First responders give tips on how to have a safe graduation celebration
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, the months of April through July have some of the highest reports of teenage traffic fatalities.
This is right around the graduation season.
First responders said it’s important for graduates and their families to have fun but also have safety precautions.
As temperatures in the valley continue reaching triple digits, Battalion Chief Cedric Cesena, of the El Centro Fire Department, said it’s vital to consume water and not have an empty stomach.
Cesena said, ” Hydrate and that you eat as well. Sometimes graduates, you know, they’re so excited about what’s happening. They forget to drink, they forget to eat. You need to stay away from caffeinated drinks especially high energy drinks type. ”
Cesena said residents who are throwing barbecues should also dispose of their charcoal properly.
” Without flooding those charcoals in water and making sure that they’re completely out. We end up with sidewalk fires. With trash that was you know basically the charcoal was dumped into, ” said Cesena.
Commander Aaron Reel of the El Centro Police Department advised high school graduates to not drink underage and to not get in the car of a drunk driver.
Commander Reel said, ” Know who you’re with. If they are drinking, don’t ride with them. The risks are entirely too high. The onus is on the person to protect themselves above all else and make sure they get home safely. ”
Devon Apodaca , the executive director of the Humane Society of Imperial County, asked that pet owners should bring their pets inside in case fireworks are part of graduation festivities.
” They don’t understand what’s going on and so what happens is in order for them to try to get away and hide sometimes they get out of yards. They jump fences, they crawl under fences. And you know kinda in the confusion of things they become lost very quickly and most often they run away very far from home in a very short amount of time, ” said Apodaca .
First responders also asked parents to know where their graduates are at all times if they’re attending a party that could have alcohol.
