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26 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2024 e holidays are a time of joy and celebration with many of us adorning our homes with festive decorations. With this in mind, we want to provide you with some safety reminders to keep you safe through the holidays. HOLIDAY DECORATION SAFETY TIPS: e following safety tips are provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. CHRISTMAS TREES: Many articial trees are re resistant. If you buy one, look for a statement specifying this protection. A fresh tree will stay green longer and be less of a re hazard than a dry tree. To check for freshness, remember: • A fresh tree is green. • Fresh needles are hard to pull from branches. • When bent between your ngers, fresh needles and branches do not break. • e trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin. • When the trunk of a tree is bounced on the ground, a shower of falling needles shows that a tree is too dry. Also, • Place the tree away from replaces, radiators, and other heat sources. • Place the tree out of the way of trac and do not block doorways. "SNOW:" Articial snow sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled. To avoid injury, read container labels and follow directions carefully. LIGHTS: Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety. Identify these by the label from an independent testing laboratory (e.g., UL Listed). Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using. Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house, walls, or other rm support to protect from wind damage. Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per outlet or single extension cord. Turn o all lights on trees and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short and start a re. Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. CANDLES: • Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. • Always use non-ammable holders. • Keep candles away from other ammable decorations and wrapping paper. • Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over. TRIMMINGS: In homes with pets or visiting grandchildren, take special care to: • Avoid, or keep out of reach, decorations that are sharp or breakable. • Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of grandchildren. Pieces could be swallowed or inhaled. • Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food. A child (or an unsuspecting adult) could attempt to eat them. FIRES: For residents who have second homes or cabins with replaces, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from the replace area before lighting any re. Check to ensure the ue is open. Keep a screen before the replace all the time the re is burning. PAPER: • When making paper decorations, look for materials labeled non-combustible or ame resistant. • Never place trimming near open ames or electrical connections. • Remove all wrapping papers from tree and replace areas immediately aer presents are opened. • Do not burn papers in the replace. A ash re may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely. Whether "naughty or nice," plan for safety. Remember, there is no substitute for common sense. Look for and eliminate potential danger spots near candles, replaces, trees, and electrical connections. As an added safety reminder… Unsafe driving is a common concern and theme brought up by residents. Here are a few reminders to help keep our community safe: • 25 miles per hour is the maximum speed limit on roadways within our residential districts. • 30 miles per hour is the maximum speed limit on Four Seasons Circle. • 15 miles per hour is the maximum speed limit in alleyways. Remember, parking in alleyways is prohibited. We need to maintain access for emergency response vehicles. • Stop at all designated STOP signs. • Yield to vehicles that have entered a roundabout. Note: When entering a roundabout, only drive in a counterclockwise direction! • No Distracted Driving - Put away your cell phones and other electronic devices while driving. • Yield to pedestrians. Note to Drivers: It is important to follow prudent driving practices. Although our streets are not marked with center lines, please avoid driving down the center of our roadways, keeping on the right side of the street … and for our pedestrians: While walking, be mindful of vehicle trac on the streets and stay on the sidewalks whenever possible. If you need to walk in the street, always walk facing the opposing trac, and if in a group, walk single le. Remember, "If you see something, say something." Note: Please plan on joining us for our monthly Community Awareness meetings, held on the second Wednesday of each month at 10 am in e Lodge Ballroom. All are welcome! ank you to our Block Captains and Community Awareness Committee members for all they do to help keep our community safe. ~ Frank Hilberg, hilberg frank@gmail.com Community Awareness

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