Latest news with #HampdenCounty
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local leaders and addiction recovery organization advocates for change
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Addiction recovery providers around Hampden County came together Thursday evening to share resources and advocate for change. The Western Mass Policy Forum held at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield filled an auditorium as advocates shared the value of recovery and what it often looks like. 'If you ask anybody who's an addict, they didn't want to be an addict, you know, they became addicted. They became addicted to a drug or to alcohol. Nobody wants to live in that cycle,' shares Noel Sierra, Executive Director, Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery. Overdose prevention centers treat those in need and keep addicts alive across the country. However, in Massachusetts, there are currently no such facilities, and legislation is needed to put them in place. Since 2010, Massachusetts has seen 23,000 people die alone due to overdose. If you ever find yourself in a situation where a person has overdosed, there are five steps you can take to help them. First, you'll want to check their breathing and verify if they are experiencing any type of discoloration, such as blue or gray. Next, you'll want to call 911 immediately. During that time, you can also give the individual Narcan using a push pump in their nose. It's important you stay with the person overdosing until help gets there to assist. Policy makers were also in attendance at the forum, advocating for change. Others, like a local director and producer, are using her recent documentary to contribute to the movement. 'Recovery is possible, and also the stigma of recovery is real, and people recover when they are supported and not judged,' says Lisa Olivieri. If you're interested in viewing her documentary 'Recovery City', visit here for local screening dates and times. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Update: Damaging winds foreseen with thunderstorms in 3 Massachusetts counties Saturday
On Saturday at 7:26 p.m. the National Weather Service released an updated severe thunderstorm warning in effect until 8 p.m. for Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. Residents should prepare for wind gusts of up to 60 mph. "At 7:25 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located over Williamsburg, or near Northampton, moving east at 25 mph," states the weather service. "Expect damage to trees and power lines." Locations impacted by the warning include Holyoke, Amherst, Northampton, Greenfield, Deerfield, South Hadley, Easthampton, Belchertown, Montague, Granby, Hadley, Sunderland, Hatfield, Northfield, Williamsburg, Huntington, Conway, Shelburne, Leverett and Erving. The weather service adds, "For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building." Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away. To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind: Lightning safety plan: When venturing outdoors, it's vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning. Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it's an indication that lightning is nearby. Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors. Indoors safety measures: Once you're indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors. These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways. Wait for the all-clear: After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities. It's important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution. When indoor shelter isn't available: If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety: Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk. Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees. If you're in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people. Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning. Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks. In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety. When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it's prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain: Beware of rapid water flow: Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away. Maintain safe driving distances: Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain. Slow down and stay cautious: If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid. Choose your lane wisely: Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes. Prioritize visibility Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them. Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery. Keep a safe distance from large vehicles: Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely. Mind your windshield wipers: Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position. In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey. Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service. Read the original article on MassLive.
Medscape
13-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Asthma Funding Cuts Hit Underserved Communities
Recently announced federal funding cuts for asthma care in high-risk areas in Massachusetts highlight the short- and long-term effect of the dissolution of support programs for public health at the community level. The nearly $1 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Department of Public Health (DPH) was intended to 'support in-home environmental remediations, such as mold removal and improved ventilation,' according to a statement from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 'The loss of this funding is critically significant for the individuals enrolled in the program,' said a spokesperson for the Massachusetts DPH in an interview. 'The termination of this funding will negatively impact opportunities to replicate and expand this model to other communities,' the spokesperson added. In the short-term, 'the funding was intended to improve asthma outcomes for individuals and families by creating asthma-friendly conditions at home and helping individuals enrolled in the program better manage their asthma,' the spokesperson told Medscape Medical News . In the long term, the funding was intended to address housing quality issues and increase awareness among residents and community organizations about environmental health and the effect of indoor air quality on asthma management and control, the spokesperson said. A recent report from the American Lung Association gave Hampden County, Massachusetts, a grade of C on air quality. 'The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) looked at a variety of factors beyond only air quality to select a partner organization in this work, including overall asthma burden in the communities where this work would occur, with an emphasis on Massachusetts' Environmental Justice Communities,' according to the spokesperson. Revitalize Community Development Corporation in Springfield, Massachusetts, was selected as a partner organization. Irreplaceable Resources The state was relying on the federal funding to implement the program, the spokesperson told Medscape Medical News . 'The state is not able to replace the millions of dollars in federal funding being terminated by the Trump Administration,' the spokesperson said. However, 'we remain committed to continuing our efforts to improve air quality and reduce respiratory illnesses and asthma, including through enhanced air monitoring, strong public health protections from pollution, and planting more trees in urban areas,' the spokesperson added. Takeaways for Clinicians in High-Risk Areas For patients with asthma who live in high-risk locations with poor air quality and other environmental factors, clinicians should continue to treat patients in alignment with the latest guidelines the spokesperson said. This includes discussing environmental factors and triggers in controlling asthma symptoms, raising patient awareness of the short- and long-term effects of poor air quality on asthma, and helping them build strategies to mitigate these effects, the spokesperson added.
