Hello, and welcome to the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast for Aug. 12, 2008. I’m Jim Person, Fairfax County emergency information officer. Coming up, learn about SAFE classes for women, moped safety, mosquito trap vandalism and staying safe in rip currents. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
Women, ages 12 and above, can sign up now for an opportunity to learn how to stay safe, spot potential dangers and defend against attackers. Trained Fairfax County police officers will teach a Sexual Assault Free & Empowered class in September in the Mount Vernon Police District. The “SAFE” class will be at Riverside Elementary School, 8410 Old Mount Vernon Road, Alexandria, on September 16, 18, 23 and 25. The hours are 6:15 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. and registrants are expected to attend each of the four classes. Space is limited and classes fill quickly, so sign up today.
SAFE classes are also held each month, free of charge, at the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly. Attendees learn physical defense techniques and crime prevention strategies that will help women overcome and handle fear, as well as give them a sense of control over their lives. A combination of classroom instruction is followed by hands-on training, taught by certified SAFE instructors. All attendees also receive a take-home reference manual. SAFE is offered to women 12-years-old and up. A female guardian must accompany those between the ages of 12 and 17. No men are permitted to be present during a class. For more information, a list of class dates or to register for the SAFE class, call 703-246-7806.
With gas prices soaring and no end in sight, police have noticed an increase in the number of moped and scooter users on Fairfax County roadways. Officers want to make sure these new riders know the rules of the road when operating these vehicles. They’ve developed a new online brochure, which is available online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police/, or call the Traffic division at 703-280-0563.
Just a few of the safety tips police urge motorists to remember:
- Drivers must be at least 16 years old to operate a moped.
- Mopeds and bicycles must stay to the right side of the roadway.
- Mopeds and motorized scooters may not be operated on sidewalks.
- And don’t forget; helmet and bright, reflective clothing are a must when it comes to keeping safe!
The Fairfax County Health Department has reported a surge in vandalisms of their mosquito traps this summer. Each summer, Fairfax County Health Department staff place mosquito traps at more than 70 sites around the county to trap and test mosquitoes for West Nile virus and other arboviruses. This year, they have noticed an increase in tampering and thefts of trap components. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), online at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES (274637), or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.
And finally, if you head to the beach before the summer ends, remember to be mindful of rip currents, which account for over 80 percent of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards. If caught in a rip current:
- Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
- Never fight against the current.
- Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
- Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle--away from the current--towards shore.
- If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore. If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.
More information about rip currents can be found at www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov.
That’s it for this edition of the Fairfax County Health and Safety Podcast, produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia government. Thanks for listening. Additional information about health and safety topics and emergency preparedness may be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.