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Please mention us if you go straight to Safety Times or contact us and we will be sure you are added to the list and keep you informed of other useful ideas to stay safe. Warren@About ExcellentPromotions.com
SAFETY TIMES NEWSLETTER
For more information on the dimensions of our accident epidemic, go to http://www.safetytimes.com/statistics%20-%20newsletter.htm
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Welcome to this issue of the twice-monthly Safety Times Newsletter. There is
not a charge for the newsletter or any of the safety material referenced in
the newsletter.
The purpose of the newsletter, and the Safety Times publications "Live
Safely in a Dangerous World" and Safety Times Reproducible Articles, is to
help you, your family, and your associates, avoid accidents.
About 10 percent of us will visit a hospital emergency room this year due to
an accident. Approximately 120,000 Americans will die accidentally in the
next twelve months, more than 95% of them in off-the-job accidents. Lifetime
odds of dying in an accident are about 1-in-30 for males, and 1-in-50 for
females. Accidents are the leading cause of death for children, teens, and
young adults, ages 1 to 41.
The key to avoiding inclusion in these statistics is to develop and follow a
Personal Safety Plan.
For more information on the dimensions of our accident epidemic, go to
http://www.safetytimes.com/statistics%20-%20newsletter.htm
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IN THIS ISSUE FROM SAFETY TIMES
A. Twenty Safety Tips For Your Family's Personal Safety Plans
Topics: Wet Weather Driving, Latchkey Children, Hunting - Firearms,
Wildlife B. Some True Stories Where Personal Safety Plans Could Have Made A
Difference C. More Safety Articles On My Website That You Can Use D. Links
To Other Websites With Safety Information E. Feature Article on Home
Repairs
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A. Twenty Safety Tips For Your Family's Personal Safety Plans
Driving Safety (Wet Weather)
1. As soon as it starts to rain, squirt your windows with windshield-washer
fluid to avoid streaking from road film. Check the washer reservoir
periodically.
2. Turn off distractions like the radio or cell phones. Do not engage in
stressful conversations.
3. Follow the tracks of the car in front of you.
4. Know what type of brakes you have and how to use them. Practice with
antilock brakes; or, following a heavy rain, use an empty parking lot to
test your brakes. Perform all maneuvers at low speeds.
5. Change wiper blades annually.
Leisure Safety (Hunting - Firearms)
In a recent year, about 80 fatalities and 750 nonfatal injuries occurred
to U.S. hunters, according to the International Hunter Education
Association. If you are among the millions of Americans who take to the
fields with a loaded firearm, keep these things in mind.
1. Never engage in horseplay with a firearm. Guns are deadly business and
should be treated with a serious, cautious manner.
2. Always point the muzzle in a "safe" direction. A safe direction is one in
which, if fired accidentally, a gun will not cause injury or damage. Never
point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot.
3. Before loading (or shooting), be sure the barrel and mechanisms are clear
of obstructions. This is best done by looking down from the breech end of
the firearm. Even a small bit of mud, snow, or excess lubricating oil can
cause increased pressures, and the barrel could bulge or burst on firing.
4. If the noise or recoil on firing seems weak or different, stop firing the
gun at once and be sure the barrel is not obstructed. Be sure you use the
proper ammunition for the firearm you are using. And know the maximum range
of your ammunition.
5. Do not hunt if you are using alcohol, drugs or medication which may
impair your judgment and dull your senses.
Leisure Safety (Wildlife)
Urban sprawl is drawing blurred lines between the places that people and
animals now call home. It's time we learned that most dangerous and
potentially harmful encounters occur because people fail to leave the
animals alone.
1. Seal all cracks and holes larger than one-quarter inch in diameter to
keep out rats, mice, bats, and snakes.
2. Close holes around and under the foundation of your home so that animals
will not be tempted to build a home there. Bury wire mesh one to two feet
deep in places where animals might gain access.
3. Be careful what you plant around your house and in your garden. You will
have to do some homework to learn what the local creatures are eating. And
fence in your garden.
4. Keep your yard free of brush and low branches that create good hiding
spots.
5. If you encounter a young animal, leave it alone. Don't assume it has been
abandoned. Its parent is probably nearby and will likely come to rescue its
young. Let Nature take its course. If you are going into an area where
wildlife will be present, call the local wildlife office to review possible
dangers, and what to do if you encounter a wild animal.
Kids' Safety (Latchkey Children)
Parents don't want to leave young children home without adult
supervision, but for many family situations there is no choice. According to
the U.S. Census, one-third of all school-age children in the U.S. are, for
some part of the week, latchkey kids. Over four million children are injured
at home each year.
1. Keep guns, ammunition, prescriptions, liquor, matches, lighters and
cigarettes locked up.
2. Point out potential hazards in the home and teach children how to avoid
injuries from them.
3. Make sure kids know where the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are
located and what to do if one sounds. Also, review procedures for power
failures and overflowing toilets.
4. Create a survival kit for a weather emergency or black-out. Include a
flashlight, portable radio, extra batteries, bandages, jug of water, and
games to pass time. Show kids where the first aid kit is, and how to use the
contents.
5. Tell the child where you will be, how you can be reached, and when you
will return home. Occasionally go home early and unannounced to be sure
rules are being followed.
B. Some True Stories Where Personal Safety Plans Could Have Made A
Difference
1. In Worden, IL a man was killed when the pickup he was driving ran off
the road and overturned. He was not wearing a seatbelt.
2. In Lima, PA two people died from carbon monoxide intoxication.
Investigators found a squirrel or bird nest blocking the base of the chimney
for the home's heating system. The blockage caused carbon monoxide to
accumulate in the house.
3. In Hardin, IL a man fell to his death from a deer stand he was working
on.
C. More Safety Articles On My Website You Can Use
Live Safely in a Dangerous World -
http://www.safetytimes.com/samplepages.htm - Around Big Trucks, Kitchens,
Internet, Hospital Stays
Safety Times Reproducible Articles -
http://www.safetytimes.com/reprosamplearticles.htm - Road Rage, Falls, Back,
Bicycles (Kids)
Book chapter on how to organize an off-the-job safety program at your
organization.
http://www.safetytimes.com/reprootjcontents.htm
D. Safety Resources (Sources Of Helpful Information)
American Hunters and Shooters Association:
http://www.huntersandshooters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=
75&Itemid=26
Home Safety Council:
http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/sg_improvement_w001.aspx
E. Feature Article On Home Repairs
Fiddler On The Roof
As a graphic artist, Tony knew a lot about perspective. So, he was pretty
sure there was nothing to fear by climbing the twenty feet to the roof of
his house. It was funny how that twenty feet suddenly looked like a hundred
feet when Tony was standing on the roof looking down. He froze at the
thought of climbing back onto the ladder and nearly panicked. Firemen
lifting terrified cats from trees was one thing, escorting foolish males
from a roof was quite another. Tony barely summoned the courage to climb
back down, and once on solid ground he gained a whole new perspective for
how high twenty feet really is.
Experts advise against tackling projects involving wiring, plumbing,
heating, or climbing, even when you have had some training in those areas.
They are complicated and dangerous jobs, and a miscue could lead to
disaster.
However, there are many jobs the average do-it-yourselfer can tackle
around the house as long as he or she uses good judgment and proven safety
practices.
Dress For Success
The minimum safety equipment for all do-it-yourself projects includes:
* Safety glasses with impact-resistant lenses and frames for work that could
produce flying particles; and safety goggles for work with liquids that
could splatter. Do not rely on regular reading glasses for protection.
Safety goggles should also have a sturdy headstrap and many ventilation
holes on the sides, which make them more comfortable in warm weather and
prevent fogging.
* Dust masks to filter common dusts, such as fiberglass insulation particles
and sanding dust. Some toxic materials, such as lead paint and asbestos,
require special respirator masks with cartridge-type filters.
* Rubber gloves to protect your hands from skin damage when using paints or
strong solvents. Leather or cloth gloves will provide protection for other
types of work.
* Hearing protectors worn during prolonged exposure to loud noises produced
by equipment such as drills and power saws.
* Head protection in close quarters and low ceiling areas, especially with
nails sticking down. Use an old bike helmet or buy a hard hat.
* Sturdy, heavy soled shoes with steel toes.
* Get expert advice for the purchase and use of safety equipment.
Planning And Performance
* Think small. Don't overdo it by taking on more challenge than you can
handle. If you're going to need help, get it early in your project.
* Plan the job before starting. Look for potential hazards.
* Allow enough time to do the job without hurrying or cutting corners. Work
during "your" most productive hours.
* Get all the needed tools on hand before starting. Don't improvise. For
example, don't extend the length of a wrench with a hollow pipe.
* Alternate heavy and light work to avoid fatigue. Take breaks often.
* When carrying tools or supplies, make sure the route is clear. Put pets
out of the way.
* When lifting, clutch a heavy load to your body and lift straight up. Let
your legs do the work, not your back.
* Know your limits.
* Keep the area clean of debris.
* Never saw into walls without knowing the exact layout of electrical wires,
plumbing, gas pipes, asbestos insulation, and studs. To help yourself, use a
stud sensor and run a shower to listen for running water in pipes in the
wall.
Tools Of The Trade
* Review all instructions for your equipment. Understand the equipment
before you use it.
* When renting a new piece of machinery, have the dealer explain its
operations to you. Take the time to "know" a new tool.
* Use the correct guard, shield or safety mechanism that came with the
equipment. Do not remove them!
* Stay alert, especially when you are teamed with another person on a
machine. Communicate clearly.
* Keep equipment in good working condition.
* If the tool requires two hands, hold on with both hands.
* If a wood saw does not cut well with little pressure, it probably needs
sharpening.
* If a power tool sparks, stalls or overheats do not use it. Have it
repaired professionally.
* Use the proper ladder for the job. Keep it in good repair. Put it on a
firm, level, nonslippery surface. Keep your body within the side rails.
Keep in mind that any house or apartment built before 1978 may contain
lead-based paint. Lead-based paint can be harmful to children and pregnant
women. Before you disturb a surface with old paint:
-Call your local health department for guidance on testing.
-If lead-based paint is present, have the repair or renovation done by a
professional. If you must do it yourself, get instructions from your health
department.
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How Safety Times Publications Can Help You, Your Family, And Your Business
For your family, there are 127 topics in "Live Safely in a Dangerous World"
- 18 Driving, 30 Home, 48 Leisure and General, and 31 Kids' Safety topics.
These topics provide the safety knowledge needed to develop Personal Safety
Plans for every family member. A step-by-step guideline to help develop
these Plans is included in the book.
For your business, the Safety Times Reproducible Articles and "Live Safely
in a Dangerous World" will benefit you by: (1) helping employees and their
families avoid off-the-job accidents, (2) reducing on-the-job accidents by
fostering 24-hour safety attitudes, and (3) increasing productivity and
income.
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You may copy and share this newsletter with family, friends, and work associates.
You may excerpt and use these safety tips and the information in your newsletter or publication.
Please Use The Following Attribution:
(Excerpted – with permission - from Safety Times: http://www.safetytimes.com.)
Please mention us if you go straight to Safety Times or contact us and we will be sure you are added to the list and keep you informed of other useful ideas to stay safe. Warren@About ExcellentPromotions.com
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