Old tips of the month

Preventing Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning in
the Home 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and
deadly gas. When exposed to CO, it restrains your blood's capacity to
carry oxygen throughout the body, actually suffocating your tissues and
organs. CO can escape into your home's air through a faulty furnace,
wood-burning stove, range, water heater, fireplace, or any device that
burns combustible fuel. CO poisonings from fuel-burning appliances kill at
least 200 people a year and send more than 5,000 people to hospital
emergency rooms. Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms can often be
confused with flu symptoms but become much more serious. Symptoms
include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, irregular breathing, mental
confusion, unconsciousness, and ultimately - death. The key to
protecting yourself and your family is prevention and the use of a quality
carbon monoxide detector. Though everyone is susceptible, medical
experts believe that small children, pregnant women, unborn babies,
senior citizens, and people with heart or respiratory problems are more
vulnerable. To avoid CO poisoning in your home, heed the following
suggestions: 

    Every time a fuel appliance is activated, CO is produced.
Keep fresh air circulating in your home; open a vent or a window to
eliminate toxic fumes. Fuel-combustion appliances should be
vented directly outdoors. >The Consumer Product Safety
Commission recommends installing at least one carbon monoxide
detector with an audible warning alarm. Choose Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) listed detector that sounds an audible warning.
Look for the UL logo on the package. 
    Install your CO detector at least 15 feet away from a furnace or
gas appliance. Avoid installing detectors close to a fan, swamp
cooler, or other fresh or turbulent air sources as this may deter the
unit from taking accurate readings. If you only have one detector, it
should be installed in the hallway near the sleeping area so it will
awaken you if the alarm goes off while you are sleeping. Additional
alarms on each level of your house can provide extra protection. 
    Maintain CO detectors on a regularly basis. Keep it clean and
free of grease, soot, and debris - clean it with a slightly damp cloth
(no chemical cleansers) or vacuum it. It's best to test your alarms
regularly as well. 
    Have your heating system checked each fall before cold
weather arrives to make sure it's operating efficiently and all the
vents, pipes, flues, and chimneys are unclogged and tight. Have
your stoves, fireplaces, and water heater checked as well. 
    Don't close your fireplace damper until you're certain the fire is
out. If smoke enters the room, your chimney may be causing a
reverse flow. Open a window. Have all chimney cleaned, inspected
and serviced annually. 
    Never run your car engine in an enclosed area - open the
garage door before starting the car. 
    Replace smoke alarms every ten years - they accumulate
significant levels of dust, dirt, and debris. Since a smoke alarm
works 24 hours a day, seven days a week, its life span is about
ten years. 
    Make sure the burner flames on your furnace burn blue, not
yellow-orange, and never use your gas or oven for heating. 
    Never use grills or hibachis inside your home. 
    Never operate gas-burning appliances in a closed room. 

Old tips of the month

Be Safe While Bicycling 

80 million Americans enjoy bicycling as a dynamic form of
exercise. In spite of increased awareness of bicycle safety, cycling
injuries account for 500,000 emergency room visits a year. Here are a few
tips and rules to ensure the safety of pedestrians, motorists, and
bicyclists: 

Wear a helmet. Helmets can prevent head injuries, the primary
cause of death and disabling injuries resulting from cycling
accidents. 
Know your local laws. Follow all traffic laws that apply to motor
vehicles. Obey lane markings, traffic signs and speed limits. Be
aware that county and town ordinances can vary. 
Be visible. Cyclists must take responsibility for being visible to
motorists, pedestrians, and other cyclists. Wear bright-colored
clothing - fluorescent colors are particularly good. 
Keep to the right and always ride with traffic. Motorists are
not looking for bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road. Also,
you can endanger oncoming cyclists. 
Ride a well-equipped bike. For safety and efficiency, outfit your
bike with bells, rear-view mirrors, racks or baskets, lights, and
reflectors on the front and rear. A flashing red light is an especially
good rear reflector. Attach reflectors to pedals and wheels as well.
Wheel reflectors can include retroreflective spokes, cranks and
wheel rims. Use a bright, white headlight, preferably one that
makes you visible to drivers 500 feet away. 
Get a light. If you must ride at night and on rainy days, wear
light-colored clothing with reflective triangular patches and
wristbands. 
Avoid road hazards. Watch out for streetcar and railroad tracks.
Cross them perpendicularly. Watch out for parallel-slat sewer
gates, manhole covers, litter, oily pavements, gravel, potholes and
road kill. 
Look back before you pass or merge. Signal in advance of a
turn and use appropriate hand signals. A helmet or bicycle mirror
is especially helpful. 
Yield to pedestrians and other vehicles when appropriate.
Always pass slowly and carefully. Remember that pedestrians
have the right of way - anticipate their reactions. 
Don't weave between parked cars. Don't ride out to the curb
between parked cars, unless they are far apart. Motorists may not
see you when you move back into traffic. 
Make eye contact with auto drivers. Assume they don't see
you. 
Buy a bike lock. Using it correctly will prevent theft. U-shaped
locks with less than four inches of space between the legs of the
U are best. If the U portion of the lock is completely filled with the
wheels and frame, the lock has less of a chance of being broken. 
Use bike racks properly. If there aren't any bike racks, lock your
bike to tall signposts and ironwork. Do not lock your bikes to
handrails or trees. Trees are often wounded by bike frames and
locks. 
Be alert. Continually check the road for potential hazards. Never
wear headphones, they hinder your ability to hear in traffic. 
Share the road. When you ride, consider yourself the driver of a
vehicle and take your legitimate place in the bike lane. Be
confident and assertive, yet courteous to motorists and
pedestrians. 
Communicate when riding in a group. Develop
easy-to-understand verbal signals that increase safety and avoid
collisions and near misses. 
Be careful when descending and turning. Do not push the
speed to the point of fear and tension. Relax and concentrate on
the road surface ahead. Avoid passing on descent, as it is difficult
and dangerous. Prepare well in advance of a corner, and apply
your brakes before entering the turn - never use your brakes in a
corner. 
Never impede another cyclist's path. If you find yourself ahead
of someone, allow plenty of room for passing, at the earliest and
safest moment. 
Keep both hands ready to brake. You may not stop in time if
you brake one-handed. Also, allow extra time for braking when
there is wet road conditions.

Old tips of the month

Tips For Exercising Success 
  A U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity
and Health says that physical activity helps prevent
and treat heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and
osteoporosis. Being active can help reduce other major
risk factors such as high blood pressure and high
cholesterol levels. Before starting an exercise routine,
see your doctor for a medical evaluation. Following are some tips to get
you started: 

Start off moderately. Make fitness part of your daily routine.
Going overboard after a long break from exercise may result in
injury. After getting used to a certain level of activity, increase the
intensity or duration (or both) of your exercise. Check back with
the doctor if you feel discomfort in your chest or surrounding
areas. 
Choose activities that are fun, not exhausting. 
Start your program with a "warm-up" period to increase
respiration, circulation and body temperature. Warming up will
help reduce the risk of injury during more vigorous activities that
follow. Your warm-up should last about 3-5 minutes, or perhaps
longer. 
After exercising, cool down. Cooling down after exercising is
important as it relaxes the muscles, lowers the heart rate, and
helps the body to recover from the stress of a workout. 
Hydrate your body. Drink as much water as possible all day
long. When exercising, the body needs four to eight ounces of
water every 20 minutes to replace water loss. If you're working out
for more than an hour, you may want to consider sports drinks, as
the extra carbohydrates help retain body water. Always avoid
caffeine or alcohol when exercising, both of which further
dehydrate your body. 
Don't over-exercise. For a maximum, injury-free workout, rest at
least 24 hours after a heavy muscle strain. Stagger workouts
between heavy and light strain. For example, you can alternate a
weight training routine with biking. 
Stretch your muscles. Flexibility is one of the most important
factors of fitness. Stretching before, during, and after a workout will
result in better performance, good posture, fewer injuries, and
overall better fitness. 
Consult a trainer. If you belong to a gym, you may have the
opportunity to consult a certified trainer. He or she can help you
craft a reasonable workout plan, tailored for your goals. A trainer
can also teach proper form with exercise equipment. 
Watch what you eat. Proper diet is as much a part of fitness as
exercise; and what you eat will effect every aspect of your
workout. A proper diet also influences the results of your fitness
plan, since it helps build muscle and decrease the percentage of
fat in your overall body weight. 
Don't push an injury. Listen to your body. If you feel pain, stop.
Muscle and joint pain can mean many things - pushing a small
hurt can lead to big problems later on. If pain persists more than a
few days, see a doctor. 
Find a workout partner. A partner can motivate you to workout
when you normally might not, and can help improve your workout
by watching form, encouraging extra effort, and pacing. Try to pick
a partner with abilities equal to your own. 
Wear proper workout clothing. Well-fitted footwear and
comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that is appropriate for the
weather and the activity will ensure your comfort and safety. 
Set fitness goals. Adopting a goal beyond your capacity is a sure
route to failure. Set realistic goals that are definite, not hazy. Don't
forget to reward yourself when you've stuck to your goals

Old tips of the month

Basic First Aid Tips

When someone is injured or suddenly becomes ill, there is usually a critical period before you can get medical treatment and it is this period that is of the utmost importance to the victim. You owe it to yourself, your family and your neighbors to know and to understand procedures that you can apply quickly in an emergency.

    Old tips of the month

Prevent Back Injuries

Prevent Back Injuries Back pain is second only to the common cold on the list of reasons Americans go to the doctor. Sprains and strains to the back are preventable. Unfortunately, most people don't worry about their back until it's already hurting them. It's important to start treating your back properly right away. Take the following steps to protect your back.

Baby-Proofing Your Home 

Taking the time to "baby-proof" your home can
help avoid many preventable home injuries.
Parents, grandparents, baby sitters, and others that the
baby frequently visits should complete a thorough home
inspection for potential hazards. Suffocation, falls and
burns are among the leading causes of child fatalities in
the home. It's important you take the following precautions to properly
baby-proof your home. 

Never leave infants under one year, alone with a family pet.
Choose a family pet that tolerates children. Research breeds to
find one that is appropriate for your family. 
Take precautions to prevent burns. Babies and children are
more susceptible to burns than adults are. Set the thermostat on
your hot water heater to 120 degrees F or lower. Never hold a child
while cooking over the stove. Never drink hot beverages or soup
with a child sitting on your lap. Fireplaces, wood stoves and
radiators must be screened. 
Watch out for choking hazards. Anything that fits inside a
child's mouth can be a danger. Food, toys, and other small
objects that can get lodged in a child's airway usually cause
choking. When buying toys, always follow the manufacturers age
recommendations. Do not give a child under age four any hard or
smooth foods that can partially or completely block the windpipe. 
Beware of electrical hazards. Cover all electrical outlets that
are not in use with safety plugs that snap into outlets. Keep fans
high, out of baby's reach. Don't use extension cords unless
absolutely necessary. Unplug all appliances (hair dryers, irons,
electric razors, and kitchen appliances) when not in use. 
Keep medication out of children's reach. Keep them securely
locked at all times - out of sight and out reach. Make sure
medicines are in child-resistant containers. Don't save old
prescription medicines. Flush them down the toilet when you are
finished using them. Never leave vitamins, aspirin or other
medications on the kitchen table, counter tops, bedside tables, or
dresser tops. 
Store sharp objects properly. Keep knives, forks, scissors, and
other sharp tools in a drawer with a safety latch. Store appliances
with sharp blades (like blenders or food processors) in a locked
cabinet. 
Keep children a safe distance away while working in the
kitchen. Whenever possible, they should be at a distance when
loading and unloading the dishwasher. The kitchen garbage can
should be behind a cabinet door with a safety latch. Keep drinking
glasses and bowls in a high cabinet far from reach. 
Make sure there are no loose rugs on the floor. Put specially
designed pads under rugs to hold them securely to the floor's
surface. 
Install hardware-mounted safety gates at the top of stairs.
Avoid pressure-mounted and accordion-type gates which can trap
a child's head. 
Store household cleaning products and aerosol sprays in a
high cabinet far from reach. Don't keep any cleaning supplies
under the sink, including dishwasher detergent and dishwashing
liquids. Never put cleaning supplies in old soda bottles or
containers that were once used for food. Keep hazardous
automotive and gardening products in a securely locked area in
your garage. 
Don't leave alcoholic drinks where children can reach them.
Keep bottles of alcohol in a locked cabinet far from a child's reach.
Be mindful that many mouthwashes contain alcohol in them. 
If you have an older house, have the paint tested for lead. Do
not use cribs, bassinets, highchairs, painted toys, or toy chests
made before 1978; these may have a finish that contains
dangerously high lead levels. 
Prevent strangulation by avoiding and/or modifying certain
garments, such as, drawstring hoods, jackets, mittens and
waistbands in your child's wardrobe. Clip strings or ribbons off
hanging mobiles and other crib toys. In fact, strings on crib
bumpers should be no longer than six inches. 
Always tie up window blind cords so they are out of reach. Cut
the cords so there is no loop at the bottom, then secure them with
clothespins or specially designed cord clips. 
Never place an infant face down on soft bedding, such as a
waterbed, quilt, sheepskin rug, or mattress cover. The same holds
true for any type of soft pillow, such as a beanbag or bead-filled
pillow. Avoid large stuffed animals as well. 
Promptly dispose of plastic shopping bags and plastic
dry-cleaning bags. Tie several knots in each bag before throwing it
out. 

Old tips of the month

First Aid for Seizures

Seizures can have many causes. The most common being epilepsy, heat 
injury, head injury, or overdose. Here are some do's and don't when helping 
a seizure victim:

    • Don't try to restrain or stop the victim from seizing. You 
      could cause more/further injury. 


    •Protect the victim during the seizure by removing any obstacles or objects 
      they could be injured from. 


    •DO NOT put anything in their mouth! It is impossible to swallow the tongue, 
      and serious complications can result of an object gets bit off or otherwise 
      lodged in their airway. 


    •Watch for vomiting! If the victim begins to vomit, turn them on their side 
      to help avoid inhalation and chocking. 


    •After the seizure, it is normal for the victim to be unresponsive for 
      a few minutes. Watch them closely for respiratory problems, but 
      again, remember no to put anything in their mouth.

 
    •Check the victim for any medical alert tags, bracelets or chains. You may be 
      able to determine if the victim has a history of seizures. 


    •Attempt to determine the cause of the seizure, and be prepared to describe 
      what happened before, during and after the seizure to the EMTs. 

 

FROSTBITE


Frostbite is a condition in which there is an over-exposure to cold 
temperatures. Usually frostbite attacks the small areas, such as 
nose, ears, fingers, and toes. 

SYMPTOMS

In early exposure to cold temperature, the skin may be slightly flushed 

•Pain may be felt early but subsides as frostbite progresses 

•Affected areas feel very cold and numb

•Blisters may appear later, depending on the severity of the exposure 

•The body may become weaker as the condition becomes worse 

Mental confusion and impaired judgment may 
occur 

•Eyesight begins to fail 

•Coma and death can occur if life saving measures are not initiated 
immediately 

TREATMENT

Prevention is the best treatment.

•Move to a warm environment as soon as possible 

•Remove all wet and frozen clothing 

•Especially remove any clothing that may be tight or constricting 

•Place the affected part in warm water only, NOT HOT 

•Drink hot liquids, avoiding alcohol 

•Avoid further exposure to cold temperature