Image Up Advertising & Design

FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2025 33 Safety Committee SAFETY 4 "ALL" SEASONS As we move into the holidays, the Safety Committee is committed to making our community a safe environment in which to live. Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season (Part 1): From late November to mid-January — when families gather, parties are scheduled, and travel spikes — safety concerns should be at the forefront. In Part 1 of this two-part series, the National Safety Council has provided the following tried-and-true advice to ensure your family remains safe and injury-free throughout the season. Traveling for the Holidays? Be Prepared: If you're traveling this year, be sure your vehicle is in good running condition, get plenty of rest, and be prepared for any emergency. Traveling by car during the holidays has the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation based on fatalities per passenger mile. Hundreds of people die every year in crashes on New Year's Day, anksgiving Day and Christmas Day, according to National Safety Council's Injury Facts. Alcohol impairment is involved in about a third of these fatalities. Stay safe on the roads over the holidays — and every day: • Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency kit with you. • Get a good night's sleep before departing and avoid drowsy driving. • Leave early and plan for heavy trac. • Make sure every person in the vehicle is properly buckled up no matter how long or short the distance traveled. • Put that cell phone away; many distractions occur while driving, but cell phones are the main culprit. • Practice defensive driving. • Designate a sober driver to ensure guests make it home safely aer a holiday party; alcohol, over-the-counter prescriptions, and illegal drugs can cause impairment. As a reminder for our pedestrians: With the return to Standard Time, daylight is in short demand. erefore, if you are walking at night or in the early morning hours, please wear light-colored or reective clothing and carry a ashlight. Also, 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 you are in a group, walk single le. Turkey Fryers: Be alert to the dangers if you're thinking of celebrating the holidays by frying a turkey. e Consumer Product Safety Commission reports there have been hundreds of turkey-fryer related res, burns or other injuries, and millions of dollars in property loss from these incidents. e National Safety Council discourages the use of turkey fryers at home and urges those who prefer fried turkey to seek out professional establishments or consider using an oil-less turkey fryer. If you must fry your own turkey, follow all U.S. Fire Administration turkey fryer guidelines. Food Poisoning Is No Joke: Keep your holidays happy by handling food safely. e foodsafety.gov website from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides some valuable holiday food safety tips: • Wash your hands frequently when handling food. • Keep raw meat away from fresh produce. • Use separate cutting boards, plates and utensils for uncooked and cooked meats to avoid cross-contamination. • Use a food thermometer to make sure meat is cooked to a safe temperature. • Refrigerate hot or cold leover food within two hours of being served. • When storing turkey, cut the leovers in small pieces so they will chill quickly. • anksgiving leovers are safe for three to four days when properly refrigerated. CPR / AED CLASSES: Monthly CPR classes are currently not scheduled. To arrange a CPR course for your club or committee, contact A J Reilly at (951) 522-9975 or reilly58@me.com. Remember, "If you see something, say something." e Safety Committee meets on the rst Tuesday of each month at 10 am in the RCN Conference Room. Your attendance is encouraged if you have questions or want updates about safety projects. ~ Frank Hilberg, hilberg frank@gmail.com

• Cover