Recent events in Boston have taught us the value of resident cooperation and observation: from cell phone pictures to a person seeing a stain on the boat in his back yard and calling 911. As we go about our daily lives, it is very easy to become so focused on the next appointment or school event that we don’t notice what is happening around us. It takes effort to check that the neighbor’s car is not present for five or six days in a row; it is not always easy to notice the new business that “opened” but never is open for business, or that there seem to be many cars going to a particular house…

Not long ago, on a very cold and wintry day, my husband went out to run an errand and saw a middle-school age boy in front of his house in our neighborhood.  He stopped to inquire whether the boy was okay. The boy said he was locked out of the house because school had released early that day . . . and his family, who were unaware of the early release, had not come home from work yet. When asked, the boy said he was hungry and my husband brought him some food when he returned from his errand. He told the child to come to our house if he got too cold and reminded him of where we live. After he …

Over the past 14 months, SafetySmart Lilburn has offered support and resources to neighborhood leaders of the 30047 ZIP Code during gatherings held every other month. Leaders have been introduced to various community organizations, including Blaze 4 Life, American Red Cross, Safe Kids Gwinnett, and Gwinnett Fire Safety. Representatives of both Gwinnett and Lilburn police departments have provided updates on current events and trends in the 30047 area, and have provided opportunity to get to know these officers on a personal level. Discussions about how to encourage neighbors to become …

It is the start of a new year and, as always, most people think about making a resolution or two for a healthier, safer, more enjoyable life. Some people show real fortitude and stick with those resolutions for a couple months; others manage only a week before they revert to their old habits. Sometimes, it only takes one inconsiderate driver to halt the intention to think happy thoughts.  Several years ago, I made a decision not to make resolutions at the beginning of the year, because it reinforced my sense of failure when yet another resolution went out the window. After some thought, I …

As the holiday season is here, there is a tendency to have more parties than usual to attend. When alcohol is served, it is easy to drink more than you planned because of the good company, conversation and relaxation…but this tendency also raises the chances of driving impaired.  GUIDE (Gwinnett United in Drug Education) issued a report this week that one out of every seven drivers on a Friday or Saturday night is impaired, either under the influence of alcohol or drugs; that number goes up during any holiday.  Nearly half of all motor vehicle fatalities are alcohol related.  About 12% of …

SafetySmart Lilburn wants you to keep your home and family safe this holiday season. Here are a few tips to help you. Decorating Safety Tips: Use outdoor lights only outside your home. Examine light strings each year; discard worn ones. Connect no more than three strands together. Never use indoor extension cords for outside appliances. Avoid overloading wall outlets and extension cords. Shopping Safety Tips: Find a bathroom in a well-trafficked area. Avoid darkened hallways and other backroom areas. Park under a street light so you can see your vehicle on all four sides after dark. Park …

Progress has been made in reducing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the infant population. This is thanks largely to the 18-year campaign originally called Back-To-Sleep, but now entitled Safe-Sleep.  Death by suffocation is by far the number one cause of deaths in infants under one year. Since the Back-to-Sleep campaign began in 1994, infant death rates due to suffocation has been reduced by 50 percent. The Food and Drug Administration joined forces with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to promote the concept and widen the circle of those practicing this …

Who doesn’t love to sit in front of a nice wood fire in their fireplace on a cold day? It is getting colder outside so keep your home safe. There are a few simple things you can do to prevent tragedies. Have your chimney checked by a professional chimney  cleaner at least once per year, making sure the chimney is not cracked, clear of debris and appropriately screened at the top to prevent embers from landing on the roof. Leave glass doors open on fireplaces when fire is burning.  Close them when the ash is totally cool. Close mesh screens when wood fires are burning. Never use gasoline  or …

In a recent email from Gwinnett County Connection, an article on reducing FOG (fats, oils and grease) jumped out: Gwinnett Water Resources (GWR) is encouraging all residents to reduce the amount of FOG, as well as food particles put down the drain, thus avoiding serious clogs and backups in the sewer system.  Five years ago, GWR estimated, if every person in Gwinnett County put only one teaspoon of fat, oil, or grease down the drain, the result would be the equivalent of eighteen 55-gallon drums of FOG in the sewer system. The population of the county has expanded significantly since then, so…

Halloween is a fun and spooky day for kids. Here are some tips to help make it safe for you and your family. When buying or making a costume make sure that the eyeholes are big enough to see out of and that there is no long and billowing material that could brush against a flame and ignite or trip the wearer. When trick-or-treating use a flashlight, glow stick or wear reflective material to alert cars of your presence. Be sure to check candy for rips/tears in the packaging or other hazards before giving it to kids to eat. When carving pumpkins be sure to keep sharp objects away from young …

Capt. Tommy Rutledge of Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services spoke to a group of neighborhood leaders in Lilburn a couple weeks ago. The information he shared can save lives many times over: Every year more than 4000 people die, including hundreds of children, and 20,000 people are injured in fires, according to the United States Fire Administration. Every person will experience a serious fire at some time in their life. It is important for every family to conduct fire drills at least twice yearly and to have equipment, such as escape ladders available for second story bedrooms.  …

Hunting season opens on Saturday, Oct. 20. For hunters, this is a very significant season of the year and is anticipated with great enthusiasm. Some hunt for sport, others as a primary source of protein. No matter the purpose of the activity, all hunters follow rules of safety.  These include: Knowing the target you are shooting Checking behind the target before firing Pointing the muzzle of the gun in a safe direction Keeping a clear head and being informed about surroundings Keeping fingers outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot Wearing earplugs or headsets when firing a weapon …

Code compliance is important to any neighborhood: It helps keep property values high, neighbors safe from nuisances and builds a healthy and attractive community. The Lilburn Code of Ordinances (rules) can be found on www.municode.com (then click on Library, Georgia and Lilburn.) Descriptions and discussion of nuisances are listed in Section 38 of the Lilburn Code.  One of the most common complaints this time of year is yard maintenance. If the grass or weeds in a yard on private property exceed 12 inches in height, it is a code problem. What can neighbors do? Before the grass reaches 12 …

Although it is close to the end of September, the West Nile virus is still around We often think that, after the summer months, such threatening illnesses go away until the winter months set in.  Although the rate of increase has slowed from 30 percent in early September to 13 percent in the later part of the month, October is still a month of concern. So, far there have been a total of 3,545 reported cases for the year. And, the CDC adds that the number of cases this year is the highest reported to federal health officials through the last week in September since 2003, the year with the most…

A total of 74 cats and dogs received vaccinations against rabies during a special clinic sponsored by SafetySmart Lilburn earlier this month. The city of Lilburn provided a location in the field area next to the railroad tracks, and for only $10 per shot, pet parents were able to keep their animal friends safe from rabies. Dr. Star Gregory of Zutilla Veterinary Housecalls administered the shots and volunteers assisted pet care givers by helping them fill out forms and handling their pets. Rabies is an animal born disease that can be transmitted to humans. If a human gets infected with rabies…

  Get Ready Gwinnett, a seminar sponsored by the Gwinnett Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services, was held last Saturday, Sept. 15, at Annandale Village. The event was organized by Gwinnettians committed to increasing awareness of the needs of the elderly and those with disabilities simultaneously considering all residents of the affected area.    At least 30 agencies came together to provide suggestions and guidance in preparing for all kinds of emergencies, ranging from personal go-kits for immediate evacuations to what to do when severe …

This is a success story, though no burglary was prevented or neighbor saved from being taken in a scam. Our neighborhood watch has been reactivated, and it has made a big difference in how the people in our small subdivision look out for each other. Recently one of the neighbors contracted to have some work done on the outside of their home. The homeowners were at work when the repairs were being done. Three different neighbors saw the truck and/or the workers on the property and contacted the homeowner to make sure the people were supposed to be there.  The homeowners expressed their …

How would you feel if your four-legged family member had to be euthanized because of the lack of a simple shot?  Unfortunately, a family in Lilburn found out after their dog was attacked by a rabid raccoon.  The dog was not up to date with a rabies shot and the family could not afford to quarantine the dog for six months to see if it was infected. They had to make the difficult decision to have their dog euthanized in order to protect themselves and their children. Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain in warm-blooded animals. It is transmissible from animals to …

SafetySmart Lilburn, Inc., is excited to announce it has received a $14,000 grant from the Neighborhood Fund, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Approximately $5,000 of the grant will help develop eight new neighborhood and business watches in the 30047 ZIP code. The remaining funds will be received through community coaching provided by Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta affiliates. SafetySmart has worked with the community to help start neighborhood watches, increase community involvement and encourage communication between residents and law enforcement. …

A few weeks ago, I was a forwarded an email from a friend about a longevity calculator. Here's what it said: "Watch your age in the upper right corner!  Kinda fun to watch your age go up and down as you answer the questions.  It's interesting, so give it a try.... "How long will you live? This is a calculator that estimates your life expectancy.  It was developed by Northwestern Mutual Life.  It's interesting that there are only 13 questions, yet they can predict how long you're likely to live. "http://media.nmfn.com/tnetwork/lifespan" At the time, I thought it was interesting, because it …