Tag: safety at home

Protecting Your Eyes at Work

Protect-Your-Eyes2Eye injuries in the workplace are very common. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports about 2,000 U.S. workers sustain job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment each day. However, safety experts and eye doctors believe the right eye protection could have lessened the severity or even prevented 90% of these eye injuries.

via Protecting Your Eyes at Work | American Optometric Association.

Vacation Safety

house-safety-e1337697670398-265x300Before Leaving, Secure Your Home

  • Have good locks on all doors and windows and double check them before you leave.
  • Ask a neighbor to watch your home while you are gone. Leave as much information about your vacation with them as possible, including emergency contact information in case something happens.
  • Arrange for a neighbor or family member to gather your mail and newspaper deliveries.
  • Plug in timers to turn lights on and of to simulate that the house is being used.
  • Create the illusion that someone is home. For example, attach a television or radio to a timer to occasionally turn on and off.
  • Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway if you will be taking your vehicle with you. If you leave your car at home, park it as you normally would.
  • Arrange for someone to mow your lawn and maintain the yard should you be gone for a long period of time. During winter, make arrangements to have your snow shoveled.

While On Your Trip

  • Trust your instincts and speak up if you think or feel something is dangerous.
  • Confirm your reservations before leaving home.
  • Keep a record of all traveler’s check numbers and your credit card numbers in a safe place. Have a record of all of hte numbers to your credit card companies in case they become lost or stolen.
  • Do not carry large amounts of cash. If you must carry large sums, do not display it openly to others.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and do not advertise your travel plans to strangers.
  • Do not carry your airplane tickets or passport in open view. Secure these important documents in a safe place. FEMALES – if you carry these in a purse, place your purse across your body rather than just over your shoulder. MALES – carry these documents in a safe container or in the front pocket of your pants instead of your back pocket.

via Vacation Safety.

Home Fires are Deadly

Dryer-Vent-House-FireEach year more than 2,500 people die and 12,600 are injured in home fires in the United States, with direct property loss due to home fires estimated at $7.3 billion annually.  Home fires can be prevented!

To protect yourself, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. Fire spreads quickly; there is no time to gather valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.

Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.

via Home Fires | Ready.gov.

Portable Ladder Safety

ladder-safetyFalls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries.

  • Read and follow all labels/markings on the ladder.
  • Avoid electrical hazards! – Look for overhead power lines before handling a ladder. Avoid using a metal ladder near power lines or exposed energized electrical equipment.
  • Always inspect the ladder prior to using it. If the ladder is damaged, it must be removed from service and tagged until repaired or discarded.
  • Always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing (see diagram).
  • Only use ladders and appropriate accessories (ladder levelers, jacks or hooks) for their designed purposes.
  • Ladders must be free of any slippery material on the rungs, steps or feet.
  • Do not use a self-supporting ladder (e.g., step ladder) as a single ladder or in a partially closed position.
  • Do not use the top step/rung of a ladder as a step/rung unless it was designed for that purpose.
  • Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface, unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement.
  • Do not place a ladder on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.
  • Do not move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on the ladder.
  • An extension or straight ladder used to access an elevated surface must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support (see diagram). Do not stand on the three top rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder.
  • The proper angle for setting up a ladder is to place its base a quarter of the working length of the ladder from the wall or other vertical surface (see diagram).
  • A ladder placed in any location where it can be displaced by other work activities must be secured to prevent displacement or a barricade must be erected to keep traffic away from the ladder.
  • Be sure that all locks on an extension ladder are properly engaged.
  • Do not exceed the maximum load rating of a ladder. Be aware of the ladder’s load rating and of the weight it is supporting, including the weight of any tools or equipment.

via Portable Ladder Safety.

Home Safety: 5 Tips for Preventing Falls

senior-falls-at-homeFalls are the No. 1 cause of home injuries and death in the U.S., according to the Home Safety Council. The two groups most at risk for falls are children younger than 5 and adults over the age of 70.

Try these strategies to prevent falls at home:

  • Make the bathroom a no-slip zone. Install grab bars and non-slip mats or appliques in the tub or shower. Use a bathmat with a nonskid bottom and clean up any water that splashes on floors right away.
  • Safety-proof stairs. Remove clutter from stairs and walkways. Stairs inside and out should have handrails, preferably on both sides. Have good lighting over stairs.
  • For babies and toddlers, install hardware-mounted safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Pressure-mounted gates are less effective. Gates should have the JPMA (Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association) Certification Seal. Never use accordion-style gates.
  • Put a guard on indoor lofts, landings, balconies, and stair banisters if your child can slip between the posts. Plexiglas is a good option because it bends, is easy to cut, and doesn’t shatter.
  • Toss the throw rugs. Throw rugs are a big tripping hazard for young and old people. At the very least, tape or tack them to the floor.
  • Leave a light on. Ideally, have night-lights in bedrooms, bathrooms, and halls.
  • Make windows safe. New York City cut children’s deaths from window-related falls by a third after requiring window guards. Window screens are not strong enough to prevent falls. Install window guards with quick-release mechanisms (in case of fire) on upper floor windows. Keep furniture away from windows, especially in children’s room, and always watch children around windows.

via Home Safety: Preventing Burns, Cuts, and More.

Preventing Choking Among Infants and Young Children

choking childMany infants and children die each year from choking. These deaths can be prevented if parents and care givers watch their children more closely and keep dangerous toys, foods, and household items out of their reach.

Safety Tips: Tips for Preventing Choking

If you are the parent or care giver of an infant or child under 4 years old, follow these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Red Cross, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the chances of choking.

At Mealtime

  • Insist that your children eat at the table, or at least sitting down. Watch young children while they eat. Encourage them to eat slowly and chew their food well.
  • Cut up foods that are firm and round and can get stuck in your child’s airway, such as
  • hotdogs -always cut hotdogs length-wise and then into small pieces
  • grapes-cut them into quarters
  • raw vegetables-cut them into small strips or pieces that are not round

Other foods that can pose a choking hazard include:

  • hard or sticky candy, like whole peppermints or caramels
  • nuts and seeds (don’t give peanuts to children under age 7)
  • popcorn
  • spoonfuls of peanut butter

via Preventing Choking Among Infants and Young Children.

Winter Safety – prepare for winter

Holiday TipsWinter is a wonderful time of year. Spending time with your family, the many holidays, the New Year, snow and the warmth from a fireplace all remind us of the upcoming season. But, as with any time of the year, there are specific things we need to be aware of to keep our family safe and injury-free.

  • Home fires are more prevalent in the winter months than any other season. Cooking is the leading cause of all winter residential building fires. Other winter fire hazards include space heaters, fireplaces and candles.
  • The cold weather increases your chances of getting frostbite or hypothermia. Between  the years of 1999-2004, an average of 647 people died each year from hypothermia.
  • In 2009, over 16,000 Americans were treated for head injuries in emergency rooms because of playing winter sports (skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snowmobiling).
  • Fatal crashes were 14% more likely to happen on the first snowy day of the season than on days following. It takes drivers a few days to regain their sense of driving in this weather.
  • According to the CDC, most carbon monoxide poisonings happen in January; the second most in December. Carbon monoxide detectors save lives, but less than one-third of American homes have one installed.

via Winter Safety – prepare for winter, driving tips.

Keep Fingers and Hands Safe: Practice Snowblower Safety

help t7Each year, hundreds of people suffer maiming or amputations of their fingers or hands due to the improper handling of snowblowers. The American Society for Surgery of the Hand would like to provide you with patient information to help you avoid these injuries during the winter season.

Injury Profile

  • Average age: 44 years
  • Sex: Male
  • Dominant hand — 90% of injuries
  • Amputations of tips of fingers
  • Middle finger most commonly injured

Common Weather Conditions

  • Heavy, wet snow
  • Large snow accumulation, greater than six inches
  • Temperature: 28 degrees Fahrenheit or greater

Injury Causes

  • Not noticing that the impeller blades are still rotating even though the machine is off
  • Operator attempts to clean the clogged exit chute with hands
  • Hands connect with the rotating blades, resulting in severe injury

Remember — if your snowblower jams:

  • Turn it OFF!
  • Disengage clutch.
  • Wait five seconds after shutting machine off to allow impeller blades to stop rotating.
  • ALWAYS use a stick or broom handle to clear impacted snow.
  • NEVER put your hand down chute or around blades.
  • Keep all shields in place. DO NOT REMOVE the safety devices on the machine.
  • Keep hands and feet away from all moving parts.
  • Keep a clear head, concentrate, and
  • DO NOT DRINK before using your snowblower!

REMEMBER — SAFETY FIRST AT ALL TIMES!

via Keep Fingers and Hands Safe: Practice Snowblower Safety.

Christmas Safety Tips

Christmas_TreeChristmas is a special time of the year for families.  We suggest the following safety tips to keep the holiday season joyful.

Christmas Tree Safety:

  • Consider an artificial tree as they are much safer and cleaner
  • A real tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on the ground
  • Cut one inch off the trunk to help absorb water
  • Leave the tree outside until ready to decorate
  • The tree stand should hold a minimum of one gallon of water
  • Check the water level daily
  • Make sure the tree is secured and cannot be knocked over
  • Keep the tree away from all heat sources
  • Use miniature lights that have cool-burning bulbs
  • Always turn off the tree lights when going to bed or leaving the house
  • Never use candles even on artificial trees
  • Dispose of the tree properly after the holidays

Home Safety:

  • Make sure you have a properly working fire alarm
  • Use only outdoor lights on the exterior of the home
  • Never use worn light strings
  • Connect no more than three strands of lights together
  • Never use an indoor extension cord outdoors
  • Avoid overloading wall outlets and extension cords
  • Keep outdoor electrical connectors above ground and out of the snow
  • Never use electric lights on a metallic tree
  • Extinguish fireplace ashes before going to bed or leaving the house
  • After parties, check under and around chairs, sofas and other furniture for smoldering cigarettes if there have been people smoking in the house
  • Have at least one working carbon monoxide detector in the house
  • Have a fire extinguisher available

via Christmas safety.