Evacuation List

Mother Nature has spared us here in the SCV today, but be prepared
in case you wake up to a smoke filled sky.  Here are some things you
can do to prepare yourself in the event of an evacuation.

• Determine what you will take with you and have it all centrally located. Make a list now when you are not rushed, so you don’t forget anything important.
• Have empty plastic tubs available so you can easily and quickly pack things up.
• Contact relatives out of state and let them know where you will be planning to go in the event you have to evacuate.
• Make a video of your home and all of your belongings.  Keep it in a safe place outside of your home.
• Back up any computers you have and keep the files in a secure spot.  You may only have room to take one computer during an evacuation.
• Know where you will go.  If you will have to go to a hotel, have a plan as to witch one and if they have room or get a list of local hotels so you can call them from the car.
• Make sure all of your cell phone batteries are charged.  You may need to be on the phone for a while trying to make arrangements and you’ll need your battery.
• If you have kids in school, know the evacuation plan.  Know where you will need to pick the kids up and what the procedure will be.
• Make sure your personal documents such as passports, birth certificates, home documents, etc are all secure and kept together so you can easily grab them.
• Have a plan for your animals.  Contact local shelters and ask if they have a waiting list or what they will make available in the event of an evacuation.
• Clean out your car.  Make room so you can just pack up your car quickly without having to un-pack it first.  Make sure your trunk is empty and have an idea of
  how much room you actually have so you know what you’ll be able to take.

These are just a few things that I went through last year when we
had to evacuate.  If you can think of any other advice, please add it
to the comments.

COC Hosts College Day

In it’s 5th year hosting College Day, COC is geared up and ready for what they hope will not only be a successful event, but beneficial to SCV teens.  On Saturday, October 11th from 9am to 1pm college representatives will be at the COC Valencia campus waiting to meet and great Santa Clarita high school students and give them information about their college. 

The day is scheduled with workshops and presentations as well as a mall like atmosphere for teens to walk around and gather information about colleges they are interested in.

Admission is free and the workshops they have tentatively scheduled include SAT & ACT test secrets, college bound student athlete, admissions essays, recommendations and interviews and more.

For more information you can go to the COC website.

Santa Clarita High School Graduations

I had the pleasure of attending the Valencia High School graduation last night at COC. 

The stadium was packed on both sides and the ceremony was perfect.  Not too long and the weather could not have been better.  Congrats to all the 2008 graduates! (Go Nicole!!)

Here is a list of the remaining schools graduation schedules: ( I can only assume they will all be at COC, but you’d better check)

• West Ranch High - Friday 5/30
• Golden Valley High - Monday 6/2
• Canyon High - Tuesday 6/3
• Bowman/Hart High - Wednesday 6/4 (Also Rio Norte at VHS - Go Budda!)
• Saugus High - Thursday 6/5

Free Children ID Kits

Free children ID kits will be given out at the Newhall Community Center from now through 5/31/2008.  These kits provide tools for parents to be prepared in the event the unthinkable happens and your child is missing. SCV’s Mothers Against Sexual Predators have put this together to focus on National Missing Children’s Day which is May 25th.

These kits usually include things like a place to keep a current photo, a fingerprinting kit, a place for you to document birth marks, etc.  If you are in a frantic state, you may not be able to remember all of this, so having it documented is a good idea.

If you can’t make it to the Newhall Community Center, you can also order these kits online for about $10 or so.

Keeping Kids Safe in the Heat

Over the past few days the temperatures in the SCV have gone through the roof and quick. We didn’t really ramp up to it, it just got 20 degrees hotter from one day to the next. The news has brought tragic reports of children that have drowned and almost drowned over the weekend. With this in mind I hope we all take some time to prepare for the summer and plan ahead on safety and summer activities.

Sadly, every year over 250 children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools and another 2,600 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year following submersion incidents. Some of these submersions result in permanent brain damage.

The reality is that kids like to swim and and is a fun and healthy activity.  In addition, teaching your kids to swim at a young age can benefit them as teens and adults.  Not to mention that when you live in what was once a desert, swimming is a way of life during the summer, so let’s take a few moments and remind ourselves and others of some safety tips that may save a child.

Swimming Pool Safety

Here are some suggestions I found that I hope will help increase awareness throughout the summer.

• If a child is missing, always look in the pool first!
• While at a pool have your child wear a safety device at all times.  You can find these at Target or Walmart (even some markets) and they are well worth it.
• Just because a child knows how to swim doesn’t mean they can’t drown in a pool. Always keep your eye on them while they are swimming.
• If your child has long hair, remember that a pool drain can entrap a child.  Long hair can easily be sucked into the drain and put a child in danger.  Consider a bun, pinning the hair back with a clip or a swimmer’s cap, most public pools require them anyway. This is the same for a limb if the drain cover is broken. If you are swimming at a public pool, know where the safety equipment is and have a cell phone with you.
• Do not use pools or spas with a missing or broken drain cover, the risk of entrapment increases with broken drains.
• Know where the circuit breaker breaker switch is for the pool/spa. The CPSC recommends that if your child is trapped by the suction cut off the power immediately instead of trying to pull your child from the suction, slip your hand in to break the seal. Tip: Find the circuit at your house and label it POOL/SPA so you or anyone else doesn’t have to waste time trying to find it. Consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) , a device that will automatically shut off a pump if a blockage is detected.
• Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution. Underwater pool alarms generally perform better and can be used in conjunction with pool covers.
• Empty homes in your neighborhood may have a pool that is a risk to your child.  Even an empty pool can be dangerous.  Not sure ifa house has a pool or not?  Use Google maps to check your neighborhood.  You can see everyone’s back yard. If there is a gate, ask the owner, real estate agent or bank if they could put a lock on the gate.  Especially if the gate opens into the backyard.  An unlatched gate can easily be pushed open by a toddler.  

Swimming pools aren’t the only danger factor facing the kids in the heat. So many kids will be playing sports this summer and as we all know, the games do go on even if it hits 110. There are obvious things that we all know and tell our kids, but there are some extra things that we can do to be more proactive.

Being Safe in the Heat

Here’s a few suggestions for keeping the kids cooler in the hot summer ahead:

• If you or your kids are playing sports this summer you will probably be packing plenty of ice water. Consider bringing a big ziplock bag and put a couple of small cloth towels with ice and some water. During breaks the kids can get these wet and put them on the back of their necks or on the top of their heads to cool down.
  Remember to hydrate the day before you plan on being active in the sun.  Drinking plenty of water the day before a planned outdoor event, games, tournaments, etc. can help keep you and your kids hydrated while out in the heat.
• Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Remember that it must be applied at least a half an hour before you go outside and re-applied every 2-3 hours.Try using a spray on for areas that are hard to get to. We’ve all had that (oh I missed a spot) burn line on our shoulders or on your back. I’ve heard that anything over 15 spf is a marketing tactic and that all you really need is 15. I use the highest I can get anyway. Weather or not it works any more than the 15.
• Sunglasses. We use sunglasses, why not get some for your little ones? Eyes are in danger of getting sun damage as well as our skin. Kids as young as one can begin wearing sunglasses. If you get them into this habit at a young age, it’ll be easier to get them to wear them when they get older.
• Hats or Visors. If you are out in the heat of the summer all day, you will more than likely be looking for some shade in the form of a tree or even a hat. Bring along a hat for your little one to wear because more than likely, they will still want to be out playing in the sun. Try dipping the hat in some ice water then putting it on their head. It’s a great way to cool down quick and lots of kids really like it. Tip: Try finding a hat that has some material hanging down around the sided or back.
• Neck Coolers are fantastic and reusable.  You can usually get enough uses out of one to last a month or so depending on how well you take care of it.
• Umbrellas. You can pick up a big beach umbrella and pack it with you wherever you are going. If you get some small bungee cords, it’s easy to tie the umbrella to the back of your chair or cooler.

Additional Resources
Consumer Product Safety Alert
Consumer Product Safety Commission : Backyard Pool
Consumer Product Safety Commission: Pool Spa Entrapment Injuries
Baby and Toddler Swimming Safety Tips

Young Parkinsons Project

If you or anyone you know is living with Parkinson’s disease there is a support group in Santa Clarita that may be of help to you.

The Young Parkinsons Project meets on the 1st Monday of the month, from 6:00 to 8:00pm, in the Foundation Room at Henry Mayo Hospital.

For further information call 661 222-7527, or email JPMaggio@YoungParkinsonsProject.com.

Taking Out Your Wisdom Teeth

This is not something anyone looks forward to.  On Monday I took my daughter to get all four of her’s removed because they were impacted.  Impacted is a bad word when it comes to wisdom teeth.

At any rate, I didn’t really know who to take her to and I had to call Blue Shield and get a list of providers.  I chose David Baker, D.D.S.  Honestly, the reason I chose him initially was I liked his name.  That was it.  I mean I had a list of about 8 oral surgeons and for whatever reason David Baker sounded like he’d be nice.

So I called and spoke with Virginia there who was so very helpful and made me feel at ease. 

So we went for the initial consultation to the office which is located on Cinema Drive in the brand new medical building where the movie theater used to be. For starters, the office is beautiful.  

We met with Dr. Baker and he made my daughter feel comfortable right away by telling her what was going to happen without going into too much detail (thankfully).

So the day came.  Last Monday we went and the whole thing took about 1 hour.  I left there with the meds for her in a bag which was great because then I didn’t have to deal with going to a pharmacy.  Her recovery is going just as he said.  She feels fine today, just a little swollen.

So if you are in the same boat as I was.  Not knowing who to call.  Give Dr. Baker a try.

His office is located at 23501 Cinema Drive Suite 111 661-799-0700.