Snell Isle Alerts

New Safety Tips

Details: Published: Friday, 03 November 2017 11:14

All over the City, we are experiencing an uptick in car thefts, burglaries and other crime. Recall the HOT WHEELS expose the Tampa Bay Times printed earlier this year? Well, for a while things calmed down it seemed, but now - especially when folks let their guard down - it’s back in the forefront.

Please be mindful, if you are accustomed to pulling into your driveway or garage and start to unload packages, groceries, etc. and you leave your keys, key fob, purse, or wallet in the car. What if someone jumped in your car and took off? IT HAPPENS! All it takes is one instant for the thugs to high-jack a vehicle in a flash! We have all worked hard for what we have, yet it can be stolen in an instant when we let our guard down. DON’T DO IT!

Lock those car doors and turn the ignition off, take your keys, fob and purse inside…even if just for a quick trip inside. It’s not worth it to give the thugs a crime of opportunity. I remind you…it’s happening ALL OVER TOWN. Let’s make sure it doesn’t happen to YOU!

This next article from Pasco Sheriff’s Office, pertains to children being victimized…Pasco Deputies Warn Parents: Children Solicited Through Apps. The sheriff’s Cyber Investigations Unit has spotted this trend over the last two months involving the abuse of social media and preteens… https://patch.com/florida/stpete/s/g9sab/pasco-deputies-warn-parents-children-solicited-through-apps?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_term=weather&utm_campaign=alert

Please, please try to be ON GUARD at all times. If you SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Our St Pete Police (or any police department) would much rather come to investigate and prevent a crime than deal with the aftermath OF a crime! Please watch out for one another and…Stay Safe.

Tips for a SAFE Halloween

Details: Published: Sunday, 22 October 2017 22:07

Tips for a Safe Halloween Halloween can be a fun holiday for kids, but a worrisome one for parents. Concerns about children's safety--whether they are out in the neighborhood or back home with bags of booty--can darken the day more quickly than a black cat. But not to worry! To make Halloween a treat, follow these safety tips.

ADULTS

Make sure the path to your door is clear, welcome trick-or-treaters with your porch lights and turn on any exterior lights.

Patrol your street occasionally to discourage speeding motorists, acts of malicious mischief and crimes against children.

Report any suspicious or criminal activity to your police department immediately. Call 9-1-1.

Do not give homemade or unwrapped treats to children.

MOTORISTS Exercise extreme caution when driving a vehicle. Be on the alert for excited youngsters, whose vision may be obscured by masks, darting out into traffic.

TRICK OR TREAT TIPS

Make sure your kids dress up safely

Make sure costumes are flame retardant so children aren't in danger near burning jack-o-lanterns.

Keep costumes short to prevent trips, falls, and other bumps in the night.

Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks can be hot and uncomfortable, and they can obstruct a child's vision, a dangerous thing when kids are crossing streets and going up and down steps.

Make sure kids wear light colors or put reflective tape on their costumes.

Make trick-or-treating trouble free

Create a map of a safe trick-or treating route and set a time limit for your children to “trick-or-treat”.

Trick-or-treaters should always be in groups so they aren't a tempting target for real-life goblins. Parents should accompany young children.

Make sure older kids trick-or-treat with friends. Together, map out a safe route so you will know where they are going. Tell them to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.

Try to get your kids to trick-or-treat while it's still light out. If it's dark, make sure someone has a flashlight, add reflective tape to costumes and bags, and pick well-lighted streets.

Do not go inside anyone’s home. Remain on the porch at all times.

Do not accept rides from strangers and be sure children do not approach any vehicle, occupied or not.

Remind kids to keep a safe distance from moving cars.

Cross only at street corners, never between parked cars, and never diagonally across an intersection.

Look in all directions before crossing the street, and obey all traffic signals. Walk, never run, across the street, and use sidewalks, not the street, for walking.

Do not take shortcuts through back yards, alleys or parks.

Do not eat any treats until parents have inspected them.

Discard any homemade or unwrapped treats.

Teach children how to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Check all treats before eating

It's hard for kids to hold back from eating their treats until they get home. One way to keep trick-or-treaters from digging in while they're still out is to feed them a meal or a snack beforehand.

Check out all candy in a well-lighted place when your trick-or-treater gets home.

What to eat? Only unopened candies and other treats that are in original wrappers. Don't forget to inspect fruit and homemade goodies for anything suspicious. By all means remind kids not to eat everything at once or they'll be feeling pretty ghoulish for while! Halloween can be a lot of fun for parents and kids alike--if everybody remembers the tricks and treats of playing it safe.

COSTUMES etc: A note to parents:

Make sure your children’s costumes are not flammable.

Do not permit your children to wear cumbersome, floor length or vision-impairing costumes.

Reflectorized stripes make your costume more visible.

In lieu of masks, we recommend face make up.

Wear comfortable, safe shoes.

CALL 9-1-1 if you suspect any tainted candy.