Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Preventing Home-Related Injuries

 

Preventing Home-Related Injuries

Many people are not aware of the dangers lurking in our homes, or the fact that more serious injuries typically occur at home rather than at work.  Home-related injuries adversely affect family and personal quality of life.  Here are some basic tips that will help you make your home a safer place for you and your family:

• Take a few minutes to walk through your home and look for potential trouble spots.
• The leading cause of accidental fatalities involving children in the home is poisoning.  Keep medicines and household chemicals safely out of reach of children.
• If you have small children in your home, purchase and install covers for all unused electrical outlets.
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms, and change the batteries in spring and fall.
• Remove all potential fire hazards, and have a fire safety plan.
• For adults, the number one cause of household fatalities is slips and falls.To combat this problem:
• Install lights and light switches at the top and bottom of stairs, and place nightlights in bathrooms, bedrooms, and other dark areas.
• If you have small carpets, tape them to the floor or remove them completely.
• Clean up any spills right away.
• Keep hallways and stairs clear of misplaced or miscellaneous objects.
• If you don't have handrails on your stairs, consider installing them.

Make home safety a priority for your family.  The end result will be well worth the effort.

Upcoming Events

Friday –August 21

Rhythm and Blues in the Afternoon, 14^th Street Artist Community, 2701 N. 14^th Street, 1 to 2 p.m.

Enjoy a free concert and art exhibit this Friday.  For more details, visit the 14thstreetartistcommunity.com website.

Rise Up Festival, on Washington Avenue between 16^th & 17^th, Noon

The Third Annual Rise Up Festival will feature a fine arts and crafts show, as well as live local musicians, circus acts, exceptional local eatery offerings from surrounding cafes and restaurateurs and more.  Get all the details at the risestl.org web site.

Sandlot Movie Night, Ritz Park, Grand & Juniata, activities begin at 7 p.m.

Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and head to Ritz Park for a free performance by John Donovan's Ruby Troupe, followed by a 9 p.m. showing of the movie Sandlot.  Questions?  Call (314) 772-5750.

Every Friday, May –September –Lunchtime Live, Old Post Office Plaza, 801 Locust, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Invite your co-workers to join you at this fun way to spend your lunch hour.  For more information, visit the downtownstl.org web site.

Every Friday –STLive on Washington Avenue, participating venues on Washington Avenue in Downtown St. Louis, 5 p.m.

Great venues. Great food. Great music. Every Friday night all year 'round at various Washington Avenue restaurants, there is something for everyone to enjoy.  For more information, visit the STLiveMusic page on Facebook.

Saturday –August 22

Faithfest 2015!, PoelkerPark, 13^th and Market, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Invite your family and friends to join you at this free all day outdoor music festival with prayers, music, creative arts, vendors, testimonies, and more.  For more information, call (314) 518-8835.

St. Louis World's Fare: Heritage Festival, Forest Park, Shakespeare Glen, 4 to 10 p.m.

This free annual event celebrates all that makes St. Louis great.  From family activities, top St. Louis eateries, and live musical performances to historical exhibitions, live art displays and a business expo, the World's Fare will have something for all to enjoy.  To learn more, visit the stlworldsfare.com website.

Free Movie, Lafayette Park (SE Corner), activities begin at 6:30 p.m.

The fun movie, Finding Nemo, will be screened at 8 p.m. For more details, visit the lafayettesquare.org web site.

Sunday –August 23

Kirchweihfest, German Cultural Society Hall, 3652 S. Jefferson, 11 a.m.

Kirchweihfest will be celebrated this Sunday beginning at 11 am. With the Damenchor singing a German Mass to the accompaniment of the Deutschmeister Brass Band, followed by folk dancing, live music, German food and drink, and more.

Free Concert, Ivory Perry Park, 800 N. Belt, 6 to 8 p.m.

This family-friendly outdoor concert series has been made possible by the Whitaker Foundation for more than 10 years. For details on the band performing this Sunday, visit the ivoryperrypark.com web site.

Lindenwood Live Concert, Lindenwood Park, Pernod & Jamieson Avenues, 5 to 8 p.m.

Gather up your neighbors and friends and enjoy the sounds of a live band, delicious food truck fare and more.  For more information, visit the lindenwoodpark.org website.

Free Concert, Benton Park, Jefferson & Arsenal, 3 to 6 p.m.

The group Mood Elevators is scheduled to perform.  Go to the bentonpark.org website for more information.

Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 5:30 p.m.

The scheduled performance will be by "Cornet Chop Suey."  For details about the concerts at Carondelet Park and others that will be held in South St. Louis Square Park, Fanetti Park and Bellerive Park throughout the summer, visit www.carondeletliving.com.

Next Week

Tuesday –Aug. 25

All National Parks will be fee-free on Tuesday, August 25, in honor of the National Park Service's 99^th birthday!  Help celebrate this special occasion by stopping by the Gateway Arch.  For more details, visit the go.nps.gov website.

Wednesday –August 26

Every Wednesday –Wednesday Lunch Free Concert Series, Citygarden, 10^th & Market, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Stop by and catch the performance by Cree Rider on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Visit the citygardenstl.org web site for more details.

Free Movie, Maryland Plaza Fountainside, Sunset Start

Enjoy one of St. Louis' most stunning outdoor cinema experiences on Wednesday, Aug. 26 when Sleepless In Seattle will be screened Fountainside in Maryland Plaza in the Central West End.  For more information, visit the maryandplaza.com website.

Save the Date

Aug. 28 –Walgreens Welleness Tour with the National Urban League, Harris-Stowe State University, 3026 Laclede Avenue, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Aug. 29 –Better Family Life's Peacefest 2015, Forest Park, Central Fields, 8 a.m.

Aug. 29 –Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 p.m.

Aug. 29 –Compton Hill Water Tower, S. Grand & Shaw Blvds., 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Aug. 29 –Taste of the City on the Landng, Chairman's Lot at Lumiere Place, North 2^nd and Carr Streets, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Aug. 29 –Car Show, on Elwood from Broadway to Pennsylvania, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Aug. 29 & 30 –Festival of Nations, Tower Grove Park, 10 a.m.

Aug. 30 –Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 3900 Holly Hills, 5:30 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.

Community Forum on Heroin

As the new academic year is beginning, area educators and youth development professionals are encouraged to attend a special event focusing on the heroin crisis facing the region.  The Community Forum on Heroin will be held on Friday, August 28, 2015 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Employment Connection, located at 2838 Market Street  .In 2014, 400 people in a seven-county area of the St. Louis region died of heroin overdoses, compared with 139 deaths in 2007, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (NCADA).  Learn how heroin is more readily available to younger demographics and affecting the St. Louis area.  Seating is limited so register today by emailing brendamahr@employmentstl.org.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis