Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/684825
TheNortheastOhioRe- gional Sewer District re- leased a public service an- nouncement with data suggesting that 75 per- cent of peo- ple admit to having used their phones in the bath- room. What's worse, 19 percent of those surveyed admitted they've dropped their phones in the toi- let. I'm not sure why the sewer agency was curious about this matter, but the facts did come to my mind when this letter washed up on my desk: DEAR MARY: A week ago, I dropped my smart- phone in the toilet. I tried to rescue it, but I had to get a new phone. The salesman said that someone comes to the store every day with the same problem. Now I'm wondering if there is some kind of waterproof case I can get to protect my phone in case this happens again. Also, how do you fix a wet phone? My method (I immedi- ately wiped it off, took it apart and stuck it in a bag of rice) didn't work. — Bev DEAR BEV: There are steps you can take to try to rescue a waterlogged mobile phone, but there are no guarantees. Generally, you should get the phone out of the water and turn it off im- mediately. Lay it on a soft cloth or paper towels. Un- less it's an iPhone, quickly remove the battery cover and battery. Next, remove the SIM card (if your phone has one). Do not take the phone apart be- yond that. Instead, care- fully dry it off with that soft cloth, removing as much water as possible from every little port and opening. For non-iPhones, cleaning the inside with rubbing alcohol will dis- place the water, which could remedy the prob- lem. Do not use a hair dryer to try to dry the phone. That will only drive mois- ture inside the crevices and intricate parts of the phone. Put the phone into a substance that has the ability to draw out mois- ture, like desiccant. Or if you have a packet of sil- ica gel, put the phone and that packet into a zip-type bag and close it. If you don't have either of these materials, sub- merge the soggy phone in a bag of uncooked rice and leave it overnight. Or lay the phone on an ab- sorbent towel and set it in a sunny place to dry out completely. Test it after 24 hours, or when the phone appears to be completely dry. Good luck! LifeProof makes a wa- terproof case for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (for around $40 on Amazon). The case has gotten hundreds of pos- itive reviews. LifeProof also makes cases for other iPhone makes and models, as well as Sam- sung, LG and Motorola phones. For a specific water ac- tivity, like a boating or fishing outing, a JOTO Universal Waterproof Dry Bag (about $8) will keep your phone completely dry, even if submerged for an extended period of time. Now, all that being said, to make sure this doesn't happen again at home, I suggest installing some kind of handy shelf or des- ignating a specific place in the bathroom to act as a clear reminder to Place Phone Here. Make sure you put your phone there every time — the first thing you do before any- thing else. Force your- self to do this, and in just a short amount of time, it will become a habit. As for when you're at work or out and about, create another habit: Put your phone away before you go into a restroom. Give it a rest during your bathroom break. Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Immersion therapy for mobile phone droppers The National Highway Traffic Safety Administra- tion has designated May 23 to June 5 as the national "Click it or Ticket" enforce- ment period. Since the "Click it or Ticket" campaign debuted in California in 2005, the seat belt use rate has in- creased from 92 percent to nearly 97 percent in 2011. That percentage equates to 1,243 lives be- ing saved. "What this illustrates, is that enforcement of this 'minor violation' saves lives every day," said Red Bluff California Highway Patrol Officer Troy Soma- via. It only takes a couple of seconds to buckle your seat belt. And those two seconds can literally save your life. The minimum fine for a seat belt ticket in Cali- fornia is $142, and up to $445 for not properly re- straining a child under the age of 16. On a positive note, Cali- fornia's 97 percent seat belt use rate is much higher than the national average of 85 percent. NHTSA statistics have shown that regular seat belt use is the single most effective way for people to reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. "So those of you who are wearing your seatbelts – great job. For those of you who are not complying with the seat belt law, you'll see me in your rearview mir- ror sooner than later," So- mavia said. SAFETY Seatbelt enforcement period underway Mary Hunt Cal Fire is increasing its firefighting staffing as windy conditions are pre- dicted to elevate fire dan- ger across many areas of California over the Memo- rial Day weekend. With many Califor- nians planning to rec- reate outdoors for the Memorial Day week- end, Cal Fire is asking the public to take steps to prevent sparking a new wildfire. According to the Na- tional Weather Service many parts of California will see warm weather this weekend and winds through Saturday with gusts of 20-30 mph. There is even a risk of lightning across the higher elevations in the Sierra. "Over the past several weeks we have experi- enced an increase in the number of wildfires," said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. "This week- end's weather conditions will elevate our fire risk even higher, so we need ev- eryone's assistance ensur- ing they don't spark a new wildfire." Since Jan. 1, Cal Fire has responded to more than 1,100 wildfires that have burned more than 10,000 acres. Last week alone fire crews responded to 169 new wildfires that charred around 4,000 acres. In the midst of this severe drought, Califor- nians are encouraged to be vigilant. Here are some tips for those traveling this week- end. Camping: Obtain a campfire permit at www. PreventWildfireCA.org; check for local fire restric- tions; clear away grass, leaves and other debris within a 10-foot perime- ter of any campfire; have a responsible person in at- tendance at all times; en- sure all campfires are com- pletely extinguished before leaving; when barbecuing, never leave the grill unat- tended. Vehicle: Ensure your vehicle is properly main- tained with nothing drag- ging on the ground; when towing, make sure trailer chains are properly se- cured; never drive or pull over into dry grass. Fire is not the only dan- ger that can occur in the outdoors, as drowning in- creases dramatically dur- ing this holiday weekend. Warm temperatures make the cool waters of Califor- nia's beautiful rivers and lakes very enticing, yet very dangerous. In the water: Always wear a life jacket; chil- dren should always be su- pervised by a responsible adult; never swim alone; be cautious of rivers and waterways with rapid cur- rents; drinking and swim- ming can be just as dan- gerous as drinking and driving. For more ways to be safe this holiday, visit www. ReadyforWildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov. CAL FIRE Staffing increased for holiday weekend SASEBO, JAPAN A 2009 Summit High School grad- uate and Red Bluff native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Commander Fleet Ac- tivities Sasebo (CFAS). Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Goode is a boat- swain's mate serving with the Port Operations De- partment at Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo, op- erating out of Sasebo, Ja- pan. A Navy boatswain's mate is responsible for driving boats, delivering supplies and transporting personnel. "The best part of my job is the risk that is in- volved," said Goode. "The risk is what makes my job fun and rewarding." With more than 50 per- cent of the world's ship- ping tonnage and a third of the world's crude oil passing through the re- gion, the United States has historic and enduring interests in this part of the world. The Navy's presence in Sasebo is part of that long- standing commitment. Formally established June of 1946, U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo has pro- vided support for the U.S. Seventh Fleet Area of Re- sponsibility since the Ko- rean War. In July of 1980, CFAS became home to forward deployed Seventh Fleet ships. Now, CFAS is cur- rently home for 8 ships, in- cluding the amphibious as- sault ship, USS Bonhomme Richard. Including the forward deployed ships, Fleet Ac- tivities Sasebo is home to more than 25 commands, and more than 5,900 mil- itary members and their families as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. "The forward deployed sailors here in Sasebo are special," said Capt. Mat- thew Ovios, commander, U.S. Fleet Activities Sasebo. "They not only do great work ensuring the U.S. Navy is ready for any mis- sion, but they are also out- standing ambassadors for the nation and the Navy. I am extremely proud of what they accomplish ev- ery day." According to Navy of- ficials, Fleet Activities Sasebo sailors define ex- cellence in shore installa- tion management through their proactive leadership and seamless command in- tegration. "Being forward deployed gives you chance to expe- rience different cultures," said Goode. Navy officials explained that these sailors are highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. "Serving in the Navy means a lot to me because it is giving me the finan- cial means and security to setup my post military ca- reer," Goode said. NAVY Red Bluff native serving abroad in PettyOfficer2ndClassRobertGoode Everyone needs a hero, and animals are no excep- tion. Every day through- out the country, law en- forcement personnel and firefighters have been re- sponsible for saving count- less lives. It is not only hu- mans that are saved, but also many animals. While heroic rescues of animals often get media attention, it is the many simple acts of kindness that usually go unnoticed. Rescuing a kitten stuck in a tree or helping some- one's beloved pet find its way home are just a cou- ple examples of incidents too numerous to mention. Whether it is a dynamic rescue or a simple act, these people really are he- roes to the animals. PETS—ProvidingEssen- tials for Tehama Shelter — in an effort to show appre- ciation to the firefighters and law enforcement per- sonnel of Tehama County, is continuing its "Every- one Needs A Hero" adop- tion program for one year, starting June 1. During this program, the spay or neuter and rabies fees of any ani- mal adopted at the Tehama County Animal Care Cen- ter by fire or law enforce- ment personnel working in Tehama County, including volunteer staff, will be paid by PETS. "Everyone needs a hero and everyone needs a friend, no matter who you are," said Ronnie Casey, PETS vice presi- dent. "We at PETS know that the animals at the Te- hama County Animal Care Center need a permanent place to call home. They need their 'hero' to come and give them a happy for- ever-after, which they have not experienced. In ad- dition, we are also aware that a pet can add real joy and unconditional love to a life. We believe this pro- gram could be a win-win for everyone involved." To qualify for the pro- gram, the adopter must be an employee or rec- ognized volunteer of any of the following organi- zations within Tehama County: Tehama County Fire Department, Cal Fire, any police department, any department of the Tehama County Sheriff's Office and California Highway Patrol. A photo ID and verification must be provided to qual- ify. The Tehama County An- imal Care Center can be reached at 527-3439 and is at 1830 Walnut St. in Red Bluff. Adoption hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Monday through Sat- urday, excluding holidays. For more information regarding this program, call PETS at 527-8702 or write to petstehama@ gmail.com. PETS Everyone Needs A Hero campaign to launch Habitat for Humanity of Butte County will host a Little Chapman Mansion Garden Party, 3-5:30 p.m. June 4 at 265 E. 12th St. The event is a fundraiser for Habitat, which helps build affordable housing for low-income families. There will be food, games, live music in a gar- den setting and a silent auction. Tickets are $35 and available at Vagabond Rose,onlineatbuttehabitat. org or by calling 343-7423. Auction items include two nights in a luxury cot- tage by Bidwell Park, tick- ets to a Giants game, Sat- ava glass, a quilt by Annie's Star Quilt Guild, a flight over Lassen Peak, art work by local artists, wine bas- ket and more. For details, contact Ni- cole Bateman at 343-7423. 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