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Drowning Impact Awareness Month

The summer heat is in full swing. To escape the heat, many of us turn to swimming pools for relief. A swimming pool is a great way to cool off while enjoying some outdoor fun. But many times, that same swimming pool can become a source of tragedy. So far this year, Scottsdale has experienced seven water related incidents (as reported by the Scottsdale Fire Department). Three of the water related incidents involved children and four involved adults. To date none of the child related water incidents have been fatal. Of the adult related water incidents, two have been fatal.

This month is Drowning Impact Awareness Month. During this month, efforts are underway to raise awareness and education about the impact a drowning or near- drowning has on the family, friends, emergency responders, medical personnel and the community. Purple ribbons will be displayed on police patrol vehicles as a reminder to always practice water safety.

Drowning or near-drowning incidents can be prevented by practicing the following:

• Adult Supervision – a designated adult needs to be responsible for watching children around water at all times.
• Barriers – a pool fence or other approved barrier should separate children from a pool. Solar covers are not considered a barrier.
• Classes – these include CPR every two years, age appropriate swim lessons and water safety courses.
• Empty ice chests, buckets and inflatable pools when not in use.
• Ensure pool access gates are self-closing and self-latching. Never prop the gate open and check it regularly for any maintenance related issues.
• Keep toys, chairs and other items that could be used as a ladder away from the fence.
• Keep a telephone nearby to call 9-1-1 in case of an emergency.
• Know where your children are at all times.
• Never swim alone, regardless of age.

Please take the time to educate your children and other family members about water safety. For additional water safety tips, please consider visiting the following websites:

www.phoenixchildrens.com

www.preventdrownings.org

www.childsafetyzone.com

www.scottsdalefd.com

For information regarding CPR and First Aid classes please visit the Scottsdale Fire Department’s webpage at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/CPRclasses. The Scottsdale Fire Department also offers free water safety surveys for Scottsdale homeowners who have a pool. Please visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/watersafetysurvey to request a survey.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FREE Shredding – Saturday August 6^th 2011 from 7:30 – 10:30 am in the Basha’s parking lot at Scottsdale RD and Greyhawk. Please contact Officer Craig Abernethy at 480-312-2894 for more information. Click to view Flyer.

FREE Drug Collection Event – Wednesday August 10^th 2011 from 11am – 1 pm at the Granite Reef Senior Center; 1700 N. Granite Reef RD. Please contact Officer Jen Wattier at 480-312-0275for more information. Click to view Flyer. 

SPD Citizens Police Academy session XXXIX - Runs 11 consecutive Thursday evenings from August 25 until November 3, 2011 from 6:30-9:30 PM. Please submit applications to Chris Vassall at Police/Fire Headquarters; 8401 E. Indian School RD by August 9^th. Please direct questions to Chris at 480-312-1922. Citizen Academy Application. 

Packages From HOME Donation Site – SPD McKellips District; 7601 E. McKellips RD – Buildings A and B. A simple yet effective way to directly help our military men and women currently deployed is to donate items or money to the non-profit organization, "Packages from Home". Since 2004 Packages From Home has sent thousands of useful, day-to-day items to our troops to ease their long deployments away from home.

The Scottsdale Police Department has partnered with the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors (SAAR) in this effort for the last 2 years, and is joining forces once again in 2011. This year’s donation drive is up and running and will go through September 2011. Collection bins are currently at the District 1 Facility; 7601 E. McKellips. Donations can be brought to the lobby of the Crime Lab/Property and Evidence Building, or can be given to the Station Officer at the Police Building. Please contact Officer Jen Wattier at 480-312-0275for more information.  Click to view Flyer. 

  Public Safety Community Contact Numbers and E-mail Links

• Scottsdale Police Non-Emergency  480-312-5000
• Scottsdale Fire Department  480-312-8000 
• SPD Drug Enforcement Hotline - Suspected illegal activity, 480-312-TIPS (Hot lines are not monitored)
• SPD Traffic Enforcement Hotline - chronic traffic problems, 480-312-CARS
• Code Enforcement 480-312-2546
• Child Safety Seat Installation 480-312-BABY
• CPR/First Aid Classes 480-312-1817

From the Desk of Commander Jeff Walther

When parents talk about school safety these days, they’re usually referring to the surge in violence at schools. But research shows that school-age children are actually nine times more likely to sustain an unintentional injury — whether on the playground or in school — than to be the victim of violence while at school. In fact, an estimated 2.2 million children ages 14 and under are injured in school-related accidents each year, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.

Accidents can be prevented if parents are on the lookout for potential hazards.  To help you keep your kids free from harm, here are some safety tips from SAFE KIDS, the consumer Product Safety Commission, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Traveling to and from School:
1. Plan a walking route to school or the bus stop. Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and, if possible, with intersections that have crossing guards.

2. Walk the route with your child beforehand. Tell him or her to stay away from parks, vacant lots, fields and other places where there aren’t many people around.

3. Teach your child never to talk to strangers or accept rides or gifts from strangers. Remember, a stranger is anyone you or your children don’t know well or don’t trust.

4. Be sure your child walks to and from school with a sibling, friend, or neighbor.

5. Teach your kids — whether walking, biking, or riding the bus to school — to obey all traffic signals, signs and traffic officers. Remind them to be extra careful in bad weather.

6. When driving kids, deliver and pick them up as close to the school as possible. Don’t leave until they are in the schoolyard or building

7. If your child bikes to school, make sure he wears a helmet that meets one of the safety standards (U.S. CPSC, Snell, ANSI, ASTM, or Canadian). Research indicates that a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 percent.

8. If your child rides a scooter to school, make sure she wears sturdy shoes, a helmet, kneepads and elbow pads. Children under age 12 should not ride motorized scooters, according to recent recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

9. Teach children to arrive at the bus stop early, stay out of the street, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching the street, watch for cars and avoid the driver’s blind spot.

10. Remind your children to stay seated at all times and keep their heads and arms inside the bus while riding. When exiting the bus, children should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, exit from the front using the handrail to avoid falls and cross the street at least 10 feet (or 10 giant steps) in front of the bus.

11. Tell your child not to bend down in front of the bus to tie shoes or pick up objects, as the driver may not see him before starting to move.

12. Be sure that your child knows his or her home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult and how to call 911 for emergencies

On the Playground:

13. Check the playground equipment at your child’s school. Look for hazards such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. The surface around the equipment should be covered with wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or mats made of safety-tested rubber or fiber material to prevent head injury when a child falls. Report any hazards to the school.

14. Avoid any drawstrings on the hood or around the neck of jackets and sweatshirts. Drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than three inches long to prevent catching in car and school bus doors or getting caught on playground equipment.

15. Make sure that the school’s athletic director or a custodian anchors soccer goals into the ground so they won’t tip over and crush a child.

15. Teach children proper playground behavior: no pushing, shoving, or crowding.

16. Give your child some strategies for coping with bullies. He should not give in to a bully’s demands, but should simply walk away or tell the bully to stop. If the bullying continues, talk to the teacher.

17. Make sure your child’s school has up-to-date information on recalled toys and children’s products. Schools, daycare providers and parents can receive recall information by fax, email, or in the regular mail free of charge by calling the Consumer Product Safety Commission hotline at 800-638-2772, or visiting the organization’s.
 

Have a safe school year!

Commander Jeff Walther
(480) 312-2571
jwalther@scottsdaleaz.gov 

For more information on crime prevention or additional opportunities to get involved in YOUR community contact Crime Prevention Officer Jen Wattier at 480-312-0275, email:  jwattier@scottsdaleaz.gov, or District 1 Police Aide Sherry Cross at 480-312-5851, email: scross@scottsdaleaz.gov. 

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