General Safety Tips

Appliances

No matter what type of home appliances you have, always follow the manufacturer's instructions for installing, operating, and maintaining your appliance.

Safety Check

Take an general tour of your home and office to look for probable hazards, many of which are easily identifiable and correctable.

Put Safety First When You Are Around Water

On a scorching summer day, nothing is quite as refreshing as jumping into the nearest lake or pool. Conversely, as cool and inviting as it may look, water can be a killer. Drowning is the fourth leading cause of accidental death in the United States.

Most drowning occur in natural water environments and swimming pools, especially privately owned facilities found in homes, apartments, hotels and resorts. Swimming accidents cause hundreds of spinal injuries each year, many of which result in permanent paralysis for the victim. Most serious injuries, about 95 percent, result from dives into water less that five feet deep.

Swimming

It’s fun to swim, but never swim without someone else around to watch you. Even if you are a great swimmer, it is always best to have someone else around for extra safety.

When you are swimming, keep these tips in mind.

Never swim during a storm or when there is lightning.
Never swim alone. Always use the buddy system.
Swim only in safe, guarded areas.
Know how deep the water is.
Don’t dive or jump into water that is not at least 12 feet deep.
Don’t run around a pool, push people in or dunk other swimmers.
Don’t chew gum or eat food while swimming, diving or playing in the water.
Take swimming lessons.

Call Before You Dig

Do your spring or summer plans include planting a tree, building a pool or adding a fence? If so, call SUNSHINE 48 hours before you dig! 1-800-432-4770

Lightning can strike anywhere!

Lightning is responsible for more deaths and property loss than tornadoes, hurricanes and floods combined, but we can protect ourselves against lightning's danger by practicing safety.

Any signs of bad weather, plan on staying inside.

· Avoid contact with corded phones

· Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so well before the storm arrives.

· Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry.

· Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.

· Do not lie on concrete floors and so not lean against concrete walls

· Postpone outside activities promptly. Don't wait for rain. Many people take shelter from the rain, but most people struck by lightening are not in the rain. Go quickly inside a completely enclose building is convenient, get inside a hard-topped all metal vehicle. A cave is a good option outside but move as far as possible from the cave entrance.

· Be the lowest point. Lightening hits the tallest object. In the mountains if you are above treeline, you ARE the highest object around. Quickly get below treeline and get into a grove of small trees. Don't be the second tallest object during a lightening storm. Crouch down if you are in an exposed area.

· Stay away from trees, if you can't get to a shelter. If there is no shelter, crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away from a tree as it is tall.

· Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of lightening, or increasing wind, which may be signs of an approaching thunderstorm.

· Listen for the sound of thunder. If you can hear thunder, go to a safe shelter immediately.

· If you see or hear a thunderstorm coming or your hair stands on end, immediately suspend your game or practice and instruct everyone to go inside a sturdy building or car. Sturdy buildings are the safest place to be. Avoid sheds, picnic shelters, baseball dugouts, and bleachers. If no sturdy building is nearby, a hard-top vehicle with windows closed will offer some protection. The steel frame of the vehicle provides some protection if you are not touching metal.

· Avoid leaning against vehicles. Get off bicycles and motorcycles.

· Get out of water. It's a great conductor of electricity. Stay off the beach and out of small boats or canoes. If caught in a boat, crouch down in the center of the boat away from metal hardware. Swimming, wading, snorkeling and scuba diving are NOT safe. Lightening can strike the water and travel some distance beneath and away from its point of contact. Don't stand in puddles of water, even if wearing rubber boots.

· Avoid metal. Drop metal backpacks, stay away from clothes lines, fences, exposed sheds and electrically conductive elevated objects. Don't hold on to metal items such as golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets or tools. Large metal objects can conduct lightening. Small metal objects can cause burns.

· Move away from a group of people. Stay several yards away from other people. Don't share a bleacher bench or huddle in a group.

Falling isn’t Funny

The amount of human suffering associated with falling accidents is staggering, especially for people over 65. Falling can be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falling is the leading cause of injury-related death in people over 65, primarily the result of hip fracture complications. And with a growing population of elderly people living longer and healthier lives, falling is suddenly no laughing matter.

Fall prevention - Inside the home:

Remove things you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes and shoes) from any place where you walk.
Use at least 100 watt bulbs in your home. Sufficient lighting is very important in rooms, hallways and especially on stairs in preventing falls.
Install handrails where appropriate.
All carpets should be securely attached to the floor.
Avoid using throw/area rugs, but if you do use them, make sure they have skid-proof backing or are tacked to the floor.

Fall prevention - Outside the home:

If a sidewalk looks slippery, walk on the grass for better traction.
Wear warm boots with rubber soles for added traction when outside.
Look carefully at floor surfaces when entering a public building -- highly polished floors can be very slippery. Wet floors are always a great hazard.

Fall prevention - In the bathroom:

Install grab bars.
Use a non-skid mat in the bath or shower.
Consider installing a bath or shower chair.
Consider a raised or cushioned toilet seat.

Fall prevention - Daily Living Tips:

Wear supportive, low-heeled shoes even at home. Avoid walking around in socks or stockings.
When entering a room be aware of differences in floor levels and thresholds.
Keep floor surfaces smooth but not slippery.
If you need to use a step stool, use one that is sturdy with a handrail and wide steps.
Organize your living space to minimize stooping or reaching. For instance, move often-used kitchen items onto lower shelves where they can be easily reached.

Additional Ways to Prevent Falls - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends these additional health related prevention methods:

Begin a regular exercise program -- Exercise makes you stronger and helps you to feel better. Lack of exercise leads to weakness and increases your chances of falling. Ask your doctor for the best type of exercise program for you.
Have your health care provider review your medicines -- Some medicines, or combinations of medicines, can make you drowsy or light-headed which can lead to a fall.
Have your vision checked -- Wrong glasses or conditions like glaucoma or cataracts can limit your vision and increase your chances of falls.

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