Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Tips to enjoy Labor DayAs Labor Day approaches, local rural Metro personnel want to help residents ensure that they will enjoy a safe holiday. Labor Day marks the official end of summer, but it is important to to lose sight of summer safety precautions. Fall does not mean an end to daily thunderstorms, children in the street and water-related activities. With Labor Day around the corner, here are a few tips on lightning, back-to-school accidents and water safety. Lightning strikes the surface of the earth 100 times every second, and 80 strikes a year take a life. Georgia ranks 9th in the nation for lightning fatalities and approximately 80 percent of lightning strike victims will survive. Some common lightning-related injuries include: numbness/paralysis, memory loss, burns and subsequent sleep disturbances. To keep your family safe, follow these precautions: Have an emergency plan in place incorporating these basic safety procedures: If outdoors during a thunderstorm, avoid water, high ground, open spaces and all metal objects. If you cannot make it to a car or building and lightning is already striking, crouch down with your feet together. Keep at least 15 feet between you and any other person. Unsafe places: Underneath canopies, small picnic or rain shelters, or near trees. Where possible, find shelter in a substantial building or in a fully enclosed metal vehicle such as a car, truck or a van with the windows completely shut. If indoors, avoid water, stay away from doors and windows, do not use the telephone, take off head sets and turn off, unplug, and stay away from appliances, computers, power tools and TV sets. Remember that injured persons do NOT carry an electrical charge and can be handled safely. Call 911 immediately. In Georgia, most students are back in the classroom by Labor Day, increasing pedestrian traffic. Some of the most tragic accidents can be avoided if you follow these simple suggestions: Be extra careful in a school zone: Always slow down and obey speed limits. Be extra cautious in the early morning and afternoon when children are going to and coming from school. Always check your mirrors and be prepared for children who suddenly run out into the street or cross in front of stopped buses. Be aware of carpool drivers who may be distracted with a car full of children. Be especially weary of teenage drivers who have bad driving habits or who may be distracted by a car full of friends and loud music. Labor Day is the perfect time for pool parties and boating so water safety awareness is at a premium. Take precautions so that you do not become the victim of a water accident. Some of the most tragic drownings and near-drownings happen even when help is within reach. With over 1,000 drowning deaths each year, it is critical to review water safety tips with your family: Get help immediately or call 911 if you suspect someone is in danger of drowning. Make sure that children are always supervised by a competent adult. Only swim in supervised areas and never swim alone. Even strong swimmers can have medical emergencies in the water. Watch for the dangerous toos- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun and too much strenuous activity. Keep basic lifesaving equipment by pools and swimming areas, and know how to use it, including a reaching pole, first aid kit, flotation device and immobilization board. For child safety, enclose pool areas with a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars. |
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Copyright 2005-Fayette Publishing, Inc. |