Good day, I’m Terry Rounds, and welcome to the Fairfax County News to Use podcast of April 29, 2008. Coming up, learn about building safety, bike to work day and water stewardship. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
On May 5-11, Fairfax County, along with five other Northern Virginia governments, will bring safety home as part of International Building Safety Week. County, city and town officials will teach the public how to avoid the top five hazards around the home during the summer.
Officials will be at five Home Depot stores to take questions from residents on May 3-4. They will staff information booths from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following stores: 12275 Price Club Plaza, Fairfax; 6201 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax; 3201 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax; 1651 Reston Parkway, Reston; 400 S. Pickett St., Alexandria; and 7710 Richmond Highway, Alexandria. They will answer questions about building permits, code requirements and safety in the home.
This is a collaborative effort by Fairfax County; Arlington County; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church; and the town of Herndon.
Here are the top five summer safety hazards. Residents should check to see if their homes comply with building codes to prevent injuries:
- Pool and hot tub drains: Building codes require pool and hot tub drains to have a cover or grate to protect from entrapment or suction. Without the cover, hair or body parts may be trapped, causing serious injury or drowning.
- Pool fences and alarms: There should be at least a four-foot-high fence around pools holding more than 24 inches of water. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching, and doors with direct access to pools must have alarms.
- Decks: Decks can collapse if they are improperly built, repaired or maintained. Look for loose, missing or rusting hardware; missing, damaged or loose support beams and planking; and swaying or unstable decks.
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI): All outdoor electrical circuits require GFCI protection. GFCIs automatically turn off the power to the outlet when an electrical fault occurs, to protect against electrical shock from a faulty appliance or power tool.
- Grills: Charcoal and gas grills shouldn’t be used close to combustible materials. Keep grills away from siding, deck railings, eaves, overhead power lines and overhanging branches.
For more information about building safety and building safety week activities, call the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services’ Land Development Services Division at 703-324-1910, TTY 703-324-1877.
Friday, May 16, 2008 is "Bike to Work Day". Join thousands of area commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work. This regional event is organized by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). Meet up with fellow riders, stop by one of 24 regional pit stops, and convoy to work.
In Fairfax County there are six pit stops: Reston, Fairfax Corner/Government Center, Vienna, Fairfax City/GMU, Tyson's, and Springfield. Pit stops will provide snacks and drinks, offer free bicycle tune-ups, raffles for prizes, and a chance to meet fellow riders. Last year, we had close to 900 registered bikers in Fairfax County. This year, we know we can do better. So, have some fun, save fuel, help the environment, get some exercise and bike to work. For more information visit the News to Use Web Page.
The Livable Neighborhood Water Stewardship Program is creating a water-friendly lifestyle by joining neighbors to work together toward better ways to protect water resources. If you would like to connect with your neighbors, help revive local streams and the Chesapeake Bay or be part of an exciting national pilot project, then the Livable Neighborhood Program is for you. This is an opportunity for people to get together at the grassroots level to help improve the health of the Potomac River and the bay. The program is sponsored by Fairfax County and other local jurisdictions including Arlington County. Neighborhood team leaders and team members are needed. Team leaders receive training and then ask their neighbors to participate by choosing water friendly actions to try in their homes. Each team member receives a workbook with step by step instructions for incorporating water friendly actions into their daily lifestyle. For a free brochure call Fairfax County Stormwater Management, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services at 703-324-5821.
That’s all for this News to Use podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for continuous news updates, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news. You may also call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. News to Use is produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia, government.