Police offer tips to stay safe this winter

Saturday, December 10, 2011

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- The Fort Scott Police Department wants to make sure local residents stay safe this winter and holiday season.

FSPD Lt. Shaun West said the department has issued a list of "general preemptive safety tips" it recommends for the public to follow during a busy time of year for police. Some of the tips involve getting assistance from friends, neighbors and family members to help resolve issues.

West said incidents that police commonly handle this time of year include public assistance such as helping people who are having problems with the weather or weather-related issues with their homes and assisting people who have been locked out of their homes.

This time of year, dispatch always receives a higher number of calls from residents inquiring about school and road closings, West said.

If followed, the tips will not only help individuals, but will also help police focus time and resources on other matters. The suggestions could also cut down on the volume of calls the department receives, West said.

"What helps them helps us," he said. "It will cut down on the time and manpower we use to make sure property is secure or that they're safe."

To that end, the FSPD recommends the following:

* Always tell someone (neighbor/family member/friend), prior to leaving town for an extended period of time.

* Always leave a key with a trusted person, so if an emergency arises someone will be able to make entry into the residence and assist with the emergency.

West said leaving a key with someone can be useful for people who are on a trip and an unplanned emergency such as a water pipe breaking or power outage occurs.

"Those things help us help you so property can be checked on or evaluated," he said.

* Feel free, if traveling for the holidays, to contact dispatch and ask to be placed on the "vacation" watch list. This will alert officers that the resident is out of town and they will, as calls allow, drive by the residence.

* People who are living alone or have health concerns should contact someone each day to assure them that they are OK. Have a friend, family member or neighbor who can be contacted at least once a day. This will allow them to check on the resident, or notify emergency personnel if the person fails to contact them.

"It cuts down our time to make sure what's going on," West said. "The keyholder can tell us they're responsible. Someone with firsthand knowledge saves time and resources.

"We all should be better neighbors and know how to check on our neighbors regularly," he added.

* Make sure vehicles have been serviced and are suitable for travel. Keep fuel tanks full and an emergency kit in the vehicle. Check weather and road conditions prior to leaving. To check road conditions, call Kansas road conditions at (800) 585-7623, or 511 from a cell phone.

* Listen to local radio, and/or watch local television for school closings. People can sign up for Tiger Alerts, which will send a text, e-mail or voice mail to a mobile phone, home or office. To register for Tiger Alerts, visit www.usd234.org and click on Tiger Alerts.

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