Tag Archives: support

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BOSTON RED SOX, WINNERS OF THE WORLD SERIES!

This year’s World Series brought two great competitors together – the Boston Red Sox versus the St. Louis Cardinals.  Congratulations to Boston for winning in the sixth game, at Fenway Park, Boston.  After going what the citizens of Boston went through, the Boston Marathon bombing, it seems fitting that they have a way of showing Boston Strong.  Red Sox’  David “Big Papi” Ortiz earned the MVP award.

Now that Major League Baseball is over, and college and professional football are working their way to a finale, we will soon have basketball, both college and professional, to look forward to.  Regardless of your choice of certain sports, or all of them, what better way to show your support than by wearing a hardhat that shows your favorite team every day at work? 

Texas America Safety Company has a huge selection of all sports teams hardhats – from World Series Champs Boston Red Sox, and all MLB teams, to NCAA and NFL, NHL and NASCAR. 

Once you check out the team hardhats, you may also prefer a patriotic hardhat, camoflauge, or choose to add your own embellishment to a certain color plain one.  Texas America Safety can customize your hardhat with your name, or other decals to choose from.  It’s done in-house, in order to speed up delivery time.  If you want to order one of these great hardhats, remember, there’s a 5% discount just for mentioning that you read about it on Blog4Safety. 

Again, we applaud the Red Sox and their fans for the World Series Championship.   Whatever your sport, remember to express your favorite team by staying safe with a team hardhat.

LIFE AFTER THE BURN (GUEST POST)

We recently received an email regarding an article posted on our website – “National Burn Awareness Week”, pointing out that this  issue  should be addressed every day, not just one week per year.  We are pleased to present this informative article that provides helpful insight that we all can help and show our concern to burn victims.

Life After The Burn

Some accident victims go home in a few days, maybe even a few hours. Years down the road, only a small, pale scar reminds them of the ordeal. For the really lucky ones, there’s no scar at all. While there was certainly pain and fear, the emotions are temporary and life doesn’t really change.

Many burn victims are not so lucky. Wearing the scars day in and day out, they must learn to live with their new bodies and the social pressures this body implies. Those who have been severely burned can face prejudice and rejection when they need support the most, and these reactions are both illogical and demeaning. Personality, passions, pet peeves – everything that made these people vibrantly unique are still there, but are thrown into the shadows by damaged skin.

The sad reality is burns will continue to occur and people will continue to survive them. So what happens after the burn? We need to foster greater understanding of burn recovery and how we, as family and friends, can help survivors once again have a thriving life.

Burns are a global public health problem, accounting for an estimated 195,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In honor of those who have passed, we must combat the stigma carried by those who live. Photo Credit: Flickr.

Combating Human Nature

Whether we like to admit it or not, most of us judge people based on their appearance, if only for a second. Those judgments may be proved wrong, we may regret them in time, but the fact remains that it’s human nature to make them. Our eyes assess information in a flash, before our brains have a chance to refute it. A burn victim deals with these snap judgments every single day. Any disfigurement or disability caused by their burns can prompt shame and exclusion, reports the WHO. Awareness needs to be raised about life after the burn, and how we can support these individuals rather than tearing them down with ignorance, a shocked glance, or a cruel word.

The truth is, we could all become a burn victim. It’s not a disease some of us are more likely to catch. It’s usually an accident, as unforeseen as stubbing your toe.  Suddenly the grill flares up, hair catches fire, and we are on the other side of this story. Photo Credit: Corbis Images. 

Going Home

As medicines advance, the survival rates of burn victims have improved substantially. Yet, many still remain in the hospital for months, and it can become an insulated environment with a built-in support system, according to the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. That type of understanding and protection can be scary to leave, and going home can be like a slap in the face, when the reality of disfigurement or disability finally hits. As family and friends, your support is pivotal to easing the transition.

First, it’s critical to understand the emotional upheaval going home represents. In the hospital, burn survivors could forget about their appearance, about how their life outside would change, as they focused solely on treatment. Sitting at home on their couch, surrounded by reminders of their old life, they are forced to process the looming future. Grief, post-traumatic stress, and anger can lead to months of sleeplessness and wishing, just wishing, there was a simple solution. Of course, there isn’t. But family and friends can be a world of help.

No one would call hospitals cozy, but for many in long-term recovery they symbolize routine and stability. Out of all injury types, burns account for the greatest length of hospital stay, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Photo Credit: Flickr.

Before leaving the hospital, talk about going home and any fears they have, says Phoenix. If your loved one seems to feel alone and trapped once home, gently encourage them to start doing their usual activities. The threat of staring eyes keeps many burn survivors inside, so resources such as Phoenix urge families to talk about staring and how most people are simply curious. A burn survivor will draw attention, you can’t change that, but helping them stand up to stares with confidence lets them discover a stranger cannot dictate their happiness or self-worth.

Burns are a common and potentially devastating cause of injury in childhood, third to motor vehicle accidents and drowning, according to NLM.  Photo Credit: Flickr.

Help Them Tell Their Story

They may need to tell their story time and again as they readjust to their world, notes Phoenix. Like many who journal or blog understand, the simple act of putting pain into words is healing. Meeting other survivors and being able to talk about the ordeal provides emotional relief, a much-needed community, and even a sense of purpose if they become involved in advancing the group’s efforts.

Some burn survivors attending these conferences were injured as infants, while some are just months into their recovery. Photo Credit: Flickr.

If someone close to you has been burned, help them seek out resources. Walking into a room with the expectation of sharing their story can be intimidating, but time and again it’s proven to be extremely rewarding.

This type of organized social interaction can help them overcome their fear of reaction, a hurdle they must jump to thrive in the world. There are conferences, organizations, centers, camps, and societies all developed to unite burn survivors and encourage them to find comfort in one another. Don’t let the extent or type of the burn dictate whether they seek out support. There is no “burned enough” requirement for these groups. Additionally, don’t let them compare themselves to others and wonder if they should be there – for once, the physical remnant of the accident is of no concern, it’s all about how they feel.

The Lost Childhood

The American Burn Association notes that children are especially vulnerable to being burned, and the recovery process for those who were burned at a young age can be particularly arduous, both physically and emotionally. As a parent, I know when our children suffer we want to absorb all their pain and carry the burden ourselves, especially if we feel guilty for the accident. What parents need to know is that focusing on the past keeps their children from a healthy future. Don’t let these pangs of regret keep you from talking about the accident with your child when they’re ready. They can face prejudice from many sides – strangers, friends, classmates – so what your child needs from you is unconditional love and support, and the knowledge that the lines of communication are open.

A scarred hand peeping out from his sweatshirt is enough to make kids ridicule him. For children like him, emotional and physical damage runs deep. Photo Credit: Flickr.

For a scarred child, the idea of going back to school can be terrifying. Friends may disappear when the child can no longer play like they used to, and classmates can taunt with wounding nicknames. “Crusty crab, burnt toast, snake skin, Freddy Krueger’s daughter, mutant, scarface” – these are just a few of the cruel names that haunt burn survivors for years, reports the Huffington Post. What kind of life is that, spending the golden years of youth alone in their bedroom with insults ringing in their ears? Already distraught by what they see in the mirror, such reactions only solidify unjustified shame. These challenges can follow them into adulthood, and maybe it’s not until years later that they even meet another burn survivor and begin to feel their attitude change as they realize others are just as traumatized.

So, burn foundations nationwide have created school reentry programs that aim to prepare and inform teachers and peers. As your child talks about their accident they can feel empowered and independent, and everyone can become more comfortable with the injury.

Toward the same purpose, teen burn survivors can attend burn camps. Teenagers rely heavily upon their peers for self-validation, so being supported by other young adults can help them deal with the emotional scars of excruciating staring and teasing.

Don’t let 20 years go by before your child gets a chance to reach a turning point, and truly cope with their accident. Talk about it now.

Burns are recognized as among the most painful and devastating injuries a person can survive. To heal, they need to address the trauma beneath the scars. Photo Credit: Corbis Images.

From Victim To Survivor

With survival comes a need for support and information. Simply knowing they are not alone and there are people who care makes a difference, and makes their injuries less of a burden.

What must be remembered, amidst certain emotional exhaustion, is a survivor’s adaptation to their new life is heavily dependent upon the love and support you offer. Never let them give up hope.

Increasing the knowledge of burn recovery helps us better empower our loved ones, supporting their renewal and return to society. Listen to their story, help them find resources, and allow them to grieve for as long as they need. Voicing grief allows them to move beyond their losses and newly define themselves. A burn accident can be a double-edged sword, feeding mental devastation and physical disfigurement, but also becoming a unique time of rebirth for many. In a way one doesn’t expect, it becomes an opportunity to start over.

CREATING A HEALTHY WORKPLACE, PART II

As we discussed earlier, we all want to live in a perfect world and work in a perfect workplace.  While perfection may be out of reach, both employers and employees can do their part to create an environment where we can all go to our specific job assignments, feeling free from safety and health risks. 

Workers and managers should plan together, using a continuous method to protect and promote the health, safety, and well-being of all employees.  The strains of work that employees face are mainly trying to balance work and life issues, which creates health problems when individuals face a lack of control at work.  Thus management should recognize that this can lead to distress levels that in turn can create short-term health complaints, with longer-term health disorders.  A normally healthy person placed in an unhealthy work environment will likely be prone to develop problems such as heart, back pain, mental health issues, and injuries.  In other words, no work environment should make people ill and susceptible to injury.  Companies should also enforce policies that accommodate older workers and those with chronic disease or disabilities.  They should have resources for their employees to participate in health-improvement programs.

We know that the following hazards or problems exist in many workplaces and must be addressed:

  • Physical – can result from structural, air, machinery, furniture, products;
  • Chemicals and materials;
  • Production processes;
  • Outdoor location work;
  • Ergonomics – awkward position, repetitive motions, lifting;
  • Mechanical – working around heavy machinery, noise;
  • Mobile – driving in hazardous conditions;
  • Psychosocial – Poor organization
  • Work demands, low reward or recognition;
  • Lack of supervisor support;
  • Poor communication;
  • Bullying, discrimination;
  • Lack of negotiation;
  • Lack of flexibility. 

Corrections to all of these are up to administration.  There should be leadership that oversees proper housekeeping of all work areas, preventive maintenance, enforcement of policies, adequate training, and furnishing the right Personal Protective Equipment, such as respirators for dusty work areas, industrial hard hats and boots for construction personnel, etc.  Their policies and programs to reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for workers can be carried out in some of these ways: 

  • Post signs to encourage use of stairs.
  • Place motivational posters in common areas.
  • Offer health education classes and weight management discussions.
  • Offer employee discounts for gym memberships.
  • Offer health benefits such as flu shots and free screenings.
  • Furnish literacy education to their employees and family members.
  • Establish smoke-free policies, by incorporating incentives and competitions, with added interventions. 

It sounds as though we have put all the demands on the shoulders of the companies.  But employees know that they must fulfill their obligations to the company and their families to stay healthy and safe at all times.  If you check around, you might be surprised to see how many large companies play an active part in their communities as well as their businesses.    They support the establishment of primary healthcare facilities in the communities.  They make commitments to planners to build sidewalks, bike paths, and other projects that benefit not just their employees, but entire communities.  When schools and charities solicit their help, they usually come through with financial support that individuals cannot afford to do.

So, let’s end the year and start a new one with the goal of creating a healthier workplace for ourselves and our coworkers.

WE CAN ALL HELP HAITI!

In the early evening of January 12th, an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck the tiny Caribbean nation of Haiti. The epicenter of the quake was about 10 miles south of Port-Au-Prince, the country’s densely populated capital, and the damage was disastrous.

The U.N. headquarters and the Presidential Palace became piles of rubble, with persons buried underneath them, in addition to businesses, hospitals, schools, and homes.  Some buildings are still standing, but it is feared that they could come crumbling down at any time.  An estimated 200,000 people are dead, thousands more are injured and countless more are still missing.  Aftershocks continue to rock the capital.  Countries from all over the world have sent rescue and medical personnel to the aid of Haitians and others who live there – from babies to the elderly.  Medical professionals worry that many of the injured will not be able to survive their wounds, due to the risk of infection and disease, and lack of antibiotics and other badly needed medicines.  The arrival and distribution of medical supplies, water and food, has been slowed down due to the lack of sufficient landing space, as there is only a single-runway airport.

The United States plans to have around 16,000 troops in Haiti by the end of this week.  Heavy construction equipment will be used to clear pathways for transportation of food, water, clothing, and medicines to reach the people who so desperately need it. There are more than 2 million persons who have been left homeless.

Texas America Safety Company the parent company for www.blog4safety.com has donated respirators, gloves, and disposable clothing for use in the relief effort through FEED THE CHILDREN.  We encourage everyone to join us in giving to a reputable charity.  All donations will help these folks survive until they are able to rebuild their lives and their country.  Pray for the homeless, injured, those who have lost loved ones, and for the wonderful volunteers who are working so hard to help them.