Moreno Valley firefighters know all too well the tragic results of a child's death from drowning, which is 100% preventable. Last year alone, 10 children drowned in Riverside County and there have been three so far this year. The Moreno Valley Fire Department reminds everyone of the ABC's of water safety:

A = Adult Supervision. Assign an adult "Water Watcher" to keep

      their eyes on kids in the water at ALL times.

B = Barriers. Fences, self-closing and self-latching gates, pool

      motion sensors, window and door alarms.

C = Classes. Parents and caregivers should take a CPR and First

     Aid class and swimming courses that are available for both 

     children and adults.  

Remember - drowning is a quiet event. There is no splashing, no screaming and no noise. For more information please visit: http://www.rccfc.org/SAFETY.htm

Dare to Prepare: Mosquito Safety

Warm weather brings along those annoying, pesky mosquitos. While mosquito bites can be painful, they can also increase your chances of contracting the West Nile Virus. The West Nile Virus is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can result in debilitating cases of meningitis and encephalitis, and can lead to death in humans, horses, some bird species and other wildlife.

Symptoms develop within 3 to 14 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito.  While approximately 80% of people infected by West Nile Virus are symptom-free, approximately 20% will develop mild symptoms such as fever, headache, body ache, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Less than 1% will develop serious symptoms that may include neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

Decrease your exposure to mosquitos by following these tips:

• Avoid outside activity at dawn and dusk during the mosquito season (May to October), especially for the elderly and small children. If you must go outside during these times, wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts and use mosquito netting over infant carriers when outdoors with babies.

• Apply approved mosquito repellent with no more than 35% DEET for adults and less than 10% for children. Follow the manufacturer's directions for use.

For more information about the West Nile Virus, please visit CA Dept of Public Health - West Nile Virus or Riverside County Vector Control. For additional "Dare to Prepare" tips, please call Office of Emergency Management at 413.3800 or email oem@moval.org

Effective July 12, 2012, the Moreno Valley Public Library is changing to a new and improved catalog system that Library customers use to search for and check out materials.  This will help us provide our best customer service and offer new capabilities, including

• Searching the online catalog with greater ease and improved results;
• Having more options for being notified about account activity, including automated phone and text messaging;
• Keeping a list of books you have read (if you choose to do so); and more.

Any holds currently in place will transfer to the new system. Existing library cards will work with the new system as well.  There is no need to get a new card or change the PIN (Personal Identification Number).

New Video Games

Thanks to a generous donation by the Friends of the Library this month, the Library has added 29 brand-new video games for children and teens on Playstation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 platforms.

Some new titles include: Batman Arkham Asylum, How to Train Your Dragon, inFamous, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, Madden NFL '11, Just Dance 3, Michael Jackson: The Experience, Black Eyed Peas: The Experience, Rhythm Heaven Fever, and Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7. Come into the Library to reserve yours today!

Library Location:  25480 Alessandro Blvd.

Hours:                 Monday - Thursday from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.,

                          Saturday from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

For more information, visit the Library website at http://library.booksite.com/7252/ or call 413.3880. "Like" us on Facebook: http://www. facebook.com/pages/Moreno-Valley-Public-Library/185672448113861 and "follow" us on Twitter: @MoValLibrary.