Fairfield Safety Updates

safety
August 27, 2020
Over the course of the pandemic, I, like all of you, have read many articles about the virus, what we can do and what lies ahead. Sometimes one strikes you, whether for the data or for the perspective. A July Wall Street Journal article, penned by former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden, was one of those pieces. The article, “The Three Key Hurdles for a Coronavirus Vaccine to Clear” is worth the read. In case you don’t get to it, here is one paragraph that was particularly striking:

“The biggest challenge to getting a Covid-19 vaccine into enough people’s arms won’t be scientific, technical or logistical; it will come from a lack of trust. Particularly in this election season, the process of vaccine evaluation must be scientifically rigorous and open. Public trust can be eroded by large profit margins for vaccine makers, a lack of transparency about the cost of production and prices that fail to take into account the fact that many vaccines benefit substantially from publicly funded research. Open meetings of the key advisory committees of the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be indispensable.”
I share this to say, please be sure to use trusted sources of information and source documents when you seek out information about this virus. Scientists and medical professionals are still learning, so information will evolve. I do hope you take a moment to read the entire article, as I believe there are helpful insights and pieces of information.

As I have said many times, it is only by working together that we will defeat this virus. A vaccine is one important step, but public health measures, including wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining 6 feet of distance and remaining outdoors when meeting are all critical for the long haul
Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

Over the past few months, more and more people are out walking and riding their bicycles. You have heard me talk about bike safety before, but I want to emphasize it again, as I see too many people riding without helmets.

This summer, when we visited my sister out on the Cape, my husband was struck by a motor vehicle while riding his bicycle. Thankfully, he was just fine, but we were reminded of just how important his helmet was to keeping him safe.

In addition to

ALWAYS wearing your helmet, when you are riding your bike, here are some of the ways you can stay safe:
  • Always Ride with Traffic
  • Don’t Ride on the Sidewalk
  • Be Predictable and Visible
  • Watch for Turning Traffic
  • If you’re riding with a group of friends, ride single file in a straight line

You can read more about bike safety here, and pedestrian safety here. Our Frist Selectwoman recently shared safety information in her newsletter as well. Please share this information with the young people in your life.
 
It is so wonderful to see so many people walking and on their bicycles, and even more wonderful when they are riding safely and protecting those beautiful brains of theirs. By the way, parents, the best way to get your children to wear a helmet is to wear one yourself.