New Travel Scares

I’m a believer in effective mass transit as a means of reducing our energy needs and creating more jobs. Airlines continue to face troubling times with increasing fuel costs and decreasing profit margins. Compound the lack of free amenities on-board flights with ever increasing security restrictions and I just don’t see many airlines being able to remain viable.
Trains and buses afford a cost-effective means of transporting both commuters and travelers alike. By running trains on electricity reduces the reliance on foreign oil. More and more busses now run on either biodiesel or electricity as well. Trolley cars are becoming quite the norm to run local travelers and commuters around (Cincinnati is still pursuing trolleys for the Over-The-Rhine area). A comprehensive mass transportation approach just makes good sense.
Well I just read an article that makes me wonder if trains and buses aren’t going to become the next industry invaded by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). Ontario health officials are searching for 27 people who may have been exposed to tuberculosis while travelling on a Greyhound bus from Toronto to Windsor on Aug. 31. There's a "moderate risk" they contracted the disease, public health officials said Thursday. You read the entire article here.

People need to take more responsibility for their actions. If someone knows they have, or suspects they may have, a highly communicable disease like tuberculosis they need to stay home! Last year a US citizen flew from Atlanta on an overseas flight knowing he had TB but felt his need to travel outweighed the safety of others. Apparently the same thing happened on the Greyhound bus in Ontario. TB is contagious and with strains that are resistant to antibiotics, this case is very disconcerting. However, we can’t overreact and start adding even more restrictions to travel. Hopefully the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will team with the TSA to develop some reasonable safeguards for travelers.

Three Weeks Later

The financial bailout plan has taken center stage in the news. You can’t help but wonder if Congress would have had the same reaction in a non-election year. The whole issue has eclipsed the relief efforts from Hurricane Ike. The news is no longer following Duke or DP&L reactions to the blackout. The lackluster Bengals who couldn’t even win against the equally hapless Browns are getting more press than any attempts to improve our power infrastructure. Ohio really doesn’t get snow as much as sleet and freezing rain. The weight of the ice on power lines could create another large scale blackout. What will seniors and those with medical conditions do without electricity for heat? Has Duke and DP&L improved their ability to identify and respond to those without power?

In Ohio, before we get snow and sleet though we must go through rain. The risk for flooding in Ohio is greatest in the spring and autumn months. In the event you experience a flood basement or house, the following regarding mold from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) should be followed:

When returning to a home that has been flooded, be aware that mold may be present and may be a health risk for your family.

• People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold.

• If you or your family members have health problems after exposure to mold, contact your doctor or other health care provider.

• Controlling moisture in your home is the most critical factor for preventing mold growth.

• If you plan to be inside the building for a while or you plan to clean up mold, you should buy an N95 mask at your local home supply store and wear it while in the building.