Safety at Summerland

Safety at Summerland Manor

Holiday Safety Tips for Summerland Manor

SAFETY AWARENESS & EDUCATION: As part of the Safety Committees, "Safety Awareness and Education" program, please see the attached condo "Holiday Safety Tips" that covers -- Fire & Electrical Safety; Security & Package Theft; and, Parking ...

Please have a safe holiday season ...

Thank you,

Your Safety Committee
Rick, Elizabeth, Donna, Jim, Deb, Jane, Beth and Ken

Commercial Grade Fire Extinguishers

Summerland Community,

Following Summerland Manor’s inspection of “fire sprinkler systems” in the condo units this past October, the inspector (CFP International - Mr. Terry Atherton) approached the Safety Committee and Board of Directors to offer fire extinguisher services to anyone who would be interested. The extinguishers are 5 lb. commercial grade extinguishers available either as NEW ($65) or REFURBISHED ($45) with a mounting bracket fee ($5). These extinguishers would be best suited (mounted) in the garage or laundry utility room. If interested, there is a sign-up sheet in the Community Building that will be handed over to Mr. Atherton on December 17, 2025, so that he can make contact with interested parties after that date. I also have samples of these extinguishers available if you need a “hands-on visual” of the extinguishers. Feel free to reach out to me or anyone on our Safety Committee.

Attached is information Mr. Atherton provided about the importance of fire extinguishers and photos of the extinguishers his company provides.

Thank you,

Rick Robinette
Safety Chair

Cold Weather Safety Checklist for Condos

Summerland Manor Community,

This is a good time to prepare for cold weather, get our snow shovels ready, and educate ourselves to prevent fires, freezing pipes, and other mishaps. Please click Cold Weather Safety Checklist for Condos, where you will find a checklist to keep your condominium unit and your community safe. Your “Safety Committee” welcomes any ideas or suggestions for improving this list. So, let’s get started…

Thank you,

Your Safety Committee

(Rick, Donna, Deb, Elizabeth, Jane, Jim, and Beth)

Safety Awareness and Education (Fliplok)

Summerland Manor Community,

At our last Safety Committee meeting, a member of the committee presented a “high security lock system” that we thought some folks may be interested in. It is called a “Fliplok”. They are reasonably priced, easy to operate, can be purchased from Amazon (click here), and appear they are easily installed (however may require hiring someone to do so). If interested in something like this, a couple of the committee members have these installed and have agreed to showcase their installations.

If you install one of these, in conjunction with a “Home Knoxbox” (for fire department access), please keep in mind you don’t want to install the “Fliplok” in a manner that would defeat the purpose of the KnoxBox.

Thank you -- Your Safety Committee

Fire Prevention Tip: Clothes Dryer Vent and Ductwork Cleaning

As part of our "Safety Awareness and Education" program, the Safety Committee encourages you to be proactive in preventing fire by having your clothes dryer ductwork and vent cleaned on a regular basis. To assist you, the Committee has put together "suggested" providers (click here to see attachment). If you know of anyone else we can include in this listing, please let us know.

Your Safety Committee "Thanks You" and reminds everyone "Safety Is Everyone's Business".

Safety Awareness and Education - Fire Protection - Sprinkler System Guide

Summerland Manor Community,

As part of Summerland Manor's "Safety Awareness and Education" program and to coincide with the anticipated annual "sprinkler system inspections" in October (date to be announced), please view a "Fire Protection -Sprinkler System Guide" that will assist you with learning about your sprinkler system, identifying specific components, who to notify for maintenance, etc... The annual inspections are typically performed for insurance purposes, and it is most important you participate. It is your responsibility, as a condo unit owner, to maintain the sprinkler system in your unit.

Thank you,

Your Safety Committee
Rick Robinette (Chair), Donna Carey, Evelyn Witt, Jane McGrath, Jim Godlove, Beth Robinette, Deb Godlove, and Elizabeth Hollingshead

Near Vehicle Collisions in the Community

Yesterday, your "Safety Committee" received two separate reports of near-vehicle collisions in the Community. One was a near "head-on" collision and the other a near "rear-end" collision. As a "gentle reminder", visit the attached Safety Awareness and Education piece that has been prepared. Please take a moment to read it.

I want to remind the community that the "Safety Committee" is not an enforcement body (like the police). We welcome and encourage reports such as these for assessment purposes. If you live in Summerland Manor, safety is everyone's responsibility.

Thank you,
Rick - Safety Chair

Safety Awareness and Education

Summerland Manor Community,

As part of Summerland Manor’s “Safety Awareness and Education” program, please find attached “Pharmaceutical Drug Disposal Guidelines" and drop-off locations in our area. Properly disposing of prescription drugs is crucial for preventing accidental ingestion, misuse, and environmental contamination. The best and most recommended method for disposal is to use one of the local medication drop-off programs for unused and/or expired medications.

Thank you,

Summerland Manor’s Safety Committee
(Rick, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Jane, Donna, Beth, Jim, and Deb)

Safety Awareness and Education - Residential Knox HomeBox

Summerland Manor Community,

Myself (Rick Robinette, Safety Chair) and Wanda Gearhart, our Board President, recently met with Captain Logan Hutchison and Fire Apparatus Operator Allen Carpenter at the Hagerstown Fire Department (Station #3), at their prompting, to discuss a new initiative they are promoting, in the City of Hagerstown, as part of their “Community Risk Reduction Program”. The Fire Department is promoting what is called a residential “Knox HomeBox”.

Please read the attachment to learn the details about this initiative and the "Knox HomeBox".

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me (number is in the directory) or any Safety Committee Member. I have circulated this information to the community via email, Facebook, and a bulletin board posting in the Community Building.

Download "Knox HomeBox Information"

Thank you,

Rick Robinette
Safety Committee Chair

Tips for addressing someone in our neighborhood you do not recognize…

As part of Summerland Manor's "Safety Awareness and Education" program, below is a link to the guide that has been put together that can assist you on what to do when you do not recognize someone from the community and you become concerned.

I will also be sharing this on our Facebook group page and posting this information on the board in the community building. Please click on the link below to download the content.

Thank you,

Summerland Manor Safety Committee

Download "Tips for addressing someone in our neighborhood that you do not recognize"

Suspicious Activity - Police Notified

IMPORTANT: Early this morning (6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.), a white male subject was walking the neighborhood and checking for unlocked vehicles. The Police are currently investigating a possible breaking and entering of a home, as well. They have a suspect in custody. Please check your property and if any evidence of foul play, please call the Hagerstown Police Department (301) 790-3700 or the Washington County non-emergency line (240) 313-4345. Thank you.

Safety Awareness & Education (Solicitors and Suspicious Activity)

(REPOSTING) FROM SAFETY COMMITTEE: In light of a recent solicitor and suspicious activity event, I encourage residents if you see something suspicious (i.e. someone walking or lurking around the community late at night), please call the police to report your observation; THEN, if you want, let others know (such as the Board of Directors). The Board of Directors or Safety Committee is not the Police Department or Emergency Services. We are here to provide guidance. If you encounter a solicitor, inform them that soliciting in our community is a BIG NO NO (and signs are posted). Do not let them into your home. If need be, and you need to press the issue, call the Police. Thank you to those who posted on the Facebook group about the young man soliciting, which is a great way to let others know, and what actions you may have taken.

Thank you -- Rick Robinette, Safety Chair

Safety Awareness and Education - Extreme Heat Precautions

The Safety Committee is sharing the attached information from the American Red Cross regarding “Extreme Heat Precautions”. An extreme heat event is a series of hot days, much hotter than average for a particular time and place. Extreme heat is deadly and kills more people than any other weather event. Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent, more severe, and last longer. But we can take action to prepare. Prepare now to protect yourself and your loved ones.

STAY HYDRATED - STAY COOL - STAY CONNECTED (with family and neighbors) - PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES

Click on the attachments below to learn the signs of HEAT CRAMPS - HEAT EXHAUSTION - HEAT STROKE and what to do.

Remember, call 911 (for an emergency)

Remember, call (240) 313-4345 (for non-emergency)

Thank you - Summerland Manor’s Safety Committee (Rick, Beth, Elizabeth, Jane, Jim, Deb, Donna, and Evelyn)

Safety Awareness & Education - Medicare Scams

We have a saying in our community, "If it comes to you out of the blue, it could be a scam!" ... Scams can come to you, without warning or invitation, by phone, text, computer, email, U.S. Mail, and even to your front door. The Medicare scam warning below was submitted by a resident of our community, June Datum. Thank you, June, for your submission.

Summerland Manor's Safety Committee

Follow-up - Smoke Detector Inspections

Please download the Follow-up - 2025 Smoke Detector Inspections document for the community from your Safety Committee regarding the replacement of smoke detectors.

Thank you.

Rick Robinette, Safety Chairman

Safety Awareness and Education (NEW House Rule)

As our condo community continues to evolve, the Board of Directors, working in unison with the Safety Committee, found it necessary to draft a new house rule that would govern the usage of outdoor grills and other outdoor fueled devices. After wrestling with this matter, we conducted much research, talked with the City Fire Marshall, talked with our Insurance Provider, reviewed what it stipulates in the "By-Laws"; looked at the various types of outdoor devices; where devices can be used (limited common elements of the property vs. the common elements); storage of fuel sources; common sense practices; etc.; we found it necessary to draft a house rule. House Rules are difficult to enforce; however, this house rule was drafted to educate, provide guidelines, and place the burden of responsibility on the condo owner. It is not uncommon to enact a house rule, such as this, where fire can be a risk to multiple homes.

Smoke Detector Inspection Results (and Recommendation)

The “Safety Committee” will be providing safety awareness and education on this matter and exploring a path forward to encourage community-wide participation. -- Thank you, Rick Robinette (Safety Chair)

Safety Awareness & Education - Pedestrian Safety
May 3, 2025

Motor Vehicle Theft

We have had this occur in the past here at Summerland Manor. It is advisable to keep vehicles secured, and please report any incidents.

As we enter the warmer weather season, we tend to see an increase in theft from motor vehicles. This is a reminder to make sure your car doors are locked and not to leave any valuables inside. We will be actively monitoring theft from motor vehicle reports and tailoring proactive patrols to any communities that are seeing an increase in this type of crime.

Easter Safety Reminder

Safety Awareness & Education - Entering and Exiting at the Main Entrance

Safety Awareness & Education - Severe Weather Response Protocol

Please click "Severe Weather Response Protocol" to view/save/print (PDF Format) the Summerland Manor protocol, brought to you by your Safety Committee. As we just witnessed yesterday, we are now entering the season for severe storms. These storms can wreak havoc with damaging winds and torrential rain. Always best to be prepared!

Crime Prevention Tips from your Safety Committee

Mailbox Safety

Summerland Manor Safety Awareness and Education - Please Slow Down

Summerland Manor Safety Awareness and Education - SCAM Alert

Got a text about unpaid tolls? It’s probably a scam.

I am seeing the "Unpaid Tolls SCAM" making National News due to its prevalence. Remember, "If something comes to you out of the blue, it's probably a SCAM".

Whether you’ve driven through a toll recently or not, you might’ve gotten a text saying you owe money for unpaid tolls. It’s probably a scam. Scammers are pretending to be tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money. Follow the link below at the Federal Trade Commission to learn how this scam works.

I have also seen this type of SCAM through the U.S. Mail.

Thank you -- Summerland Manor's Safety Committee (Rick, Evelyn, Jeanette, Beth, Elizabeth, Jane, Jim,
and Deb)

https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/01/got-text-about-unpaid-tolls-its-probably-scam

Summerland Manor Safety Awareness and Education -
COLD WEATHER FIRE SAFETY

Summerland Manor Safety Awareness and Education
Wild Animal Sightings

With the recent sightings of wild animals (i.e. foxes) in our community, please see the image below.

Thank you -- Summerland Manor's Safety Committee

Summerland Manor Safety Awareness and Education - When To Call 911 (emergency vs. non-emergency)

Attached you will find information, as posted by the Washington County Emergency Communications Center that is a good guide for people to follow on “When to call 911”… We all know 911 is for emergencies; however, most folks do not know that there is a separate phone number that you can call for “non-emergency” purposes here in Washington County. That number is (240) 313-4345. When you call that number, the dispatcher at the Emergency Communications Center will assist you in reaching the proper authorities.

The guide is also available at this link (that can be printed): https://www.washo-md.net/wp-content/uploads/When-to-call-911-1.pdf

Thank you - Summerland Manor’s Safety Committee (Rick, Donna, Beth, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Jane, Jim, and Deb) -- "Safety Is Everyone’s Business"

When to Call 911

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