Yearly Archives: 2010

First Aid Safety, Uncategorized

BED BUGS……THEY’RE BAAAAACK!

We have told our kids “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite,” and really never given it a thought.  I’ve never even seen a bed bug, so I’ve had to do a little research about these critters.  When news headlines are about the infestation of bed bugs, it’s bad, but not as bad as being taken over by aliens from outer space. 

New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Chicago are listed as the Top Five bed bug-infested cities in the United States, according to Terminix, based on volume of calls they have received throughout the country so far this year.  We have seen it on the news in our area of Texas, and read reports that these bugs are rampant all over the United States. 

How has this happened? Well, it’s actually pretty easy, on the part of the bugs.  Seems they really like to travel.  More people are traveling all over the world, and don’t realize that they may be giving the bugs a free ride back to the States, and to their own homes.  Then they also may be furnishing transportation to them to their office, church, library, or elsewhere.  Cleanliness (or lack of it) is not the cause of bed bugs.  Many people hesitate to call professional pest control because they are embarrassed.  These tiny bugs are attracted to human bodies and act as small vampires, feeding on their blood!  The bites they may leave are more harmless than mosquito bites.  Most of the time, the worst thing that could happen is infection from scratching the bite.  (You might want to keep some benadryl or antihistimine on hand in case of an allergic reaction.)

When you are traveling, don’t put your suitcases on the floor, but on a luggage rack.  Bed bugs can hide in furniture, cracks and crevices, clothing, and they love traveling by ship, plane, or rail cabins, or staying in the nicest five-star hotels.  They also live in dormitories, summer camps, apartment buildings, hospitals, and movie theaters.  Tiny little critters, bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed.  When checking your bedding, you may see their droppings, which are roughly the size of a flake of black pepper.  

When you return from a trip, try to unpack your belongings in the garage and place them in a plastic bag, until you can inspect them.  Washing laundry (especially bedding) in hot water and drying it in a hot dryer will kill bed bugs.  Don’t try to eradicate them with do-it-yourself sprays, as it may just encourage them to move on to your neighbors’ house or apartment, rather than get rid of them.  You’d be getting rid of them, but at someone else’s expense.  These bugs are not interested in living in unsanitary conditions, they just want to be where we humans are.  

Keep your eye out for these invasive reddish-brown little bugs.  Seek professional pest-control help.  Then you can “sleep tight, knowing they’re not there to bite!”

General Safety Issues

HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?

Without bacteria, please.  More than one-half billion eggs distributed through the United States have been recalled recently, because of contamination of the disease salmonella.  Salmonella comes from eggs of salmonella-infected hens that carry the bacteria and pass it to eggs as they are being formed.  Other causes can be that the eggs are not cleaned properly or kept cold while being transported.  More than 1,000 persons in the U.S.  have been affected.  Symptoms are diarrhea, cramps, and/or developing fever within 72 hours of eating contaminated products.  For persons with weakened immune systems, this can be life-threatening. 

The majority of reported salmonellosis outbreaks involving eggs or egg-containing foods have occurred in foodservice kitchens and were the result of inadequate refrigeration, improper handling and insufficient cooking. If not properly handled, Salmonella bacteria can double every 20 minutes and a single bacterium can multiply into more than a million in 6 hours. 

The source of the “bad eggs” in this case is a company that sells eggs to stores throughout the country, and those eggs come in containers that hold six, twelve, and eighteen eggs.  The carton markings that include the plant number and day of the year have been posted on numerous websites, so be sure to check those numbers.  Wright County Egg is a major egg producer with plants located in Iowa.  They are a major employer in their area.  According to public records, the company has paid millions in reprimands, penalties, and complaints.  Although locals say the company has improved conditions in the past few years, the FDA will be investigating them thoroughly. 

To avoid food poisoning from eggs, the CDC recommends taking these steps:

  • Never eat recalled eggs or products containing recalled eggs.
  • Keep eggs refrigerated at least to 45 degrees F at all times.
  • Avoid restaurant dishes made with raw or undercooked, unpasteurized eggs.  Hollandaise sauce or Caesar salad dressing should contain pasteurized eggs.
  • Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs.
  • Discard cracked or dirty eggs.
  • Wash hands, cooking utensils and food preparation surfaces with soap and water after handling raw eggs.
  • Change your eating habits to well-done eggs, if you prefer “over-easy.” 

Along with state representatives, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are developing new national standards with the aim of reducing and eventually eliminating egg-related salmonellosis. The strategies will include a scientific, risk-based, farm-to-table plan covering production, processing, transport, storage, retail handling and delivery. The plan will also include education on the responsibilities of consumers, inspectors and food handlers at all levels. 

With this said, the safety of consumers should be taken very seriously.  Better oversight by the FDA hopefully will eliminate this problem.  We take for granted that the food we purchase will not harm us.  Not too long ago, contaminated peanut butter was the cause of widespread food-borne illness.  It is the responsibility of the producers to have regular inspections to ensure that food products are processed  in clean, safe environments to assure the public that they won’t become ill from eating their products.  Government entities owe it to the public to furnish constant oversight to places where the production of the food we eat is involved.  Then, it is up  to the consumer to keep the food at safe temperatures and prepare it in a healthy way.  Speaking from experience, you don’t want  “food poisoning,” it’s no fun at all.

General Safety Issues

HANDLING WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

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Although we have addressed this subject in an earlier article, Violence in the Workplace, it is such an important issue, that we want to talk about it at a different angle.  Both articles contain information that may be helpful, should you find yourself in such a situation.  According to OSHA, violence in the workplace is the fourth leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States, posing a very serious safety and health issue. 

It is critical that employers have a comprehensive workplace violence policy in place.  Hazard assessments must be done, as well as identifying risk factors.  The training program should include every employee, being sure they understand how important it is to report any incidents that could possibly cause a reaction resulting in harm to other employees.  Disruptive behavior should not be tolerated.  Yelling, profanity, waving arms and fists, verbally abusing and refusing reasonable requests from the supervisor to cease such acts are signs of being disruptive.  Threatening physical actions, short of actual contact, such as moving closer to the person, oral or written threats or comments like “you’ll be sorry”, should not be tolerated.  Violent behavior is when a person physically assaults another person, with or without weapons.  People prone to violence throw things, pound on desks, doors, destroy property, and may threaten to shoot or harm others.  (Sure hope you don’t know anyone who acts this way!) 

Managers and staff must set and enforce standards of conduct and be there to help with calming situations down if at all possible.  Suggestions are to talk to the person, but not isolate oneself.  Using a calm approach may be helpful.  Never touch the person, as that could trigger a violent reaction.  Have a signal set up to let other coworkers to know that you need help (so they can call 9-1-1.)  Waving or getting the offenders’ attention may set him off.  If you feel that your intervention is not helping, leave the room, and call the police, if it hasn’t already been done.  Get yourself and others to safety.  Leave an open line for the police if possible, so they are better informed of the confrontation. 

Once a situation is defused, hopefully without violence, those who served as witnesses, potential victims, and the families and friends of all involved will have a certain amount of trauma to deal with.  The company should have counseling and interventions for all to be able to participate. 

Hopefully, you will never have to deal with anything like this where you work.  If you witness anything that you suspect could escalate to any type of disruptive behavior, tell your supervisor.  Many times there are warning signs that we see as not serious; however, the well-being of all your coworkers may be at risk.  A better way of resolving conflict among workers could be served by managers and staff who are willing to have open communication with all employees at all times.

General Safety Issues

HOME ALONE CHILDREN

With the start of school, parents have to make arrangements for their childrens’ care during after school hours.  For single-parents or families where both parents work, this is an important decision.  Children have been staying home alone after school for many years.  In the early 19th century, children wore house keys on a string around their neck to school, so they could get into their homes, and were known as Latchkey Children.  The term is now self-care children. 

Experts advise not leaving kids under age 12 at home alone.  Many factors are involved in ensuring the safety of the child.  Their maturity plays a large part in deciding if they can handle the responsibility of being home alone, and taking care of themselves and maybe other siblings.  It is very important that parents prepare their child in a reassuring way that they know they can trust them to stay at home alone.  Here are some basic safety rules that parents should instruct them to do and know:

  • Know their full name, address, and phone number.
  •  Know their parents full name, where they work, and phone number.
  •  Don’t go into the house if a window is broken or door is partially open.
  • Don’t play alone on the way home.
  • Call parent or trusted neighbor to check in as soon as they arrive home.
  • What to do in case of fire.
  •  Do not open the door to strangers.  Do not let them know they are     alone.
  • Lock the door, once home.
  • Carry house key in a hidden place; do not put name and address on the key.
  •  Go to that trusted neighbor in case of emergency, or being uneasy.

 The above rules should be taught to children that have other after-school options, in case of times when the babysitter is not available, or other emergency circumstances lead to them having to stay home alone for a day or two.  A good example of this is the past H1N1 pandemic, when working parents did not have access to their day-care facilities, and had to miss work or leave their kids at home alone. 

There are an estimated five million kids between the ages of 5 and 13 that stay home alone.  That’s a frightening figure.  The neighborhoods they live in, or types of kids that hang around may not ensure a secure harbor.  Children that are home alone should be given a schedule to follow that allows them snacks, free time for television or computer, and homework.  Once the parents are home, they need to spend time with their child and let them know they are interested in what they have done while there alone.  Certain safety monitors on computers should be in place.  Too many predators exist in cyberspace. 

Parents should look into other options like after-school programs offered by churches, PTO’s, and public libraries.  They can also consider joining with other parents to pay a stay-at-home mom to keep their children.  

There are several Latchkey phone programs that are sponsored by community organizations such as the police department, sheriff’s offices, or volunteer groups.  They offer automatic phone systems that call the child at home at various times of the day the parent has chosen.  If there is no answer, or answer to repeated calls within a designated time, the system automatically calls the parent and others on the list, as well as sends out an email alert.  Programs such as this are beneficial to children at home alone, and senior citizens, as well. 

Good luck to all students and parents as this new school year begins.  Good planning for your children and staying in touch with them will assure that they have a safe year and learn responsibility.

General Safety Issues

SAFE CARS FOR EVERYONE!

There are so many technological advances being made by automakers, that someday, everyone will be able to drive safer cars.  After seeing a car that parks itself, it seems that they can almost run on automatic pilot!  Until these safety features become standard in all vehicles, however, we will still have to do the driving.  Consider the following innovations that have been made, such as: 

  • Blind Spot Monitoring.  This is always something that bugs me, because there just seems to be too many ways of not seeing someone in the lane you are trying to enter.  This type of monitoring uses sonar to keep tabs on the blind spots on both sides of the car.  Versions of this technology are already available on some makes of cars.
  • Lane Departure Warning.  It’s too bad all cars don’t already have this technology, as this can be very helpful when a driver becomes drowsy or otherwise distracted.  When the car reaches a certain speed, and wanders across lanes, the certified speed system activates an audible alert.
  • Bird’s Eye View Camera.  There are many backup and parking assist cameras available, but this particular type of system allows you to park safely by allowing you to have a view that virtually lets you seem to look down on the car from above the roof.
  • Smart Keys.  My car has smart keys, and they let me lock or unlock the car from pretty far away, without having to fumble around to find them.  There’s a new “smart” ignition key that allows a parent to program the key for their child.  Parents can set the maximum vehicle speed, activate a persistent seat belt reminder, and set the level for radio volume.  (By the way, this is an American-made car.) It would also be wonderful if it had a Breathalyzer, so the car couldn’t start if Junior had been drinking.  One German automaker has developed the Alco key, requiring the driver to blow into the key before driving the car.  If a Red LED light comes on, the engine will not start.
  • Another feature the same automaker has created is the Collision Warning System, which contains radar technology that performs a wide-angle search to detect objects in front and around your car, such as pedestrians or cyclists.  A red warning light displays on the windscreen.  If there is an increased risk, a panic brake is activated.  If the driver fails to brake and a collision is imminent, the brakes are activated automatically. 

The one thing I would love to see is a system that warns a person if they leave a little passenger in a car seat.  We have had too many innocent children that have lost their lives by being left in a locked car.  If cars can ding when you leave the keys in them, or you don’t have your seat belt fastened, why can’t there be some type of alarm connected to the back seatbelts that secure a car seat, or small child?  Hopefully, car manufacturers are already ahead of me on this, but please, consider this safety feature as a priority.  We have GPS systems, hands-free phone systems, stability control, air bags, and fuel efficient systems that have been developed for our safety, however, many of the new safety features that are now being built into vehicles are available only on the expensive models.  It is hoped that one day, all these sophisticated features are on every car when it leaves the manufacturer. 

And remember, even if you have all the fancy stuff, you still have to be alert behind the wheel.  Please don’t text and drive, don’t drink and drive, and wait on those phone calls until you get safely to your destination. 

 

Source: Cars.com

Back Safety, General Safety Issues, Head Protection, High Visibility Safety

MORE ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY

This year approximately 55 million students will return to classrooms in the United States.  Regardless of how they get to and from school, whether it’s walking, biking, riding in a car, or bus, safety is a concern the minute they leave their home.  This is the time that parents need to plan how they can ensure the safety of their children by being involved in every aspect of their school experience.  Many students are apprehensive about beginning a new school year, and parents must assure them that they will be there for them, listening to their concerns.

 This is a good time to get your student in the habit of getting to bed early.  It’s hard to wind down from summer, getting to stay up later than usual.  Getting a head start on “early to bed, early to rise” might help them get used to their early morning routine. 

A great way for kids to get more exercise is to walk or ride a bicycle to school.  If it is possible for your child to do this, walk the route with them to find the safest way possible.  The best plan is to have a group from the neighborhood go together each day.  There’s always safety in numbers.  If your student rides his/her bike to school, be sure that they wear their helmet every time they get on the bike.  Wearing helmets can reduce the risk of injury by up to 85%.  Also, caution them to walk their bike across the streets, and to obey traffic signals and crosswalk guards.  Wearing bright colors or reflective gear will help your child be seen, whether riding or walking.

“Stranger Danger” is always an important thing you must teach your children.  They should never talk to strangers or get in vehicles with someone they don’t know.  Many predators apper to be very nice and can lure children with candy, or ask them to help look for a lost puppy, etc.  Most youngsters know to tell their teacher or parent if they notice someone suspicious hanging around their school. 

Check out the school playground that your youngster will be using.  More than 200,000 children, ages 14 and younger, are treated in emergency rooms for playground-associated injuries each year, mainly caused by falls from equipment.  It’s also a good idea to scope out the school menu.  On days that healthy options are not available, pack a lunch.  Be sure to start them off with a good breakfast, and send a nutritious meal that they will enjoy.  Food to be sent to school should be kept in the refrigerator until time to leave for school.  Packing a frozen juice box, or water bottle in an insulated lunch bag will help keep lunch products cool. 

Most kids carry their school supplies in backpacks.  Younger children should not carry a backpack that is more than 10% to 15% of their body weight.  Help them arrange their load, by packing the heavier items first, which results in less strain on their backs and shoulders. 

Transportation is one of the most important safety concerns during school years.  Be sure children are buckled up.  Every driver should let their children out of the vehicle in front of their school, and not leave until they see that they have entered the building.  We again stress what we say every year, “slow down.”  Parents should allow plenty of time to get their kids to school and then on to work.  If your child rides a school bus, he should understand how to get on and off the bus safely.  

There are many other things to think about when it comes to school and safety.  Pay close attention to details that you feel are important to your child’s well-being.  Parents sometimes get overwhelmed with responsibilities of raising children, trying to combine work, school, church, and other activities.  The twelve years of school (plus kindergarten) go by faster than one can realize.  Try to slow down and enjoy every minute of your child’s school experience that you can.  You’ll be sending them off to college before you know it!

General Safety Issues, High Visibility Safety

DAWN/DUSK SAFETY IDEAS

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It seems there just aren’t enough hours in the day to allow daylight time for some folks to get their daily exercise.  For some, the only time that they have available to take that walk, jog, or ride is in the early morning hours, or after work.  Exercising outdoors in the dawn or dusk times of day can require more thoughts about safety than full daylight hours. 

Here are some ideas that you may or may not have thought about if you are one of those busy folks that want to fit in your daily exercise regimen: 

  • Stretch before and after exercise.
  • Always run, walk, or ride against traffic. 
  • Be aware of other runners, walkers, cyclists.
  • Leave your I-pod, radio, or MP3 player at home.  You will be more likely to hear oncoming traffic, other exercisers, dogs, etc., if you aren’t listening to music.
  • Be familiar with your route. 
  • Pay attention to your surroundings.
  • Watch for tripping hazards, such as debris, or bumps in the roads or sidewalks.
  • Be visible – wear clothes that are yellow, orange, or white.  Reflective gear will help you be seen.  Clip-On lights for your caps allow you to see and be seen.
  • Carry a cell phone and identification.
  • Take along a walking stick.
  • Be especially careful when you cross streets.
  • Stay in well-lit areas.
  • Use the “buddy system.”  It’s much safer and time passes quickly when you have someone to chat with.
  • If you get a bad feeling about your location, follow your instincts, and go the other direction.
  • Should a dog want to intimidate you, don’t run away, but walk away.  If he follows you, stop, and tell him “no,” or “go home.”(This is where the big stick might come in handy, so you can intimidate him.) (You may want to change your route, or call animal control if he continues to try to bother you.) 

If you’d rather not be in the outdoors, go to a mall to take your walk.  For those who don’t live where there’s a mall, there are fitness centers equipped with all types of equipment such as treadmills and ellipticals that offer great types of exercise (with air conditioning, too!)  Most of these places won’t be open in the early morning hours, but you could cut your lunch short to allow time to work out before they close. 

We hope some of these ideas will be helpful to those of you who must be outdoors during early or late hours.  Staying safe and enjoying your time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life is very important.  It is also significant to point out that anyone driving during these times of lower visibility watch out for those who are riding bicycles, jogging, or walking.

General Safety Issues

TIDBITS ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL

This is the first installment written mainly for parents who are getting their youngsters ready for school, especially grade school and middle school.  And this is about something that we all have probably experienced at least once in our life: being bullied.  Hopefully, this will help you get your child/children ready for one of life’s most unpleasant experiences.  (This is also good advice that we all should follow.)

Bullying is when one child picks on another child repeatedly.  It can be physical, verbal, or social.  It can happen on the playground, at school, on the school bus, on the playground, in the neighborhood, or over the Internet. 

When You Child is Bullied:

Help your child learn how to respond by teaching him/her how to:

  • Walk away.
  • Look the bully in the eye.
  • Stand tall and stay calm in a difficult situation.
  • Say, “I don’t like what you are doing.”
  • Do not talk to me like that.
  • Teach your child when and how to ask for help.
  • Encourage your child to make friends with other children.
  • Support activities that interest your child.
  • Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
  • Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child’s safety and well-being when you cannot be there. 

When Your Child is the Bully:

  • Be sure your child knows that bullying is never OK.
  • Set firm and consistent limits on your child’s aggressive behavior.
  • Be a positive role model.  Show children they can get what they want without teasing, threatening or hurting someone.
  • Use effective, non-physical discipline, such as loss of privileges.
  • Develop practical solutions with the school principal, teachers, counselors, and parents of the children your child has bullied. 

When Your Child is a Bystander:

  • Tell your child not to cheer on or even quietly watch bullying.
  • Encourage your child to tell a trusted adult about the bullying.
  • Help your child support other children who may be bullied.  Encourage your child to include these children in activities.
  • Encourage your child to join with others in telling bullies to stop. 

This is a very important part of your child’s upbringing.  Too many times we stand by and fail to stand up for someone who is being picked on.  Your children will turn out to be stronger grown-ups someday, if they are taught to respect every one, despite their differences.   One of the key things we worry about is the safety of our children.  If they know how to handle being bullied, it will be a big help, as things sometimes may get out of hand.

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

General Safety Issues

THERE’S A NEW BUG IN TOWN!

Actually, not yet, but if we’re not careful, there may be a new superbug on it’s way.  Just about the time it was announced that the H1N1 pandemic is over, along comes news that there’s another gene with the potential to turn almost any bacteria into an antibiotic-resistant bug.  The name of this bad boy is NDM-1, called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamose.  Seems New Delhi is the place it was first identified.  Patients seeking travel tours, which include plastic surgery, in India and Pakistan have been reported as becoming ill once they returned to their home countries. 

More than 50 British patients who had plastic surgery in Southeast Asia have been infected with this superbug.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, NDM-1 has an enzyme that destroys many commonly used antibiotics, rendering them ineffective.  E-Coli and Klebsiella pneumonia thus far are two of the hosts to this disease.  The CDC is alerting physicians to be aware of this when they are treating patients who have recently received medical care in foreign countries, in order to prevent the spread of these highly resistant organisms. 

Dr. Larry Baddow, Chair of the Division of Infectious Disease at Mayo Clinic says they have been seeing this globally over time.  He classifies it as “slow motion gloom and doom.”  Because of the overuse of antibiotics,  given too often when not necessary, and for longer periods of time, they see an increase in antibiotic-resistant bugs.  Chairman of Preventative Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dr. William Schaffner, says “antibiotic stewardship” can help keep new bugs from spreading.  Because of economics, many pharmaceutical companies have stopped or slowed down research for stronger forms of antibiotics.  However, medical professionals are monitoring the evolution of this new superbug, and will encourage researchers to find a stronger antibiotic that will combat it, as well as a vaccine to prevent it. 

Importing foods may be another way this bug has spread.  It is causing real concern on a global level.  Until that time, it might be wise to stay with your physician for surgery and treatment.  The grass might look greener on the other side, but it might be full of pests you really don’t want, and no one else wants them, either.  If you must travel to other countries, the same advice that was given during H1N1 to help prevent spreading it, was to practice good hygiene, wash hands often, cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and stay home if you are sick. 

Let’s don’t put out the welcome mat for NDM-1.   We don’t want him in our town!  Do everything you can to stay well.

General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, ARE YOU READY OR NOT?

National Preparedness Month is in September, but we’re getting a head start by promoting the “Ready or Not” campaign, which was launched by the Texas Department of Health Services on July 8th.   This yearlong project will focus on being sure that Texans are prepared for floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, or any other natural disaster that may occur.  Each state probably has excellent disaster plans, but hopefully, we can share ideas that will help ensure that your entire family will be prepared. 

Take the time to locate important records such as names and phone numbers of your family physician, pharmacy, and your veterinarian or kennel that cares for your pets.  You need to place those documents, as well as your insurance information, social security, and other records in a plastic bag that can be easily accessed if you need to evacuate your home.  List out-of-town contacts, too.  Take a moment to also think about what you would grab, if you had to leave in a hurry, of course, including your pets.

You and your family should sit down and talk about what you will do, and where you will meet, in case your cell phones don’t work.  Think about where each one is during the biggest part of the day, and have phone numbers for work, school, and daycare.  Find out if your child’s school or daycare facilities have site-specific emergency plans and familiarize yourself with them.  

Stay tuned to your news or NOAA weather service.  If you are advised to evacuate, do so.  Families could plan to check on neighbors that they know may not be able to follow these rules if they are physically unable to get to safety.  

Supplies are a big priority.  Keeping a supply kit of many of these items in your car is a good plan:

  • Three-day supply of water, and non-perishable foods
  • Flashlight
  • Hand-operated can opener
  • Plastic plates, cups, utensils
  • First Aid Kit
  • Respirators (N-95)
  • Personal Hygiene Items
  • Garbage Bags
  • Prescription Medications
  • Cell Phone
  • Battery-powered radio
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Maps
  • Photo in case you are separated
  • Pet needs 

We never know when disaster will strike.  Being prepared is the best way to be safe and survive.