Pool, Deck & Grill Safety

  

1) Make sure all pedestrian gates in the barrier fence for your pool are self-closing and self-latching. Other

gates should be padlocked.

2) Remove all chairs, tables, large toys or other objects that would allow a child to climb up to reach the

gate latch or enable the child to climb over the pool isolation fence.

3) Reaching and throwing aids like poles should be kept on both sides of the pool. These items should

remain stationary and not be misplaced through play activities.

4) All pool and hot tub drains (suction outlets) must have a cover or grate that meets industry standards for

suction fittings marked to indicate compliance with ANSI/ASME A112.19.8 2007. Check to see that these

covers are not broken or in disrepair, and that they are anchored firmly over the drain openings.

5) Install a pool alarm to detect accidental or unauthorized entrance into the water. While the alarm

provides an immediate warning, it does not substitute for the barrier fences, door alarms and safety

covers required by the code.

6) Install either an automatic or manually operated, approved safety cover to completely block access to

water in the pool, spa or hot tub. Never allow anyone to stand or play on a pool cover.

7) Check for warning signs of an unsafe deck, including loose or wobbly railings or support beams, missing

or loose screws that connect a deck to the house, corrosion, rot and cracks.  

8) Place the barbeque grill away from siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging

branches. It is also unsafe to use grills in a garage, porch or enclosed area that could trap carbon

monoxide. Never grill on top of anything that can catch on fire.

9) When grilling, have a fire extinguisher, a garden hose or at least 4 gallons of water close by

in case of a fire.

10) Keep children away from fires and grills. Establish a safety zone around the grill and instruct the children

to remain outside of the zone. A chalk line works great for this purpose. Never leave the grill unattended.

 

Source: ICC http://www.iccsafe.org/safety/Pages/Backyard.aspx , ABC Pool Safety (www.abcpoolsafety.org/)

Summer is definitely on the way!  and so are the Parks & Recreation's Summer programs!

 

Online registration for summer programs begins on Friday May 24.  If you prefer to come by to see us, stop in beginning Tuesday, May 28.

 

Summer Classes include:  Ballroom Dancing, Field Hockey Clinic, Dog Obedience, Kid's Dog Obedience, Horseback riding, Zumba, Pilates, Art classes for Adults, and many more.

 

Additionally, Art in the Park is now Kaleidoscope!  and registration is open!

 

for more details click here.

 

 

Discount Theme Park Tickets go on sale, Tuesday May 28!  Details are on the parks & rec page under Downloads (left side bottom)

 

Article Provided By ICC

 

As families move outdoors to enjoy nice weather in spring and summer, special precautions should be taken to ensure outdoor areas are safe from potential hazards. Swimming pools, barbecue grills, gardening tools and fertilizers, and lawn toys all pose risks to children and adults alike.

• Practice constant, adult supervision around any body of water, including pools and spas. Nationally, drowning is a leading cause of death to children under five.
• If you’re considering a swimming pool purchase, contact your local Building Department first to determine exactly what permits are needed and what requirements you must follow.
• In-ground and above-ground pools, including inflatable pools holding more than 24 inches of water, must be surrounded by a fence or other barrier at least four feet high. Any gates in the fence must be self-closing and self-latching.
• Reserve a spot on a wall or fence near the pool for lifesaving devices, including a portable or mobile telephone.
• Steps and ladders for above-ground pools should be secured or removed when the pool is not in use.
• Use a cover for the pool when it is not in use.
• Make sure drain covers are properly fitted and paired or have vacuum suction releases to prevent being trapped under water.
• Consider installing a pool alarm that can alert if someone enters the pool.
• Spa water temperatures should be set to 104 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to avoid elevated body temperature, which could lead to drowsiness, unconsciousness, heat stroke, or death.
• Designate the grilling area as a "No Play Zone" and keep kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
• Check propane cylinder hoses for leaks before use.
• Do not move hot grills.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited, and never use any flammable or combustible liquid other than charcoal starter fluid to get the fire going.
• Don't leave toys, tools and equipment in the yard.
• Keep steps, sidewalks and patios in good repair.
• Check all swings, slides, playhouses and other structures for sharp objects, rusty metal pieces, breaks or weakened support pieces.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Article Provided by ICC

 

The record-setting level of deaths, injuries and property destruction during 2011 provide a stark reminder that no matter where you live, everyone is at risk from natural disasters. However, the important lesson from this infamous year of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and worse is not simply the power of nature. It is the power of human resilience. When people survive and communities endure disasters, they do so because of actions taken beforehand, with purpose, to make structures stronger and people safer.

Prepare Your Family

Making sure your family is prepared for any natural disaster is important. Below are some of the steps you can take to prepare your family and protect your home from natural disasters. Your actions can ensure that no matter what Mother Nature brings, you, your family and your community will be resilient.

Here are a few tips to follow from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes – (FLASH®) when preparing your family for any emergency.

• Develop a family disaster plan that includes a list of food and water supplies needed for each member of your family and supplies for your pets. Make copies of important documents like insurance policies, the deed to your home, and other personal papers, important phone numbers and a home inventory. Create a checklist of important things to do before, during and after a disaster.
• Review your evacuation route and emergency shelter locations with your family. Options for evacuation would include staying with friends and relatives, seeking commercial lodging, or staying in a mass care facility operated by disaster relief groups in conjunction with local authorities.
• Taking shelter is critical in times of disaster. Sheltering in place is appropriate when conditions require that you seek protection in your home, place of employment, or other location where you are when disaster strikes.

Review your plan regularly. If you make changes that affect the information in your disaster plan, update it immediately.

Protect Your Home

The power of these natural disasters can be overwhelming. While you can't necessarily stop natural disasters from happening, there are steps you can take to increase your home's chance of survival, even in the face of the worst Mother Nature can dish out.

Earthquakes

If the earthquake occurs in a populated area, it may cause deaths, injuries and extensive property damage. Here are some helpful tips to prepare your family and protect your home.

• Plan and hold earthquake drills for your family.
• Identify two ways to escape from every room in the home.
• Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person's bed.
• Select a safe location away from the home where your family can meet after evacuating.
• Have an earthquake kit containing water, food, medicines and other necessities for at least three days
• Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation
• Strap water heaters, appliances and TVs to wall studs.
• Anchor bookshelves, heavy furniture, appliances and televisions to wall studs.
• Secure pictures, mirrors and ornaments to the wall with appropriate fasteners.
• Know where and how to shut off electricity, gas, and water services.

Flood

Devastating floods occur throughout the U.S. every year. Ninety percent of all presidentially declared natural disasters involve flooding. Flooding is usually divided into two categories: flash flooding and river flooding. Both can cause death, injury and property destruction. If you are building or retrofitting your home consider these recommendations:

• Wet flood proofing your home allows flood water to flow through the structure. An example of wet flood proofing is installing flood vents that create permanent openings in the foundation.
• Dry flood proofing your home prevents floodwaters from entering the building. An example of dry flood proofing is installing new brick veneer over asphalt coating and applying polyethylene film over existing walls.
• Construct non-supporting, break-a-way walls designed to collapse under the force of water without causing damage to the foundation.

Hurricanes

A well-built home can stand up to hurricanes. FLASH provides homeowners the tools to make sure your house is hurricane-ready with the Protect Your Home in a FLASH program.

• The best place to start is with a Do-It-Yourself Wind Inspection to find out what is ok with your house and what needs attention.
• In a high wind event anything can become a dangerous flying object. Take a day to make your landscaping more hurricane resistant.
• Check to see if your gutters are clear of leaves and other debris to prevent flooding.
• Improve your roof's resistance to uplift by applying a 1/4 -inch bead of caulk of along the intersection of the roof deck and the roof support element (rafter or truss chord) on both sides with a caulking gun.
• If your home is not protected by impact-resistant windows and doors or impact-resistant shutters or panels, consider building your own temporary emergency panels.

Tornados and High Winds

A properly built, high wind safe room protects your family from the most intense tornadoes and hurricanes and can be incorporated into a planned build or renovation to create a multiuse space in your home, adding to its value. FLASH urges homeowners to "Give an Ordinary Room an Extraordinary Purpose" by building or retrofitting interior spaces in their home to safe-room standards.

• Tornado safe rooms are designed to withstand winds up to 250 miles per hour, and offer lifesaving refuge for families in the path of high-wind events like tornadoes.
• Your closet, bathroom, laundry or even an outdoor room like a garden shed or pool house can be enhanced to serve as a safe room.
• A safe room designed to meet standards set forth by the National Storm Shelter Association, the International Code Council and FEMA and will stand up to the most intense tornadoes and hurricanes.

Wildfires

Each year, thousands of acres of wildland and many homes are destroyed by fires that can erupt at any time of the year. Wildfires spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. You can protect your home by following these tips.

• Prevent wildfire damage by developing a defensible space in your landscaping by clearing at least 30 feet around your home, or 50 feet around your home if you reside in a heavily wooded area.
• Plant fire-resistant, native vegetation and remove any dead or dying trees. Properly prune shrubs, and trim tree branches so they don't extend over a roof or near the chimney. Mow your grass and control the height and spread of ground covering vegetation. Keep plants at least 12 to 18 inches away from the house.
• When putting on a new patio deck, build from fire-resistant materials. On new and existing decks, create fire barriers around the deck base and clear vegetation at least 100 to 300 feet downhill from the deck base.
• Install only burning-brand, exposure rated (Class A, B or C) roof assemblies using materials such as asphalt shingles, slate or clay tile or metal roof coverings.

 

 

  

 

1) Install smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside of sleeping areas and rooms and on each level

of your home.

2) Practice an escape plan from every room in the house. Caution everyone to stay low to the floor

when escaping from fire and never to open doors that are hot. Select a location where everyone

can meet after escaping the house. Get out then call for help.

3) When home fire sprinklers are used with working smoke alarms, your chances of surviving a

fire are greatly increased. Sprinklers are affordable – they can increase property value and lower

insurance rates.

4) Test your smoke alarm each month and change the batteries at least once a year.

5) Portable heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least three feet away.

6) Install noncombustible ¼ inch or smaller mesh screening on attic/soffit vents and around elevated

wood decks to keep out embers. Install approved or listed spark arrestors on chimneys of solid fuel

or liquid fuel burning appliances.

7) Consider installing protective shutters or heavy fire-resistant drapes.

8) Have a garden hose that is long enough to reach any area of the home and other structures

on the property.

9) Maintain a “defensible” space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum

of 30 feet around all structures. Clear dead leaves and branches to leave widely spaced ornamental

shrubbery and trees.

10) Plant fire prone trees and shrubs away from your home and far enough apart so they won’t ignite

one another.

 

 

  

The updated results are now posted.  There were a few typo with the original copy that was posted on Saturday.

 

Parks & Rec webpage, Left side Bottom - under Downloads - link for results - updated.

Week One (May 6-12) of Building Safety Month is Fire Safety & Awareness.

Article Provided BY ICC

 

In 2010, more than 362,000 residential fires caused 2,555 deaths, more than 13,000 injuries and more than $6.5 billion in property damage costs.

The United States Fire Association (USFA) states that the top five fire-safety topics most frequently identified with home fire deaths are smoke alarms, escape plans, child fire safety, older adult fire safety (cooking and heating) and careless smoking.

 

So what can you do to prevent fires in your home? The USFA offers these statistics and tips:

• Children under age 5 are twice as likely as the rest of us to die in a home fire. So create an escape plan and make sure everyone in your home practices it. Plan two routes of escape from every room, and designate a meeting place outside of the home. Remember: get out and stay out.
• The third leading cause of fire death for older adults is cooking. Never leave cooking unattended because a serious fire can start in seconds. Don't wear loose clothing while cooking. Keep towels and pot holders away from the range. Double-check the kitchen before you go to bed or leave your home.
• The second leading cause of fire death for older adults is heating. When buying a space heater, look for the auto-off feature should the heater fall over. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from other objects. Your fireplace should have a screen large enough to catch flying sparks and rolling logs.
• The number one cause of preventable home fire deaths is smoking. If you smoke, practice these fire-safety tips to avoid putting your life, your home and your family at risk: Don't leave a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe unattended. If you feel drowsy, put it out immediately. Use deep ashtrays. And, never smoke in bed.
• More than 2,500 Americans died in home fires last year. In most cases, the home did not have a working smoke alarm. A sounding smoke alarm gives you with the extra seconds you need to get out of your home - alive. Install and maintain a smoke alarm on every level of your home. Replace the battery every year. It's a simple way to help keep you and your family better protected 24-7. 

Residential fire sprinkler ordinances have been adopted by several hundred U.S. communities for use in one and two family dwellings. Such systems have been shown to provide significant life safety benefits. Adding residential fire sprinklers to the 2009 International Residential Code so that communities can adopt them as part of their local building code is the most important step to reducing residential fire deaths since requiring smoke alarms in residential structures.

Thanks to everyone that came out today and ran!  A HUGH Thank you to the Volunteers, Sponsor, and Event Supporters.  Without you, this is not possible.

 

The Results are posted under "Downloads"  (www.culpeperrecreation.com  left side of the page - bottom)

Come run (or walk) the Wicked Bottom!   Sponsored by Battlefield Automotive. 

 

Pre-registration Deadline is Tuesday April 30.  Day of Event Registration Opens at 7:00am

 

 

To register: http://tinyurl.com/wicked5K2013