Congratulations Ulatoski Scholarship Winner!

Congratulations to Oliver Pinckney, the 2026 winner of the Joe Ulatoski Memorial Scholarship from VashonBePrepared! Oliver plans to attend North Seattle College in the fall. Oliver wrote, “I’m a passionate and willing person. I love staying active and weight lifting, recreational athletics and as a lifeguard. I hold my friends and family close and connect with people through humor, music and quality time.” Best wishes to you, Oliver, in college and beyond!

Are you ready for summer heat? 

Summer heat is here! Some people are at higher risk of heat-related illness: the elderly, very young children, and people with chronic diseases including autoimmune diseases. But anyone can experience heat exhaustion when temperatures rise. Here are some hot tips for staying cool:

• Stay hydrated: drink plenty of fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can increase dehydration. Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue and on hot days, heat exhaustion symptoms may occur quickly. Drinks with electrolytes can help people who are working outside, people who perspire a lot, and people who are more sensitive to heat.
• If you don’t have air conditioning, watch the forecast and plan ahead to find places you can go to get cool. On Vashon, the library is a great resource because there are things to do, and everyone is welcome to spend time there. Vashon Library is open every day. Hours and more information are here kcls.org/locations/vashon/. When long bouts of severe heat are in the forecast, VashonBePrepared may open a daytime cooling center or make arrangements with local businesses. Call 211, or tune in to 1650AM, Voice of Vashon’s emergency alerts, to learn about cooling locations other than the library.
• Open windows to air your home during early morning hours, then close the windows and curtains or blinds after 10am, to keep out increasing heat.
• Wear loose, lightweight clothing made of natural fibers such as cotton or linen. 
• Reduce the intensity and duration of outdoor work. Get out early if you must work outside.
• If you’re outside, find shade. 
• Never leave people or pets alone in a car during hot weather. It takes only 20 minutes for a car parked in the sun in 70-degree weather to reach 100 degrees inside, even with windows part way down. 
• Know the signs of heat exhaustion: cramps, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, heavy sweating, and even fainting. 

Someone suffering from heat exhaustion should get in the shade, have cool drinks, and rest. Heat exhaustion can lead to much more dangerous heat stroke. If a person suffering from heat exhaustion doesn’t feel better after resting and trying to cool down, they should seek medical attention immediately. 

These are the signs of heat stroke:

• Body temperature above 103°F
• Skin that is red, hot, and dry
• Rapid pulse
• Nausea, confusion, and unconsciousness

Visit kingcounty.gov/heat to learn more, and sign up to get emergency alerts

Found a Syringe? How to Safely Dispose of Sharps

On Vashon, we are so lucky to be surrounded by beaches that are delightful for walking and playing, especially during the summer. Unfortunately, sometimes medical waste washes up on beaches, making the environment unsafe. Consider taking these steps if you see syringes or other medical waste:

• Don’t touch syringes or other medical waste with bare hands.
• Teach children not to touch syringes or other medical waste. Keep pets away from it too.
• If you decide to clean up the waste, use tongs or a grabber, or wear disposable gloves and be careful to avoid puncturing the gloves. (Consider donning a second pair over the first for better protection.) Place the waste in a disposable hard container, such as a single-use water bottle or an empty laundry detergent bottle, being careful not to touch the needle end of syringes. Secure the container with a lid.
• Syringes and other medical waste should not be put in the regular trash. King county residents can dispose of sharps for free at the Vashon transfer center, in the medical waste kiosk. (Ask at the booth if you can’t find it.) Sharps must be properly containerized in a hard bottle or jug. Medical waste that qualifies can include: hypodermic needles, syringes with needles attached, intravenous (IV) tubing with needles attached, scalpel blades and lancets that have been removed from the original sterile packaging. 

Learn more here: tinyurl.com/sharps-disposal