Transcript: Health and Safety Podcast

Oct. 29, 2025

Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast. Coming up, learn about cybersecurity safety, fireplace ashes, and staying safe from scammers. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

October brings more than just pumpkin spice and falling leaves. It’s also Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to help Americans stay safe online. This year’s theme focuses on four simple actions that can make a big difference in your digital safety. Think of it as your monthly checkup for online health.

• Use Strong Passwords. Create unique passwords for each account. Mix letters, numbers and symbols. Consider using a password manager to keep track of them all.
• Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication. Add an extra layer of security to your accounts. Even if someone steals your password, they still can’t get in without the second step.
• Keep Software Updated. Install updates when they pop up on your phone, computer or apps. These updates often fix security holes that hackers try to use.
• Think Before You Click. Be careful with emails, texts and links from people you don’t know. When in doubt, don’t click.

Our emergency blog has more info: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog.

 

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department would like to remind all residents to be cautious and keep safety in mind when handling fireplace, wood stove, and fire pit ashes.

• Do not discard your ashes into any combustible container such as a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.
• Do not place ash containers on decks, porches, or in garages.
• Put ashes into a non-combustible metal container with a lid.
• Pour water into the container to make sure the ashes are cool.
• Keep the can OUTSIDE your home, away from your fireplace or stove and anything combustible.
• Keep the can a safe distance from your home and ideally on a non-combustible surface.
• Teach all family members to be safe with ashes from your fireplace, fire pit or wood stove.
• Ashes can stay hot for several days. Follow the above steps even when you wait several days to remove the ashes from the fireplace.

 

Scams are not new, but scammers are always finding new ways to take your money or identity (among other things). AARP estimates there are about 80 scams going on in our community at any one time. Learn how to recognize a potential scam and educate yourself about some of the ones our local law enforcement have seen in our neighborhoods recently. Fairfax County detectives from the Police Financial Crimes Unit recently uncovered a credit card skimming operation that targeted ATMs and payment devices inside stores across the Richmond Highway corridor. Credit card skimming devices are often small, discreet and designed to blend in seamlessly with legitimate card readers. They can be found at ATMs, gas pumps and even self-checkout machines. Here are some tips to help protect yourself from becoming a victim:

• Inspect before you insert. Before using an ATM or gas pump, look closely at the card reader and keypad. If the card slot looks loose, bulky or mismatched in color or material compared to the rest of the machine, it could be a skimmer.
• Check for hidden cameras. Skimmers are often paired with tiny cameras aimed at capturing your PIN. Look for any unusual attachments, pinholes or objects positioned near the keypad.
• Do not accept assistance from anyone you don’t know while using an ATM or payment device. Scammers sometimes pose as helpful bystanders to distract you or capture your information.
• Cover your PIN. Always use your hand to shield the keypad while entering your PIN, even if you don’t see anything suspicious.
• Use familiar or well-lit locations. Whenever possible, use ATMs inside banks or high-traffic areas where criminals are less likely to install devices unnoticed.
• Monitor your accounts regularly. Review your bank and credit card statements frequently for unauthorized transactions, even small ones, which can signal a compromised card.
• Use contactless payment methods. Tap-to-pay cards or mobile wallets provide an extra layer of protection, as they don’t transmit your physical card data.

If you believe you’ve been a victim of skimming or notice a suspicious device, do not attempt to remove it. Instead, call the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131.

 

Finally, Fairfax Alerts is Fairfax County's free email and text messaging alerting system. You can sign up for free and begin receiving texts and emails about severe weather, traffic alerts, emergency alerts, and even community news and information. Signing up is not only free, but easy. Just go to fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts. Sign up today and begin receiving alerts from Fairfax County immediately. That's fairfaxcounty.gov/alerts.

 

That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government. Thanks for listening. Additional information about health and safety topics and emergency preparedness may be found on our emergency information blog at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/blog. 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.