Astro Bug

DALLAS - AstroBug -- School's out for summer and rising temperatures are on the way! While the end of the school year means fun in the sun for kids around the country, it also signals the beginning of water hydrant tampering and misuse which can lead to serious injuries.

While the lure of an open water hydrant on a hot summer's day is undeniable, the risk of injury is substantial ranging from bruises and lacerations to death due to being propelled into oncoming traffic by heavy water flow from the hydrants.

"Injuries suffered by kids and adults using water hydrants as a means to cool down are a big problem for inner cities," says Paul Rouse, Vice President of Hydra-Shield, Inc, distributors of the Custodian Hydrant Lock. "Injury to a child is devastating at any level. It places the families in dire straits and ultimately exposes the city to huge liability issues."

Tampering with water hydrants can also break the valves and make the hydrant useless when it's needed most—during a fire, and the huge amounts of water coming out of hydrants can flood local basements and cause problems with gas and electric lines.

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In lieu of opening water hydrants, folks seeking to beat the heat this summer are encouraged to cool off at local swimming pools and water parks or go for a spin at an indoor ice skating or hockey rink. In case of witnessing hydrant tampering, contact the local fire department or city water department to report the incident.

"The general public plays a huge role in keeping kids out of harm's way and maintaining fire hydrant safety," continues Rouse. "The best course of action remains 'if you see something, say something.'"

Hydra-Shield Inc.'s Custodian Hydrant Lock prevents unauthorized use of fire hydrants by utilizing a custom designed lock which seamlessly attaches to the hydrant's operating nut without requiring disassembly. Protecting fire hydrants and conserving the precious water supply is the key principle of Hydra-Shield with the Custodian, and they remain committed to keeping area neighborhoods and communities safe and to maintaining necessary water levels for firefighters to successfully handle fire emergencies.

For more information, visit www.hydrashieldinc.com.