Safety and Security

1.  To help residents inform themselves  and to help them  plan/prepare for emergencies.

2. To  address any unsafe conditions in the community,   

Get Involved Please 

Like someone who obviously does not belong in the neighborhood

1.  Call  911, then 

2. Call the office during office hours 

3.  Call someone on the Committee

 If you Notice any Unsafe Conditions 

  1. In an emergency contact 911

   2. Submit a Work Request to the office to have it corrected

              Forms are available in the clubhouse or click the above link  and print it.

              Include a photo if it would help illustrate the problem

   3.  Contact  any committee member

SPEEDING

Most residents observe reasonable speed limits. However the few speeders in Garden Grove are, a major concern for the rest of us. Although the UPS and

FedEx trucks are guilty … the majority of speeders are residents.

The maximum speed within the community should be 20 MPH tops. I’m sure many of you want to see “speed bumps” installed, but we may have no other alternative. If you witness a chronic speed demon, please report it to the office and we will be more than happy to contact them.

SAFETY REMINDER WHEN ENTERING AND LEAVING GARDEN GROVE

 We are experiencing increased bicycle traffic on the sidewalks adjacent to US1. It is easy to focus south toward approaching traffic when exiting Garden Grove but make absolutely sure you check both directions for pedestrians and bicyclist before you turn. Those using the sidewalks have the right of way over our exiting and entering traffic. 

 At this time of year, it is dark when many residents are riding bicycles and walking in the morning. Walkers that are walking in evening and in the morning should have lights on them & bright clothing at all times.  It is very difficult to see walkers in the dark. It would be terrible if one of our residents was hit by a car or by a bicycle while walking in our neighborhood.
 Bicycle riders should also have lights on the front and back of their bikes. It is very difficult to see someone on a bike without lights.  I know of one incident when two riders almost collided head on coming around a corner because one bike had no lights.
 WALKERSshould always walk facing traffic, wear bright color clothing, have a visible light, avoid the middle of the street by hugging the left curb & use sidewalks where provided.   
 CYCLISTSshould always cycle with the flow of traffic, avoid the middle of the street by hugging the right curb, have visible lights, signal all turns & obey all traffic signs.        Also, for some reason people do not realize there is a stop sign at the east end of Garden Grove Parkway. People drive right thru the intersection going to the Clubhouse or the pool.  Several “close call” incidents have been witnessed and reported at this intersection.  This is particularly hazardous after sunset and before sunrise. There are people out bicycling and walking during these hours.  A rolling stop is NOT a complete stop.  The stop signs are there for a reason and vehicles, cyclists & walkers should all abide by them for the safety of everyone.    

  The AARP has a site to alert you of scams; https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/Click on the Scam Map. Their site also has tips to avoid being scammed.
example : If you get a Notice from Microsoft saying that your computer is locked and that you have a virus in your computer call this number ......... It's a scam don't not call the number, shut your computer down and restart it. 
BEWARE  of scam calls from people purporting to be Florida Power &  Light stating that they are shutting your power off in 30 minutes for non-payment with instructions to call a given phone number for information.  This is a scam call.  Our local FPL phone number is: 1-800-375-2434. 

The trucks that deliver our “stuff” to Garden Grove are sometimes hampered by not having a gate code. If you are expecting a service provider or placed an order that requires delivery, please tell the driver the gate code, or meet them at the gate to allow them to enter.    

When the drivers are unable to enter by not having a code, they are sometimes blocked by the cars behind them. We recently experienced this situation, which ended up in gridlock, with no one moving until a Good Samaritan opened the gate for the driver.    

We understand that everyone is doing their best to keep this a safe & secure community, but when there is a safety issue regarding US1 access, we have to keep the entrance moving and these trucks are sometimes much too large to make a “U” turn.     

 Please remember that there is a contractor number in the system that you can use for deliveries and service people so that you are not giving out YOUR code.  Contact the office for the current contractor code.                                                     

 See TCWatch.org for information about this organization. It is separate from the sheriff's organization but passes tips to the appropriate organization for investigation and action.  

Call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers if you have a tip about a crime. You may be rewarded if your tip leads to an arrest (up to $3,000 if it is a murder case). 

It is anonymous.

For information about recent crimes in Indian River County click here to go to the Sheriff's interactive map.

Your tips will be reviewed and relayed to the relevant authority the following morning so it is not  intended for immediate action like is a call to 911.

Don't take action or endanger yourself. Don't expect the storm troopers to swarm in immediately. Your tips have to be investigated and evidence gathered and properly documented so as to be admissible in court. This may take time.

However, you are eligible for a reward when an arrest is made. You don't have to wait for a conviction.

You can follow the process online.

Good tips give:

•  specific street addresses, apartment numbers, intersections, color of houses.
• the jurisdiction (city, county, state) where the suspect is wanted.
• the make, model, color licence number of the vehicles involved or driven by the suspect(s).
• specific information about illegal drug activity...color, quantity, packaging. where and when sold, names.
•  information about possesion of weapons types, firearms and their location.

Good tips increase the likelihood of an arrest, and therefore of a reward.

  Deputy Jessica Ogonoski from Indian River County Sheriff’s Department (Crime Prevention and Community Affairs Unit) briefed us on security and crime prevention within our community and the Vero Beach area. The following is a summary of her last two annual visits. She reminded us of the importance of locking our cars and homes. Don’t assume that because we are in a safe area that things won’t happen. Even when you are in your home, it is best to keep doors locked. When coming out of a business to get in your car, beware of your surroundings. Don’t unlock your vehicle until you are close to it.
Ring doorbells that show who is coming to and from your door were endorsed. They can be setup to alert your neighbors too.
Neighborhood Watch. Jessica suggested that our Neighborhood Watch be augmented with a leader and regular meetings to allow our members to share their observations, perhaps in real time with their neighbors. Once again, if their is anything of concern, call 911. No concern is too small or insignificant so don't be hesitant to call the sheriff at 911.
Did you know that IRC Sheriff’s office offers a service of driving to your home when you are away and check to see that things look in order, you can call them and request the service? If anything looks out of place or suspicious, they will call you back to let you know and will look into it to verify things are safe in your home. And guess what? It is free of charge.   
We also learned about the importance of having a VIAL OF LIFE at home. Some of you already know about this form. It lists your information, current medications, health issues and other important notes that in case of an emergency, if an ambulance comes to your home, will be of great help to the medics that will be there to assist you. This list is to be kept on a small container in your fridge. Standard for all of us. A small sticker should be placed at the entrance of your home and on your fridge door so medics know you have it. How helpful will that be if you ever need their assistance! If you want to get one, some are available outside the office at the Clubhouse. If we run out, more can be requested.   
Make sure that your credit cards are protected in theft resistant sleeves or wallets when you are out in the general public.  The information from your credit & debit cards can be scanned by Bluetooth software right through your purse, wallet or pocket with no personal contact.  The magnet strip on these cards gives a lot of personal information that a thief can easily retrieve from you without your knowledge.    Deputy Ogonoski also warned about telephone scams. Some recent ones are where the caller: 1. pretends to be a family member in dire need of money stating they’ve been arrested, in an accident; all types of emergencies.   Then they ask you to purchase gift cards & mail them or they want the numbers from the back of the cards.  If you are worried this is a family member, asks specific questions that only that family member would know without giving any personal information.  or2.pretends to be Social Security; claiming that your Social Security number has been compromised and offers to connect you to a social security officer to "rectify" the situation3. pretends to be someone from the bank or a credit card company claiming that your account has been compromised. Some scammers have come to the victim's house to exchange their "compromised" card for a new one.4. claims there is an outstanding  warrant for your arrest.
If someone is asking you for money, your card  or bank information, or your identification information, it is a scam. Hang up! Do not let them transfer you to some official who can resolve the situation. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card, or contact the correct agency through their front door (Official site or phone number.)   Report it to The Federal Trade Commission  Complaint Hotline. Or, call 415-777-9635 . There is an Identity Theft booklet, prepared by the Federal Trade Commission, that you can pick up at the Sheriff’s Dept full of more useful information.    AARP also has a site that describes some scams. AARP also has a site that describes some scams.
Jessica also recommended the CERT training and the sheriff's adademy courses. These are described on our Garden Grove website under CERT and Sheriff's Citizens Academy. The CERT course is 12 weeks long and the Citizens Academy is 11. and both are run in the evenings.

Questions from our residents included:1. Speeders in Garden Grove. Jessica prefers speed humps because they slow people down and are not such a tripping hazard for pedestrians. Package delivery vehicles are notorious for speeding in communities. Call their dispatchers with pertinent information such as time, location and if possible, the vehicle number. If their dispatcheres get lots of calls, their company policy requires them to do something about it. Most of their vehicles have gps trackers on them so these dispatchers can identify the offending drivers2. An advanced Citizen's Academy will be scheduled shortly. Some Deputy Sheriffs are currently being certified to run this course. Watch for it on the IRCSheriff.org website3. Self Defense Training. There is a women's  R.A.D. course currently running. A course specific to older women is being investigated by Deputy Sheriff Cliff Labbe. Watch their website. IRCSheriff.org
The Sheriffs BBQ is held annually in March  at the Sheriff's complex. Come and see the exhibits and support the Sheriff's Youth Camp  which works to help IRC youths turn their lives around.
There was a lot of information share and we always learn something. D/Sheriff Ogonoski was interesting and informative.  There is an Identity Theft booklet, prepared by the Federal Trade Commission, that you can pick up at the Sheriff’s Dept full of more useful information.      

 The Indian River County Sheriff  runs an excellent program  to educate and involve the general public.  See  https://ircsheriff.org/citizens-academy.cfm . See the canine unit, helicopter and boat units, hear from the Drug unit, Victims Support Unit, the Sheriffs' Camp for children at risk of going the wrong direction, tour the jail, the courthouse, the forensic lab, etc. Learn where recent crimes have taken place in Indian River County on the interactive map ,The Sheriff's Office also hosts a breakfast at the PSL Draft House in Sebastian on the 3rd Friday of every month where they share unclassified information about what is going on in the County. It is free for graduates of the Sheriff's Citizens Academy.
You can also become a volunteer Sheriff! 

Residents who sign up for this service will receive a telephone call every day from a volunteering neighbor, between 7:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. to check on your well-being.  The same caller, will call you daily. 

If you cannot be reached by phone, the volunteer will go to your home to see if you are O.K. If still no answer, the Indian River Sheriff's Department will be called and given the details. What ever results from that call will be relayed to your emergency contact provided on the one page questionaire  filled out by the resident.

If you are interested in joining the program or becoming a volunteer, contact Nora Lichty.

Some of  those who  using this service are have also purchased  medical alert buttons in case of a problem between the daily phone calls. See  the section Those Who May Fall/ Medical Alert Devices. below.

We would like to recognize the six volunteering callers : Nora Lichty, Lois McLean, Bob Marquis, Ritamaire Pietrowski, Lorraine Rego and JoAnn Staszewski. Our community thanks each of you for helping with this program

There have been several Garden Grove residents who have suffered a fall. Some have involved hitting their heads, being unable to get up, etc. There may also be other medical conditions that would make it desirable for you or a  loved one to have an alert device.

Researching the right device, to alert a family member or friend, or a call center, can be challenging.  

The following AARP  article provides some of the considerations to help make  an informed decision.:  https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2017/medic-alert-systems-options.html 

You may wish to consider joining AARP if you are not already a member.

There are also apps for some cell phones that give you a panic button to call 911 and also send a message to someone who knows you.  Remember that the 911 dispatcher does not know where you are; only the tower that the call came through. i.e. you have to be able to talk to the dispatcher whereas a friend or neighbor will likely know where you are.

If a person stops breathing or has no pulse, First Responder statistics show only a 5 to 10 percent success rate by the time they arrive on the scene (average 7minutes). However, if the victim has been given CPR immediately, the success rate is very much higher.

Several organizations provide CPR training so you can  possibly save your loved one's life. 

CPR  (Cardio Pulminary Resuscitation) needs to continue until first responders arrive or until an AED is used.  Today's AEDs  (Automtic External Defibrillator) are easy to use. Just turn it on (or sometimes just open the lid) and they tell you exactly what to do, step by step. 

Some persons with Alzheimers or dementia and children with Autism or Down Syndrome tend to wander from home.  Many autistic children are attracted to water with potentially fatal results.  Project Lifesaver International is a public safety program designed to protect and locate missing persons who wander.  

A  hospital style watch strap  which continually transmits a beep can be obtained through  the societies that deal with these diseases. When the person strays and gets lost the care giver can contact the Sheriffs department  who can mobilize  the Project Lifesaver personnel who come in with tracking devices like those seen on TV for tracking animals. The Sheriff's department has two of these hand-held tracking devices and their helicopters are similarly equipped.  The local  (Port St Lucie)chapter of Project Lifesaver is seeking funding to obtain drones which have been proven to be most helpful in  other jurisdictions. call1-877-580-LIFE for more information.

Having trouble hearing or being heard on the phone? You can have a Free phone that captions your calls. 

Clear Captions is program that you have already paid for through  a fee on your phone bill that everyone pays. The Universal Service Fee. It is  a federal program under the American Disabilities Act (Title 4)

The phone is  Free. The installation is Free, and the  caption service is Free.

You need a  landline and an internet service to use it. And you must have difficultiy hearing on the phone.

Phone Lou Cicalese at 772 318-4346 or visit  Clear Captions online.

Community Emergency Response Team

To assist first responders in a widespread emergency, CERT is a group of individuals in Communities organized and  trained to assess the damage, safely search neighborhood for casualties, assess the number and seriousness of injuries, treat those they are trained to treat, and report by radio to the Emergency Control Center which will prioritize their responses.

Power can go out and cell phone service  be overloaded or knocked out.  Indian River County has one of the best emergency response  organizations in Florida. There is a modern Emergency Control Center which is manned by dozens of key people during emergencies.  BUT since first responders will be overwhelmed, the system depends on CERT.

Several members of your Safety Committee  are certified, but more are needed as some of them may not be available. 

You can volunteer to take this free training to learn what you can do to prepare and to SAFELY assist others in the event of emergencies. It has been found that where untrained volunteers rush to help during an emergency, many of them become victims or casualties themselves. Don't wait till it's too late to be trained .  Snowbirds are welcome.

You can take the free CERT training and become a possible life saver in Garden Grove.  You learn a lot. Contact  the Training Director, Mickey Coffey at 772 538-7136   

A Useful App: Aware and Prepare- Indian River County. Download it to your smartphone from your app store

Check for:

-  Monthly Meetings (1st Thursday)

- Courses

- Refresher Training

- Events

- How to Join

 Below are events that CERT participates in and invites your participation.  Check CERT Website link for current information.

Sheriff's Annual BBQ 

 Indian River County Firefighters Fair

Vero Beach Air Show CERT Tent

Stop the Bleed training  

Annual Hurricane Expo 

American Red Cross Hanger Party

CERT sponsored Coastal Cleanups  

HamFest and Field Day (June and Dec) 

IRC Firehouse open houses  

Holliday Red Kettle Program (Thanksgiving-Christmas)