Category: News Release

North Texas Transit Agencies Expand Safety Protocols Around Coronavirus Concerns

North Texas public transit agencies have aggressively expanded agency-wide cleaning and safety protocols in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Fort Worth’s Trinity Metro and the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) all remain in close contact with local, state and national health authorities, including the Texas Department of State Health Services and the CDC, and will continue to monitor the situation for residents in the North Texas region.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

DART vehicles now receive additional cleanings throughout the day. High-touch surface areas are cleaned with a solution approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as successful in killing the coronavirus, as well as influenza, rhinovirus, norovirus, salmonella, staphylococcus, and e-coli. High-touch surfaces include handrails, door buttons, grab rails and hanging straps.

Procedures remain enforced to isolate vehicles and areas that have been exposed to unsanitary and unhygienic situations. This includes removing vehicles from service that have been exposed to biohazard situations from passengers. DART encourages passengers who feel sick or are experiencing symptoms to stay home and avoid public places.

As a DART passenger, if you see an unhygienic surface that needs attention, please contact DART Customer Service at (214) 979-1111, or you can use the “DART Say Something” app, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play. DART also reminds customers that the best way to stay informed about changes in service is through DART Alerts. Customers can sign-up for DART Alerts at dart.org.

Denton County Transit Authority (DCTA)

Along with regular cleanings, DCTA uses a medical-grade disinfecting spray on all buses, trains and at the Downtown Denton Transit Center (DDTC). In addition, they’ve increased the cleaning of critical high-touch point areas on trains, buses and at facilities such as door handles, counter tops and steering wheels. DCTA riders and employees can find more information at RideDCTA.net, including signing up for agency Rider Alerts.

DCTA encourages passengers who feel sick or are experiencing symptoms to stay home and avoid public places. If you have questions or concerns, please send feedback via DCTA’s GORequest platform which is available at RideDCTA.net or you can download the free mobile app on the Apple and Google Play store.

Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is taking precautionary measures to help safeguard customers and employees by modifying procedures to reduce exposure to coronavirus. Extra efforts have been made to increase the frequency of cleaning of high-touch areas such as door handles, railings, benches and ticket vending machines with disinfectant throughout each shift. Buses and vans are sanitized daily and all buses are equipped with ionizers, which help purify the air as it is recirculated in the vehicle. Trinity Metro TEXRail trains are disinfected daily after they have been in service.

Trinity Metro customers, partners and employees are reminded to protect their health and the health of others by washing hands regularly, covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and staying home when sick.

For questions regarding Trinity Metro’s precautionary measures in response to COVID 19 or Trinity Metro’s services, customer care representatives are available at 817-215-8600. Customers can sign up for alerts from Trinity Metro at RIDETRINITYMETRO.org.

Each North Texas agency is also prepared to escalate cleaning processes for transit vehicles should the need arise.

Trinity Railway Express (TRE)

The TRE (jointly operated by DART and Trinity Metro) continues to take additional steps to prevent the spread of the virus on trains as well as in office locations. Operation teams are disinfecting TRE trains with a focus on high-tough areas. This includes the use of a hospital-grade spray disinfectant, foaming germicidal cleaner and disinfecting wipes. Train crews have been provided hand sanitizers and access to gloves, and signage has been posted on trains to educate both employees and the public on how to avoid getting sick.

TRE passengers are encouraged to sign-up for Rider Alerts about service changes at trinityrailwayexpress.org

Protect Yourself

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Gordon Shattles

gshattles@dart.org

(214) 749-3010

 

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

Mark A. Ball

mball@dart.org

(214) 749-3295

 

Denton County Transit Authority (DCTA)

Adrienne Hamilton

ahamilton@dcta.net

(972) 316-6114

 

Trinity Metro

Laura Hanna

Laura.Hanna@ridetm.org

(817) 215-8973

Board of Directors meetings canceled

FORT WORTH, TX – March 13, 2020) – In the interest of public safety in regard to the health of Trinity Metro’s employees and the community, the Trinity Metro Board of Directors committee meetings to be held on Monday, March 16, are canceled. 

 

The upcoming board meeting to be held on Monday, March 23, is also canceled. 

 

The decision to cancel the meetings was made as Trinity Metro joined a long list of Tarrant County organizations that are committed to preventing the spread of coronavirus by practicing social distancing and by avoiding events where there are large groups of people.

 

Trinity Metro customers, partners and employees are reminded to safeguard their health and the health of others by washing hands regularly, covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and staying home when sick. 

 

Trinity Metro is taking precautionary measures to help safeguard customers and employees by modifying procedures to reduce exposure to coronavirus. Extra efforts have been made to increase the frequency of cleaning at high-touch areas such as door handles, railings, benches and ticket vending machines. Buses and trains are sanitized daily with disinfectant and all buses are equipped with ionizers, which help purify the air as it is recirculated in the vehicle.  

 

For questions regarding upcoming meeting cancellations, Trinity Metro’s precautionary measures in response to COVID 19 or Trinity Metro’s services, customer care representatives are available at 817-215-8600. 

 

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 8 million passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

Federal funding announced for TEXRail extension

(FORT WORTH, TX – Feb. 28, 2020) – Congresswoman Kay Granger announced Friday that Trinity Metro is authorized to use remaining federal funds from the TEXRail project for an extension of the commuter rail line. The 27-mile route was completed on time and $80.6 million under budget, with roughly half of those funds coming from federal and half from local.

The $38.9 million in federal funds can now be used to extend TEXRail another 2.1 miles from the Fort Worth T&P Station to a new station in the Medical District. In 2016, Trinity Metro and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the United States Department of Transportation signed a $499.39 million Full Funding Grant Agreement for the $1.034 billion TEXRail project.

The new station will be located behind Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center, by the Mistletoe neighborhood.

Trinity Metro President and CEO Bob Baulsir shared his excitement about the expansion. “The Fort Worth Medical District is an ideal location for the next station because of the 40,000 people who work and visit that area. Extending TEXRail is perfect for medical professionals, patients and visitors.”

“We appreciate the FTA for allowing us to use the unspent funds toward expanding our TEXRail line,” said Trinity Metro Board Chairman Jeff Davis. “The support of Kay Granger and our other congressional delegates has meant the world to us.”

A timeline for the extension has not been determined. Baulsir said the first steps will be to define the scope and to undergo a competitive process of bids.

TEXRail began operating in January 2019, and the existing route runs between downtown Fort Worth and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B. The line has nine stations in Fort Worth, North Richland Hills and Grapevine.

TEXRail train at FWCS with Downtown Fort Worth in backgroundAbout Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 8 million passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

 

Trinity Metro plans Bus Rapid Transit on East Lancaster

(FORT WORTH, TX – Feb. 25, 2020) – Trinity Metro’s highest ridership area will be pioneering a new service in North Texas – the East Lancaster Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Features are similar to light rail and will provide a faster and more convenient bus service. BRT includes dedicated lanes, stations in the center of the road, and platform ticket validation to speed the boarding process.

The BRT project will be developed as a highly collaborative effort with the City of Fort Worth, Texas Department of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration.

“This first-of-its-kind partnership in North Texas will bring countless improvements for our residents, including pedestrian safety, faster travel times, and increased frequency of service for all riders in the corridor,” said Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price. “Investing in mobility in this corridor will spark an increase in ridership, while also bringing positive attention to the economic opportunities in East Fort Worth.”

On Monday, the Trinity Metro Board of Directors authorized the agency to move forward with Simon Engineering & Consulting, Inc. for professional planning and engineering services. The first phase, which will last approximately six months, is for BRT concept development and sketch planning.

Wayne Gensler, vice president and chief operating officer for bus and paratransit, said East Lancaster is the perfect location for this innovative service. “The corridor is ideal because of the high ridership, right-of-way availability, and the opportunity to advance urban design integration and implement state-of-the art technology.”

The BRT project also represents an opportunity to incorporate solutions for needs identified in the City of Fort Worth’s pedestrian and bicycle plans to improve multimodal facilities in the corridor.

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 8 million passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

 

Free rides for Cowtown Marathon

(FORT WORTH, TX – Feb. 27, 2020) – Trinity Metro will be offering free rides on The Dash for The 2020 Cowtown Marathon racers and guests between downtown Fort Worth and the event starting area this weekend, Feb. 28-March 1.

The pickup points are the Courtyard Fort Worth Downtown/Blackstone, Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Worth Downtown, The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, Omni Fort Worth Hotel and Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel.

Passengers can ride for free for all three days, including service to the 2020 Cowtown Health & Fitness Expo. The Expo, which is 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday is at Will Rogers Memorial Center in the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall. 

The 5K and 10K races will be held on Saturday and the half marathon and full marathon will be run on Sunday. All races start and finish at Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Trinity Metro will operate on The Dash route, but most vehicles will be the regular buses with “The Dash” on the exterior digital displays. The larger articulated buses can accommodate a higher passenger volume. Some of the operations will be on The Dash, which is a bright red battery-electric bus.

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 8 million passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

In June: Crowley ZIPZONE

(FORT WORTH, TX – Feb. 13, 2020) – Trinity Metro and the City of Crowley are partnering to provide a new transportation option to Crowley residents. The Crowley ZIPZONE, which will begin in June, will provide transportation to medical facilities and shopping options within the city as well as connections to four bus routes (route 6, route 65X,  route 66X and route 72) in Fort Worth, plus the South Park & Ride.

“This will be a big benefit because it’s an affordable way to get around town, especially for our seniors,” said Jack Thompson, assistant city manager and economic development director for Crowley. “We are excited to work with Trinity Metro and Via (the contracted service provider).”

The Crowley ZIPZONE will operate 6:30-10 a.m. and 3:30-7 p.m. weekdays and will include service to Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South and the Gateway Station shopping center. The cost for a one-way trip will be $3.

Primary funding for the ZIPZONE was provided by the North Central Texas Council of Governments through a $333,000 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program grant.

Roy C. Brooks, Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 1, said, “It is important to work toward feasible transportation options for all of our Tarrant County cities. Thanks to a partnership between the Regional Transportation Council, Trinity Metro, and Tarrant County Precinct 1, residents of the City of Crowley will have a new way to move within their city and to connect to the larger public transportation network.”

The new service in Crowley the third on-demand service for Trinity Metro. A fourth option, the Near Southside ZIPZONE, is planned for late spring.

“Helping customers reach their destination requires a combination of traditional transit and innovative solutions,” said Wayne Gensler, vice president and chief operating officer of bus and paratransit at Trinity Metro. “By introducing service in new areas, we are able to connect passengers with our existing services to provide a better customer experience.”

About ZIPZONES

Trinity Metro has two other ZIPZONES. The Mercantile ZIPZONE connects Trinity Metro TEXRail and bus passengers (route 11, route 12 and route 16) to first-mile/last-mile service near Mercantile Center Station. The Alliance ZIPZONE connects with bus route 16 and route 63X/64X, which is a partner route between Trinity Metro and Denton County Transportation Authority.

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 8 million passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

Free rides for voting

(FORT WORTH, TX – Feb. 12, 2020) – When early voting starts on Feb. 18, Tarrant County voters will be able to catch free rides to the polls on six transit options.

The Tarrant County Commissioners Court approved a partnership with four transportation services in Tarrant County to pay for customer trips to voting locations for the entire early voting period (Feb. 18-28) and Election Day on March 3.

The Commissioners Court approved the plan, which is not to exceed $20,000, on Jan. 28.

Last month, the Commissioners Court also approved early voting locations at nine college campus sites. The Texas Secretary of State also signed off on countywide vote centers, meaning Tarrant County voters can go to any polling place on Election Day.

“With vote centers, early voting sites on college campuses and free rides to the polls, Tarrant County is giving voters every opportunity to participate in the upcoming March 3 primaries,” said Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley. “We

 are including as many public transit providers as possible within Tarrant County, from accessible services for the elderly and mobility-impaired, to on-demand service in Arlington.”

Tiffany Moore-Turner, general manager at Trinity Metro, said this partnership encourages voter participation. “Providing free transportation is an excellent way to help voters get to the polls. We appreciate the Tarrant County Commissioners Court for funding this initiative.”

For Trinity Metro buses, passengers should show a voter registration card or driver’s license to the bus operator.

The six transit services included in the program are Trinity Metro’s fixed-route bus, ACCESS paratransit, Tarrant County Transportation Services (TCTS), Northeast Transportation Services (NETS), Arlington’s Via and Handitran.

Those who qualify and want to ride to vote on ACCESS, TCTS, NETS or Handitran should call the provider at least 48 hours ahead of the trip to schedule their free ride to any of the Tarrant County Vote Centers.

To use Via’s on-demand service in Arlington to vote, riders simply download Via’s app, enter the address of a Vote Center within Via’s service area along with promo code ARLINGTONVOTE, or call 817-794-7382 to hail a ride by phone. The rider will not be charged for trips scheduled to or from a Vote Center location.

United Way offers tax prep help

The United Way of Tarrant County is providing Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) for individuals and households with an annual income of $58,000 or less. Those who qualify will receive help from IRS -certified volunteers. See which routes will take you to a tax site.

United Way Tax Center Map & Hours of Operations

TEXRail Service Interruptions

(FORT WORTH, TX – Jan. 30, 2020) – As Trinity Metro progresses through the implementation of positive train control on TEXRail, a limited number of service interruptions will occur between midnight and 4 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4, to Friday, March 20, while testing is conducted.

TEXRail #275, which departs the airport at 11:40 p.m., will operate from DFW Airport Terminal B Station and terminate at Mercantile Center Station at 12:14 a.m. A bus will replace TEXRail to transport passengers from Mercantile Center Station to Fort Worth T&P Station.

TEXRail #278, which departs Fort Worth T&P Station at 11:43 p.m., will terminate at North Side Station at 11:55 p.m. and will not continue to the airport.

TEXRail #212 will start at 4:01 a.m. from Mercantile Center Station during the testing period.

The remaining trains (#277, #280, #179, #182, #181, #111 and #110) will not offer passenger service during the testing.

About Trinity Metro

Trinity Metro is a regional transportation system that provides public transportation to meet the mobility needs in Tarrant County. The agency offers connections throughout the North Central Texas region, annually providing 8 million passenger trips on buses, TEXRail, vanpools and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), a 34-mile commuter rail line jointly owned and operated with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Trinity Metro is the sole owner and operator of TEXRail, a 27-mile commuter rail line that runs between downtown Fort Worth and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s Terminal B.

News in Motion: Winter 2020

TEXRail marks one-year anniversary of service

TEXRail train with downtown Fort Worth in background

Time flies when you’re riding in style to the airport.

On Jan. 10, 2020, Trinity Metro TEXRail celebrated one year in operation, and has provided nearly 600,000 rides since Jan. 10, 2019.

At the end of 2019, TEXRail ridership reached 545,345 for the year. December was a record-setting month, with 51,217 passengers and the trains were on schedule 99.15 percent of the time. The previous record for paid ridership was 44,741, which occurred in November.

Jon-Erik “AJ” Arjanen, vice president and chief operating officer for rail, said TEXRail’s reliability is key to increasing ridership.

“Riders want to know that the train is going to pick them up on time and take them safely to their destination as scheduled,” Arjanen said. “If you’re traveling to the airport to catch a flight, you don’t want to worry about when you’ll arrive.”

Ridership patterns emerged during the first year, with DFW Airport Terminal B Station consistently ranking first in ridership on weekdays and Sundays. On Saturdays, Grapevine/Main Street had the highest ridership.

First year fun facts

To put the one-year anniversary in perspective, check out these numbers for Jan. 10, 2019 to Jan. 10, 2020, and other fun facts.

  • 528,036 miles traveled
  • 560,171 rides
  • 1,792 seats (224 per train)
  • 832 train washes
  • 688 windows (86 per train)
  • 41 railroad crossings
  • 27 miles each way
  • 23 bridges
  • 9 stations
  • 8 trains

 

Employees enjoying convenient on-site health care

The Trinity Metro Medical Clinic is off to a great start – serving the needs of patients in nearly 900 visits from its opening on Sept. 11 through the end of the year. Here are a few of the stats to show how our on-site clinic is helping to meet the medical needs of our employees and their dependents.

  • Number of visits to the clinic: 856Doctor with patient as Medical Clinic offices
  • Number of wellness visits: 650
  • Number of patients: 379
  • Number of biometric screenings: 301
  • Number of flu shots administered: 192
  • Number of Vitamin B12 shots: 166

What patients are saying

  • “It was so easy to come and get our DOT and re-cert exams now. I did not like driving all the way to Concentra.”
  • “This is so exciting that my wife and children can come to the clinic now.”

Success story from LaVonda McLennan, health center manager

A man came to the clinic for his biometric screening. His cholesterol was elevated, glucose was a little elevated, weight indicated obesity and blood pressure was extremely high. He had not had a physical in many years, and he was not taking any medications for his blood pressure or cholesterol. I encouraged him to return for a visit, but he was initially reluctant because he feared his health information would be shared with his employer. I informed him of HIPAA Laws, which protects patient privacy, and scheduled him for a physical. 

At the exam, we conducted lab work and got him started on blood pressure and cholesterol medicine. We executed a lifestyle modification plan for weight loss to decrease his blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol.  I also encouraged him to utilize the Trinity Metro Wellness Center.  When he returned for his follow up visit 10 weeks later, his blood pressure was normal and he had lost 8 pounds. He continuously expressed gratitude, stated his mood was better, felt better about himself and was very excited about the progress he had made in such a short period of time. All it took was a little encouragement, and he is motivated to continue on his healthy journey.  I look forward to his next follow-up visit to see the progress he has made

DASH-ing to the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

The Dash Bus

Now that the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (FWSSR) is in full swing, area residents and tourists alike are finding that The Dash is the easiest way to make their move to western fun.

During the FWSSR opening weekend (Saturday-Monday), The Dash provided 805 rides. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, ridership was 399 – the highest daily ridership in 2020. On FWSSR’s opening day, ridership was 309. So far this month, The Dash has provided nearly 5,000 rides

If you haven’t ridden The Dash yet, you should try it during the 23 days of the FWSSR. You’ll find plenty of stops along the way = 7th Street corridor, Crockett Row’s dining and entertainment options, the Cultural District and Dickies Arena, the new home of the rodeo.

Plus, you’ll enjoy late-night service on Friday and Saturday nights. The Dash operates 9:22 a.m.-10:44 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 9:22 a.m.-12:44 a.m. Friday-Saturday

 

Coming soon: New safety programs

Joe Acosta Headshot

Joe Acosta, who was recently hired as chief safety officer, will be leading the implementation of formal safety programs in 2020: Safety Management System (SMS) to meet Federal Transit Administration (FTA) compliance and System Safety Program Plan (SSPP) to meet Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) compliance. 

SMS is designed to enhance safety practices, processes and procedures to establish continuous improvement and a well-established safety culture for transit agencies that receive FTA funding. Trinity Metro’s fixed route buses and paratransit vehicles fall into this category. By July 20, 2020, transit agencies are required to have compliant safety plans in place. Going forward, each agency is required to review, update, and certify their plan annually. 

Trinity Metro’s two passenger commuter rail lines, TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) are subject to FRA regulatory compliance to include an SSPP in compliance with 49 CFR Part 270, which currently has a stay from implementation until March 4, 2020. 

Acosta will incorporate an SMS approach within the TEXRail System Safety Program and plan accordingly to establish consistency of safety processes throughout Trinity Metro transit services.

 

Employee Spotlight: Sam Worman

Sam Worman Headshot

Sam Worman started with Trinity Metro in November as our new Director of Training. If you’ve seen him around, you’ve also probably noticed his colorful socks. His festive collection even includes a pair with flamingo design. Let’s get to know a little more about Sam.

Before working at Trinity Metro, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?

I was a craps dealer for a casino, part time for about 11 years.

If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Surf and turf. Steak and Lobster every day.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Woodworking. No, I’m not very good at it.

What was the first concert you ever went to?

REO Speedwagon

What is an interesting fact that most people don’t know about you?

Most adults can’t have their donated blood be given to infants. After being screened, I learned that I am one of the few who can donate blood that can be transfused to infants.

 

Health Tip: Reduce use of certain fats and oil

Michael Whitmarsh Headshot

We all need some fat in our diet, but eating too much, especially the wrong kinds, increases risks of obesity, heart disease and stroke.  Industrially produced trans fat are the most hazardous for health. A diet high in this kind of fat has been found to raise risk of heart disease by nearly 30 percent

Some tips to reduce fat consumption:

  • Replace butter and lard with healthier oils, such as soybean, canola, safflower and sunflower.
  • Choose white meat like poultry and fish, which are generally lower in fats than red meat. Trim meat of visible fat and limit the consumption of processed meats.
  • Try steaming or boiling instead of frying food when cooking.
  • Check labels and avoid processed/fried foods that contain trans fat that is often found in margarine as well as pre-packaged snacks and fried foods.