Area briefing

GIFT BASKETS AIM TO HELP NEW MOMS KEEP KIDS SAFE

New mothers in Sunrise Children's Hospital's maternal/infant unit recently received gift baskets filled with safety items and information courtesy of Safe Kids Clark County.

The goal of the baskets, distributed May 13, was to provide parents with pediatric injury prevention information and other safety-minded gifts, such as smoke detectors, safety locks, a coupon for a free car seat safety check and more.

For more information, visit safekidsclarkcounty.org or call 731-8666.

FLOAT LIKE A DUCK TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT WATER SAFETY SATURDAY AT YMCA POOL

Paragon Pools plans to host its ninth annual Float Like a Duck water safety event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Bill & Lillie Heinrich YMCA, 4141 Meadows Lane.

The event, free and open to the public, aims to teach children and parents the importance of water safety and is set to feature various activities and exhibits.

For more information, call 877-9622 or visit tinyurl.com/floatlikeaduck.

THE SHADE TREE RECEIVES $35,000 GRANT

The Shade Tree recently received a $35,000 grant from the Starbucks community program Vote. Give. Grow.

The Shade Tree, a nonprofit organization based at 1 W. Owens Ave., North Las Vegas, shelters women, children and their pets affected by domestic violence.

The sum was the largest Vote. Give. Grow. grant awarded in Nevada. The funds will be used to provide nutritious meals and snacks to residents of the 364-bed shelter.

For more information, visit theshadetree.org or call 385-0072.

ARSON AWARENESS WEEK AIMS TO PREVENT KIDS FROM STARTING FIRES

Clark County Fire Department investigators and fire prevention inspectors recently visited the Bright Child Learning Center, 1567 N. Nellis Blvd., to teach the preschool children about the dangers of playing with lighters and matches.

Clark County Fire Department investigators conducted 464 fire investigations in 2011. Thirty-eight of those fires were started by kids and teens younger than 18 and caused two injuries and $65,000 in property damage, fire officials said.

Forty percent of the juvenile-related fires last year in the county were started by children ages 7 or younger; 36 percent by children 8 to 13; and 24 percent by children 14-18.

The fire department's May 8 visit to the Bright Child Learning Center took place in recognition of National Arson Awareness Week, May 6-12. The week's theme dealt with preventing youths from setting fires.

The county fire department's fire safety house, a trailer used to teach children about fire safety and how to get out of their homes in case of fire, was displayed during the visit. The children participated in presentations and practiced how to escape from fires during simulated smoke demonstrations inside the trailer.

The department offers tips to community members for preventing youths from setting fires:

-- Teach your children that fire is a tool, not a toy.

-- Keep matches and lighters out of reach in high, locked cabinets.

-- Use child-resistant lighters, but remember that they are not child-proof.

-- Instruct children to inform an adult if they find matches and lighters, and praise positive behavior.

Parents who have concerns about their kids can call the county fire department's investigations division at 732-7949. The department's general telephone number is 455-7311.

Safe-house demonstrations are available to community groups, depending on available department resources.

To request fire department involvement at an event, visit the department's services Web page at tinyurl.com/6r8keud and fill out an online community event request form.

GIRL SCOUTS TO HONOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE DURING CEREMONY

In remembrance of victims of violence, Girl Scout Troop 417 invites the community to a tree dedication ceremony planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2 at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road.

The troop chose the theme Don't Forget Us to raise awareness about violence and honor 15-year-old Centennial Hills resident Alyssa Otremba, who was beaten to death in September 2011.

Participants will have an opportunity to sign river rocks and visit a flower bed dedicated to all victims of violence.

Parking is free at the event, which also will serve as a Silver Award project for three troop members.

For more information, call 370-7530.

CPR CLASS PLANNED WEDNESDAY AT CENTENNIAL HILLS ACTIVE ADULT CENTER

A compression-only CPR and automated external defibrillator training session is planned for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue is set to host the event, which is free and open to the public. Participants do not receive certification following completion of the session.

For more information, call 229-1702.

MEDIAN IMPROVEMENTS TO CAUSE LANE RESTRICTIONS ON ANN ROAD, VEGAS DRIVE

Lane restrictions are scheduled to be in effect on Ann Road between Tenaya Way and Decatur Boulevard and on Vegas Drive between Rancho Drive and Martin Luther King Boulevard due to median island improvements, according to the city of Las Vegas.

The Ann Road restrictions are set through June 1. The eastbound inside lane is scheduled for closure from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the westbound inside lane is set to close from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closures are set to occur Mondays through Thursdays, with some occasional closures Fridays and the weekends.

Twelve median islands are scheduled to be improved, with an estimated project cost of $80,000.

The Vegas Drive lane restrictions are set through June 8. Inside lanes in east and west directions are set to be closed from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with closures occurring Tuesdays through Fridays and some on Mondays and weekends, the city said.

Eighteen median islands are scheduled to be improved, with an estimated project cost of $90,000.

The median island improvements for both projects will consist of decorative rock and boulder placement and the installation of metal sculptures of desert flora and fauna. The project is aimed at providing aesthetic improvements to the corridor with lower construction and maintenance costs and no need for irrigation water.

The city of Las Vegas' department of operations and maintenance is conducting the improvements, and the metal sculptures will be a mix of items procured from a private vendor, along with items constructed by city employees skilled in metal-work fabrication.

AGENCY SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ELECTRICITY'S POTENTIAL DANGERS

The National Fire Protection Association reminds the public to be aware of the risks of electricity.

To mark National Electrical Safety Month, observed in May, the association provided safety tips and information to help residents reduce the risk of home electrical fires:

-- Replace damaged or loose electrical cords.

-- Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.

-- Make sure homes with small children have tamper-resistant receptacles.

-- Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician to avoid using extension cords.

-- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.

-- Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.

-- If outlets or switches feel warm or if there are frequent problems with blowing fuses, tripping circuits or flickering or dimming lights, call a qualified electrician.

-- Place lamps on level surfaces, away from objects that can burn, and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage.

-- Make sure your home has ground fault circuit interrupters in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry, basement and outdoor areas.

-- Arc-fault circuit interrupters should be installed in your home to protect electrical outlets.

-- When you are buying, selling or remodeling a home, have it inspected by a qualified electrician.

Electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in an estimated 46,500 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments in 2010, accounting for 13 percent of reported home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. These fires resulted in 420 deaths, 1,520 injuries and $1.5 billion in direct property damage, according to the association's Home Electrical Fires Report.

Any type of equipment that uses electrical power can have an electrical failure or malfunction. In 2005-09, nearly half of the fires started annually by electrical failures or malfunctions involved some type of electrical distribution or lighting equipment, such as wiring, outlets, extension cords and fuse or circuit breakers, according to the report.

For more information, visit nfpa.org.

LIDS ON KIDS PROGRAM EARNS NATIONAL SAFETY AWARD

The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort recently won a National Ski Area Safety award for its Lids on Kids program.

The award, bestowed by the National Ski Areas Association, recognized the monthlong helmet safety campaign at the resort.

The resort partnered with Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center to provide 318 local children with free helmets. Since implementing the program, the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort has provided more than 1,000 area youths with free helmets.

The resort plans to continue with the Lids on Kids program during the 2012-13 season.

For more information, visit skilasvegas.com or call 385-2754.

PERMIT AMNESTY PROGRAM AIMED AT HELPING HOMEOWNERS

The city of Las Vegas is offering a homeowner permit amnesty program during Building Safety Month in May.

Any homeowners who have done unauthorized work on their properties can pull the proper permits without incurring any additional penalties or double fees, the city said.

Garage conversions, patio cover installations, water heaters or water softeners or other remodeling work requires a city permit.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 229-6011.