Palos Park Police Offer Safety Tips for Summer Activities

The Palos Park Police Department has sent out some safety tips for residents to follow as warmer weather, holidays and outdoor gatherings roll in.

Although primary weather concerns of late have revolved around Mother Nature's more sinister atmospheric phenomena, such as lightning, tornadoes and flooding, police warn not to discount the dangers of a clear but very hot day.

The police department warns that illnesses caused by extreme heat can become medical emergencies, and 911 should be called in the event someone shows signs of heat stroke. The department provided the following symptomatic criteria to keep residents aware of heat-related dangers.

Heat-Related Illnesses

• Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms resulting from heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe heat-related illness, they are an early signal that the body is having trouble coping with heat and should be treated immediately with rest and fluids. Stretching or direct pressure can also reduce cramps. Unless very severe, heat cramps do not require emergency medical attention.
• Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion occurs when body fluids are lost through heavy sweating due to vigorous exercise or working in a hot, humid place. Symptoms include: sweating, pale and clammy skin, fatigue, headache, dizziness, shallow breaths, and a weak or rapid pulse. Victims of heat exhaustion are tired but not confused. The condition should be treated with rest in a cool area, drinking water or electrolyte solutions, elevating the feet 12 inches, and further medical treatment in severe cases. If not treated, the victim’s condition may escalate to heatstroke. If the victim does not respond to basic treatment, seek medical attention.
• Heatstroke: Also called “sunstroke.” The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweat to cool the body, stops working. The skin is flushed, hot and dry, and body temperature may be elevated. The victim may also be confused, develop seizures, breathe shallowly and have a weak or rapid pulse. This is the most serious heat-related illness and people exhibiting these symptoms should seek emergency medical attention.

Play Safe on the Fourth of July

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk is also reminding residents to exercise safety on Independence Day.

Polk provided bullet points in a news release, stressing that residents should not drink and drive, which is not only unsafe but also against the law. The statement also encourages residents to plan a ride home before festivities begin if they think there is a chance they will have too much to drink.

He said the village will have additional units on the street during the Fourth of July weekend to keep drunk drivers off of the road.

Drunk driving is not the only activity that can increase during the celebratory Fourth of July weekend, when having fun sometimes gets out of hand.

“As for fireworks, we know that residents like to enjoy their holiday—but illegal activity is illegal no matter the day,” Polk said to Patch in an email. “ Any firework activity that comes to our attention is dealt with appropriately.”

Get ‘Iced’ (In Case of Emergency)

Polk also would like to inform residents with cell phones about the I.C.E. program. The program provides first responders with readily available emergency information should someone become incapacitated or severely injured in an accident.

The program is simple. Within your cell phone phonebook, place the number of a family member or loved one you would like the first responders to call in case you are injured. List it in your phone, under the acronym I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency) and first responders will call the listed number first if they need to get a hold of someone.

“First responders will know to look for it,” Polk said. “The PPPD uses it one to two times each month, usually in a situation where they have a confused driver, but also when they find an unattended cell phone.”

Polk said I.C.E is a nationwide program and is not new, but departments like to remind residents now and then to re-enter the number, especially at a time when so many people are getting new phones.

“The I.C.E program has already saved lives by allowing first responders to find out critical healthcare or other personal information,” Polk said. “For example: we encountered a situation with an unresponsive citizen, made an I.C.E call on their cell and found out they had left home with a child who had hidden nearby the vehicle because they were frightened. We would not have known to look other than by using that information.”