Law enforcement officials, city and county commissioners and local community leaders recently gathered at an anti-crime symposium where Attorney General Bill McCollum and Senator Victor Crist, along with a team of experts, unveiled a pilot program to empower and organize communities to address issues which are often precursors to criminal activity. The symposium, Strategies for Safe and Sustainable Communities, was held in Orlando and brought together an impressive group of more than 150 community leaders from six surrounding counties.

“This is an excellent, comprehensive anti-crime program in Florida that has been created as a model that can be replicated and put into action in any neighborhood faced with the challenges of high crime,” said the Attorney General, whose office supported the pilot program.

The anti-crime initiative creates partnerships with community stakeholders including local residents, businesses, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, cultural groups, government and academic institutions to address criminal activity.

Attorney General McCollum stressed the importance of a holistic approach to addressing crime. In addition to the anti-crime initiative, he discussed Florida’s Gang Reduction Task Force developed by his office.  Led by Sheriff Don Eslinger of Seminole County, the Region 5 Task Force encompasses nine Central Florida counties.  The program combines resources to educate youth, make prevention/intervention more effective, improve law enforcement and address re-entry issues to reduce gang members and gang-related activities.

“Florida is the nation’s leader in bringing together a collective team of resources to fight crime at all levels,” said Attorney General McCollum.  “As leaders, we must get involved and support these anti-crime initiatives created to address issues taking place in your local communities.”

Presented by the University Area Community Development Corporation, Inc., the purpose of the symposium was grounded on the principle that the anti-crime pilot program model can be adapted and implemented in any neighborhood to address issues which often lead to criminal activity such as unemployment, poor housing conditions and limited access to social services.

The pilot program was implemented in the University Area of Tampa/Hillsborough County, an urban, economically distressed, culturally diverse neighborhood with the sixth highest crime rate in Florida. Research shows a decrease in the crime index from 2006 to 2007 of 380 crimes or about 10.4 percent.

One of the primary benefits, based on attendee feedback from the symposium, was the opportunity to network with the team of experts that developed and implemented the pilot program. Participants were guided through the methodology created to transform high crime communities into safe and sustainable neighborhoods and given the opportunity to ask specific questions at the close of the symposium.

“We believe the symposium addressed key issues that all Florida counties are facing in these challenging economic times and identified ways for community and government leaders to tap into resources and build partnerships creating a holistic approach to impact criminal activity,” said Julian Garcia, Jr., executive director, UACDC, whose office created the pilot program.

The symposium was presented by the UACDC in partnership with the Jim Walter Partnership Center at the University of South Florida and the Shimberg Center for Housing Studies at the University of Florida with special assistance from the Florida Institutes of Government at the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida.

For more information regarding the anti-crime initiative, visit http://symposium.uacdconline.org.

Nothing lights up the night sky quite like a fireworks display. Dazzling colors paint the atmosphere - each explosion a unique brush stroke on the black canvas. Fireworks can turn any backyard cookout into an exciting festival of light and sound. They can put a smile on kids of all ages and make any special moment a memory.

Fourth of July is arguably the most popular time for fireworks shows throughout the nation. This year, make sure your artistic display is safe for everyone involved, including yourself.

“We treat several burn cases at our locations every year,” says Bea Kochheiser, Central Florida market leader for Solantic Urgent Care. “Everyone gets wrapped up in the excitement and sometimes they forget to take all the necessary precautions.” When planning your festivities for this year, remember that only responsible adults should handle fireworks. “Children should, under no circumstances, handle fireworks,” she says. When using fireworks, it’s important to always light them in a cleared area away from buildings and cars. It’s even suggested by many experts to have a hose or bucket handy during your backyard extravaganza.

“Fireworks should never be lit out of metal or glass containers either,” says Kochheiser. “The bottles can break and create a hazard for you, your neighbors and your pets.” If a firework is broken, do not attempt to re-light fix it. According to Kochheiser, one of the easiest tips is often one of the most often overlooked concerning firework safety. “A lot of problems can be avoided by wearing the proper clothing,” she says. “Although it’s important to stay comfortable in the Florida heat, one of the biggest mistakes is wearing loose fitting clothing. Believe it or not, a lot of stray fireworks, such as Bottle Rockets, can get caught in shirt wrinkles or sleeves.” Another mistake is not wearing the proper footwear. “It’s Florida, in the summer time, so a lot of us wear sandals whenever we can,” she says. “But, when you are lighting fireworks and running away from the fuse, sandals are not the best idea. Not only could a bad firework burn your feet, you could trip and fall while running or step on various debris.”

Follow these tips for a safe, bright Fourth of July celebration. Let the smiles, and the fireworks, begin.

Article by Corey Gehrold

Family-owned McLean Lightning Protection has been protecting the Central Florida area from lightning strikes since 1984. Working with hundreds of satisfied and safe clients over the years has produced a lot of similar questions for John Cole, owner of McLean Lightning Protection. Cole sat down with Insight to answer some common questions as we move into the typically stormy season.

1. What exactly is lightning protection and why do I need it?

Lightning protection involves a complex, custom designed, system of air terminals as well as special conductor cabling, ground terminations, surge arrestors and bonds with metallic bodies, telephone, CATV, gas and water lines. According to Underwriters Laboratories, a properly designed and installed system is 99.9 percent effective as protection against lightning damage. Best of all, the systems generally require no maintenance unless the home or structure is changed structurally and mechanically.

A single bolt of lightning can carry more than 30 million volts of electricity. It can rip through roofs, explode brick and concrete and ignite fires. In addition to personal physical damage, it can wreak havoc with computers, electronic equipment and appliances. Each year, thousands of homes and other properties are damaged or destroyed by lightning accounting for more than a quarter billion dollars in property damage annually in the United States. A lot of people don’t realize that lightning is responsible for more deaths and property loss than tornadoes, hurricanes and floods combined.

2. What should I do during a storm with severe lightning?

The best thing you can do during a storm with severe lightning is to seek shelter. A general rule of thumb is to stay indoors at least 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in your area to be safe. Very rarely, a bolt can travel miles from an obvious storm and strike the ground so it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Lightning can and often does strike the same location more than once, since the attracting elements do not change from a given site.

3. Does a lightning protection system actually attract lightning? How vulnerable am I?

No. A Lightning Protection System does not attract lightning. Through the Lightning Protection System, the destructive power of the strike is directed and dissipated safely into the ground, leaving the structure, family and equipment unharmed.

Modern homes are more susceptible to lightning damage than ever. Metal building components, irrigation and security systems, invisible and electric fences, computers and sensitive electronic appliances are common in most homes and can increase a homeowner’s potential for serious lightning damage.

Statistically, lightning strikes between 30 and 60 times a year within a two-mile radius of the front door of your home. And remember, Florida is the lightning capital of the United States.

4. What is most likely to get damaged when a bolt hits my house?

Most likely, your electronics would be the first things to get damaged. Appliances, electrical systems and even the building construction materials are all at risk however. We recommend, if you do not have a full lightning protection system on your home, to plug electronics into surge protectors. It may cost a little extra, but the protection is worth it.

5. How noticeable is a lightning protection system?

Today’s modern inconspicuous lightning protection systems are installed to blend in with the structure and materials of your home, making the system practically invisible from the ground. Often, visitors will never even know the system is there.

Looking for more information? Contact McLean Lightning Protection for a free estimate and home evaluation. McLean is UL and Lightning Protection Institute Certified Master Installer and a member of the Better Business Bureau. 3925 Peppervine Drive Orlando, Fl 32828 407.277.9400 www.McLeanLP.com

1. Keep Your House Locked

Yes, this sounds basic, but how often does someone forget to lock a door or close a window when they step out for a quick errand? It’s important to remember when leaving your home to lock everything and shut all curtains.

2. Rely on the Buddy System

Make sure someone you trust has the key and alarm codes for your home, just in case anything should happen when you’re not around. A neighbor or family member that has access to your home can save you a serious headache (or more) in case of an emergency.

3. Stay in the Kitchen

Cooking? Keeping an eye on what’s going on in your kitchen is one of the easiest ways to prevent a fire. Make sure you’re keeping towels, paper goods and plastics away from appliances.

4. Recognize Electrical Hazards

Electrical surges can occur when lightening is present or when appliances are switched on and off. Surges can easily be avoided by using surge protectors or simply unplugging large electrical items.

5. Post Emergency Numbers

Everyone has their “call in case of emergency” person, but what good is that number if your family doesn’t know it? Place a list of emergency numbers near every phone in your home. This way, anyone can contact help.

6. Beware of the Garage Door

A garage door is the heaviest moving item in a home; often weighing more than 300 lbs. Be sure your family knows to never walk near or under a moving garage door. Also, make sure everyone knows how to use the emergency release in case someone’s pinned under the door.

7. Keep an Eye on the Blind Chords

Looped chords used for window treatments can pose a serious strangulation threat to children. Never place a crib, sofa, or child’s bed near a window where they may be tempted to play with the blind chords.

8. Make Your Home Look Occupied

Keeping windows closed and doors locked isn’t all that you can do to protect your home from burglaries. Keep your home looking occupied by using automatic timers on lights and radios. Also, make sure that your phone ringer is turned down low enough so it cant be heard outside.

9. Keep Your Concrete in Check

Wood is not the only material that can deteriorate. With summer coming soon, make sure that pool decks and patios are free from any sort of rotting or decomposing. This could result in an expensive and dangerous situation for your family.

10. Light Up Your Nights

While seeming like such a simple thing, nightlights can prevent potential injuries around your home. Keeping lights at places like the top and bottom of stairs, in the kitchen and in the bathroom can save you from getting injured in the dark.

Article by Amanda Roesch

Every 41 seconds a child is reported missing in the United States. A missing child is one of every parent’s worst fears, but there are measures that can be taken to avoid this terrible tragedy. “Communication is the absolute key to keeping your child safe,” says Jeff Griesmer, president of the Child Rescue Network. “If a child has a plan of action and knows how to react in potentially dangerous situations, then they won’t need to be faced with the impossible decision of, ‘Is this a good person who wants to help me or a bad person they may hurt me?’”

One of the most important aspects to keeping your child safe is keeping the lines of communication open. They must feel comfortable coming to you with any problem and openly discussing any situation they encounter.

They should also know your first name as well to help identity you over an intercom system if they are ever separated for whatever reason. “We strive to educate parents that the ‘don’t talk to strangers’ way of thinking is wrong. The ’stranger danger’ may sound catchy but in practice is does not work and may actually cause more harm to the child now and later in life,” he says. Instead, it’s recommended to have an action plan. They should know to stay put wherever they are and not move for anyone unless it is you or a police officer in uniform.

You should also carry a safety identification card for your kids. Typically these cards include the child’s photograph, thumb print and vital information. Many organizations, like Child Rescue Network, offer these cards free of charge to parents at hundreds of community events throughout the year. If you do not have a card, you should at least carry an up-to-date photo of your child, taken within the last year says Griesmer. “The single most important tool a parent can have to be reunited with their child is a current picture on them at all times. Surprisingly however, less than 3 percent of parents have a current photo of their child taken from within the last year.”

If your child is missing – contact the police immediately. “You don’t have to wait 24 hours. You don’t have to even wait 24 seconds if you think your child is missing to get the police to respond,” he says. If possible, try to control your emotions and remain level headed. “A calm attitude may be the difference between a tragedy and a reunion.”

There are dozens more tips and available resources online for parents to take advantage of. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.ChildRescueNetwork.org.

If you would like to report a missing child to Child Rescue Network call 877.209.KIDS (5437).

Article by Corey Gehrold