Page 4 - qt edition #20

PAGE 4 THE QUEENS TIMES THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2022

Eye Health Tips From Lighthouse Guild HPD And FDNY Launch Fire Safety
Education Campaign
May is Healthy Vision flashes of light. as needed on the job.
Month “Many common eye problems • Quitting smoking. (Continued from page 3) replacing batteries.
can be corrected with glasses, • Taking periodic eye breaks • Close the Door. When escaping
Taking care of your eyes contact lenses, or laser surgery,” -- staring at a computer all day, community groups to plan out the a fire in your home, always close
should be a health priority, like Dr. Roberts explains. “Millions or any object, can make you blink rest of the summer. The campaign the door. Closing doors saves
eating a balanced diet and being of Americans would see better less and cause eye fatigue. Follow will also include coordinated lives. All residential buildings
physically active. “It starts with if they used corrective lenses the 20-20-20 rule: look away for messaging on the web, a social with 3 or more apartments must
a comprehensive dilated eye or had corrective eye surgery, if 20 seconds every 20 minutes at media blitz, and email bulletins have self-closing doors; notify
exam to check for common vi- appropriate. For people who have something 20 feet away, which to approximately 35,000 property your property if they are not.
sion problems and eye disease,” low vision — vision loss that can reduce eyestrain. owners in the city. • Have an Escape Plan. An
says ophthalmologist Calvin W. cannot be corrected with glasses, • Eating healthy foods that pro- HPD’s Outreach Van and escape plan is important to keep
Roberts, MD, President and CEO medication or surgery — vision tect your sight, such as dark leafy FDNY’s Fire Safety Education you safe in the event of a fire.
of Lighthouse Guild. rehabilitation and technology can greens and fish high in omega-3 Unit are taking the fire safety Property owners must post plans
“We urge people of all ages help with everyday tasks. Devices fatty acids. campaign on the road, bringing on the inside of every apartment
to schedule regular eye exams, such as video magnifiers, audio • Knowing your family’s eye information and services directly door, common area, and distribute
especially older adults who are at and electronic books, smart- health history – since some eye to tenants and homeowners across them to each unit, to new tenants,
increased risk for eye diseases,” phones, and tablets can change conditions are hereditary. the five boroughs. The teams and annually.
says Dr. Roberts. the font size and lighting level “It’s always important to take will provide a wide range of • Clear Exits. Help your family
An examination can alert or magnify what’s on a screen. care of your vision,” says Dr. information – from filing a hous- escape from fire, and help first
adults to potential eye conditions Apps can help people identify Roberts. “But, during Healthy Vi- ing complaint and applying for responders quickly access your
that can cause vision loss and money, colors and navigate their sion Month, we especially remind affordable housing, to valuable apartment, by keeping exits un-
even blindness. They include: surroundings,” he adds. everyone to take care of their life-saving fire safety informa- obstructed by clutter or storage
• Cataracts, clouding of the lens Tips and techniques to protect eyes so they can be as healthy as tion, tips, and handouts. FDNY on fire escapes, hallways, and en-
in an eye your vision possible.” provides educational resources in trance doors including roof doors.
• Diabetic retinopathy, which In addition to scheduling About Lighthouse Guild multiple languages and giveaways • Keep your Kitchen Safe. Keep
causes damage to the blood ves- regular comprehensive dilated Lighthouse Guild provides excep- that raise awareness on general the area around your stove clear
sels in the back of the eye eye exams, other simple practices tional services that inspire people residential safety. of towels, papers, and potholders.
• Glaucoma, increased eye can help maintain healthy vision, who are visually impaired to Additionally, FDNY will offer Stand by your pan, never leave
pressure that can damage the including: attain their goals. We provide co- residents the opportunity to sign cooking food unattended, and
optic nerve • Wearing protective eyewear ordinated care for eye health, vi- up for free smoke alarm installa- enforce a kid-free zone around
• Age-related macular degen- when playing sports or doing sion rehabilitation and behavioral tions through the Sound the Alarm your stove.
eration, which gradually affects activities around the home, such health as well as related services. Program, a collaborative initia- • Heat Your Home Safely. When
central vision as painting, yard work, and home Our podcast series, “On Tech & tive between the FDNY, FDNY using an electric space heater,
You should also visit an eye repairs. Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts,” Foundation, and American Red never use an extension cord. Give
care professional if you have a de- • Wearing sunglasses that block offers information and insights Cross, which installs free smoke space heaters at least 3 feet of
crease in vision, eye pain, double 99-100 percent of ultraviolet A about technological innovations and carbon monoxide alarms in space from combustible materials
vision, eye redness, diabetes, or if (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) that are tearing down barriers for the homes of New Yorkers. such as bedding and furniture.
you see floaters (tiny specks that radiation. people who are blind or visually “We must work to equip every New Yorkers should contact the
appear to float before your eyes), • Practicing workplace eye impaired. For more information, New Yorker and every building in property owner of their building if
halos around light sources, and safety -- wearing protective gear visit Lighthouseguild.org. this city with the tools to protect their apartment door doesn’t self-
themselves from building fires, close, they don’t have a functional
Attorney General James Warns New Yorkers to be Careful of and today we are taking yet an- smoke alarm, obstacles block their
Sham Charities Created in Response to Buffalo Terror Attack other critical step towards deliver- exits, or they don’t have the stove
ing on our commitment to do just knob covers they need. If issues
that,” said New York City Mayor are not corrected, they can register
New York Attorney General reports of charities or ask the thoroughly vet those who use Eric Adams. “This campaign will a complaint with 311.
Letitia James has issued an alert charity directly for its reports. their service. Donors should only connect hundreds of thousands of In addition to launching the
urging New Yorkers to beware of • Ask How Your Donation Will give to campaigns conducted by property owners and residents to outreach campaign with FDNY,
potentially fraudulent charities Be Used. Find out how the char- people whom they know. Donors vital, lifesaving information to HPD has translated its Ways to
created in the wake of the hate- ity plans to use your donation, also should take a close look at the help prevent future tragedies. We Keep Your Building Fire Safe
filled terror attack in Buffalo. including the services and indi- site’s FAQs and Terms and Con- will continue pursuing this neces- document into ten languages and
Anyone who is considering mak- viduals your donation will sup- ditions to see what fees will be sary work because New Yorkers’ posted it on the web. In the com-
ing a donation to organizations port. Find out more than just the charged. Also, don’t assume that lives are at stake.” ing months, HPD will create ad-
that are purportedly assisting cause. Find out what organization charities recommended on social The “Keeping Homes Fire ditional materials for tenants and
victims of the shooting should or entity will receive the money media sites, blogs, or other web- Safe” campaign educates property property owners, promote the fire
consult the office’s charitable giv- and what programs it conducts or sites have already been vetted. owners about their fire safety re- safety campaign on the web and
ing tips before donating. Scam- what services it provides. Research the charity yourself to sponsibilities and reminds tenants social media, and begin inspec-
mers often use incidents of crisis • Look Into Newly Formed Or- confirm that the charity is aware what to do in the event of a fire tions for important fire safety
to perpetuate frauds to divert ganizations Carefully. Often, in of the campaign and has given its while laying out precautionary information that should be posted
donations away from the intended the aftermath of tragedies, new approved permission for the use of measures to address potential fire on the back of every apartment
recipients. organizations emerge to meet its name or logo. If available, sign hazards at home. The top six ways door, which provides information
“In the wake of tragedies, like community needs. While most of up for updates from the campaign for New Yorkers to keep homes for the tenant about how best to
the horrific shooting in Buffalo, these organizations are well-in- organizer to keep abreast on how fire safe are: protect themselves in a fire.
scammers often take advantage tentioned, and some may provide contributions to the campaign are • Maintain Smoke and Carbon Additional outreach events will
of acts of kindness for personal innovative forms of assistance, being spent. Monoxide Detectors. Working de- be held throughout the summer.
gain,” said Attorney General some may not have the experi- • Exercise Caution Before You tectors are a critical component of For more dates and locations,
James. “As New Yorkers from ev- ence or infrastructure to follow Text A Contribution. Check the fire safety. Property owners must please visit nyc.gov/hpdevents
ery corner of the state show their through on their promises, and charity’s website or call the char- provide & install smoke detectors. For more information on the fire
support and solidarity with the some may turn out to be scams. ity to confirm it has authorized Detectors should be maintained by safety campaign, please visit nyc.
Buffalo community, I urge them • Solicited by Email? Find Out contributions to be made via text the tenant including testing and gov/keepinghomesfiresafe.
to be careful of sham charities and Who is Soliciting. If you receive message.
make sure they give to trustwor- a solicitation by email, find out • Don’t Give Cash. Give directly In Buffalo After Mass Shooting, Biden
thy organizations and groups. I who is behind that email address. to the charity either by check
join the whole Buffalo community Contact the charity whose name made payable to the organization Calls White Supremacy ‘A Poison’
and the entire state of New York is in the email or visit its website or through the charity’s website.
in mourning this senseless, hate- to find out if the email is really • Be Careful About Personal President Joe Biden traveled how people have been radicalized
filled act of terror.” from the charity. Do not give per- Information. Be cautious before to Buffalo Tuesday to grieve through politics and social media.
Attorney General James of- sonal information or your credit giving out credit card or personal with residents of the city, after 10 “White supremacy is a poison,
fers the following tips for those card number in response to an information over the phone, by people were killed over the week- running through our body politic,”
donating to those impacted by the email solicitation unless you have text message, or via the internet. end in an anti-Black racist attack. Biden asserted. “And it’s been al-
Buffalo shooting: checked out the charity. In all cases, make sure you are During a speech at Buffalo’s lowed to fester and grow right in
• Check Before Giving. Donate • Be Careful When Giving familiar with the organization to Delavan Grider Community Cen- front of our eyes. We need to say
to charities you are familiar with Through Social Media or Other which you give such information ter, Biden recalled the names of as clearly and forcefully as we can
and carefully review information Fundraising Sites. Before giv- and check to see that the fundrais- the 10 victims and who they were that the ideology of white suprem-
about the charity before you give. ing through these social media ing campaign is legitimate. to their community. Biden said acy has no place in America.”
Most charities are required to or fundraising sites, research Report Suspicious Organiza- evil came to Buffalo through a The gunman, an 18-year-old
register and file financial reports the identity of the organizer of tions. If you believe an organiza- hateful individual, just as it has white man, is believed to have
with the Office of the Attorney the fundraising efforts and ask tion is misrepresenting its work, recently in cities such as Charles- been motivated by white-su-
General’s Charities Bureau if the same questions you would or that a fundraising or charitable ton, Pittsburgh and El Paso. premacist ideology. He’s alleged
they solicit contributions from of a charity. Online platforms scam is taking place, please con- He added Americans cannot to have posted online about the
New Yorkers. Check our website, that host groups and individu- tact the Charities Bureau at chari- remain silent about the dangers of
charitiesnys.com, for financial als soliciting for causes may not ties.complaints@ag.ny.gov. white supremacy and racism, and (Continued on page 11)