Staff Report      Oct 26 2009

 

 

Halloween 2009

Safe and Accident-free Fun

 

This year it's important to do what you can to be safe during the Halloween festivities. Chilliwack has a fireworks ban in place however some fireworks are available in limited quantities on assorted Native Band lands.

 

Fireworks Safety

The city's regulations for fireworks are: It is illegal for any person to sell or set off fireworks and firecrackers in the City of Chilliwack. You can apply for a permit at City Hall.

Prohibited fireworks include all fireworks, except sparklers and Christmas crackers. Bylaw offences under Bylaw No. 3246 include:

    * No person may sell, offer for sale or otherwise dispose of

      consumer fireworks or firecrackers to any person. The fine

      for this infraction is $1,000.

    * No person may fire, set off or explode consumer fireworks or

      firecrackers. The fine for this infraction is $500.

 

The RCMP, Fire Department and Bylaw Enforcement Officers will be rigorously enforcing this Bylaw. Violators of Bylaw No. 3246 will be issued a ticket. RCMP Officers will also confiscate any fireworks found.

For more information, contact City of Chilliwack Bylaw Department @ 604-793-2908 or Chilliwack Fire Department @ 604-792-8713 or visit their website:

http://www.chilliwack.com/main/page.cfm?id=12

 

Food Safety

Always check your kids candy before they eat it. Take it inside under light and inspect each and every item.

 

A few tips to keep in mind before children start indulging in the goodies:
    * Discard homemade candy or baked goods.
    * Remove choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard

      candies or small toys when young children are involved.
    * Wash thoroughly fresh fruit, inspect for holes, including

      small punctures, and cut, before allowing children to eat it.

    * Remember, when in doubt, throw it out!
    * Check commercially wrapped treats for any signs of

      tampering, such as an unusual appearance or

      discolouration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Anything

      that looks suspicious should be thrown out.

 

Some Halloween treats may contain ingredients that can cause severe adverse reactions in individuals who have allergies or sensitivities. These treats often include ingredients like peanuts, tree nuts, milk and egg—some of the most common food allergens.

 

Watch for choking hazards like "Konjac" jelly in the candy haul!

 

Trick or Treating

Adult supervision. Children who are not accompanied by an adult are vulnerable to injury, bullying by older children or predators.
Children running across the street and off the sidewalks risk a collision with a motor vehicle.

 

Choose costumes that are loose enough to be worn over warm clothing, but not baggy enough that children trip over them.

Pick brightly coloured costumes that can be clearly seen by motorists. Add reflective tape to the costume to increase visibility. Use make-up or face paint rather than masks. If you do choose a mask, make sure it allows your child to see and breathe properly.

 

For more safet tips: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/life-vie/halloween-eng.php

 

 

                                               November 1 2009

 

 

Staff Report

 

Daylight Savings Safety Tips

 

Twice a year, when Daylight Saving Time begins or ends, make it a habit to not only change your clocks, but do a few other semi-annual tasks that will improve safety in your home...

Do these things every 6 months when you reset your clocks:
Check and replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. Replace any smoke alarms older than ten years. Replace any CO alarms older than five years.

Prepare a disaster supply kit for your house (water, food, flashlights, batteries, blankets).

Once you've created your home disaster kit, use the semi-annual time change to check its contents (including testing/replacing flashlight batteries).

A COLD winter is coming! Make a "winter car-emergency kit" now and put your vehicle! (Don't know what to include? Do an Internet search for "car emergency kit" and you'll find lots of ideas!)

It's a good idea to carry a car-emergency kit in your car year-round, but be sure to add cold-weather gear to your general car-emergency kit each fall. (Having a separate duffle/gear bag clearly marked "Cold Gear" specifically for your cold weather emergency gear makes it easy to add or take out of the car, seasonally.) Like a Boy Scout, "Be Prepared!"

In cold weather, even a very minor car problem or flat tire can be deadly serious, or at the very least, miserable to deal with, unless you're well prepared.

Check home and outbuilding storage areas for hazardous materials. Discard (properly, please) any which are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Move any which are within reach of kids or pets.

Check and discard expired medications - those dates really DO have meaning - some very common over-the-counter medications can cause serious problems due to change through aging.

 

Remember to check the AGE of your detectors!

On November 2nd, 2007, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), press release #08-062, suggests not only to check/change batteries in alarms, but also check the age of the alarms and replace older alarms. The CPSC suggests that consumers replace smoke alarms every ten years and  replace carbon monoxide (CO) alarms every five years.

Sensors in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms degrade and lose effectiveness over time through environmental contamination and age.

 

                                          Staff Report      Oct 1 2009

 

 

Domestic Violence

Light a purple light for those who have died from abuse

 

The message is simple; the problem is complex. Help light up the night with your own purple light and send the message that “Domestic Violence has NO PLACE in our Community”. This October, the Communities of Chilliwack, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Spring, Hope and Boston Bar want to help create awareness about a very serious problem that affects all of our communities far to often. Domestic violence impacts everyone young and old.

 

Your light will help remember victims who have lost their lives to domestic violence. Support those who have survived domestic violence and help give hope to those still living with abuse.

To kick off this event locally a tree lighting ceremony has been planned for Friday October 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The tree lighting will take place at Chilliwack City Hall and the community is invited to attend and show their support.

 

City of Chilliwack Councillor Diane Janzen, Chilliwack RCMP Inspector Grant Wilson, and representatives from Specialized Victim Services, Chilliwack Community Services, Chilliwack Addiction & Prevention Services (CAPS), Xolhemet Transition House, Ann Davis Transition Society, Agassiz RCMP Victim Services, Hope and Area Transition Society and many other are involved in this campaign and look forward to your support on Friday night and through the month of October to help light up the night.

 

Let a purple light shine from October 1st to October 31st and help the fight against domestic violence in your community.

Purple light bulbs will be available Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 by donation at:

 

Logan's Home Hardware: 45929 Wellington Avenue, Chilliwack BC

Mary's Uniforms & Fashions: 45934 Wellington Avenue, Chilliwack BC

 

Businesses and store fronts throughout the Upper Fraser Valley are encouraged to hang a string of purple lights in their windows for the month of October. Help shed light on an often silent problem that affects our whole community.

 

Strings of Purple Lights - available for purchase at Home Hardware and other stores.

 

For more information on how to get involved in your community please contact: www.purplelightnights.org

 

Chilliwack: Beverly Coles, Chilliwack Community Services and Specialized Victim Services, at 604-793-7211

 

Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs: Darlene Wahlstrom, Agassiz RCMP Victim Services at 604-796-2211

 

Hope: Heather Garfield, Hope and Area Transition Society at 604-869-1829.

 

Hope/Boston Bar: Marianne Brueckert, Hope/Boston Bar RCMP Victim Services at 604-869-7770

 

from RCMP files

                                                          December 12 2009

 

 

Courtesy of  the BC RCMP

 

 

Seasonal Safety

Keep your family secure over the holidays

 

Holiday Safety

 

                                                          December 28 2009

 

 

 

 

Cellphones and Driving

Ban starts in new year
Staff report with notes from BC RCMP files
 

On January 1, 2010 a new law banning cellphone use while operating a vehicle takes effect. The new rules are designed to enhance road safety in the province by addressing the growing problem of driver distractions.

But don't panic yet, drivers in British Columbia will have a one-month grace period after the sweeping cellphone ban takes effect and so under the new rules drivers will be allowed to use only hands-free cell phones and devices that require only one touch to activate.

 

Signs like this one will start appearing on highways and at border crossings over the next month around BC.

 

As of Feb. 1, a driver talking on a hand-held phone or electronic device will be subject to a fine of $167 and 3 points.

 

The ban includes:
As of January 1st, 2010 new BC law states that:
• drivers cannot send or read emails or text messages;
• drivers cannot make or take calls unless using a hands-free device;
• drivers cannot hold or operate any electronic device;
• learners and novice drivers or graduated license holders (GLH), cannot operate handheld or hands-free devices.

“Using” an electronic device includes:
• holding the device;
• operating one of its functions (i.e. pressing buttons);
• talking on the device;
• watching the device.

Hands-free cellphones will need to be built in or securely fixed to the vehicle, and used by pressing a single button – once only – in order to activate a hands-free device for incoming or outgoing calls.

 

“Electronic devices” include:
• cell phones, Blackberry, and other handheld devices that have telephone capabilities and/or on which you can send text messages or e-mails;
• I-Pods and other audio players;
• GPS systems;
• Hand microphones;
• Televisions.

Drivers who are safely and legally parked off the roadway may use electronic devices. They may also be used if hands-free technology is being utilized or if an emergency is being reported to a police department, fire department or ambulance service (i.e. calling 911).

Police, fire and ambulance personnel who may need to make calls in the performance of their duties and motorists who need to call 9-1-1 are exempt from the legislation. The use of two-way radios for commercial or industrial vehicles will be permitted.

Critics, however, say the ban does not go far enough. Research shows that the brain doesn’t process traffic information regardless of whether you drive with a hands-free or hand-held device.

Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the U.S. as early as 2003 also found that hands-free headsets did not eliminate the serious accident risk posed by hand-held devices.

For more information details on what is permitted and what is prohibited under the new legislation can be found at:

 

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/osmv/publications/index.htm

\

 

Don't risk your life or anyone else's. Be a safe driver.

                                                          December 5 2009

 

 

Staff Report

 

 

Winter Tires - Your

First Defense

Safer Winter Driving Tips

Courtesy of BC RCMP

With Fall upon us, the road and weather conditions are typically less than perfect. Are you prepared?

“Equipping your vehicle with properly inflated Winter Tires is your First Defense to inclement weather” says Supt. Norm Gaumont, the Officer in Charge of Traffic Services for B.C. “Get your vehicle equipped before the weather changes to ensure you and your family are safe.”

                                                                                             Submitted photographs

There are many fallacies when it comes to winter driving conditions:

1. I can stop quicker in a four wheel drive vehicle. Four wheel drive vehicles, or any other vehicle for that matter, requires traction to start and stop. Although it is agreed that a four wheel drive vehicle is better at climbing and starting, due to its four wheels propelling the vehicle, stopping is the same for all vehicles. Traction, which refers to a tire’s ability to grip the road, is the most important factor in steering and stopping a vehicle. Threshold braking, the point just prior to wheel lock up, maximizes the braking ability of a vehicle by keeping the tire in traction with the road surface. This is the reason that Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) were introduced in vehicles. When braking hard with ABS, the wheel is taken to threshold over and over again to the point where the driver may feel a pulsing brake pedal which is symptomatic of the repeated on and off of the brakes. This process cannot be duplicated manually. It is these reasons that a four wheel drive vehicles require the same amount of traction to stop as any other vehicle.

2. All Season Tires are good enough. Both all-season and mud & snow (M+S) tires meet the definition of a winter tire under the current B.C. Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. But is this good enough? Winter tires are specifically designed and tested for severe winter conditions and outperform all-season tires because of their composition. Winter tires can specifically be identified by a snow flake or a mountain symbol on the sidewall of the tire.

All-season tires are, by design, a compromise. They aren’t the best road tire for summer or winter, but are designed as a compromise between the two. If you want better handling, better traction and better braking, winter tires are your best choice. Do you really want to compromise the safety of your family?

The cost of winter tires may be well worth it when your consider the cost of your deductible and rate increase in an at- fault collision. Also, you may wish to consider the potential of charges for operating an ill-equipped vehicle should you be involved in a collision.

Don’t wait until the first snow fall to get your vehicle prepared.

Police, across the province will be enforcing winter tire regulations where in effect.

If you have any questions, contact your local Traffic Services Section or S/Sgt. Marc Alexander at RCMP ‘E’ Division Headquarters - Traffic Services at (604) 539-2714.

                                               November 8 2009

 

 

Staff Report

 

Holiday Season Fraud Awareness Tips

 

The RCMP Federal Commercial Crime Section is introducing the Fraud Awareness Program to help protect merchants against the rise in recent fraudulent activity, especially around holiday time.

Over the past several years we have seen a major increase in the amount of organized fraudulent activity within the lower mainland of B.C., and across Canada. Globalization, advances in technology and communications systems have taken fraudsters and scammers to new levels of fraudulent activity, much of which spans across borders. This fraudulent activity includes the production and passing of counterfeit currency; debit and credit card skimming, as well as various forms of identity theft.

 

As a result of the increasing fraudulent activity and with less than two months until Christmas, the RCMP Federal Commercial Crime Section is leading a fraud awareness training program to help merchants protect themselves. This program in partnership with Bank of Canada, Interac, various members of the Canadian Bankers Association, RCMP’s Crime Prevention Section in BC and several Police Departments across the province will educate local merchants on related fraud trends in their community. The training will focus on fraud prevention by utilizing practical prevention strategies, understanding current scams and identifying gaps in business processes that leave merchants vulnerable to criminal activity.

 

The Canadian Bankers Association ranks Canada as second highest in the world, when it comes to debit card usage. In 2008, Interac reported a total dollar loss for cardholders to be approximately $104 million with a total of 148,000 ATM card holder victims. This is a substantial increase from 2004 where the amount was $60 million with 49,000 victims. As for Credit Card related frauds, Canadian Bankers Association statistics show that for 2007, there was a total of 341,000 Canadian cardholder victims with an associated loss of $306 million. In 2008, the losses jumped to $407 million. These numbers do not include exploitation of foreign cards.

Another concern is the increasing amount of American counterfeit banknotes being passed throughout the Lower Mainland of B.C. During September of this year the E Div. Federal Commercial Crime Section saw $22,000 dollars of counterfeit US bills which is a 22% increase from August 2009 where the value was $18,000.

“We are anticipating a dramatic increase in the amount of consumer traffic especially during the holiday season and this creates an opportune time for potential fraudsters to become active in organized fraudulent activities. Often because retail employees are very busy during this time and can be less vigilant due to the high volume of activity, fraudsters will take advantage of the busy season so we want to ensure we give merchants and their employees the tools to protect themselves,” says Sergeant Tony Farahbakhchian with the RCMP Federal Commercial Crime Section.

 

The desired outcome of such a prevention program is fraud awareness in the retail industry, resulting in fewer opportunities for fraudsters to act, fewer risk to retailers and their clients (including tourists) and less policing resources required later to deal with the complaints of complicated frauds, which will span across municipal borders.

 

Please click here for the Business Fraud Awareness Program Tip Sheet.

 

For further information on how to protect yourself please click here to visit the RCMP Federal Commercial Crime Website.

 

Please also obtain information on counterfeit prevention by clicking here and visiting the Bank of Canada website or call toll-free at: 1-888-513-8212.call

 

Courtesy of RCMP Sergeant Tony Farahbakhchian
E-Division (BC) Federal Commercial Crime Section
604-598-5393toll-free at: 1-888-513-8212.