Tehama Ridge Homeowners Association

Safety Committee

Chair: Kesha Barnes

Co-Chair: Open

safety@tehamaridge.com

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT OCT 4 at 6 p.m.
in Tehama Ridge by the Pool

The Fort Worth Police Department invites all residents to participate in the 28th Annual National Night Out celebration. Residents are asked to turn on their outside lights and spend the evening outdoors with their neighbors and the police. Neighborhood Crime Watches, Citizens on Patrol, Neighborhood Associations, and other neighborhood groups are encouraged to host events on National Night Out in their neighborhood.

National Night Out is designed to:
• Heighten awareness of crime prevention
• Generate support for, and participation in local anti crime efforts
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. |

Our community is participating in National Night Out, Tuesday, Oct. 4. Please come out and meet members of the Fort Worth Police Department, Code Compliance, Citizens on Patrol, Fort Worth Fire Department, Emergency Response Team, Council Representatives, HOA Committee Members, other community leaders and most importantly, your neighbors

Safety in the Sun

Everyone is at risk to the harmful effects of sun exposure, but some are more at risk than others. People with fair complexions, freckles, blonde or red hair, and blue or grey eyes are more at risk of experiencing damage due to sun exposure. About 80% of skin cancer can be prevented by protecting skin from the sun’s rays. So here’s a reminder about the dangers of sun exposure and ways to stay safe from the sun!

Repeated sun exposure can cause:

• Aging, drying and wrinkling of the skin
• Skin and lip Cancer
• Eye damage

To protect from the sun’s harmful rays:

• Limit time in the sun, especially between 10 am and 4 pm when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Sun damage can also take place on cloudy days.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim. The best hats for sun protection cover most of the face, neck and ear areas.
• Cover the body with lightweight clothing- the more coverage the better. Choose loose fitting clothing to allow air movement during hot weather. Darker clothing may also offer more protection than lighter clothing.
• Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Put it on before you go outdoors and reapply as required.
• Reflective rays from water can increase the sun’s intensity. Reapply sunscreen often when around water.
• Wear sunglasses to filter out ultraviolet rays. Sunglasses are rated for percentage of ultraviolet rays blocked. Select glasses that block 99% or 100% of UV light.

Decrease exposure to the sun in children by:

• Providing play areas in the shade
• Applying sunscreen and sunglasses when outdoors
• Providing clothing and hats that cover the body

Sun damage doesn’t take place with one exposure- it starts at a very young age and has a cumulative effect.

If you are passionate about safety and want to help others in your community, consider volunteering with the Tehama Ridge Safety Committee by emailing safety@tehamaridge.com. As always, if you have any suggestions, questions or concerns about safety, please feel free to contact me.

Be safe,

Kesha Barnes
Safety Chair
Tehama Ridge HOA

Code Blue: Citizens on Patrol Tehama Ridge has a Citizens on Patrol (COP) group!
	You may have heard of Neighborhood Watch. Well, the COP program is like Neighborhood Watch but on steroids! Citizen volunteers are trained by the Fort Worth Police Department to patrol the neighborhood and function as the eyes and ears for the police department. Even though Fort Worth has more than 1,500 police officers, the ones who are on duty don’t have much available time to drive through our neighborhood. The city is divided into Neighborhood Police Divisions (we're in North Division) and those districts are divided into zones (Tehama Ridge is in Zone 1). So, officers spend their time responding to calls from citizens who call 911 or the non-emergency number.

Tehama Ridge has 15 trained patrollers. You'll see patrollers in our neighborhood identified by magnetic signs on their cars that say Tehama Ridge Code Blue, Citizens on Patrol. Some walk or bicycle. Patrollers wear a blue shirt and ID badge and carry a police radio issued by the police department. They receive training to learn observation and radio techniques.
Increased security of homes and property, increased code enforcement, and increased neighborhood involvement deter crime in our neighborhood. The Citizens on Patrol volunteers provide a visible presence of police authority which helps prohibit criminal activities. The program also helps to develop a relationship between the police and the community which aids in the prompt police response. This safety and security from crime makes our neighborhood a quality place to live.
Please note the COP program is part of the Fort Worth Police Department and not the Tehama Ridge Home Owners Association.

Be a COP Patroller!

We're looking for more people who can become a Citizens on Patrol (COP) program volunteer for just a couple of hours per month minimum. We're especially looking for people who can patrol during week days. You can patrol in your vehicle, on foot, or on a bicycle. The reward is that we help to reduce crime by functioning as the eyes and ears for the police department.

To become a COP volunteer:

Complete the application form and receive approval.
Attend an 8-hour training program provided by the Fort Worth Police Department.
Complete an 8-hour ride along with a Fort Worth police officer.
Complete a 2-hour orientation session with your Tehama Ridge COP captain, who will also give you all supplies and uniform.

If you are interested in becoming a COP Patroller,
contact Debra via phone at 214-293-2258.

Wanna be a part of the Safety Committee?
email safety@tehamaridge.com for the details.