Certain Water Guns Banned at Aiken City Parks
Certain water guns aren’t allowed at city parks in Aiken anymore.
Specifically, gel ball blaster water guns have been banned as of last week, according to Aiken’s parks, recreation and tourism department.
Some well-known brands on the “banned” list include SplatRball and Orby guns.
The Orby toy guns shoot water beads or “Orbeez” and even produce gun-like sounds when they’re fired.
You might even remember the “Orbeez Challenge” on social media a couple of years ago. Some kids participating in the challenge were freezing the water gel beads and shooting them at people, causing injuries, especially near the eyes.
Dr. Dan Guzman, M.D., pediatric emergency medicine physician at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, said, “The bullets in the guns are made of biodegradable water-filled beads. They feel really squishy, but they’re definitely a projectile, and any projectile to the face or in the eye is going to hurt or may cause some injury.”
Jessica Campbell, Aiken’s parks, recreation and tourism department director, said they’ve received as many as a dozen reports of people being hit by water from the toys. Some of the gel balls were frozen, which could lead to injuries if the toy guns are used inappropriately.
Campbell says those who ignore the ban on gel ball blaster water guns at city parks in Aiken will be asked to leave. She said that will turn into a trespass notice if the warning is ignored.
Certain Water Guns Look Real
Some of the gel ball blaster water guns look very similar to real guns, according to Aiken Public Safety officials. That becomes a security issue in itself. If law enforcement spots what they think is a gun, they’re going to react.
In Milledgeville, Georgia police there banned the gel ball blaster water guns two years ago, once kids started freezing the water gel beads. Police said the beads became dangerous when the guns were fired at people.
Police said the toy guns are banned in public areas like roadways, parking lots and parks. Those who ignore the ban are charged with disorderly conduct.
Extreme Heat - 6 Tips For Dealing With High Temps In The CSRA
Stay Hydrated
This might be the most obvious of all the tips. It’s important all year round to stay hydrated, but especially so during these hot summer months. While the most recommended amount of water per day is 8 glasses of water a day, if you’re spending more time outside, you will need to increase that amount. Sports drinks can also be helpful for replacing electrolytes that our bodies lose when we sweat.
One way to see if you’re getting enough water is to note your urine color. Dark yellow urine often means you’re not drinking enough.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
It’s recommended to wear lightweight, loose clothing in extreme heat. This can help keep your body cool. And wearing light colors can also help by drawing less heat to you.
Find Shade
When you must be outdoors, find shade when you can. The use of a hat is also helpful to protect your face.
Limit Physical Activity
If you workout or play sports, try to plan those activities for earlier or later in the day when the weather is potentially cooler. Unfortunately, if you work in the heat, it can be harder to accomodate, but if there are ways to do the most strenuous parts of the job earlier in the day, that may help.
Cool Down With Water
Heat escapes through our skin, and if we can keep our skin cooler, it can help when we’re dealing with extreme heat. Wearing a wet shirt if appropriate can help keep you cool. There are also cooling sprays available, or you could simply keep a mister bottle of water to spray on to cool your skin. Cooling towels and cloths are also helpful and can be reused throughout the day.
After exposure to extreme heat, taking a cool shower or bath can help as well… but be sure to cool down slowly.
Putting your hands and feet in cold water can also help quickly cool your body down.
Keep Your Pets Cool Too
Just like humans, pets are at risk for heat-related problems. If your pets are outside, ensure there is plenty of cool water and shade available. For indoor pets, limit outside play and make water readily available.
And if you’re planning to walk your pet, be aware that asphalt, dark pavement, and concrete can get very hot and burn your pet’s feet. You can test the area you’re planning to walk by placing the back of your hand on the pavement. If you can’t hold it there for five seconds, it’s too hot.
And just like with kids, you should never leave your pet in a hot vehicle!
