Monthly Archives: January 2013

General Safety Issues

SAFETY MATTERS (GUEST POST)

Safety Matters: Tips to Best Improve your Safety and Wellbeing

Sent by Athena Bingham, a paralegal who enjoys freelance writing.  When she isn’t writing, Athena enjoys spending time reading to her children and playing the piano for several local jazz groups.

Let’s face it; we live in an ever-changing, fast-paced and at times, overly-stressed society.  And it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down or becoming more relaxed.  We’ve unfortunately learned that places we perceived to be havens of safety can change in an instant, shattering our faith in peaceful lives and even our own humanity.  But before you grab your gear and head for the hills, there are some simple tips you can follow to help ease your worried mind as well as keeping your sanity in a world that may appear to be spinning out of control.

  • Street Smarts: It’s true, random acts of violence do in fact, happen but the truth is your chance of being the victim of a violent act can be greatly reduced if you are able to keep an awareness about you at all times.  It’s easy to fall prey to distraction, especially following a long day of work or bringing groceries to your car, but that is exactly what a perpetrator is counting on.  Someone with nefarious intentions is looking to take advantage of someone who is not paying attention to their surroundings.  At night, park close to the store’s entrance and under a street lamp if possible, have your keys in hand, double check your car’s interior and above all, if someone is making you feel uncomfortable go back inside and ask a manager to walk out with you.  You may feel foolish but would feel worse if you ignored your intuition and ended up being targeted for a crime.
  • Take a self-defense Class: These are designed to help empower and to feel confident, despite the situation you might find yourself in.  Most are designed to give you, the potential victim, a reasonable amount of information you can rely upon if one day you’re involved with a violent act; whether it’s fighting back, running away or tips to ensure getting a bystander’s attention, (example screaming, ‘fire!’ instead of ‘help’).
  • Safety at home or work: By researching in the comforts of your home you can discover a wealth of information about your neighbors or co-workers right at your fingertips.   Logging onto your local sex offender registry website can give you a head’s up about who shares your neighborhood.  But what about work? If despite complaints to your boss, a coworker is making you feel uncomfortable you can check them out without them ever knowing.  A site like www.peoplesmart.com can help eliminate any doubt about that person who sits a little too close to you.  Remember, knowledge is power and keeping yourself aware of who you live near or work with can help heed caution for yourself.

At the end of the day, unfortunately crime statistics are very sobering.  And for women, studies conflict about the exact numbers that will find themselves involved with a violent crime, as up to 80% of rapes go unreported, but the bottom line is that safety is paramount to your wellbeing.  After all, we all have the right to exist and live with peace, but the reality is that chances are at some point in your life you will encounter crime.  The best advice? Awareness of surroundings and being proactive rather than reactive.

 

General Safety Issues

TEN TIPS FOR CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY (GUEST POST)

 By Emma Roberts – Ten Tips for Child Passenger Safety

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the number one cause of death among children in the United States is injury sustained in motor vehicle crashes. Unfortunately, some of these deaths and severe injuries could easily be prevented by following some simple car safety guidelines in relation to child passengers. These 10 tips can help you keep your child safe while you’re on the road, and shouldn’t be neglected even for short jaunts.

  1. Avoid Used Car Seats – Baby gear is expensive, and buying some items secondhand can translate to significant savings. One item that you should never buy used, however, is your baby’s car seat. In addition to the fact that car seats do have expiration dates, you have no way of knowing whether or not a used seat has been involved in an accident. Should you ever become involved in even a minor crash, it’s also important that you immediately replace your child’s car seat. Even non-serious accidents can damage the inner workings and safety features of a car seat in ways that aren’t immediately apparent.
  2. Install Car Seats Correctly – Properly installing a car seat can be challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with a particular model. However, ensuring that your child’s seat is installed correctly could very easily be the difference between him escaping a crash unscathed or sustaining very serious injuries. Child Passenger Safety Technicians offer free installation instructions, which is a service you should take advantage of. Visit safekids.org to locate a safety tech near you.
  3. Adhere to Size and Age Guidelines – It can be tempting to turn your infant forward-facing before she’s ready or allow your older child to transition out of his booster seat a bit early, but the age and size guidelines put in place by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration exist for a reason. Adhering to these guidelines may not always be convenient, but could very well save your child’s life.
  4. Booster Seats are Necessary – Older children, especially those that are smaller than their classmates and are not ready to transition out of a booster seat, often resent being forced to use one. Seat belts in your vehicle, however, are designed to protect an adult in the event of a crash, not a child. He simply is not safe without his booster seat until he’s reached the upper limit of the size and weight restrictions.
  5. Avoid Distractions – Keeping your children safe in the car doesn’t just depend upon your ability to install car seats and enforce booster seat rules; you also have to avoid distractions that could potentially lead to an accident. Talking or texting while driving, scanning the radio, or even manipulating a GPS can all be distractions that could lead to potentially deadly crashes. This also sets a bad example for older children who will someday be behind the wheel.
  6. Don’t Negotiate With Older Children – Regardless of how much your kids beg and plead to be allowed to ride in the front passenger seat, it’s important that you stand your ground and refuse to negotiate with them on the subject. Remember, your kids’ safety is non-negotiable.
  7. Pull Over – If you have to retrieve a fallen toy or soothe a crying baby, it’s imperative that you always pull over to do so. Even low-speed crashes can be serious for small passengers.
  8. Backseat is Always Best – Even when your child is old enough and large enough to transition out of her booster seat, the backseat is always the best place for her. Front passenger airbags deploy with an enormous amount of force, and can cause more injuries to a child than the crash itself. Remember that the restraints and safety features in the front seat of your car are intended to protect the larger, sturdier bodies of adults.
  9. One Child Per Restraint – Running a carpool or giving one of your child’s friends a ride to practice can leave your car a bit overcrowded, but you should never allow more than one child to share a single restraint. If there aren’t enough seatbelts in your car to accommodate each passenger, you should always make other arrangements.
  10. Never Leave Kids Alone in the Car – In some states, it’s illegal to leave a child in the car unattended, even for a moment. Vehicle safety for kids doesn’t just include the time that you’re in motion, but also when the car is parked. Kids left alone in a vehicle can be affected by the outside temperature, or be curious enough to crawl into the front seat, inadvertently knocking the car into gear.

While this list covers many of the safety considerations you should follow when transporting children, it is by no means exhaustive. There are a variety of things that you should know about car safety when children are involved in order to ensure that even the smallest passengers in your vehicle are secured properly and protected in the event of an accident.

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ALONE (GUEST POST)

Why You Should Never Go to the Emergency Room Alone

A trip to the emergency room is rarely a fun experience. It can be traumatic in many instances. It is never a good idea to go to the emergency room alone when the emergency is life threatening or could escalate quickly. Medical professionals are usually very proficient in determining who should be informed of the emergency, but things can happen before a patient’s family can be notified and medical professionals are often dealing with unknown conditions.

Malpractice Can Occur Quickly 

Malpractice often occurs when a treatment professional is not aware of certain existing conditions. Conditions, such as, the patient taking prescription medications like Pradaxa, an anticoagulant that has no anecdote. Therefore, depending on the emergency, if the care needed is invasive then the patient could bleed out with no way of stopping it. The emergency room doctor may have no way of knowing this information and proceed in their efforts to save the patient’s life with no malicious intent to cause harm. Lack of malicious intent is not always acceptable in a malpractice claim, but can be a point of contention in defense when proving the difference between a “bad outcome” and “deviation”. An attorney at Bottar Leone, a medical malpractice lawyer in Syracuse NY, explains the difference as follows: “a health care provider must deviate from the standard of care. This means that the provider must fail to do what a reasonable doctor or nurse would have done under similar circumstances. In addition, that deviation must cause harm. A ‘bad outcome’ does not, in-and-of-itself, give rise to liability for professional negligence. Therefore, if the patient is incoherent and cannot provide answers to the standard questions normally asked before administering care then, designated individuals should be present. They should have up-to-date information about the patient’s medical history and a current list of prescription medications to assist with patient care decisions to help avoid malpractice.

Who Should Be Present 

The primary relative or individual’s spouse should be present at the emergency room because they are the most impacted individual. In traumatic situations, these individuals may need some additional support also, as decisions must be made quickly in many emergency room situations. Designating a conditional power of attorney to a trusted individual is a good idea in many cases. It is a good practice to establish this temporary power of attorney as a part of estate planning in case of emergency incapacity. In most states, this is automatically transferred to the spouse of any married patient, but can include children as well. It is important to note that a power of attorney is normally only appointed to an adult. The designation allows the appointed person to make decisions in the stead of the incapacitated party and ends when the patient becomes cognizant.

Alternate Attendants

If the primary emergency contact cannot be reached immediately, then the most trusted individual available should go to the emergency room also. They may be necessary for information and observance. Medications are regularly dispensed in the emergency room and information on allergies and medical conditions, such as diabetes or hemophilia, could be needed. It is very important for the actual decision makers to arrive as soon as possible, but a substitute is also very important until that time.

Draw Up a Living Will Beforehand

It is always a good practice to either file an active documented living will or explain your wishes to someone in the case of needed life support. Some religions actually prevent this treatment necessity, but the duty of the medical professional is to keep the patient alive. All other decisions are family decisions, or at least a duly-appointed representative. The medical facility will ask for a living will designation in emergency situations requiring life support. Normally, individuals do not have a living will in place when an emergency arises and instructions in care are sometimes necessary from a valid third-party representative. Temporary life support is used regularly in situations where the patient has a good prognosis for recovery. It is a very serious decision and is not always a permanent result of the emergency condition.

It is a fact of life that an emergency is exactly what it is called. It is an emergency, and optimum conditions rarely apply. A small amount of prevention can be worth a large amount of cure if the individual is prepared to expect the unexpected. Always communicate to the appropriate party what your wishes are in case of incapacity and include the desire of a representative or witness in case of a visit to the emergency room. Never go to the emergency room alone.

Kelly Dennie is a freelance writer with aging out-of-state in-laws, one of which suffered a stroke and was alone in the emergency room with no one to watch over his care. These symptoms could suggest a heart attack or stroke; yet, were overlooked and ignored by busy emergency room doctors deviating from normal practices creating grounds for malpractice.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

MORE ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE TIPS (GUEST POST)

 We all use electricity on a daily basis; it’s become a necessary part of everyday life. However we must remember the dangers of electricity as it can kill or severely injure a person or cause damage to properties. This could be from contact with an electrical current causing shock or burns, faults which could cause a fire or an explosion where electricity could be the source. Electrical hazards are estimated to cause around 300 deaths and 4000 injuries in US workplaces each year. It should not be forgotten about or underestimated. 

Electrical safety in the workplace is vital as we use electricity in in every job we do, from typing on our computers to boiling the kettle. It is something that all business owners and managers should be conscious of and in order to reduce the risk of accidents with electricity, it’s important to take some precautions. 

Electrical equipment should be tested on a regular basis. This could be checking them yourself or using PAT testing services, which is completed through visual checks and electronic tests to ensure safety is maintained. If you already suspect that something is faulty then take it out of use as soon as possible to prevent any hazards. 

Where equipment is being used every day, this is most important. Computers and tills are used in the workplace constantly and therefore pose a safety threat if not maintained. Kettles, ovens and food processors are used in cafes and restaurants but also in offices. As they are used so frequently in these environments, appliances need to be fit for use. A switch could be provided near each piece of equipment in order to cut off power in an emergency. When in a factory, electricity is heavily relied on and can be the most dangerous if anything goes wrong. The right safety measures need to be in place so this does not happen. 

Signs should be present to alert workers to electricity dangers. Low voltage cables are still hazardous and should be clearly marked to avoid anyone touching them. 

Employees need to have proper training to ensure that they can carry out tasks safely. Accidents can always potentially happen, but as an employer you need to keep your workers as safe as possible, otherwise if anything was to happen then legal action could be taken. If you are a business owner then it is your responsibility to make sure your employees are working in a safe environment, ultimately this should be paramount to your company policy.

The correct PPE should be furnished by the employer, protective gear that meets the needs of the workers.  Dielectric glasses, proper gloves, and hardhats that do not conduct electricity should be worn. 

Bio 

David Quarmby is an expert in electrical compliance and testing for businesses and is part of the ElectricalCerts group.

General Safety Issues

EIGHT WAYS NOT TO MAKE GARAGE DOORS YOUR HOME’S WEAKEST LINK (GUEST POST)

  Are you really saving if you install home alarm systems yourself?  Your house’s defense should be as strong as a fortress, ideally.  Safety and security nowadays require that.  That’s why we reinforce doors and add eyes on perimeters. 

Like most homes, the garage seems the easiest to penetrate.  As an example, out of habit we leave them open whenever we’re going out for a short errand.  Those short minutes are enough leeway for a burglar.  Many burglars target this because it’s an opening with a lot of opportunities.  The car, the tools among many that gives the burglar an upper hand. 

How will you make it stronger? 

Gary Bricks, a technical security specialist of  Alarm System Store,  based in Columbus, Indiana says, “Garage doors can act like Achilles’ heel of your home, thus, it is of utmost importance to secure it”. He further provides the following tips: 

1        Buy a keychain remote opener that you can leave on your keys.

2        Make safe your garage door emergency release – This is a pretty basic tip that you need to ascertain emergency release is secured.  

3        Ensure you have a rock-hard, strong door made out of solid wood or hardened steel and install an Anti-Kick device.

4        Never leave the garage door remote in your vehicle – If anybody got an access to your vehicle, then, your house will be vulnerable too. 

5        Use a wide-angle peephole in the door between your house and your garage – You’ll be able to have a good vantage on what is going on outside than opening the door.

6        Cover your garage windows – I could imagine why the need to have garage windows. Shut the door closed. No windows! 

7        Keep your garage locked using a deadbolt on the door between your house. Always prefer security than inconvenience whenever you come home using your keys.

8        Keep a well-maintained roll-up garage door and watch out for deterioration to be replaced.

The garage is the easiest to penetrate and the worst place to be invaded. The best way to deal with burglars is ensuring not having to deal with them.  Having a secure garage is a good way to discourage them. 

Author Bio:

John Anderson has been a freelance writer since 2008. His work is almost exclusively on web content about home improvement, home security, technology, green and simple living, and business.   John Anderson, a Southeastern American, specializes in home improvement and occasionally writes about GE Simon XT Alarms Systems.  He graduated from Tennessee State University. He’s a blogger and a freelance writer. His Twitter account is @johnanderson090.

 

 

 

 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues

LASIK: A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR VISION PROBLEMS (GUEST POST)

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By Emily Joseph

Has this situation happened to you: You spend an hour choosing a movie with your partner and finding the right time and place to see it. You buy your ticket online – spending at least $12 per ticket – before heading over, waiting in line to get into the theater, then waiting in line to get your snacks, until you finally take off your jacket and sit down to watch the movie. And that’s when it hits you. As the lights go down you realize you will not be able to enjoy the movie: you forgot your glasses.

If you have found yourself in this situation – or some version of it – chances are you have also considered getting LASIK surgery. But if you are like most people, you do not take the decision lightly. That is smart. After all, despite being quick and easy, LASIK surgery is still surgery. You should make sure to discuss your particular situation with your doctor. But if you’re looking for more information about why LASIK is safe and effective – and could be the right choice for you – then read on. Below are answers to some of the most frequent questions about LASIK surgery.

Q: What happens in LASIK surgery?

A: During LASIK surgery, you will first be put under anesthesia. Then the surgeon will make a flap in your cornea, and use a laser to reshape the underlying cornea. He or she will be finished in less than a half hour, without having caused any pain, though there will be a little pressure.

Q: How common are complications arising from LASIK surgery?

A: While there is always a risk for complication involved in any medical procedure, the risks from LASIK surgery are relatively low. Before you are accepted as a patient, the doctor will perform a full examination to find any factors – e.g. dry eyes – that could increase the risk of complications.

Q: What vision problems can LASIK surgery address?

A: LASIK surgery can’t cure all vision problems, but it can help many of them. People with impaired vision are good candidates. Sufferers of myopia, also known as nearsightedness, hyperopia, aka farsightedness and astigmatism, the usual culprit behind blurry vision, are also good candidates for LASIK.  Of course, you should speak to your doctor about your personal health situation.

Q: Can I afford LASIK surgery?

A: Any responsible adult considers the cost of a medical procedure before electing it. Most people can afford LASIK surgery, but prices do vary. On average, the surgery costs approximately $2,150 for each eye or about $4,000 for both, according to AllAboutVision.com. Considering the cost of contacts – about $300/year – the surgery will begin to pay for itself after about twelve years for those who wear contacts.

Q: Will insurance cover the cost of LASIK surgery?

A: Though most insurers will not cover the full cost of LASIK surgery, you should check the details of your health plan to be sure about the status of yours. Some health plans might not cover the full price tag but will cover part of it.

Q: How successful is LASIK surgery in solving vision problems?

A: LASIK has been shown to serve its patients well. Elissa Shuler Adair, PhD, manager of health care research for Consumer Reports Health, says that 86% of people under forty who have had LASIK were still sans glasses nine years after undergoing the surgery.

About the author:  Emily Joseph is a writer for QualSight.  When’s she not busy writing or reviewing LASIK doctors, she spends her free time reading classic literature and listening to her favorite records.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

SAFE GRINDING OPERATIONS (GUEST POST)

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Risk of Fire and Explosion

Grinding and allied processes produce molten metal, sparks, slag and hot work surfaces which pose a risk of fire and explosion, and which can result in fatalities, serious injury and plant damage. Flying sparks are the main cause of fire and explosion, especially as sparks can travel up to 10 metres from the work space. Sparks and molten metal can travel even greater distances when falling and can pass through and become lodged in cracks, clothing, pipe holes and other small openings. To reduce the risk of fire and explosion, a permit to work should be obtained before commencing grinding operations. Working areas and the areas below them should be kept free of combustible material. Fixed items of plant, such as installed electrical cables should be protected by a fire blanket. And sparks should be contained by means of a non-flammable material. Fire extinguishers should be close at hand, and the working area should be inspected when work is suspended to ensure there is no residual risk of fire or explosion.

Cutting Operations

Where cutting operations are performed, it is always important to give consideration to the effect that these operations will have on the stability of the work piece. In particular, consideration should be given to weight distribution, as the removal of significant weights may alter the balance of the work piece. Where appropriate, the work piece should be supported. You should also plan how items that have been removed will be lowered without risk to yourself, to others who may be working nearby, or to equipment.

Disk Burst

Serious injury can result when grinding wheels or disks burst, so it is important to take the steps necessary to reduce the risks associated with this hazard. Abrasive wheels should only be fitted by individuals who are trained and competent to do so. A pre-use check of portable grinding machines should be carried out to ensure that they are only fitted with reinforced discs, that the disc is suitable for the type of material to be ground, as well as for the speed of the machine and that guards are fitted and properly maintained. To avoid damaging discs, disc centres detaching and increased vibration levels, discs should always be applied at 90 degrees to the work piece to avoid the lateral stresses that leads to discs bursting. Uniform pressure should be applied during cutting and strategic cutting positions and / or restraints should be used where parent metal movement, which may result in snagging, is possible. All grinders have the potential to jolt when disc snagging occurs, which can result in serious injury. Where a Grinding Safety assessment indicates that snagging is a possibility, you should adopt a position that considers the direction the machine will move should snagging occur.

Training

All personnel need appropriate training and experience to be able to use work equipment safely. Never use grinding equipment unless you have received suitable training and are competent to do so, or you are receiving supervised training to reach this level of competence. Remember that contact with the grinding wheel can result in serious injury and that you should also wear protective clothing including Kevlar gloves and a visor to reduce the risk of injury.

Entanglement

When conducting grinding operations, it is also important that you wear close fitting garments. Make sure your overall sleeves are buttoned, that you do not wear a tie or jewellery and that you tie back long hair and long beards to reduce the risk of entanglement.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE is an important means of reducing the risks associated with projectile particles during grinding operations. At least standard PPE with gauntlets, leathers, a cotton drill or fire retardant overalls and a full face visor with neck muff worn over goggles should be worn. Prolonged exposure to the dust produced during grinding operations can potentially result in scarring of the lung tissue and subsequent breathing difficulties. During prolonged or heavy operations, disposable respirators should be worn. For permanent grinders, an air fed all in one hood should be worn. Only PPE in good working condition will reduce the hazards associated with your work, so it is important to remove, clean and store your PPE correctly. All PPE should therefore be cleaned down with a soft brush before removing.

Noise at Work

Hearing loss caused by exposure to noise at work is a significant source of occupational disease, with many people suffering deafness, tinnitus or other ear conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise levels at work. The level of noise and how long people are exposed to noise at work both contribute to potential hearing damage. Noise can be reduced to harmless levels by using ear plugs and ear defenders while conducting grinding operations and the use of hearing protection should be mandatory within high noise areas.

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome HAVS

If you regularly use hand held grinders, you may be at risk of developing Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome or HAVS. This condition involves damage to the blood vessels, nerves and joints of the hand, wrist and arm. It is a painful and debilitating condition, resulting in numbness of the hands to the extent where it is impossible to feel with your fingers and very difficult for you to pick up small objects. This can make both occupational and leisure activities, such as playing darts, fishing or DIY, impossible. HAVS is entirely preventable. Always use the right tool for the job, as this will allow you to complete the job more quickly and will expose you to less hand-arm vibration. Carry out a pre-use inspection of all grinding equipment and report any damage to your supervisor, as faults and general wear may result in increased vibration. Try to reduce the amount of vibration you are exposed to in one go by doing other jobs in between grinding operations. Use a relaxed grip and avoid using excessive force on a tool or work piece. Store tools so that they do not have very cold handles when used next. Keep your hands warm and dry and take breaks to exercise your fingers regularly.

Sent to us by Kevin at Riskatmedia – Safety Video

General Safety Issues

TEN PRACTICAL LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE LITTLE RED HEN (GUEST POST)

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Sent by Carol Watson, of NationalNannies.com

The story of the Little Red Hen has been told for ages to teach young people basic moral values. Using farm animals for the characters makes it interesting and fun for children, and stimulates their imaginations as they learn some important life lessons. Even though this folk tale has been passed down for generations, its message is timeless. We can all relate to these ten  practical lessons learned from the Little Red Hen.

  1. Thrift – The story begins with the Little Red Hen finding some discarded grain seeds. Nobody else saw the value of these seeds, but she knew they had potential. The thrifty hen knows better than to let her fortunate find go to waste.
  2. Initiative – Nobody had to tell the hen what to do with the grain seeds. She took the initiative to pick up the seeds and take advantage of her good fortune. People can learn a lesson from her initiative instead of waiting to be told what to do.
  3. Plan ahead – The Little Red Hen could see the future potential of those seeds if they were planted and harvested. Instead of just focusing on the present, she could plan ahead to improve her situation.
  4. Work hard – The hen wasn’t afraid of hard work even if nobody else on the farm would help her. She knew that her labor would pay off in the end and didn’t hesitate to get busy. Kids can learn how important it is to work hard if they want to succeed.
  5. Self reliance – The Little Red Hen didn’t count on anyone else to help her out even though she asked. When the other farm animals refused to help she just went ahead and did all the work on her own. This story has the practical lesson of self reliance that is important for young people to learn.
  6. Basic skills – Apparently the other animals on the farm didn’t have the basic skills required to plant, harvest and mill the grain into flour needed to make bread. Only the hen had the knowhow that she probably learned from observing the workings of the farm.
  7. Persistence – At every stage of the project, the Little Red Hen didn’t give up. Even though she didn’t have any help and the work was hard, her persistence and perseverance paid off in the end.
  8. Ignore naysayers – The other farm animals surely told the hen she was crazy to do all that hard work while they were lazing about and having fun. It’s important for kids to learn to ignore the naysayers while doing the right thing.
  9. Rewards – Of course the most practical lesson is that the initiative and hard work paid great rewards in the end. The Little Red Hen had some delicious bread to eat and share with her family while the other animals had nothing.
  10. Fairness – And finally, the animals who didn’t share in the work didn’t earn any of the bread. This is probably the most important lesson of all in today’s society. With all the talk of fairness, the other farm animals really did get their “fair share”. The Little Red Hen had every right to keep the fruits of her labor and not share it with anyone who didn’t help.

With today’s entitlement society the story of the Little Red Hen should be revived and told more often. So many people have come to expect the government or someone else to provide for them. They envy the wealth of others even though they did nothing themselves to earn it. Those who have worked hard and achieved success have every right to keep what they’ve earned and should not feel obligated to share it with those who aren’t willing to capitalize on their own abilities. People would be well advised to take a page out of this timeless tale and apply it to their own lives. These are some valuable practical lessons that everyone should learn to achieve their own success.

Thank you, Carol, for reminding us that children’s stories such as The Little Red Hen, passed down  through the years,  continues to teach an important lesson about hard work.  Pat

P.S. I’ll bet that little hen was so smart, if she’d had access to Safety Protective Equipment, she’d have used that, too, to stay safe while she worked so hard!

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

SAFETY WITH HOME APPLIANCES (GUEST POST)

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Toasters, microwaves, water heaters – they’re all commonplace items in a modern home. Correspondingly, you probably don’t think much of them. Whether it’s heating up your food or heating up your home, these sorts of machines do their jobs without much thought on your end. But what happens when something unexpected happens? You need to be prepared ahead of time to make sure you’re safeguarded. Precaution is a top concern when you’re dealing with some in-home devices you take for granted.

The first place to start is with your initial purchasing decision. It’s important to do a little research, and buy reliable items that will provide safety and longevity. Look at what materials your appliances are made of, and make sure you’re buying something that won’t fall apart after a year of use. Additionally, take a look at the failsafe measures a product offers. Quality toasters, for example, will often have a cut-off switch in case of any mechanical glitch.

Once you’ve made the right purchase, installation is key to avoiding any sort of slip-up in the future. Microwaves and toasters should always be put in a well-ventilated area with a smoke alarm in detectable range. Water heaters are particularly important to install correctly, since you’ll rarely fiddle with your unit many times after it’s put in place. Never install a water heater near flammable chemicals or anything of the sort – that creates a huge hazard. Additionally, when you’re working with big, electrical or heating devices like water heaters, you need to make sure your electricity is turned off. You never want to run the risk of being shocked.

As an everyday user, you need to take proper care of your appliances, too. Hair dryers, electric shavers, irons – they can all be unplugged and maintained to avoid accidents. And never continue to use an appliance if you think it’s broken or buggy; it’s just not worth it. At the end of the day, if you’re equipped with the right products and you keep them in good shape, you shouldn’t have any trouble upholding a high standard of safety for your day-to-day usage.

Kristina Ross

Blogger at SaveOnEnergy.com

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

INFLUENZA UPDATE – JANUARY 8, 2013

In the U.S., influenza is widespread over eighty percent of the country.  There are three particular strains that are circulating – the  H3N2, is the dominant one this year, and can cause a more serious illness.  Because vaccines were given for both A and B strains of influenza, the third strain doesn’t respond to those shots.  

Some persons became infected before receiving the vaccination, or shortly after the vaccination.  The flu shot takes time to become effective.  Doctors state that even if you get a strain not included in the flu shot, the vaccination should reduce the severity of the illness.  The flu is spreading earlier and faster this year. 

Anyone who is at least 6 months old should get a flu vaccine this season.  Those to whom it is especially important to receive the vaccine are:

  1. People with certain medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
  2. Pregnant women.
  3. Persons 65 years and older.
  4. People who live with or care for others who are at risk of developing serious       complications such as asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease. 

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses infecting the nose, throat and lungs.  Some cases are mild to severe; however, the flu can be lethal.  Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness, chills, head and body aches, runny nose, and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting.  Some people with these symptoms, however, may not have the flu.  Many are being treated for bronchitis or severe allergies. 

The flu is spread through contact with bodily discharges.  When someone infected sneezes or coughs around them, chances are they will also become infected.  Things that we touch, such as elevator buttons, phones, keyboards, salt shakers, and other items in public places make us all susceptible to it. 

If you are ill, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.  Wash your hands very often, and keep hand sanitizer handy.  Use disinfectant sprays in the home to kill germs.

Last, but not least, stay home if you are sick.  Do not be in a rush to return to school or work until you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours.  During seasons that bring contagious diseases, it’s not a bad idea to stay home and away from crowds as much as possible.  Some folks may be coming down with something, yet are unaware of it until they actually get sick. 

Stay well, my friends!