BRONX NEWS

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Legionnaires Outbreak

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Legionnaires Outbreak: Health Dept Investigating #Legionnaires Outbreak BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS) - Thirty-one cases have been reported since July 10. The...

#Legionnaires Outbreak

Health Dept Investigating #Legionnaires Outbreak

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- Thirty-one cases have been reported since July 10. There have also been two deaths reported in patients with Legionnaires' disease in these neighborhoods. The Health Department is actively investigating these deaths and their relationship to the outbreak. The Health

Department is testing water from cooling towers and other potential sources in the area to determine the source of the outbreak. New Yorkers with respiratory symptoms, such as fever, cough, chills and muscle aches, are advised to promptly seek medical attention.

“We are concerned about this unusual increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases in the South Bronx,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett. “We are conducting a swift investigation to determine the source of the outbreak and prevent future cases. I urge anyone with symptoms to seek medical attention right away.”

Legionnaires' disease is caused by the bacteria Legionella. Additional symptoms include: headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, confusion and diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear two to 10 days after significant exposure to Legionella bacteria. Most cases of Legionnaires’ disease can be traced to plumbing systems where conditions are favorable for Legionella growth, such as whirlpool spas, hot tubs, humidifiers, hot water tanks, cooling towers, and evaporative condensers of large air-conditioning systems.

Legionnaires' disease cannot be spread from person to person. Groups at high risk for Legionnaire’s disease include people who are middle-aged or older – especially cigarette smokers – people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems and people who take medicines that weaken their immune systems (immunosuppressive drugs). Those with symptoms should call their doctor and ask about testing for Legionnaire’s disease.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Heatwave tips

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): #Heatwave tips: Tips for Keeping Cool, Saving Energy During Heat Wave BRONX, NE...

#Heatwave tips

Tips for Keeping Cool, Saving Energy During Heat Wave

BRONX, NEW YORK (BRONX NEWS)- With temperatures expected to be above 90 degrees starting today and through the week, Con Edison wants to remind customers to use energy wisely, while saving money. New Yorkers can stay cool all summer by following these ten money-saving conservation tips:

1. Set your AC to the highest comfortable temperature. Every degree you lower the thermostat drives up your bill by 6 percent.

2. To reduce heat and moisture in your home, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s cooler outside.

3. Cook with a microwave or barbecue outside, if possible.

4. When the AC is running, close doors to keep cool air in and hot air out. Shop owners are reminded not to keep front doors open while running air conditioning inside. This is a waste of energy, and puts a strain on the grid.

5. Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows.

6. Even when using AC, use ceiling and other fans to provide additional cooling and better circulation.

7. Turn off AC units, lights and other appliances when not at home and use a timer or smart technology to turn on your air conditioner about a half-hour before arriving home.

8. Keep AC filters clean.

9. Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star appliances.

10. Con Edison offers a variety of energy-efficiency programs for this summer.

The coolNYC program connects customers with smart technology to control their room air conditioners from their computer or mobile device. Customers whose air conditioners are not Wi-Fi-enabled can buy a smart AC kit or borrow one for free and keep it if they participate in at least three heat events. Customers with Wi-Fi-connected Friedrich Kühl or Frigidaire Cool-Connect units can enroll these ENERGY STAR ACs and earn up to $125 in rewards. Learn more by visiting:www.coolnycprogram.com

Replacing an old air conditioner with a new ENERGY STAR unit can reduce energy usage by 15 percent. Con Edison will pay a $20 rebate to customers who buy a new ENERGY STAR air conditioner.

Customers can report outages and check service restoration status atwww.conEd.com or by calling 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors also have lost power.

Customers who report outages will be called by Con Edison with their estimated restoration times as they become available.

Also, download Con Edison’s new freeiPhone and Android app, My conEdison, to report and check the status of a power problem, and view the company’s interactive online outage map.

#Heatwave #ConEd