in your

home.

• For maximum effectiveness during sleeping hours, CO alarms should be

placed close to sleeping areas. Additional alarms on every level and in

every bedroom of a home can provide extra protection.

If your CO alarm goes off or you begin to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a

generator immediately get outside and call 911. Call the Northern New England

Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for more information.

For more information about mold cleanup, please call (603) 271-3911 or visit www.des.nh.gov/ARD/EHP/IAQ/index.html. For information on asbestos testing, please call 271-1373.

The new NH DES Shoreland Protection Rules become effective as of July 1st.  Rules and applications are available on their website.