Over the past few months, Council Member Martin's office has been working in tandem with the office of Council Member Robert Gallegos in addition to the city's Department of Neighborhoods (DON) and the Planning & Development Department to help residents form and activate two super neighborhoods within District E: Super Neighborhood 75 in the Meadowbrook/Allendale area and Super Neighborhood 58 in Northshore. Both groups met during the month of April to discuss the drafting of by-laws, plan organizational structure and take further steps required before official City Council recognition can be achieved.

Created by former Houston mayor Lee Brown, the City of Houston's Super Neighborhood program enables residents and stakeholders within defined geographical areas throughout the city to organize into "super neighborhood" councils. Once officially recognized by Houston City Council, super neighborhoods can apply to receive funding for community projects through the Super Neighborhood Action Plan (SNAP) program. Super neighborhoods also provide an effective structure for community decision-making and communication between community leaders and the City of Houston.

For more information on Super Neighborhood 75 serving the Meadowbrook/Allendale area of District E, click here. More information on Super Neighborhood 58, located in the Northshore area, can additionally be accessed online here.

On Tuesday, April 28 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended a retirement reception for Sally Mitchell, who, after seven years, is retiring as Executive Director for the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce. At the event, friends, colleagues and community leaders recognized Mrs. Mitchell for her outstanding leadership in the role and her dedicated service to the South Belt-Ellington community. Succeeding Mrs. Mitchell as the chamber's executive director will be Sherry Trainer, who has previously held the position and has most recently served as the Executive Director of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

Council Member Martin and the District E team thank Mrs. Mitchell for her years of outstanding service at the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce and wish her the best of luck in all future endeavors.

On Wednesday, April 29 staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the South Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce's annual Top Ten Luncheon, a yearly event which honors the top ten graduating seniors from a selection of local high schools in the South-Belt Ellington area. At this year's luncheon, students were recognized from Clear Horizons Early College High School, J. Frank Dobie High School and Lutheran South Academy. 

A number of the honorees' parents also attended the event, as did faculty and staff from the three represented high schools in addition to other community leaders and public officials. Arturo Machuca, General Manager of Ellington Airport, also presented an update on several projects occurring across the Houston Airport System, including the city's plans to utilize Ellington as the site for the nation's 10th commercial spaceport.

On Saturday, May 16 the Houston Airport System will host the 7th Annual Aeros & Autos event from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Ellington Airport. This yearly family-friendly event, which offers exciting displays and activities relating to planes and automobiles, will feature exhibits from the Houston Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, NASA, the Commemorative Air Force, the Lone Star Flight Museum and more. Proceeds from the show will benefit the Texas Lions Camp, an organization dedicated to assisting physically disabled, hearing/vision impaired and diabetic children from the State of Texas, as well as the Lone Star Veterans Association.

This year's show, while still located at Ellington Airport, will be held in a new location to utilize actual runways. The entrance to the event will now be located off of Genoa Red Bluff Road on the north side of Ellington Airport. 

www.fly2houston.com/AerosandAutos.

On Sunday, May 31 the Run Houston! Race Series will host its third of five events in 2015 in Clear Lake. Run Houston! Clear Lake will feature 5K and 10K races passing some of the iconic landmarks at NASA's Johnson Space Center as well as a 1K race for kids. Participants of all skill levels are welcome, and all races will start and finish at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. The family-friendly event will additionally feature post-race food catered by Pollo Tropical and entertainment provided by 100.3 The Bull.

Participation in Run Houston! Clear Lake is limited, so those interested in racing are encouraged to register at clearlake.runhouston.com. Registration includes a custom event shirt, a custom finisher's medal for all distances, a custom race bib with a timing chip, free digital event photos to share with family and friends and a post-race party with entertainment for adults and kids. More information on the Run Houston! Race Series can be found online by clicking here. 

On Tuesday, April 7 staff from Council Member Martin's office met with Paul Miller, Director of Facility Services for Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD), and Lisa Lake, Construction Project Manager for CCISD, to tour the site of the Clear Lake High School rebuild project. Progress is currently underway on Phase 1 of the project, which includes construction near Kruger Field House. Land-clearing and the installation of utilities is additionally underway in the rear of the site, where athletic fields will be relocated and new drives installed.

The $98.6 million Clear Lake High School rebuild project, which was approved in May 2013 as a part of the $367 million CCISD Bond referendum, involves the construction of a new, comprehensive two-story building to accommodate 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders. The new facility will replace the majority of the current Clear Lake High School building, which was constructed in 1972 and has experienced structural deterioration. By consolidating grades 9-12 into a central school, the project will also allow for the repurposing of the building currently serving as Clear Lake High School's 9th Grade Center.

Council Member Martin joined a number of local elected officials and leaders from the transportation industry as the Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership (BayTran) held its 16th annual State of the Counties Address on Wednesday, April 15. At the event, a panel of top county officials from Houston's Bay Area spoke and provided updates on projects within their respective regions. Those who addressed the crowd included Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta, Galveston County Judge Mark Henry and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. Barbara Koslov, President of the Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership, also spoke at the event to discuss recent transportation-related news affecting the greater Houston area including several bills up for consideration in the Texas Legislature. 

Council Member Martin joined a number of elected officials and community leaders at the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership's (BAHEP) "State of the Port" event on Wednesday, April 29. Serving as the keynote speaker for the event was Janiece Longoria, Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority. In her remarks, Chairman Longoria gave an overview of the Port of Houston and its pivotal role in the regional and national economy as the busiest American port in terms of foreign waterborne and export tonnage. Chairman Longoria additionally highlighted a number of innovative initiatives and expansion projects currently being undertaken by the Port of Houston Authority to capitalize on Houston's growth and the growth opportunities offered by such developments as the expansion of the Panama Canal, which is currently expected to be completed in the spring of 2016.

Council Member Martin thanks Bob Mitchell and the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for hosting him at the event, as well as Chairman Longoria for her remarks and her effective leadership at the Port of Houston Authority. More information on the exciting developments going on at the Port can be viewed online at www.portofhouston.com.

Staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's 2015 Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD) Board of Trustees Candidates Forum on Tuesday, April 21. At the forum, District 5 candidates Jay Cunningham and Trent Martin offered remarks on their motivation to run for the school board and their respective visions for CCISD. Both also participated in a question and answer session moderated by Dr. Glenn Freedman, President of EduSafe Systems Inc. and former member of the CCISD Board of Trustees.

Up for election during this year's Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees elections are incumbent Trustee Page Rander for District 4 (unopposed); incumbent Trustee Charles Pond for At-Large A (unopposed); and Jay Cunningham and Trent Martin, running for the District 5 seat being vacated by retiring Trustee Dee Scott. Early voting for the election began on Monday, April 27 and will run through Tuesday, May 5 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Election Day will take place on Saturday, May 9 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

For more information on the 2015 Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees elections, including polling locations for both early and Election Day voting, please click here.

Council Member Martin's Chief of Staff, Lauren Laake, attended the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce's monthly General Membership Luncheon on Wednesday, April 29 where Scott McClelland, President of HEB Houston Division, was the guest speaker. In the course of his remarks, Mr. McClelland provided an update on the new 101,000 square-foot HEB location being constructed just north of the intersection of Clear Lake City Boulevard and El Dorado Boulevard. This HEB will serve as the anchor store for the Fidelis Clear Lake Marketplace commercial development. Council Member Martin has worked closely with Mr. McClelland on this project in order to facilitate effective communication between HEB and the residents of Clear Lake, and he thanks him for his responsiveness and willingness to work with the community.

Construction on the new HEB is expected to begin later this year with the store currently scheduled for opening in January of 2016. Council Member Martin's office will continue to keep the public informed as this exciting new project continues to develop.

Staff from Council Member Martin's office attend a meet and greet event held by firefighters from Houston Fire Department Stations 71 and 72 at the Clear Lake City-County Freeman Branch Library on Friday, April 10. Held each year, the community event gives residents from the Clear Lake area the opportunity to interact with the Houston firefighters who serve and protect them. The event is also a hit with District E's youngest residents, who had the opportunity to explore the stations' fire trucks and take pictures with the firefighters. Council Member Martin thanks Stations 71 and 72 for putting on the annual event and for their brave service to the residents of the Clear Lake area.

On Wednesday, April 29 a reception was held to honor Dee Scott, the District 5 representative on the Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees who is retiring from the board in May after 10 years of service. Staff from Council Member Martin's office attended the reception and presented Ms. Scott with a certificate of special recognition thanking her for her longstanding commitment to the betterment of the Clear Creek Independent School District.

On Tuesday, April 21 over 200 people attended the final public stakeholder meeting of the Kingwood Area Mobility Study, which has officially concluded after more than a year of analyzing and receiving public input on potential mobility improvements in the Kingwood area. Council Member Martin and Stan Sarman, Chairman of the Kingwood Area Mobility Study's Steering Committee, lead the meeting, where they presented the mobility study's final report and several mobility improvement projects planned for the area. Members of the public were then given an opportunity to comment and ask questions on the presented information. Representatives from Gunda Corporation, LLC, which conducted the study, were additionally present to answer questions on the study and its findings.

The plan developed by the Steering Committee combined with public input gathered via email, phone, and survey features several infrastructure projects aimed at improving overall mobility and reducing traffic congestion in the Kingwood area. These proposed projects can be viewed within the Kingwood Mobility Study's final report, which has been online since March 15, 2015 and can be accessed at 

http://gundacorp.com/kingwood-mobility/reports.

In an effort to provide more permanent pothole repairs, the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department is in the Kingwood area to construct full panel replacements at four locations along Kingwood Drive. 

Project A, located at 600 Kingwood Drive near the Kingwood Commons Shopping Center, has been completed. This project replaced a panel located in the right eastbound lane. 

Project B is located at 3200 Kingwood Drive just west of Kingwood High School before the traffic signal located at Valley Manor. This panel replacement is located in the right westbound lane. As a result of this repair work the right lane at this location will be closed to traffic. The work is expected to be completed with all lanes reopened by Monday, May 4.

Project C is located at 2400 Kingwood Drive just east of the Green Oak Intersection. This panel replacement is located in the left westbound lane. As a result of this repair work the left lane at this location will be closed to traffic. The work is expected to begin on Monday, May 4 and be completed with all lanes reopened by Monday, May 11.

Project D is located at 810 Kingwood Drive in between Royal Forest and Chestnut Ridge. This panel replacement is located in both westbound lanes. As a result of this repair work the construction crews will first begin with the right westbound lane and upon its completion shift to repair the left westbound lane. The work is expected to begin on Tuesday, May 5 and be completed with all lanes reopened by Monday, May 11.

Construction crews will operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and possibly on Saturdays to expedite the construction. During this time, please expect lane closures, intermittently, due to these construction activities. Council Member Martin's office has worked with the Houston Police Department's Kingwood Substation which will be assigning Mobile Response Teams to help ease traffic congestion.  

For more information, please contact Council Member Dave Martin's office at (832) 393-3008 or districte@houstontx.gov.  

The City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department is conducting a sanitary sewer rehabilitation project near the intersection of Green Oak Drive and Lakeville Drive in Kingwood. The project, which is being overseen by the department's Wastewater Operations (WWO) group, is currently anticipated for completion around mid-May. Please note that all project timelines are subject to change due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. WWO will take appropriate measures, including the use of signage and flag personnel, to minimize any potential disruptions to traffic flow when the section of sewer lines crossing Kingwood drive is being rehabilitated. 

Last month, the District E office was notified of an upcoming City of Houston Safe Sidewalk project along Sandy Forks Drive in Kingwood set to begin in July 2015. In response to questions and concerns about the project from District E residents, Council Member Martin visited the project site and asked that the project be put on hold until further input was gathered. During the month of April, the District E office reached out to Kingwood residents who would have been directly affected by the project and received expressions of opposition to the project from 17 out of 21 respondents. As a result, Council Member Martin spoke with Dale Ruddick, Director of the City of Houston's Public Works and Engineering Department (PWE), and personally requested that the project be cancelled. Noting the public's opposition to the project, PWE granted the request. The Sandy Forks Drive Safe Sidewalk Project has therefore been officially cancelled.

The Houston Police Department, Kingwood Division, has had several calls for service recently regarding a frightening telephone scam commonly referred to as a "virtual kidnapping."  While this is not a new scam it is one that has not been common in the Kingwood area.

In this scheme, an individual will call claiming to have kidnapped a family member.  While there has been no actual kidnapping, the caller will use an accomplice (usually female) to convince the victim that a family member or friend has been kidnapped.  This scenario could be as simple as "I have your daughter" and the accomplice would shout in the background, "help me mommy" or, "they have me mommy."  At this point the caller (usually male) will threaten physical violence to the daughter or threaten the caller by saying you will never see her again. The caller will also typically provide the victim with specific instructions to insure the safe return of the "kidnapped" individual, which sometimes involve demands of a ransom payment.

To avoid becoming a victim of this extortion scheme, look for the following possible indicators:

• Incoming calls coming from an outside area code, sometimes from Puerto Rico with area codes (787), (939), (856) and (551).  These are just some of the area codes used.
• Calls that do not come from the "kidnapped" victim's telephone.
• If you've answered the telephone, a caller that goes to great lengths to keep you on the telephone.
• If you've answered the telephone, a caller that works to keep you from calling or locating the "kidnapped victim."
• If you've answered the telephone, the caller will only accept ransom money that is accepted via wire transfer.

If you have answered a telephone call from someone who demands payment of a ransom for a "kidnapped" victim, consider the following strategies:

• Try to slow the situation down.  Request to speak to the victim directly.  Ask, "How do I know my loved one is okay?"
• If they don't allow you to speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or describe the vehicle they drive (if they drive a car).
• Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speak.
• Attempt to call, text, or contact the victim via social media.  Request that the victim call back from his or her cell phone.
• While staying on the line with the "kidnappers", try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another telephone.
• To buy time, repeat the caller's request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving.
• Don't directly challenge or argue with the caller.  Keep your voice low and steady.
• Request the kidnapped victim call you back from his/her cell phone.

The Houston Police Department encourages the community to immediately contact HPD at (281) 913-4522 if they encounter any calls that require a ransom for a kidnapping or a "Virtual Kidnapping." If you believe you are the victim of a REAL kidnapping, call 911 immediately.

The Humble ISD Board of Trustees election will take place on Saturday, May 9. Early voting ran from April 27-May 1 and will be available again from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on May 4-5 at the Humble ISD Administration Building, Humble City Hall and Eggers Instructional Support Center. During Early Voting, registered voters who live in Humble ISD may vote at any of the three early voting sites. On Election Day (May 9), voters must vote at their polling site for their precinct. For a list of Election Day polling locations, a link to look up precinct numbers and a sample ballot, please visit www.humbleisd.net/boardelections.

Each year, the Humble Independent School District (HISD) Education Foundation holds its annual gala to benefit innovative education projects serving the students and teachers of the district. As a former member of the Humble ISD Board of Trustees, Council Member Martin enjoys the annual event and attended the foundation's 2015 "Denim and Diamonds" Gala, which featured live entertainment and a silent auction, on Friday, April 10.  

A branch of the largest college system in the greater Houston area, Lone Star College-Kingwood served 1,100 students when it first opened in August of 1984. Now, 30 years later, over 12,000 students from 45 countries attend LSC-Kingwood, where they're taught and mentored by the college's 400+ faculty and staff. Living up to the ambitious vision of its founders, Lone Star College-Kingwood's campus has grown to cover nearly 500,000 square-feet and include among its facilities a new Student Conference Center and Music Instructional Building.

On Tuesday, April 14 Council Member Martin and the District E team visited The Village Learning Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Kingwood which provides a variety of programs and services to children and adults with disabilities. During the visit, the District E team was taken on a tour lead by The Village's founder and CEO, Kim Brusatori, as well as members of the organization's staff.

Highlighted during the visit were the multiple facilities owned and operated by The Village Learning Center, including The Village at Plum Valley Day-Habilitation Center, which helps individuals with disabilities to increase academic skills, participate in community service projects and enjoy leisure activities; The Village at Stoney Glen, an 8,000 square-foot group home providing independent living opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities; The Village at Hickory Glen, a 15-apartment Section 811 affordable living community which provides housing for individuals with disabilities; and The Village Community Center, a multi-purpose facility which houses The Village's Vocational Education and Training Program in addition to providing office space to the organization's staff. The District E team additionally passed by the site that will be developed during an upcoming expansion of The Village Learning Center made possible by the $3,000,000 Community Development Block Grant approved by City Council on March 4 of this year.

Council Member Martin thanks Ms. Brusatori and the staff of The Village Learning Center for their remarkable and dedicated work to provide high-quality programming and services for disabled individuals in the Lake Houston area and throughout the greater Houston region. 

On Tuesday, April 21 Council Member Martin attended the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce's (LHACC) 2015 State of Education Luncheon, an annual event which provides attendees with updates on the state of public and higher education in the Lake Houston Area and potential implications for the local economy. At this year's luncheon, Humble Independent School District (HISD) Superintendent Dr. Guy Sconzo gave an overview of the current state of the district in addition to plans for future expansion to satisfy the growth in the student population within HISD's service area. David Baty, Interim Vice President of Instruction for Lone Star College-Kingwood and Dr. Darren Rankin, Vice President of Student Success for Lone Star College-Kingwood, also spoke at the luncheon to discuss new programs and initiatives being offered at the college.

On Thursday, April 30 Council Member Martin lead the opening prayer at the Lake Houston Family YMCA's "Dancing with the Lake Houston Stars" event. The event included a silent auction and bidder board, as well as performances by local stars. Funds raised during the event will be used to support the YMCA Annual Campaign, which helps everyone, regardless of age, income or background have the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive at the Y.

The online application for the 2015 Summer Jobs Program can be accessed here; to be eligible to take part in the program, applicants must reside within the City of Houston. Applications for the program will be accepted until May 8.

To learn more about the City of Houston's 2015 Summer Jobs Program, including a list of additional application requirements, please visit houstontx.gov/summerjobs.  

On Wednesday, April 15 City Council unanimously passed a measure amending Chapter 40 of the city's Code of Ordinances to remove the permit fee charges and bond requirements associated with the repair, replacement and installation of sidewalks abutting single-family residential properties. Prior to the amendment, residents had to pay in excess of $100 in permitting fees to undertake such projects. Council also passed a complimentary ordinance which will enable the city to hire two sidewalk repair contractors with whom fixed prices have been negotiated. Together, these measures will remove logistical barriers and reduce the cost for residents seeking to undertake the privately funded repair, replacement or installation of sidewalks abutting their property.

To further streamline sidewalk projects, the city's Public Works and Engineering Department has set up the Privately Funded Sidewalk Program, which leverages the city's project management expertise to assist residents. Interested residents can fill out a form online, accessible here, which will direct a city employee to visit the site in question to perform a feasibility and cost evaluation. Applicants will then have the option to pay the city the quoted price for the sidewalk project, which represents the cost passed on to one of the preselected contractors to complete the work in addition to a 7% administrative fee retained by the City of Houston. City staff members will follow up and inspect the sidewalk upon project completion.

More information on the City of Houston's new Privately Funded Sidewalk Program can be found online here.

On Thursday, April 2 Council Member Martin attended the YMCA of Greater Houston's 33rd Annual Holy Week Prayer Breakfast. This year's event, themed, "Experience the Art of Easter" featured an exhibition by famous performance painter David Girabaldi as well as remarks  from Paul McEntire, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Houston. Proceeds from the event benefitted the Y.

In celebration of Earth Day 2015, Council Member Martin attended the 5th Annual Mayor's Earth Day Breakfast on Thursday, April 9. The annual breakfast, hosted each year by Houston Mayor Annise Parker, serves to celebrate the mission of Earth Day and recognize companies and organizations that have contributed to the goals of environmental protection and awareness in the City of Houston. Jose Altuve, second baseman for the Houston Astros, also attended the event as an honored guest and was presented a proclamation by Mayor Parker. Council Member Martin thanks Colette Vallot of TXU Energy for inviting him to attend this year's event.

On Thursday, April 16 Council Member Martin and the District E team attended the Greater Houston Partnership's (GHP) annual State of the City address alongside a number of leaders from the greater Houston region. Bob Harvey, President and CEO of the GHP, kicked off this year's event by welcoming those in attendance and thanking Mayor Annise Parker for her 18 years of public service to the City of Houston. Mayor Parker then delivered her final State of the City address, highlighting in her remarks a variety of accomplishments over the course of her five years in office. Mayor Parker additionally identified some of the issues which currently face Houston and which will serve as challenges for the city's next mayor, including pension obligations and aging infrastructure. 

Council Member Martin thanks AECOM for hosting him at the event, as well as Comcast, the TPC Group and the Port of Houston Authority for hosting the District E staff. 

On Wednesday, April 29 Council Member Martin attended the Transportation Advocacy Group (TAG) - Houston Region's "Rails to Riches" event which featured a panel discussion on the future and importance of rail transportation in the greater Houston region. Participating in the panel were Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) CEO Tom Lambert; Gulf Coast Rail District Chairman and former Houston City Council Member Bert Keller; and Texas Central Railway President and former Harris County Judge Robert Eckels. Topics discussed included the need for a multimodal transit system in Houston, the importance of accounting for future growth in infrastructure design and some of the funding challenges associated with transportation.

On Wednesday, April 29 Council Member Martin attended a special event held by the Houston First Corporation, on which he has served as an ex-officio board member since being appointed to the role by Mayor Annise Parker in August 2014. At the event, Houston First announced a new tourism initiative aimed at increasing the number of annual visitors to the greater Houston region by 35% in the coming three years. Houston First ultimately hopes to increase Houston's annual number of visitors to 20 million by 2018 and add thousands of jobs in the hospitality industry while increasing state and local tax revenues. To achieve these goals, the corporation will be undertaking a major marketing push in Mexico, where it will utilize newspaper and television ads, as well as in other cities across Texas and in the neighboring state of Louisiana. Officials at Houston First are additionally looking to enhance the city's image as a leisure destination and take advantage of several new international airlines and flights added to the Houston Airport System in recent years.  

Houston First will also be running two new video ads as a part of its "My Houston" brand. To view the ads, which will be airing throughout Texas and Louisiana in broadcast and nationally in rich media, please click here and here.

On Thursday, April 30 Council Member Martin attended the Kinder Institute Luncheon 2015, an event hosted by Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research highlighting the community partnership and outreach activities undertaken by the institute over the past year. Created in 2010 with a $15 million endowment by Houston philanthropists Richard and Nancy Kinder, Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research aims to advance the understanding of important issues facing Houston.

Delivering the keynote address at this year's luncheon was by Dr. Stephen Klineberg, Founding Director of the Kinder Institute, who presented the results of the 34th Annual Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey. Beginning in 1982, the Houston Area Survey has systematically measured the continuities and changes in demographic patterns, life experiences, attitudes and beliefs among Harris County residents. To access a copy of the 2015 Kinder Houston Area Survey, entitled, "Perspectives on a City in Transition," residents can click here. 

Council Member Martin attended the Houston Police Officers' Union's  (HPOU) 5th Annual Stars and Stripes Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday, April 30. This year's event benefitted Assist the Officer, a non-profit organization providing short-term, immediate need financial assistance for officers critically injured or disabled in the line of duty. More information on Assist the Officer can be accessed here. The event also benefitted Operation Lone Star, a 501(c)(3) Texas non-profit corporation founded by families who have had or currently have loved ones serving in the Armed Forces. For more information on Operation Lone Star, please visit www.operationlonestar.com.

Each May, a number of businesses and organizations coordinate National Water Safety Month, an annual awareness campaign aimed at promoting the safe enjoyment of aquatic activities. As a part of National Water Safety Month, supporters of the campaign such as the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) offer important water safety tips for all those partaking in water-related activities:

• The ISHOF recommends teaching children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible. 
• However, adults are instructed not to rely on swimming lessons or flotation devices to ensure the safety of children in the water; direct supervision is always necessary. 
• On the topic of child water safety, the ISHOF also suggests installing four-sided fencing with self-latching gates to isolate bodies of water from the yard or house and equipping doors and windows that lead to bodies of water with alarms. 
• Regarding general water safety, it is important to know CPR and to post CPR instructions by the water for those who do not, as well as to have first-aid and rescue equipment nearby at all times. 
• The ISHOF additionally notes that in dealing with water-related emergencies, time is of the essence - when a child is missing, always check the pool first. 
• Having a waterside phone with emergency numbers programmed in on speed dial is another way to save time in the event of a water-related emergency.

For more important water safety tips offered in recognition of National Water Safety Month, please click here.