Tag Archives: wildlife

EIGHT DANGERS DRIVERS FACE IN THE SUMMER (GUEST POST)

The arrival of the summer months conjures up images of time spent on the beach, late evenings enjoying the sunset and road trips with family and friends. However, the summer months can also be filled with threats. The arrival of warm weather means much more than the end of the school year and the arrival of summer vacation. Here are 8 things that you need to be aware of if you’ll be driving in the heat. 

1. Heat Kills Batteries

While winter temperatures kill more batteries, high heat can be a serious threat, particularly if your battery is on its last legs anyway. Before summer truly sets in, take your car in for a full charging system test to make sure that your battery, starter and alternator are in good shape. 

2. Tire Condition

The tires on your car are immensely important, though they’re probably one of the last things teen drivers really think about. High heat on asphalt can lead to some serious issues, especially if you’re tooling around on “may-pops”. If your tires are looking a little worse for wear, replace them before the heat gets too high. 

3. Tire Pressure

In addition to tire condition, you need to pay close attention to your tire pressure. Hot temperatures can actually increase your tire pressure substantially. That just increases when you hit the asphalt. Too much tire pressure can cause a blowout on the road, so make sure you keep a close eye on your tire pressure all summer long. 

4. Engine Overheating

Summer heat can do a number on everything, including your car’s engine. This is particularly true if you’re running your air conditioner (using the AC heats up your engine more). Make sure to have a full cooling system check done before the heat sets in for good, and if your engine does overheat, pull over and let it cool down before you do anything. 

5. Wildlife

Summer means more cars on the road, but it also means an increased chance of having an animal encounter. Deer are perhaps the most obvious animals you might encounter when driving, but there are many others depending on where you live. Be observant at all times because animals are much more active during the warmer months and an encounter with one can be fatal (for you and the animal). 

6. Summer Storms

Summer thunderstorms are a reality in most places. Drivers should be extremely wary of driving during severe weather. The chances of hydroplaning, driving in high winds, combatting hail and no visibility due to very heavy rain all make summer driving more dangerous. 

7. Beware the Interior

As the sun climbs the sky, temperatures rise higher and higher. While you might be well aware of the dangers of being unprotected outdoors in the high heat, it’s important to understand that your car’s interior is an even more dangerous place, especially for younger siblings and pets. Never, ever leave a pet or a sibling in the car during the summer, not even with the windows cracked. 

8. A False Sense of Security

“The lazy days of summer” should be just that – days filled with relaxation and enjoyment. However, that can lead to a false sense of security when on the road. Do not let the “summer feel” lull you into being unobservant or overconfident. Always pay full attention to what you’re doing. 

Following these simple tips will help ensure that you stay safe while on the road this summer, and avoid potentially deadly situations behind the wheel.

Don Elfrink is the owner and operator of AutoMatStore, an auto flooring company based out Columbia, Missouri. Before AutoMatStore, Elfrink was the operator of a automotive production site. AutoMatStore focuses on all-weather, logo, carpeted and molded car mats.  Again, thanks, Don, for the great information you sent us! pb

 

The Dangers Of Golf Courses To The General Public

Golf is often described as one of the most relaxing sports to play, but there are perils lurking on every course and plenty of examples of horror stories of when things go wrong.
One story that recently came to light in Yorkshire, England featured a boy aged 11 who got stuck in the mud on a course and required assistance from the emergency services. Fortunately, the young lad emerged unscathed from his ordeal.
Here are a few other possible dangers to be mindful of while out and about playing golf:
Lightning
GUEST BLOG
Blog4Safety is always happy to receive articles from across the ocean; we know you will enjoy this one written by Matt Browne.
Matt is a copywriter with a journalism background, who forms part of  RightClub.co.uk’s team of experts who always come up with all manner of wonderful, weird, and downright crazy ideas.  We know you will enjoy Matt’s take on safety on the golf course.  Read on!  
 
Golf is often described as one of the most relaxing sports to play, but there are perils lurking on every course and plenty of examples of horror stories of when things go wrong.  One story that recently came to light in Yorkshire, England featured a boy aged 11 who got stuck in the mud on a course and required assistance from the emergency services. Fortunately, the young lad emerged unscathed from his ordeal.
Here are a few other possible dangers to be mindful of while out and about playing golf:
Lightning:
Lightning
Golf courses can be dangerous places if the weather suddenly takes a turn for the worse and it starts to thunder and lightning. Golfers are advised to seek shelter as quickly as possible if a thunderstorm does start and preferably get off the course altogether, steer clear of any lone trees, remove shoes with metal spikes on and leave their golf clubs well alone. Check the weather forecast before setting off on your UK golf breaks and act accordingly.
Golf carts:
Golf-Cart
No doubt many of you will have seen programmes such as Jackass when stunts in golf carts have been performed.  While this is an extreme example of the hazards associated with driving golf carts, it serves as a warning to be responsible when travelling around by cart. Drive at a sensible speed at all times, be mindful of other golfers in carts and resist the urge of some off-track fun as it could end in tears.
Sun exposure :
Sun-Exposure
Being open to the elements for hours at a time brings with it certain risks and exposure to the sun is a problem that golfers need to be aware of.  Spending lengthy periods in the sun without taking adequate measures to protect a golfer’s skin or eyes is irresponsible and dangerous. Carry a hat in your golf bag and have some sunblock on hand just to be on the safe side.  

Plant life and local wildlife:
Wildlife
There are certain places in the world where the local wildlife can pose a threat to the personal safety of golfers. Read this story, which tells what happened when an elderly golfer came into contact with an alligator in South Carolina a few years ago. There may also be a few nasty surprises waiting for golfers in the rough in terms of the plant life, while the uneven ground could cause a nasty slip, trip or fall.
A stray ball or club:
Stray-ball-or-club
The importance of being alert at all times during a round of golf should never be underestimated. A lapse of concentration can cost you dear if you end up being struck by a stray ball or even a club, depending on how close you’re standing to your fellow golfers.
 
Our thanks again to Matt Browne.  A personal thank you to Doug Turner, Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety, for his expertise and assistance.
 
 

NATIONAL ANIMAL SAFETY & PROTECTION MONTH – OCTOBER

This is the time to celebrate our animals, and all they mean to us.  If we have had a bad day or good day at work or school, our pets are there to greet us with their unique personality, not judging us by how we greet them.  This is our chance to repay them for the pleasure they give us by taking extra good care of them.

There are thousands of abused and abandoned dogs, cats, and other animals in our country.  Many rescue foundations have taken these animals and nurtured them back to good health, hoping that some family will see how special they are, and give them a home.  During the month of October, animal shelters and rescues throughout our country hold special events to raise awareness about animal safety and protection, encouraging us to celebrate and respect animals by making a difference in their lives.  If you suspect an animal is being ignored or abused, call your local animal control officer, or ASPCA.

Several ways you can protect your pet are through feeding them healthy diets.  Too many snacks can make them sick.  Obesity can be a problem with cats or dogs, just the same as people.  Make sure their shots are current.  Have them neutered or spayed.  See that your dog gets exercise every day – taking them for a walk is a gift.  Just getting to sniff out a different territory means the world to them!

Because of the drought and wildfires in many parts of the U.S., we are still seeing more and more wildlife coming into populated areas.  They are desperate for food and water. It’s hard for deer, foxes, coyotes, and other wildlife to come that close to homes, but they are in dire need.  Hopefully, with rain and cooler weather, they will find ways to survive.  The good will of people can help by filling containers nearby with water or food.

The love and devotion of dogs toward their humans is most evident when observing a service dog in action.  It is fascinating to learn how much time is spent on training service dogs.  Golden Retrievers make excellent therapy dogs; those persons who wish to train their dogs to visit patients in hospitals, etc., must be certified and insured.  Guide dogs are the “eyes” for their owners.  Search and rescue dogs, as those used to find missing, injured, or dead, bomb and drug detection dogs, that work for the military and law enforcement play vital roles in the job for which they are trained.  They are considered their trainers’ partners, and carry out their responsibilities with no fear.  How wonderful to see these “teams in action.”

Most of us don’t own a “wonder-dog” or “wonder-cat,” but do you ever wonder what you’d do without them?  We have to give them up sometime, but while we have them, it’s up to us to see that they are cared for as any other member of our family.  Trips to the vet, being included in the “family fire escape plan”, or any other evacuation plan are just some of the things that little four-legged friend deserves.

I made a comment one day that I had to go let our “grandpups” out, and a friend replied, “why do you people want so many dogs?”  I replied, well, we only have one, but our entire family loves animals.  I feel sad for her that she doesn’t know how rewarding it is to have a “best friend” that gets to live with you every day.  Please be especially thoughtful to your pets this month; probably you already are.  If not, just look into those eyes and wonder what they think of you!  “Thanks, Buddy!”

Buddy

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT RABIES?

To most of us, the thought of rabies is very frightening; however, we probably don’t anticipate that it could happen to anyone we know.  Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.  Most of the rabies cases that are reported to the Centers for Disease Control each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats.   The central nervous system is infected by the rabies virus, ultimately causing disease in the brain, and death.  Early symptoms of rabies in people are similar to that of several other illnesses, including headache, fever, and general weakness or discomfort.  As the disease progresses, more specific symptoms appear and may include anxiety, insomnia, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, increase in saliva, difficulty in swallowing, hydrophobia (fear of water).  Death usually occurs within days of the onset of these symptoms.  

Wednesday, September 28th, marks the fifth annual World Rabies Day, an international event created to help raise rabies awareness and save lives.  Although major efforts to eradicate the virus have been made, rabies remains a major concern worldwide, killing more than 55,000 people every year, mainly in Africa and Asia.  (This is at the rate of one person every ten minutes).  In the U.S., one to two people die annually from the virus.  In 2010, more than 6,000 U.S. cases of rabies in animals were reported, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. 

This is a very serious disease that mainly affects wild animals, as stated before.  Signs of rabid behavior are foaming at the mouth (mad form), and in livestock (down form), in which they appear very lethargic.  There are more and more wild animals, such as foxes and coyotes that are moving nearer to populated areas in order to obtain food and water.  Our domestic pets should be vaccinated against rabies in case they become exposed to wildlife.  We should be vigilant about not putting our pets in situations that would bring them in contact with other animals. 

Many things that you can do to protect your pets include:

  • Take your pet to your vet on a regular basis and keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all cats, ferrets, and dogs.
  • Maintain control of your pets by keeping cats and ferrets indoors and dogs under close supervision.
  • Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for, or vaccinated regularly.
  • Call animal control to remove all stray animals from your neighborhood, in case these animals are unvaccinated or sick. 

Wildlife are more likely than domestic animals in the U.S. to carry rabies; however, the amount of human contact with domestic animals greatly exceeds the amount of contact with wildlife.  If your pet is infected when bitten by rabid wild animals, the risk to humans is increased.  Rabies in humans is 100% preventable through prompt appropriate medical care, so call your doctor immediately.   Should your animal be bitten by any wild animal, call the vet immediately, so your pet can be revaccinated and monitored.   Animal control should find the sick animal and hold it for observation, if possible.  Cleanse the area of the bite on a person with soap and water as soon as possible.  Newer vaccines today cause fewer adverse reactions than in the past.  Persons should renew their tetanus shot every ten years. 

If you notice a nocturnal animal staggering around during the day, (such as a skunk), chances are the animal is sick.  Call animal control so they can trap it and determine if it is rabid.  Be a responsible pet owner, and keep your animals safe by getting their shots on a regular schedule.  You’ll not only be protecting them, but the persons they are around, as well.