Summer Safety

As summer approaches and the weather gets warmer, it is important to remember the dangers associated with the returning heat. Every year, thousands of workers nationwide suffer from serious heat-related illnesses (HRI).

These illnesses include:

• Heat stroke, the most serious form of heat-related illness, happens when the body is unable to regulate its core temperature. Signs include; confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures. Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 911 immediately.
• Heat exhaustion is the body's response to loss of water and salt from heavy sweating. Signs include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, and heavy sweating.
• Heat cramps are caused by the loss of body salts and fluid during sweating. Low salt levels in muscles cause painful cramps.
• Heat rash also known as prickly heat, is skin irritation caused by sweat that does not evaporate from the skin. Heat rash is the most common problem in hot work environments.

*Remember to Stay Cool, drink plenty of fluids and check your local news for extreme heat alerts.

In summer, we are exposed to higher levels of ultraviolet (UV) rays. This exposure is a risk factor for developing skin cancer and cataracts later in life. The UV index is the measure commonly used to assess the strength of the sun’s UV rays risk on a given day.

How to protect yourself & family from the sun?

• Wear a hat, sunglasses and protective clothing on sunny days.
• Use sunscreen with a SPF of 25 or greater and apply 15 minutes before going outdoors.
• When sun’s ray are the strongest, seek shade or take periodical breaks.
• Remember that sunburn can occur even on a cloudy day, as up to 80 per cent of UV rays can penetrate light clouds, and 40 per cent of UV rays can bounce back from sand, water or concrete.

Summer Water safety Tips: 

Spending time in and around water is lot of fun, however when the unthinkable happens and a child drowns, parents and caregivers have been know to say, " I only looked away for a second."

Here are water safety tips:

1. All ways supervise your child around body of water.
2. Ensure your backyard pool is fully fenced with a self-closing, self-latching gate
3. When boating, ensure everyone in the boat has their lifejacket on and fastened
4. Play with care — don’t push or jump on others. Even the friendliest “dunking” game is dangerous
5. Never underestimate the power of current: Swimmers or waders can be swept away in an instant
6. Get trained through swimming and water safety lessons; get your Pleasure Craft Operator Card if you operate a boat; know how to respond in an emergency by taking first-aid lessons. 

Summer Severe weather Awareness

In the summer, server weather can hit at any time and takes many different forms. It is by knowing what to expect and how to prepare for it, that you will be able to protect yourself, and your family.

The Facts

• Tornado is shaped like a funnel— big on top and small at the bottom. The winds of tornadoes can reach speeds of 200 miles per hour, lifting buildings off the ground and dropping them back to earth hundreds of feet away. Tornadoes can strike anywhere, at any time.
• All Thunderstorms produce lighting. Lighting often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
• Floods occur because of heavy rains, a river overflowing, broken dam or levy, a tsunami, dangerous coastal procedures, natural ground saturation, infrastructure failures, winter storms or melting snow
• Hurricanes are large, spiraling tropical storms that can pack wind speeds of over 160 mph and unleash more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day.

Be prepared and informed

Know the difference between a Weather WATCH and WARNING.

WATCH: Current weather conditions could create a severe weather, so be prepared to seek safe shelter.

WARNING: A has been sighted, so take cover

Immediately, some communities have siren warning systems in place to warn of local tornado sightings.

Prepare an Emergency kit

Food, Water & Medication

Pack a three –day supply of non-perishables and 1 gallon of water per person, per day.  Don’t forget about your pets!

First Aid kit, Flashlight & Batteries

Include a battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio

Matches & tool

Include a multipurpose tool and a can opener

Change of clothes, sturdy shoes & sleeping bags

Consider additional items for cold weather, climates and include personal hygiene items.

Have an Emergency Plan

Establish a place to meet in the event of an emergency, depending on where each person could potentially be at the time. Record the location so all family members are aware of the meeting point. Identify a contact such as a friend or relative that family members can notify they are safe. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency).

Seek Safe Shelter

D — Go DOWN to the lowest level

U — Get UNDER something sturdy

C — COVERS your head

K — KEEPS in shelter until the storm has passed. 

After the storm passes remember to:

• Never drive through a flooded roadway. Turn around and find an alternate route.
• Stay away from storm-damaged areas to keep from putting yourself at risk from the effects of severe thunderstorms.
• Continue to listen to local radio and television stations for updated information or instructions, as access to roads or some parts of the community may be blocked.
• Help people who may require special assistance, such as children and the elderly or those with special needs.
• Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately.
• Watch your animals closely. Keep them under your direct control

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Emergency situations can happen at any time and your best defense is to be prepared! Whether an emergency occurs from human-caused, technological or natural means, knowing the fundamentals and having a practiced emergency plan can keep you and your family comfortable and safe.

Personal Emergency Preparedness:

Create a home escape plan and establish a meeting place in case of an emergency. Identify a contact such as a friend or relative that family members can notify that they are safe. Be sure to store all important documents in a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box – birth certificates, passport, etc.

Here are some Helpful tips:

•        Plan for two ways to escape from each room.
•        Pick a meeting location away from your home
•        Practice your escape drill with everyone in your family at least twice a year.

Communications Plan and I.C.E. (In Case of Emergency):

If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) it’s also a good idea to download “Medical ID” app into your cell phone (IPhone or Android). Medical ID helps first responders access your critical medical information from the lock screen, without needed your pass-code.

ØFor more information on this mobile app please click on this Link or visit this URL: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207021

Prepare an Emergency kit:

The following items should be a part of your 72hour emergency kit either in your car or at home.

•         Food, Water & Medication
•         First Aid kit, Flashlight & Batteries
•        Matches, tool & change of clothes, sturdy shoes & sleeping bag.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

New technology in vehicles is causing us to become more distracted behind the wheel than ever before.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,477 lives in 2015 alone.”

Types of Distracted Driving

Visual distractions - includes reading a text message or programming your phone’s or vehicle’s navigation system.

Manual distractions - occur when you take your hands off the steering wheel to dial your phone, eat, drink or groom.

Cognitive/mental distractions - is when a driver's mind isn't focused on driving, which includes talking on your phone or daydreaming.

Before you drive:

Driving always requires your full attention. Here are some distracted driving solutions provided to help make your drive safer:

• Plan your Route- Make adjustments before your get underway. Set up your GPS, seats, mirrors, climate controls and sound systems before hitting the road. Decide on your route and check traffic conditions ahead of time.
• Put your Cell Phone Away – Cell phones should be out of your reach. Reduce the temptation by keeping it out of sight, like in the trunk or in a bag, and turn the ringer off. Most smartphones can now be setup to send an auto reply when you receive a text or phone call.
• Eating and Drinking – It's best to avoid eating and drinking while driving. If you need to take a drink, wait until you are stopped at a red light.
• Personal Grooming – Do your personal grooming at home, not while driving a vehicle!

Eye Wellness

March is Eye Wellness Month. Before you think this topic does not apply to you, think again. Sight is our most precious sense. A large part of our ability to perceive the world around us depends on it. However, our eyes are very delicate organs and can be damaged easily.

In the Digital Age we don’t realize the impact and risk of digital eye strain as we increase the amount of screen time, through computers, tablet, smartphones, T.V and other devices.  According to “The Vision Council”, extended use of these device have caused many adults to experience some form of digital eyestrains.

Digital Eye Strain is defined as “physical discomfort felt after prolonged exposure to digital screens.”

Symptoms may include dry and irritated eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue, neck and back pain and headaches.

Steps You Can Take:

• Visit an eye doctor for a dilated-eye exam to make sure you’re seeing clearly and to detect any potential vision issues.
• Place your screen 20 to 26 inches away from your eyes and slightly below eye level.
• Adjust the text size on the screen to a comfortable level.
• Change your lighting to lower glare and reduce harsh reflections. Glare filters over your computer screen also can help.
• Remember to blink, it may sound ridiculous, but reminding yourself to regularly close your eyes, helps to keep them getting dried out.
• It’s  recommends the 20-20-20 break: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away.

Cold and Flu

Cold and Flu

We still have 12 more weeks of cold and flu season, which typically runs from November to April. The time when you start hearing coughing and sneezing throughout the office and home. There are many ways to prevent the spreading of cold and flu.

The Flu or Cold spreads through person to person and surface to surface, when someone touches anything that has been touched by someone infected with the virus.  People are mostly contagious the first 1-3 days of contracting a cold and 1-5 days of contacting a flu.

Here are some tips to preventing the cold and flu.

• Maintain good health by eating well and getting enough rest and exercise.
• Wash Your Hands or sanitize with an alcohol-gel hand sanitizer before touching, eating or preparing food.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing.
• Avoid touching your face, eyes or rubbing your nose.
• Wash out your water bottle daily.
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold or flu.
•  Drink plenty of water.

Best way to wash your hands:

• Wet your hands and apply liquid soap.
• Rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surface
• Continue for 10 -15 second.  (It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and
• remove germs.)
• Rinse well and dry your hands

     Cold and Flu treatment.

     If you do get sick, stay a home and don’t spread the love. Try to stay hydrated by drinking plenty pf water or juices and get plenty of rest. Don’t forget to ask your doctor about over the counter drugs which may alleviate some symptoms.

Myth about taking Antibiotics

Fact: Antibiotics will not cure a cold or flu since both are caused by viruses. Antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria. If your fever doesn’t go away or your coughing secretions are not clear, seek a medical opinion.

We still have 12 more weeks of cold and flu season, which typically runs from November to April. The time when you start hearing coughing and sneezing throughout the office and home. There are many ways to prevent the spreading of cold and flu.

Heart Month

February is Heart Month, a time to bring attention to the importance of cardiovascular health, and what we can to reduce our risk of cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and Canada. Every year 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.

FACT –Heart disease is completely controllable and/or preventable!  It's up to you, with proper nutrition, exercise and managing your existing medical you can reduce your risks for Heart Disease. Here are some tips for preventing heart disease.

• Eating a healthy diet can help you avoid heart disease. Be sure to include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Limit salt and /or sodium from your diet. It’s also a good idea to look at the labels of processed food, avoid eating foods that are high in saturated fat and trans fat. 
• Maintain a healthy weight to lowers your risk of developing diabetes, being at a good weight also helps lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. Knowing your body mass index (BMI) is one of the best ways to establish whether or not you’re in a healthy weight range. Check your BMI. To 
• Exercise regularly is great for your heart health, it’s never too late to start. Adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Physical activity can be easy as starting a walking group at lunchtime or shifting your meeting outdoors and take a walking meeting.  
• Monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis, because high blood pressure often has no symptoms. Make an appointment with your doctor or go into the nest pharmacy to have your blood pressure checked. If you have senior citizen living in your home, make sure their blood pressure is checked on a regular base. If you’re taking medication to treat high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Always ask question if you don’t understand something.
• Control your diabetes by monitor your blood sugar levels closely, and talk with your doctor about treatment options. If your at borderline diabetic, you really need to control you diet and reduce your body weight. Diabetes is on the rise in North America! We really need to look at our lifestyle.  
• Don’t smoke it’s a known fact that it increase your risk for heart disease. If you are a smoker and are ready to quit or want to help someone else to quit, talk to your doctor or health practitioner about giving up smoking. The positive impact of quitting smoking starts the very first day. After one year of not smoking, you reduce 50% chance of heart disease.
• Depression is more than feeling sad or low. People who have depression are socially isolated or do not have good social support, which lead them to a higher risk of heart disease. Having a good social life with family and friends can help. If you feel depressed for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor, a family member or someone you know well. 

Stretch before you exercise your heart.

Here are some simple stretch you can do before starting your physical exercise. 

Please note if you have medical problems or if you have been inactive, check with your doctor before starting a physical activity program.

FYI- All Images were taken off of Google Image.