Westside Messenger - May 21st, 2023

PAGE 6 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - May 21, 2023
SUMMER SAFETY
Continued from page 1
www.columbusmessenger.com
How Should We
Be Able to
Amend Our Ohio
Constitution?
This past week the Ohio General Assembly placed
a measure on the ballot that, if approved by
voters, will require a 60% majority to ratify future
Ohio constitutional amendments. By a margin of
of 62-37 in the House and 26-7 in the Senate, the
General Assembly approved SJR 2 (Senate Joint
Resolution 2) that will ask voters to decide the
issue at a special election on August 8.
SJR 2 further will require that petitions for future
citizen-initiated constitutional amendments be
signed by at least 5% of the electors in each Ohio
county, rather than the current requirement of
half of all counties. The proposal also eliminates
the ten-day cure period to gather additional
signatures for such a petition.
SJR 2 only applies to constitutional amendments
and does not affect in any way people’s rights to
an initiative petition for a new law or a citizen referendum
of an existing law. (For example, many
of us remember the successful referendum of SB5
in 2012 that repealed a law that placed restrictions
on public employee collective bargaining
rights.) The process and vote margins on these direct
democracy provisions will remain unchanged.
Both sides of this issue have articulated pronounced
and compelling arguments. Those who
favor the vote want any changes in the Ohio Constitution
to be a genuine movement as opposed
to a political whim. Constitutional changes should
have overwhelming support; simple laws can require
a majority vote only, making them easier to
alter when appropriate. Supporters also point out
that this will minimize the ability for outside special
interests to seek to change the Ohio Constitution
for their own benefit. Ohio will remain one
of only 18 states that allow citizen-led efforts to
amend the state constitution. Finally, it preserves
the ability for all of Ohio’s communities to determine
what issues make it to the ballot.
Those against the measure feel that the threshold
of 60% voter approval to change the Ohio Constitution
is too high, the 88-county requirement for
petition signatures will make it too difficult for
proposals to get to the ballot, and that holding a
special election devoted solely to a single issue
may not bring a representative population of voters
to the polls that day.
I encourage all voters to study the issue, decide
for themselves the most appropriate direction,
and vote with their best judgment on August 8.
(Dave Dobos represents the 10th District in the
Ohio House of Representatives, which consists of
parts of West, Southwest, and South Columbus,
Grove City, Urbancrest, and most of Franklin
Township. He reports regularly on his activities in
this position and his campaign has paid for this
communication with you.)
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Their continued quest to prepare for the
unexpected is what brought the northside
residents to the westside earlier this month
for what was billed as a fun and educational
event for all ages on summer safety
preparation.
Held at Westgate Alternative
Elementary School, the ‘Ready for Summer
Rally’ was equal parts a celebratory gathering
for students ready for vacation and
an educational smorgasbord for individuals
who wanted to learn from public health
officials on what actions they should take if
emergencies arise this summer — or
throughout the year.
Columbus resident Emily Martin said
she was not expecting to learn so much
from the vendors who set up booths at this
location.
“It is a little bit overwhelming by how
many resources are here,” she said, “but I
picked up a lot of great tips and I feel more
confident that I can keep my kids and the
children in the neighborhood safer this
summer.”
Event organizers said they could not
have been more grateful for the turnout by
the local organizations who signed up to
participate in Ready for Summer Rally and
for the community who came out in droves
to attend.
“We are so proud of our growing partnership
with the American Red Cross,”
said Lee Cole, executive director of family
engagement and partnership with
Columbus City Schools, referring to the
event which is a collaboration between the
district and the organizations Resilient
Community Project. “Together, we have
brought vital resources directly to the community,
fulfilling our collective visions to
empower and educate the residents.”
More than 40 vendors ranging from
social services, wellness and academics,
and city safety departments were on hand
at the rally. Included among the dozens in
attendance was the city of Columbus’
Division of Fire who brought their Life
Safety House.
Firefighters Felecia Jackson said the
Life Safety House is one of the best tools
the department uses to teach children
about the dangers of fire, smoke inhalation,
and of the proper use of machinery in the
kitchen.
She said that it is not uncommon for the
department to respond to more calls related
to microwave and stove-top fires in the
summer months.
“Kids are at home more (in the summer)
and when they get hungry they usually pop
something in the microwave,” said
Jackson. “Sometimes things can go wrong
if you do not understand the temperature
setting and we want them to know what to
do in the event a fire catches in the
microwave.
Through the Life Safety House demonstration,
they learn that the best way to
smother a microwave fire is to keep the
door closed and unplug the unit. The same
goes for the stove-top fire that happened at
the Hoffman house last year, except you
remove the pan from the heat source.
Incidentally, Shawna encouraged her
brother to experience the smoke-house portion
of the Life Safety House.
Children were not the only individuals
who received advice from the firefighters;
Jackson reminded the adults who love to
grill that they have to keep a “watchful
eye” on the equipment.
“I know it can be hard to maintain that
focus because there is so much going on
and you’re moving in and out of the house
to get stuff for those burgers and steaks but
you have to pay attention,” she said.
“Grilling sparks more than 10,000 home
fires each year and it can happen in an
instant.”
She recommended that grillers keep
their equipment outdoors and away from
decks, houses, trees and anything else that
could catch fire.
Jackson also said the department can
come out to homes in the Columbus area
and install fire alarms or carbon monoxide
detectors free of charge. For inquiries, call
614-645-7377.
The Hilltop YMCA was also in attendance
to offer safety advice for those eager
to get in the water. Gabriele Hover, the
aquatics experience director, said she has
been told by many children that they are
counting down the days until they can use
the pool during the hot summer months.
“Our kids are always telling me how
excited they are for vacations, pool parties
and afternoons in the sun with their families,”
said Hover.
She is quick to point out, however, of the
importance of remaining vigilant around
any body of water and to keep practicing
the lessons they learn on how to be smart
and safe, especially in a backyard pool.
“About 88 percent of drownings occur
under adult supervision and 60 percent
happen within 10 feet of the wall.”
Hover said the Hilltop YMCA will be
one of three branches to host free safety
swim lessons in June through a partnership
with Columbus Public Health.
Registration began on May 15 and the location
can train up to 100 children aged 3 to
17 how to swim using the Safety Around
Water curriculum created by Youth Service
America.
For the adults who have a backyard
pool, Hover recommended that they have
Coast Guard approved flotation devices on
hand and they always keep an eye on the
aquatics activity.
“Many drownings take place when
adults are right there because they were
distracted by a conversation, or were on
their phone, or assumed that flotation
devices were enough,” she said. “Always
keeping an active eye on your kids, or better
yet already being in the water actively
playing with them, goes a long way.”
To inquire about swimming or cardiopulmonary
resuscitation lessons, contact
the Hilltop YMCA at 614-389-4565.
The American Red Cross also offered
Wes Goudy, a certified emergency medical
technician, demonstrates how to
pack and compress a bleeding wound.
these summer safety preparedness tips:
•For camping trips, pack a first aid kit
to handle insect stings, sprains, cuts, and
bruises and other injuries that could happen;
always share your travel plans and
locations with a family member or friend;
use insect repellent with DEET; and bring
extra water and snacks for your furry
friends.
•For heat exhaustion, know the exhibiting
signs (cool, moist, pale or flushed skin;
heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness,
weakness and exhaustion) and move
them to a cooler place, remove or loosen
tight clothing and spray the person with
water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to
the skin. Call 911 if their condition changes
for the worse.
•Pets can also suffer from heat exhaustion
and stroke. Their exhibiting signs are
heavy panting, being unable to calm down,
brick red gum color, fast pulse rate and
being unable to stand up. If their temperature
(administered rectally) is about 105
degrees, use a cool water hose on their body
until it reaches 103. Never be afraid to call
a veterinarian as heat stroke can lead to
severe organ dysfunction and damage.
•The ARC also recommends that children
and pets not be left alone in hot cars,
even if the windows are rolled down or
cracked. The temperature inside of a car
can reach 120 degrees rapidly on a hot day.
For more ARC recommendations, visit
their website at redcross.org/summersafety
where they have a number of safety apps
available to download.