Transcript: Health and Safety Podcast

June 25, 2025

Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast. Coming up, learn about mosquitoes, summer safety tips and school immunizations. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Mosquitoes are capable of transmitting diseases. In Fairfax County, West Nile Virus poses the greatest risk. Control mosquitoes around your home and yard by eliminating standing water, treating standing water and spraying your yard. By eliminating standing water in containers from around your yard once a week, you can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard. Mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. The majority of mosquito species are active at night, but the Asian Tiger is also active during the day. You can request a free yard inspection from the Health Department using our Mosquito Inspection request form, and staff can help identify potential mosquito breeding sites and provide prevention tips. For more information, visit the Mosquito Prevention page, fairfaxcounty.gov/health/fightthebite/mosquitoes.

Summer brings some pretty nasty surprises that can pop up with almost no warning:

• Flash floods can turn your favorite hiking trail into danger zone in minutes
• Heat waves hit hard, especially if you’ve got grandparents or little ones
• Those afternoon thunderstorms can pack a serious punch
• And isn’t it weird how power always seems to go out during the hottest days?

So, what can you do? Well, for those sudden floods:

• Pull up those flood maps on your phone – is your house in a risk zone?
• Grab a waterproof container for your important papers – you’ll thank yourself later
• Chat with your family about where you’d meet up if you had to leave in a hurry

How about for beating the heat>

• Stock up on extra water bottles – they’re always the first thing to sell out
• Make a plan to text your elderly neighbors during the next heat wave

What about preparing for summer storms?

• Trim tree branches hanging over your roof.
• Clean out those gutters – your future self will be grateful during the next downpour
• Dust off your emergency kit and check those batteries
• Push the test button on your smoke alarms – when’s the last time you did that?

And when the lights go out

• Fill some empty spaces in your freezer with water bottles – they keep everything colder longer
• Make sure your camp stove has fuel (and remember – only use it OUTSIDE!)
• Keep your phone charged when storms are in the forecast
• Practice opening your garage door manually – it’s trickier than you think!

You can follow our emergency blog for more preparedness information and tips. Visit fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog. You can even sign up to get an email whenever a new blog article is posted.

Each month the Department of Emergency Management and Security produces a “Emergency Preparedness” newsletter as well as hosts an emergency preparedness webinar. Learn more at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergencymanagement.

As the 2024-25 school year ends and summer begins, it's a great time for children to get up to date on their immunizations. Parents and caregivers are urged to make an appointment for their child now with their healthcare provider to avoid the last-minute rush before the 2025-26 school year starts. Immunizations are the most effective way to protect your child from serious illness and prevent them from missing school and other activities because they are sick. By ensuring your child is vaccinated, you not only protect them but also stop the spread of illness in schools and communities. Parents of students entering kindergarten, 7th grade, and 12th grade should be aware of the Virginia immunization requirements. Vaccines are available in our community. Find an immunization location that works for you; just search fairfaxcounty.gov/health.

Finally, Fairfax County's free alert system sends you important information during an emergency, helps you navigate your commute and shares community information. Don't miss this important information! Sign up for Fairfax Alerts at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts.

That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government. Thanks for listening. Additional information about health and safety topics and emergency preparedness may be found on our emergency information blog at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog. Follow the Health and Safety podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. And remember, if you have a police, fire, or medical emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency needs, call 703-691-2131.