SafetySkills is offering the public not only important safety tips to keep you and your family safe while traveling this holiday season, but also their Hazardous Driving Conditions course completely free of charge (http://www.safetyskills.com/winter-driving).
Here are some tips to keep your road trip as smooth as possible.
1. Check the weather and know how to drive in bad weather safely before going out.
75% of winter weather related deaths are due to driving in dangerous weather. Only venture out it bad weather if you have to and take SafetySkills Hazardous Driving course free at http://www.safetyskills.com/winter-driving.
2. Winterize your vehicle.
Make sure all vehicle maintenance is up to date and stock your vehicle full of self-sustainable technologies and supplies (first aid kit, blankets, bottled water, flashlights, etc.)
3. Pay Attention.
Don’t get distracted. Driver distraction is becoming the most dangerous issue affecting the roads today. In 2008, 500,000 car accidents and 6,000 deaths were caused by driver distraction. Combine a distracted driver with hazardous weather and you have got a huge problem on your hands.
4. Never drink and drive.
There is really isn’t much need to elaborate. Everyone knows that driving while intoxicated impairs your judgement and reaction time. Just don’t do it.
5. Drive as much as possible when the sun is shining.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC), driving deaths are 3 times more likely to occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Try to travel during the day as much as possible.
No one wants to spend their holiday dinner surrounded by the fire department. Safety in the kitchen can save your and your loved ones from one of the biggest dangers of the holiday season, kitchen fires.
SafetySkills has provided the public with these safety tips for the kitchen:
Never leave food unattended while cooking.
The number one cause of kitchen fires is leaving cooking food unattended.
Keep all flammable objects away from heat sources.
Roll up long sleeves and keep all cloth items (pot holders, dishtowels, etc.) away from the stove and oven.
Limit the number of people in the kitchen.
Only fit as many people in the kitchen as there is space to work safely. Too many people can cause accidents and items to be knocked over, starting a fire.
Keep your kitchen clean.
Leftover food and grease can easily catch fire in burners, ovens, pots and pans.
Work carefully with grease and oil.
Grease fires can start and grow rapidly the hotter they get. Watch the temperature and put out a grease fire by smothering it with lids to pots and pans. Never use water to put out a grease fire, water will make the fire spread.
If a fire starts, call 911.
If your home fire extinguisher can’t do the trick when needing to put out a fire, immediately call 911 and evacuate.
It’s safe to say that when you think of Black Friday, you think about tons of sales to save you money on holiday shopping. Unfortunately, some of these savings come with a high price. Last year on Black Friday a Wal-Mart security guard was trampled to death by overly eager shoppers trying to make the most out of the potential savings that awaited them. This particular incident received news coverage all over the U.S. and even internationally in hopes of getting people to realize that no amount of financial savings is worth someone’s life.
But apparently not everyone got the message. There have been multiple reports of violent incidents occurring across the country just to save a buck. In a Sheboygan, Wisconsin Wal-Mart this morning police were called in a scuffle broke out over discounted GPS units. Another case in Centennial, Colorado Toys ‘R’ Us resulted in a 78-year-old woman being thrown to the floor. 14 Police patrol cars were called to another Toys ‘R’ Us in Jantzen Beach, Oregon when a physicla dispute took place amongst 100 shoppers who had been waiting since midnight.
Shoppers also need to be aware of the added risk that lies ahead of them on the road. Contrary to popular belief the most dangerous holiday to be driving is not New Years’ but actually Thanksgiving. This is not that surprising when you put all elements into consideration and can be used when driving during the rest of the holiday season:
The one thing to learn from all of this is that Thanksgiving is a time to show gratitude for what you have, not to hurt others in order to get what you want.
No matter what your opinion is on the right to bear arms one thing is for certain – as long as gun ownership exists, gun safety is necessary. Gun safety is a valid concern for everyone because it can affect everyone. Individuals with high risk jobs (such as convenience store clerks and security guards), as well as people who simply own guns for either protection or a hobby, knowing the proper way to handle and care for a firearm is only being responsible.
Accidental shootings have been a long-standing issue and taking proper safety measures with any weapon is extremely important to avoid injury or death. Taking SafetySkills™ new and free Gun Safety course will help prevent accidental shootings, like the ones that have been making headlines.
Just last month, John Tabutt of Winter Springs, Florida accidentally shot and killed his fiancee, Nancy Dinsmore, when he mistook her for an intruder on the eve of their wedding. Tabutt said that he thought that she was laying next to him in bed at the time.
This summer another accidental domestic shooting occurred in San Miguel, California. On July 9, 2009, John Aaron Norris tripped on the stairs while emptying his gun when his dog ran under his feet causing the gun to go off. Norris’ wife, Tasha Dawn Norris, was fatally shot while sitting on the couch.
These two incidents alone prove that more gun safety courses need to be taken by those with guns, not to mention the added concern of what could happen with children in the home. According to the National Safety Council, 8 children die each year in an accidental shooting.
“I think that much of the fear about guns in the general public comes from misunderstandings and the lack of education on the subject,” said Melissa Kaupke, mother and gun owner. “The more familiar one is with how they work and how to handle them, the less chance of any accident.”
This video won’t teach anyone to park a car, but it definitely lets us know that we are surrounded by dummies who need to take a driver safety course or two. This driver, a 62 year-old woman, was arrested after completing this stellar parking job and leaving the scene of the crime. This video reminds us all that driver safety is extremely important because this could have been a tragic situation if the owners of those cars were inside.
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year because it gives everyone an excuse to dress up, act like a kid and my favorite part – I don’t have to cook! That being said it is also a very dangerous holiday. I mean, one of the goals is to get scared, but not to get hurt. Luckily there are some things that parents and childcare professionals can do to help train children to have a safe Halloween.
Do candy checks
Wear costumes that are easy to see and move in
Know pedestrian safety
Only adults should cut jack-o-lanterns
Beware of stranger danger
Only trick-or-treat in well-lit and safe neighborhoods or trick-or-treat venues
Create an route for trick-or-treating and stick to it in case of an emergency
Children under 10 should probably NOT trick-or-treat without adult supervision
Bring a flashlight
Make a specific route for your child to trick-or-treat on if doing so alone. Set a curfew and if your child is late you know where exactly to look.
Summer is coming to a close and parents are busy getting their children prepared for going back to school. This is usually the time of year where young children are experiencing a mix of emotions ranging between excitement and nervousness, but now it’s their parents that have something to worry about. Experts say that the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, could make a comeback when kids head back to school.
Here are a list of things that you can do to reduce risk of infection.
1. Do your research.
Learn about the H1N1 virus and what precautions you should be taking yourself. The Center for Disease Control (CDC.gov) is a great resource on the latest information about health threats. You can also take SafetySkills free Flu Symptoms and Prevention Strategies course. This free online course includes vital information about swine flu and how to protect yourself from infection. After taking this course, recommend it to other parents and your children’s daycare or school staff members.
2. Be clean.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people do not perform simple cleansing chores that could save them and their family members from getting sick.
Use proper cleaning supplies in your kitchen and bathrooms, but don’t over do it with the bleach. That will cause a whole new health problem.
Take out the trash in a timely fashion. This will prevent insect infestation and mold, plus it’s not the best smell to have in your home.
Always use anti-bacterial soap and carry anti-bacterial gel (such as Purell) in your purse, car, etc.
Keep tissues available in every room of your home.
Make washing hands fun for kids – have them sing their ABC’s while washing to ensure that they have done it long enough, they’ll love it!
Use anti-bacterial sprays around the house, like Febreeze. It really does help.
3. Ask your child’s teacher and daycare center administrator what they are doing to prevent the spread of infection.
As a parent, I know that I feel guilty enough about leaving my child at her pre-school everyday without needing to worry about if she is going to come home with a dangerous case of the flu. Having a good relationship with your child’s teachers and caregivers is extremely important for many reasons, but especially when it comes to being aware of how they are protecting your child. If you do not feel satisfied with their approach, give them a recommendation of what you would like for them to use or consider moving your child to another daycare or school that fits your criteria.
4. Use common sense.
Obviously if your child is sick, do not send your child to school. This spreads illness and it turns into an endless cycle of misery. If your child appears to have more than just a case of the sniffles, make an appointment with your pediatrician. Remember to keep your house as clean as possible when anyone in the household is sick to reduce the chances of others in the home coming down with it.
If anyone has any helpful tips to give other parents or child caregivers, please leave a comment below. Thanks.
