Recent editorials from Alabama newspapers:
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June 3
The Times-News on staying safe in the summer heat:
If you’ve been outside in the last few days, this isn’t breaking news, but it’s hot outside.
Unfortunately, as summer goes on it’s only going to get worse.
When the weather gets really hot, the people at the highest risk are those 65 and older, as well as children younger than two years old.
If you have an elderly neighbor, it’s nice to check on them and make sure they are staying cool.
If you don’t have air conditioning, experts recommend going to the library, mall or other public areas that are open and cool.
The Center for Disease Control identifies air conditioning as the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death.
It’s recommended that anyone - even young and healthy people - limit outdoor activities when the temperature reaches that high.
Stay out of the heat during the hottest parts of the day - around 2 p.m. - and wear sunscreen.
If you’re working outside, the CDC recommends starting activities slowly and then pick up the pace.
Experts also recommend drinking extra fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
It’s never a good idea to leave a pet in a car, but during these temperatures it’s even more important.
And although it should go without saying, never leave young children in a car unattended, especially with temperatures near 90 or 100 degrees.
It’s going to get extremely hot outside as summer continues - even hot for the South - and we recommend taking precaution.
Online: https://www.valleytimes-news.com
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May 31
The Cullman Times on continuing to wear face coverings in public:
We’re not out of the woods yet.
It has been the worst week for Cullman County and the state of Alabama in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases reported. We’re all excited to have the economy reopening, to get out and about, but that does not mean we should be throwing caution to the wind.
The virus - unseen, highly contagious and deadly - is still with us. When Gov. Kay Ivey announced the most recent reopenings, she emphasized that we all must take personal responsibility in slowing the spread of the disease.
“It takes all of us being vigilant and adhering to the social distancing guidelines to stop the spread of this disease,” she said.
Maybe everyone was cheering the reopening news too loudly to hear that part. Because if the most recent numbers are anything to go by, we’ve not been responsible.
Cullman is a generous place. It’s a place where neighbor looks after neighbor and when a need is expressed, its people step up to meet the need.
Right now, what’s needed is for people to go about their lives in a manner that protects the people most vulnerable to this disease.
That means washing your hands frequently, maintaining at least six feet of space between unrelated groups of people and, when that’s not possible, wearing a mask.
For the most part, it’s fairly easy in Cullman County to maintain social distance. We’re blessed with ample open space. There are times and circumstances, however, where it’s not so easy.
Dr. Rachel Lee, an infectious disease doctor at UAB, noted in a briefing this week that many people with the virus don’t show symptoms for several days.
’If you are asymptotic and potentially spreading it, that mask, coupled with hand hygiene and distancing, will be enough to protect others from potentially getting exposed,” she said.
She and State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris had a similar message: assume you are the danger and take precautions to protect your family, friends and community.
Masks, for whatever reason, have become politically charged. But this virus does not care about party politics; it’s an equal opportunity infector.
And we understand that even without the political take, masks aren’t anyone’s first fashion choice. They can be hot, uncomfortable and annoying. But isn’t it worth the alternative?
On May 29, Cullman Regional bid a cheerful goodbye to Mr. Rolando Marquez. He was hospitalized for 52 days because of COVID-19 and has been moved to another facility to continue his recovery. We congratulate Mr. Marquez and the staff at the hospital for his recovery, and wish him a speedy return to full health.
That is great news; and Cullman has been fortunate to not have any deaths from this disease. But if you knew there were some simple steps you could take that would prevent someone else undergoing a lengthy hospital stay, wouldn’t you want to take those steps?
The reality is that this virus is still with us. It’s likely going to be with us for a while, and, as Dr. Lee noted, there is still much we don’t know about this virus. But in the meantime, we need to learn to live with it in a way that limits its devastation.
More than 600 Alabamians have died because of this virus and a half a million have lost jobs. Hopefully, with businesses reopening, many of the jobless will be able to go back to work. It’s going to have to be different than it was before, however, or we risk lives and livelihoods all over again.
Governor Ivey noted, “If we start going in the wrong direction, then we reserve the right to come back in and begin to reverse course.”
Cullman County is a generous community. It’s time once again to show that generosity through caring enough for our fellow citizens that we take the extra steps necessary to keep them safe. As Dr. Harris said this week, “If you won’t do it for yourself, please do it for your family and your community.”
Put on your superhero mask.
Online: https://www.cullmantimes.com
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