Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Swimming Pool Safety Tips

 

Swimming Pool Safety Tips

Many families have uncovered their backyard pools and will be spending the hot summer days lounging in and around it.  This is a good time to review some proven water safety tips to ensure a safe and fun experience.  You can never know which one might save a child's life – until it does.

·  Never leave a child unattended in a pool and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water

·  Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim

·  Teach children basic water safety tips

·  Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments

·  If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool first

·  Learn to perform CPR on children and adults

·  Install a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and use self-closing and self-latching gates

·  Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year nearly 300 children younger than five drown in swimming pools and spas and more than 3,200 children that age go to hospital emergency rooms due to submersion injuries in pools.  Make sure you and your family pool safely this summer.

 

Upcoming Events

June 20 – 23 – Musical Variety Show, Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, 7:30 p.m.

The talented OLStars theater group will present this weekend its cabaret style musical, "Lords & Ladies," a fun-filled show that will have you singing along and tapping your toes.  Performances will take place on Thursday, June 20; Friday, June 21; and Saturday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, June 23 at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Hall, 5050 Rhodes.  Tickets will be $5 for all ages at the door.  For more information, call (314) 651-8745 Monday through Fridays.

June 20 – 24 – St. Lou Fringe Fest, Grand Center, 7 p.m.

The second ever St. Lou Fringe Fest will take place June 20 – 24 in Midtown and GrandCenter.  Visitors to the Fest will be able to enjoy all types of performing arts – from theater and dance to puppetry and the spoken word.  For ticket pricing and more information, visit stlfringe.com or call (314) 289-1500.

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

The third Friday of the month will fall on June 21 and that means Third Degree Glass Factory will be holding its Third Friday Free Party from 6 – 10 p.m.  The theme this month is cool cars and ice cream, hot.  Visitors will be able to enjoy an exhibit of sports car beauty, watch artists blow molten glass into art and if weather permits, British car club vehicles will be parked on the lawn.  Also, Frostbite Gourmet Ice Cream will be serving up free tastes of select summer flavors.  The Factory is located at 5200 Delmar Blvd. in the Central West End neighborhood.  To learn more, visit the thirddegeeglassfactory.com web site.

June 22 – Free Electronic Recycling Drive, Hope Lutheran Church, 8 a.m.

The Southampton Neighborhood in partnership with Midwest Recycling Center will hold a free Electronic Recycling Event on Saturday, from 8 a.m. to Noon, rain or shine, in the back parking lot of Hope Lutheran Church, Brannon and Itaska.  Acceptable items include basically anything that has a cord or a battery.  Exceptions:  no smoke detectors, glass lamps, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes.   To learn more, visit the midwrc.net web site or call 636-223-0150.

June 22 -- Grub and Groove, Francis Park, 4:30 p.m.

The St. Louis Hills Young Ambassadors and Innovative Construction & Roofing will present Grub and Groove this Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Francis Park, Donovan and Eichelberger.  Visitors will be able to enjoy live music, and food and beverages will be available for sale.  For details, visit the grubandgroovestl.com web site.

June 22 – Free Movie in the Park, Lafayette Square Park, 7 p.m.

In partnership with Lafayette Preparatory Academy, the Arts Council of Lafayette Square will be presenting the movie, "Babe," this Saturday in the southeast corner of Lafayette Park by the Gazebo.  Activities will begin at 7 p.m. and the movie will start at 8:30 p.m.  Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs and enjoy the evening.  For more information, visit the LafayetteSquare.org web site.

June 22 & 23 – 13^th Annual St. Louis Water Gardening Pond-o-Rama Pond & Garden Tour, various locations, 9 a.m.

This year's Pond and Garden Tour will feature more than 40 spectacular private gardens owned and maintained by St. Louis Water Gardening Society members in both Illinois and Missouri.  The self-guided driving tour will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.  The cost is $15 for both days.  Ticket booklets that include maps and driving instructions will be available. Visit the slwgs.org web site or call (314) 995-2988.

June 23 – Third Annual Sustainable Backyard Tour, Southwest Garden neighborhood, 11 a.m.

St. Louisans will have a unique opportunity this Sunday to see and hear first-hand how others have integrated sustainable living practices into their corner of the world.  The free, self-guided Third Annual Sustainable Backyard Tour will offer demonstrations of beekeeping and raising chickens, rain barrels and renewable energy, aquaculture, edible landscaping and more.  The tour will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  To register for the tour, visit Eventbrite.com.  You may also visit the sustainablebackyardtour.com web site for more information.

June 23 – Full Moon Event, The Compton Hill Water Tower, 5:30 p.m.

The next Full Moon will occur on Sunday, June 23 and that means the Compton Hill Water Tower will be open for St. Louisans to climb the stairs to the top for a spectacular view of St. Louis.  The entrance fee is $5.  Visitors will also be able to enjoy live music under the Tower at 7 p.m. and local food trucks will be serving up their finest beginning at 5:30 p.m.  Go to watertowerfoundation.org for all the particulars.

Now - June 23 - Circus Flora, Grand Center, various times

In its 27th big top production, St. Louis' own Circus Flora is going where no circus has gone before:  to the moon.  Based on the 1902 movie, "A Trip to the Moon," this 2013 production is mesmerizing audiences with its visual styling, costuming and narrative elements.  Ticket prices start at $10 and the production will run through June 23.  Visit the circusflora.org web site for all the details.

 

June 23 – Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 6 p.m.

The Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation will sponsor a free concert in Carondelet Park this Sunday, starting at 6 p.m. at the Bandstand off Loughborough. Bring your lawn chair, pack a picnic basket and enjoy the group, "Fanfare."   For a complete list of the concert schedule, visit the carondeletliving.com web site.

June 23 – Free Concert, Francis Park, 7:30 p.m.

The Compton Heights Concert Band of St. Louis is once again presenting its Sunday Serenades Concert Series at Francis Park, Eichelberger and Donovan, each Sunday at 7:30 p.m.  The concerts are free.  This Sunday, concert-goers will be able to enjoy Bluegrass and Mandolin by Carl Capps and Mason T. Capps. For a complete list of the Sunday Serenades schedule, visit http://www.chband.org/summer2013.html .

June 24 – Free Concert, Tower Grove Park, 7:30 p.m.

The Compton Heights Concert Band of St. Louis is once again presenting its Musical Mondays Concert Series at Tower Grove Park, South Grand and Magnolia, each Monday at 7:30 p.m.  The concerts are free.  This Monday, June 24, enjoy Bluegrass music by Carl Capps and Mason T. Capps.  For a complete list of performances in the series, visit http://www.chband.org/summer2013.html .

June 26 – Employment Education Fair, Carr Square Community Center, 10 a.m.

Looking for a job?  Consider stopping by the Ninth Annual 5^th Ward Employment Education Fair on Wednesday, June 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jonas Hubbard Jr. Carr Square Community Center, 1629 Biddle Street in the Carr Square neighborhood.  Visitors will learn about programs that can help with their job search, free resume assistance will be available and more.  Questions?  Call Sal Martinez at (314) 289-9900.

June 27 – Whitaker Urban Evening Series, St. Louis Place Park, 7 p.m.

Grace Hill's Whitaker Urban Evening Series has returned to St. Louis Place Park for a seventh season.  "FatPocket" will be performing from 7 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 27.  The park is located at St. Louis Avenue and Rauschenbach Avenue in the St. Louis Place neighborhood.  For a schedule of the performers in the coming weeks, visit gracehill.org or call (314) 276-3655.

 

Save the Date

June 28 – Beyond Housing 2^nd Annual Food Truck Round-Up, Dwight Davis Tennis Center, 6 p.m.

June 29, Soulard Garden Tour, start at Soulard Station, 9 a.m.

June 29 – Carondelet Neighborhood Bicycle Tour, Bellerive Park, 9:30 a.m.

June 29, Outdoor Concert, Art Hill Plaza, 7 p.m.

June 29 & 30 – Grand Opening Festivities, St. Louis Art Museum, 10 a.m.

June 29 & 30 – PrideFest, Soldiers' Memorial Plaza, Noon

June 30 – Pride Parade, 8^th & Market, 11 a.m.

June 30 – Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Birthday Bash & Bicycle Ride, Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, 7:30 a.m.

June 30 – My First 5K!, Tower Grove Park, 8 a.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 deekenc@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 on the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

 

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Golf Tournament

 

The Missouri Fire Service Funeral Assistance Team will host the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation annual Survivors Conference in St. Louis in May of 2014.  To raise funds for the conference, the Team is holding a Golf Tournament on Monday, July 15 at Old Hickory Golf Club in St. Peters.  It will be a three-man scramble/ $100 per golfer.  Your reservations must be received by June 22.  For all the details, call Dale Hart (314) 420-0825 or email him at dhart514@att.net.

Charlene Deeken
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis