Fall 2019 Hometown Messenger

PUBLIC SAFETY CORNER

Police Department receives grant for child safety seats This summer, the Shakopee Police Department received a $1,500 grant from Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative's Operation Round-Up to expand its Child Passenger Safety program to provide car seats to families in need.

CAR SEAT SAFETY CLINIC WHAT: A certified car seat practitioner will check your child's car seat to ensure it meets safety standards. WHEN: Noon-2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 WHERE: Shakopee Fire Station 1, 2700 Vierling Drive E. COST: Free APPOINTMENTS ONLY: To schedule a 30-minute

The grant will purchase approximately 15 convertible car seats to be available to officers following emergencies, as well as distributed to families in need at community events like Project Community Connect and through Shakopee Community Assistance. Over the past several years, Program Coordinator

Officer Michelle Schmidt has seen a large increase in the number of families who cannot afford car seats, are using expired or damaged seats or have an immediate

Source: Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, www.nfpa.org

Fire sprinklers save lives, property The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s office recently released statistics from 2004- 18 noting Shakopee is among the top 20 Minnesota cities where fire sprinkler activations have made a positive impact by reducing damage and loss due to a fire. Many years ago, the City of Shakopee chose to adopt more stringent fire sprinkler requirements on new buildings and existing buildings where there is a change of occupancy. These requirements mean that buildings over 2,000 square feet must be provided with fire sprinklers. Base code only requires buildings over 12,000 square feet to be provided with fire sprinklers. Fire sprinklers are an important part of overall fire protection. They can provide early detection and begin fire suppression before the fire department is notified. The early application of water on a fire can help limit a fire’s growth. This can help minimize property damage and keep the fire small enough to help those inside the building escape. DID YOU KNOW? Unlike in the movies, not all building fire sprinklers operate at the same time. Each sprinkler head is designed to operate at a specific temperature, with the most common heads operating at 155ºF.

need for a car seat following a car accident or fire. The car seat will be accompanied with additional safety information to ensure parents are using the seats properly. Learn more about the department's Child Passenger Safety program, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/police.

appointment, contact Officer

Schmidt at 952-233- 9400 or mschmidt@ ShakopeeMN.gov.

EVERYONE HAS A HAND IN SAFETY In July, Shakopee Police Department was invited to River Valley Montessori & Child Care's Community Helpers week to chat about safety. The child care center presented the department with flag art using the kids' fingerprints to make up the blue line. The art is on display at the police department.

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