When HOA Does Nothing: Neighborhoods become Run Down, Crime Becomes Contagious and Your Home Value Sinks

Scroll down about 1/3 way to see Tulsa Code Violations


CRIME IS CONTAGIOUS!

In a famous experiment conducted by Stanford University a car was parked on a street in Palo Alto while an identical car (with the license plates  removed and the hood  propped open) was parked in a roughly comparable neighborhood in the Bronx.  The Palo Alto car sat untouched for a week while the Bronx car was stripped within one day!

Next, researchers smashed one of the Palo Alto car’s windows with a sledgehammer. That car was completely destroyed within just a few hours.

The broken window was the tipping point which set into motion a cascade of vandalism and criminality. 

 – The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference- Malcolm Gladwell (National Bestseller)
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The impetus to engage in a certain kind of behavior is a feature of an environment. It can start with a broken window or one dark street  and spread to the entire addition, leading to lower property values for the entire area. The appearance that no one cares & no one is in charge signals that 'anything goes' in that neighborhood.

Muggers and robbers believe that members of a rundown neighborhood are less likely to call the police to identify a potential mugger or to interfere if a mugging actually takes place. In an area where potential victims don’t care about the appearance of the neighborhood a robber feels that they have less chance of being caught or even identified.


Graffiti, high grass, street lights out,  boats or inoperable cars parked in driveways, cars parked in the street facing the wrong way (or parked in the street for over 24 hours),  trash cans left out over 24 hours, trash or junk  left in the yard, commercial vehicles or trailers in driveway or street,  animals allowed off leash, grass clippings in street, stagnant water accumulating in vessels in which mosquitoes can breed may at first appear to be “trivial” problems, but they have been found to be the tipping point that invite far more serious crimes..

Developments decline & property values fall as much as 20% when these type of violations are not corrected!*  Crime, the inevitable result of disorder is contagious. Hold everyone accountable to stop crime before it starts!   (*Trash in a neighborhood can reduce area property values by 14.5%)

Small changes can reverse and bring about enormous effects.   

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Is your HOA doing their job to keep your area from becoming an eyesore and values to drop?
"Homeowners associations” (HOAs)  are established for the purpose of providing aesthetic & pecuniary preservation of a subdivision. (i.e. enforcing restrictions upon separately owned lots Oklahoma Statutes   §60-852. ) HOAs help protect property values  (i.e. the investment you have in your home) by reminding lot owners of the city code violations and  if the lot owner fails to comply, reports violations to the City of Tulsa. 

It is important to take care of your neighborhood and hold everyone accountable. Report problems to they city to keep your subdivision from becoming rundown (as it can quickly lower property values.  which means you won't make as much from the sale of your home, when you do sell!)     😞

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PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY RESIDENT 

TULSA'S RESIDENTIAL-USE CODES WERE PASSED TO PRESERVE PROPERTY VALUES AND TO GUARD THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS AND THE SAFETY OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY 

The following are hereby declared to be nuisances by the City of Tulsa and should be reported: Dial 311   Report Online   Live Chat   Tulsa 311 for iOS   Tulsa 311 for Android


  Don't risk a fine!

Trash can reduce area property values by 14.5%.

    ☐ Trash, Junk or Debris cannot be left in the yard and must be disposed of properly.  This would include, but is not limited to, any refuse, rubbish, ashes, leaves, debris, paper, litter, tree trimmings and limbs, any solid or industrial waste, manure, cardboard, plastics, garbage, tin cans, bottles, or blowing combustible materials, offal or waste or matter of any kind or form including construction or demolition leavings  which is uncared for, discarded, or abandoned. These are potential breeding places for flies, mosquitoes; harbor rodents or vermin;  create a fire hazard; interfere with the mowing of weeds and grass; conceal, or invite deposits of refuse or trash and may give off unpleasant or noxious odors. Report to 311 or directly to health department environmental:  here  Contact Bulky Waste Pickup at (918) 596-9511 for assistance to help dispose of larger items BEFORE setting them outside.
    ☐ Outdoor storage is prohibited on residential property. Any equipment, materials, or furnishings that would ordinarily not be used outdoors may not be left or stored outside the home:  For example, indoor furniture, household appliances or automobile parts or tools of any kind, tires, building materials and equipment, improperly stacked building materials.
    ☐ Failure to sweep up & remove all grass clippings from the street after mowing  allows pesticides from grass clippings to wash into storm drains polluting water in local streams that flow to the river or creeks. This keeps pollutants from our drinking water. All water flowing into storm drains must be free of contaminants. Grass clippings can also obstruct the water flow which can result in flooding of an area. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) monitors what drains into creeks.   
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WEEDS AND OTHER RANK GROWTHS OF VEGETATION
☐ Grass or Vegetation which exceeds 12 inches in height must be removed. (If it is growing down over the curb & into the street it is most likely over 12 inches long & that, too, will need to be removed.) Report  to 311 or directly to health department environmental: here 
☐ Weeds and other rank growths of vegetation including poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac and all vegetation at any state of maturity must be removed. Report  to 311 or directly to health department environmental: here
☐ Trees, shrubs, hedges must be trimmed so as not to impair vision or obstruct the travel of motorists.  No signs or other obstructions, or portion of the same may block motorists’ view around street corner which prevent  persons approaching an intersection from having a clear view of approaching traffic.
☐ Tree limbs may not project  less than nine (9) feet above the surface of the street or less than  eight (8) feet above the surface of the public sidewalk.  

A public nuisance consists of unlawfully doing an act or omitting to perform a duty, which annoys, injures or endangers safety, health, comfort or repose of others or in any way renders other person insecure in life or in use of property, (Ord # 17942) 

CRIMINAL PENALTY /PUNISHMENT  -  Any person who anywhere within the City of Tulsa commits any nuisance  or is an accessory  or who owns (landlords)  or occupies any property and knowingly permits the creation or continuation of any nuisance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments, or by imprisonment in the City Jail for a period of up to ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense. Ord. Nos. 17942,21596,21954

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GARBAGE CANS
☐ Garbage and recycle carts shall not be left at curb more than 24 hours before or after trash pick up. Remove your trash and recycle cart from the curb no later than midnight on your collection day. 
☐ Lid to garbage and recycle must be down and 'fly-tight' at all times. Place cart with lid opening toward the street (handle away from street), or it may not be picked up. 
☐ Items placed on top of your trash cart are NOT accepted. Contact Bulky Waste Pickup at (918) 596-9511 for assistance to help  dispose of larger items BEFORE setting them outside.

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WATER  IN STORM DRAINS Tulsa's storm drainage system carries storm water to local waterways. To keep pollutants from our drinking water, the water flowing into the storm drains must be free of contaminants. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) monitors this. 

☐ Storm drains.  It is illegal to discharge into any storm drainage system any wastewater, sewage, refuse, explosive or combustible liquid, solid or gas, oils, greases, or other polluted waters toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases  to constitute a hazard to humans or animals or to cause corrosion, discoloration or deposition on structures and equipment.  (Motor oil from your vehicle must not be put into a storm drain or poured onto the ground. Your grass clippings must be swept up from the street so they do not end up in the drains.) REPORT:  24-Hour Emergency Response & Environmental Complaints Hotline 1-800-522-0206
☐ Pool water.  Waters or wastes containing toxic or poisonous solids, liquids or gases either singly or by interaction with other wastes  constitute a hazard to humans or animals. Chlorine can react explosively or form explosive compounds with other chemicals, according to the CDC. Chlorine was used during WW1 as a choking (pulmonary) agent. REPORT:  24-Hour Emergency Response & Environmental Complaints Hotline 1-800-522-0206
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ANY CONTAINER HOLDING STAGNANT WATER 

☐ Pools of water or any container holding stagnant water should be emptied to avoid the breeding of mosquitoes which adversely affects public health. REPORT here: Health Department 
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STREETS
☐ Public streets and sidewalks must not be obstructed. (E.g. playing basketball, skating, skateboarding, scooters, etc. on city streets. Basketball goals are not permitted on a city street.)
☐ Residential speed limit is 25 miles per hour in all residential areas of Tulsa.  Respect and courtesy for pedestrians is paramount to creating safer, healthier neighborhoods.  Making your neighborhood safer to drive, walk and bike can be achieved through enforcement of speed limits and engineering.
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NOISE ORDINANCES - DISTURBING THE PEACE  Tulsa’s noise ordinance declares as nuisances all loud or unusual noises, sounds and vibrations of such a character or duration that offend the peace and quiet of persons of ordinary sensibilities, including but not limited to those persons inside a building or structure used in whole or in part as a domicile, residence, or dwelling. 
☐ Loud Car Stereos - Driving a vehicle with a loud stereo through residential areas- PENALTY judge can assess a $200 fine plus court costs.  On non-residential streets sound from vehicles which can be heard at a distance of 50 feet from the source can be fined. 
☐ Barking Dog -   Nuisance shall mean any animal which habitually commits any one (1) or a combination of the following acts:  Barks, howls, brays or makes any other loud or offensive noise common to its species or peculiar to itself, so as to disturb (annoys, injure or endanger  the  comfort or repose of others ) the inhabitants of the community.  PENALTY:  upon conviction,   imprisonment in the City jail for a period of up to ninety (90) days and/or by a fine of up to Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments. 
☐ Mufflers- Every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke, and no person shall use a muffler cut-out, by-pass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on any street or highway. No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in any manner which will amplify or increase the noise or sound emitted louder than that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.    PENALTY a fine of up to  Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments.
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MANDATORY LEASH LAWS WERE DESIGNED TO PROTECT OUR ANIMALS
☐ Animals Running Loose  It is illegal for pet owners to allow any to run off leash outside of a dog park. Owner owner may be issued a citation which may require a court appearance in addition to the fine.  Letting dog off leash to run can create a rat problem because excrement is a favorite food of rats and draws them. PENALTY  Not removing the excreta your pet defecated on public or private property  can get you a fine of up to $200.00, excluding costs, fees & assessments. Because rodents feast on animal feces left behind, contact Tulsa Health Department (rodent control)   as an environmental complaint using this form. Note the name of the animal owner letting it off leash, the times of day you see this happening and the location (i.e. a field or in the streets.) Contact the Tulsa Health Department regarding the rats and feces 
☐ Barking Dog- see under Noise Ordinances- Disturbing the Peace
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VEHICLES  

Vehicles shall mean any motor vehicle, automobile, truck, trailer, motorcycle, tractor, buggy, wagon or self propelled farm or construction equipment. 

☐ Vehicles parked in the yard at any time is prohibited by Tulsa City Ordinance. No vehicle may be parked or stored except in a garage or on legal  hard surface driveway constructed of approved all-weather surfacing (asphalt or concrete) to meet city standards. It is illegal to park  on a surface  such as on a sidewalk, over a sidewalk to any degree, between sidewalk and curb OR on any surface other than an all-weather material. Penalty/ fine of up to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments. In certain zoning situations, there are limits to the amount of yard area that can be used for a driveway or parking. 
☐  Disabled or non-running vehicle in the driveway. Vehicles in driveways are required to be fully operable and capable of being legally operated. Vehicles cannot be used for storage and cannot be stored in the yard, street or driveway. An inoperable motor vehicle or an “abandoned” vehicle, or the parts thereof on Private Property (yard, driveway), must be removed or the vehicle stored in a fully enclosed structure where not be visible from the street or from other private property. Criminal penalty for failure to remove a dismantled, junked or abandoned vehicle in compliance with notice as provided herein, shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of up to One Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($1,200.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments, or by imprisonment in the City jail for a period of up to one hundred eighty (180) days, or both. Each and every violation and each day of such violation shall be a separate offense. 
☐ Vehicles parked in the street in the same space for longer than 24 hours.   Police will “red-tag” the vehicle, marking it for tow unless it is moved in 24 hours. 
☐ Parking on the wrong side of the street facing against traffic.   No person shall park a vehicle on a street unless the vehicle is headed in the direction of traffic with the curb side wheels of the vehicle parallel to and within twelve (12) inches of the curb or roadside edge.    Penalty/fine: up to  One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments.
☐ Boats, RV's, Trailers in driveways: A boat on a trailer is considered one (1) recreational vehicle and all recreational  vehicles have 48 hours to load & unload. After that it must be stored in a garage or rear of home. A boat can NEVER be parked in the street.
☐ Commercial equipment and commercial vehicles. Tulsa city ordinance prohibits parking any vehicle not customary to residential use (such as semi trucks, dump trucks,  wreckers, box vans, or trailers, etc.) from parking in residential neighborhoods unless they are within a fully enclosed structure. No commercial equipment may be parked in residential neighborhoods. Violations -Call the non-emergency number for the Tulsa Police Department. 
☐ Mufflers See under Noise Ordinance- Disturbing the peace (above) for penalties.
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ZONING VIOLATION 

☐ Auto repair, wrecker service & ongoing sales is Illegal in residential areas.

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SIGNS 
☐  Advertising Sign Violations Tulsa has ordinances limiting the way signs can be used including height, width, placement and installation methods. Yes, this includes 'lost animal' signs attached to city poles.  If you believe a sign has been installed that violates these ordinances or seems to be unsafe, please report it.     Title 24  SECTION 202. NUISANCE ABATEMENT 

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 SIDEWALKS- Report
☐ limbs which project over a public sidewalk or street  which are less than eight (8) feet above the surface of the public sidewalk and nine (9) feet above the surface of the street; I.  Any use of the public streets or sidewalks which causes large crowds of people to gather, obstructing the flow of traffic and the free use of the streets or sidewalks  - Nuisances affecting peace and safety.
☐ All hanging signs, awnings, canopies and other similar structures over the streets or sidewalks so situated or constructed as to endanger public safety or to be contrary to ordinance - Nuisances affecting peace and safety. 
☐ Allowing rainwater, ice or snow, to fall from any building or structure upon any sidewalk or the causing of water to flow across a sidewalk - Nuisances affecting peace and safety.
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☐ Pot Holes  The weather can create pot holes in even the best of streets and  can make an area look neglected   While crews  watch for pot holes, they can't always find them all. Help them catch the ones they missed.   Contact 311 as soon as you see one to  let them know where pot holes can be found. 
 ☐ Traffic Signals/Sign    a burned out light, an intersection that is flashing red, or lights that make you wait way too long,  let the City of Tulsa know about any traffic signals that appear to be malfunctioning. 

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Complaints received by Code Enforcement are prioritized into three categories. Health and safety violations are designated as "A" priority; highly visible violations a "B" priority and private nuisance violations as "C" priority. (category "A" complaints are usually investigated within 48 hours after being received by Code Enforcement.
NOTE: In some cases, priorities normally designated as "B" or "C" may be upgraded,  if determination is made that the complaint may also be a "health and safety" violation. 

Code Enforcement Complaints 
Priority A 
Refrigerator in yard                                                                                          
Vacant unsecured/dilapidated structure
Standing dead tree                                                                                         
Public traffic-view obstruction                                                                             
Raw Garbage                                                                                              

Priority   B

Vehicles in yard                                                                 
Weeds                                                                    
Trash, junk & debris

Priority C        

Screening fences                                       
Fences on right of way                              
Businesses in residential areas            
Open/filled trash containers                                
Satellite dishes                                      
Buildings without permits




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  If you are reporting one of the following crimes File a Police Report ONLINE: Larceny; Larceny of Gasoline; Financial Crimes (Fraud, Forgery, etc.); Malicious Mischief/Vandalism; Harassing/Threatening/Obscene Phone Calls; or other city misdemeanor offenses where there is no physical evidence and the suspect is not present:   https://www.tulsapolice.org/police-report/report-a-crime-online.aspx     citizen crime report

Non-emergency numbers: https://www.tulsapolice.org/contact-tpd/contact-usphone.aspx 
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Get Serious About Crime in your neighborhood.

•  Streetlight out? A dark street can lead to crime on that street which shows up on the crime reports, which can affect (lower) the property value of all the homes in the area. Crime can  quickly spread to other areas of your neighborhood. Contact PSO immediately if it is dark in any area.
• Encourage neighbors to us security lights. Security lights don’t stay on all the time. A motion from someone walking up to your front, back or side door or a window kicks the lights on, illuminating their actions and making them think that they have been spotted.
•  Criminals look for the dark house on a street. Make sure that yours isn't the dark house in your neighborhood they will see as easy prey! Leave on a porch light or add landscaping lights.  (Be sure your house number is visible from the street with a light, enabling police, fire or ambulance to locate you quickly.)
• Mail Theft:   United States Postal Service - Federal  Law Enforcement agency    877 876-2455
• Homeless:  The Mental Health Association of Oklahoma (MHAOK) has a Rapid Response and Outreach Team that works with Tulsa Police and Working In Neighborhoods to assist unsheltered (homeless) Tulsans and their encampments.   https://mhaok.org/homeless-outreach-rapid-response
  
  
  To file a report use this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMsI_xqRbFJ5WX28S0z8pHq4WStW9zlx_wGE3xTHMoXLqATQ/viewform
  
  
  The team will receive it and deploy to the area to make contact with the people experiencing homelessness.
  
  
  If you feel illegal or violent activity is taking place please call 911.

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IMPORTANT!!  UPDATED AND IMPORTANT FOR ALL RESIDENTS regarding  public swimming pools 

 

 

PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS - AMENITY OR LIABILITY?

(Updated from earlier post on here that was posted Wednesday, July 4, 2012)

 PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS - AMENITY OR LIABILITY?

Most people don’t think about bacteria in public swimming pools. Each summer, millions of them jump into their neighborhood pools.....And each summer, thousands of them get sick from bacteria in the water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

• People carry, on average, about 0.14 grams of feces on their bottoms which can contaminate pool water, even without a "fecal accident", presenting a potential health hazard. Two weeks after a person's diarrhea has stopped, he is still contagious and can contaminate the water! 
• Millions of the cryptosporidium ("crypto") or giardia parasite's chlorine-resistant outer shells can be shed in one accidental burst of loose watery stools which rapidly dissipates in swimming pools and become virtually invisible.
• Crypto parasites, the leading cause of infectious outbreaks of diarrhea linked to pool water, cause “a profuse, watery diarrhea” that can last up to three weeks in otherwise healthy adults that can lead to conditions like dehydration, coughing, cramps, vomiting and often hospitalization.
• Cryptosporidiosis is extremely chlorine resistant and can survive for up to 10 days even in a properly chlorinated pool. The CDC warns that it takes about 15,300 minutes or 10.6 days of disinfecting with chlorine for Crypto to be killed off. 
• Both the CDC and Tulsa Health Department advise that the pool should be closed (cleared!) immediately to allow for the 10.6 days of disinfecting.

E. coli O157: H7 and Shigellosis are also associated with diarrheal outbreaks. Yet, most swimmers are not going to sound the alarm by admitting what they just 'let loose' in the pool.

The incubation period for the most common types of infection is from 1-10 days, thus many people don't make the connection between pool use and their illness.   (It is suggested to mark your calendar every single time you or any family members go in a public pool to see if there is any sickness that presents within 10 days.)
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IS YOUR POOL MANAGER ON SITE THE ENTIRE TIME THE POOL IS OPEN? 
HERE IS WHY A POOL MANAGER MUST BE THERE AT ALL TIMES THAT A POOL IS OPEN. 

Health and safety violations force thousands of public pools to close. Closings occur very frequently, as not all pools are well-regulated according to a report published in Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC's) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Tulsa, Oklahoma - Code of Ordinances TITLE 24 -NUISANCES AFFECTING HEALTH
B. The following is  hereby declared to be health nuisances affecting public health:  9.) all public exposure of persons having contagious or infectious diseases. (example: public swimming pool)

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 

POOL MANAGERS ARE required to report ALL fecal incidents:-

•  ODH Incident Report
• Report to Bruce Dart, Executive  Director of the Tulsa City County Health Dept.  Email: bdart@tulsa-health.org   Phone: 918-595-4044          (Mr Dart is  a member of the Center for Disease Control  and Prevention Advisory Committee) 

UPDATED: May 23, 2020  The CDC COVID-19 recommendations for pool managers:
 
- Isolate staff or patrons with COVID-19: symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath and fever, and transport them to their homes or health care provider, if needed. The person designated as the COVID-19 point of contact should respond to all virus-related concerns and all staff should know how to reach that person immediately.
-  Local health authorities should immediately be notified of any COVID-19 cases and staff and patrons should be notified of potential exposure within the boundaries of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
  


Tulsa City Ordinances: Nuisances Affecting Peace and Safety Title 24

NUISANCES DEFINED:  Omitting to perform a duty, which  endangers safety, health of others or in any way renders other person insecure in life.   Sect 100

PUNISHMENT/Criminal Penalty  Up to $1,000 or up to 90 days imprisonment in the city jail or both. Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense.  Ord 17942, 21596, 21954    (Sect 106:)

CRIMINAL PENALTY 
Any person, firm or corporation, partnership or other legal entity who anywhere within the City of Tulsa commits any nuisance, either as principal or accessory, or who knowingly permits the creation or continuation of any nuisance on any property owned or occupied by himself as the same has been defined in this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of up to One Thousand, Two Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($1,200.00), excluding costs, fees and assessments, or by imprisonment in the City jail for a period of up to one hundred eighty (180) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ord. Nos. 17942, 21596; Ord. No. 21954, § 2, 12-4-2008; Ord. No. 24197 , § 1, 7-31-2019)

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Commonly cited safety violations include poorly maintained equipment, such as pumps, filters, and chemical feeders, which all create an opportunity for infectious diseases to spread.

The CDC encourages swimmers to do all they can to protect themselves from getting sick when visiting public pools by  using the following quick checklist to identify some of the most common health and safety problems:

• If the main drain in the bottom of the pool isn't clearly visible, do NOT get in; the pool may not be regularly maintained or cleaned.
• If the pool doesn’t even have a life ring or similar safety equipment handy, then it’s a fair indicator it doesn’t closely follow other pool safety regulations.  Ask to see the daily test records if you have some doubts.

• Use a test strip (available at most superstores or pool-supply stores) to determine if the pH and free chlorine or bromine concentration are correct.

POOL VISITORS:  If you are concerned about what you see, the  CDC recommends reporting  your concerns to:

1. Tulsa Health Department   (918) 595-4200.
2. Oklahoma State Department of Health: https://www.ok.gov Health_ Complaint

Attorney Discusses The Next Wave of Coronavirus Litigation:   Negligent Transmission Claims Against Property Owners and Managers 

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Swimmers should never rely solely on the pool's chemical treatments

• Chlorine does not kill germs instantly, nor does it kill all of them. Unfortunately, chlorinated, swimming pools can and do still transmit disease. In addition, the unique circulation patterns found in pools may allow poor water circulation in some areas, making it unlikely that all pathogen activity can be fully prevented.  Would it make you feel better when it is reopened to know that feces particles that get on you have been chlorinated or shocked?  
• The CDC warns to avoid causing an outbreak by infecting others you should NEVER enter a swimming pool for two weeks after suffering from diarrhea. Even after the diarrhea has stopped, the bacteria that caused the illness is still present in the body and can’t be destroyed by the chlorine. However, 24% of people surveyed said they would and have gotten in a pool one hour after having diarrhea!

Remember you can never completely avoid bodily fluid in pools because you share the water —and the germs in it—with everyone else in the pool.

• Younger children may not "wipe good" after using the toilet, but wiping with toilet tissue does NOT kill anything anyway.
• People (yes, children and adults!) often use public pools as their bathtub instead of washing their bodies at home. Pools are full of body discharges such as  eye pus from sore or inflamed eyes, parasites, boogers, hair product, ear wax or nose discharge (dripping snot), scabs, puke, urine, fecal matter/ diarrhea remnants, saliva, dead skin, dirty feet, semen, toe jam, sweat, belly button lint, blood, boils, eczema, seborrhea, dandruff, or other acute or obvious skin or body infections, or cuts, persons with colds, etc.
• Body lotions, suntan creams, dust, pollen, air pollutants,  insects, street and workplace soil, along with rain runoff that brings germs  from wildlife and pets 'droppings'.

PEE IN THE POOL- a typical sized public swimming pool may contain an average of 20 gallons of urine, while larger pools will contain more.

• Chlorine binding to urine and sweat is what makes your eyes red after swimming.  
• Urine in the pool presents a great health hazard by spreading bacteria, such as norovirus, which is highly contagious.
• Bacteria from urine and feces, along with pool chemicals, get absorbed into swimsuit fabric. This creates a damp, warm place for germs to create a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection (UTI).

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Other ways you can get infected:

• Germs can enter other openings, such as the nose, eyes, sores, pores, etc.  To protect yourself and your children, especially don't go in pools when you have open or recent wounds such as from a surgery or a piercing.
• Children sometimes spit pool water back into the pool or at their friends. Serious infections can develop and rapidly multiply from ingesting a small amount of water contaminated with feces containing germs that cause diarrheal illness. This is a common method of transmission for the parasites that cause gastrointestinal diseases. Small children are more likely to ingest pool water and everything that comes in it.

A few steps you can take to help lower risk of others getting sick:

• Shower thoroughly with soap and water before and after swimming and wash your children, especially their rear ends, before they enter a pool.
• Remove small children from pools for bathroom breaks.
• Check diapers often. Swim diapers, which were designed simply to keep formed "number two" contained until Mom or Dad can get to the diaper changing station allow urine and diarrhea to go right through into the water.
• Change diapers in a bathroom, not beside the pool.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after using a toilet or changing diapers.

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 Dangers associated with chlorine and other chemicals.

A myriad public pools in five states were cited for health violations due to insufficient concentrations of chlorine. Too much chlorine in a pool and chlorine’s harsh effects can severely irritate your eyes and skin.

Numerous scientific studies report that chlorine is so toxic that it:

• is linked to a greater incidence of bladder, breast and bowel cancer as well as malignant melanoma, and destroys much of the intestinal flora, which protect the body from harmful pathogens.
• cause congenital cardiac anomalies, alter DNA and suppress immune function, all which accelerate the aging process. 
• can corrode metals around the aquatic venue which may explain why it can erode dental enamel and is associated with rashes like eczema.

Many other Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) (skin, ear, eye, respiratory, neurologic, wound, and other infections) are caused by chemicals when the contaminated water is accidentally swallowed, or when chemical mists in the air are breathed.

Although greater toxin absorption occurs through the skin than through breathing , inhaling it alone is sufficient to cause hypersensitivity and "asthma-like" respiratory conditions, especially in children. Children inhale more air per unit of body weight than adults and absorb relatively greater amounts of toxins and therefore, are at greater risk. While swimmers can absorb toxic levels of chlorine products in just one swim session, frequent swimming increases the toxic concentrations and does not allow the toxins to be completely cleared from the body.

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 Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is another common illness that can result from a day spent at the local pool.



Maybe this is why so many public pools have quietly closed and why educated parents refuse to allow their kids in public swimming pools.

What Happens When Creditors Send Your Account to Collections

Lenders such as banks and mortgage companies use your credit score to determine whether or not to lend you money and, if approved, how much interest they’ll make you pay.  The lower your credit score, the higher the interest you will pay.


While credit card companies can no longer jack up rates on previous purchases if you’re late on some other bill, your credit card company can still use your credit history to raise your interest rate going forward. What you end up paying for your house, car,  clothes, even the final cost of the groceries put on a credit card, can cost  more than our neighbors!  You might purchase your home for the same prices as your neighbors, but a lower credit rating can cost you thousands of dollars more in interest than others!


 Whether you borrow money or not, you credit score affects many major areas of your life, such as:

• when applying for a job; a low credit rating may prevent you from being hired
• home and auto insurance  may cost you more
  
• renting a place to live, landlords check to see what kind of risk you are, before approving you
  

Others are allowed to look at and use your score, including:  

• anyone who has a court order or judgment against you....yes, even your ex-spouse, if they’re entitled to court-ordered spousal or child support.
• cell phone and utility companies
• current and potential creditors
• collection agencies 
  
• government offices
  

Although not given permission...crooks and hackers have obtained access to our credit reports. (2017  Equifax breach)

Ever feel poor?

When we live in the richest nation on Earth it is easy to compare ourselves to
others and feel like what we have isn't enough.

www.globalrichlist.com ranks you against the rest of the world according to your annual income.

Even if you make minimum wage at a part time job, if you live in the U.S chances are you're still in the top 15%!

It's a good reminder of how blessed we are.

Ways to share my day with the one I love

Jotting notes of memorable moments and random thoughts throughout the day can be shared in phone calls and makes you notice and cherish the world around you.

For the one I love

If you live to be 100, I want to be 100 minus one day, so I never have to live without you.