County of Orange Fire & EMS is a regular contributor to the Orange County Insight newsletter. Issues often highlight the recent innovative initiatives of the department and remind residents about seasonal safety concerns. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the refreshed design of the Insight launched this month, the creation of a dedicated, recurring section focused on public safety and emergency preparedness was a natural inclusion. Introducing Preparedness Corner A New Regular Insight Segment By: Orange County Fire & EMS and Communications Departments Poison Prevention Week Information Sourced from Health Resources & Services Administration Poison Help Webpages & Resources
Going forward, the Preparedness Corner will be regularly featured in Insight issues, and will begin on page nine when available. Topics covered in this section will focus on
With regular, but fresh, preparedness content conveniently located, it is the hope of the Fire & EMS Department that Orange County residents will be ready and safe when disaster strikes. Alongside these regular newsletter inclusions, a new section will soon be added to the Orange County website under the Fire & EMS Department. Entitled “Emergency Readiness,” this new resource will house important safety tips and readiness actions for a variety of potential emergencies. The first feature of Preparedness Corner is the aforementioned National Poison Prevention Week, which is recognized March 16 - 22, 2025. National Poison Prevention Week was established by the U.S. Congress in 1961 to focus national attention on the dangers of poisonings and how to prevent them. More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the Nation’s poison control centers. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, 93 percent of poisonings happen at home, and 45 percent of poisonings involve children under the age of six. The majority of fatal poisonings occur among adults, especially older adults. seasonal hazards, such as winter weather, hurricanes, extreme heat, etc., and actions residents can take to be ready. Additionally, national safety topics, such as the National Poison Prevention Week highlighted in this issue, will find a home in this section. Since this issue is releasing during the transitional time between winter and spring, we’ve selected some important poison prevention safety tips, related to typical activities of those seasons, to highlight on the following page. To learn even more about ways to keep people of all ages safe and help prevent poisonings, visit the Poison Help website at www.PoisonHelp.hrsa.gov. In the event of a poison emergency, contact your local poison control center at (800) 222-1222
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OCI March 2025
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