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Show ii i t i i i'i'i r M ' WedThursFrl, June 30-Juiy 2, 2004 The Park Record Police help schools track truancy Next fall, officers plan to patrol for students sluffing school and send them back to class By JARED WHITLEY Of the Record staff The familiar phrase "Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?" has accompanied police on the reality show "Cops" for more than a decade, and Park City students may ask themselves the same question next school year. Local police plan to keep an eye out for kids who are skipping school, or sluffing, and refer them back to their school to help enforce truancy rules. "This is a way for us to assist the school as kind of an extra set of eyes," said Det. Ed Clouse of the Park City Police Department. "This is basically to keep kids in school where they're supposed to be: to let them know there's going to be checks and balances." Police wanted to start an anti-truancy anti-truancy program to improve their relationship with the school, Clouse said. "It fits in with the pattern of what a good community does in relation to education," said Hal Smith, high school principal. "Students ought to be here. The police force, as they look at that, are very helpful. Any assistance they can give us is much appreciated appreci-ated and a benefit to them." Keeping kids in school can also keep crime down. "They shouldn't be out there, so they probably are doing things that they shouldn't be doing when they re out mhhbbbbhi there," Smith said. Park City police did a week-long week-long test to catch truant students before school ended. Officers didnt specifically track sluffing students, but patrolling officers stopped kids if they saw them out during school hours. During this week, police stopped nine kids. Six had per mission to be off campus, one was truant, and two had been suspended, sus-pended, so they would have been breaking school rules if they actually actu-ally were on school grounds. Police did not release the truant student's name, but Clouse said the individual was caught skateboarding skate-boarding at City Park. When police stop a student, they verify with the school if he or she has permission to be off They shouldn't be outthere, so they probably are doing things that they shouldn't be doing when they're out there." - Hal Smith Park City High Principal school grounds. If students don't, they're required to return immediately imme-diately to their school office, but police don't generally drive them back. At that point, the school handles disciplinary action and parents are contacted. A first-time truant student might get a simple warning, although those who persist in sluffing school can get referred to juvenile court, Clouse said. "We're obviously not looking to be heavy handed." he said. "And that's why we want the school to deal with that truancy on that level." There's no "magic number" of times a student sluffs before he or she gets referred to the courts. Smith said. There's a big difference differ-ence between students who go out on a "one-time lark." Smith said, and continual sluffers with a pattern of recidivism. Students leaving campus is particularly common during lunch. The high school has an open-campus lunch policy, meaning mean-ing students can go to a nearby restaurant for lunch if they want to. But because the school has several lunch times, many students stu-dents leave campus to be with their friends. This happens when "I have 'A' lunch, and my best friend has 'C lunch," Clouse said. Based on the week-long test, police plan to continue tracking truants in the fall. "It's very quick and it's effective. effec-tive. We're hoping to put additional addi-tional resources at the beginning of the year to implement this protocol," pro-tocol," Clouse said. Water safety can keep you from drowning Continued from A-9 Very cold water can cause a swimmers muscles can cramp, which impairs swimming ability and can ultimately lead to drowning. drown-ing. In the case of the victim in Strawberry Lake, who had a heart condition, the cold just shut his heart down and he drowned, Baum said. The victim was with two friends at the time. "It's hard to imagine what they went through," Baum said. "Things that you never think of can happen." The local Red Cross has additional addi-tional tips for staying safe in the water. Most water tragedies can be prevented, if everyone remembers remem-bers the basic rules of water safety, safe-ty, yet accidents can happen if families take a vacation from safety- "The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross reminds everyone to have fun.this summer without taking a vacation from safety," said spokeswoman Patti O'Connor in a press release. "These tips will help keep everyone healthy and safe in or around the water" Learn to swim and swim well. One of the best things anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is learn to swim- No one, including adults, should ever swim alone. While the "buddy system" is a good start, the Red Cross suggests sug-gests that adults should practice "reach supervision" which means to be within arm's length of a child in case an emergency occurs. Learn first aid and CPR. "While the above tips can help prevent emergencies, it is important impor-tant to know what to do if a situation situa-tion arises," says O'Connor. And all caregivers, including grandparents, grandpar-ents, older siblings and babysitters should have these lifesaving skills. Outfit everyone with the proper gear. Kids - and even adults - who are not strong swimmers swim-mers or who appear to rely on inflatable toys for safety should t use. U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) whenever they are in or around the water. Each person should have the appropriate personal flotation device for his or her weight and size, which is found clearly marked inside the label near the Coast Guard stamp. A "UL" label means the jacket is Coast Guard approved, according to Kent Cummings from State Parks and Recreation. Always keep basic lifesaving equipment by a residential pool and know how to use it. A first aid kit, cordless phone, phone list with emergency contact information, informa-tion, a reaching pole and a ring buoy with a nylon line attached are recommended. First aid kits should contain plastic face shields, which can help prevent disease transmission. Cordless phones allow you to make that 911 call and to receive calls without with-out leaving the area. "These items coupled with a pool emergency action plan similar to a fire drill help the whole family breathe a little easier," easi-er," O'Connor said. The Red Cross also recommends recom-mends that pools be surrounded on all sides by a fence that is at least 4 feet high. It should not provide any footholds, which would allow a child to climb over or spacing to climb through. The fence should have a self-closing, self-locking gate that is locked when the pixl is not in use. Pack a "safety" bag for a day at the beach or lake. "The properly prop-erly packed safety bag will help ensure a fun day in which everyone every-one comes home safe and sound." Water-proof sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher, water shoes to keep feet safe from the heat and sharp objects on land and plenty of water are musts. All containers should be plastic to prevent injuries from breaking glass. Also, a hat and sunglasses keep eyes safe from dangerous UV rays. For more information on staying stay-ing safe in and around the water visit www.iitiilireclcross.org or contact the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter it (801 )'323-7000. r 12 n ur FOR 1 LUNCH OR DINNER ENTREE (Not available for Sunday Brunch) Entrees $19431 Disserts $7-$ 12 Reservations Recommended: 645-6455 www.steinlodge.com Stein Eriksen Lodge Mid-Mountain Deer Valley Wine Speittitfif Award of Kxiellence." Stilt Like Mttgitziue "Best Vt'int- List.' fly, frft 1 1,, Ilrt.ikt.tsr, Lunch & Dinner daily. Sunday Brunch weekly T'ifru d: seantiB. wmiIkt ix--rnuf un?. Cimi)luiMr:irr viler purhiip. 'riiilWf ot rqu.il ur Kr value. Available ihru 6 ;M) CM. We are saving a space for you. 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