Page 13 - Southern Exposure - June '24

Southern Exposure, Page 13

CommIssIoNer’s Update

Preparing For Hurricane Season 2024

With Hundreds Of Thousands Of New Residents

By Vice Mayor Maria G. Marino

Florida, with its picturesque not have Internet able to collect your
beaches, vibrant culture and access, contact yard trimmings and
year-round sunshine, has long the Emergency only a maximum of
been the beacon for those Information Center one 6-cubic-yard
seeking to live in paradise. at (561) 712-6400 pile of yard waste
However, alongside the allure or our office can is collected each week. Additionally, if you have expired
of its tropical climate comes mail one to you. The hurricane supplies that may include power tool batteries,
the ever-looming threat of guide is a comprehensive source for “everything-you-need-to- propane tanks or fuel, dispose of them properly at any of the
hurricanes. As thousands of know” about being prepared in the event of a storm. It includes Solid Waste Authority Home Chemical and Recycling Centers.
new residents flock to the checklists for supplies, and questions to ask yourself about the The North County Transfer Station is located at 14185 North
Sunshine State each year, it condition of your home, or if you are located in a mandatory Military Trail, Jupiter, 33458, and you can find additional
becomes increasingly crucial evacuation area. If so, the guide also includes transportation information at Home Chemical Disposal | Solid Waste
to emphasize the significance of hurricane preparedness and and shelter information, what you should do to secure your Authority of Palm Beach County, FL (swa.org) or by calling
prevention measures. Beyond safeguarding property and home, and what to bring with you. (561) 697-2700 or (866) SWA-INFO (toll-free). Register now
infrastructure, the well-being and safety of Florida’s residents Your plan should include a kit of essentials for sheltering for Palm Beach County’s Emergency Notification System,
are at stake. in place, that includes nonperishable food, health and first better known as AlertPBC by visiting discover.pbcgov.org/
June 1 is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane season, aid supplies, paper goods, a full prescription of your required publicsafety/dem. AlertPBC allows you to opt in to receive
which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and researchers at Colorado medications, a waterproof container to store important notice via phone calls, text messaging, emails and more,
State University are predicting an extremely active season with documents, cleaning supplies, tools, candles, flashlights, about city/county or weather safety hazards or concerns. All
23 named storms, including 11 that will become hurricanes and batteries. Likewise, remember to prepare a kit for your pets. registered information is protected and is not to be used for
five reaching major hurricane strength (Category 3 or higher.) Also, if you haven’t fired up your generator, test it now and any other purpose.
While these may be sobering statistics, particularly for new make sure you have gas for it. Residents should keep their You can download the Palm Beach County Disaster
residents who are largely unfamiliar with hurricanes, there vehicles’ gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to Awareness and Recovery Tool (DART) app on your
are many resources available through Palm Beach County’s ensure they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible smartphone to track evacuation zones, shelter open/closed
Division of Emergency Management. Before the season without worrying about long lines at gas stations and to avoid status, damage assessment information and many other features
begins, it’s important to take care of things that require a bit gas shortages prior to a storm. For Floridians with electric to help you during a disaster.
more time, which will have you prepared and ready to respond vehicles, it’s recommended that the battery be maintained Lastly, instead of buying water in bottles, consider using
when the warnings come. between 50 and 80 percent capacity at all times, depending on your own tap water and fill all of those containers you already
Start building your hurricane kit with the Official Palm the type of vehicle and what the vehicle’s manual recommends. have at home. This will save you money and save our landfills.
Beach County Hurricane Planning Guide, which you can find at Now is the time to prune your yard vegetation and perform Be well, and be prepared. If I can assist you, please contact me
https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/PDF/Hurricane- your major tree cutting, because once a storm watch or at (561) 355-2201 or by email at mmarino@pbc.gov.
Guide.pdf. For any additional information, or if you do warning is issued there is no certainty that your hauler will be

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SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH CARE

Chronic pain sufferers find welcomed

relief through pain management.

By Valerie Staggs
When Dr. Nathaniel Drourr started his and depression specifically is exceed-
career as a pain management physician 26 ingly common in people with chronic
years ago, the specialty was a new concept pain,” says Drourr. He encourages pa-
in the medical field. While the idea of a tients to be advocates for themselves. “You
physician solely dedicated to helping treat have every right to ask your doctor for
patients with chronic pain might have another opinion. If you’re not happy with
seemed unusual back then, today physi- where you are, ask for a referral or make an
cians like Drourr are bringing welcomed appointment yourself.”
relief to patients who have often given up
hope that they will ever be pain-free.

“Usually by the time patients get to us
they have tried a fair amount of things,”
says Drourr, who has been practicing at
Jupiter Medical Center for his entire ca-
reer. “Many have been to surgeons, they
have tried physical therapy, they’ve “Patients come to us for a whole list of rea- way to treat many different conditions
sometimes done pretty significant pain sons. The most common is back pain and is through multiple different avenues,”
medication. We’re that next step after a leg pain or sciatica type pain, but patients says Drourr. “However, we always like to
lot of the common treatments fail.” can also have neck or arm pain, shingles start with non-invasive therapies first.”
type pain or pain related to cancer.” Non-invasive therapies can include hot/
Chronic pain is defined as pain that no cold therapy, anti-inflammatory medica-
longer serves a useful purpose. Drourr uses Pain management physicians see new pa- tions, physical therapy, massage therapy,
the analogy of burning your hand to ex- tients at an initial consultation where they chiropractic care and TENS unit, a mild
plain. “If you stick your hand near a flame are asked in-depth questions about their electrical nerve stimulation technique. If
and it burns, you pull your hand away for pain. Typical questions touch on where non-invasive treatments alone do not stem
good reason. Once that burn heals and the the pain is located, what makes it better the pain, pain medication therapies and
initial pain goes away, any pain you have or worse and what treatments the patient injection therapies may be added to the
past that normal time is chronic pain.” has already tried. A physical examination treatment plan. Surgery and spinal cord
is also conducted. The goal in the initial stimulators can also be a consideration for Nathaniel Drourr, MD.
Patients are often referred to a pain man- consultation is to develop a treatment some conditions.
agement physician by a primary care doc- plan to address each patient’s specific type
tor or another physician such as a surgeon of pain. Left untreated, chronic pain can cause a For more information about pain
or orthopedic specialist. Some, like Dro- host of other health problems. “Psycho- management treatment, visit:
urr, also accept self-referrals from patients A wide range of options are explored in logically, how they feel about them- jupitermed.com/services/
directly. developing each treatment plan. “The best selves, how they interact with others, pain-management
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