Area Briefing, Nov. 26-Dec. 2

UNLV REPORT: CHILD FATALITIES DECLINE OVER FIVE YEARS

The number of child fatalities in Clark County has declined from 311 in 2008 to 222 in 2012, according to an annual report recently released from the Nevada Institute for Children’s Research and Policy at UNLV.

The report encompassed 222 child deaths in Clark County during 2012, with cases ranging in age from birth to 17 years. The cases included natural deaths, accidents, homicides, suicides and undetermined causes.

Analyzing the information helps focus injury prevention programs and decrease child deaths in Clark County, the institute said.

Among the report’s findings:

— Motor vehicle deaths increased from 10 cases in 2011 to 19 in 2012.

— Suffocation and strangulation deaths increased from 15 cases in 2011 to 23 in 2012.

— Poisoning and overdose cases increased from nine cases in 2011 to 16 in 2012.

— Suicides decreased from 16 cases in 2011 to five in 2012.

— Deaths caused by weapons decreased from 30 cases in 2011 to seven in 2012.

— Homicides decreased from 19 cases in 2011 to eight in 2012.

The report also includes recommendations to help decrease child deaths. The findings can be accessed at tinyurl.com/2012childfatalities.

COLLECTION SITE TO ACCEPT USED COOKING OIL FOR RECYCLING

The Clark County Water Reclamation District has announced the return of its holiday cooking oil recycling program.

The Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., plans to collect the used cooking oil from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 and Dec. 26 through Jan. 15 in the south ticketing parking lot.

Residents should use a funnel to pour the used oil back into the original container before bringing it to the Springs Preserve. Funnels are set to be available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Clark County Water Reclamation District, 5857 E. Flamingo Road.

Smaller amounts of used cooking oil should be put into a can and disposed of in the garbage. The website paininthedrain.com explains how to can used cooking oil.

Used cooking oil gets recycled into biofuel, used for fueling trucks, buses and other vehicles. More than 3,500 pounds of used oil was collected last year, officials said.

The program is a component of the Don’t be a Pain in the Drain outreach campaign, aimed at decreasing the amount of sewer blockages and overflows caused by fat, oil, grease and grit disposed of in drains by customers.

FIRE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES LOCAL HEROES

The Clark County Fire Department celebrated its 60th anniversary Nov. 18 at Fire Station 18, 575 E. Flamingo Road, to honor firefighters and community partners whose actions over the last year deserved special recognition.

Award categories included Meritorious Service, Lifesaving, Community Service, Citizen Heroism, Citizen Community Service and Special Unit Citations.

For more information, visit clarkcountynv.gov.

PHONE APP AVAILABLE FOR CPR-TRAINED RESIDENTS

Residents trained in compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation can use a smartphone app called Pulse Point to alert them when someone has suffered a cardiac arrest within 200 yards of their location.

Members of Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285 and the Southern Nevada Red Cross have been volunteering to teach hundreds of Las Vegans how to perform compression-only CPR. About 1,000 people will have received the training by the end of year, said Scott Johnson, president of Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285.

Most cardiac arrest victims who survive are given CPR by a bystander before paramedics arrive, according to the American Red Cross. The national average for surviving cardiac arrest hovers at roughly 5 percent, fire officials said. However, nearly 30 percent of cardiac arrest victims treated by Las Vegas firefighters survive due to the public CPR training, officials said.

For more information, visit iafflocal1285.org.

SAFETY TIPS FOCUS ON HOLIDAY COOKING

Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1285 recently shared safety tips for residents’ Thanksgiving cooking.

— Don’t wear loose-fitting or dangling clothing while cooking, and never leave cooking food unattended.

— Ensure that smoke detectors are installed and working. Batteries should be replaced at least once a year.

— Keep children at least 3 feet away from the oven.

— Have a fire extinguisher on hand.

— Clean cooking surfaces regularly to avoid grease buildup.

— If deep-frying a turkey, ensure that the turkey is fully thawed beforehand, and do not overfill the fryer.

— Make sure your turkey fryer has thermostat controls to prevent the oil from overheating. Deep fryers have the potential to overheat oil to the point of combustion.

— Never use a turkey fryer on wooden decks, under a patio cover, in a garage or in any other enclosed space.

For more information, visit iafflocal1285.org.

POLICE WELCOME 15 CORRECTIONS OFFICERS

Fifteen corrections recruits graduated from academy training, the Metropolitan Police Department announced.

A graduation ceremony for the class took place Nov. 7 at Cashman Center, 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North, where the recruits took their oath of office.

CITY OF LAS VEGAS EXPANDS HOURS AT PARKING SERVICES OFFICE

The city of Las Vegas parking services office inside Las Vegas City Hall’s parking garage at 500 S. Main St. has expanded its hours to include Fridays and Saturdays.

The office, which handles parking citations, appeals and permitting, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, visit lasvegasnevada.gov/parking or call 702-229-4700.

NEVADA PARTNERSHIP FOR HOMELESS YOUTH’S PLASTIC FOOD DRIVE ENDS NOV. 26

The Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, a nonprofit dedicated to providing assistance and resources for homeless teenagers in Southern Nevada, is scheduled to host its seventh annual Plastic Food Drive through Nov. 26.

Fast-food and grocery store gift card vouchers may be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the William Fry Drop-In Center, 4981 Shirley St.

For more information, visit nphy.org or call 702-383-1332.

SCAMMERS USE PROMISE OF PRIZE TO DEFRAUD VICTIMS

The Metropolitan Police Department recently warned residents that scammers are using promises of a large prize to defraud victims.

Scammers posing as officers call residents to report substantial lottery winnings that require a small sum of money to ensure delivery, police said. After receiving payment, the scammers then request subsequent sums of money, according to police.

Anyone who receives suspicious communications from individuals claiming to represent the Metropolitan Police Department should report the incident to police.

POLICE EARN SAFETY AWARD FOR VEHICULAR PURSUIT PRACTICES

PursuitSAFETY presented its 2013 Safer Way Award to the Metropolitan Police Department on Oct. 22 during the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Philadelphia.

PursuitSAFETY is a nonprofit civilian organization working to reduce deaths of innocent bystanders and police officers resulting from the violent crashes that can occur when drivers flee police. The organization also provides support to bereaved families and injured victims of vehicular police pursuits.

The organization annually honors a law enforcement department that has made significant, well-designed revisions to its vehicular pursuit practice and policy, increasing safety for police and the public.

The Metropolitan Police Department is one of a growing number of law enforcement agencies around the country that have implemented restrictive pursuit policies, according to PursuitSAFETY.

For more information, visit pursuitsafety.org.

VOLUNTEERS RENOVATE FREEDOM HOUSE SOBER LIVING

A group of Shield of HOPE volunteers recently helped renovate the 56-unit Freedom House Sober Living, 3852 Palos Verdes St.

Shield of HOPE, a faith-based outreach program of the Metropolitan Police Department’s South Central Area Command, is a chapter of the national Shield of HOPE program for law enforcement, and HOPE stands for healing, outreach, prevention and enforcement.

Since 2010, Freedom House has helped its residents stay sober. The recent renovations represented the second phase of the overhaul. Volunteers from Home Depot and Veterans Village Las Vegas pitched in for the first phase. The second phase included painting, cleaning, decorating and landscaping.

INFANT AND CHILD CPR CLASSES PLANNED AT UMC

University Medical Center plans an infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation class at 9 a.m. Dec. 14 at the Family Resource Center, 1120 Shadow Lane.

The class requires a refundable $10 deposit.

For more information or to register, call 702-383-2229.