This Fourth of July, Think Beyond Fireworks

Chances are, you’re a little bummed about the fireworks ban and more than a little bummed about the cancellation of the big professional show in Scotts Valley.  This year is unfortunately exceptional; Santa Cruz County - once coined “asbestos county” because of its lack of wildfire - is exceptionally dry and prone to fire.  Any spark can start a fire that destroys the lives of the people and animals who live in the area.  We have seen 3 such destrutive fires in our county thus far, only one month into fire season.

On a typical 4th of July, fireworks cause more reported outdoor fires in the United States than all other causes of outdoor fire combined, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).  While highly vegitated areas and mountainous areas are most prone to wildfire, any fire can become out of control in the current conditions.  If you live in a highly populated area, you are not free of fire danger.

This Fourth of July, please think twice before you set off any fireworks.  One year without fireworks can make a huge difference in Santa Cruz County.

Alternatives to Fireworks:

• Scotts Valley will still be having the 4th of July Parade and concert by the Govenor’s Marching Band at Skypark. The parade will begin at 3 p.m. at Civic Center and Scotts Valley drives. The concert will start at 5 p.m.
• Join the 4th festivities in Aptos, including the “Worlds Shortest Parade” and Picnic.
• If you have children, consider these fun ideas from HGTV.com: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_entertaining_occasions/article/0,,HGTV_3115_1390110,00.html
• Go to a movie - see one with plenty of explosions.
• Go on a road trip to a location that has a professional fireworks show.
• Check out the Boardwalk - an original piece of Americana.
• Get a Pinata!  Explodes like fireworks, but with no fire - and the added bonus of candy.

PG&E provides their tips for Power Outage Safety

Storm Season Tips and Information from PG&E

During storm season it is important to have the right information on hand for yourself, friends and neighbors. When individuals experience a power outage they should call PG&E’s outage information line at 1-800-PGE-5002 to report the outage and/or to get updates on the power restoration efforts in their area. Calling this line is the most efficient way to get updated outage information.

What you should have in case of a power outage:

- Battery operated radios with fresh batteries ready for updates on storm conditions and power outages.
- Battery operated flashlights with fresh batteries on hand
- A cell phone, or hard-wired, single line telephone. Cordless phones will not work without power.
- PG&E and the American Red Cross recommend that individuals do not use candles because of the risk of fire.
- Fill used liter sized plastic soda bottles with water and place them in the freezer. During an extended outage, transfer them to the refrigerator to prevent food from spoiling. Open the refrigerator only when necessary, keeping warm air out and cool air in. If food is exposed to warm air for an extended length of time, please reffer to the chart below to assess the food’s edibility.
- If you have a generator, call PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000. Make sure your generator is installed safely and properly. If it is not, you risk damaging your property and endangering yourself and PG&E line workers who may be working on power lines some distance from your home. Information on the safe installation of generators can be found on PG&E’s website: www.pge.com/generator.

What you should know in case of a power outage:

- If you see a downed power line, assume that it is “live” or carrying electrical current. Do not touch or try to move it and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines and other electric emergencies immediately by calling 911 and PG&E’s customer service line at 1-800-PGE-5000.
- If your power goes out, turn off and unplug all electric appliances. When the power is restored, several appliances may turn on at once and overload your circuits. Heat generating appliances left on may pose a fire hazard. Leave a single lamp on to alert you when the power returns.

Information given on behalf of PG&E, Central coast and Southern Santa Clara county, 2008

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Did you know that house fires are 3 times more likely to happen on Thanksgiving? In fact, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries. Here are some tips to make sure your Thanksgiving doesn’t go up in flames:

10 PREPAREDNESS TIPS

1. Never leave cooking food unattended.
2. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food. If you must leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove.
3. If you are simmering, baking, boiling, or roasting food, check it regularly, remain in the home while food is cooking, and use a timer to remind yourself that the stove or oven is on.
4. Avoid wearing loose clothing or dangling sleeves while cooking.
5. Keep kids away from cooking areas by enforcing a “kid-free zone” of three feet around the stove.
6. Keep anything that can catch on fire—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove top and oven or any other appliance in the kitchen that generates heat.
7. Clean cooking surfaces on a regular basis to prevent grease buildup.
8. Consider purchasing a fire extinguisher to keep in your kitchen. Contact your local fire department to take training on the proper use of extinguishers.
9. Always check the kitchen before going to bed or leaving the home to make sure all stoves, ovens, and small appliances are turned off.
10. Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm near your kitchen, on each level of your home, near sleeping areas, and inside and outside bedrooms if you sleep with doors closed. Use the test button to check it each month. Replace all batteries at least once a year.

Visit www.redcross.org/homefires for more information on how to prevent cooking fires.

25 Santa Cruz County volunteers called to help in So. Cal.

Copyright American Red Cross

25 of our disaster relief volunteers (Including 2 Board Members, 2 Mental Health Professionals, 4 Registered Nurses, 16 Shelter and Mass Feeding Workers and 1 Mass Care Bulk Distribution Specialist) have been called to help with the relief operations in Southern California, and that number continues to grow. Volunteers deployed so far are:

Rick Daniel, Anita Salem, Ray and Joy LeClair, John E. Schultz, Suzanne Carlton, Norman Turner, Janet Packer, Ralph Reyes, Armando Arias, Lee Yamada, Clyta Amadeo, Carmen Mulholand, Virginia Ledesma, Wendy Ostrow, Douglas Anderson, Cherry Roberts, Steve Hibbett, Paula Zabbattini, Susan Champness, Kenneth Llacera, Ellen Dellamora, Sharon Hightower, James Hobbs, Kate McCarthy-Lewis

Here is a snapshot of Red Cross services as of midnight, Tuesday:

• The Red Cross and its partners have opened nearly two dozen shelters across the region.
• 40 trucks full of supplies have arrived, bringing thousands of cots, blankets, toiletry kits and
other needed items.
• 50 Mobile feeding vehicles have arrived with 25 more en route.
• Cleanup supplies are also en route. Supplies include rakes, shovels and other useful
equipment to help with cleanup in the affected communities.
• A large feeding kitchen will open today at Petco Field to support the shelters, mobile feeding
and the feeding to the emergency workers.
• The local chapters have trained more than 1500 local volunteers to help with the effort.
• The national Red Cross has moved nearly 2000 additional workers to the area to help with
feeding and sheltering efforts.

If you have any questions about the local response to this disaster, please feel free to give us a call at 831- 462-2881.

Copyright American Red Cross