A safety message from the City of Mesa's Energy Resources Department…

Community safety and the safety of its employees is the primary priority of Mesa’s Energy Resources Department, but please remember that energy safety is everyone’s responsibility:

Over the last few weeks, 13 cases of chickenpox (varicella) have been identified in students at Anthem. Because of this, we are working with the Pinal County Public Health Services District to provide vaccines, with parental permission, to Anthem students who have had less than the recommended two doses.

Chickenpox has NOT been reported at any FUSD school other than Anthem; however, for those who are in need of vaccination who do not attend Anthem K8, Pinal Public Health offers routine vaccination through the county’s public health clinics.  Please call 1-866-960-0633 for clinic locations and hours.  Primary care providers may also be able to provide routine vaccination.

The Labor Day holiday typically signals the end of summer, a time to get ready for football, a new television season, report cards and pre-planning for the fall and winter holidays.  Summer may be over but swimming pool safety is a year-round priority in Arizona.  Longer swimming seasons and the high number of homes with pools are two reasons why the state has a dismally high rate of childhood drownings or near-drownings.

Arizona had 21 child drowning deaths in 2010.  So far this year there have been 15 child drowning deaths in the state.

There is a distinct warning tone sounded at the Apache Junction Fire District to sig­nal drowning calls. Mark Gomez doesn’t even like to describe it.

“I don’t ever want to hear it,” said Mr. Gomez, AJFD’s EMS/training coordinator. “It raises the hair on the back on my neck.”

Like so many fire departments in the far East Valley, Mr. Gomez has seen his share of drownings. Some have had happy outcomes. Some have not.

The drowning death May 15 in Glendale of a 17-month- old boy believed to have crawled outside through a built-in doggy-door to the backyard pool is a reminder that fatal accidents can happen anytime, anywhere to anyone.

Arizona and four other states reported cases of E. coli in cheese products sold in Costco stores in October, officials said.

Twenty-five cases of Escherichia coli were confirmed by officials, 11 in Arizona alone, according to a statement issued Thursday by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Pull Aside, Stay Alive.

That’s the familiar message to drivers from the Arizona Department of Transportation as another summer monsoon season approaches.

The Apache Junction Police Department Chief of Police Thomas E. Kelly would like to remind citizens to stay alert and not fall victim to scams.

The headlines are all too familiar. Dust storm causes fatal chain reaction crash. Flood waters claim driver crossing swollen wash. Heavy rain sends boulders onto highway. These are among the often tragic or frightening events that occur when Monsoon storms strike in Arizona each summer.

The Arizona Department of Transportation is joining other public safety agencies, including the state Department of Public Safety and the National Weather Service, in passing along advice to drivers during Arizona Monsoon Awareness Week.

June 20 event features AJ police chief

A public forum to discuss violence against women will be held on Wednesday, June 20 at the A.J. Christian Community Church.

An archive containing nearly 5 million Gmail addresses and plain text passwords was posted Tuesday on an online forum, but the data is old and likely sourced from multiple data breaches according to one security firm.

Arizonans can start using permissible fireworks from Tuesday, July 1 through July 6 under a new law written and passed with the intention of eliminating confusion over what fireworks are permissible in the state.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2010 fireworks caused an estimated 15, 500 reported fires, in eight reported deaths, 8,600 people being treated for fireworks related injuries, and $36 million in direct property damage.

Here are some fireworks safety tips:

Fireworks Season is upon us and our local San Tan Valley Fire Department, Rural/Metro Fire, wants you to stay safe.  If you are going to use fireworks, please use them safely!

October is nationally recognized as the official Fire Prevention month.

This years theme is Smoke Detectors in your home. Over the years, residential smoke detectors have saved thousands of lives by warning the occupants of a fire. Many fire fatalities occur in homes with no working smoke detectors. Many of these homes were equipped, but no one thought of checking or changing the batteries. Make it a rule to check and change your batteries at least twice a year.

The FDIC receives thousands of calls, letters and e-mails each year from consumers who have a question or concern relating to a loan, deposit or other banking product. The Winter 2012/2013 issue of FDIC Consumer News features practical tips and information on some of the most important topics raised by consumers, including key things to know about resolving common financial problems, avoiding scams, safely conducting mobile banking, and understanding federal deposit insurance coverage. Here's an overview:

As part of the Arizona Department of Transportation’s efforts to spread the word about dust storm safety, the agency is once again asking people to channel their inner poets and send in their haboob haikus.

Haboob Haiku: Year Two gets underway today through ADOT’s social media sites. ADOT first issued the Haboob Haiku Challenge last year as part of its “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” dust storm awareness campaign. The challenge was such a smashing success that worldwide media featured some of the 600 haiku submissions. The “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” campaign re-launched yesterday as part of Arizona Monsoon Awareness Week. The campaign will run through the summer, reminding drivers about the dangers of dust storms and monsoon storms.

While the holiday season is typically a time for giving, it is seen less charitably by criminals engaged in consumer scams. Here are few helpful tips to avoid becoming a victim to charity and fundraising fraud:

(1)   Never give on impulse or give into high-pressure requests for contributions or donations. Always review all written information before making a donation. If a solicitor refuses to provide written information, refuse to donate. Don’t be afraid to ask if the person is a volunteer or a paid fundraiser.

The Pinal County Environmental Health Department is offering some tips for enjoying your leftovers during this holiday season.  With all the food being prepared as we celebrate, having leftover food is inevitable. Proper handling of leftover foods is one of the best things you can do to keep your family and friends safe from foodborne illness.

Some valuable holiday safety tips

Please remember not to leave valuables in plain view inside your vehicles, put them in the trunk or under the seats.

Please make sure that your vehicles are locked at all times and to leave the exterior lights of your homes on at night. Most neighborhoods around San Tan Valley are experiencing vehicle burglaries and most are crimes of opportunity.  Vehicles are left unlocked with valuables left inside the vehicle such as ipods , G.P.S. units, purses, briefcases, and laptop computers and are prime targets.

The holiday season is here, and the Queen Creek Fire Department would like to share some basic safety tips so that our residents can enjoy the season with friends and family safely.  

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments respond to an average of 210 structure fires caused by Christmas trees each year. Christmas tree fires are not common, but when they occur, they are likely to be serious.