Volume 35- Issue 5 Some Summer Tips to Keep You and Your Family Safe According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, while summer can mean more fun—it also often means more trips to the emergency rooms for many Americans. Here are some of the Commission's summer safety tips: * Always wear a helmet and other safety gear when biking, skating, skateboarding, riding scooters, all terrain vehicles and horses. Studies have shown that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of injury by 85 percent. * Prevent swimming pool tragedies by placing barriers completely around your pool to prevent access. Use door and pool alarms. Closely supervise your child when he or she is around or in your pool. • Never bring a charcoal grill indoors. Burning charcoal produces carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. ♦ When cooking out on a gas grill, check the air tubes to ensure there are no blockages from insects, spiders or food grease. Check hoses to make sure they are in good shape. Check for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the tubes. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and do not attempt to light the grill until it has been fixed. ♦ Make sure your playground area is safe. Most playground accidents are from &Us. Make sure your surface is safe; use at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt surfaces are too hard and can cause injury. ♦ Allow only one person at a time on a trampoline. Do not allow somersaults. Use a shock-absorbing pad to cover the springs and place the trampohne away from structures and other play areas. Children under 6 years old should not be allowed to use a full-size trampoline. ♦ Warn children not to allow a game of hide-n-seek to become deadly. Make sure they cannot get into any old cedar chests, latch-type freezers or refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dyers or picnic coolers. Childproof all old appliances and warn children not to play inside them. • Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of open windows. Or install window stops that permit windows to open no more than 4 inches. Keep furniture away from windows to discourage children from climbing near them. • If you’re mowing in the summer, turn the mower off if children enter the area. If your lawn slopes and you’re mowing with a push mower, mow across the slope, never up and down. But with a riding mower, drive up and down the slope, not across. Never carry children on a riding lawn mower. For more information, browse www.cpsc.gov Page 13 I wish to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of the members of SGA. Tliis year you were totally involved. I have ' ■«b»> had the best time serving with all of you. HP ."^1 I have been impressed with your |H ^ \ constant concern for your fellow I * students, your community and the ' environment. I believe that each and every one of you will be leaders in whatever organization that you choose to join. Tliank You, Thank You, Tliank You, Philip Marshall SGA President Wilkes Community College 2006-2007 ■■4 BRJlllARKER H 0 I 0 e R A P M Supports Wilkes Community College We can help with all your photographic needs! An Official Photographer of MerieFest; The Americana Music Celebration! • Weddings • Social Gatherings • Special Events • Outdoor Portraiture http://www.brianbarkerphoto.com