Roads in built up areas are more likely the scene of an accident than a major highway or freeway, and most rear-end collisions happen at intersections (both signaled and unsignaled) or in traffic snarls.

Two-way roads with a single lane in each direction and with no physical division down the center are the most likely place for a head-on collision, especially at bends. Out-of-town streets, which tend to be most twisty and where motorists tend to drive faster have the highest risk of all.

Simple Safe Driving Rules

If you know, from the previous section, where accidents are most likely to occur, it stands to reason that those are the places where you should exercise the most caution. Following a number of other simple driving rules will further greatly reduce the risk of a crash.

Avoid driving when you are tired. Drinking caffeinated drinks and eating sugary snacks can help you stay alert – but only in the short term. Take a rest-break, with exercise, every couple of hours. But there’s only one true solution when you’re tired – stop and sleep.

Always drive within the speed limit. They may frustrate us but they’re there for a purpose beyond raising revenue for the police department.

A quarter of all collisions involve speeding vehicles. Even within the speed limit, driving too fast for the road conditions increases anxiety and causes crashes.

Don’t drink (or take drugs) and drive. Everyone knows this rule but so many people ignore it. There’s strong evidence to suggest there’s no such thing as a “safe” level of alcohol for drivers. Just don’t do it.

In addition to the grief these avoidable accidents generate, they also cost $45 billion a year in damages, lost productivity and medical charges.

Practice courtesy. I talk about road rage a little later but there’s a level below that which leads to numerous traffic incidents. It happens most when you assume you have the right of way, and so does the other driver.

You could be at a four way stop, pulling out from a parking bay, or planning a maneuver, like passing another vehicle. Giving way to the other driver is not only safer – it’ll also make you feel good!

Keep your auto clean and in good health. Dirty windows equal poor visibility. Add in poor brakes, lighting, windshield wipers, door locks, tire condition and pressures, and you’re mixing a recipe for disaster. Good maintenance not only enhances vehicle safety but, in the long term, it probably saves you money.

Park and drive off with care, checking all mirrors and looking over your shoulder where necessary. Check mirrors for pedestrians and cyclists when opening your car door.

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General advice: Wear close fitting garments and tie back long hair (so they won’t get caught in machinery), heavy-duty gloves to withstand blades and thorns, goggles where there’s a risk of objects hitting your face, earplugs when using noisy machines, and strong anti-slip footwear. Never operate machinery if you have used alcohol or drugs. Think of it as a DUI, with all the dangers that implies.

If you use gasoline to power machines, keep it safely stored in a cool place. Electricity users should always check cables for splits before plugging in and store, properly wound on a coil, to avoid kinks and breaks. See also the separate Electricity section below.

If you plan to dig or work near any utility lines, check the safety issues with your utility companies. You’re doing them a service too so they don’t charge for it! Also, ideally, work with a second person, who can keep a lookout for “intruders” and raise the alarm if an accident happens.

Ladders: Grit your teeth while I tell you this: Ladder accidents injure more than 220,000 Americans every year – and those are just the ones that end up in ER. Chief causes: using the wrong ladder, failing to secure it and using it incorrectly (for example, standing on the wrong rung or stretching too far).

The American Ladder Institute is a rich source of information both on choosing the right ladder for a particular job and then using it correctly. In particular, they stress ensuring you always have three of your four limbs in contact with the ladder at any time.

ALI’s other basic safety rules include: inspecting a ladder before using it; placing it on firm, level and non-slippery ground; not using one in high winds or if you’re feeling dizzy or tired; wearing slip resistant shoes and never jumping down or skipping a rung.

Lawnmowers: Mowers are potentially dangerous. Yes, they are. First, check the lawn is clear of objects but wear goggles in case you missed anything. Check the cutting height and blade guards before starting up, and then start according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you need to make any further adjustments, stop the mower first, unplugging it if it’s electric. If it’s gas-powered and needs to be refueled, switch off and let it cool first. Also, don’t mow when the light is poor, especially with an electric machine where you could easily run over a cable.

Riding-type mowers pose additional risks. They can be unstable when driven crossways on a slope. Instead, drive up and down the slope. And remember they are (generally) built for one person – so, no passengers!

Powered Loppers, Pruners, Hedge-trimmers and Chainsaws: Inspect these devices for damage to cutting edges and safety guards, before powering up and work out a plan for how you will tackle this project. This is especially important with chainsaws, which can be lethal machines. You’ll find some comprehensive tips on these, including how to select a tree felling direction, at North Dakota University’s website .

Never use one of these machines if the hand guard is missing or loose.

Personal stability is then the most important concern. That means having your feet apart and firmly on the ground (not on the rungs of a ladder – I don’t recommend using one for these tasks).

If you’re cutting things above you, guess what: wear a helmet.  But never operate a chainsaw above shoulder height either, or you’ll become unsteady – and watch out for kickback.

Power off when you need to make adjustments or to clear stuff out of the way.

Chippers and Shredders: Grinding up wood is a noisy business, so you’ll need earplugs for these machines. Protective eyewear and strong gloves are also important. Before this and before switching on, check safety guards, blades and power supply.

Ensure that the chipper hood or any other fastenable parts are secure, and never attempt to loosen or adjust the machine while it is powered up – switch off and let it stop rotating. Definitely, absolutely, never reach into the machine while it is running

Other than this, the big danger with chippers and shredders is putting the wrong materials into them. The manual will tell you the maximum diameter of branches you can insert – stick absolutely with this – but you also need to watch out for stones and other objects getting into the machine; they can cause serious injury if ejected at speed.

Sharp tools: Sharp and cutting tools – knives, pruners, saws and drills, for example – and sharp hardware fixtures such as screws and nails, should always be safely stored when not in use. Never just put an item aside where it is accessible to others, while you use another one.

Drills and blades should be sheathed and stored facing away from you, so that the handle or blunt end are easy to grasp.

Take extra care as you transport them. For preference, use a tool box or purpose designed tool belt. If surfaces are slippery, beware! You might fall while you are carrying tools, or they might slip from your grip when using them. If you are passing a sharp item to another person, carefully hold the sharp end so the receiver is not endangered.

And, as always, ensure you have the right tool for the job. Making do with the wrong item, or even using a blunt one, calls for extra effort and runs the risk of injury.

Electrical equipment: Electric power is increasingly replacing gasoline for all sorts of yard tasks, but, as I suggested in the lawnmower section, the use of cables brings an extra risk – of electrocution. The main rules here are:

• Outside outlets should be properly grounded and weather-shielded.
• Use only properly grounded outdoor extension cords.
• Always know where the cable is running in relation to where you’re working – never have it in a position where it could be severed.
• Check the cord carefully before and after you use it.
• No children anywhere near tools, cords and outlets.
• If you have any concerns, questions or installation needs, contact a qualified electrician.

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Let’s take a look at specific incidents:

Earthquakes: Do you live or work in what the experts call a seismically active area – that is, one prone to quakes? If you don’t know, or you’re not sure of the risk level, check with the US Geological Survey (USGS), which provides maps showing the most vulnerable areas.  If you do, here are some advance actions to consider:

If you’re constructing or remodeling your home or business, discuss strengthening it with your contractor.

Secure potential hazards, like loose shelving and items needing repair.

Have a plan that identifies safe areas, for example under strong tables or clear areas outdoors, and how you will communicate with others. Make sure everyone involved knows about it.

Store emergency equipment and supplies in an easily accessible place

If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer a quake, follow Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advice:

If you’re indoors, drop to the ground, take cover, and hold on. Outdoors, stay there and move away from buildings, streetlights and utility services. In a vehicle, stop as soon as you safely can and stay inside. If you are trapped, cover your mouth and otherwise try not to move. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you.

By the way, even the experts can’t tell you when there’s going to be an earthquake, so don’t believe some of those phony emails that circulate warning of an imminent quake. Just always be prepared!

Storms: Many of the tips I’ve listed for dealing with earthquakes and floods apply to hurricanes and tornadoes too, especially the importance of having a plan that you share with your family or employees. Also, consider installing permanent storm shutters and roofing clips, clearing gutters and downspouts and even building a “safe room”.

During storms, tune in to local radio or TV for information, secure your home or building and, if told to do so, turn off utilities. Evacuate if you are instructed to, or if you’re in a vulnerable building like a mobile home or a high-rise. If you can’t evacuate and don’t have a safe room, stay inside, away from windows and doors, preferably in a small interior room or closet. Again, more details are available from FEMA.

Floods: The National Weather Service provides an updated map at water.weather.gov that shows the flood risk in your area and provides updates on river levels and rainfall forecasts, while FEMA gives state-by-state guidance to identify flood-prone areas.  FEMA also advises that to prepare for a flood, you should:

Avoid building in a flood-prone area unless you can raise the structure above the flood level.

Elevate electrical equipment and panels if flooding is a risk.

Install “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent floodwater backing up into your drains.

Contact community officials to find out if barriers (levees, beams, floodwalls) are planned to stop floodwater from entering the homes in your area.

Seal basement walls to avoid seepage.

If there’s a flood alert for your area, secure your building, turn off utilities, disconnect electrical appliances and move to higher ground. If your home or workplace is already flooded, don’t touch electrical equipment. Get out of the building, trying to avoid walking in moving water, and using a stick to test the ground ahead.

Sometimes, a flood may be just localized – as in a pipe burst or accidental cutting of water lines. The key action here (in additional to not touching electrical equipment) is to cut the water supply – and that means, as I said earlier in the previous chapter, knowing where the shutoff is and how to operate it. Don’t leave the task till it’s too late. The valve is usually located by or near the water meter but if you can’t find it, call the water company and ask.

Wildfires: Your local fire department can advise you on the wildfire risk level for your property. Then, follow the weather and local advisories to know when the risk is high. Creating a safety zone is your key protective measure, but if your home is threatened you should always follow evacuation guidance. If fire surrounds your property, call 911 for rescue.

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Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700821@N06/476498157/

Fires are one of the most common causes of unintentional injuries and deaths in the home, so please make sure you follow the guidance I gave earlier on installing alarms. In addition, the Federal Government, on its firesafety.gov website offers these tips on other things you can do to prepare for and deal with a fire at home:

- Make and practice a fire escape plan.

- Plan for two ways to escape from each room.

- Plan for everyone in your home – including babies and others who need help to escape.

- Pick a place to meet after you escape to check that everyone got out.

- Practice your escape plan every month.

- Practice getting out with your eyes closed, crawling low to the floor.

- Involve children in making and practicing your escape plan.

- Teach children to never hide during a fire – they must get out and stay out.

- Clear toys, boxes, and other debris from exits.

- Check that windows open easily. Fix any that stick.

- Be sure that security bars on doors and windows have a quick-release latch, and everyone knows how to open them.

- Never open a door that feels hot. Escape another way.

- Escape first, then call for help.

If some of these measures sound a bit dramatic, remember that a small flame can become a big fire in less than a minute, and a home will very quickly fill with thick smoke soon afterwards. And that last bullet point is critical. Not only should you get out fast but you also should never go back into a burning home. If someone is missing, tell firefighters.

I mentioned fire extinguishers in the previous [post], but you need to be wary about their use. If used on the wrong type of blaze they could make things worse. If used when the fire is already out of control, they could waste precious time and cost lives. In fact, the US Fire Administration (USFA) recommends using them only if you’re trained to do so.

Many of the tips I have outlined above apply also to businesses. Having a written plan and conducting regular practices are essential. You may also have special requirements if you handle or store hazardous materials. Speak to your local fire department and invite them to do an inspection and provide guidance.

You should check to see if your property is insured in case of fire; click here for a free quote for Tennessee Home Insurance.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/4121423119/

I hope this doesn’t happen to you. But it happens to millions of Americans every year: They’re on the receiving end of a criminal activity.

What you do depends on the nature and severity of the crime, who is involved and what stage the crime is at. But there are certain firm rules you should follow.

When a crime is in progress

The safety and security of children and other vulnerable individuals comes first. Take whatever steps you can to move them to safety, then try to put a barrier between yourself and the criminal – getting out of a house or locking yourself on a roof for instance

If you are accosted by a thief, at home or in the street, give them whatever they ask for. Don’t argue or fight or try to conceal items. If you suspect someone is in your house or on your property, call 911 – who, by the way, would never recommend that you tackle an intruder, who could be armed or physically powerful.

If you suspect you are being stalked – more than 3 million US adults are, every year – again contact the police. You might also find this factsheet helpful, published by the non-profit consumer group Privacy Rights Clearinghouse

If you’re threatened with a street attack, try to run away if you can, making as much noise as possible. If you are being forcibly held, your voice, your elbows and your knees are your strongest defenses.

After a crime has been committed

Here is a basic checklist of the things you should do (depending on the nature of the crime):

• Ensure everyone is out of danger.

• Check the well-being of anyone else who was involved.

• Call 911.

• Administer first aid if required.

• Identify witnesses, if appropriate

• After theft or burglary, try not to touch anything at the scene until the police arrive.

• Re-secure your property.

• Make an inventory of what has been damaged or stolen.

• If you are a victim of crime abroad, contact the US Embassy or consulate in the host location, as well as local police.

• Contact your insurer or agent and follow instructions for making a claim.

There are numerous other things that might be appropriate, depending on the advice of the police and your insurer. They are there to help and advise you, so try to follow their guidance.

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Choking: Choking is usually an emergency and you should call 911. In desperate circumstances – choking on food for example – you might be able to clear the airway by performing an abdominal thrust. Ideally, you should learn this through first aid training but you can find a useful description online at http://tinyurl.com/ab-thrust.

Cuts and Scratches: Clean the wound with cool, running water. Stronger stuff, like alcohol, can make things worse. Apply pressure with a cloth to try to stop bleeding. Moderate bleeding is okay – it helps the cleaning process – but get medical help if the cut is deep and/or it doesn’t slow after a few minutes, or if there’s something lodged inside the wound. Leaving a minor wound uncovered (but clean) will help it heal more quickly.

Nosebleeds: Nosebleeds are common and usually not serious. They may be more likely with certain medications or allergies. To try to stop the bleeding, pinch the front of the nostrils and push towards the face, with the head leaning slightly forward. Hold this for five minutes. You can also apply an ice-pack to the nose or cheeks. If bleeding can’t be stopped and is exceptionally heavy, or the person is dizzy or faint, seek medical help.

Sunburn and Heatstroke: These are totally different disorders though they spring from the same source – the sun. With both, you need to get out of the sun and into a cool place. Apply aloe vera or other lotion to ease sunburn; drink plenty of cool water (not caffeinated sodas) and take a cool bath to reduce the effects of heatstroke. If symptoms like dizziness and nausea persist, see a doctor.

Tetanus: If the victim suffers a skin-breaking wound, they may need a tetanus shot to prevent infection. Tetanus is a severe bacterial infection that hits muscles and nerves but often you’re not aware of it until a week or two after an injury. It’s preventable through immunization every 10 years. So if it’s more than 10 years since you had a shot, get one, especially after an injury with an open wound.

Dealing with sudden, severe illness

Heart attacks, strokes, loss of consciousness and high fevers demand immediate medical attention. Very often, the faster you can get that treatment, the more likely the patient is to survive and recover. Time is of the essence!

In these cases, being able to spot the early warning signs could be critical. Chest tightness or pain, especially radiating to the left arm, and breathing problems could signal a heart condition, while numbness in various parts of the body, confusion, vision or speech problems, dizziness, balance difficulties and inexplicable, severe headaches may indicate the onset of a stroke.

As for fevers, anything around 100 degrees in a child should get you to a doctor, and a sustained temperature of 103 degrees and over in an adult. (This is only a guideline; even earlier action may be necessary if there are other worrying symptoms, such as chronic sleepiness in a child.)

If you run your own business, you may want to consider having a portable, automatic defibrillator – but, if so, ensure you have someone who knows how to use it!

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Don’t panic! That’s the first and most critical piece of advice to follow when trouble shows up in your home. Sure, that’s easier said than done, but when you’re in a tight corner, unless it’s a life-or-death moment, allow yourself five or 10 seconds to take a deep breath and mentally tell yourself not to panic. It may seem like you’re burning up precious time but, believe me, you’ll likely waste even more if you don’t.

What you do next depends on the nature of the incident. This month we’ll briefly go through some accident situations and what to do in those situations, it’ll be split into 2 parts, with the next month covering more situations.

Accidents and First Aid

You’d probably be a unique person if you got through a lifetime without experiencing or encountering an accident that causes injury, either at home or in the workplace. My own collection includes being dropped on my head during a “fireman’s carry” experiment conducted by my older brother, piercing my foot with a garden fork, and fainting after jumping up quickly from a crouching position after introducing a hammer-head to my thumb while building a rabbit hutch. And then, there’s the rest of the family …

Your first decision is whether the incident calls for hospitalization or other medical attention. Loss of consciousness, heavy blood loss or vomiting of blood, inability to move all or part of the body (by the individual, not you, unless you’re the victim), severe burns, damage to the eyes, head injuries (like the one I suffered) and breathing difficulties, all suggest a medical emergency and you should call 911.

Never try to move someone injured in a fall, though there may be other things you can do to provide temporary relief.

If the individual is able to move himself or herself without pain you might be able to take them to the ER if traffic congestion is not likely to be a problem on the way, but, if in doubt, wait for the paramedics.

Bottom line: If you’re not sure, call 911.

If it’s not that kind of an emergency, or if you can take some action before professional help arrives, here are some quick, basic guidelines on what you could do:

Burns: For minor burns, soak the affected area in cool (not iced) water for 5 to 10 minutes, then apply a soothing cream like aloe vera or antibiotic ointment (don’t use oil or butter). Cover with a dry dressing. Seek medical help for more severe burns and don’t try to remove any clothing stuck to the burnt skin or, indeed, do anything else. (See also “Sunburn” below.)

Bites and Stings: If stung, remove the stinger if you can. Apply an icepack to reduce swelling, followed by hydrocortisone cream and take an antihistamine pill (both of which you can buy over the counter). Severe reactions like breathing difficulty or swelling of lips and throat could indicate allergic or other problems and you should call 911. CPR may be necessary (see next section). You should also always seek medical advice about bites from animals or poisonous insects, or even a severe scratch from a cat.

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• When you’re preparing food, if you have long hair, tie it back or cover it. Remove jewelry.
• Wash and thoroughly rinse your hands before doing any kitchen work (including cooking); dry them on a paper towel.
• Clean all cooking utensils and work surfaces with an antibacterial agent (read the instructions) before and after using them. If you wash and dry dishes by hand, leave them in a drying rack rather than wiping with a tea-towel.
• Use several cutting boards, scrubbing them and using hot water after you’re done. Certainly, use a separate board for meat. Plastic boards can go in the dishwasher and should be regularly replaced.
• Know and apply the minimum temperatures for cooking foods.
• Same goes for refrigerator, freezer and open-air storage times of different foods. Store meat and vegetables separately. Return unused food to the fridge or freezer as quickly as possible.
• Always wash fruit and vegetables before preparing or cooking them.
• If you use a spoon or fork to taste food as you cook, don’t use it again until it’s been thoroughly cleaned. Use another one instead.
• Hot-wash and frequently replace scrubbing brushes and sponges.
• Food: If it doesn’t look right or smell right, then it probably isn’t. Toss it!

Where I suggest finding relevant information about temperatures and storage, if this information is not on the label (or there’s no label) you’ll find it, and other useful information, on the Government’s foodsafety.gov site.

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I mentioned this to him one time and he quoted back to me what he said was a well-known Lebanese proverb: Hygiene is two thirds of health. Amen to that.

Although personal cleanliness is absolutely essential to your well-being, there are, in fact, just two basic rules that account for most of your hygiene related health, and that of others you live with – regularly washing your hands and covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

Dirty hands and uncovered snouts are undoubtedly the main transmitters of germs and viruses in the home. You should always wash your hands in hot, soapy water after a bathroom visit, before handling food, before and after cleaning up a young child and after you’ve been out – whether it’s a trip to the grocery store or a gardening session in the yard.

Actually, there’s quite an art to washing your hands properly. The Centers for Disease Control offer very useful guidance on their website cdc.gov. Just search for “handwashing”. Plus, of course, if you cough or sneeze into your hands, you need to wash them then. But for preference, always carry a handkerchief or facial tissues with you. Please don’t sneeze onto your sleeve!

These simple rules are important to pass on to youngsters, who always seem to forget the basics – like brushing their teeth. Which reminds me, oral hygiene – brushing, rinsing, and flossing – is as important to me as keeping my hands clean. That’s not just for the benefit of those within “breath range” but also because the human mouth is where all the food bacteria and germs meet daily for a party!

The other side of the hygiene story lurks in your bathroom and kitchen. Keeping a clean bathroom is easy, with bleach and other household cleaning products (remembering my earlier advice about storing them out of reach). The more that room is used, the more you use them.

The kitchen is a different story. All sorts of creatures, masquerading under the posh title of “micro-organisms” lurk on counter-tops and dishes, in the dishwasher, toaster, stove and refrigerator, and just about anywhere else where food has been.

The problem is that you can’t just splash toxic cleaning products about, where they might come into contact with food, though there are a number of products on the market that can kill bacteria without harming you. Next month we will cover some tips to keep the kitchen clean and hygienic.

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1.       Safety locks and catches on cabinets and draws wherever they’re accessible.

2.       Safety gates across doorways and stairs.

3.       Doorknob covers and door locks to prevent access to out-of-bounds rooms.

4.       Anti-scald devices on faucets and shower heads.

5.       Smoke alarms (see above for more on these)

6.       Window guards and safety netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks & landings.

7.       Corner and edge bumpers to cushion sharp edges on furniture and fireplaces.

8.       Outlet covers and outlet plates (as I told my senior friends).

9.       Carbon monoxide alarm (again, see above).

10.   A tassel on each separate window blind cord, and inner miniblind cord-stops to prevent strangulation.

11.   Anchors to avoid furniture and appliance tip-overs.

12.   Layers of protection around pools and spas – a barrier completely surrounding the area, including a 4-foot tall fence and a self-closing, self-latching gate.

When I had a young family, I also made a point to educate my older kids about re-securing or removing any potentially dangerous items or gateways after they used them. This is by no means an exhaustive list either. You can get lots more information online.

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