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4 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2021 Happy September! I'm definitely ready for some much cooler weather and to bring in the upcoming fall season. August's meetings with the Volunteer Group, Recreation Committee and Communications Committee were smooth sailing as I'm starting to get the hang of things. I truly enjoy working with these members on discussing our upcoming events and helping put together The View. August's Wine & Cheese Pairing Class was a great success, lots of wine and lots of laughs were had. It was a pleasure working with Kirk Green, as many of you know he truly is an awesome vendor and I can't wait to bring him back to Solera for more classes and tastings. We also had the pleasure of having the band One 2 Many out for our August Lounge Night. The dance floor was packed, and the band sounded amazing. They even dedicated a song to our Veterans, and it was a special moment for everyone in attendance. I hope you are all ready for an End of Summer Luau, scheduled for Sept. 24. We will have delicious food, good music, drinks and even some very recognizable hula dancers. Please keep your eyes peeled for more details to come. Lastly, thank you to our volunteers that have been so helpful at our most recent events and for our upcoming events. Lifestyle Report By Sam Kendig By Daniel Mendez, EPAC Chair According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2019 there were almost 1.3 million house fires, resulting in more than 3,700 deaths and $14.8 billion in damage. The top causes of home fires are: • Cooking – Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking so you do not get distracted doing something else while the stovetop is on. I have forgotten about pots of water boiling on the stove until the water was fully evaporated. Keep a lid nearby when you are using oil to make anything on the stove, so if something ignites you can smother it. Baking soda also works, but never throw water on a grease fire. • Heating – Have chimneys swept annually. Always have proper ventilation when using any gas-fueled heat source. • Candles – While candles are great for ambience, even the smallest one can lead to serious trouble. Remember, it's an open flame and as such it will ignite any flammable material it contacts. Never leave a lit candle unattended. • Electrical – Don't overload circuits and always use properly rated extension cords. Have repairs done by qualified licensed electricians and not just a handyman. • Smoking – Never smoke in bed- it's far too easy to fall asleep and drop a lit cigarette, which may in turn ignite your bedding. Don't empty ashtrays into the trash unless you're positive nothing is still burning. • Alarms – Install and test your detectors. Please don't disarm one because it is beeping. Instead, replace the battery and test it to make sure it works. Some homes here in SDV have ten foot ceilings. Carbon monoxide is lighter than air, so your carbon monoxide detector should be installed no higher than five feet from the floor. • Evacuation Plan – Have a plan to evacuate if an alarm sounds or another emergency condition is present. This should include what to do if you're trapped in your bedroom. Feel a door with the back of your hand before opening it and close it behind you to slow the fire from spreading. If the door is hot to the touch, leave it closed and look for another exit. If smoke is present, get low and try to stay underneath it and cover your nose and mouth with a shirt or other clothing item. Make sure everyone makes it out safely while you wait for help to arrive. It's a good idea to have a couple of working fire extinguishers in your home. Bear in mind, there are different types of fire extinguishers, identified by a letter rating. A: for typical fires such as wood, paper or clothing; B: for use on flammable liquids, such as grease, oil and gasoline; C: for electrical fires. You can buy multipurpose fire extinguishers at home-improvement stores. Just makes sure you read the label before selecting one. Instructions are on the canister. HOME FIRE PREVENTION

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