d

www.prolighting.com

www.prolighting.com providing name brand residential lighting including  Juno lighting.

You might be wondering what the difference is between Caravan canopies and any other canopies available out there in the outdoor market.  Well, it's simple.  A Caravan canopy represents better quality, better value, better features, and a better understanding of exactly what outdoor enthusiasts want than any other shelter from any other manufacturer.

4th of July in Renton
Renton's Fabulous 4th of July presented by

Sunday, July 4, 2010
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park
1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N.
 Download Event Map for Coulon Park
Download Event Parking Map

Complete the July 4th Survey here


The City of Renton, and returning Title Sponsor "The Landing," invite you to celebrate Independence Day in Renton.  Enjoy free children's activities and face-painting from 12:00 - 8:00 p.m., stage entertainment from 1:30 - 9:30 p.m., and a professional fireworks display from a barge in Lake Washington at 10:00 p.m.

Average attendance at Gene Coulon has been 20,000 for Renton's 4th of July event, with many more viewing the beautiful night-time fireworks display from boats, canoes, kayaks, West Hill, Mercer Island, Newcastle, and Renton's Kennydale and Highlands.

Treat yourself to an espresso or italian soda from PerkStop.  Additional food will be available at the Beachside Concession Stand, Ivar’s and Kidd Valley. 

Recycle containers for plastic bottles and aluminum cans will be placed throughout the park.  Event attendees are encouraged to use these receptacles and join the City in "greening" Renton's large-scale events.

Be sure to visit the Event Information Booth, located just north of Kidd Valley, for summertime community event information.
Event Schedule4th of July boy on orbitron

7:00 a.m. - Coulon Park Opens
12:00-8:00 p.m .- Free Inflatables & Face-Painting for Kids
1:30pm-9:30 p.m .- Stage Entertainment sponsored by
Sanctuary & The Reserve Apartments
10:00 p.m. - Fireworks off the Shores of Coulon Beach Park
Stage Entertainment sponsored by
LakeWashingtonLife.com

(Entertainment Stage located in the grass amphitheatre on the north side of Kidd Valley and Ivars)
1:30pm - Renton City Concert Band
3:15pm - The Parrot Lady
4:30pm - Pan Duo, Steel Drum
6:00pm - Hettel Street Blues
7:15pm - Official Welcome & National Anthem
8:00pm - Oncore, R&B Dance Hits

The 22+ minute fireworks display, launched from a barge in Lake Washington at 10:00 p.m., will cater to spectators along the shoreline.  This spectacular fireworks show is also visible from the hills surrounding Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.

Event Parking

    * Parking is extremely limited at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.
    * ADA Pick-Up & Drop-Off ONLY will be available in the boat launch area. Please Note: attendees who are NOT picked up before 10:00pm will need to wait for pick-up until approximately 11:15pm when Lake Washington Blvd. has reopened.
    * Parking is not permitted along Lake Washington Blvd.
    * Street parking is available on Houser Way N., accessible from Lake Washington Blvd. and using the underpass going under Sunset Blvd.
    * Event parking will be available on the top two floors at the new parking garage at The Landing and in the lot of the former Joe's business location (adjacent to Ross Dress For Less) at 915 N. Landing Way.  Please note: parking will not be permitted in the other "surface lots" at The Landing, but at Joe's only.
    * Parking for a fee will be available at The Bristol Apartments at Southport along Lake Washington, located between Coulon Park and Boeing.
    * There is no shuttle service provided to offsite parking areas.
    * Vehicle access to Lake Washington Blvd. will be restricted beginning at 10:15 p.m. to facilitate safe exit of pedestrians and vehicular traffic from Gene Coulon Park.  Lake Washington Blvd. will reopen at approximately 11:00 p.m.

Download Event Map for Coulon Park

Download Event Parking Map

The following hours will be enforced at the Boat Launch:

    * 8:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m. - No launching of watercraft at the boat launch
    * Until 9:45 p.m. - Boat pickup is allowed
    * 9:45 p.m. -11:00 p.m. - No pickup of watercraft at the boat launch

Please note: Personal fireworks, alcohol, pets, pop-up canopies, enclosed tents, and table umbrellas are prohibited.  Small umbrellas and umbrella-chairs are allowed.  Only small-size barbeques will be permitted on July 4th.

Personal fireworks are prohibited within the City of Renton, including the park and the Police and Fire Departments will actively enforce the ban.  Violators can be fined between $100 and $500.

Email 4th of July Event Director

Or call 425-430-6600 for information.

Complete the July 4th Survey here
 

The City of Renton has been very fortunate to develop sponsor relationships with two community partners, The Landing, and Sanctuary & The Reserve Apartments.  The Landing is not only a supporting sponsor to the event, but made their commitment at the highest possible level - establishing a three-year Title Sponsor relationship.  Therefore, Renton's event will be "presented by The Landing" for 2009, 2010, and 2011.

The success of our Fabulous 4th of July at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton's largest one-day event, can be attributed to the ongoing support of our event sponsors.  Please join the City of Renton in thanking our sponsors by exploring their services and patronizing these Renton-based businesses.

The Landing is a 46-acre urban village development located just off the I-405 freeway in Renton’s South Lake Washington neighborhood. The project is part of an ambitious redevelopment of the South Lake Washington community and provides convenience, comfort and charm in an exciting outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment environment. Its unique blend of residential neighborhood, retail and entertainment districts serve local residents and the greater regional community.



Sanctuary & The Reserve Apartments
Enjoy urban-style living at Sanctuary and The Reserve Apartments, brand-new apartments ideally located at The Landing in Renton. The collection of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom designs at Sanctuary and The Reserve features sought-after luxuries as well as must-have conveniences: in-home washer/dryer, high nine-foot ceilings, kitchens equipped with G.E. appliances, and oversized, double-pane windows to take in lake views or the excitement and energy of the surrounding neighborhood. Imagine an evening with friends at the neighborhood wine bar or one of several dining options, then catching the late movie—all steps from your door and without parking hassles. From VIP concierge services and a pet friendly environment to spectacular social spaces including a WiFi café, fitness center, chic clubroom and an entertainment courtyard with pool, spa and BBQ area,  Sanctuary and The Reserve Apartments offer a one-of-a-kind living experience just minutes from Lake Washington’s shores in Renton. For more information, call 866.646.2217 or visit LakeWashingtonLife.com.

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs     Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      
February 2, 1978      
Release # 78-010
Commission Proposes Ban On Unvented Gas Space Heaters

WASHINGTON, DC (Feb. 2) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today proposed a ban of unvented gas space heaters fueled by natural or liquid petroleum (LP) gas. These products present an unreasonable risk of injury to consumers who use them all across America, according to CPSC.

These heaters have been implicated in the carbon monoxide poisoning or asphyxiation deaths of at least 60 people since 1973 from carbon monoxide gas, a by-product of burning fuel.

Heaters that would fall under the proposal are unvented, self-contained, free-standing or recessed gas appliances used to warm limited spaces. Included would be unvented circulators, radiant heaters with open fronts, and closed-front wall heaters.

Inexpensive, the unvented heaters are used by many elderly and low-income groups concentrated in the southern and southwestern United States where central heating systems are uneconomical because cold temperatures are not prevalent. Some 7-10 million of these products may be in use.

A medium-sized unvented gas space heater costs about $140 and generally is cheaper to operate than a vented heater.

The proposal would prohibit unvented gas heaters from being shipped into commerce by manufacturers 30 days after any final rule is issued.

While a ban would not prohibit individual use of the heaters, consumers who own them should be aware of the serious risks these devices may pose.

Because they do not have a vent to remove combustion wastes, the heaters in question depend on normal room ventilation to get rid of dangerous carbon monoxide gas. Inadequate ventilation or maladjusted burners, coupled with a normal reduction in room oxygen from burning fuel, can cause fatal levels of carbon monoxide gas to accumulate. Thus, poisoning or even death become a real possibility to an unsuspecting consumer.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning resemble those of the flu at first, with headache, dizziness, or nausea. Continued exposure to high levels can bring on collapse, unconsciousness, or death.

Many of those who died were asleep, which points up the dangerous nature of carbon monoxide. Since it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, there are no warning symptoms for sleeping persons.

CPSC warns anyone using an unvented gas space heater to keep the room well-ventilated, and at first sign of a headache, dizziness, or nausea to turn off the appliance and open a window or door to see if the symptoms subside.

Vented gas space heaters and electric heaters are expected to capture about 90 percent of the market created by people looking for substitute products, CPSC estimates.

Switching from a medium unvented gas space heater to a similar vented product would cost about $25-$36 extra a year to operate at current fuel prices, according to the Commission.

Nor should the ban pose great hardships on the heating industry says the Commission. Currently, there are only three manufacturers of the unvented products. These three also make vented heaters.

Exempted from the proposed ban are: infra-red heaters, catalytic and noncatalytic camp heaters because they are not usually used in homes, and decorative gas appliances such as coal baskets, fireplace inserts, and gas logs because they are usually used in vented fireplaces.

Interest in unvented heaters was aroused by a petition from the Missouri Public Interest Research Group, St. Louis, which asked for a mandatory safety standard and labeling rules for all space heaters. The Commission concluded, however, after careful consideration that only the unvented gas space heaters described present an unreasonable risk of injury to consumers.

The proposed ban will be published for public comment in a forthcoming issue of the Federal Register which will also announce a public meeting at which all interested persons may present their views. The public will also be requested to send their written views to the Commission by the end of March. Written views should be submitted to: Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.

The Use of Awnings
on Historic Buildings
Repair, Replacement & New Design

Awnings in the 20th Century
Scissor arm awnings have a pair of vertical, hinged arms on either side of the assembly supporting the front bar. To unfurl the awning, the roller is cranked and the arms extend outward pulling the cover away from the roller. Photo: NPS files.
Scissor arm awnings have a pair of vertical, hinged arms on either side of the assembly supporting the front bar. To unfurl the awning, the roller is cranked and the arms extend outward pulling the cover away from the roller. Photo: NPS files.

Awning development during the early twentieth century focused on improving operability. Variations in roller awnings addressed the need to provide an increasingly customized product that accomodated a wide range of storefront configurations and styles.

New folding-arm awnings appeared that operated either vertically or horizontally supplementing the fixed-arm awnings developed in the latter 19th century. Vertical folding arms were made up of smaller hinged arms that crossed like scissors. Operated by gravity the arms extended outward pulling the covering off the roller. Like a fixed-arm awning, the pitch of a scissors-type awning varied depending on whether it was fully or only partially extended.

Lateral-arm awnings were preferred on long elevations, especially those with sheet glass (where vertical arms could not be fastened to the building fa�ade). When lateral arm awnings were installed across a broad storefront or porch, manufacturers recommended spacing the arms at approximately eight foot intervals. Photo: NPS files.
Lateral-arm awnings were preferred on long elevations, especially those with sheet glass (where vertical arms could not be fastened to the building fa�ade). When lateral arm awnings were installed across a broad storefront or porch, manufacturers recommended spacing the arms at approximately eight foot intervals. Photo: NPS files.

Somewhat different was the "lateral arm awning" a horizontally operating awning that worked like a human elbow with the spring action in the arms pushing outward toward the street, unfurling the cover from the roller and maintaining tension. Lateral arm awnings featured a shallow drop that remained relatively constant regardless of how far the arms were extended Scissor arm awnings have a pair of vertical, hinged arms on either side of the assembly supporting the front bar. To unfurl the awning, the roller is cranked and the arms extend outward pulling the cover away from the roller. Operable awnings, whether fixed arm, scissors arm, or lateral arm, rapidly gained popularity as customers came to appreciate the flexibility, concealed appearance, and longer lifespan made possible by roller units.

New Coverings. Slower to change was the fabric used to cover awnings. Canvas duck remained the common awning fabric during the first half of the twentieth century. However, its tendency to stretch and fade, and its susceptability to mildew, and flammable materials like cigarettes and matches motivated the awning industry to search for alternatives. Shortly after World War II, a vinyl plastic coating that increased fade and water resistance was first applied to the canvas. By the 1960s, vinyl resins, acrylic fibers and polyester materials were all being used to provide a longer-lasting awning cover. Ironically, just when these innovations promised more durable awnings, the fabric awning industry felt the debilitating impact of changing architectural fashion, the widespread adoption of air conditioning, and the increasing availability of aluminum awnings.

Modernism dominated commercial architecture during the postwar era. The style's signature form-austere steel, glass, and concrete boxes-had little use for fabric awnings. Colorful awnings seemed old-fashioned, an unwanted distraction from the smooth lines of the machine aesthetic. The preference, instead, was for perforated structural screens or brises-soleil (French: "breaks the sun") that integrated shading functions with new building forms. It was assumed that new buildings had no need for awnings. Widely available for the first time, mechanical air conditioning threatened to make the awning an unnecessary vestige of an earlier era. Awning companies fought back with arguments that traditional shading systems could reduce the required size and investment in air conditioning systems. Though canvas awnings continued to be used on contemporary buildings, new types were often selected to do the job, aluminum and fiberglass awnings.

Widely available by the 1950s, aluminum awnings were touted as longer-lasting and lower-maintenance than traditional awnings. Though used on small-scale commercial structures, they were especially popular with homeowners. Aluminum awnings were made with slats called "pans" arranged horizontally or vertically. For variety and to match the building to which they were applied, different colored slats could be arranged to create stripes or other decorative patterns. While aluminum awnings were usually fixed, in the 1960s several operable roller awnings were developed, including one with the trade name Flexalum Roll-Up.
The years after World War II saw the widespread adoption of aluminum awnings on both storefronts and residences. Operable aluminum awnings incorporated a spring-loaded roller into the frontbar. Photo: NPS files.
The years after World War II saw the widespread adoption of aluminum awnings on both storefronts and residences. Operable aluminum awnings incorporated a spring-loaded roller into the frontbar. Photo: NPS files.

Also during this period, manufactured flat-metal canopies were an increasingly popular feature, used in new commercial construction and when remodeling existing storefronts. They were particularly common in the South where shading was critical to the comfort of both window shoppers and store interiors. Often made of aluminum, the canopies could stretch across a single facade, or be connected to extend along an entire block.

New Shapes. An increasing reliance upon fixed aluminum frames and plastic coverings, spurred the development of new awning shapes during the 1970s and 1980s. Often, the awning served as a business's primary sign. Mansard awnings, concave awnings, quarter-round awnings, and quarter-rounds with rounded dome ends appeared with increasing frequency. Most had vinyl or other plastic coverings that were touted as being more resilient than traditional materials. Featuring bold lettering and colors that were often emphasized by illuminating the awnings from within, these awnings were common on new commercial strips and were even popular inside enclosed shopping centers and food courts. They were also applied, less successfully, to older or historic buildings where their shape, size, and material bore little resemblance to traditional awnings.

Although the 1950s and 1960s saw the end of the canvas awning's ubiquity on Main Street, it remained a moderately popular feature of residential architecture. New materials and technologies such as lateral arm operators, acrylic fabric, and aluminum kept the awning relevant to the postwar ranch house and afforded an economical way to update older structures. Colorful awnings helped suburban dwellers distinguish their homes from other, similar, models in the neighborhood.

   

Preserving Family Treasures

The History Division of the San Bernardino County Museum will hold an archival workshop, “Preserving Family Treasures,” on Saturday, October 1 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The workshop is free with museum admission.

Have you ever wondered about the best way to store a special ceremonial flag, or how to preserve a wedding dress you have carefully kept as a family memento? What about all of those photo albums with the sticky pages – is that really a safe way to store treasured images of times gone by? This workshop will address these and other family collections care questions.

“The preservation of museum collections is a primary responsibility of museum curators,” said Curator of History Michele Nielsen. “Many of the issues we deal with in the museum are identical to challenges faced by individuals with collections of family heirlooms. In this workshop, we’ll explore the most practical and efficient ways to make sure your own family treasures last through generations.”

The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. Museum admission is $6 (adult), $5 (student or senior), and $4 (children 5 to 12). Children under 5 and Museum Association members are admitted free, and parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org or call (909) 307-2669 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.

The San Bernardino County Museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is (909) 307-2669 ext. 229 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.

CRATER LAKE
National Park Cultural Landscape Recommendations:
Park Headquarters at Munson Valley     NPS arrowhead logo

ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION

SMALL-SCALE ELEMENTS

SIGNS

A rustic sign program directed by Francis Lange using CCC labor, began in 1936 replacing many standardized metal signs in the park. A directional sign placed in the ellipse of the headquarters plaza near the road entrance was supported by cut, unpeeled cedar logs. Most probably, the sign was a large four-foot diameter circular slab of oil-impregnated pine with yellow-orange painted raised lettering on a brown background for increased visibility. Signs were designed to be dismantled and stored over winter to prevent cracking of the enamel lettering through wood expansion. Extant rustic wood signs on site are at the Lady of the Woods and the Warehouse. Rustic signs at Munson Valley gave way to routed wood signs painted brown with creme white lettering, as of Mission 66 (1956-1966) improvement programs. Today, few Mission 66 signs are extant with the exception of building and identification signs. Standard metal reflecting signs for traffic are common on site. Other sign types found on site include interpretive, identification of natural features, trails, directional and boundary.

Club-based  Projects:

Robotics & Machine Intelligence

    * All Robotics & Machine Intelligence Projects          
    * Wunderbot IV

Future Energies & Sustainable Technologies (Club Webpage)        

    * Solar Boat
    * Solar Cabin                        

Student Projects (1st - 3rd year )

1st-year Fall Community-based Projects  

    * 2009 Projects
      Adult Arbor for Masonic Village
      Bazaar Display Stand for McCaskey High School
      Child Arbor for Masonic Village
      Cubby Hole Project
      Elizabethtown Library DVD Shelf
      Frog Hopper
      Room Divider for S. June Smith Center
      Elizabethtown Park Bridge
    * 2008 Projects 
      Ball Maze
      Benches
      Bethesda Mission- Desk
      CATRA renovations
      Garden Cart
      Prop Cart
      Scooter Boards
    * 2007 Projects
      Moveable Table for a Shrink Wrap Tunnel
      Doll House for Child Care Center
      Lockable Playground Storage Benches
      Grape Arbor
      Steps to City Garden
    * 2006 Projects
      Building a Playhouse
      Connector Ramp
      Shelves for the YWCA
      Wheelchair Ramp
    * 2005 Projects
      Proximity Sensors for Powered Wheel Chair
      Wheelchair Ramp
      Nine Toyboxes for Milagro's House in Lancaster, PA
      Civil Engineering/Database Development
      Gazebo for Ronald McDonald House in Hershey
    * 2004 Projects
      Proximity Sensors for Powered Wheel Chair
      Wheelchair Ramp(Harrisburg)
      Ten Toyboxes for Brethren Transitional Housing(harrisburg)
      Civil Engineering/Traffic Light Project
      Green Powered Standalone Cabin Design Study
      Vertical Maze & Rail Rework
      Basement Access Addition
      Dollhouse Refurbish & Wining
      New Dollhouse Construction & Wining
      Jigs for Life Skills
    * 2003 Projects
      Jigs for Life Skills
      Wheelchair Ramp(Harrisburg)
      Dollhouse
      Wheelchair Ramp(Manor Township)
      Footbridge Handrail
      Wheelchair Ramp(Lancaster)
      Display for Hands-on-House
      Robot-Light Source Searcher

 

URNITURE (SIC F5021)

Establishments primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of furniture,
including bed springs, mattresses, and other household furniture; office
furniture; and furniture for public parks and buildings.  Establishments
primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of partitions, shelving,
lockers, and store fixtures are classified in Industry 5046.

SIC 5021 is subdivided in some tables into the following catagories -

1. Household and lawn furniture.

2. Office and business furniture.


HOUSEHOLD AND LAWN FURNITURE

Establishments primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of household
and lawn furniture, including bed springs, mattresses, and other household
furniture.


OFFICE AND BUSINESS FURNITURE

Establishments primarily engaged in the wholesale distribution of filing
cabinets (wood or steel), office furniture, store furniture, and public
furniture for parks and buildings.  Establishments primarily engaged in the
wholesale distribution of partitions, shelving, lockers, and store fixtures
are classified in Industry 5046.  Establishments primarily engaged in the
wholesale distribution of drafting tables are classified in Industry 5049

Fluorescent Ballasts
A fluorescent lamp ballast is an electrical device required for starting and operating a fluorescent lamp. The ballast provides the high voltage needed to start the lamps by initiating its discharge and then limits the current to a safe value when the discharge is established.

The original U.S. fluorescent ballast efficiency standards for ballasts operating several types of T12 lamps took effect in 1991. New standards that affect ballasts driving the same lamps require that ballasts used in luminaires (for new and renovated buildings) manufactured on or after April 1, 2005 must have efficiencies at levels as high as those of electronic ballasts. Such ballasts sold by ballast manufacturers on or after July 1, 2005 must meet the new efficiency levels. Ballasts incorporated into luminaires by luminaire manufacturers on or after April 1, 2006 must meet the standards. Ballasts used for replacement (existing buildings) have until June 30, 2010 to meet the new standards.

The EES Group conducted technical and economic analyses comparing three kinds of ballasts (magnetic, electronic, and cathode cutout) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). After several rounds of analysis and public workshops between 1994 and 1999, DOE assisted a stakeholder negotiation in October 1999. DOE published the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) and the Technical Support Document (TSD) in March 2000. These documents are available at DOE's fluorescent ballast website. The spreadsheet models used for the Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) and National Energy Savings (NES) models may also be downloaded from the website. DOE published the Final Rule in September 2000 on the same website. (Note: In the TSD, Appendix B contains documentation for the NES analysis and the Regulatory Impact Analysis, as well as model documentation, in addition to material on Marginal Prices.)

The ballast analysis considered a number of key issues in response to stakeholder comments and questions. (Final stakeholder comments and responses are found in the NOPR.) One of the key analysis issues was to determine the future trend of electronic ballast shipments relative to the total ballast market. EES collected data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Additionally, EES collected data from electric utilities on their demand-side management (DSM) programs for electronic ballasts. This was used as part of the analysis of impacts of non-regulatory programs (see Appendix B of the TSD). EES published an LBNL report on the impacts of DSM programs on the electronic ballast market from 1992 - 1997. Other important issues investigated by EES were whether those facilities that have already installed electronic ballasts are in locations with higher than average electricty prices or greater than average lighting hours.

The analysis estimated primary energy savings from the standards in the range of 1 to 5 quadrillion Btus.

Standards for Playground Use Zone Safety 
TO: Head Start and Early Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies

SUBJECT: Standards for Playground Use Zone Safety

INSTRUCTION:

The purpose of this Program Instruction is to address the Head Start Program Performance Standards requiring grantees and delegate agencies to provide for the maintenance, repair, safety, and security of facilities, materials, and equipment as well as to maintain playground surfaces that minimize the risk of injury to children.  The information clarifies program practices that presumptively comply with the Federal safety requirements at 45 CFR §§ 1304.53 (a)(7) and 1304.53 (a)(10)(x).
All Head Start grantees and delegate agencies are expected to comply with applicable State, Tribal, or local codes governing playground equipment and surfaces where children are present.  Public school or public playgrounds used by Head Start programs must comply with all safety requirements prescribed by applicable local laws.  In those cases where there is no applicable code, regulation, or requirement, in order to comply with 45 CFR §§1304.53 (a)(7) and 1304.53 (a)(10)(x), grantees and delegate agencies are expected to meet the minimum specifications described in the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Handbook for Public Playground Safety , (Chapter 4.5) as such describes the minimum requirements of various surfacing materials to avoid risk of injury to children.

We urge Head Start programs to take immediate action to comply with the standards for playground surfaces specified in the CPSC Handbook in those cases where there are not already local safety standards and to be mindful of potential liability for children’s injuries.  For those jurisdictions not already covered by State, Tribal, or local law, beginning in January 2008 we will monitor compliance against the minimum standards for playground surfaces specified in the Handbook for Public Playground Safety.

BACKGROUND:

Head Start program regulations at 45 CFR 1304.53 (a)(7) require Head Start grantees and delegates to “provide for the maintenance, repair, safety, and security of all Early Head Start and Head Start facilities, materials, and equipment” and 45 CFR 1304.53 (a)(10)(x) requires grantees and delegates to “select, layout, and maintain playground equipment and surfaces to minimize the risk of injury to children.” The Office of Head Start has long recognized the potential hazards associated with the use of playground equipment, especially injuries resulting from falls from such equipment.  Based on review of monitoring review reports, it appears there is significant variance among grantees related to the actions taken to avoid injuries to children associated with falls from playground equipment.

Playgrounds are an important part of children’s educational experience and should be safe and secure.  Unfortunately, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, annually more than 200, 000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries sustained from falls to the ground from playground equipment.  Because many children’s injuries are preventable through the proper use of protective surfacing under and around outdoor play equipment, the Office of Head Start believes an increased emphasis on the importance of protective surfacing is critical.

The CPSC has conducted studies and developed recommendations about standards for appropriate playground surfaces which will minimize child injuries.  The surface material beneath and around playground equipment (the “use zone”) can be a major factor underlying the injury potential of a fall.  Falls onto shock absorbing surfaces are less likely to cause serious injury than are falls onto hard surfaces.  In particular, head injuries from falls are potentially life threatening and the more shock absorbing a surface is, the greater likelihood the risk of severe injuries can be avoided.

You will note the CPSC Handbook (available on-line at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/325.pdf) identifies the required depth of various injury protecting surfaces in direct relation to the critical height of the playground equipment children use.  For example, a depth of 6 inches of uncompressed re-engineered wood chips should be maintained for use zones under any equipment from which a child could fall seven feet.  While the CPSC describes and provides for surface maintenance of all playground equipment for all children, equipment should be adapted for use by very young children in accordance with age appropriate use and safety.

The CPSC Handbook provides a safety inspection check list which we encourage grantees and delegate agencies to use on a regular basis.  While Head Start regulations at 45 CFR 1304.53 (a)(10) require grantees and delegates to conduct annual safety inspections, we encourage Head Start programs to make frequent regular inspections of playground areas to ensure that children are adequately supervised and prevented from leaving play areas, that equipment is in good repair, and that surfaces are clear of debris and protect children against injuries from scrapes or punctures.

Don’t Bother Me Mosquito!
Working in the garden and enjoying the outdoors has many rewards. However, outdoor activities may come with some negatives—mosquito bites. Personally, I seem to be a mosquito magnet. No, I’m not talking about those modern contraptions that claim they’ll eliminate mosquitoes. Quite the contrary—whenever I go outside the mosquitoes seem to feast on me. I’ve tried using some natural remedies such as eating garlic, using musk oil, but they haven’t been very effective in my case. I have used insect repellents safely, but they have not been able to keep those pesky mosquitoes away for long. I wonder if some people are more prone to mosquito bites than others. My father works in the garden all day—no bites—nada. I walk outside to get the newspaper and come back with a bite or two. Not fair.

In the meantime, there are things we can do to control mosquitoes around the home. First of all, remove their habitat (where they live and breed). What does this mean? Eliminate standing water from rain gutters, old tires, buckets, etc. When we think of stagnant water as a breeding ground, we normally think of the big puddles. We rarely think of the little cracks in the pavement that will collect water after the rain. Do you know that a mosquito can lay its eggs in just a teaspoon of standing water?

There are several steps you can take deter biting insects. Make sure your home window screens are repaired. Wear long sleeves and long pants whenever possible. Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. If necessary, use repellent safely.

When using insect repellents or any pesticide product, read the label first! Organic repellents have been successful measures for some people. One single action will not eliminate these pests from the face of the earth. Nonetheless, some of these tips may help you enjoy the outdoors more while protecting yourself and your family from mosquito bites. Have a nice summer.