Environmental Health and Safety Update

Loved ones coming together is what the holidays are all about, but first you have to get there. This holiday season is expected to receive more travel on the roads than in previous years due to the recession, which means that more safety measures need to be taken to avoid accidents. SafetySkills™ is providing these safe driving tips:

• Know the weather conditions and how to drive in them. 75 percent of all winter weather related deaths can be attributed to driving in dangerous weather conditions. Take SafetySkills™  Hazardous Driving Conditions online course to learn how to minimize your risk.
• Prepare you vehicle for winter driving. It is recommended to check the tire pressure, windshield wipers and fluid, and the battery to avoid car trouble and keep the windshield and windows clean for proper visibility. Stocking the car with self-sustaining technologies and supplies is also encouraged, such as a first aid kit, blankets, matches, safety flares, flashlight, fully-charged cell phone and bottled water.
• Stay alert. Driver distraction is becoming, in the words of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, an “epidemic” that caused 500,000 car accidents and 6,000 fatalities last year. Drivers need to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel at all times.
• Never drink and drive. 36 percent of all Christmas accidents on the road are alcohol-related. Those who become too festive for their own good should never get behind the wheel and should use a taxi service.
•  Plan for daytime driving. Three times as many fatalities occur during the night (6 p.m. – 6 a.m.) than during the day according to both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Safety Council (NSC).

“Driving this time of year is simply chaotic,” said Trey Greene, CEO of noodleStream.com. “The roads are busy and that mixed with the weather creates a dangerous environment for driving. Using these tips will help reduce the chance of car accidents and more importantly injuries and even deaths.”
To learn more about SafetySkills™ and to take our Hazardous Driving Conditions course, visit http://safetyskills.com/winter-driving.

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.