Announcements
Up to $200 for Usage of Cell Phone in School Zone
Date added to UNT RMS website: July 23rd, 2009
Effective August 1st, 2009, cell phone use in school zones will change. City ordinance 18-215, which was passed by the Denton City Council, prohibits the use of hand-held mobile telephones while driving or operating a motor vehicle in any active school zone without the use of a hands-free device. This prohibition includes using a hand-held mobile telephone to engage in a call or to create, send, or read messages while in a school zone on official school days during the hours when school zones are in effect.
Anyone caught using a hand-held mobile telephone in violation of this ordinance can receive a fine up to $200.
Texas DSHS Urges PAM Precautions
Date added to UNT RMS website: July 2nd, 2009
Texas Department of State Health Services
July 1, 2009
The Texas Department of State Health Services is reminding swimmers and skiers to take precautions to avoid infection from Naegleria fowleri, an ameba assumed to be present in all rivers, lakes, ponds, tanks and streams.
The ameba can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, an infection of the brain. Though PAM is rare, it is almost always fatal.
The ameba thrives in warm, stagnant water but may be present in any body of fresh water. A combination of lower water levels, high temperatures and stagnant or slow-moving water may produce higher concentrations of the ameba.
Infection typically occurs when water containing the ameba is forced up the nose when diving or jumping into the water or when skiing. Initial symptoms of the infection include severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting.
The ameba does not live in salt water or in swimming pools and hot tubs that are properly cleaned, maintained and treated with chlorine.
DSHS offers these precautions to reduce the already low risk of infection:
- Never swim in stagnant water.
- Hold your nose or use nose clips when skiing, jet skiing or jumping into any water.
Other dangers associated with lakes and rivers include diving into waters that are too shallow or that may hide rocks and debris. Never leave children unattended around water.
Nine cases of PAM have been reported in Texas since 2000, including one in 2008.
