Jamaica Magazine Highlights Hurricane Health, Fuel Savings, Dengue Prevention and CXC Credential Pilot

Jamaica Magazine’s June 13 programme centred on hurricane-season readiness, public health and household savings, with segments urging Jamaicans to discard unsafe food after storms, protect key documents, prepare children for emergencies, reduce fuel waste and guard against dengue.

The programme advised that food exposed to floodwater, damaged packaging or unsafe storage should not be eaten. Perishables such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, cooked leftovers, cut fruit and vegetables should be thrown away after a power outage of four hours or more if refrigeration safety is uncertain. Bulging, leaking, badly dented or rusty containers were also flagged as unsafe.

Motorists were encouraged to manage fuel use through calmer driving, proper tyre pressure, reduced idling, lighter vehicle loads and regular servicing. The segment noted that hard acceleration, sudden braking, underinflated tyres, heavy trunks, traffic delays and air-conditioning can all increase consumption. Drivers were also reminded that open windows may create drag at highway speeds, while eco mode can help some vehicles conserve fuel.

Disaster preparation advice included scanning birth certificates, passports, insurance documents, medical records and property papers for secure digital storage, while keeping physical copies in waterproof and fireproof protection. Families were encouraged to keep a grab-and-go bag with critical documents and contact information.

Counselling psychologist Jodi Lee said children should be told, in age-appropriate language, what hurricanes are and what families are doing to stay safe. She recommended involving children in safety planning, limiting their exposure to distressing information, keeping trusted radio updates available and preparing simple games or activities if devices cannot be used.

The health segment warned that increased rainfall can create mosquito breeding sites and raise dengue risk. Dengue, spread by infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, may cause fever, headache, muscle, bone and joint pain, nausea, rash, vomiting, sore throat and diarrhoea. People with symptoms were urged to seek medical advice and avoid self-medicating with drugs that can worsen bleeding. Warning signs of severe dengue include persistent vomiting, lethargy, restlessness, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and bleeding.

The programme also outlined the Caribbean Examinations Council’s Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate, a modular qualification aligned with CSEC and CAPE standards. The pilot is expected to begin with English and mathematics, allowing students to earn module-level micro-credentials that can build toward full certification.