The Washington Poison Center warns parents of a new type of laundry detergent product on the market which appears as “single use packs” or “POD” of liquid detergent. These are “pre-measured” detergent packs that are surrounded by a soluble membrane which dissolves quickly when wet, in the washer or the mouth, releasing the detergent. The PODS are easily accessible in plastic bins and pretty to look at, making them attractive to toddlers. They are stated to contain 2X or 4X the strength of other liquid detergents. Whereas generally a child ingesting a laundry detergent is not expected to develop significant problems, there are reports of children developing peculiar neurological and respiratory difficulties after ingesting these products. For more information, contact the Washington Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222

With a forecast for warm and sunny weather over the next several days and a significantly greater-than-average mountain snowpack, King County officials are urging recreational river users to be extremely careful when heading out onto area rivers during late spring’s improving weather. Even though air temperatures are warming up, rivers, lakes and Puget Sound all remain extremely cold, and recreationists are urged to use caution around open water. Kayakers, boaters, rafters and other river users should check conditions and scout rivers thoroughly for hazards before getting on the water. For more information on river safety and drowning prevention, visit the King County river safety web page at www.kingcounty.gov/riversafety.

Do you need a current First Aid and CPR card for your workplace? A six-hour First Aid and CPR course is available the third Saturday of each month (excluding July, August and December), from 8:30 - 3:00 at Station 31. There is a $50 fee for this class and pre-registration is required.

CPR can increase the chances of survival significantly when started immediately by a bystander. The Valley Regional Fire Authority offers adult, child and infant CPR training on the first Wednesday of each month (excluding July, August and December), from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the headquarters, station 31. There is a $20 fee for this class and pre-registration is required. Visit the Community Programs page on our website for more information and the registration form.