Yearly Archives: 2012

General Safety Issues

PROTECTING OUR YOUTH FROM CYBER BULLYING (GUEST POST)

 Written by Jennifer Stone; Sent by Olivia Lewis

On a platform celebrated for its ability to connect users, insecure adolescents are using the Internet to bully their peers. According to US News.com, cyber law experts estimate that at least 40 percent of high school students have been bullied over the Internet, and middle school students experience an even higher rate. Instances of cyberbullying have led to depression and suicide. While significant initiatives have aimed to end cyberbullying, the complex problem appears to require a demand for a wholesale solution. Until parents and teachers commit to proactively protecting young people, victims will remain largely silent.

There’s no quick fix to changing the culture of cyberbullying, but addressing the problem from different angles is the best chance to send a clear message and care for victims.

Preventative Education

Addressing this issue starts with the public recognition that cyberbullying happens and is not acceptable. Although it seems like a simple concept, having a conversation about it in the class room or around the kitchen table informs those who knowingly bully, those who may not know the harm they cause and victims that cyberbullying is not a private issue and is not tolerated.

A public discussion can also spark actionable ways to prevent Internet antagonizers, such as school-wide or at-home policies for using the computer and responding to attacks.

Anonymous Hotlines

The impersonal nature of the internet can cause cyberbullying victims to feel the urge to brush verbal assault off without telling, but experience shows that victimized teens need an outlet to express their emotions. In cases when victims don’t feel comfortable coming forward, anonymous hotlines have emerged as a useful tool. Cyberbullyhotline.com, for example, relays anonymous tips to the school level, where officials can address the situation on a more personal level.

Users can protect their identities and protect themselves from getting bullied through a hacked account by visiting Lifelock on Facebook, and now bullying victims can protect psyches. By spreading the word about these anonymous hotlines, more uncomfortable victims will be able to take action against their circumstances.

Open Lines of Communication

While anonymous hotlines offer some support to cyberbullying victims, they need to feel more comfortable reporting the instances in order to achieve a significant decrease in online verbal assault. To feel comfortable describing their experience, victims must trust that the listener has their best interest in mind. Whether it’s a parent, teacher or mentor, students won’t feel inclined to make themselves vulnerable unless they can do so in confidence, with the assurance that the people they tell will react accordingly.

Clear Consequences

Whether it’s on a playground or on Facebook, misguided bullies will continue to put others down unless authority figures react as if it’s not acceptable. If a bully punches an unassuming peer on the school yard, school officials would apply an appropriate punishment. Likewise, the Internet bullies must face consequences for verbal attacks. Parents have the best opportunity to monitor their children’s online behavior, whether it be by keeping the computer in a common room or “friending” their children on social media platforms.

Schools can take action, too. By defining a set of consequences for on-campus cyberbullying, schools send a message that they consider any form of abuse toward another student unacceptable.

General Safety Issues

CUSTOM LABEL SERVICE LAUNCHED BY GRAPHIC PRODUCTS, INC. (GUEST POST)

Sent by our friend, Jack Rubinger 

Portland, OR – When it comes to visual communication in the workplace, one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. That’s why Graphic Products, Inc., a leading global industrial labeling systems manufacturer, has introduced the DuraLabel Custom Label Service to help customers create their own custom, multicolor labels and signs with logos, special graphics and symbols. 

Compatible with the popular DuraLabel PRO 300, DuraLabel Toro, DuraLabel 7000 and DuraLabel 9000 industrial labeling systems, Custom Label Service allows customers to create multi-color labels alerting of specific hazards, describing workflow and other uses. The custom print process creates a label of up to four colors that can be populated with black or any other color of type as it is run through the DuraLabel thermal transfer printer. 

Design your own Custom Labels in three easy steps 

  1. Sketch a design using your favorite software or a sheet of paper. Indicate desired specifications. Specify desired font and size. Include pictograms. 
  2. Select up to four spot-colors to indicate which items should be in color—white, black, red, green, orange, yellow, blue or magenta. 
  3. Contact a DuraLabel representative at 888-326-9244 to discuss a specific application and representatives will help determine the appropriate vinyl label supply or other material appropriate to that environment. A proof will be delivered for your review. Once approved, your custom labels will be printed with your design and delivered to you. 

Because DuraLabel representatives work directly with customers—reviewing compliance needs, desired widths, lengths, quantities, adhesion strengths and supply options such as metal-detectable tapes, reflective vinyl tapes, two-color tapes and marine label tapes—customers satisfaction is very high. In addition, cost savings are realized because the messaging printed over the custom label can be changed by the user at any time without reordering. 

“Every facility has specialized needs and this service is a way to customize a label or sign to fulfill all of our customers’ requirements, no matter how complex,” said Steve Stephenson, Chief Marketing Officer, Graphic Products, Inc. “Customers are using this service to create everything from perforated, ‘Do Not Operate’ tags to multicolor corporate labels to differentiate divisions.” 

Graphic Products, Inc. manufactures mobile and wide-format labeling systems used by international shipping lines, distribution centers, mining operations and oil refineries worldwide. Customers include Amazon.com, Boeing, Intel and Toyota. 

To underscore its commitment to visual communications, Graphic Products provides a growing selection of free published articles, best practice guides, handbooks, webinars, blogs, and informational videos. 

Graphic Products offers more than 50 unique labeling supplies for virtually any industrial demand, as well as advanced labeling systems for any kind of job. DuraLabel and Graphic Products have solved problems in the industrial safety arena for more than 40 years.

For more information about the Custom Label Service, visit http://www.duralabel.com/cls or call one of our representatives at 1-888-638-4858 to help select an appropriate supply for your application and discuss customization options.

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General Safety Issues

WORKPLACE SAFETY – EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY (GUEST POST)

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Sent to us by Maree Kyle

Workplace safety is a major concern for employees and management alike. While workers themselves have obvious reasons to be cautious and safe, business owners need to do their part in creating a safe environment to reduce their liability and the potential insurance costs that rise as workplace incidents become more likely. A number of practices need to be implemented if businesses are serious about creating a safer environment. While fiscally minded professionals may be eager to cut costs by skipping steps on some of these safety measures, preventative spending is often much more affordable than the costs incurred when an injury occurs. Here are some steps every business can take to identify points of concern and minimize risks for everyone, saving money while ensuring the well-being of the company’s employees. 

1. Conduct a job hazard analysis 

The best way to identify potentially unseen or underestimated risks in the workplace is to perform a job hazard analysis. Identifying uncontrolled hazards is the easiest way to prevent serious accidents in the workplace and, more importantly, accidents that wouldn’t be otherwise recognized. This analysis solicits the insight of employees who have likely observed their own safety risks. Employees can also be instrumental in developing solutions to these hazards. The company can then outline procedures to address these risks, eliminating potential accidents and possibly saving lives. 

2. Incorporate safety training 

Better training can often lead to fewer accidents in the workplace. Make sure your employees are properly trained on whatever equipment or tools they use. Likewise, be sure to familiarize all employees with the hazards and appropriate safety measures of their work environments. You might also want to incorporate on-site training to make sure emergency procedures are understood by everyone. 

3. Inspect safety equipment regularly 

Fire alarms, extinguishers, chemical showers and safety gear needs to be checked periodically to make sure it is still functioning properly. Set up a schedule in your workplace to make sure these devices have been maintained properly and are in working order in the event of an accident. Similarly, post proper signage throughout the workspace to keep workers, management and visitors mindful of hazardous areas. 

4. Perform random safety inspections 

Once your staff has been properly trained, implement randomized safety inspections to make sure proper procedures are being followed. Install a procedure for handling safety protocol lapses, including additional training and reprimands for failing to comply with workplace rules. 

5. Make sure management is on board 

Of course, instituting these various measures will have limited effect if management doesn’t understand their importance. Make sure you have the right management professionals in place to support these efforts and make sure they are properly incorporated into the work environment. It may be necessary to provide some training to management themselves to make sure they understand the importance of following safety protocols. 

Unfortunately for many workplaces, a common cause of worksite injuries isn’t necessarily a lack of safety guidelines, but a refusal to follow them. This risk underscores the importance of educating employees about the potential consequences, as well as implementing disciplinary procedures to make sure the rules are followed at all times. It only takes one broken or ignored rule to lead to an injury, creating a dangerous situation for workers and management. It takes effort from all sides to create meaningful change in the workplace.

The proper working safety equipment is imp0rtant to provide safety for each worker, depending on the job and its’ particular hazards. Pat

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF (GUEST POST)

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Sent by Bethany Johannson

When employees in good standing with their employer are injured at work, or as a result of work, funds paid into the worker’s compensation system by the employer, or paid directly from the employer as a self-insurer, will provide limited, short term financial aid.

According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, the worker’s compensation system is ordinarily administered by the state. Each state may vary somewhat in benefit delivery and mandates, but worker’s compensation programs are mandatory for all businesses. For federal employees, the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act delivers workers’ compensation benefits to federal employees, including postal workers.

In Georgia, for example, the 1920 law mandating a workers’ compensation fund has since been administered by the State Board of Workers’ Compensation. Funding comes from assessments from insurance companies and self-insured employers, who commonly consider workers’ compensation funds a line item in the yearly budget and report. However, by availing himself (or herself) of the program, an employee is bound to the conditions of the law and can’t seek redress under another system (e.g., a lawsuit).

If a worker’s claim to compensation is contested, or an employer feels it is being held unjustly liable for an injury, either party may ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. If no agreement is reached, the Appellate Division can make a decision. Both these legal entities are able to assess and rule on both facts and legal ramifications. When an acceptable decision is finally hammered out, it has the same weight as binding arbitration.

The Georgia law applies to all employers, from public corporations and nonprofit organizations to private companies having at least three full-time or part-time employees. It does not apply to federal government workers, railroad workers, farm workers and domestic help, to name a few exceptions.

State-by-state evaluation of the workers’ compensation program shows most (but not all) following the Georgia example, except in the number of workers needed to trigger workers’ compensation mandate. Variations may also occur in the dollar amount and length of paid leave, depending on the nature of the injury and the state in which it is incurred. One thing is written in stone: an on-the-job injury will elicit a claim, and a valid claim will establish coverage.

When state laws do not prompt the employer to approve a claim asking for coverage, injured workers can invoke the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal regulation that protects the disabled from job discrimination. This law operates under Title I of the ADA and forbids employers from refusing to hire the disabled, refusing to promote them, and refusing to give them the same wages for the same job as another employee without disabilities.

However, like most employment law, Title I contains a loophole which allows companies with 15 or fewer employees to bypass the law. In the case of employment agencies, labor organizations and labor management committees (comprised of both corporate management and union representatives), however, as few as one employee brings the Title I rule into play.

Workers who can’t work for an extended period of time, typically a year or more, will at some point apply for Social Security disability insurance. While on this disability income, medical attention will be provided through Medicare. If the injured party does not recover enough to work again, Social Security offers a safety net that includes minor dependents, called SSD (Social Security Disability).

An injured employee returning to work is entitled to ask for some consideration for his or her limiting disability, and as far as it is within their power, employers are obliged to accede. This is called reasonable accommodation. However, this does not mean that employers are required to spend vast amounts of money for specialized equipment, or overhaul the area where the disabled employee worked.

Employers can alter work schedules for a few months, or permanently, if the injured employee is stressed or exhausted by the job. Employers can also shift the employee into a less demanding or sensitive position, but not necessarily at a lower rate of pay.

In effect, the ADA directs employers to, if needed:

1.       Alter a job application process to provide alternatives to an interview (for those with hearing or speaking disabilities), written and timed test (for those with a hand injury that precludes writing), or a demonstration of particular abilities. This latter can apply even where no injury is present, as for example in an assembly line that operates with only right-handed people, and the applicant is left-handed, if he or she can prove ability to meet performance goals.

2.       Alter the work environment, or the manner in which a job is performed, so that a disabled individual can do the work.

3.       Alter the methods by which employees are given performance reviews, promotions, pay raises and bonuses, as well as job training and improvement seminars, so that the disabled employee can enjoy the same advantages as employees without a disability. 

The Workers’ Compensation program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Labor, provides a very succinct explanation of accommodations that a disabled employee may trigger. These are:

  • Modifying equipment, or even acquiring new equipment
  • Altering testing and training materials and policies
  • Restructuring job flow and performance metrics
  • Altering existing facilities to make them handicapped accessible
  • Altering work schedules
  • Providing readers and/or interpreters (for the blind or deaf)

Our thanks to Bethany for this excellent explanation of how workers’ compensation works for employees who have been injured on the job and are unable to work. 

 

General Safety Issues

CHRISTMAS CANDLE SAFETY WARNINGS

 Candle  sales in the United States amount to an estimated $2 billion annually, not counting the accessories that accompany them.   Thirty-five per cent of annual sales of candles are during the Christmas holidays.  Candles are found in 7 out of 10 households.   The glow of candles gives a beautiful ambiance to any room in the house.  However, fires from candles can bring about serious damage and risks to all. 

A study done by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests that eighty-five per cent of candle fires could be avoided if consumers followed three basic safety rules:

  1. Never leave burning candles unattended; keep them within your sight.
  2. Never burn a candle near anything that could catch on fire.
  3. Always keep candles away from children and pets. 

One-half of home candle fires start because they have been placed too close to combustible material.  The majority of candle fires are because of human error and negligence.  There are more than 15,000 residential fires in the U.S. annually that are caused by careless use of candles. The majority of fires start by candles left burning in the bedroom.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the hours between Midnight and 6 a.m. account for one-half of all deaths resulting from candle fires. 

A common-sense approach to the use of candles in your home is the best.  With that in mind, here are some added tips:

  •          Each time you burn candles, trim the wicks ¼” before you burn them.
  •          Don’t burn them all the way down.
  •          Carefully read and follow manufacturers use and safety instructions.
  •          Always use candleholders specifically designed for candle use.
  •          Place them in a well-ventilated room, and on a stable surface.
  •          Avoid vents, drafts, and air currents.
  •          Never use a candle as a night light.
  •          When putting the candle out, be sure it is completely out. 

A grim reminder:  December is the peak month for fires that are started by candles.  The top five most dangerous days for fires from candles are, in order: (1) Christmas Day, (2) Christmas Eve, (3) New Year’s Day, (4) New Year’s Eve, and (5) Halloween. 

There’s nothing more beautiful than candles to give your home that perfect atmosphere.  They emit special fragrances into the environment, which adds to a festive mood.  We encourage you to enjoy using candles to express hospitality or simply for your own pleasure; just use the same caution as you would with any open flame. 

Sources:

U.S. Fire Administration,  National Candle Association

General Safety Issues

ONE SIMPLE TOOL THAT CAN SPELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAFETY AND HARM (GUEST POST)

By Marissa Olson.

There are flashlights and there are tactical flashlights.  If you’re wondering what makes these two tools different, it’s mainly with how it’s used.  In the past, flashlights were just a tool for illumination – and it isn’t as bright as we knew today. These days, you can buy a torch with a ton of features that give you the utmost use for it. You can even use a torch for personal defense from a tactical flashlight.

Your Tactical Flashlight, Personal Defense and You

Keep in mind that tactical flashlights or torches don’t have to be huge to help you with your protection.  Even something small can be particularly useful.  Essentially, if you find yourself in the dark and you can’t see a thing, your compact torch can instantly light up the place and let you see things around you – including the ones that can harm you. 

If you hear something going bump in the night and you want to check it out, having a bright tactical flashlight can help you identify threats in your home if there are any.  In many cases, all it takes is for you to shine a light on someone lurking in the shadows around your house to scare them away.  As you can imagine, a sudden shining light would be enough to tell the would-be robber’s instinct to run away. Also, a bright light shining directly at the eyes of your attacker can spawn split second blindness – and this gives you the advantage to get away or defend yourself.

Have you ever thought of using a tactical flashlight as a weapon?  With the way the torches are built these days, you can make it happen.  You get a flashlight that has a bezel built into it.  Although the main purpose of these bezels is to break car windows, you can also use this as a weapon to defend and protect yourself.  When you’re attacked, you can strike the bad guy with this.

Flashlights that are manufactured today go more than just provide for illumination.  It’s also a tool that you can rely on for personal defense – but you don’t have to necessarily deal with a hand to hand combat. On instances when you think someone is trying to get into your home, shining a light on them can get them to run away.  If you’re ever attacked, a light pointed directly into their eyes can help you get away – or do your pre-emptive attack. 

Indeed, the usefulness of tactical flashlights has gone way beyond what it used to.  So whether you’re home or out in camping, a tactical flash light can spell the difference between being safe and getting hurt. Finding one is not a problem since you can easily get them at reputable online stores like http://www.batterymax.com.au/.

Thanks, Marissa, for this great article.  May I remind our readers, that another handy form of light that enables one to see or be seen are LED lights that clip on hardhats or baseball caps.  They come in handy for bike riders, or others who are working on something after dark. Pat

General Safety Issues

HOW TO IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY WITH VIDEO SECURITY SYSTEMS (GUEST POSTS)

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Sent by Stephen Malina of www.supercircuits.com

A security system can be a valuable tool for businesses and organizations to improve safety in the workplace. With a properly deployed video surveillance system a business can reduce its employee liability and ensure regulatory compliance, along with reducing theft and improving inventory management.

Understanding Workplace Security

Over the past 50 years legislative changes in the United States have led to many expensive lawsuits against large businesses. With increased unionization and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employers now may be held liable for a wide variety of common workplace injuries. While an employee may have caused an accident of their own accord, a business may still be liable if the incident isn’t properly documented.

Many injuries in the workplace are caused by employee error or a failure to pay attention to or follow proper instructions. If an employee violates a company policy in a way that causes an accident, the employer, with proper evidence, may not be liable in the event of a lawsuit or disability claim. However, it can be difficult to avoid liability without proper documentation.

For example, a modern warehouse facility is filled with a variety of potential hazards. Heavy equipment like forklifts, conveyor belts, cranes and other equipment can cause serious injury or death. Employees can be injured by climbing on wall racks, carrying heavy loads without assistance, mixing cleaning chemicals, or simply using a trash compactor incorrectly. It can be difficult to determine the cause of some accidents, and in some cases equipment failure and employee incompetence can both lead to the same outcome.

All dangerous equipment in a workplace should have warning labels. These will help reduce the risk of employee injury and minimize a company’s potential liability. However, many employees will not pay attention to warning labels, employee manuals and other instructional materials designed to help users avoid accidents.

When Workplace Accidents Occur

Given these risks, obtaining video evidence of any workplace accidents is a critical component of understanding the true cause of the incident and consequently where liability truly lies.

When setting up a it’s a good idea to have cameras in all areas where heavy equipment is used.  This allows the business owner to quickly and easily see the course of action that an employee followed before an accident. Additionally, cameras should be installed so that they show a clear view of who was using a particular piece of equipment at any given point in time.

Some additional areas to consider monitoring include break rooms, coat rooms, stock rooms and safety equipment rooms. If an employee is injured when he or she is not wearing safety equipment, there is a small chance that an employee will put on safety equipment after an accident, knowing he or she was operating without having followed proper safety procedures. Since this can expose a company to liability, it’s a good idea to have cameras installed in an area where employees are required to follow preparatory safety procedures and wear the proper safety gear.

Beyond the traditional benefits of reducing employee theft and preventing break-ins, establishing a properly installed video security system can play a significant role in reducing employer liability when workplace accidents occur. Furthermore, by knowing that their activities are being monitored, employees are more likely to follow proper safety procedures, which in turn, can lead to a reduction in safety-related incidents.

A security system can be a valuable tool for businesses and organizations to improve safety in the workplace. With a properly deployed video surveillance system a business can reduce its employee liability and ensure regulatory compliance, along with reducing theft and improving inventory management.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

SAFETY BENEFITS OF SOLAR LIGHTS

With all the publicity out there,  most people are very conscious of efforts to help save our planets’  resources.    Many people are beginning to change their lifestyle in small and large ways.  There are recycle plants or drop-offs  in most cities and even towns in the country.   Finding ways to re-use products is becoming popular.  One of the more simple ways to help save our planets resources are solar lights and other solar products. 

Solar lights are using the suns’ energy by storing it in a solar panel.   At dark, after a days sunlight charge,  solar lights can last up to 8-10 hours.   The main cash outlay with solar lights and products is the cost of the item.  After that, the sun charges the solar lights – no plugs, wires or outlets. 

Outdoor Solar lights come in different shapes, sizes and for different uses.  They usually turn on automatically when dark, although some do have an on/off switch in case you do not want it to light up one night.  Solar powered lights are not dependent upon conventional electrical supply. This means that you can automatically light up any dark corner or stairway.   Line a walkway or pathway.  All this means a safer walk or stair climb for you, your family and guests.  

Solar lights come in different degrees of brightness.  Solar spot lights, for example, usually have a brighter LED for brighter light output.  Because it is a spot light you can aim the light directly where you want it to shine.  Do you have an out-building or a fence out in the back of your property?  You can easily find it and walk to it with more safety.  You can outline an entire fence line with solar cap lights. 

The ability to place these solar powered lights just about anywhere you wish makes them unique in the lighting world.   They provide added safety wherever you have them.  Knowing you are saving money and the earths’ resources at the same time makes them very practical, as well. 

Solar powered barricade lights, solar powered revolving and flashing lights, as well as several models designed for 24/7 operation are available in amber (caution) and red (stop) for drawing attention in low-visibility areas where dangerous conditions or obstructions exist. Waterproof, steady-on or flashing lights, also solar-powered, are available for marine or extremely wet applications.

Installing flood lights outside a home makes good sense because these kinds of lights improve visibility and they also increase security around your property. However, the high costs of conventional flood lights can put many people off – until they look for alternatives such as solar powered flood lights. Solar energy technologies over the recent past have provided many affordable lighting solutions and the solar powered flood lights in particular provide you with a great means of keeping your home safe and without going over your budget.

Just like any other solar lighting system, the solar powered flood lights too require sunlight in order to get their energy which is converted with the help of DC electric power and stored in batteries so as to provide power during the night. The main reasons for choosing solar powered flood lights are that they provide security and also safety which together and along with motion sensors make such lighting systems a more effective solution.

Typically, solar powered flood lights also make use of LED bulbs that are great for illumination while being energy conserving and which do not also waste any of the energy that they are supplied with. In fact, there are many useful functions that the solar powered flood lights can serve including lighting the backyards and boat docks as well as for your sheds and even for landscape.  The discerning homeowner too has become more aware about how solar energy can provide better lighting solutions than conventional lighting solutions. This means that they need to seriously consider using solar powered outdoor lighting solutions that provide numerous benefits. These lighting solutions include saving precious energy resources and being very easy to install. 

There’s no doubt the fact that solar powered flood lights are also very useful for lighting up business premises to secure the premises or to create a more beautiful landscape. Such flexibility means that you can use solar energy in many different places. 

An added  benefit of solar lighting: we recently received information that solar lights are much safer than oil lamps and candles when home power is out.  One family lost power for several nighttime hours during a thunderstorm.  The husband looked outside and noticed the solar lights shining brightly all around the outdoor area.  They walked outside and brought several of the solar lights inside and stuck them into plastic drink bottles, creating much needed light.    Another lady placed her solar lights in jars and bottles, which gave off lots of “free” light.  These lights will fit into most 2-liter bottles or 20-ounce water bottles, and can be weighted down by sand, marbles, gravel or whatever is available to keep them from tipping over.  Additionally, if you need an all-night light, place your solar light where needed, and then take it back outside so it can recharge and be ready again. 

Last, but not least, try some LED lights for your caps that help you be seen, as well as enhance your vision when you are walking or riding your bike.  These provide super safety!  Every home  needs a flashlight or two, as well.

Sources: Linkroll; Home & Garden Solar

 

General Safety Issues

THREE SAFETY TIPS THAT GO BEYOND BUCKLING UP (GUEST POST)

1 Comment

By Jamie McMackin

Everyone knows how important it is to wear your safety belt as a driver and also as a passenger in the car every time you travel. But there are also several less considered but equally as important safety tactics that you should consider in order to protect you and your passengers. 

Respect the Driver

As part of a campaign aimed at young drivers which is highlighted during National Teen Driver Safety Week, peer leaders and teachers are encouraged to make young people aware of the importance of respecting the driver. Safer driving is encouraged by making passengers aware of the dangers of distracting the driver and not behaving in a way that could cause an accident when the driver loses their concentration as a result of what is going on around them. Although this is a campaign primarily aimed at making students and younger drivers aware that bad or noisy behaviour in the car can cause an accident, it is a valuable safety tip that we can all take on board. Respect the driver and help them to get you to your destination as safely as possible whilst keeping distractions to a minimum is a practise that will reduce the number of unnecessary accidents on the road if followed. 

Know your vehicle

How well do you know the workings of your car? Many of us simply rely on the systems and safety features that come with the car in order to keep us safe but all car manufactures strongly suggest that ultimate protection is only required with a bit of knowledge and effort on the part of the driver and their passengers as well. Vehicle owners should familiarize themselves with where the air-bags are and make sure that sufficient room has been allowed for them to deploy properly. If a driver or passenger is leaning against a door or has their feet propped up on the dash just where the air bags are located, there could be a problem and a preventable injury could occur. The driver should leave at least 10 inches of space between their head and the steering wheel in order for the air bag to work correctly in the event of an impact. Knowing where the air bags are located and where the hazard light switch is together with any safety immobilizer device switches will save time in an emergency and allow you to cope with a traumatic situation more calmly. 

Speed Awareness

Just as driving too fast is certainly dangerous, driving too slowly can actually be more dangerous than speeding in certain situations. In high density traffic situations with many other users also sharing the road, a dawdler can create what is almost a roadblock. You should always aim to drive with the flow of the traffic and try not to hold up the flow whilst staying within legal speed limits. Understanding the use and consequences of speed is one of the crucial safety tips that you should consider learning more about in order to enjoy a statistically safer motoring experience. Learn to use your judgement in order to match your speed to the conditions, so that when it is raining or snowing you can stop and control your vehicle with the same efficiency as when it is clear and dry. Having basic speed awareness and thinking about the conditions you are driving in, will make you a safer driver and confirms that you know road safety is not just about buckling up but requires a bit of extra effort and thinking to maximize your chances of keeping you and your passengers safe.

 Author Bio:

Jamie McMackin is an amateur rally driver. He enjoys sharing his safety tips and insights on various driving blogs. Find out more about driving experiences on the Wish.co.uk website.

General Safety Issues

TEN WAYS TO MONITOR YOUR KIDS USE OF THE INTERNET (GUEST POST)

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By Olivia Lewis, of NannyNewsNetwork.com

Children today are growing up with the Internet as a regular part of life, yet the World-Wide-Web was fairly new when their parents were young. Along with all the fun and informative things available to children online, a serious danger also lurks. Internet predators like to use the anonymity of the Internet, and are constantly on the lookout for innocent victims.

It’s important for parents to be aware of the ways sexual predators troll for kids online. Here are 10 things to watch out for to keep your kids safe on the Internet.

  1. Online games – One place Internet predators connect with kids is online games. They will choose games that are popular with the age group they prefer and pose as other kids to foster a friendship with children. Predators will watch for gamer names that indicate the gender, location or other information that is useful to them.
  2. Chat rooms – Sexual predators will pose as kids in chat rooms that are popular with children. This is an easy way for them to garner information and target unsuspecting youngsters. Once they gain a child’s trust, they may try setting up a meeting in person.
  3. Facebook – Parents need to be very careful about whether or not they allow their children to have their own personal Facebook accounts. This is prime hunting grounds for Internet stalkers who target kids. It’s very easy for them to set up fake Facebook pages and “friend” teens and preteens.
  4. Twitter – Social media is a great way for pedophiles to connect with their victims, and Twitter is no exception. Many young people use tweeting as their primary form of communication, and predators know this and go where the kids are.
  5. Websites for kids – Parents may think websites like Disney and PBS Kids are safe for their children to frequent, but predators like to frequent them too. What better place is there to find lonely kids who want to chat?
  6. Instant messaging – Since emails will linger in an account until they’re deleted, Internet predators prefer to use instant messaging that disappears once the window is closed. This makes it harder for parents to monitor who’s talking to their kids and what they’re saying.
  7. MySpace – Some consider MySpace one of the worst sites for online predators who want to connect with children. The online surveys are fun to fill out, but they also provide lots of information that can be used to gain trust with unsuspecting youngsters.
  8. Pictures – Parents need to educate their children on how pictures posted online can be used by sexual predators. It helps them to identify kids who fit their personal preferences, and any picture posted online can be used and manipulated by anyone. Child pornographers are constantly monitoring the Internet for potentially suggestive photos of children.
  9. Target the vulnerable – Internet predators are constantly on the lookout for vulnerable children that they can exploit. Kids that are lonely, unhappy, who are having difficulty with school, or who have poor relationships with their parents are easy targets. They also like kids who are willing to keep secrets from their parents or other authorities.
  10. Use coded language – The shortcut language that kids use for texting makes it harder for parents to readily understand what they’re saying. Just glancing over their child’s shoulder, a text message can look like gobbledygook, so parents need to learn this coded language to help keep their kids safe. You better believe the Internet predators know exactly what texting shortcuts mean and how to use it to gain a child’s trust.

Being aware of the inherit risks that the Internet poses to innocent children is the first step parents who want to keep their children safe need to take. Parents need to educate themselves and their children about the dangers of Internet predators as they teach them how to use the Web. Establish rules and guidelines for computer and cell phone use, and keep the computer in a common area easily observable by parents and siblings. Use online tools for privacy settings and set up parental alerts. Parental involvement is the key to protecting your children from online sexual predators.

Parents, please pay attention to this advice.  All too often we hear of a child becoming a victim through the internet. Pat