Page 12 - Sun Rays Febuary 2013

12 | SUNRAYS FEBRUARY 2013 ONLINE: SCTXCA.ORG
CA NEWS
Do you leave your seat belt off
because you are only going a few
blocks? Do you know most ac-
cidents happen within one mile
of your home?
One thing you can do to really reduce in-
jury is to buckle up. Having worked in a
clinic, I can tell you that a sudden stop,
even if only traveling 5miles per hour, can
bounce the passenger and driver forward
and easily crush the cheek bones and nose.
Imagine the damage at 30 mph!
Auto accident injuries treated in a hospital
emergency room showed a sharp decrease
in head and face injuries once the seat belt
law went into effect. If caught by law en-
forcement, driving without a seat belt can
cost a substantial amount of money, not
only in fines, but also for treatment if you
are in an accident. So, do your face—not
to mention the rest of your body—a favor
and always buckle up.
If you can help COPs by volunteering four
hours a month, driving, office staffing or
helping with maintenance, call the COPs
office at 512-966-1362, Monday through
Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Future
Driver Training classes will be held
on February 9, March 9 and April 13.
Seat Belt Safety
Submitted by Edna Heard, COPs Secretary
• Legacy Hills Pro Shop/TheOaks—Interior hallway
wall near the restrooms between the Pro Shop and
The Oaks
• White Wing—Wall in the entry hall of Café on the
Green and the Pro Shop
• Cowan Creek—There are two AEDs here; one is at
the Monitor’s desk and the other is on the wall inside
the Fitness Center
Now, let’s talk training.
Several hundred of your
neighbors and CA employ-
ees have been trained! You
can see how important
training is; it makes you
feel much more confident!
If you start CPR right away
and use an AED within a
few minutes, you will have
the best chance of saving
the life of someone whose
heart has stopped. After very little training, most people can
learn CPR and how to use an AED. The Emergency Manage-
ment Committee offers CPR/AED/FIRST AID classes on a
regular basis throughout the year. The cost is minimal and
the schedule is in the Communicator regularly.
Remember…you can make a difference!
Sun City’s AEDs Continued from previous page
Raccoons in Sun City
Submitted by the Wildlife Committee
The raccoon (Procyon lotor)
is a medium-sized mammal
native to North America and
seen only occasionally in Sun
City. It is the largest of the
procyonid family, having a
body length of 16-28 inches
and a body weight of 8-20
pounds. The raccoon is typi-
cally nocturnal and omnivo-
rous, with a diet consisting of
about 40 percent invertebrates, 33 percent plant foods, and
27 percent vertebrates.
It has a grayish coat, of which almost 90 percent is underfur
that insulates against cold weather. Two of the raccoon’s most
distinctive features are its extremely dexterous front paws
and its facial mask.
Raccoons are noted for their intelligence, with studies showing
that they are able to remember the solution to tasks for up to
three years. Though previously thought to be solitary, there
is now evidence that raccoons engage in gender specific social
behavior. Related females often share a common area, while
unrelated males live together in groups of up to four animals
to maintain their positions against foreign male leaders during
mating season, and other potential invaders.
The original habitats of raccoons are deciduous and mixed
forests of North America, but due to their adaptability, they
have extended their range to mountainous areas, coastal
marshes and urban areas, especially Chicago, where many
homeowners consider them to be pests.
Home range sizes vary from 3 hectares for females in cities to
20 square miles for males in prairies. After a gestation period
of about 65 days, two to five young (known as “kits”) are born
in the spring. The kits are subsequently raised by the mother
until dispersion in late fall. Although captive raccoons have
been known to live over 20 years, their average life expectancy
in the wild is only 1.8 to 3.1 years. In many areas, hunting
and traffic accidents are the two most common causes of death.
Resident Directors’ Open Session
Wednesday, February 20, 3 p.m., CCG/F
The Resident Directors’ Open Session is an excellent oppor-
tunity for residents to discuss matters listed on the February
Board Workshop Agenda with the Resident Directors prior to
their taking action on the items during the February 28 Board
Meeting. Residents are also welcome to discuss any other top-
ics with the Resident Directors. All Sun City Texas residents
are encouraged to attend the Open Session, as well as the
CA Board Workshop and the CA Board Meeting. This is your
community, and your input during these sessions is valuable!