It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Here’s some holiday safety tips to keep you safe as you enjoy the holidays:

1. Merry and Bright: Carefully inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders, or loose connections. When replacing bulbs, unplug the light string and be sure to match voltage and wattage to the original bulb.
2. Lights Out: Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.
3. O Christmas Tree: If you have a freshly cut tree, keep it watered and away from open candles. If you buy an artificial tree, make sure it’s labeled “fire resistant.” Fire-resistant trees are less susceptible to catching fire.
4. Work as a team: When stringing lights and decorations above your normal reach, be sure to use a proper ladder with someone supporting the base.
5. The Great Outdoors: When hanging outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground and away from metal rain gutters. Use insulated tape or plastic clips instead of metal nails or tacks to hold them in place.
6. Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace: Paper burns very hot, which can ignite a fire in any residue in your chimney or the chase. Instead, recycle (or better yet, reuse!) your wrapping paper. And, have your chimney professionally cleaned prior to use.
7. Prevent electrical cord damage: Don’t mount lights in a way that might damage the cords, and avoid using nails or tacks. Use hooks or insulated staples instead.
8. Secure candles: Keep candles on a sturdy base to prevent tipping. Never leave a lit candle unattended.

Oh Deer!

Did you know that November is deer mating season? That means drivers run a high risk for collisions with deer and other wildlife. Animal-vehicle collisions are two times more likely in November than any other month of the year.

Use these 9 tips to avoid animal strikes and minimize their impact:

1. Buckle Up: More than half of human fatalities from animal strikes happen after a collision because drivers aren’t wearing seatbelts. Not only is buckling up the law, but it can also save your life.
2. Slow down. Always drive the speed limit so you have enough time to scan the road for wildlife and react if an animal crosses your path. Also, remember your visibility decreases at dawn and dusk, so adjust your vehicle’s speed accordingly.
3. Don’t tailgate. Following other vehicles too closely reduces your field of vision and shortens your reaction time.
4. Know the area. Be extra cautious on roads surrounded by farmland or trees on either side. Look for posted animal crossing signs and slow down when you see them. Remember where you’ve seen wildlife in the past.
5. Stay alert. Use your high beams at night if there is no oncoming traffic. Watch for the reflection of deer eyes in your headlights. Look for shadows near the shoulder of the road or signs of movement between you and the lights of oncoming cars.
6. Don’t swerve. If you swerve to avoid an animal, you run the risk of colliding with a guardrail, utility pole or other stationary object. You also might drive off the side of the road and experience a rollover. If you can’t avoid a collision, slow down as much as possible and brace for impact. It’s safer than putting your life at risk by swerving.
7. Look for “animal friends”. Deer travel in groups. If you see one, it’s likely more will be nearby.
8. Don’t trust deer horns or whistles. They’re proven not to work and may actually startle the deer, causing the animal to stand still in the roadway.
9. Know what to do if you strike an animal. Pull over to a safe space. Turn on your flashers. Use caution when approaching an injured animal. Call 911 if needed.

One of the most common calls we receive is for traumatic injuries.

Traumatic injury is damage to the body caused by external force. This may be caused by accidents, falls, hits, weapons, and other causes.

One of the most preventable of these, traumatic head injuries are a result of a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury.

Preventing sports-related head injuries: Buy and use helmets or protective head gear approved for specific sports. In addition to other safety apparel or gear, helmets or head gear should be worn at all times for: Softball, Cycling, Football, Hockey, Horseback riding, Skateboards/Scooters, Skiing and Wrestling.

General prevention tips

• Supervise younger children at all times, and don’t let them use sporting equipment or play sports unsuitable for their age.
• Follow rules and warning signs at water parks and swimming pools.
• Don’t dive in water less than 12 feet deep or in above-ground pools. Check the depth and check for debris in the water before diving.
• Wear appropriate clothing for the sport.
• Don’t wear clothing that can interfere with your vision.
• Don’t participate in sports when you’re ill or tired.
• Obey all traffic signals and be aware of drivers when cycling or skateboarding.
• Avoid uneven or unpaved surfaces when cycling, skateboarding, or in-line skating.
• Replace sporting equipment or protective gear that is damaged.

Preventing other head injuries

• Wear a seatbelt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle.
• Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or ride as a passenger with anybody else who is under the influence.
• Keep firearms unloaded in a locked cabinet or safe, and store ammunition in a separate, secure location.
• Remove hazards in the home that may contribute to falls. Secure rugs and loose electrical cords, put away toys, use safety gates, and install window guards. Install grab bars and handrails if you are frail or elderly.

Until next month, stay safe!

We often get asked “when should I call 9-1-1”, here’s some tips:

When should you call 9-1-1?

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience:

1. Severe difficulty breathing, especially that does not improve with rest.
2. Chest pain
3. A fast heartbeat at rest especially if it’s associated with shortness of breath or feeling faint
4. You witness someone faint/pass out or someone is unresponsive
5. Difficulty speaking, numbness, or weakness of any part of the body
6. Sudden dizziness, weakness or mental changes (confusion, very odd behavior, difficulty walking)
7. Sudden blindness or vision changes
8. Heavy bleeding
9. Broken bones visible through an open wound, or a broken leg
10. Drowning
11. Choking
12. Severe burns
13. Allergic reaction, especially if there is any difficulty breathing
14. Poisoning or drug overdose
15. New severe headache
16. Sudden intense severe pain
17. Someone is threatening to hurt or kill themselves or someone else
18. Or, see an uncontrolled fire

When in doubt, call 9-1-1!

If you're not sure whether extra help is needed, call 9-1-1 and the trained dispatcher will help advise you. It is better to be safe and let the 9-1-1 call taker determine if you need emergency assistance.

What to do if you call 9-1-1 by mistake:

If you call by mistake, do not hang up, just stay on the line and tell the dispatcher that everything is OK. If you hang up, they may send help to your location to investigate if there is a problem.

Finally, please do not phone the fire hall or send a social media message to alert to an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Until next month, stay safe!

The Fire Ban for Redwood Meadows has been lifted effective immediately.

Please remember that fire pits of any size require a permit from the town site. Permit application forms can be downloaded here.