2013 SPRING/Summer SAFETY CAMPAIGN

1. Safety… Is An ATTITUDE 2013 SPRING/Summer SAFETY CAMPAIGN April-September https://irwin.army.mil Garrison Safety Office

2. SUMMER SAFETY MESSAGE Summer is a time when people enjoy many outdoor activities such as swimming, boating, water skiing, hiking, barbequing, baseball, basketball and a host of other fun activities. It's a time when Soldiers and civilians alike take leave from the stresses of their jobs to spend time with their families and friends for extended periods. Many people take to the open roads to go visit family and friends; spend vacation time in pristine mountains and deserts; or bask in the sun at beaches and lakes. Whatever their vacation plans, all too often preventable mishaps increase during these critical days of summer.

3. Why Safety Belts? To understand the value of safety belt use, it's important to understand some of the dynamics of a crash. Every motor vehicle crash is actually comprised of three collisions. The Car's CollisionThe first collision is known as the car's collision, which causes the car to buckle and bend as it hits something and comes to an abrupt stop. This occurs in approximately one-tenth of a second. The crushing of the front end absorbs some of the force of the crash and cushions the rest of the car. As a result, the passenger compartment comes to a more gradual stop than the front of the car. The Human CollisionThe second collision occurs as the car's occupants hit some part of the vehicle. At the moment of impact, unbelted occupants are still traveling at the vehicle's original speed. Just after the vehicle comes to a complete stop, these unbelted occupants will slam into the steering wheel, the windshield, or some other part of the vehicle interior. This is the human collision.

4. Why Safety Belts?-cont Another form of human collision is the person-to-person impact. Many serious injuries are caused by unbelted occupants colliding with each other. In a crash, occupants tend to move toward the point of impact, not away from it. People in the front seat are often struck by unbelted rear-seat passengers who have become high-speed projectiles. The Internal CollisionEven after the occupant's body comes to a complete stop, the internal organs are still moving forward. Suddenly, these organs hit other organs or the skeletal system. This third collision is the internal collision and often causes serious or fatal injuries. So, Why Safety Belts?During a crash, properly fastened safety belts distribute the forces of rapid deceleration over larger and stronger parts of the person's body, such as the chest, hips and shoulders. The safety belt stretches slightly to slow your body down and to increase its stopping distance. The difference between the belted person's stopping distance and the unbelted person's stopping distance is significant. It's often the difference between life and death.

5. Drinking and Driving Alcohol and driving are like water and oil. They don't mix! Alcohol accounts for as many as 24,000 deaths each year and 3 out of 10 people will be involved in an alcohol related accident sometime in their lives. You can avoid becoming a statistic by being able to recognize a hazardous driver. Being able to spot a drunk driver may help you avoid an accident. The following is a list of warning signs to look for while you are driving. • Warning signs of a drunk driver: • Drifting or weaving • Speeding or driving too slowly • Giving inconsistent signals • Braking erratically • Stopping without apparent cause • Accelerating or slowing down rapidly • Driving with their head out of the window or with the window down in cold weather

6. Water Safety Drowning claims the lives of over 4,000 people every year. Although all age groups are represented, children 0-4 have the highest death rate due to drowning. In 2008, 500 children under the age of five drowned. Most drowning and near-drowning happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. The National Safety Council encourages adults to establish and adhere to strict water safety rules. • Safety Tips • Never leave a child alone near water—at the pool, the beach or in the tub—a tragedy can occur in seconds. If you must leave, take your child with you. • Always use approved personal floatation devices (life jackets.) The U.S. Coast Guard estimates nearly 9 of 10 drowning victims were not wearing one. • Beware of neighborhood pools—be it your own or your neighbors. Remove toys from in and around the pool when not in use. Toys can attract children to the pool. • For pools, barriers can offer added protection against drowning. Power or manual covers will completely cover a pool and block access to the water, however, be sure to drain any standing water from the surface of the pool cover as a child can drown in very small amounts of water.

7. Water Safety-cont • Enroll children over age three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors. • but keep in mind that lessons don't make your child "drown-proof." • Older children risk drowning when they overestimate • their swimming ability or underestimate the water depth. • Teach your children these five key swimming rules: • Always swim with a buddy. • Don't dive into unknown bodies of water. • Don't push or jump on others. • Be prepared for an emergency. • Jump feet first to avoid hitting your head on a shallow bottom. • Never consume alcohol when operating a boat. • Always have a first-aid kit and emergency phone contacts handy. Parents should be trained in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and a First Aid class.

8. Safety Rules from The All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute • Wear proper protective clothing. This includes an approved motorcycle helmet, over-the-ankle boots, gloves, eye protection, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants. • Inspect your ATV before you begin. • Consult your owner’s manual. • Check the practice area for potential hazards. • Bring along an experienced friend to help if • anything goes wrong, and to critique your progress. • Do not mix alcohol or other drugs with ATV riding. • Don’t carry passengers.

9. Safe Boating Tips • Learn to swim. Sooner or later, you're going in, and you don't want to have to rely on a life preserver or a passenger. • Don't drink while boating. It leaves you tipsy, both mentally and physically. More than half of the people who drown in boating accidents had been drinking. As far as drinking goes, boats are just cars on the water. • Wear an approved life jacket, and make sure your passengers do, too. • Before you launch, tell someone where you're headed and when you'll be back at the dock. In an emergency, rescuers will need to know where to start looking. • Keep learning about boats and the water. Groups including the U.S. Power Squadron and the Coast Guard Auxiliary teach classes in navigation, weather and emergency procedures. • Check the forecast and watch the weather while you're underway. If you see or hear a storm, get back to land.

10. Sun and Heat Exposure • During late spring and summer many people like to spend time outside in the sun for fun or work. But overexposure to the sun can damage the skin and could cause skin cancer. Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash are possible when your become overexerted in the heat. Put your health first in order to enjoy the summer. • Wear a wide-brimmed hat to keep your head and face cool. This will also provide added protection from damaging sun exposure. Baseball caps provide little protection except to the face. A hat should protect the neck, face and ears. • Wear a long-sleeved shirt at all times. It should be light colored and loose fitting except when working around machinery. • Carry a source of water with you. Take drinks frequently—every 15 minutes. • Take frequent breaks in the shade or in a cool environment during the hottest times of the day. • Adjust gradually to working in the heat over a period of 10-20 days. • Someone suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke should be moved to a cool environment, offered sips of water, if conscious, and provided with attention from emergency medical personnel. • Wear sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15. Make sure children are also adequately protected.

11. Hydration:Drink plenty of fluid 30 - 45 minutes before exercise and then a cupful every 10 - 15 minutes while exercising. After exercise drink more fluid than you think you need. Especially if you are over 40. Drinking fluid, while exercising and after completion will help speed your recovery. Sport replacement drinks are superior to water at longer distances and times (over 60 - 90 minutes). The electrolytes and carbohydrates in them will also help speed your recovery from the stress of fluid loss and your long distance run. Somehow they do seem to taste great in the heat and the good taste encourages you to drink more and replace your fluids. • Acclimatization:Gradually build up your tolerance for running in warmer weather. • Watch your health:Make sure you are aware of both medical conditions that you have and medications that can affect your tolerance of exercise in the heat. Medical conditions affecting your heat tolerance include diabetes, high blood pressure, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, obesity and fever. • Dress Cool:Wear light weight shorts and a singlet rather than a tee shirt, to permit evaporation of perspiration. AVOIDING HEAT STRESS INJURY

12. KIDS-N-CARS • According to SAFE KIDS, an average of 25 American children die each year as the result of being left in a car on a warm day. • On a 93-degree day, the inside of a car can exceed 125 degree Fahrenheit in about 20 minutes. The temperature inside of a car is hotter than outside temperatures, and can climb rapidly. • Heat stroke occurs rapidly in infants who are ill or have other predisposed health conditions - but even healthy infants are at high risk when left in a hot car. • Heat stroke can occur in a matter of minutes for young children and infants. • With heat stroke, children's skin become red and dry, and they are unable to produce sweat to reduce their core body temperature. Children's heart rates then quicken, and they eventually become confused and lose consciousness before their organ systems begin to fail. • Keep cars locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway. • Teach children not to play in or around cars. • Never leave a child unattended in a car, even with the windows open. • When leaving a vehicle, make sure all child passengers are out of the car.

13. Driving Trip Preparations • If you are taking a vacation road trip check out all belts, hoses and tires on the car. • It’s a good idea to have a spare tire, tools, a cellular phone, a first aid kit, a flashlight, an AAA card, fire extinguisher, water and snacks just in case the car breaks down. • Keep the doors locked especially at stop signs and traffic lights to prevent someone jumping in to hijack the car or worse, to attack you or your family. • Make sure you have enough gas and money. Remember; bring health insurance cards and allergy bracelets for everyone. • Let relatives and trusted friends know when you are leaving, when you’ll get back and what route you’ll be taking.

14. Driving Trip Preparations-cont • If you are traveling by bus, rail or air, don’t bring along magazines with your name and address on them. Tear your address label off. The last thing you need is for a bunch of people who know that you are away from home to know where you live. They just might know some criminal type that lives near you. • Shine a flashlight into the parked car to check it out before entering at night. Make sure no one is lurking inside. Keychain lights are perfect for this, they attach to your keys so they are handy when going up to your car. • Leave room in front of the vehicle when stopped in traffic so if you need to you can get out quickly. Don’t trap yourself. • Figure out which side of a rental car the gas cap is on before you stop for fuel. • Set your car alarm when you stop, even if just for a moment. It really takes no time at all for someone to grab a bag or suitcase and disappear. If you don’t have an alarm; get an easy to install car alarm.

15. Weather safety • When traveling, check the weather conditions for the route you are taking and for your final destination. Be Prepared!!!!!!!

16. Barbecuing Safety • Cooking On Charcoal Grills • Place grill in well-ventilated area and away from children's • play area. • Wear tight fitting clothing, heat resistant gloves, and eye protection.  • Stand up wind when lighting the fire.  • Do not use flammable liquids (Such as Gas) to start the fire or to relight the coals. • Be in attendance at all times.  • Before disposing coals, make sure they are cold. • Cooking With Propane Grills  • Place grill in well-ventilated area and away from children's play area. • Check valves and hoses for leaking gas.  • Read manufacturer's instructions when lighting grill.  • Raise hood before turning on gas.  • Transport and store gas cylinders in an upright position. 

17. Preventing Snake Bites Watching where you step, put your hands, or sit down is one of the best ways to prevent snake bites. Poisonous snakes live on or near the ground and often like rocks, wood piles and other spots that offer both a place to sun and a place to hide. Snakes avoid your huge body, but will definitely bite if stepped on or otherwise trapped. Most bites occur in and around the ankle. About 99 percent of all bites occur below the knee, except when someone accidentally picks up or falls on the snake.

18. Insect bites and stings are common, and most are considered minor. It is only when the insect is poisonous or when the patient has an allergic reaction and runs the risk of developing anaphylactic shock that the situation becomes an emergency. Even under those conditions, accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment can save lives and prevent permanent tissue damage. Insect bites • Preventive measures: • Destroy all nests around your living place • Keep your feet covered outdoors • Avoid bright colored clothing/perfumery products • Prefer to wear tight rather than loose clothing • When you encounter the insect, stand still or retreat slowly. If it lands on skin, quickly brush it off.  • Use a personal first aid kit in individuals with a history of allergy

19. Many families will head to our national parks and forests this summer to enjoy the great outdoors. But if you're not prepared to rough it in the woods, hiking or camping can be a rough experience. The best way to help guarantee a good time for all is to plan ahead carefully and follow common sense safety precautions. Hiking and camping safety If you have any medical conditions, discuss your plans with your health care provider and get approval before departing. Review the equipment, supplies and skills that you'll need. Consider what emergencies could arise and how you would deal with those situations. What if you got lost, or were unexpectedly confronted by an animal? What if someone became ill or injured? What kind of weather might you encounter? Make sure you have the skills you need for your camping or hiking adventure. You may need to know how to read a compass, erect a temporary shelter or give first aid. Practice your skills in advance. If you'll be going into an area that is unfamiliar to you, take along someone who knows the area or at least speak with those who do before you set out.

20. FIREWORKS! Follow all Local and Base Regulations • Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks. • Read and follow all warnings and instructions. • Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks. • Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials. • Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned. • Have a bucket of water and fire extinguisher in case of a malfunction or fire. • Fireworks should be used only with extreme caution. Older children should be closely supervised, and younger children should not be allowed to play with fireworks.

21. Final Thoughts: We all have a responsibility to ourselves, our friends, and family to keep Safety a priority in everything that we do while at work, at home or at play. Remember, you always have a choice, but only you can decide to do it the safest way. Army Safe Army Strong!