Warm-Up List 5 safety precautions that can help reduce the risk of unintentional injuries at home

Recreation, Water and Personal Safety Lesson 28

Objectives Identify strategies for preventing accidental injuries that occur during recreational activities Analyze strategies for preventing accidental injuries while driving or riding in a car Identify environmental factors that affect the health of individuals, families and communities Demonstrate ways of avoiding and reducing threatening situations

Accidental Injuries Unintentional injury: an injury resulting from an unexpected event or accident Accident chain: sequence of events that leads to an unintentional injury Most include 5 steps that are connected, much like the links in a chain figure 27.1

Preventing Fires Never leave a candle unattended Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children Make sure a person doesn’t fall asleep when smoking (or don’t allow smoking in your house) Keep stoves and ovens clean Replace frayed electrical cords Stock your home with fire safety equipment in case of emergency Smoke alarm: alarm triggered by the presence of smoke One for each floor of the home Test the alarm once a month Replace batteries once a year Fire extinguisher: portable device that puts out small fires by ejecting fire-extinguishing chemicals Stand away from flames and aim at the source of the fire Check equipment periodically Fire ladder: ladder that can be hung out of a window in order to escape from a burning building

Preventing Falls Keep stairways well lit, in good repair and free of clutter Equip stairways with sturdy handrails and nonskid stair strips Keep the floor clean, mopping up spills immediately Use non-skid rugs, or place non-skid mats under the rugs Install safety rails in bathtubs and showers Do not run electrical or telephone cords across areas where people walk If small children are present, install adjustable safety latches so window only open a few inches Use a sturdy step stool when reaching for high items

Preventing Electrical Shock Unplug an electrical appliance immediately if anything seems to be wrong Pull the plug, not the cord Inspect cords for signs of cracked insulation and replace frayed cords immediately Do not run cords under carpets or rugs Never use an electrical appliance if you or the environment you are in is wet Check outlets to make sure they are not overloaded Cover unused outlets with plastic protectors if small children are around

Preventing Poisoning Keep medication and other potentially poisonous substances in childproof containers Store chemicals in their original containers, never in food or drink containers Never mix household chemicals Many contain ammonia or bleach with give off toxic gasses when combined Use products that give off fumes in well-ventilated area When using fire burning appliances, make sure there is adequate ventilation These give off carbon monoxide gas, which can cause you to suffer from a lack of oxygen intake

Firearm Safety Never point a firearm at anyone for any reason Treat all firearms as if they are loaded Store firearms unloaded and store ammunition separately Store in locked cabinets, well out of a child’s reach

Figure 27.2

Computer and Video Game Safety Computer tasks often require you to sit in one place for long periods of time, making repetitive motions while staring at a screen Eye strain Sore muscles Wrist, hand, or arm injuries Lighting should be indirect and not too bright. Avoid creating a glare on your computer screen Adjustability Make sure work surfaces are adjustable for the comfort of each user

Figure 27.3

Safety on the Job 500 workers injured every day Proper training can help prevent accidents Teens are prohibited from performing certain tasks by the Department of Labor Roofing Construction work Demolition Driving a forklift Operating power-driven machinery Handling explosives and radioactive materials Employees and employers must follow safety rules issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Agency in the federal government that is responsible for promoting safe and healthful conditions in the workplace

Recreational Safety Know your limits Bring supplies Stick with tasks that match your ability level Bring supplies Take plenty of safe drinking water Never drink from a lake, river, or stream Wear protective clothing Protecting against weather, poisonous plants and insects Tell people your plans Let them know where you’re going and when you plan to return Carry a cell phone if possible Plan ahead fro the weather

Safety While Camping and Hiking Stay in specified camp sites Hike only in approved areas Be knowledgeable about poisonous plants, insect and snakes Wear socks and long pants tucked into your socks to protect against ticks and mosquitoes Be cautious around wildlife Do not store food in your tent Be careful around campfires

Winter Sport Safety Dress in layers to protect you from hypothermia A condition in which body temperature becomes dangerously low Wear a waterproof outer layer Wear a hat Always wear appropriate safety equipment and make sure it’s in good working order

Water Safety Swimming Diving Learn how to swim Know your abilities Swim with a buddy Swim only in designated areas with a lifeguard present If you get a cramp, relax and float until the cramp relaxes Diving Learn proper techniques Always check water depth before diving American Red Cross recommends a minimum depth of nine feet Never dive in unfamiliar areas or shallow water Make sure areas is clear of swimmers and floating objects

Boating and Personal Watercraft Learn how to handle a boat correctly Know the laws governing their use Boaters safety course Boaters license Always wear approved personal flotation devices Return to shore at first indication of bad weather Never ride in a boat with an operator who has been using alcohol or other drugs

Figure 27.4

Lake, River, and Ocean Safety Swim in supervised areas only Enter feet first Watch for marine warnings Check to see if a warning flag is up Ask the lifeguard whether the water is safe for swimming Check the tide an surf conditions Be aware of your surroundings Plan ahead Make sure you have enough energy to swim back to shore If pulled by a current swim gradually out of the current by swimming across it, often parallel to shore

Safety on the Road Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens In 2001 more than 5,700 teens died on the road Fatality rate for teens is 4 times higher than the rate for drivers age 25-65 years old Statistics: 14% of all drivers involved in fatal crashes were between the ages of 15 and 20 21% of these drivers had been drinking and driving 80% of these drivers were NOT wearing safety belts

Vehicular Safety Obeying the rules of the road, as well as practicing common sense and good judgment Pay attention to your vehicle Adjust mirrors and seat position Wear seat belt Pay attention to other drivers Pay attention to road conditions Reduce speed if road is wet and/or icy Reduce speed if lane narrows or there is construction Pay attention to your physical state Don’t drive if you are tired If you are tired, do something to refresh your self or if extremely tired, pull over at the nearest rest stop and sleep or call home Pay attention to your emotional state Emotional state can affect judgment

Being a Responsible Driver Always signal when you are about to make a turn or change lanes Follow all traffic signals and signs Don’t tailgate Let other drivers merge safely into traffic Avoid road rage Practice of endangering drivers by using a vehicle as a weapon

Other Strategies Never engage in high risk driving behavior Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol Don’t let distractions, such as eating or adjusting the radio, take your attention away from the road Drive defensively because you have no control over what other drivers are doing Be aware of potential hazards and react to avoid them

Bicycle Safety Always wear a safety-approved, hard-shell helmet that fits properly Ride with traffic Yield the right of way Watch for cars pulling out into traffic or car doors opening in your path Obey the same rules as drivers Use hand signals for making turns and stopping Keep both hands on handlebars except when signaling If riding at night, make sure your bike has a bright headlight and red rear light and reflector Wear reflective or light colored clothing when riding at dawn, dusk or in the rain

Skating Safety Wear protective equipment Watch for pedestrians Keep speed under control If you begin to fall, curl up into a ball and roll, staying loose Do not hold anything in your hand

Motorcycles and All-Terrain Vehicles Be aware of potential hazards such as a car door opening or the presence of pedestrians Wear a helmet and proper clothing Be cautious in wet weather Do not carry an additional rider unless you have a second seat and additional safety equipment Do not grab onto objects or other vehicles while moving Don’t use ATVs on paved roads and streets Use 4 wheeled ATVs as they are less likely to flip than three wheeled ones