Tag Archives: summer safety

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

WOULD IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

1 Comment

You know the saying “Hindsight is 20-20”; we always think of things that might have made a difference after the fact.  Recently, a young man drowned in a local lake after falling from a boat and getting hit by a wake board.  After searching for several hours, his body was located, and he was not wearing a life jacket. (One of the rescue workers said they had never pulled anyone out of this particular lake that was wearing a life jacket.)  Without knowing exactly what caused this terrible accident, this tragedy should be a wake up call for all of us to take safety precautions on the water more seriously.

Children must wear life jackets!  Most state laws require that every other person onboard should have access to a life jacket. So, that’s normally the way it goes: the life jacket is on the floor beneath the person, or somewhere within reach.  But if the jacket is not being worn, how is it going to help?  Even if we are strong swimmers, there could be circumstances that cause us to be rendered unconscious if we fell out of a boat.  A rescue worker commented that even though wearing a life jacket is uncomfortable, it’s well worth the inconvenience when it saves someone’s life.

Just a month ago, we posted a boating article which ended with this:

“Things to remember: (1) Wear life jackets – they save lives! (2) Have that designated driver!  (3) Have a safe boat – it can save your life! (4) Be sure to take along sunscreen, and (5) have a first aid kit on your boat.”

So, YES, there are many things that can make a difference when it comes to water safety:

  • WEAR A LIFE JACKET!
  • DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE A BOAT!
  • PAY ATTENTION TO ALL PASSENGERS
  • LAKE WATER AND BOOZE JUST DON’T MIX!
  • DON’T DRIVE BOATS NEAR SWIMMING AREAS
  • COURTESY SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO AND BY JET-SKIERS

We have several more weeks of warm weather and there’s nothing more fun than going to the lake to do some skiing, fishing, camping, and just having all-around fun.  Hundreds of people will be heading to lakes to celebrate the Labor Day holiday.  Don’t let the dog days of summer end in tragedy by disregarding safe practices around water.

General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

Summer Safety

Because we are all trying to help make our world a safer place, it’s great when we hear from friends in other parts of the world that share the same goal.  The following article was sent to us from the United Kingdom.  We know you will enjoy these helpful reminders, and we appreciate their wanting to participate in our project: bringing safety to the forefront.

As the summer gets closer and closer, we need to be aware that the sun and the subsequent increased time spent outdoors could mean more risk of an accident happening.
At the end of last summer, British company, National Accident Helpline conducted research that suggest those outdoors took extra care not to put themselves in danger during sunny pursuits.

National Accident Helpline, the UK’s leading personal injury claim firm, surveyed more than 100 of its customers to gauge their attitudes to activities which in the past have prompted people to take unnecessary risks.

The results were happily reassuring – for example few people resorted to using lighter fluid or petrol to try and give their barbecue an added boost.

Of those surveyed, 89 per cent said that they would never do so.

Beach lovers were also mindful of safety lessons. Almost everyone surveyed – 99 per cent – said they would not set foot in the sea for a swim if they had consumed any alcohol at all.

And drivers knew that they should also be careful when the sun comes out – 96 per cent of those surveyed maintained that they would change out of their summer flip-flops and into sensible shoes before they got behind the wheel of a car.

National Accident Helpline Legal Director John Campbell said: “Most people, as our research shows, are careful and sensible with what they do – and they deserve their employers, government and private firms to take the same care.”

This concern for safety is surely not just a British thing. As long as everyone, regardless of where they are in the world, stays mindful of being safe then accidents have a much reduced chance of happening. Just by following a few simple safety tips, such as the above; driving in sensible shoes, not putting lighter fluid onto a lit barbeque etc, will put you in a safer environment with less chance of a personal injury.

It probably isn’t surprising that a lot of injuries and accidents occur due to silly mistakes, so ensure you stay safe this summer.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

UV (LIGHT) RADIATION

Whether at work or play, as summer heats up, it’s important to know this information regarding the damage that Ultraviolet waves can do to our vision. 

According to sources listed below,
Ultraviolet (UV) is the invisible band of radiation with a wavelength shorter than visible light and longer than x-rays.  Between 400 nanometers (nm) and x-rays at 4 nm and below.  Listed are their three regions:

  • UV-A: (400-315 nm), Near UV
  • UV-B: (315-280 nm), Mid UV
  • UV-C:  (280-100 nm), Far UV

Long- term exposure to ultraviolet radiation can damage eyes, and can lead to such disorders as cataracts and macular degeneration.   UV-blocking eye protection should be worn when people are exposed to the sun reflecting on water, sand, asphalt, and snow.  Many individuals are not aware of the dangers that contact with UV rays pose.  Everyone should wear eyewear blocking 99% of UVA and UVB rays, and a brimmed hat.   According to Prevent Blindness America, children are also at risk for eye damage from exposure to UV radiation.   They should wear the same UV-blocking eyewear for outdoor play, especially between 10 am and 3 pm, when UV rays are the most intense.

Be sure when you are shopping for sunglasses that the lenses absorb at least 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays.  Avoid labels that state “Provides UV Protection”, but do not distinguish the proportion of UV rays it blocks.  Carefully select the type of eye protection that best fits your needs such as polarized safety eyewear, wraparounds, vented sunglasses, etc.

Source: Gatewaysafety.com
SafetyNets, Un.California, Davis
Prevent Blindness America

Home Safety Products, Uncategorized, Weather Protection

SUMMERTIME AND THE SUN

Maybe because it’s so hot, we just can’t seem to say enough to warn everyone about the harmful effects of the sun!  Too many Americans don’t protect themselves from the sun’s damaging rays, according to the Center for Disease Control, (1998), even though they are aware that the burns from the sun increase their risk of skin cancer.

Many people who have been diagnosed with basal cell cancer, squamos cell cancer or melanoma, have been told by their dermatologists that sunburn during their childhood is likely a major factor that may have caused their problem as adults.  Children must be protected from sunburn, beginning at an early age.

The American Academy of Dermatology has established the Shadow Rule: No Shadow – SEEK SHADE.  If your shade is shorter than you are, the sun is at its highest intensity.

For those who must work or play outdoors, wear wide brim hats, hard hats w/sunshields, sunglasses, long sleeves, and use sunscreen that has a minimum of 15 SPF.  Reflective surfaces such as water and sand can add to the burning effects of the sun.  So play it safe, stay out of the sun as much as possible.  (And hope for an early Fall!)