Showing your support for organ and tissue donation is as easy as changing a lightbulb.
Nurse Betty-Anne Waugh says they're asking New Brunswickers to take part in the Green Porch Light campaign by installing a green light outside of their homes during National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness week from April 20-27.
She tells CHSJ News the campaign is about awareness, showing support and recognizing their heroes. She says people who donate their organs are saving seven lives and tissue from those who donate can go to more than a 100 people.
Over 4500 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ in Canada including 300 in New Brunswick.
The kids of Canada's wealthiest citizens may be getting a rude awakening in a decade or two according to a study by BMO that examines trends among the most affluent in this country.
Just a quarter believe their kids will be better off financially then they are and whopping 41% believe their kids will be worse off.
Interestingly, our cousins South of the border have a brighter view of what the future holds for their kids with 43% saying they think their children will be better off than them.
Delivering methadone to all New Brunswickers that need it isn't an insurmountable task.
That's according to Police Commission member Dr. Timothy Christie of Dalhousie University who estimates there are only about 5000 people in the province who require it. A study published last year by Christie about the methadone clinic in uptown Saint John showing a 95-percent retention rate and a 60-percent reduction in crime.
He says there's no reason we can't do this on a province-wide basis.
He says we should develop a system that can deliver methadone to the number of people that require it, instead of saying what kind of services do we want to deliver and how much are we going to spend on those.
Private
wells should not be used while flooded and once flood waters have receded, the well
should be disinfected and tested, no matter what water treatment device is
installed.
The Province's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Eilesh Cleary warns until your water supply has been tested and shown to be safe, water
for drinking and personal use should be brought to a rolling boil for at least a minute and then stored in clean, covered containers.
Private water supplies may be contaminated by such things as
furnace oil, gasoline or agricultural chemicals. If you believe your
well has been affected by such chemicals, the water should not be used at all, even if it has been boiled, until it has been determined to be safe.
If the soil around your house and septic system is
flooded, you should conserve water and avoid flushing the toilet if
possible. Avoid using dish washers and washing machines as the septic system
will not work under these conditions and sewage could end up in the home or
backyard.
Water levels will remain high over the next 48 hours or so and be above flood stage in several areas according to the latest report from River Watch.
That large ice jam, which at one point was 40 kilometers in size, broke into two blocks in the upper St. John River and began moving down river with water levels increasing in the Perth-Andover-Tobique region. The people there and in Doaktown remain under voluntary evacuation.
Water levels in Quispamsis, Fredericton, Maugerville, Jemseg, Grand Lake and Sheffield-Lakeville Corner are expected to stay above flood stage over next two days.
The water levels also remain high at Oak Point and the city has closed Beach Road, Ragged Point Road, Dominion Park Road and Lawrence Long Road because of flooding.
The City letting us know that the following roads have been closed because of flooding:
-Beach Road
-Ragged Point Road
-Dominion Park Road
-Lawrence Long Road
Crews will be keeping an eye on conditions. Drivers are being asked to use caution and observe all signage.
The threat of flooding still looming over many parts of the province, with River Watch warning water levels are forecasted to reach flood stage in the Saint John-Quispamsis and Oak Point areas today.
Other areas of the province including Fredericton and Grand Lake stay will see water levels stay above flood stage. The organization calling the flooding situation in the province continuously changing and asking people to be on alert for ice movement and rising water levels.
Other areas of concern include the upper St. John River at St. Anne-de-Madawaska, the St. John River at Perth-Andover and the Tobique First Nation, Woodstock and the Nashwaak rivers where ice jams are predicted and water levels may rise. Click here for more information on these areas.
The Department of Public Safety's EMO warning people to keep away from the edge of waterways and not to use boats or kayaks in open water because the currents are fast, could be carrying debris and is cold.
EMO and local authorities coordinating emergency social services in a number of communities. For
more information on shelters, call the Red Cross at
1-800-222-9597.
The Department of Transportation letting CHSJ News know the Evandale ferry is off its run until further notice due to river conditions.
UPDATE: The Evandale Ferry is now operating again, subject to ice conditions.
Home support, transition house, and child care workers are mostly women....and according to the results of a study on pay equity, they are still being left behind when it comes to the amount they're paid.
According to the Coalition for Pay Equity, community residence workers will be earning in 2016 what they should have earned in 2013. Chair Vallie Stearns says that demonstrates more than ever that we need pay equity legislation for the private sector.
The 2009 Pay Equity Act only applies to the public sector.....and not services contracted or subsidized by the government.
Coastal Transport cancelling both the 1:30pm and 3:30pm Grand Manan Ferry trips today due to mechanical problems. The ferry departing North Head at 1:40pm, will sail to Blacks Harbour and leave Blacks Harbour at 5:30pm.
While water levels continue to drop in the community of Perth-Andover, the flood-threatened town is still playing the waiting game.
Town Dan Dionne tells CHSJ News they're keeping an eye on water flows and a major ice jam north of St. Leonard which is not holding back as much water as it once was.
He tells us they're hoping the jam stays in place for several days and just decreases in size over time as opposed to breaking and releasing mass amounts of water. He says there also seems to be a channel opening up in the middle of an ice jam in Beechwood.
A voluntary evacuation is still in place and Dionne says as of last night there were only five people still staying in their homes. He says the 2012 flood is still very fresh in the minds of the residents, so people wanted to be high and dry in case of a repeat situation.
Meantime, we're hearing there will not be a shuttle boat service from Darling's Island like there has been in the past. EMO advising residents of Darling's Island to be ready to evacuate as rising flood waters could make the road to the mainland impassable. A shelter has been set up at the q-plex for those who need it.
Those people who have been affected by the flooding this week are being warned by Chief Medical Health Officer Eilish Cleary to beware of food and water contamination.
If you were flooded or your electrical power has been out for an extended period of time, perishable food, vacuum packed foods, home preserves, meat, fish and dairy products should be thrown out.
Canned foods with no leaks, swelling or rusting at the joints and edges can be saved but should be washed and dried.
Cooking and eating utensils should be cleaned.
Any appliances affected by flood water should be cleaned first with a detergent, rinsed, then washed with half a cup of bleach in nine litres of water and allowed to dry with the door open.
If you want your skin to look 20 to 30 years younger, maybe the secret doesn't lie with buying expensive beauty products.
Research done at McMaster University is showing exercise may even reverse the effects of aging on the skin.
The discovery was made when the effects of exercise on mice that were genetically modified to age faster were studied. These mice, who ran on a wheel three times a week were compared to mice who did no exercise. The findings show the skin of the aging mice were completely protected with exercise.
When people 65 and older exercised for 30 minutes, three times a week on a stationary bike, their skin appeared 20 to 30 years younger under the microscope after three months as long as they didn't bake themselves in the sun.
A rollover off of Highway 1 putting the driver in the hospital.
Emergency crews being called to the exit to Palmer Brook Road in Quispamsis around 1 in the morning. The Kennebecasis Regional Police telling CHSJ News they're unsure of the extent of the man's injuries at this point and what caused the crash is being now looked into.
Meantime police in Saint John telling us they received a call from the Regional Hospital about a 26-year-old man with a minor gunshot wound. We're told he was treated and released but was uncooperative with police.
The flood waters are rising on Darling's Island and residents are being told to be ready to leave.
EMO telling people the rising waters may make the road to the mainland impassable.
They
are also saying for safety reasons, residents will not be able travel to
and from the Island until the road has been re-opened.
CHSJ
News spoke with a resident who is staying put as his house in on high
ground and his family has everything they need to stay put for a few
days.
We are also told many vehicles are parked on the
Loop road outside of the flood zone which historically is located at the
playground area and near the bridge.
In recent years leafy green vegetables have been the cause of global outbreaks of foodborne illness but a comprehensive new study shows the next bunch of broccoli you buy should be safe.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency conducted a 5 year study that analyzed over 4200 fresh leafy vegetable samples including domestic and imported.
In 2009-2010, 12 samples were deemed unsatisfactory because of salmonella, listeria and generic e coli.
The CFIA as part of routine testing says more than 99.9 per cent of leafy green vegetables are safe to consume and contain no detectable levels of bacterial pathogen.
Organ donation saves tens of thousands of lives in Canada every year--yet, when it comes to donating, one third of people have signed up, one third are undecided, and another third have said no.
Mary Gaetan works to promote organ and tissue donation in Canada, and she tells us ideally everyone would make an informed decision rather than just saying "no" by default or due to misinformation.
She says while organ donation isn't for everyone, they want to get the message out to all Canadians that it's important to make your wishes known to your loved ones. For more information about organ donation, click here
Good news for Perth Andover with the news water levels have done 18 inches overnight.
The town has been ravaged by floods in the past, and according to public communications officer Justine Waldeck, they're simply hoping that the giant ice floe above Grand Falls stays put for a few more days.
They might see an influx of floes down the river today, but so far it's not looking like they'll have to call for mandatory evacuation. So far, 45 units including homes and businesses in low-laying areas were evacuated on a voluntary basis.
Farmers, gardeners, and anyone interested and excited about growing this spring are going to like this event.
From
10am until 4pm Saturday at the Hammond River Angling Association, you
have a chance to share, exchange and receive seeds and information.
Organizer
Greg Daggett tells CHSJ News gardening is fun and educational for
kids--and growing your own food is a great skill to pass on to the next
generation.
Phil Savage,
local market gardener, landscaper, and permaculture designer will be
hosting a "Backyard Food Garderning 101" presentation at 11:00am
Throughout
the day, seed-swapping tables will be open--and even if you don't have
any seeds of your own you can come get some for free to start your own
garden.
For more information, click here
It looks more like flooding season in most of New Brunswick--but the province is warning that forest-fire season in New Brunswick starts today and ends in late October.
Natural Resources Minister Paul Robichaud urging people to be careful and make sure fires are not carelessly ignited. The DNR encourages people to mulch, compost or haul debris to the dump instead of burning it. A burning permit from the department is required for most fires.
Grass fires are also a major concern in the early spring and can cause serious damage. For more information, click here
