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Welcome to the Official DontGetHit.com Safety Blog
Monday, May 20, 2013
According
to the NSC’s research, in the summer…rollerblading…has the highest fracture
rates per weekly hours of exposure. And the wrist is the most commonly injured
body part.
So here
are some safety tips to help keep you safe:
·
Check
your skates before starting out.
·
Know
your limits.
·
If
you haven't skated in a while, start off slow.
·
Watch
out for others!
·
Watch
where you skate!
Before starting out, check
your skates; know that the wheels are
on tight, and that they are in good condition.
Know your limits. Sometimes ones physical abilities are pushed further
than they should be. So if you haven’t skated in a while - take it easy - until
your body adjusts to the rigors of exercise.
Watch out for others. Just yelling WATCH OUT doesn’t mean that people will
be able to get out of your way quick enough. A good idea would be to carry a
whistle. Blowing a whistle will warn others that you’re coming their way. Don’t
get road rage, its counterproductive here. If necessary, Be Prepared to Stop,
don’t run them down. Running into people with your rollerblades can cause
serious injury.
Watch where you skate, because when rolling around, there are many
interesting attractions to see, and this may distract you from watching the
road. So be sure to watch out, even for
small rocks, potholes or even cracks in the sidewalks. Even small obstacles can
cause rollerbladers to fall.
Also, take precautions to
avoid heat stroke.
According to NIOSH, heat stroke occurs when the body can no longer
control its temperature. When this occurs, body temperature can rise to 106° F
or higher within 10 to 15 minutes.
The Pennsylvania Department
of Health recommends:
·
Drink
two to four cups of water every hour.
·
Avoid
drinks with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar.
·
Wear
light colored clothing…
·
Wear
a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen with an SFP of 15 or higher.
After taking these safety
precautions into consideration, enjoy rolling around town. Whether you’re doing
it for fun, or doing errands, PLEASE STAY SAFE.
Barbara Martin
DontGetHit.com
 
Monday, April 29, 2013
Work Zone Safety:
These words could mean the difference between life and death.
According to the National
Safety Council statists, in 2003 there
were 4,500 workplace fatalities… and 3.4 million American workers suffered
disabling injuries.
So with these statists,
shouldn’t Work Zone Safety be on one’s mind Every Time one enters a work zone
to avoid “An Accident”?
“An Accident”, this is
something that some people think to themselves, This Won’t Happen to Me. Well
there is much to be said about “An
Accident.”
First of all, one should not think,
Ø
I am only going to be here for a few
seconds.
Ø
I don’t need to put on a hard hat, or
a reflective vest.
But the truth is (it only
takes a few seconds) for “An Accident” to happen. And a few seconds could mean
the difference between life and death. A few seconds could mean the difference
between being able open one’s eyes in the morning and being able to see the
sparkling sun. A few seconds could mean the difference in not being able to get
out of bed EVER AGAIN, and just doing the simple task of getting dressed, or
making a hot cup of coffee.
And what about the gift
of being able to use one’s own two legs, and being able to walk outside on a
gorgeous spring day, this doesn’t seem like such a hard task. But in just a few
seconds, if one does not use traffic and safety equipment in a work zone, one
may not be able to use one’s own two legs.
Just a few seconds, could
also mean the difference between being able, or not being able to use ones five
senses, and being able, or not being able to communicate to family and friends,
or even just being able to do a simple task like thinking.
To avoid such tragedies,
doesn’t it make good sense to take - just a few seconds – to use safety
equipment, to put on a hard hat, or a reflective vest?
Likewise; highway safety
equipment such as banners, Wide Load, or Oversize Load, slow moving vehicle
emblems, and fluorescent flags, also help to prevent “Accidents”. Because when driving long distance on the
highway, there’s no one directing traffic away from a slow moving vehicle,
there’s no one standing in middle of the road, holding a fluorescent stop sign,
and controlling moving traffic. So these vehicle safety banners, emblems, and
fluorescent flags are a good way to warn motorists of traffic pattern changes. These signs alert them, to slow down, and
keep a safe distance away.
All in all, using Trafficand Safety Equipment helps to save lives. And when using safety equipment, then
one can hopefully say. “The Accident Won’t Happen to Me.”
Barbara Martin
DontGetHit.com
Monday, April 22, 2013
Nighttime Walking
Now that the warm nights are upon us, folks are looking
forward to - Getting Out There and Walking - Getting Back into Shape. But be
careful! There are protective measures that need to addressed, like proper
nighttime clothing, appropriate reflective gear, and heeding road safety
guidelines.
Nighttime walking requires extra protective measures that
some pedestrians don’t realize. For example, when crossing the street at night,
don’t assume that you can be seen by oncoming motorists. The fact is, that
sometimes they are unable see you. Why? Because motorists coming your way may
be distracted, thus preventing them from being able to see you.
Due to the overwhelming amount of accidents caused by
distracted driving, The National Safety Council is promoting April as
Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
They estimate that 1.1 million accidents per year involve talking of the cell
phone, and 213,000 involve texting.
FACT! Drivers on cell phones are distracted, and sometimes
are not aware of pedestrians. Drivers looking in their rear view mirror might
not notice you. Drivers adjusting their GPS device may not be paying attention
to the road. And sometimes drivers are blinded by oncoming high beams, and this
will for sure hinder their ability to see you.
And furthermore, follow the rules of the road. Stay Alert to
motorists. Be aware of reckless drivers. If possible, make eye contact with
motorists before crossing the street, because they may be looking, But Not
Really Looking.
Also, when crossing the street, watch out for potholes or
other hazards that may cause injury.
And Walkers: Know that Your Safety is not only the
responsibility of the motorists, but it’s Your Responsibility as well. So enjoy
your nighttime walks, good luck getting into shape, and be safe.
DontGetHit.com
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Hiking is an exhilarating pastime.
Being out in fresh air of the natural world, observing countless species of
wildlife in the woodlands, and taking in the exquisite scenery of the plant
life’s environment is sensational.
All this is truly magnificent, But First Things First, you must
stay safe
while you’re out there.
Gearing up for a hike is extremely important. Whether you
are an experienced hiker or a beginner, safety measures should not be taken
lightly. For even the most skilled trekker, an accident can – unfortunately -
happen.
So here are a few items that you should consider.
Water is of the utmost importance for avoiding dehydration,
and it has the extra benefit of giving you some extra energy.
Having a whistle on hand is extremely valuable. If you
happen to get lost, and are in need of rescue, a whistle is ideal. It can be
heard from great distances and could make the difference between being rescued
or not. Moreover, if an unexpected storm arises, with a whistle you have a
greater chance of being heard, rather than with your own voice. A compass and a pocket knife can be crucial
as well.
Another safety tip is to wear bright, reflective colors.
Light color leggings are a good choice. Not only will this improve your ability
to be seen, but it also helps you notice ticks and other insects.
A first aid kit should also be on your list of safety
supplies. It may not only for your sake, but for the sake of other hikers as
well.
Being out in the trails sometimes involves greater physical
demands than one may have expected. So having an emergency radio on hand is a
good plan of action.
A good planned hike
also includes letting others know where you intend to hike, and staying on
marked trails.
All in all, on any kind of hike, safety is of the highest
priority. Having safety equipment on hand, like whistles, emergency radios,
compasses, maps, and reflective clothing is the way to go. Be safe, and enjoy
the natural world.
Barbara Martin
DontGetHit.com
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
With the recent clock change many are now leaving in the morning to commute to work or school in the dark. It is important to make sure you are visible to motorists when it is not yet fully light outside.
Keep Safe!
DontGetHit.com
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
 The
National Safety Council (NSC) says that traffic death rates at night
exceed those during the day by as much as three times. Unfortunately,
many are still in the dark about the hazards of night-time driving. Some
are clueless about ways to properly handle such situations.
Tips for Driving Safely At Night
What's
so dangerous about night driving? The darkness, of course. Drivers'
reactions are largely hinged – about 90 percent – on vision, which is
substantially limited in the evening. Once sundown hits, color
recognition, peripheral vision and depth perception get compromised.
It's
even more difficult to see at night if you're an older driver. A
60-year-old driver may require two times more light to be able to see
clearly than someone who just pushed 30.
Traffic mishaps that
prove fatal are often the result of alcohol consumption. Alcohol plays a
part in nearly half of the deaths listed that are related to motor
vehicles use. An even greater number of fatal crashes happen on weekend
evenings than at other times during the week.
Fatigue is yet
another factor that makes night driving more dangerous. If you're
drowsy, your concentration is dulled, which then causes you to react
slower.
The good news is there are several measures you can take
to effectively reduce such after-dark perils. All these have to do with
getting the car ready and following certain guidelines while driving.
- Prepare
the vehicle for evening drives. Keep tail lights, windows, signal
lights and headlights clean – inside as well as outside.
- Never
mix drinking with driving. Alcohol significantly impairs driving
abilities and acts like a depressant. Even a single drink can trigger
fatigue.
- When in doubt, turn on the headlights. The lights won't
help make things more visible during early dawn or twilight hours, but
they will go far toward making other drivers see you on the road. It's
just as important to be seen as for you to see.
- Avoid
overdriving the headlights. The illuminated area should be enough so
stop there. If you don't you could create a blind crash spot in front of
your car.
- When oncoming vehicles fail to reduce the beams from
high down to low, you can avoid the resulting glare by doing this: watch
the road's right edge and use it as guide while steering.
- If
car trouble strikes, make sure to pull the vehicle off the road at a
significant distance. It is best to set up reflecting triangles close to the car
(about 300 feet at the back) right away to alert approaching traffic of
your situation. Turn both the dome light and blinkers on. If you have any additional flashlights, safety lights, or reflective gear in your car use them. Put on reflective safety vests or apparel for added protection when leaving your vehicle. And put any lights you may have on flashing mode outside your car (or on your hood). Get passengers
out of the car and away from the site and stay off the road.
- Headlights
should be aimed correctly. Improperly aimed headlights can blind other
car drivers and limit your ability to visualize the road.
- Don't smoke while driving. Night vision is hampered by carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarette smoke.
- Reduce speed and raise the following distances. It's tougher to gauge vehicular speeds as well as distances when the sun is out.
- When behind another car, maintain headlights at low beams so the driver ahead isn't blinded by your light.
- Stop frequently for exercise and light snacking. If you are tuckered out, take a break and rest for a while.
When
the sun sets, it's time to observe some night drive safety measures.
Dusk is one of the toughest times to go driving. Your eyes have to
constantly adapt to the growing darkness so it's definitely a challenge
to keep seeing clearly at night. Take care when driving at sundown. If you have anymore tips please share them with us.
P.S. We are now offering our car distress light at an additional 20% off. Please use coupon code SafeDriving
DontGetHit.com
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
 We all know that bicycle safety is important for everybody, from a
child's first ride to a seasoned racer's training. Did you know,
however, that many states have laws or regulations on the books to
enforce this important form of traffic safety?
Since cycling is
thought of as recreation, we often don't think of as something regulated
by law. There are laws regarding the use of boats, ATV's and
snowmobiles, though, so why not bicycles?
Here
is a brief overview of some common bicycle regulations. Regulations
vary from area to area, but this will give you a general idea of what is
expected in many localities.
A white front light and
a red reflector on the back of the bicycle are usually required. The
reflector most likely came already attached to your bike. You are
responsible for purchasing and using the light. These safety devices are
required for nighttime bike riding. This is often defined as one
half-hour after sunset to one half-hour before sunrise. It may surprise
you to know that while only four percent of bike riding is done at
night, seventeen percent of crashes involving a vehicle and a bicycle
occur at night. These crashes account for nearly thirty percent of all
bicycle-related fatalities.
When it comes to safety devices
themselves, follow these guidelines. Make sure that your front light is
visible from at least five hundred feet in front of you. Your rear
reflector has to be visible from five hundred feet as well. You can also
install a flashing red or amber-colored light on
the back, but it cannot replace your reflector. This is very important,
since if a car doesn't have it's headlights on, the driver can't
possibly see your reflector.
Consider wearing a reflective vest.
You can also add reflective tape (specially made for this purpose) on
your helmet, your shoes, or your bike itself. Wearing light-colored
clothing also adds to your visibility.
While your front light must
be visible from five hundred feet, make sure it's also bright enough to
allow you to see thirty-five to fifty feet ahead of you. This is the
amount of time needed to stop safely while traveling at fifteen mph.
Adjust this for conditions like rain or fog.
Simple steps like
these can save a great deal of heartache, and you'll enjoy a more
relaxed biking experience while knowing that you're as safe as possible.
DontGetHit.com
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