The Marion County Public Health Department will be offering two free diabetes self-management programs in June. Four-part classes will be offered at the Speedway Public Library, 5633 W. 25th St. on June 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Please plan to attend all four classes.
A second class will be offered at the Lawrence Public Library, 7898 N. Hague Rd. on June 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Please plan to attend all four classes.
Registration is required. Call (317) 221-2094 or register online at www.mchd.com/diabetes.
Health department’s tire drop-off event is set
The Marion County Public Health Department’s Tire Amnesty Day program will be held June 11 at three Indianapolis locations.
Sponsored by the mosquito control program, Tire Amnesty Day collects tires at no charge. Collection points include:
• Marion County Public Health
Department Mosquito Control,
4001 E. 21st St.
• Southeast Community Organization (SECO), 1925 Fletcher Ave.
n J.R.’s Used Tires, 3519 W. 10th St.
Marion County residents can bring up to six passenger car tires, off the rim, to the drop off locations. This is for individuals only, not tire dealers or other businesses. All tires collected will be recycled.
“The dark color of the tire attracts and retains heat, holds enough water to hatch eggs and offers protection from predators and chemical treatments,” said Chuck Dulla, administrator of Mosquito Control.
During the last two years, the Tire Amnesty Day program has collected nearly 5,000 unwanted tires.
For more information, contact Mosquito Control at (317) 221-7440.
Health department offering free carbon monoxide poisoning prevention information to RV-owning race fans
The Marion County Public Health Department, in cooperation with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will make information on carbon monoxide poisoning available to recreational vehicle owners coming to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 100th annual Indianapolis 500 Race on May 29.
The printed information will be handed out as an educational outreach effort in response to an incident in which a recreational vehicle parked near the race track in May of 2008 filled with carbon monoxide, killing one person and hospitalizing three others.
The health department creates the informational fliers and provides the documents to racetrack officials for posting in areas they operate that host recreational vehicles. Smaller RV lot owners can contact the health department to get copies of the flier.
“Carbon monoxide gas is invisible, odorless and deadly. It is produced by the partial combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. This includes gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, wood and coal,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D., director, Marion County Public Health Department. “It is extremely serious when combustion by-products are not vented outside.”
Hundreds of people die each year from carbon monoxide produced by fuel burning appliances and thousands go to emergency rooms for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The health department initiated this effort at the 2008 Brickyard 400. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is providing the educational fliers at no charge.
