Travel Safety During the Holidays
With holidays coming up, many of us will be traveling to visit our friends and family. Traveling during the holidays can definitely take its toll; with all the hustle and bustle mixed with thousands of people traveling through airports it is not usually a relaxing time. Below are 3 golden rules everyone should remember when traveling via airplane: The Flat Tire Rule: The “flat tire rule” gives check-in agents flexibility to accommodate passengers who may have missed their flight due to any traffic or road issues one may have encountered on the way to the airport. Although many airlines will accommodate, it is still in your best interest to contact your airline provider immediately as soon as you know things are not going well. Stay Connected: Download the latest travel apps before leaving home and constantly check on your flight status. This will give you real-time updates on any delays, baggage numbers and more. Pack Light: If at all possible, avoid checking bags altogether. This way you will avoid having to wait for your luggage and won’t have to worry about losing your luggage. Pack Snacks: You never know how long you will actually be on an airplane – delays can definitely get the best of us. Pack snacks so you and your stomach will be fueled and ready to take on your travel adventure! Ship Gifts: TSA suggests to ship your wrapped gifts or wait until you have reached your destination to wrap them as they may have to unwrap a present to inspect it. Check out the full article here. Contact us: If you face any issues...Holiday Safety Tips
With the holiday season finally here it is important to remember holiday safety precautions. By taking these basic precautions into consideration you can help to ensure that your whole family remains safe and injury-free throughout the joyful holiday season. Below are some holiday safety tips taken from the National Safety Council to share with your friends and family this holiday season: Ladder Safety Since many of us will be using ladders this holiday season to hang lights and decorations around our homes it is important to operate safety while using ladders: If you have a step ladder near a doorway make sure to lock or barricade the door and post signs so no one will open it and knock you off the ladder When climbing, keep your hips between the side rails and do not lean too far or overreach as this can cause you to lose balance and fall. Instead, reposition the ladder closer to the work. Be sure to use ladders with slip-resistant feet and wear clean, dry and slip-resistant shoes when climbing the ladder Kitchen and Food Safety Kitchen fires are highest during the holiday season; it is important to remember safety precautions when cooking: When preparing a holiday meal, make sure to wash hands, utensils, sink and anything else that may have come in contact with raw poultry. Be a smart host and include being sensible about alcoholic drinks. More than half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol related; it is important to make use of designated drivers or to allow guests to stay over after a night of drinking. Decorating Safety Never use candles...Cruise Safety
With the holidays quickly approaching and friends and families taking vacations left and right, it is important to keep in mind safety tips when traveling, especially while cruising. Personal safety while traveling is always your responsibility. Follow these cruise safety tips below to ensure a safe and exciting vacation: Check the cruise report card: Did you know that ships get report cards just like we used to receive in school? The best reports come from the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which regularly checks cruise ships for their cleanliness, repair, food prep, water quality, hygiene and many other things. Check your ship’s report card before booking your vacation! Use the ship’s safe: Leaving your expensive belongings at home may be the best idea, but if you must bring your valuable belongings on the ship be sure to make use of the safe in your room. Keep most of your cash and all valuables (jewelry, tickets, passports) in the ship’s safe. Watch what you eat: Don’t be reckless with what you eat on the ship; if you are lactose intolerant on land you will be on the ship as well! Watch the booze: Alcohol will always compromise your judgment, perception and behavior. Don’t let your drinking get out of hand, drinking on a moving ship is not the same thing as drinking on land! Excursions: Be careful and wary on your shore excursions. Although the cruise lines organize shore trips, there are many other options that are cheaper and may do the exact same things. Report anything suspicious: Your safety is your own responsibility!...Tips for Safe Teen Driving
Unfortunately, statistics show that teenage drivers account for more auto accidents than any other age group. Through practicing safe driving techniques, the odds will hopefully increase and your teenager (and their passengers) can stay safe on the roads. Below are some great and very important tips to go over with your teen before they begin driving. Stay away from the phone! This is one of the most important things to go over with your teen. Cell phones are one of the leading causes of car accidents among teens and can easily be prevented. Multiple studies have shown that using a cell phone while driving is the equivalent of driving drunk. Let your teen know just how important it is to stay away from their phone at all times while driving (even when they are stopped) and just how dangerous it can be. Turn on your lights: Headlights are an important feature of cars and allow us as drivers to have increased visibility as well as allow other drivers to see you better even when it is light out. Obey the speed limit: Speeding is another major contributor to fatal teen accidents. Explain to your teen driver they should not feel pressured to keep up with the traffic if it seems as if everyone else if flying by. Driving at a safe speed helps to ensure your well-being and can keep you away from expensive traffic tickets that can cause a huge spike in auto insurance premiums! Keep distractions at a minimal: As inexperienced drivers, teens are more likely and apt to lose control of their cars. Distractions can significantly...OSHA Launches Program to Protect Nursing Employees
According to surveys by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are over 35,000 back and other severe injuries among nursing employees every year. In terms of the numbers of these injuries, the BLS data shows that nursing assistants are injured more than any other occupation! The number one reason why so many nursing employees are getting these injuries is by doing their everyday jobs of moving and lifting patients. It is no news that this has become an epidemic among hospital nursing staff members, but for some reason no actions have been taken – until now. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently announced that they for the first time ever, they are going to crack down on hospitals to prevent an epidemic of back and arm injuries among nursing employees. Last year, OSHA sent letters to hospital administrators across the country and created a companion website, warning that nursing employees suffer high rates of injuries from moving and lifting patients. Hospitals can potentially be fined $7,000 if they do not adopt the new initiatives OSHA recommends. Studies have proven that the “body mechanics” that are taught during nursing school are not enough when it comes to lifting a patient and will not prevent a nurse from being injured. Instead, the only way to actually prevent injury and move patients safely is by using special equipment, such as ceiling lifts – similar to that of what a factory would use to lift heavy parts. Under the new enforcement memo, OSHA’s inspectors will interview nursing staff and managers and review internal hospital documents...Have a question? Give us a call.
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