Transcript: Health and Safety Podcast

Oct. 14, 2026

Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast. Coming up, learn about free child safety seats, Fairfax Alerts, helping neighbors during an emergency, Fairfax County’s Storm Center, Cybersecurity Awareness Month and National Fire Prevention Month. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at fairfaxcounty.gov.

In partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, our Health Department provides free child safety seats to qualifying families. Caregivers interested in this opportunity must attend a child safety seat class. Classes are offered at multiple locations throughout the county. To register for a child safety seat class and free car seat call 703-246-8850.

Even the best plan, kit and paperwork only help if you know when to use them. During an emergency, getting accurate information fast can mean the difference between a smooth response and a scramble. And since not everyone in your neighborhood is equally prepared, checking on others matters just as much as checking your own supplies. Sign up for Fairfax Alerts, the county’s official notification system that sends warnings about weather, road closures and other emergencies straight to your phone or email. Sign up for free at fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts. 

Preparedness isn’t only about your own household. Some neighbors may need extra help during an emergency, including older adults, people with disabilities and households without reliable transportation. A quick check-in before or during an emergency can make a real difference. You don’t need a formal plan for this. Knock on a door, ask if they need anything, and share your contact information in case they need help reaching someone. Our emergency information blog has more on this, along with other emergency preparedness information. Visit fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog.

Each month, our Department of Emergency Management and Security produces the “Emergency Preparedness” newsletter and a monthly preparedness webinar. Learn more at fairfaxcounty.gov/emergencymanagement.

The Fairfax County Storm Center provides links, resources, and contact information all in one place to help you prepare for, stay safe during, and recover after a storm, whether it affects the whole county or just your area. Storm Center is an online hub designed to give residents fast, reliable information during severe weather events and other emergencies. Whether you're dealing with a winter snowstorm, a summer thunderstorm, or a major flooding event, the Storm Center is built to be your first stop for real-time updates. So, what can you find there? The Storm Center pulls together critical information in one place, including things like:

• Road and school closure updates.
• Emergency shelter locations.
• Power outage information.
• Trash and recycling service changes.

The idea is simple — when an emergency happens, you shouldn't have to hunt across a dozen different websites to figure out what's going on. The Storm Center brings it all together. Find Storm Center online at fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/stormcenter. Save it to your phone's home screen, share it with a neighbor, or just tuck that web address somewhere you'll remember it. Because when the next storm rolls through Northern Virginia, you'll want answers fast — and Fairfax County's Storm Center is built to deliver exactly that.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month — and if you think cybersecurity has nothing to do with emergency preparedness, think again. In today's world, our critical infrastructure — things like power grids, water systems, hospitals, and emergency communications — all depend heavily on connected technology. A serious cyberattack isn't just an IT problem. It can become a community-wide emergency almost overnight. Here are a few simple steps you can take right now to strengthen your own cyber preparedness:

• Use strong, unique passwords for every account — and consider a password manager
• Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible
• Keep your devices and software updated — those patches close real security gaps
• Be skeptical of suspicious emails and links — phishing attacks are still the number one entry point for hackers
• Back up your important data regularly to a secure location

Think of these habits the same way you think about having a go-bag or a water supply — they're layers of protection you build before something goes wrong. This October, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency encourages everyone to "Secure Our World” starting with the basics right at home.

October is also National Fire Prevention Month. Fire is one of the most common — and most preventable — household emergencies we face. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that home fires cause thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in property damage every year in the United States. The good news? A few simple habits can dramatically reduce your risk. Here are a couple of key tips to focus on this month:

• Test your smoke alarms — Push that test button on every smoke detector in your home. Experts recommend testing them monthly and replacing batteries at least once a year. If your alarm is more than ten years old, it's time for a new one.
• Create and practice a home escape plan — Know at least two ways out of every room, designate a meeting spot outside, and actually practice the plan with everyone in your household. A fire can spread faster than most people expect, and a rehearsed plan saves lives.

These aren't complicated steps — but they're the kind of things that are easy to put off until it's too late. This October, take thirty minutes and make your home a little safer. It could make all the difference.

Halloween is one of the most fun nights of the year — but it's also one of the busiest nights for pedestrian accidents and other safety incidents. A little preparation goes a long way toward making sure the only scares on October 31st are the fun kind. Here are some key safety tips for trick-or-treaters and their families:

For Kids and Costumes:

• Choose bright or reflective costumes whenever possible, or add reflective tape to darker outfits
• Make sure masks and accessories don't block vision — consider face paint as a safer alternative
• Keep costumes short enough to prevent tripping in the dark

For Trick-or-Treating:

• Always trick-or-treat in groups, and make sure younger kids have an adult with them
• Stick to well-lit streets and familiar neighborhoods
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick — and make sure drivers can see you
• Only visit homes with porch lights on

For the Candy:

• Wait until you're home to eat anything, and have a trusted adult inspect all treats before digging in
• When in doubt, throw it out

And parents — this is a great reminder to talk to your kids about road safety basics before they head out. Excitement has a way of making kids forget to look both ways. Let’s all have a safe and spooky Halloween!

Finally, Fairfax County's free alert system sends you important information during an emergency, helps you navigate your commute and shares community information. You can also customize your Fairfax Alerts to receive information pertinent to you. Don't miss out! Sign up today for Fairfax Alerts at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts. 

That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia, Government. Thanks for listening. Follow the Health and Safety podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. And remember, if you have a police, fire, or medical emergency, call 9-1-1. For non-emergency needs, call 703-691-2131.