Articles Posted in Public Service Announcement

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ElderlyWaterTherapy-300x200As the summer season ushers in warmer temperatures, it is crucial for assisted living community and adult day center staff to review heat stress prevention plans. Additionally, family members should check with administration to be sure their loved ones will have constant access to air conditioning, shade, water, and appropriate clothing, particularly elderly residents with limited mobility.

The CDC warns, “People aged 65 years or older are more prone to heat-related health problems.” They urge older adults and their caregivers to stay safe in the heat with these tips:

Why are older adults more prone to heat stress?

  • Older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
  • They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
  • They are more likely to take prescription medicines that affect the body’s ability to control its temperature or sweat.

Stay Cool, Stay Hydrated

  • Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling source when it’s really hot outside.
  • Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
    • If your doctor limits the amount of fluids you drink or has you on water pills, ask them how much you should drink during hot weather.
  • Don’t use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  • Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
  • Do not engage in very strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
  • Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.

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https://www.georgialegalreport.com/files/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2018-05-26-at-12.18.00-AM-300x216.png

(AJC)

Georgia mall and parking facility owners have a responsibility to protect their patrons from violent crime, sexual assault, and foreseeable harm. Mall parking garages are often targets for such criminal activity due to numerous dark hiding places and frequently vulnerable customers, carrying shopping bags, car keys, and valuables ready for the taking. However, all too often, mall parking facility security measures are overlooked and understaffed.

The Atlanta Police Department recently told The AJC, “Thirty-six million people [went] through Phipps (Plaza) and Lenox (Square) last year. There’s 11,500 parking spots. That’s a city in itself within a two-block radius.” With crime in the Buckhead area up 20 percent from last year, the department is calling on “the big-box stores and the malls…to hire some off-duty cops.”

Earlier this month, FOX 5 reports, a man was carjacked while “taking a nap at a parking deck at Lenox Square.” In January, a woman told the AJC she “was assaulted in a Buckhead parking garage while “leaving the Target on Peachtree Road near Phipps Plaza.”

The harrowing incidents serve as grave reminders that Georgia mall and parking facility owners need to provide a safe and secure space for patrons entering and exiting their establishment. Parking facility security measures may include guarded entry, bright lighting, security patrols, off-duty police officers, patron escorts, and actively monitored surveillance cameras. Further, staff should be properly trained to watch for and respond to violence and suspicious behavior, such as those loitering between cars.

Victims of Mall Parking Garage Assault or Injury: What Are My Legal Options for Justice and Compensation?

As each case and property is unique, victims of parking garage and mall crime should speak with an experienced security negligence firm as soon as possible to ensure all evidence, such as surveillance footage or broken lighting, is preserved and their best interests are protected.

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https://www.georgialegalreport.com/files/2018/05/Screen-Shot-2018-05-22-at-2.19.35-AM.png

(Safe Kids Georgia)

As another school year comes to a close, thousands of families will soon head to Georgia beaches, swimming pools and spray parks to cool off in the summer heat. Sadly, a day by the water can quickly turn to tragedy without taking the proper safety precautions. Hotel and apartment complex owners must do their part to keep their youngest guests safe in and around swimming pools and property water features.

Safe Kids Georgia Warns:

  • Swimming pools are the most common site for a drowning to occur for children ages 1 to 4.
  • Eighty-nine percent of boating deaths of all ages occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instructions.
  • The majority of infant drowning deaths happen in bathtubs or large buckets.
  • African-American kids ages 5 to 14 are almost three times more likely to drown than white children.
  • The use of specially made drain covers, safety vacuum-release systems, multiple filter pumps and other pressure-venting pool filter mechanisms can reduce the risk of entrapment in pools.

Hotel and Apartment Water Safety Questions:

  • Is the swimming pool area completely enclosed? If so, is all fencing at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates? Are there any gaps in the fencing
  • Is a certified life-guard on duty? Has property staff been trained in CPR, first aid and emergency response?
  • Are all pool filters and drains up to date with pressure-venting mechanisms designed to reduce risk of entrapment?
  • Are pool rules and occupancy limits clearly posted? How does property management monitor and enforce these pool rules?
  • Are waters treated and tested daily in accordance with health codes?

Victims of Apartment and Hotel Swimming Pool Safety Negligence: Know Your Rights

Apartment residents and hotel guests have a right to feel safe and secure while on the premises of the establishment they are visiting. By law, Georgia property owners are required to protect all residents and guests legally on the premises from any foreseeable harm.

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