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T h e INDEPENDENT, July 2 7 ,1 9 9 4
»'INDEPENDENT
■poViJ ToWW
Serving the upper Nehalem River valley. Published
twice monthly on the second and fourth Wednesdays of
each month, by Public Opinion Laboratory Ltd., 1206
S ta te A ve nu e, V ernonia, OR 97064, as a fre e
new spaper. E ditors and P ublishers, Dirk & Noni
Andersen, (503) 429-9410.
Putting our best foot
forward is right way
It is a deliqht to walk or drive around Vernonia late
ly and see the new paint on several commercial build
ings, the hanging flower pots, the flower-filled barrels
and window boxes and, especially, the show-piece
bridge over Rock Creek. Improvements are not limit
ed to downtown, either. Many formerly run-down resi
dences have been fixed up with new foundations,
paint and landscaping.
Some of the credit goes to individuals who want
their property to look as good as possible. Even more
credit belongs to the group called Vernonia Pride. You
have, indeed, awakened people to what a wonderful
community this is if they are willing to put in just a lit
tle effort, not only on their own behalf, but also for
others who are unable to take care of their own prop
erties. Pride shows.
Thanks were right,
one more is needed
A Letter to the Editor from Barb Ervin (page three)
thanks many people for helping keep the HOSTS
math program alive at Washington Grade School af
ter federal funding was reduced. We agree, the com
munity has responded positively to support an impor
tant remedial math program. But one big thanks is
missing.
It was Barb Ervin, a classroom aide at WGS, who
called attention to the loss of the program and who
came to the community to raise funds in order to re
tain it. Because of her caring and concern, some chil
dren will not live their lives hampered by an inade
quate grasp of a basic subject.
Thank you, Barb; you have shown how one person
can make a difference.
Injury suit may cost
taxpayers extra $$$
If the City of Vernonia is required to pay $45,000
because someone was injured after tripping on an
uneven sidewalk (see story on page 5), it follows that
the City must require all property owners to bring their
sidewalks up to code. A lot of people will be unhappy
about that, but how many judgements can the taxpay
ers support if the city doesn’t enforce its ordinances?
Even some sidewalks that are in reasonable condi
tion, but are slightly higher or lower than adjoining
sidewalks, may have to be replaced, because that
was the situation where the accident happened.
The irony of this particular lawsuit is that John
Lentz, the husband of the woman who filed the law
suit, was building inspector for the city for a long time,
when city ordinances were considered a joke and
state codes were ignored. Does anyone still long for
the “good old days?”
This information has been provided by the Vernonia
Fire Department Emergency Medical Service.
Working or playing in a hot environment—
both indoors and out— exposes people to seri
ous safety and health hazards.
Workers in jobs such as construction, elec
tric, gas or telephone utilities, logging and oth
er physically stressful work, are exposed to
heat-related health disorders. This is especial
ly true for workers who must use semi-perme-
a b le o r im p e rm e a b le perso n al p rotective
equipment such as hard hats, special clothing
or rubber gloves and sleeves. Students wear
ing helm ets and pads for sum m er football
practice are also at risk.
Over-heated workers are not mentally alert
and can m ake mistakes that jeopardize not
only their own safety, but also the safety of
their fellow workers.
Four fa c to rs affec t th e am ount of heat
stress that a person faces— temperature, hu
midity, radiant heat (such as from the sun or a
furnace) and air velocity. Perhaps most impor
tant to the level of stress is personal charac
teristics such as age, weight, fitness, medical
condition and acclimatization to the heat.
The body reacts to high external tempera
ture by circulating blood to the skin, which in
creases skin temperature and allows the body
to elim inate excess heat through the skin.
Sweating is another means the body uses to
maintain a stable internal body temperature.
Sweating is effective only when the humidity
level is low enough to permit evaporation and
if the fluids and salts lost are adequately re
placed. “Salts” as used in this article does not
refer to sodium (table salt), but to potassium,
calcium and magnesium salts.
If the body cannot dispose of excess heat, it
will store it. W hen this happens, the body's
core temperature rises and the heart rate in
creases. As the body continues to store heat,
the individual begins to lose concentration and
has difficulty focusing on the work being per
formed. The first symptoms of heat stress are
discomfort, fatigue, dizziness and the inability
to concentrate. Any of these symptoms can
lead to impaired performance and increased
risk of accidents. Heat stress can lead to five
different types of heat-related illnesses.
• Heat stroke is the most serious heat-relat
ed problem because, if not treated promptly
and properly, it can be fatal. H eat stroke is
caused when the body’s internal mechanism
fails to regulate its core temperature, sweating
stops and the body can no longer rid itself of
excess heat. Signs of heat stroke include: (1)
Confusion, delirium, loss of consciousness,
convulsions or coma; (2) a body temperature
of 106 degrees or higher; (3) hot, dry skin
which may be red, mottled, or bluish. Unless
first aid is administered, death or injury to the
brain or other vital organs may occur. While
awaiting medical help, move the victim to a
cool area and soak his or her clothing with
cool water while fanning vigorously to increase
cooling.
• Heat exhaustion results from fluid loss due
to sweating when a person has failed to drink
enough fluids, take in enough salt or both. A
person with heat exhaustion still sweats, but
experiences extreme weakness or fatigue, gid
diness, nausea and/or headache. The victim
bas a moist, clammy skin, a pale or flushed
complexion, and a body temperature that is
normal or slightly higher. Some may also have
a rapid pulse and low blood pressure. Treat
ment is usually simple: The victim should rest
in a cool place and drink plenty of water or
other fluids such as an electrolyte solution (a
drink used by athletes to quickly restore potas
sium, calcium, and magnesium salts). Severe
cases involving victims who vomit or lose con
sciousness may require longer treatment un
der medical supervision.
• Heat cramps are painful muscle spasms
caused by the loss of fluid and body salts from
sweating. Tired muscles are usually most sus
ceptible to cramps. Cramps may occur during
or after activity. They can be eased with mas
s a g e , but m a in ta in in g p ro p e r c h e m ic a l
(fluids/salts) balance in the body will eliminate
them in most people.
• Fainting (heat syncope) may be a problem
if a person is not acclimatized to heat and sim
ply stands still in the heat. Victims usually re
cover quickly after a brief period of lying down.
Moving around, rather than standing still, will
usually reduce the possibility of fainting.
• Heat rash, also known as prickly heat,
may occur in hot and humid environm ents
Please see page 16