Health ShortsJune 2002June is National Safety Month Driving Safety Week - June 2-8
Advising families about how to help teenagers become safe and responsible drivers, strengthening graduated driver licensing programs for teenagers, and the correct use of child safety seats to protect children is our Driving Safety focus. Quick Safety Seat Checkup Tips Does your child ride in the back seat?
The back seat is generally the safest place in a crash. If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, it is essential for children 12 and under to ride in back. Does your child ride facing the right way?
Infants should ride in rear facing restraints (in the back seat) until age 1 and at least 20-22 lbs. Infants who weigh 20 lbs. before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint approved for higher rear facing weights. Always read your child restraint manual for instructions on properly using the restraint. Children over age one and at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward. Does the safety belt hold the seat tightly in place?
Put the belt through the correct slots. If your safety seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt path for each direction. Check the vehicle owner's manual and safety seat instruction book for guidance. Is the harness buckled snugly around your child?
Keep harness straps snug over the child's shoulders. Place the chest clip at armpit level. Does your child over 40 pounds have the best protection possible?
Keep your child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, at least until 40 pounds. Then use a belt-positioning booster seat which helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit better. A belt-positioning booster seat is preferred for children between 40-80 pounds. It is used with the adult lap and shoulder belt. How should a safety belt fit an older child?
The child should be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the edge of the seat, with feet on the floor. The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the shoulder and across the chest. Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child's back. The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children until they are at least 4'9" tall and weigh about 80 pounds.
Home and Community Safety Week - June 9-15
Preventing falls in the home is the main topic of Home and Community Safety Week. Falls caused or led to 15,400 deaths in America in 2000 (latest available data). Use These Tips to Prevent Slips and Falls in Your Home
- Keep the floor clear. Reduce clutter and safely tuck telephone and electrical cords out of walkways. Keep the floor clean. Clean up grease, water and other liquids immediately. Don't wax floors.
- Use non-skid throw rugs to reduce your chance of slipping on linoleum.
- Install handrails in stairways. Have grab bars in the bathroom (by toilets and in tub/shower.)
- Make sure living areas are well lit. We can all trip and fall in the dark.
- Be aware that climbing and reaching high places will increase your chance of a fall. Use a sturdy step stool with hand rails when these tasks are necessary.
- Have eyeglass prescriptions checked periodically.
- Follow medication dosages closely. Using medication incorrectly may lead to dizziness, weaknesses and other side effects. These can all lead to a dangerous fall.
Preparedness Week - June 16-22
Are you prepared to react positively in an emergency? Do you know how to protect your employees, yourself and your family in severe weather events? Are you prepared to evacuate your home or facility at a moments notice? Keep yourself, your family and your company prepared by evaluating your Emergency Response Plan. The National Safety Council offers products and services to help you develop and maintain an effective plan, and help educate your employees on corporate preparedness. Are your employees prepared to deal with injuries sustained in a natural disaster or other emergency? You can teach your family and your employees to keep a first aid kit handy; better yet, prepare them with a course in first aid or CPR. Prepare today by learning how to respond to an emergency. The National Safety Council offers courses nationwide, and they're also available online. Workplace Safety Week - June 23-29
In 2000, 3.9 million Americans suffered disabling injuries on the job. The typical workplace injury can cost a company $28,000 in wage and productivity losses, medical and administrative expenses, and other costs. When these losses add up, everybody suffers. Leadership is the key to keeping your organization and its employees safe and healthy both on and off the job. Show your company executives how improving workplace safety can significantly improve your bottom line. Your company can realized greater productivity and profit through safety leadership. Through presentations, discussions, and activities, we'll show you how to do the same. Leadership both on and off the job means caring for your employees' health and safety on a "24/7" basis. Learn how to help your employees come to work safe and healthy and prepared to add effectively to your bottom line. Prepare today by becoming a safety leader in your organization. Take the initiative and explore our products and services to help educate your company executives on the value of safety leadership. References
The above information is from the National Safety Council - www.nsc.org/nsm | 
