Safety

#StaySafeSaturday: Emergency Preparedness

If there’s one weather-related emergency Indiana natives are familiar with its tornadoes. Other natural disasters can strike depending on your region, and it’s important to be prepared as much as possible to ensure the safety of yourself and your family as well as make it easier to pick up the pieces when one of these events occurs. Here are some important things to consider when making sure you’re ready:

Communication: It’s important to have a plan in place and it’s equally important that all members of your family know the plan. Make sure your emergency plan is periodically updated and that everyone reviews and practices to make sure everyone is prepared. You can find tips on creating an emergency plan for your family at Ready.gov/plan.  

At a time when most people carry an electronic telephone book and few numbers are memorized, make it a priority to write down and/or memorize family members’ numbers and other important ones. Also remember to keep your wallet or handbag with you so that any immediate important 

Health and Survival: In the event of a serious disaster, it may be difficult to access basic necessities such as food and water. The National Safety Council recommends having at least three days worth of food and water stored at home, making sure to account for all members of your household. Don’t forget your pets! Also, when selecting food make sure to choose high-protein food that can be prepared without electricity. Don’t forget the can opener either!  

Having an emergency kit in both your home and car could also prove invaluable. Some supplies to keep in your home kit are a hand-crank or battery powered radio (with extra batteries), flashlight, basic hand tools, garbage bags, and an emergency whistle to signal for help if needed. Make sure to have a first aid kit on hand with gauze, tape, bandages, antibiotic ointment, hand sanitizer, aspirin, gloves, tweezers, and instant cold compress among other supplies. For your car much of the same as the home kit applies, but you will also want to add jumper cables, non-perishable high-energy snacks, water, reflective vest (in case you need to walk for help), rain poncho, and additional items for cold weather. Make sure your spare tire is properly inflated and that you have a tire tool and jack also.

Putting Back the Pieces: Always remember that after a disaster the important thing is that you and your loved ones stay safe. Things can be replaced; people can’t. Up to 50% of all injuries occur after the event during rescue attempts and cleanup activities, so it is imperative to keep safety in mind even after the storm has passed. That being said, life goes on and in order to replace things that may have been damaged or destroyed, it’s much easier if all of your important papers and information are in a single, safe place. Consider a safe deposit box and/or a fireproof safe for your home to keep copies of birth certificates, insurance policies, passports, and more.

#StaySafeSaturday: Where Consumers Can Find Vehicle Safety Information

Consumers can easily be confused regarding selection of vehicles for purposes of safety. Many times, consumers rely upon the “star ratings” from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However the “star ratings” do not provide the details consumers need for selecting a safe vehicle.

Vehicle safety is based largely on design attributes of a vehicle. For example, the stability of a vehicle is different from how the vehicle performs in an impact during a crash. Vehicle stability is considered “crash avoidance.” Occupant protection involves how the vehicle protects you in the event a crash.  

So where should consumers look to determine a safe vehicle? A good source of information is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It provides pictures and short videos of crash tests undertaken by the institute of various vehicles.  

Technical data and crash films are found on the Vehicle Database of NHTSA. It can be found here.

This is not a particularly user-friendly site. However, you can inquire by vehicle make, model, and year to see crash reports/films. For example, when looking up a 2018 Honda Pilot, you will find a number of photos pre-test and post-test. The following photos are pre- and post- testing for side-impact:

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will be test reports associated with every test. However, what information should consumers attempt to obtain from the photographs, films, and reports listed on this site? Understanding crash dynamics and how a vehicle will protect you and your loved ones in a crash is challenging. The devil is in the details. Remember that the entire crash sequence will be over in approximately 100 milliseconds, faster than the blink of an eye. Therefore, how the vehicle protects you in avoiding the collision or during the collision is critical.  

In further posts, CKK will provide additional information regarding vehicle attributes consumers should look for to protect themselves. 

Vaping & E-Cigarettes: New Trend, New Risks

As cigarettes have faded out of mainstream use with increased education around health concerns, a new addictive habit has risen to prominence. Vaping and e-cigarettes are now a part of mainstream culture, but they still have a risk factor, just like traditional cigarettes.

Vaping proponents maintain that it is much safer than traditional cigarettes, contributing to a surge in usage, especially among youth. As many as 8 in 10 middle school students have reported seeing advertising around e-cigarettes. With ever present advertising combined with the belief vaping is less harmful, the lower cost, and the abundance of flavors, it’s unsurprising that from 2017 to 2018, vaping usage in high school students jumped from 12 percent to 21 percent.

The vaping market is primarily people ages 13 to 35 years of age. That group from 13 to 25 are still in prime brain development years. Vaping can hinder and alter this development because, just like cigarettes, it contains high levels of nicotine. Nicotine is known to harm parts of the brain that control attention, learning, impulse control, and mood control. Some e-cigarette cartridges can have as much nicotine as a full pack of traditional cigarettes.

In addition to the nicotine, e-cigarettes and vaping pose a safety risk because the cartridges and juices can contain ultra fine particles and additives like vitamin e acetate, pine oils, mineral oils, and terpenes. All these things are entering the lungs, affecting normal lung functions.

The injuries and deaths from this new trend are growing. In 2011 Poison Control reported 271 calls regarding vaping. That number rose to 4,000 by 2014. The growth is so much, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) now tracks vaping injuries on a weekly basis. Last week the reported injuries rose to 2,172, up 121 from the previous week. Deaths are also not unheard of due to vaping injuries. Indiana is currently the state with the highest vaping related deaths.

This month the CDC released a report investigating lung injuries related to vaping. This is the first step forward in measuring and addressing the safety risks of e-cigarettes and vaping products.

Want to know more? Listen in as attorney Kevin King discusses the safety risks associated with the new vaping trend on People’s Law Talk.

Want to hear more talks from Peter and Kevin King? Tune into WCIS 1010 AM Columbus, IN the first and third Friday of every month for People’s Law Talk.

For more information on vaping safety, please read:

What is Your Fall Risk?

It’s fall so let’s talk about falls. While they affect the older population more than the young, fall injuries are still very real for everyone. Did you know you have a 1 in 114 chance of dying from a fall? In comparison your chance of dying in a plane is only 1 in 188,000. The probability of you dying from a fall are almost equal to the probability of dying in a car crash at 1 in 103.

More than 9 million Americans are treated in the emergency room for falls each year. One of every three nonfatal injuries in the U.S. comes from falls. With all of this in mind, it’s important to understand your risk for falls and how they can be prevented.

First, take this self-assessment from the CDC. If you answer yes to four or more of the questions, you are at an increased risk for falls. To help prevent them in your home, here is a list if things you can control:

  • Keep floors clear of clutter
  • Keep drawers and cabinets closed
  • Keep electrical cords out of traffic areas
  • Create open pathways with at least 3 feet of space between furniture
  • Ensure good lighting in each room

Next, learn how to choose and use a ladder safely for your home projects.

  • Consider the size and weight of the ladder in comparison to who will use it, what gear will be used, and what the purpose is for (Ladders do have weight limits)
  • Angle your ladder 1 foot away from the surface for every 4 feet in height where you are working
  • Extend the ladder at least 3 feet over the edge of where you are working
  • Fasten the top of the ladder to a support
  • Do not stand any higher than the third rung of the ladder
  • Have someone support the bottom of your ladder
  • Ensure cleats on the bottom of the ladder are anchoring the ladder
  • Do not lean sideways on the ladder
  • Do not wear loose clothing that could be caught on the ladder
  • Keep a 25-foot clearance from power lines
  • Choose fiberglass when you can (especially when working anywhere near power lines)
  • Maintain 3-point-control when climbing, with hands on the rungs, not the sides (Read Looking Up: An Eye on Ladder Safety)

Ready to learn more? Listen in as Kevin King discusses your fall prevention assessment and ladder safety on People’s Law Talk.

For more information on choosing fall prevention and ladder safety read:

 

Are You…Yawn…Tired?

Are you…yawn…tired at work? Nearly 40% of U.S. workers are sleep deprived causing them to be fatigued.

It is recommended the average adult get 7-9 hours of sleep per day, but the majority don’t. In fact, only two of every 100 workers state they get more than 7-9 hours. Eight percent surveyed said they get less than five hours of sleep per day. After 10 days of losing just two hours of sleep per day, it is like your body has lost an entire day of sleep!

When you work against biology and a body does not get the necessary sleep needed, it can become fatigued. When you have two or more of the risk factors for fatigue, the ability to perform your job at an adequate level is reduced. How many of these risk factors for fatigue do you have?

  • Shift Work
    Seventeen percent of works work a non-day-shift role. Workers who work shift work regularly report fatigue.
  • High Risk Hours
    Forty-one percent of workers work during high risk times of 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. and 3 a.m. – 7 a.m..
  • Demanding Job
    Work that requires sustained attention for prolonged time contributes to fatigue. Eighty-one percent of workers maintained having demanding or repetitive jobs.
  • Long Shifts
    The long an employee works, the more tired they are and the more likely they are to make a critical mistake. Twenty -one percent of workers work shifts 10+ hours long.
  • Long Work Week
    Twenty-two percent of workers work more than 50 hours per week but work days should be limited to 5-7 consecutive days to reduce the risk of fatigue.
  • Sleep Loss
    Forty-three percent of workers don’t get at least seven hours of sleep per day.
  • No Rest Breaks
    Ten percent of workers do not get short breaks throughout their shift, but they have been proven to mitigate fatigue.
  • Quick Shift Returns
    Fourteen percent of workers have less than 12 hours between their shifts. Shift returns of less than eight hours should be avoided.
  • Long Commutes
    Thirty-one percent of workers commute 30+ minutes. This can increase fatigue development, compounded by drowsy driving risks.

If you have two or more of these risk factors, you might experience fatigue symptoms like decreased vigilance, attention, memory, and concentration as well as microsleeps. These symptoms are experienced 27 percent on the job, 16 percent on the road, and 41 percent off the job.

It’s been proven over multiple studies that a person who only sleeps 4-5 hours a day has the same crash rate as someone with a Blood Alcohol Content of .08. Also, a person who loses just two hours of sleep from eight hours is likely to perform at the same level as someone who has had 2-3 beers.

To mitigate the risk of fatigue, you are encouraged to get adequate sleep. When that is absolutely not possible, there are some other mitigation tactics that can be utilized at work.

  • Physical Activity
    NASA says pilots with seven minutes of activity during night flights can increase their alertness.
  • Naps
    Short naps for 10-20 minutes can also boost alertness.
  • As Needed Breaks
    Allowing employees to take breaks as needed can reduce accumulated of on the task fatigue.

Want to know more? Listen to People’s Law Talk as Kevin King discusses worker fatigue risks, symptoms, and mitigation steps.

Want to hear more talks from Peter and Kevin King? Tune into WCIS 1010 AM Columbus, IN the first and third Friday of every month for People’s Law Talk.

Looking for more information? The National Safety Council has a lot to share!

Complete Coverage: Protection From UV Rays

Child wearing sun protecting hat and sunscreenMay through September usually means warm or even hot weather here in Indiana. It also means sun, UV rays, and increased risk of skin damage, including melanoma.

The hazard comes for harmful UV rays. UV rays can damage skin cells. Beyond causing wrinkles, it can alter skin cell DNA resulting in cancer. The risk of exposure is not lessened because it is cloudy outside. UV rays can still reach the ground, even with cloud coverage. And the risk isn’t nu ll in the shade. UV exposure can be direct, like working shirtless or standing directly in the sun hatless, but it can also be indirect. UV rays can be reflected off many surfaces including paved roads, water, grass, sand, and more.

When UV rays alter skin cell DNA, it can result in Melanoma. There are more than 9,500 diagnoses of Melanoma daily with one person dying of Melanoma every hour. This cancer is extremely prevalent. Females under age 49 are more likely to develop Melanoma than any other cancer besides breast and thyroid cancers. Males under 49 are more likely to develop Melanoma than any other cancer.

The risk of developing skin cancer is high because UV damage is cumulative. Twenty-three percent of UV exposure occurs by the age of 18, so that still leaves a lot of UV exposure as you go into those working adult years. Risk does increase by 70 percent for those who experience five or more blistering sunburns between the ages of 15-20. Once you burn, the damage to the skin cell DNA has already been done. Those with skin type one (pale, white, freckled, always burns never tans) also have an increased risk of developing skin cancer. But anyone, age or skin type aside, can develop it.

UV Index

To help reduce your risk of being exposed to hazardous UV rays, there are steps you can take. First, check the UV Index daily. This index, developed in 1992 and adopted by the WHO in 1994, rates the risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. The scale ranges from 1 to 11, with 11 being the most risk. Again, cloud coverage does not mean it will be low. A recent cloudy Thursday afternoon had a UV Index of 7. Check it daily to ensure you’re informed and can help minimize your risk.

Also, to help protect yourself you must protect your skin. This can be done in several ways. First, choose clothing that covers your skin. Long sleeves, long pants, and wide brim hats are great. Clothing that has built in SPF protection is even better. Second, if you’re spending the day outdoors, in the sun or shade, lather up with sunscreen. A sunscreen of at least SPF 30 is recommended. It’s important to regularly reapply every two hours and to apply everywhere, including your ears! Also, avoid tanning beds. Using a tanning bed is directly exposing your skin to UV rays. Last, be preemptive in your health and get regular skin screenings.

John Foster, host of 1010 AM Columbus stumbled into a skin cancer screening clinic one day after moving to Columbus, IN. That was how he caught multiple Melanoma spots. He has since had five spots removed, including two on his legs (the result of UV rays bouncing off a road he worked on during his time in the U.S. Air Force). He now attends regular screenings to catch and address any new Melanoma spots quickly.

Listen in as Kevin King talks more about melanoma, the hazards of UV rays, and how to protect yourself.

Want to hear more talks from Peter and Kevin King? Tune into WCIS 1010 AM Columbus, IN the first and third Friday of every month for People’s Law Talk.

Learn more about sun safety and skin health from these expert sources:

You can also easily check your local UV Index with the EPA or by searching “UV Index” with your zip code.