Local police work with RVHCC on a number of activities

 
It was a rainy day at the first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day in June

The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of household hazardous waste in the basement or garage and in storage closets. Most homes in the River Valley area contain three to ten gallons of these hazardous products.  When improperly disposed of, household hazardous waste can create a potential risk to people and the environment. Toxic products carelessly tossed in the trash, can injure sanitation workers, damage collection vehicles, or leak into the environment. Similarly, when dumped down the drain some products can cause water pollution, and damage plumbing and septic systems. Products poured on the ground or in a storm sewer pollute our water supply

Some examples of household hazardous waste products:

paint brush cleaners / solvents
varnish remover
chemical lawn fertilizers
solvent based glues                               
weed or insect killer
cleaners (toilet, oven or drain)  
swimming pool chemicals
antifreeze (radiator / windshield)
BBQ and camping fuel
rat poison
gasoline
moth balls
driveway sealer

Latex Paint - use this procedure to dry your paint out:

      Pop open the paint can lids.
Fill the can up with cat litter and stir the litter into the paint.
Allow the can to stand open (outside) until the paint is dried onto the litter.
Once the paint is dry you may dispose of it in your trash.

To find out how to safely dispose of hazardous materials, contact Patty Duguay at 364-7408

The RVHCC is a "Healthy Maine Partnership"

Remarkable changes are taking place in cities and towns all across Maine. Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMP's) are building a healthier Maine, by collaborating with local schools, community organizations, hospitals and other health care providers. HMP's are networking with businesses, municipalities, and volunteers.

Funded through a portion of the tobacco settlement money, HMP's are dedicated to preventing diseases related to tobacco use, lack of physical activity, poor nutrition and substance abuse. By reducing these risks factors, Healthy Maine Partnerships will help us all live longer and healthier lives .

The RVHCC and other HMP's are working together at the State and local level to make Maine a healthier place to live and work. We are doing this by initiatives that reduce tobacco use and prevent tobacco-related chronic disease. HMP's are focusing on changing policies and environments to be more supportive of reducing tobacco use and increasing physical activities. HMP's promote the development of healthy eating habits, thus reducing the risk of the associated chronic-diseases.

What Healthy Maine Partnerships Do:

HMP's work to reduce tobacco use, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity. These are some of the causes of diseases that kill nearly 75% of Maine people.

HMP's work to help people either detect diseases early or to know what risky behavior can lead to diseases. Risk factors include tobacco addiction, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

HMP's work to guide children to make healthy choices and help school maintain healthy and caring environments for students and employees through a Coordinated School Health Program. This program uses national guidelines for best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tree Planting in the River Valley

         

Members of the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition were present at a "Tree Planting Ceremony" to kick off the continuation of the "River Valley Healthy Maine Partnership".


Local, Community Based Programs include the following:  

• Smoking cessation groups
• Workplace wellness
• Municipal and recreational tobacco-free policies
• Pedometer walking program
• Tar Wars presentation to 4th graders in conjunction with Swift River Health Care
• Spring Fitness Program

The community Youth Coordinators works with area high school groups on advocacy projects to include:

• Samantha Skunk presentations to 2nd graders
• Walls of Shame at area schools
• Kick Butts Day activities
• Tobacco advertising "Storefront Survey's

School Health Coordinators at each of three subcontracted districts strive to achieve the following:

• Coordinated School Health Programs' K-12 Comprehensive School Health Education
• Nutrition Advisory Councils
• Staff Wellness Teams
• School based health related policies and environmental change

The River Valley initiative has expanded its service area to include 22 towns of Western Oxford County. (See Map) For more information about the Healthy Maine Partnerships, contact Carol Emery, Program Manager at 364-7408 or go to:    WWW.HealthyMainePartnerships.org

www.healthymainepartnerships.org