Pool Safety
While around the pool, assign someone to be a water watcher. The water watcher will pay close attention to the pool and not be distracted by other activities. Have a phone nearby the pool to dial 911 in case of an emergency. Allow children a break during swimming activities, they can become tired and then be in danger while in the pool. There is no excuse for not watching children around the pool. Don’t think that someone else is watching them, make sure you watch the water.
Practice the ABC’s of Water Safety-
- Adult Supervision- Never let a child swim alone or be near water unattended
- Barriers- Fences around pools should have self-closing, self-locking gates that will keep a child from accessing the pool without supervision.
- Classes- Swim Classes for anyone who does not know how to swim and CPR classes for every adult.
Hiking Safety
Be prepared, take plenty of water, and wear sunscreen and light colored clothing. Carry a backpack where you can have a small first aid kit, a flashlight and a map of the area you are hiking. Don’t hike alone; let someone know your planned route and when you should be home. Be attentive to the wildlife and remember the animals that can hurt you are very active.
Barbeque Safety
Start with a very clean barbeque and a safe area to cook in. Move the barbeque away from your home and the overhanging roof. If using propane, insure that the connection to the bottle is tight and there are no leaks in the rubber hoses. Make sure the barbeque has cooled off before storing. Storing of chemicals should be away from any heat the cooking area may produce.
Excessive heat
With temperatures rising during the summer months, staying cool when the temperatures exceed 100 degrees can be very difficult.
Hot Cars
Remember that temperatures inside of parked vehicles can rise quickly to deadly levels. Do not leave children, the elderly, or pets in vehicles unattended. A study by the Journal of Pediatrics showed that a car’s interior can heat up by an average of 40 degrees F within an hour, regardless of ambient temperature. Eighty percent of the temperature rise occurred within the first half-hour. Have a reminder that a child is in the back seat, place personal belongings such as purses or wallets next to the car seats, a tag on the key ring, anything to remind you.
Fire Safety
With relative humidity severely low for the past months fire danger is very high. Care should be taken while using any open flame. Inspect barbecue grills before using; making sure the fire will remain contained. Fireworks should be avoided, even if your jurisdiction allows them.
Desert Animals
Snakes have colors and patterns that allow them to blend into their surroundings so watch where you step or reach with your hands. On warm nights snakes will be more active so carry a flashlight to light your path or turn lights on before going out onto your porch or patio.
If you see a snake on your property, watch it. Most likely it is just passing through and you will not see it again.
We advise residents to never attempt to remove a snake from their property since the majority of snake bites occur when un-trained people handle them. The department provides snake removal services to their residents to keep you and the animal safe.