Tips for Community Living
Tip 3: Do your part to keep the building safe
You have an extra responsibility to your neighbors in addition to yourself to prevent a fire. Don’t smoke in bed and never leave candles or any other burning devices unattended—these are both leading causes of fires. Unplug all appliances as soon as you are done using them. This includes toasters, curling irons, irons and any other device that produces heat. In addition, don’t run extension cords under carpets or from unit to unit. They can easily overheat and should only be used temporarily. You may even want to consider holding a building meeting and planning an escape route in the event that a fire occurs. Be sure that children, the elderly and anyone with a handicap will have assistance in the event of a fire. It should go without saying, but make sure that neither you, nor anyone else in your building, is parking in front of fire hydrants or fire lanes. Some apartment dwellers can be ignorant of this fact because apartment parking is well off the street and the chance of getting a ticket is slim. If someone is ignoring this law, politely remind them of it and express your concern. If that doesn’t work, make your building management aware or call the local authorities.
Tip 4: Know how to handle crime issues
It is your responsibility as a community resident to report any suspicious or criminal behavior that you see. If your complex or street has a neighborhood watch, show your concern by attending a meeting. If a watch doesn’t exist, you can start one. Follow these recommendations from the National Crime Prevention Council:
Form a small planning committee to discuss the need and level of interest.
Contact the local police and ask them to send an officer to your meeting to discuss local crime problems.
Publicize with flyers and go door-to-door to inform neighbors of the meeting.
Select a meeting place that is convenient and accessible to everyone.
Hold an initial meeting to establish the purpose of the group and begin to identify issues that need to be addressed.
Elect a chairperson and ask for block captain volunteers. Captains can take responsibility for looking out for those who are vulnerable to crime and can work with the police to relay information to neighbors when a crime happens.
Establish a regular means of communicating with neighbors and create a map with contact information for all residents.
Eventually members can be trained in home security techniques, observation skills and crime reporting with the help of the local law enforcement agency.
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