TOP COP Mt. Lebanon Police Cpl. Jake Elk has been named this year’s Officer of the Year.

Elk, a seven-year veteran of the department, is a member of the South Hills Area Council of Governments’ SHACOG Critical Incident Response Team, a field training officer and an instructor in firearms, Simunition and Active Shooter Response, in addition to being certified as a pistol and rifle armorer.

He has served as a task force officer with the Attorney General’s Office and with the Allegheny County District Attorney Narcotics Enforcement Team.

In 2021, Elk received the department’s Medal of Honor, the highest honor bestowed upon a Mt. Lebanon police officer, for his courage under fire during a murder-suicide call.

TOYS FOR TOTS The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department is collecting toys to distribute to kids this Christmas.  Take an unwrapped toy to a collection box at the public safety building, municipal building, library, recreation center, Galleria or Medical Rescue Team South Authority headquarters. Collection ends  December 12.

LEARN HOW TO FALL Icy conditions call for extra caution for walkers. You know why penguins walk the way they do? Because it’s icy out there. Take short steps. If you feel yourself falling, protect your head — pivot to your side and tuck in your head. Bend your elbows and knees and try to take the impact on the fleshiest parts of your body, like the side of your thigh, buttocks and shoulder.   

   Relax as much as possible when you begin to fall, and let go of anything you’re carrying. Protect yourself instead of your stuff.

MEDICAL COVERAGE If one of the things you don’t want to happen happens, a membership with Medical Rescue Team South Authority (MRTSA) can save you lots of money. An annual subscription costs $60 for an individual, $80 for a household and $100 for a business. The membership not only provides you with emergency ambulance coverage, but it also guarantees that MRTSA will submit your claim to your insurance carrier for the ambulance service, and as a member you will only be billed for half of what your insurance doesn’t cover. More information here.

BATTERY SAFETY Lithium-ion batteries are used in e-micromobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters.  The batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. When that energy is released in an uncontrolled manner, it can cause a thermal overload, which can turn certain internal battery components into flammable and toxic gases.

Most important: Use the charger the battery came with. An incompatible charger can cause a fire.

Some other things to remember:

• Buy batteries that are certified by Underwriter Laboratories.
• Do not store batteries in extremely hot or cold locations.
• Charge the batteries in your garage, away from your main living space and out of the path of your egress from the home. Garages generally carry a higher fire safety rating than the rest of the house.
• Stop charging a battery once it is full.
• Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling or change in odor.
• If your battery is smoking, call 911. The battery can go from smoking to fully engulfed in a short time.
• If you see a fire, get out and call 911. Do not try to put it out yourself.