Preparing our Youth…Where Do We Start?

September is not only the beginning of a new school year, but it is also National Preparedness Month! Preparing for emergencies and disasters can be challenging enough when you are only planning for yourself.  Add kids into the mixture and it becomes much more complicated. While there are a LOT of topics to cover, let’s focus on two areas and talk about how to get the kids involved. They are our future after all! 😀

• Discuss potential emergencies that could occur

My 4 year old son is becoming quite aware of all kinds of alarms, everything from car alarms to smoke alarms.  Although he may not know the ins and outs of every alarm he is definitely curious and says, “Dad, tell me all about them!”

So, where do we start? Every family should have a family emergency plan. If you don’t have one yet…put one together and practice, practice, practice (with the kids of course!). We should also be teaching our kiddos some basic information at an early age, things like:

• Their home address, phone number, and YOUR full name,
• How and when to call 911,
• Who to contact if they cannot reach you (names, phone numbers, and addresses),
•  Where your family meeting place is

•  Put together an Emergency Preparedness Kit!

I don’t know about your little ones but my son is right there to “help” me whenever he gets a chance! Including kids in the preparation activities is a great way to teach them what to do during emergencies. They love to help so let’s use that energy to our advantage!  Keep in mind that our kits should fit in a backpack. Use these lists to begin making a kit and then have the kids gather things like:

•  Clothing
• Blankets
• Toys, books, games, etc.
• Food
• Flashlights and radios

Play this fun game to help them decide which items to choose. Fun Fact – it might even be a little challenge for adults!

If something happens, it will probably be scary for your kids.  Keep in mind; it is okay to tell them you are scared too. Preparing for emergencies BEFORE they happen will take some of those worries away.  Remember that during playtime, children can pretend to be superheroes but when disaster strikes…you are the superhero they need because you will be prepared!

Mark Lafountain

Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Administration Division

Paddle with Me

In my previous life I spent many days on the Saranac River as a paddling instructor. Paddling can be a fun and exciting life-long sport - if you practice it correctly! With some help from my friends at the Town of Plattsburgh Parks & Recreation Department, I have some quick tips to make your next paddle one to remember.

Wear a Life Jacket

Life jackets, or PDFs (personal floatation devices), are the most critical piece of safety equipment to have no matter what kind of vessel you plan to paddle. Make sure your PDF is: 

• Coastguard approved and rated appropriately for your height and weight.

It should be tight enough that you cannot lift it by the shoulder-straps. Remember, a PDF can only do its job if you are wearing it and it is fastened correctly.

Check the Weather Forecast

ALWAYS check the weather reports for the area you plan to paddle in before you head out on your water adventure. The last thing you want to do is get caught half-way between point A and point B when a thunderstorm hits (not that I’m speaking from experience, but hypothetically your arms would be burning, you would be soaking wet and you would be cursing…a lot). No matter the weather, you should never go out alone and always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Dress Appropriately and Be Prepared

Wear:

• First and foremost – SUNSCREEN and a hat (whether it’s sunny or overcast).
• Clothing that is lightweight and quick drying. Consider packing a windbreaker.
• Shoes that are waterproof AND will stay on your feet. There is a yellow croc on the bottom of the Saranac River who will forever be missing his partner in crime.

Bring:

• A whistle or signaling device in case of an emergency.
• A dry-bag to keep your belongings safe.
• Water and snacks to keep you hydrated and happy J.

Stability

Typically, width = stability. Canoes tend to be a standard size, but you can reduce the risk of swamping your canoe by loading it carefully. A recreational kayak is wider and more stable than a sea kayak and a wider paddleboard can also help with stability. No matter the vessel, be sure it is ALL THE WAY in the water before you try to get in or on – half in and half out is the worst spot to be for balance. I have seen more people tip getting in or out than in the middle of the water.

Paddling Basics

Kayaks

• Stand in the water with one foot on each side of the cockpit and slowly sit down in the driver’s seat.
• To paddle go in at your toes and out at your waist. Alternate your strokes, one per side.
• Rotate your core with each stroke – if your arms are getting tired you probably aren’t engaging your core enough!

Paddle Boards

• Plant your hands and knees on the board just behind the board’s halfway point.
• Once stable slowly stand with your feet hip distance apart and your knees slightly bent.
• Reach your paddle forward and pull the water back; you will remove the paddle from the water just behind your feet. Take a few strokes then switch sides.

Canoes

• Bring a buddy and board your vessel, one at a time. The paddler in the back will want to enter in the middle of the boat. After the paddler in the front is in their seat, slowly scoot back into yours.
• The rider in the front is the workhorse – they paddle continuously. The rider in the back keeps track of where the boat is going.
• Take a few strokes on one side then switch. Get into a rhythm with your co-pilot.

Know your paddling limits and remember, however far you paddle out you will also have to paddle back. Whether it is on a paddleboard, in a kayak or canoe, a summer paddling adventure is great experience for the whole family. Be sure to follow all of our safety tips and enjoy yourself! It is summer after all!

Molly Flynn, Senior Public Health Educator

Division of Health Planning & Promotion

When Exercise is Play…It’s Just Better

Let me set the scene - it’s late June, the school year has just ended, the days are getting longer, you’re stuck in the same old routine and the kids…well, they are already driving you crazy! Sound familiar? If so we have the perfect fix – play! And I don’t mean playing on electronics; I mean get outside and play.

There’s an event that takes place in Clinton County every year at the end of June. It’s called the Longest Day of Play (LDP) and it’s pretty unique. This year’s LDP is Friday, June 28^th and it’s shaping up to be a good one.

Since 2013, we’ve been celebrating play because we believe that a day of play is a great way to kick off a summer full of fun and sneak in some physical activity. But, don’t just take it from us.

Gemma Kivett at the 2018 Longest Day of Play 

This is Gemma Kivett at the 2018 LDP, enjoying an activity hosted by the Kayak Shack. She’s attended at least one LDP activity since she was pre-school aged. Here’s what she has to say, “(the) Longest Day of Play is fun. It gives you a chance to do things that you don’t normally get to do, like using a stand up paddleboard!”

The LDP isn’t just for kids, there is something for everyone! You can bring grandma and grandpa along for some free (or low cost) fun…they might even teach you a thing or two J. 

This year we will have activities all over Clinton County. Here’s a quick list of locations. Check our schedule for details and decide how you will spend your day in active play (and out of each other’s hair).

• City of Plattsburgh on the lawn at the U.S. Oval and in the gym
• Town of Plattsburgh at the Cadyville Disc Golf Course and Wallace Hill Park
•  Village of Dannemora Community Center
•  Village of Champlain playground and the boat launch
• West Chazy Recreation Park
•  UVHN- CVPH Wellness and Fitness Center and Plattsburgh YMCA
• Baggs’ Landing

Karen Derusha, Supervising Public Health Educator

Division of Health Planning and Promotion