JULY 2008

Celebrate the Tranquil Arroyo

Protect Little Swimmers

Celebrate the Tranquil Arroyo

A clear stream is trickling under the oaks of the central Arroyo Seco just as it did centuries ago, thanks to the completion of a $2.5 million restoration project sponsored by the city of Pasadena and the Arroyo Seco Foundation.

Help celebrate this achievement during a dedication ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. in the picnic table grove at Brookside Park. The grove is at the south end of the park near Rose Bowl Aquatics Center.

During the restoration, crews and volunteers removed invasive plants, installed native California trees, created a system to capture oil and grease runoff from the parking lot and renovated the stream bed to provide a better home for native California Chub fish. Crews also installed more than 300 stormwater capture screens to keep trash and debris out of the stream.

For more information visit www.arroyoseco.org or call 304-3417.

Protect Little Swimmers

Every summer, children and water go together like peanut butter and jelly. Follow these important tips from Pasadena Fire Department to keep your little ones safe.

• Never assume your child is water-safe even if he or she has had lessons. Children shouldn’t be left alone near a pool or spa, or by a lake, river or ocean, even for a second.

• If you’re planning a pool party, the first item on your to-do list is to assign someone to watch swimmers at all times. Instruct that person not to look away from the pool and to keep children from running, pushing or jumping on other swimmers, diving into shallow water or screaming (this could mask a real emergency.).

• Have children stay out of the pool after a heavy meal or during a storm, and never let them carry glasses or bottles around the deck

• Keep life-saving equipment and a cordless phone near your pool. (Plastic inner tubes, inflatable armbands and other toys won’t save a life!) If an emergency happens, call 9-1-1 right away and don’t hang up until the operator does.

• Once everyone dries off for the day, lock the gate and store any tricycles and pool toys that might attract children to the area.

For more information visit www.cityofpasadena.net/fire and click on Public Safety Tips or call 744-4675.

Play it Safe in the Sun

It’s great to enjoy the outdoors but it’s easy to overdo it on hot summer days. Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, happen when your body can’t keep itself cool. Pasadena Public Health Department warns that these conditions can be life-threatening, especially for senior citizens, children and those with chronic medical or mental health conditions.

Prevent problems by drinking plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids all day long. If possible, stay inside during the hottest part of the day and don’t engage in strenuous activity. Outside, wear lightweight clothing, use sunscreen and pace yourself.

Watch for early signs of heat-related illness in friends and family, including muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, weakness, dizziness or headache. If these happen, have the person drink fluids, find an air-conditioned shopping mall or library to rest, or go home and take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if the person shows confusion, a temperature above 102 degrees, hot, dry and red skin, or fast and shallow breathing. While you wait for help, get the person to a shady area to cool off as quickly as possible. Provide a cool cloth, bottle of water or spray mist.

For more information call 744-6089.

Note to Mosquitoes: Buzz Off!

Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying – they can spread potentially dangerous diseases. Help keep the pests in check with these tips from Pasadena Public Health Department.

• Mosquitoes need a water source to breed. Dump out any standing water on your property including buckets, planters, old tires and other containers that may have collected rain or sprinkler water.

• Keep your pond, swimming pool or spa well-maintained, with adequate filtration and chemical additives to prevent mosquito breeding.

• Mosquitoes can also breed in the standing water along the curb. The department regularly surveys city streets to stamp out potential breeding grounds. If you know of any problem spots, or if you have a pond and would like to pick up mosquito fish that eat larvae, call the Environmental Health Division at 744-6004.

Step into a Police Officer’s Shoes

Pasadena Police Department’s next Citizens Policy Academy starts Aug. 28 and your name could be on the roll call.

Designed to promote a better understanding of the tough jobs our officers face, the free 12-week class will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about local law enforcement. Sessions are Thursdays from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at police headquarters, 207 N. Garfield Ave., and dinner is provided.

Presented in a friendly, casual environment by some of Pasadena’s finest, the course covers police communications, criminal law and procedures, street crime enforcement and investigations, field identification, weaponless defense training, event planning and youth programs.

You must be at least 18 years old, live or work in Pasadena, have no misdemeanor convictions for the past year and absolutely no felony convictions. Space is limited,

To apply or for more information, call the Community Services Section of Pasadena Police Department at 744-4551.