Monthly Archives: July 2011

General Safety Issues

USE CARE WHEN OPERATING MACHINERY

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How often have you read that on a medicine bottle or box – do not operate machinery while taking this medication?  The only type of machinery I think I would not want to operate if under the influence of a strong medicine would be my car.  Of course, if you think about it, there’s lots of small machinery in my kitchen, mixer, blender, food processor, stove, etc.  But that’s really not the kind of machinery we’re talking about today.

OSHA has standards that address every kind of possible scenario where an employee could be injured.  Moving machine parts have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness.  Safeguards are essential for protecting workers from these preventable injuries.  Any machine part, function, or process that could cause injury must be safeguarded, by lock-out tagout procedures, and the correct kind of safety PPE equipment.  When the operation of a machine or accidental contact injures the operator or others in the area, the hazards must be eliminated or controlled.

Workplace amputations can be prevented by reviewing workplace operations and identifying hazards associated with the use and care of machines.  A hazard analysis is a technique that focuses on the relationship between the employee, the task, tools, and the environment.  The entire machine operation production process, machine modes of operation, individual activities associated with the operation, servicing, and maintenance, as well as the potential for injury to employees, must be considered.  This analysis may then be used as a basis to design machine safeguarding and an overall energy control (lockout/tagout) program.

Machine guarding is required whenever an employee is exposed to or has access to a hazard created by a pinch point.  Guards must be designed and installed so that they do not present a hazard in itself.  All guarding systems are required to be installed in a manner that prevents access to the hazardous area by reaching over, under, around, or through the guarding.  Guards should be secured to a machine with fasteners that require the use of tools for their removal.  Always pay attention to danger and caution signs regarding machine lockout.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Secretary of Labor has designated certain nonfarm jobs as particularly hazardous for employees younger than 18.  Generally, these employees are prohibited from operating:

  • Band saws;
  • Circular saws;
  • Guillotine shears;
  • Punching and shearing machines;
  • Meatpacking or meat-processing machines;
  • Paper products machines;
  • Woodworking machines,
  • Metal forming machines; and
  • Meat slicers.

Any type of moving machinery must be respected and workers should have the proper training before operating them.  Servicing and maintenance activities are important issues that require all safety precautions be followed.

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues

GREAT IDEA FOR COPS/BAD IDEA FOR CRIMINALS!

I saw this on t.v. the other night; then read about it today, so I am eager to see if you agree with me – I think  that body cameras for cops are a great idea!  (Of course, if I’m the “perp”, I may not think so.)  It seems that hundreds of police departments across the country are using tiny body cameras for their officers to wear to be able to record a traffic stop, hot vehicle pursuit,or an unfolding violent crime.

There are red-light cameras, dash-cams, and nanny-cams, so why not more assistance for our law enforcement officers?  This tiny camera can record, download and be replayed instantly, either for evidence or to help confirm police reports.  They act as a safety net to improve police accuracy.  At this time, they are not mandatory, and cost about $100 to $125 each.  Many officers are paying for them out-of-pocket.

Oakland, California and hundreds of other police departments across the U.S. are equipping officers with small body cameras to record incidents between themselves and citizens.  It serves as protection for officers, citizens and with investigations.  Instead of getting just one or two versions, it levels the playing field, acccording to Steve Tidwell, executive director of the FBI National academy Associates in Quantico, Virginia.  As he states, “it’s all there, in living color.”

The officers must turn on their cameras for traffic stops and possible searches.  They must download their video within a day, and they are not allowed to edit or manipulate it.  These videos can be stored up to five years.

Michael Risher, an attorney with the ACLU of Northern California says law enforcement agencies using body cameras need to have clear and consistent objectives.  It can’t be where they turn them off and on when they want to.  These cameras should greatly improve relations between the police and community, if done right.

We watch a lot of reality shows, many involving law enforcement.  With the types of crime that police are exposed to on a daily basis, any kind of technology that can help them should be at their disposal.  Many crimes are committed by people that have access to high-powered guns, and just might use one when an officer asks them to open their car door. Hopefully, this tiny personal law enforcement camera will prove to be a big help for our law enforcement officers to be able to catch the bad guys, and prove who the “bad guys” really are – not our lawmen.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED IN A CAR!

Every summer, it is necessary to remind busy parents to never leave their child in a vehicle that is unattended, even for one minute to run into a store.  In addition to child predators lurking, the temperature of cars increases very quickly.  Childrens’ respiratory and circulatory systems do not adapt the same as an adult.  Approximately 38 children die each year from heat stroke after being left in hot cars.  The average number of child vehicular heat stroke deaths per year since 1998 are 37 – that’s one every 10 days!

Parents think that they or their child’s caregiver would never forget about that little one in the back seat, but it happens.  Because of this hectic world, we sometimes have our minds on things that don’t amount to anything, rather than that little precious doll riding in the child carseat.  It’s been suggested by experts to place a stuffed animal in the child seat when the child isn’t in the car, then move it to the front seat to remind you of your passenger in the car seat.  Other suggestions are to place a briefcase or purse beside the child, to remind you when you reach for your purse or briefcase, you won’t forget the most important thing in the backseat- your child!

Because July tends to be the most deadly month for children to die in hot cars, it is our duty to tell you the symptoms of heatstroke.  Warning signs vary, but may include: red, hot, and moist or dry skin, no sweating, a strong, rapid pulse, or a slow, weak pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or acting strangely.  If you see a child alone in a car, call the police.  If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible.  Cool the child rapidly.  Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.  Sometimes children become trapped in a parked vehicle in their own garage or driveway.  Always lock the doors of your vehicle when you get home.  It’s a lot easier for them to figure out how to get inside the car, than to get out of it.  Inside temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees in a hot car within ten minutes.

Toddlers and children are also injured or killed by being backed over or run over from the front.  At least 50 of these types of accidents occur in the United States annually.  The predominant age of these victims is between 12 and 23 months.  Sixty per cent are run over by a truck, SUV, or van.  These are larger, longer, and higher vehicles, making it harder to see something so close to the ground.  Of course, vehicles that have rear cameras offer some assistance in seeing a child.  The sad fact is that the driver of these vehicles is usually a parent, relative, or close friend in seventy per cent of these tragedies.

Please do the same thing for your pets – don’t put a cat or dog in a car that you plan to leave, even for a few minutes.  They love you unconditionally and deserve your consideration.

This chart from Kids and Cars.org depicts the causes of fatalities of children in cars.  The oganization asks others to share this information with you in the hopes it will save lives.

fatalities-pie-chart

Sources: KidsandCars.org

Keeping Kids Safe: Inside and Out

General Safety Issues

WE NEVER KNOW WHERE ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN!

Who would have thought that a healthy, young firefighter would lose his life during a baseball game?   That is exactly what happened on Thursday night, when Shannon Stone, attending the Texas Rangers game with his young son, age 6, reached to catch a ball tossed into the stands by AL MVP Josh Hamilton.  This is common for outfielders to do, giving fans a chance for a baseball.  Stone, a firefighter from Brownwood, Texas, caught the ball, but tumbled over a railing and plunged 20 feet onto concrete.  When the first responders got to him, he was waving his arms, and asking them to be sure his son was all right, as he was in the stands alone.  His arms were swinging, and he talked and was conscious.  A man beside him tried to catch him as he fell, but was unable to.  The 39-year old veteran firefighter lost his life a short time later at a Fort Worth hospital, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner. 

Firefighters in Brownwood lost no time holding a benefit cook-out for the Stone family.   Shannon had served with the Brownwood Fire Department for almost 18 years, according to Brownwood City Manager Bobby Rountree.  Brownwood is located 150 miles southwest of Arlington.  According to a lady sitting nearby Stone  at the game, Shannon was asking Josh to throw him the ball.  Hamilton and the entire Rangers team are very distraught over this tragedy. 

Almost exactly a year earlier at Rangers Ballpark, another firefighter fell about 30 feet from the second-deck of seats down the right-field line while trying to catch a foul ball on July 6, 2010.  Tyler Morris, a firefighter from the Lakes Cities Fire Department near Dallas, fractured his skull and sprained an ankle last year when he dropped onto seats where other fans were sitting.  After the incident, Morris called the accident an “100 per cent accident that could have happened to anybody.”  The four fans that he landed on had only minor injuries, and remained at the game and then were treated in the stadium’s first aid area.  Morris didn’t blame the Rangers or the ballpark.  In 1994, a Plano woman posing for a picture after the Rangers’ first game in the new stadium sustained multiple injuries after falling about 35’. 

Last week’s fatal fall at a major league stadium was the second for this season.  In May, a 27-year old man died after he fell about 20 feet and struck his head on concrete during a Colorado Rockies game.  Witnesses told police that the man had been trying to slide down a staircase railing at Coors Field and lost his balance during a game against Arizona. 

The Rangers Ballpark has rails that are higher than safety codes require.  President and CEO Nolan Ryan has not committed to any specific changes at the park, but the Rangers promised a full stadium safety review of the ballpark.  There aren’t many baseball fans that wouldn’t love to get to catch a ball in a Major League game, and give it to one of their kids.  But common sense has to come into play.  It’s up to the fans to act responsibly and go back home safely at the end of the game.  No one wants to leave this world because of an accident (over a baseball), so think seriously about safety, wherever you go!

Our hearts go out to this family and his family of firefighters.  What better thing to do than for a dad to take his little boy to a Major League ballgame?  May the family be comforted by the fact that people who have heard this story are deeply saddened by this tragedy.

General Safety Issues

HOT NEWS FROM SCORCHED TEXAS!

There’s an old saying “if you don’t like the weather in Texas, just hang around, it’ll change soon!”  Well, not lately!  When it comes to the weather in the United States, it seems that 2011 has brought “feast or famine.”  Some places have experienced horrific tornadoes; others have had everything destroyed by flooding; still others have lost their homes to wildfires.  It’s a shame that some of the rain that caused rivers to swell and flood could not have been re-routed to areas that are so extremely dry.  Sure wish someone could figure out how to do that! 

Texas A&M Professor, Don Conlee, Instructional associate professor of atmospheric sciences, who along with a graduate student, also assists State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon with recordkeeping, confirms that the period from February through June was by far the driest on record with a statewide average of 4.26 inches of rain.  The next driest period occurred in 1917, with 6.45 inches.  The months-long Texas drought is sapping the record books bone dry.  It is also showing dire statistics that have never been reached since reliable record-keeping began 116 year ago, in 1895. 

Can you imagine driving down a Houston freeway during the beginning of hurricane season, and reading an electronic sign warning of extreme wildfire danger?  Seems a little strange, doesn’t it?  Outdoor burn bans have reached a record high of 236 out of Texas’ 254 counties.  Only the southern and northeastern parts of the state are without burn bans.  During the current wildfire season, 3.3 million Texas acres have burned, according to the Texas Forest Service. 

Should the state receive an average of 2 inches of rain in July, it will already have had the driest August (2010) through July period ever.  Professor Don Conlee says the Palmer Drought Severity Index (used by the National Climatic Data Center) is currently –6.37, officially making this the third worst drought on record.  First place occurred in 1956 with a mark of –6.54, and second was in 1918 with a –6.41 reading.  This drought has the potential to surpass one or both of the infamous past droughts to be the worst or second worst drought in Texas history.  The main cause is the lingering La Nina cooling the Pacific waters; however, it’s unknown if climate change is affecting rainfall one way or the other.  It is known that temperatures are a degree or two warmer with climate change so the drought is worse that it would otherwise be.  

Drought always has an economic ripple effect.  A&M reports that Texas has lost $1.5 billion from November, 2010, to June due to drought of pasture land loss.  Livestock losses will top $1 billion due to lack of water and feed for cattle, according to NOAA.  Texas is the second-leading agricultural state; many agricultural businesses will also be affected: gins, elevators, fuel distributors, and fertilizer dealers.  The U.S.D.A. has named Texas and 32 counties in Louisana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico, (ones that are adjacent to Texas), as a natural disaster designation. 

Lack of natural food because of the drought is affecting wildlife in the state – birds, rabbits, squirrels, and small mammals can’t feed their young.  Deer have been highly affected by the drought; some does have even abandoned their fawns because there is no food.  Foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and nocturnal animals such skunks and raccoons are seen out during the day, which increases contact between animals and humans, raising the risk of disease, such as rabies.  This is a warning to all citizens to watch for wild animals in their neighborhoods; they probably are simply looking for food and water, but don’t get close to them. 

The outlook for rain is not good; we have to keep hoping that we will see a weather change soon.  For those who have already had their share of bad weather in the U.S. and other countries, we hope we Texans can be as tough as you.  We all have to wish for things to get better, because sometimes we feel it just can’t get any worse!

P.S. I got an email today about how dry it is in Texas: a Lubbock man said he killed a mosquito carrying a canteen!

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

PEOPLE CAN’T FLY; THAT’S WHY WE NEED FALL PROTECTION!

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One thing that scares the heck out of me is being in high places!  It’s weird, because it doesn’t bother me to fly in an airplane, but if I have to climb more than one step on a ladder, my legs just start to fail me!  When I look up and see workers building skyscrapers, all I can do is get weak in the knees and hope they are hooked up to something to keep them safe.  There are several types of fall protection, so let’s talk about some of them:

  • Fall Prevention.  This is where the use of handrails or barriers are placed to keep employees from falling.  Many have been known to fall under the rails or barriers anyway.
  • Fall Protection.  Fall restraint from an alternative approach.  Fall protection systems that refer to the entire science of protecting employees who have to work far off the ground.  Ladder cages are part of fall prevention; however they only work if the person falling off the ladder grabs one of the cage bars.
  • Fall Arrest.  If someone actually has fallen off a ledge and his body harness catches him some distance away, this is a fall arrest, because it stops the fall in mid-action.  However, injuries can still occur.  Depending on the length of time a person hangs, serious pooling of the blood system can be caused, possibly damage to the extremities.  Other injuries can occur from the arrest jolt.
  • Fall Restraint System.  Is the actual gear that is used to prevent falling while working at heights.  It could be a belt with a hook, or a full body harness and fall speed reduction system with impact buffers. (I think I would want that one!)  A proper fall restraint system has a shortened strap, rope, or strap attached to a secure surface, making sure that the worker can’t get too close to a ledge.
  • Prevention seems to be the least harmful choice for the best protection, and least costly of all fall protection aspects.

Flyposter

In the construction industry, falling is the #1 killer of employees.  In this single industry, there are between 150 to 200 fatalities annually, and more than 100,000 injuries per year because of falls.  OSHA has created standards that will better protect workers from falling hazards.  These standards require wearing fall protection when you are working over dangerous machinery.  Also, if employees are working at or above four feet, they must wear a safety harness and fall protection.

Almost all situations now require a full body harness.  These fit around the chest, waist, and legs, offering full support to a person involved in a fall.  The lanyard is the lifeline that connects a three-part fall protection system in order to prevent serious injury.  The three parts are: the anchor, safety harness and lanyard.  Lanyards are designed to bring a worker to a complete stop when falling.  OSHA regulates that all ropes, and straps for lanyards should be made of synthetic materials and capable of supporting dead weight of 5,000 lbs.

Studies on ergonomics have become more critical in recent years as workplace safety product designers learn about comfort in an effort to prevent fatigue, reduce injuries, and increase production.  Quality features in a fall protection harness include removable tool belts, strong yet light-weight materials, padded backpads, strap adjusters, shoulder pads, three D-rings for back and hips, sliding back D-rings, indoor pads, seat straps with aluminum bars and carry-all bags.

Employers must provide the fall protection for its workers and proper training for its use.  The employee is responsible to wear the harness properly as required.  This is personal protective equipment that cannot be ignored by those working in high places.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

ALTHOUGH IT’S HOT, IT WILL GET HOTTER! BE READY!

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We hope your Fourth of July celebration went off without a hitch!  No traffic tickets, no sunburn, no fireworks injuries, and or other obstacles in the way of slowing you down to get back to work today, hopefully.  This time of the year is the greatest time for us to enjoy our freedom and show our support for our troops.  As you go through the rest of the summer, keep them in mind and let’s hope they are all back to help us celebrate in the near future.  One thing to remember: it’s even hotter where they are than where we are! 

July is UV Safety Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.  Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main cause of skin cancer, and can also damage your eyes.  This is a good time to send the message of safety during sun and fun times.  Those who work in the sun also need to be warned about the damage that UV rays can cause, in order to take precautions to avoid these types of health problems. 

The highest risk for getting skin cancer seems to be for those who have:

  • Blond or red hair;
  • Blue or green eyes;
  • White or light-colored skin with freckles.

Those people especially, but let’s include everyone else to take these steps to prevent skin cancer:

  • Stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. if possible;
  • Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
  • Use sunscreen that has UVA and UVB protection – “broad spectrum” sunscreen.
  • Cover up with long sleeves and a hat;
  • Check your skin regularly for any changes. 

UV damage can also cause wrinkles and blotchy skin.  Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States.  Tanning indoors is not safe, either.  According to Dr. Carol Cola, who works in the Department of Surgery at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, around 90 per cent of skin cancers appear on the neck, head, ears, lips, or hands – areas that are most often exposed to the sun.  Sunburn can happen anywhere – driving a car, through a glass window, or reflections off concrete, sand, or snow. 

To do a self-examination for skin cancer, simply watch for any changes in size or color of freckles, moles, or birthmarks.  If you notice anything different, see your physician or dermatologist.  Recent studies by the Skin Cancer Foundation state that studies have recently indicated that only 23 per cent of damage from UV exposure happens to most young people by the age of 18 – not the 80 per cent that was formerly thought to be.  This shows that there is benefit to be gained for persons of any age, to protect themselves from damaging rays.  It still is important that we use sunscreen on our children and sunshades that will protect their eyes. 

UVA and UVB rays can hurt your eyes.  This type of radiation can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration and some cancers.  The use of proper types of sunshades can help prevent this from happening.  It’s always been “cool” to wear sunshades, just be sure you purchase polarized ones that protect from both UVA and UVB rays. 

Everyone at work in should get involved in spreading the message that damage from the sun can be very harmful, even deadly!  Posters need to be placed right by the doors before workers step out into that hot sun.  Companies could ask a health professional to demonstrate how to check skin regularly for skin-cancer warning signs.  A local dermatologist, registered nurse, or public health official would be happy to help educate your employees about the dangers of skin cancer.  Place a memo in their paychecks to remind them to do all they can to protect their skin and eyes from radiation from the sun.  

We hope this will serve as a reminder to all of you to try to stay as cool as possible this summer – it is already a scorcher!   There are many products that can help protect you, so take advantage of them.

General Safety Issues

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A SAFE SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUR YOUNGSTER

There’s nothing more fun than going away from home to camp for one week or several weeks, according to the type of camp.  My memories are of church camp, where we were only gone for a week.  There we met kids of our age group, and made many new friends, as well as learning things that (hopefully) made us turn out to be better individuals. 

Some families choose camps for their kids to attend every summer, maybe even for six weeks or more.  There are many things to consider if you’ve never sent your child away to camp.  We hope to have put together some ideas to help you investigate the camp you plan to send your child or children to.  There are many things to think about when choosing the camp that will be just right, such as, first, doing much planning.  If it’s the first time, it might be best to choose a camp that is not too far away from home, depending on the age of the youngster.  Be sure you visit a few camps before you decide.  Camps will have age-appropriate groups.

  • Check out the policies of the camp and make sure they are accredited by the American Camp Association, an organization that evaluates the safety standards, health programs, and operations of camps.  They support more than 2,200 camps.  The ACA is celebrating its’ 100th anniversary this year.
  • Find out about staff training and counselor orientation.  Camp counselors will be accompanying your youngsters each day.  You want to be sure that those who are supervising children have been properly screened and trained.
  • Learn about the camp’s discipline policies, as well as how emergencies are handled.
  • There are many camps that are specifically designed for special needs children, and are wonderful facilities that give them opportunities that they deserve to enjoy.
  • Another question to ask, what type of medical treatment is available for the minor camp injuries, as well as is there a written medical emergency policy approved by a physician?
  • Are there lifeguards on duty during swim time, and have the counselors and other staff members been trained in CPR?
  • Be sure that the particular camp that you are considering offers the types of things that are of interest to your youngster. 
  • Ask if there are outdoor excursions, what special protocols are observed; and if counselors bring communication devices.  Do they use the “buddy system”, and how do they prepare youngsters to be cautious of strangers?  Do they have a “lost camper” plan, and are parents required to sign a permission slip for these hikes, or outings?
  • As we suggested earlier, you might want to select one that is not too far away from home.  Remember, also, that during certain weather seasons, there are considerations to be given to things such as thunderstorms, or tornadoes in the area of the camp.
  • You will need to provide a copy of your child’s medical records, just in case of an emergency.
  • If your youngster has allergies, be sure you send those and other medications with him; also lots of sunscreen, insect repellent, and all the usual things one needs when being in the outdoors. 

All quality camps are going to be eager to answer any questions you have.  After all, it is your youngster that they are going to be responsible for, and they want to know that your child is going to come home with some great stories of summer camp, and eager to return next year.

There are no wrong questions to ask when it comes to safety.  Camping is a great life-learning experience and provides an unforgettable adventure for your child.

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – U.S.A. – 2011!

By now,  most of us are getting ready to celebrate on Monday,  our nation’s birthday – July 4th – Independence Day!  I want to send greetings to all of you from our home, where the grand old flag will be flying, and wish everyone a safe holiday. (Sorry, the flag looks backwards, but the wind was blowing!)

We have already talked about fireworks, so we’ll give that subject a rest!  Many are packing their bags for trips, so let’s talk about travel first.  The main thing is to be packed and ready to get an early start, because you know your friendly State troopers will be there, watching to be sure you don’t speed, and that you are safe.  If you need assistance, you can count on them, as well, to be of help.  Please don’t carry on conversations on your cell phone while driving, and above all, don’t text or drink and drive!

There are many activities that families can plan right at home, and not have to be involved in the hustle and bustle of travel.  One of my favorite memories is going to our best friends’ home every Fourth of July for grilled hamburgers and home-made ice cream!  Now we live miles away, so we had to stop that tradition; however, we make up for it when we visit each other, which is quite often.  Moms and dads can find easy crafts for the kids with some red, white and blue items that they probably can find in the house.  Local parks will be full of folks of all ages, with volleyball games, croquet, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and many activities.

If you plan to go boating, be sure to have life jackets in the boat for each passenger.  Obey the rules of boating, and do not drink while driving a boat, as the penalty is the same as for driving a car while drinking.  Watch for other boaters, swimmers, and those on jet skis.  Sometimes everyone thinks they own that particular spot on the water, and it just doesn’t work that way!

Swimmers should be prepared with lots of sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat and cover-up when they get out of the water.  Stay in pairs, just in case someone gets in water that is too deep.  Be sure if you are swimming on a beach or lake to check out the water quality for contamination.  There should be signs posted with some type of useful information.

If you are the outdoors type and want to take a hike, be sure you let someone know your plans and when you will be returning.  If you need to build a campfire, build it with sticks no larger than an adult wrist.  (Of course, first, be sure that you are not in an area where campfires are banned.)  Never leave that fire unattended and keep it small.  A fire that is not “dead out” can be rekindled by wind and start a wildfire.  Keep water handy and a shovel for throwing dirt on the fire in case it gets out of control.  Stir the remains and be sure all materials are cooled down.  Drown it with water, even move rocks to see there’s no fire beneath them. Feel all materials with bare hands to be sure that no wood is burning before leaving the campsite.

If you are cooking outdoors, beware of bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses.  Be sure all utensils are clean and that you have a good source of water.  Separate raw meat from cooked meat and poultry.  Keep cold food cold and hot food hot.  Don’t let food set out for more than 1 hour in hot weather.  Keep it in an ice chest once the meal is finished.

Have a great Fourth of July, but don’t overdo it when it comes to food, alcohol, sun, or exercise.  Take along the proper clothing, suncreeen, insect repellent, and other remedies that will make you feel better tomorrow!   Remember why some of us get to be off on this day, and why we observe it.  There are young men and women who don’t have the day off, and are in countries where they can’t celebrate the way we do.  When you see our flag, think of what it stands for, and the sacrifices they make every day.  May God Bless Each One of Them, their families, all of us, and the U.S.A.

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