All Categories - FANS 4 HELP

Mandate Radon Testing - We Need Clean Air to Breathe!

11/16/2022

Now, that most of the mudslinging is done and the dust has settled from the election, don't you think it is time to pass a law, making radon testing mandatory in all schools, childcares, assisted living facilities and personal care homes, just like the mandatory transactions in the home real estate industry? Don't you think?
After all, radon (though not a virus), attacks the respiratory system, just like COVID-19, RSV, and the influenza virus. However, unlike all these viruses, radon cannot be filtered from the air that we breathe, no matter how efficient the HVAC systems that we need and especially in the air-tight facilities.
Radon needs to be mitigated by venting it into the outdoors. Radon mitigation is not complicated or expensive, especially considering the potential costs to our health and health systems.
Also, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It mostly attacks the respiratory systems of the most vulnerable, like children, the elderly and those with compromised health issues. The more time spent in a facility with poor air quality, the more likelihood of poor health. The converse is true, too: the more time spent in good air quality, the more likelihood of good health, including good thought processing.
To all the new legislators and to those who won unopposed, don't you think more radon testing makes more sense? Don't you think?
Thank you,
Dennis Smiddle - PA State Representative for Radioactive Radon Reduction (CR3). FANS 4 HELP - Home (fansofplay.com)

Radon half-life is 1600 years. Got to get it out of your life.

11/13/2022

Now, that most of the mudslinging is done and the dust has settled from our PA elections, don't you think it is time to pass a law, making radon testing mandatory in all schools, childcares, assisted living facilities and personal care homes, just like the mandatory transactions in the home real estate industry. Don't you think?
After all, radon (though not a virus), attacks the respiratory system, just like the COVID virus, the RSV, and the influenza virus. However, unlike all these viruses, radon cannot be filtered from the air that air we breathe, no matter how efficient the HVAC systems that we need and especially in the air-tight facilities.
Radon needs to be mitigated by venting it into the outdoors. Radon mitigation is not complicated or expensive, especially considering the potential costs to our health and health systems.
Also, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It mostly attacks the respiratory systems of the most vulnerable, like children, the elderly and those with compromised health issues. The more time spent in a facility with poor air quality, the more likelihood ofpoor health. The converse is true too, the more time spent in good air quality, the more likelihood of good health, including good thought processing.
Really, to all the new legislators and to those who won unopposed, don't you think more radon testing makes more sense. Don't you think?
Oh, also because, radon kills those with paws!
Respectfully,
Dennis Smiddle - Founder and Executive Director of FANS 4 HELP (a new 2020 nonprofit).

My Next Letter to a newspaper editor.

11/1/2022

If you think about it, this is one of the best of times of the year for sports in the USA and in Western PA. During the next few weeks, we will still have great high school, college and pro football games to enjoy as fans. We are still enjoying great baseball games with the MLB playoffs and the World Series of baseball. The NBA basketball season is underway along with all the great college and high school basketball games. Finally, for hockey fans there are all levels of hockey games in progress.
Now, ask yourself, what makes all these sports so great, how do they all manage to stand the tests of time during the hardest of times, and what do they all have in common?
My answer is the fact that they are all played on a level playing field with fair and just rules of play. This is a common fact that is intrinsic in the essence of all these great sports.
Also, this is one of the most important times for all equalities in the USA and in Western PA. It is our election times, for all levels of government and we need to help make sure everything is played out on a "level playing field" and by fair and just rules of play.
Really, there are candidates that are trying to change the funding in schools, businesses, and communities that would change the whole fair and just game/goal plans in education, health care, safety, security, freedoms and justice for all.
So, before you decide on how and whether you receive or defend, check which way the wind is blowing. "You don't need a weatherman, to know which way the wind is blowing."
Thank you USA and Western PA..
Dennis Smiddle - Founder and Executive Director of FANS 4 HELP (nonprofit).

FANS 4 HELP Birthday Fundraiser

10/24/2022

For my Birthday Fundraiser, I am hoping to raise money for my FANS 4 HELP 501c3 nonprofit, FANS 4 HELP. Our mission is spelled out in the acronym. FANS stands for Fitness + Arts + Nature + Science and HELP stands for Health + Environment + Learning + Play. We are what we do and we can help empower you. In appreciation for your donation, we will send you a FANS 4 HELP™ Cheer & Chill Towel for every $25 donation. Towels can be monogramed or monogramed ready with instructions and free shipping for as many you like. All profits will go towards more FANS 4 HELP™ Cheer & Chill Towel donations. Certificates of appreciation with our nonprofit information are available to all. ThankYou, - www.facebook.com/donate/482838423785427/5970410239638868/?comment_id=807739823835397

Recommended PA School Mandate.

9/27/2022

My next letter to a local newspaper. Read it and weep. -
The Commonwealth of PA needs to issue a mandate for schools to pay for all required clearances with our taxpayer funded safety grants. Protecting the children, families, and communities of our commonwealth is not a political or business matter, it is a common sense and safety precaution that really matters.
Recently, there have been at least 3 sex offenders arrested in our local school districts. Hundreds of children may have been victims, according to our local news media. Who knows how many more children in our schools may have been victimized? Fox News reports, "At least 181 K-12 educators were charged with child sex crimes in first half of 2022."
As a former PA Child Care Licensing Representative for 18 years, I easily checked over 10,000 employee/volunteer clearances and it was not always easy. Some clearances were forgeries and the process of checking for compliance can be a considerably convoluted, but overall the child cares did a fairly good job with very little resources. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for our PA school districts and after-school programs.
In my opinion, the school districts need to exceed the minimum requirements for obtaining all clearances. The school districts should pay for and keep in their possession all three of the clearances required for those having direct contact with children in the PA Public Schools. The costs would be less than $60.00 per person and the savings will be priceless for the safety's sake and security of all children.
The PA public schools have been receiving large taxpayer funded PA safety/security grants, large donations from companies, and larger taxpayer monies these past few years. Now, is the time to spend some of these monies more wisely on a real and true sense for protecting children's safety and security.
Thank you,
Dennis Smiddle- PA School Safety & Security Assessor.

There is no way in Hell, that a sex offender in PA, should have access to school students, as a coach, volunteer, non-professional employee, teacher or in any capacity and commit numerous sex crimes.

9/13/2022

However, convictions for exactly this is what has happened this year, in at least 3 area school districts, including Canon McMillan, Keystone Oaks, and West Jefferson Hills. Who knows how many other school districts have sex offenders who are going unnoticed? Fox News reports, at least 181 K-12 educators were charged with child sex crimes in first half of 2022.

Despite the fact, that there are child protective services laws and child protective services workers, this existing system of safeguards is not working in our schools. Therefore, in my opinion as a former PA Child Care Licensing Representative, where more child protection does exist with far less resources, it is the responsibility of all school boards, administrations and communities to exceed the existing mandatory minimum of these Child Protective Services Laws.

After all, the schools have been receiving large PA Commonwealth safety grants, large business donations, and increasing taxpayer monies to fulfill their missions for providing safe and secure facilities that facilitate learning. The costs for a school to oversee and take over the responsibilities of all the necessary clearance requirements, would be minimal compared to the harm that is being caused to the children, families and communities in our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This is not a political or a business matter, this is all of our children's safety that really matters. This is not complicated or expensive. All 3 required clearances can cost less than $60.00 per person and a sex offender will think twice before applying or will not apply at all, for any school position.

The PA DOE, DHS, CYS, PAOOR, PA Legislators and our schools, need to get their acts (Act 168, Right-To-Know Law, Child Protective Services Law, and Sunshine Act) together, right now.

Enough said, but not enough done. You are what you do and not just what you say.

Dennis Smiddle - Founder and Executive Director of FANS 4 HELP.

Are sex crime offenders, scamming and outsmarting our school boards, administrators and child protective services laws or workers, to gain sexual access to students in our schools?

9/13/2022

As a former PA Child Care Licensing Representative for 18 years, I easily checked over 10,000 employee/volunteer clearances and it was not always easy. Some clearances were forgeries, and the process can be a little bit convoluted, but overall, the childcares did a good job with very little resources.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for our PA public school districts. Just in the past few months, there have been local newspaper articles reporting 100's of alleged sex crimes in the following school districts, Canon McMillan, West Jefferson Hills, and Keystone Oaks (twice). Many more sex offenders in other school districts may have gone noticed. Who knows?

In my opinion, the school districts need to exceed the minimum requirements for obtaining all of the clearances. Just follow the K.I.S.S. rule and Keep It Simple Stupid. The schools should pay for all three of the clearances for everyone having direct contact with children in the PA Public Schools. The costs are only $60.00 per person and the savings will be far greater for the safety's sake of all children, families, and communities. The clearances will stay in the possession of the schools.

The PA public schools have been receiving large taxpayer funded safety grants, large donations from companies, and larger taxpayer monies these past few years. It is long overdue, to spend some of these monies more wisely on children's safety.

Enough said, but not enough done. You are what you do, and not just what you say.
Thank you,
Dennis Smiddle - Founder and Executive Director of FANS 4 HELP (nonprofit).

FANS 4 HELP School and Child Care Safety Plan.

7/25/2022

FANS 4 HELP School & Child Care - Safety Plan guaranteed to help succeed.
Now is not the time for our school boards and state legislators to take time off from school safety.
If you check your school board's website, you will probably see that there are no meetings in July and probably no meetings until, August of 2022, unless necessary. Also, if you check the school board's own statements, you will see that they serve as agents of the state legislature.
In my opinion as a PA citizen and as an approved PA School Safety Assessor, this is no time to take time off from school safety. We don't need or care to know everything a school needs to know about safety, but we need to know everything a school cares about for safety.
So if the school board is an agent of the state legislature, we need to know that our state schools and our state legislators are still working and sharing everything they need to know and care about for school safety. All sensitive and confidential information can be shared on a need to know basis or in executive sessions, but we all still need to know and show that we will always care for our school's safety and especially for all the students in our schools.
So, let's all do what is right, right now, and not just when the necessary becomes necessary.
Here is one way everybody can help. -
We are, an approved dealer for Versare - www.versare.com/
Provide extra security and safety to those who use your space—to ensure your peace of mind and theirs. An on-site defensive solution like our Bullet Resistant Versare Portable Shield Partition can be the difference between a positive outcome and a potentially tragic situation. Each partition is custom-made and tested to meet National Institute of Justice standards. Easily deploy in seconds when needed; collapse to a width of 33" when not in use. Available in a variety of sizes and colors to match your esthetic. - BULLET RESISTANT -Integrated ARMAT ballistic material.
See more ways to help create safer and more beneficial Health, Environment, Learning, and Play opportunities for everyone and everywhere, at FANS 4 HELP, a new 2020 nonprofit - www.fansofplay.com

Thank you,
Dennis Smiddle, Founder and Executive Director of FANS 4 HELP

We are, an approved dealer for Versare - https://www.versare.com/

7/14/2022

Provide extra security and safety to those who use your space—to ensure your peace of mind and theirs. An on-site defensive solution like our Bullet Resistant Versare Portable Shield Partition can be the difference between a positive outcome and a potentially tragic situation. Each partition is custom-made and tested to meet National Institute of Justice standards. Easily deploy in seconds when needed; collapse to a width of 33" when not in use. Available in a variety of sizes and colors to match your esthetic. - BULLET RESISTANT -Integrated ARMAT ballistic material.

FANS 4 HELP (nonprofit) Fundraiser

7/14/2022

FANS 4 HELP is all about Fitness, Arts, Nature and Science. Plus Fun, Accessibility, Nutrition and Safety. All for better Health, Environments, Learning and Play. - www.bonfire.com/fans-4-help-1/

Author

Dennis Smiddle is a retired Pennsylvania Child Care Health & Safety Inspector of 20 years. He also spent 6 years as a Certified Playground Safety Inspector, 6 years as a Pennsylvania Keystone Stars Playground Safety Trainer, and was a 15 year Recreation Therapist. Dennis is the owner and operator of FANS of Play

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