Safety in Exercise/Physical Activity Always warm up and stretch to avoid injury Wear appropriate equipment for a given sport and make sure that it is functional and up to

date (check helmet expiration date) Play by the rules Never try to do more than you have been training to do Wear appropriate footwear with non-slip soles Know the physical demands of the sport/activity before engaging in it Always have a good spotter when lifting weights Stay well hydrated and eat a balanced diet to avoid cramps/heat exhaustion Always check the playing area for hazards like spills, holes, unprotected equipment, sprinkler

heads, weight plates, etc Clean equipment before AND after use; don’t share towels, uniforms, bottles, etc

Safety in RecreationWater Safety

Drowning is the 2 nd leading cause of preventable injury-related deaths in the U.S. Over 7,000 people drown, 4,000 hospitalized by near drownings each year Most occur in residential/private swimming pools 60% of all pool drowning are children under the age of four In teenagers, it is often the result of showing off, over confidence, use of alcohol or accepting

daresSwimming & Diving:o Know your swimming ability; under estimate it!o Never swim aloneo Swim towards shore at a 45 degree angle if pulled offshore by rapid currents or

undertowso Never swim or dive under the influence of substances o Never dive in unfamiliar or shallow waterso Wear appropriate gear if swimming in cold water to prevent

hypothermiao If in salt water, drink plenty of fresh water to avoid dehydrationo Be mindful of aquatic life, rocks, coral, etc that may be present in

natural bodies of waterWatercrafts

Learn how to handle any watercraft before use Wear life jackets especially when craft is in motion Children age 12 and under must have life jackets on at all

times Don’t operate a watercraft under the influence of

substances For water sports, use appropriate signals (warning flag) to

alert other boaters to people being in the water Note weather and water conditions to avoid rough waters

and high winds that could lead to capsizing, electrocution (lightning), etc

Take a boater’s safety course Watch for people/debris in water Observe speed zones and “No Wake” zones

Safety on Wheels Helmets, helmets, helmets…WEAR THEM ! Wear other safety equipment like elbow and knee pads when appropriate

Monitor weather conditions, traffic, other recreationalists, bystanders, trees, buildings, etc to avoid collisions

Avoid reckless or dangerous behaviors/tricks Check equipment for proper functioning If you must bike at night, wear reflective colors and materials to be seen easier Only carry an additional rider if the bike is designed to do so Learn proper hand signals when in traffic Remember, cyclists have the same rules of the road as motorists

Vehicular Safety Vehicular safety—obeying the rules of the road, practicing common sense & good judgment Note road conditions, not just weather, but the actual condition of the road (ruts, gravel,

washboarding, pot holes, etc) Pay attention to other drivers; drive defensively Which means what? Be mindful of your own physical state (i.e. fatigue, under the influence of a drug or alcohol,

etc) Note your emotional state (i.e. upset, overly excited, etc) If you see another driver who is driving dangerously, keep your distance, get the license

plate number and call the police when safe to do so Perform a 4-point check before driving anywhere (tire pressure, lights are working, etc) Pull over to use a cell phone or at least use a headset so your

hands are free to drive Never text while driving—a primary offense now

o Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million were injured. (NHTSA)

o Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Have an emergency kit available Wear your @#$! SEATBELT! Not only is it the law, but it can

save your life! o For every 100 young people killed in motor vehicle

accidents each year, 80 would still be alive if they had been wearing a seat belt

Things to include in your car’s emergency kit: Jumper cables Flash light and batteries Blanket Tool Kit Non-perishable food Flares First Aid Disposable camera (Why a disposable/film based camera and not a digital? Hint: It has nothing to do with batteries…)

Safety at HomeFiresThe three elements that must be present for a fire to take place include: Fuel (storage, wood, coal, gas, oil and paper) Heat (match, electrical wire, cigarette) Oxygen

Fire Safety Devices

Smoke detector —an alarm that is triggered by the presence of smoke; one smoke detector on each floor. It is advised to test detectors periodically and replace the batteries

Fire extinguisher —portable devices that put out small fires by ejecting fire-extinguishing chemicals. If there is ANY doubt that you cannot put out a small fire using an extinguisher, get out of the house and call 911

Fire Safety Plan Most house fires occur at night Create a fire safety plan with your family and cover the following:

o Create a floor plan and routes out of the houseo Determine where to meet once out of the houseo Call 911 from a neighbor’s houseo Make an emergency kit that includes water, blankets, canned food, flash light and first aid

kit When exiting a burning building:

o Stay low to avoid smoke inhalation and extreme heato Before opening doors, feel for heat by placing your hand near the door; if the door is cool,

open slowlyo Follow established exit routeso Stop, drop and roll or smother the flames with a blanket/curtains if your clothing catches

on fireo Once out, under NO circumstances re-enter the building; call 911 from

another locationFalls

Make sure halls and stairwells are well lit (outlet lights) Keep stairs and handrails in good repair Keep stairs free of clutter Do not use loose rugs on stairs Bathtubs and showers should have no-slip strips, surfaces or mats Keep sidewalks free of ice, leaves, toys, etc. For houses with small children, install safety latches on windows so that they only open a few

inches When working on the roof, never be alone and use a safety line Do not stand on the second to last or last step of a ladder

Electrical ShockMore than 1,000 Americans are killed by accidental electrocution each year

Never use an appliance that seems to have something wrong with it; unplug it Inspect cords regularly to make sure the wire is not exposed Cords should not be under rugs or carpet Do not unplug an appliance by its cord, but by the plug Never use an appliance around water; outlets near water sources should have a GFI

(ground fault interrupter) Use outlet safety plugs in outlets not being used, especially houses with young children Beware of overhead power lines when using ladders

PoisoningPoisoning can occur from chemicals, gases, food, medications, cleaner, etc Install safety latches so small children cannot get into chemicals, cleaners or medications Prepare and handle food safely by washing hands and preparation surfaces appropriately Don’t prepare other foods on surfaces used for meats Cook foods thoroughly Note expiration dates on foods and medications; discard expired items Check food packaging to make sure it is sealed and has not been tampered with Have the number for Poison Control available: 1-800-222-1222

Natural Disasters Preparedness and SafetyTypes of Natural Disasters:

Earthquakes Volcanoes/Lahars Land/Mud Slides Typhoons/Hurricanes Tornados Floods Tsunamis Droughts Avalanche Blizzards Wind Storms Fire Storms Thunderstorms Ice Storms

Emergency Organizations US Department of Homeland Security—www.dhs.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—www.fema.gov American Red Cross—www.redcross.org

Natural Disaster Preparedness Carbon monoxide detectors Learn first-aid, CPR/AED skills Have a contact outside of the state When told to evacuate…EVACUATE! A generator for power outages may be desired; DO NOT operate indoors Prepare an emergency kit:

o Keep your emergency kit up to date and fullo Enough supplies for each member of your family for 3 days, minimumo Battery operated/hand generator radioo First-aid kito Personal information for all family memberso Extra prescribed medicationso Insurance coverage for natural disasterso Before and after photos of property

Earthquakes Seek cover underneath large pieces of furniture or doorways during an earthquake…don’t

forget about aftershocks Have a contact outside of the state Why? Turn off electricity, gas & water off at main valves Stay out of damaged buildings/structures

Floods When told to evacuate…EVACUATE! Never drive into water over a roadway Throw out food and medications contaminated by flood water

Thunderstorms Watch clouds as an indicator of a storm Get inside!—Use the “30/30 Rule”: If lightning strikes and thunder booms within

30 seconds of each other, get in building or vehicle; after 30 minutes from the last boom of thunder heard, it should be safe to return outdoors

Stay away from trees, windows, power lines, bodies of water Avoid gathering in large groups of people Avoid contact with electrical wires (even landline phones) & metal

Personal Safety Give the assailant what he/she wants in terms of property Avoid areas with high crime rates

Avoid walking alone especially at night or in unfamiliar areas Have keys out and ready before you reach your car; check inside of car before entering Park in well-lit areas Place your purse or wallet somewhere difficult to access (i.e. wallet in front

pocket; purse across chest and possibly under a coat, etc) Report suspicious cars/people in your neighborhood to police Remain alert… an assailant often looks for a victim that appears weak or

unaware Walk briskly and assertively; head up, look people in the eye Don’t hitchhike or give rides to hitchhikers Have someone who is giving you a ride wait until you’re inside before

leaving Carry personal protection devices (i.e. mace, whistle) Protect yourself from identify theft…delete weirdo emails/spam and never give out your

personal info Be weary of people you don’t recognize on-line, do not provide personal info on social media

and never agree to a face to face meeting with someone you met on-line alone and/or in a private location