safety tips

As you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can grow large very quickly. Many of the Christmas Trees in homes have now been there for a week or two, and precautions can be taken to prevent a fire that would ruin the holidays.

Beginning Monday, November 30, drivers will see changes to the flashing warning signals placed in advance of some traffic signals in Carson City and Douglas County, including Lake Tahoe, as the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) updates the warning signals.

As fall approaches, and we think about spending more time inside, devote just a little more time outside to get your yard cleaned up and prepared for winter.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) is reminding residents to make preparations now to be ready for fall wildfires and to save time and energy next spring.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With the arrival of winter, El Dorado County Animal Services is reminding residents to take precautions with their pets.
“Winter in our county regularly brings freezing temperatures, frigid wind, ice and snow,” said Henry Brzezinski, Chief of El Dorado County Animal Services. “These conditions can adversely affect animals in numerous ways, and even threaten a pet’s life. A few simple steps can ensure your pet’s safety.”

CAL FIRE firefighters are staffing up and preparing for the forecasted extreme fire weather across California. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings and fire weather watches for areas of northern, central and southern California. This will likely be the strongest offshore wind event so far this season.

Black Friday is just days away. As the excitement of the holiday shopping season builds, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office reminds residents to stay focused on personal safety. Here are some tips to keep in mind before heading out to the stores:

First and foremost, stay alert. Do not get so caught up in the shopping frenzy that you lose awareness of your surroundings. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement or store security.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - October 7-13, 2018 is National Fire Prevention Week, and the two local fire stations will be celebrating with each having an open house along with a Firefighter Halloween Costume Contest for K-3 graders on Saturday, October 13.

From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., take a tour of the stations, learn how to escape a fire in your home, learn about the water-safety vest loaner program and get information and giveaways.

Kids who come in a public safety/firefighter costume will be entered to win a future breakfast with the crew!

With lightning and thunderstorms in the Lake Tahoe forecast for another few days, it's always good to review safety tips when caught in the middle of a storm.

You can protect yourself from risk even if you are caught outdoors when lightning is close by.

Safety precautions outdoors

- If the weather forecast calls for thunderstorms, postpone your trip or activity.
- Remember: When thunder roars, go indoors. Find a safe, enclosed shelter.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Mark Estee, chef and restaurateur, capped off a 6-month series of Healthy Lifestyles programming and curriculum at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Nevada’s William N. Pennington Teen Center with a full menu of Local Mushroom Risotto, Panzanella Salad and Sabayon with Berries (recipes listed at the end of story).

The Nevada Highway Patrol will be joining other law enforcement agencies, looking for drivers and passengers who are not wearing their seatblets as well as children not properly secured in booster seats.

Deputies and troopers across the state will be stopping drivers for different traffic offenses and issuing citations for seatbelt violations through December 2, 2017 in their "Joining Forces" campaign to save lives. .

South Lake Tahoe, Calif. - With the collapse today of the roof at a local liquor store and the evacuation of another commercial area, the City of South Lake Tahoe is reaching out to the community with information on potential hazards with snow loads on roofs.

But what is the snow load for your roof?

The City of South Lake Tahoe’s Snow Removal crews have been working around the clock to clear snow on city roadways. The combination of the snow and rain mixture is casing roadways to flood. It is imperative to provide snow removal vehicles the right of way as they work to clear roadways as well as blocked drainage ways.

Follow these safety tips:
Do not drive through water that is too deep. “Turn around – don’t drown”

Do not try and cross the snow berm in the center lane. Wait until snow removal crews have cleared the center lane for crossing.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just days away. As the excitement of the holiday shopping season builds, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office offers some tips that will help everyone have a successful day, as long as they focus on personal safety.

Here are some tips to keep in mind before heading out to the stores:

First and foremost, stay alert. Do not get so caught up in the shopping frenzy that you lose awareness of your surroundings. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement or store security.

Dear Henry,
I’m new to the area and not sure about how to deal with the cold weather and my dog, do you have any tips for us?
Thank you,
Bethany

Purrfect timing for this question as it actually looks like we are going to get a winter this year! Here are some winter tips for all pets.

Keep your cats inside. During any time of the year, cats that are allowed to stray can become lost or stolen, injured or killed. They can also be exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

For the Halloween season, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue is reminding parents and children of some lifesaving hints when planning costumes and a special day of trick-or-treating.

When buying costumes for Halloween:

Check the labels and make sure they are made of flame retardant materials.

Materials made of 100% Polyester are best suited for a Halloween costume.

The use of commercial flame retardant sprays is not recommended.

Avoid Halloween costumes that are loose or baggy to prevent fabric from coming in contact with any open flames.

On Halloween:

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is urging backcountry hikers and backpackers to use extra care when visiting upper elevation areas of the Lake Tahoe Basin over the next several weeks as there is still significant snow above 8,000 feet in many locations. This past winter saw a return to normal snow-pack conditions and many backcountry trails are still covered with snow and ice leaving trails slippery and difficult to find. In addition, current warm temperatures have caused streams to flow higher and faster, which can make crossing difficult.

May is National Bike Safety Month, and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reminding motorists and bicyclists to share responsibility for roadway safety. California’s weather allows bicyclists to enjoy riding many months throughout the year. Although bicycle safety should be practiced every day, the month of May has been set aside to draw awareness to how we can all help minimize bicycle injuries and deaths.

At Barton Health, we strive to provide consistently exceptional care for our patients and their families. But what can someone do before a hospital visit is needed or after being released?

Here are some safety tips to help you and your loved ones stay safe, healthy, and out of harm’s way.

Focus on Balance
More than a third of adults over age 65 fall each year. Injuries from falls can lead to broken bones, bleeding, and even death.
What can you do?

Washoe County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a burglary suspect in Caughlin Ranch early this morning after the suspect attempted to elude deputies who were investigating a series of home and vehicle burglaries.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2015, deputies responded to the area of Longknife Road and Caughlin Parkway on a report of a vehicle burglary that had just occurred. Deputies canvassed the area and identified two burglarized vehicles. Deputies also discovered that the suspect had used garage door openers to enter and burglarize the residences.

Dear Henry,
I’m new to the area and not sure about how to deal with the cold weather and my dog, do you have any tips for us?
Thank you,
Bethany

Purrfect timing for this question as it actually looks like we are going to get a winter this year! Here are some winter tips for all pets.

Keep your cats inside. During any time of the year, cats that are allowed to stray can become lost or stolen, injured or killed. They can also be exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.

With fires already burning out of control in Alaska and Southern California, there is no time like the present to learn how to prevent fires.

The Wildfire Safety Expo was held Saturday in South Lake Tahoe, and kids and adults alike learned not only fire safety tips, but were able to interact with the multiple agencies in the area that fight and prevent fires.

Also on hand at the Expo were law enforcement, TRPA, the City of South Lake Tahoe and the Lake Tahoe Humane Society.

Area fire departments respond to fires every year that are caused by people leaving their fireplace or wood stove ashes in a paper bag on their home's deck. These accidents can easily be prevented with correct handling of ashes.

"Can Your Ashes" is a campaign that informs the public of these inherent dangers.

Embers, often concealed in what appears to be cold ashes, can remain hot enough to kindle a fire for several days.

To safely dispose of ashes, fire officials offer these tips:

• Never store ashes in bags or boxes.

As part of a nationwide effort to keep boating and boaters safe, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department's marine units will have stepped up enforcement on the lake Friday through Sunday.

Operation Dry Water is an annual nationwide effort to highlight the risks and dangers of operating boats under the influence. The stepped up enforcement raises awareness of operating boats under the influence of alcohol or drugs in advance of the Fourth of July holiday.

“The patient is our focus and that’s why we put the patient at the top of the pyramid,” said Dr. Clint Purvance. Today [March 5], Dr. Purvance, Barton Health’s Chief Medical Officer, as well as Barton employees and community members gathered to recognize Patient Safety Awareness Week at Barton Memorial Hospital. Dr. Purvance highlighted Barton’s “excellence in performance and commitment to patient safety.”