Neighborhood Watch Meeting 3/30/2010

Topic: Hazards in the Home

Next Meeting April 27, 2010 at 6:30pm at Columbia Central

Topic: Fire Safety

Community Clean Up Day Saturday May 1, 2010

• Veteran’s Park from 9-4
• Come for the day come or for an hour, your time is valuable to us and our
community.
• Free Lunch for All volunteers
• All Ages Welcome (children need to have adult present)
• If anyone has a place that needs to be attended to please let us know.
• Donations appreciated (garbage bags, rakes, gloves, etc.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED to help pass out flyers regarding Community Clean Up Day.

Special Thanks To:

• Steger Kiwanis Club for donating $100 toward providing lunch
• Ma’s Wholesale for donating 36 pairs of work gloves and construction hats for small
children
• First Midwest Bank for donating large garbage bags

Child Care was provided thanks to National Junior Society

Crime Report for Steger March 2010

3/1/10*3400 Block of Halsted Blvd. a brick thrown through vehicle’s rear window.
*300 Blk of Dorsetshire, Open door on abandoned house.

3/2/10 *35th Street and Morgan, Graffiti on Stop Sign

*400 Blk. W 34th St. (Colonies Apt.) Unknown subject(s) broke into Laundry
Room window and tipped over dryer.
*3700 Blk. Union Ave. (Crest Apt.) Unknown subject(s) entered apartment through
a sliding glass door and took a 42” Visio Flat Screen HD television, Sony Play
Station 3,6kt. Men’s Diamond Tennis bracelet, 14kt. Gold Men’s Bracelet, Men’s
Diamond Ring, and a Men’s Joe RodeoWatch.

3/8/10*3500 Blk. Ashland Ave. Unknown subject(s) cut padlock to garage and took unknown
items.

3/9/10 *Fireman’s Park, Squads found the fence was damaged sometime during the night.

3/11/10 *3400 Halsted Blvd. Brick thrown through vehicle’s side window.
3/12/10 *3400 Blk. Green Street. Squads responded to a theft of a couch from the garage.
The upstairs apartment was arrested for taking the couch.

3/20/10 *3400 Blk. Kings Rd. (Colonies Apt.) Resident advised unknown subject(s)
entered apartment and stole his laptop

3/25/10 *35th and Peoria and 35th and Green, Graffiti on Stop Signs.
*3500 Blk. Halsted Graffiti on Well House.

Few hazards that can be found in the home are as follows:

• Bathroom: Most accidents in the home occur in the bathroom. The reason for this is, it
is usually a small cramped space that has water, electricity, and slippery surfaces. Use
non-skid rugs, keep electric stuff away from water, use non-slip strips in tubs and
showers, and keep cleaners and medications locked away from children.
• Kitchen: The kitchen is a potential hazard waiting to happen. Accident prevention in the
kitchen relies on careful storage and cooking habits. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
• Child Home Safety: Experts recommended crawling on your hands and knees to get a
child’s view of potential hazards in your home. Remember with summer coming that a
child can drown in less than an inch of water.
• Chemical: Potential toxic chemicals are in all kinds of household products we use every
day. Always vent home when using chemical and never mix them.
• Lead Paint: Lead-based paint is one of the bigger sources of lead poisoning. Until
1940, the walls of two-thirds of all American homes were painted with lead based paint.
Since the 1980’s, the EPA and other government agencies have worked steadily to phase
out lead in paints, drinking water, gasoline and any other products that had once
incorporated it. In fact, if a home today has lead based paint on the walls, landlords and
homeowners must disclose his information before renting or selling a property. Controls
are helping. In 1978, the EPA reported some three to four million children had elevated
lead levels in their blood. By the 1990’s, the number was down 434,000-and dropping
steadily.
• Mold and Black Mold: Most house molds are relatively harmless in nature. Except for
the some allergic-type reactions they do little other harm to people. Black mold is
something different and much more serious. Black mold is no joke. Be especially
careful if you try to clean it up yourself. In fact, if you suspect black mold in your home,
you’re probably making a wise decision to call for expert mold removal. Otherwise use
gloves, and face shield, protect skin. Bleach works to remove it on the surface, but its
never all the way gone.
• Natural Gas Leaks: Natural gas leaks are usually caused by aging, faulty or incorrectly
used gas appliances, heating systems or water heaters. Leaks are also caused from
natural gas piping systems and migration of natural gas indoors from exterior piping
systems.
• Fire Arm Safety: Even if you do not own a firearm it is important to teach your kids
about firearm safety. Your most important responsibility is ensuring that unsupervised
children cannot encounter or remove loaded firearms. (Free gun locks provided by the
 Steger Police Dept. no questions asked.)

Remember tips are always appreciated and anonymous

Check our website for updates: www.stegernhwatch.com or Email any concerns/comments to:
www.stegerwatch@hotmail.com

Don’t wait for Steger to be on the news to come to a meeting. Keep advised of what’s going on
monthly at our meetings.