Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Poison Prevention Tips

Poison Prevention Tips

National Poison Prevention Week will be observed from March 16 through March 22.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), approximately 2.4 million people – more than half under age 6 – swallow or have contact with a poisonous substance each year.  The most dangerous potential poisons are medicines, cleaning products, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, pesticides, furniture polish, gasoline, kerosene and lamp oil.  Here are some tips from the AAP for parents and caregivers:

• Store medicine, cleaning and laundry products, paints/varnishes and pesticides in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children.
• Safety latches that automatically lock when you close a cabinet door can help keep children away from dangerous products, but the safest place to store poisonous products is somewhere a child can't reach.
• Never refer to medicine as "candy" or another appealing name.
• Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.

 If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 9-1-1 immediately.  If your child has come in contact with poison and has mild or no symptoms, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

 

Upcoming Events

 March 14 – Lenten Fish Fries, various locations, various start times

During the Lenten Season, many St. Louis churches and organizations offer Friday Fish Fries.  These events are a great way to gather with family and friends and meet new neighbors.  Here are a few to consider:

* St. Alphonsus Rock Church Fish Fry, 1118 N. Grand, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* St. Louis the King School at the Cathedral Fish Fry, 4430 Maryland Avenue, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

* Our Lady of Sorrows Fish Fry, 5020 Rhodes Avenue at Kingshighway, 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

* St. Gabriel the Archangel Fish Fry, 4711 Tamm, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

March 15 -- Confluence Trash Bash, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, 8:30 a.m.

Great Rivers Greenway and Trailnet are inviting area residents to join them in their fight to clean up the rivers and creeks within the Confluence Greenway and the Missouri/Mississippi River watershed.  This year's Confluence Trash Bash will be held this Saturday, starting at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers may choose from four starting locations:

· Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, 10950 Riverview Drive, St. Louis, MO

· Bangert Park, 275 S. New Florissant Road, Florissant, MO

· Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex, 13212 Ferguson Lane, Bridgeton, MO

· Creve Coeur Lake, 13725 Marine Avenue, Maryland Heights, MO

Specific cleanup sites will then be assigned near each of the starting locations. Volunteers will be provided a free t-shirt, bags, and gloves, courtesy of the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.  At noon, participants will return to their respective starting location for a celebration and free lunch.  To register online, visit the stlmsd.com web site.

March 15 -- St. Patrick's Day Parade – Downtown, Noon

The annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Downtown St. Louis will take place this Saturday.  The parade will step off at Noon from 18^th and Market Streets, proceed east on Market to its conclusion at Broadway and Market.  Spectators will enjoy more than 120 units including marching bands, floats, huge cartoon-character balloons and more.  After the parade everyone is invited to stop by the Irish Village in Kiener Plaza for food, fun, and entertainment all day long.  For all the particulars, visit the irishparade.org web site.

March 15 – Neighborhood Ownership Group Meeting, Carondelet Library, 10 a.m.

The Carondelet, Patch, Boulevard Heights Citizens/ Neighborhood Ownership Group will hold its next meeting this Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Carondelet Library, 6800 Michigan Avenue.  Speakers will include representatives from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Neighborhood Stabilization Team and NextDoor.  All neighborhoods are invited.

March 15 - Small Space Gardening Class, 13th Street Community Garden, 10 a.m.

The 13^th Street Community Garden together with Gateway Greening will be offering a free class on small space gardening this Saturday at the Garden located at 2718 N. 13^th Street in the Old North St. Louis neighborhood.  Everyone is invited to join them for a great introduction into effectively growing your vegetable garden this season in a small space, containers or vertically.  Need more information?  Call (314) 441-6310.

March 15 – St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Dinner, Five Star Senior Center, Noon

Everyone is invited to stop by the Five Star Senior Center this Saturday from Noon to 7 p.m. for a St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Dinner.  Sandwiches will be available for $5 and dinners for $8.  Proceeds will benefit the Center which provides services to senior citizens in the community.  The Center is located at 2832 Arsenal Street in the Benton Park West neighborhood.  Questions?  Call (314) 664-1008.

March 15 - St. Patrick's Day Dinner, Lafayette Park UMC, Noon

The Lafayette Park United Methodist Church will hold its St. Patrick's Day Dinner this Saturday from Noon to 7 p.m. at 2300 Lafayette Avenue.  Patrons will have a choice of corned beef or roast beef.  Adult tickets are $8.  For carry-outs call (314) 773-1246.

March 15 -- Women's History Month Interactive Storytelling Events, Gateway Arch, 11:15 a.m.

The National Park Service is celebrating Women's History Month with a special storytelling event at the Gateway Arch this Saturday.  The free event will spotlight the historic contributions of women who shaped the history of the United States.  Invite your family and friends to join you in exciting Downtown St. Louis from 11:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Arch.  To learn more, call (314) 655-1700.

March 15 -- Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction, Union United Methodist Church, 5 p.m.

The Volunteers in Mission Team at Union United Methodist Church will sponsor a Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction this Saturday from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Church, located at 3543 Watson Road in the Lindenwood Park neighborhood.  Proceeds will go toward the building supplies fee for the team's work at Cookson Hills Center Mission in Oklahoma May 11-17.  Cost for adults is $12.50 in advance or $15 at the door.  To purchase tickets in advance, contact the church office at (314) 647-1228 or visit the unionumcstl.org web site.

March 16 - Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, PNA Sports Club, Noon

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day and the Polish National Alliance (PNA) Sports Club is celebrating the occasion with a Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner this Sunday from Noon until 5 p.m.  The cost is $7.50 per person.  The Club is located at 3606 Bates Avenue (at Grand) in the Holly Hills neighborhood.  For advance tickets or more information, call John at (636)-938-4641.

March 16 – Family FunDay, Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, 2 p.m.

March is the month to fly a kite.  Family FunDay at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site in the JeffVanderLou neighborhood this Sunday will include kite building, decorating and flying.  Stop by the New Rosebud Café at 2658 Delmar (at Beaumont) from 2 to 4 p.m. and join in on the fun.  Supplies are limited.  Call Carlotta Lewis at (314) 340-5794 to RSVP for this free event.

March 17 - Ancient Order of Hibernians Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Dogtown, 12:30 p.m.

Everyone is invited to the Dogtown neighborhood on Monday, March 17 for the Ancient Order of Hibernians Saint Patrick's Day Parade which will step off at 12:30 p.m. just south of the Tamm Avenue overpass at Oakland Boulevard, travel south on Tamm Avenue and end at Manchester Avenue. Spectators will enjoy more than 100 units and many St. Louis Irish will be marching in the parade under their family crests and banners.  To learn more, visit the stlhibernians.com web site.

March 22 – International Trivia Night, Msgr. Louis F. Meyer Youth Center, 6:30 p.m.

The Carondelet Park Rec Complex will hold its annual International Trivia Night on Saturday, March 22 at the Msgr. Louis F. Meyer Youth Center, located at 4354 S. Kingshighway Boulevard in the Bevo Mill neighborhood.  Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.  All proceeds will benefit YMCA World Service.  Cost is $160 per 8 person table if you register by March 15.  For more information, email nschroeder@ymcastlouis.org.

Save the Date

March 21 & 23 – 2014 NCAA® Division I Men's Basketball Second and Third Rounds, Scottrade Center, times vary

March 21 & 22 – IdiotDash STL 2014, Downtown, 11 a.m.

March 21 – Third Friday Party, Third Degree Glass Factory, 6 p.m.

March 22 – Night at the Museum, Gateway Arch, 6 p.m.

 

Promoting Your Neighborhood Activities

Is there a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the Spotlight? If so, you may email the information about it to me at GrayR@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for consideration. You may also post it on the City's Calendar of Events on the City's web site:  http://stlouis-mo.gov.  The link to submit an event is at the very bottom of the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

 

Job Fair

St. Louis area residents are invited to attend the North Side Youth and Senior Services Center Job Fair from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19 at the Taylor Community Science Resource Center located at 4900 Manchester on The Hill.  Companies from around the St. Louis Metropolitan area are already confirmed to attend and will be seeking qualified candidates to work in a wide assortment of industries.  Many employers are expected to hire on-the-spot.  Job seekers should bring several copies of their resumes, dress professionally and be prepared for on-the-spot interviews by prospective employers.  The Fair is free and open to the public, but job seekers are encouraged to register at the nsyssc.com web site.

Col. Richard Gray
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis