Tag Archives: safety

TIPS FOR DRIVING IN EXTREME( AND NON-EXTREME) WEATHER

Sponsored by Ford Motor Company

Many factors can contribute to an automobile accident, and weather can set the stage for collisions. But it isn’t just inclement weather that can get the best of us while we’re on the road. Weather can affect driving at any time of the year.

The lingering effects of winter are still making vehicles susceptible to damage—just ask any driver who has cracked a wheel driving over a deep pothole. In addition, the storms this time of year bring slick roads, hail, strong wind gusts and flooding, all of which can affect your vehicle.

Here are a few weather conditions that can affect driving and some tips on how to drive in them:
Tips for driving in the rain:

  • Turn on your headlamps to help other drivers see you
  • Slow down and leave room for stopping
  • Avoid slamming on your brakes to help prevent skids
  • Don’t drive through standing water or flooded roads

When driving in fog:

  • Use low-beam headlamps to see and help others see you
  • Give yourself time to react when visibility is low
  • Avoid sudden stops in case there are vehicles behind you
  • Use the road edge or painted road marking as a guide

In sunny weather:

  • Use your visor to help block out the sun
  • Make sure your windshield is clean inside and out
  • Use your headlamps to help other drivers see you coming
  • Use lane markings as a guide when it’s too bright to see

DRIVING TIPS

Weather is Unpredictable, Just Like the Accidents It Can Cause.

Weather and other conditions don’t have to be a factor in accidents. Keep these tips in mind when you’re driving in any weather condition, anywhere, anytime.

  • Rainy

    • Turn on your headlamps to help other drivers see you
    • Slow down and leave room for stopping
    • Avoid slamming on your brakes to help prevent skids
    • Don’t drive through standing water or flooded roads
  • Foggy

    • Use low-beam headlamps to see and help others see you
    • Give yourself plenty of time to react when it’s hard to see
    • Avoid sudden stops in case there are vehicles behind you
    • If visibility is really low, use the road edge or painted road markings as a guide
  • Sunny

    • Use your visor to help block out the sun
    • Make sure your windshield is clean inside and out
    • Use your headlamps to help other drivers see you coming
    • Use lane markings as a guide when it’s too bright to see
  • Snowy

    • Accelerate slowly to avoid spinning on snow
    • Take your time and leave room for stopping
    • Make sure your windshield wipers work and you have washer fluid
    • Don’t drive if you don’t have to
    • Icy

      • Accelerate slowly to help keep your tires from spinning on ice
      • Take your time and leave plenty of room for stopping
      • Make sure your windshield wipers work and you have washer fluid
      • Don’t drive if you don’t have to
    • Night

      • Make sure your windshield is clean inside and out to reduce glare from other vehicles
      • Check your head- and tail-lamps to make sure they are all working
      • Pay attention to signs to help anticipate turns, stops and winding roadways
      • Give yourself plenty of time to react when it’s dark and hard to see

      TIPS SPONSORED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY

SAFETY TIPS FOR AU PAIRS

 

A few tips to review with your host families to ensure your safety and others too!

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  • Make sure you have a clear understanding of the car use rules with your host family, if not talk to them about it or call me
  • Ask permission if you need the car to go somewhere other than where you would normally go
  • Do not take the car to areas that may not be considered safe, especially in and around cities, ask your host family if you are not sure
  • Be careful at night, park in well lit safe places, avoid empty looking car parks and indoor garages
  • Do not use your phone or any electronic devices while driving
  • Let your host family and I know immediately if you get into an accident so they can help you

Alcohol Laws in the United StatesF7471

 

  • It is illegal for anyone under 21 to drink alcohol in the United States.  If you are over 21 please be mindful if you are with other au pairs who are under 21 and the risk they take if they break the law.
  • Using a fake id’s is illegal.  You can be arrested for using a fake ID.
  • Drinking and driving is illegal and is extremely dangerous. It puts lives at risk.  You should never drink and drive.  If you are arrested for drinking and driving there are very serious consequences in this country including jail time.   Also, be a good friend and don’t let your friends drink and driver.   Make safe choices and don’t take unnecessary risks.
  • Do not risk your year and participation on the program by drinking underage, it is not worth it!

 

Home Alone -2

 

 

  • If your host parents are going away overnight and leaving you at home,  talk about the house rules ahead of time and respect them
  • Talk to your host parents about having friends over when they are away including friends staying overnight and male guests too
  • If you are under 21 years old do not offer alcohol and/or drink alcohol in your host parents home or offer alcohol to other au pairs in their home
  • If you are over 21 talk to your host family about their house rules regarding alcohol use.  Do not offer alcohol or buy alcohol for anyone who is under 21.


MARCH IS RED CROSS MONTH

Did you know that Au Pair in America will pay for the cost of a Red Cross class providing you have at least six months left on your visa and you are taking one of several approved childcare/child safety related classes, such as infant/child CPR or Community First Aid and Safety.  Check with your counselor for details!

Halloween 2012

October 31st is a big day for kids around this country and this year,with Sandy just behind us,Halloween will not be the same.

Au pairs,if you go out trick-or-treat tonight with your kids,be aware of downed trees and power lines.Avoid those streets and make sure it is safe.

Also ,here is a bit of history behind Halloween.Stay safe and have fun!images

How did trick-or-treating begin?
The modern practice of trick-or-treating appears to have originated from a combination of the Celtic new year celebration called Samhain celebrated on October 31st and the early Christian ritual related to All Saints Day, celebrated on November 2nd.

The Celts believed that on Samhain, spirits of the dead would come back and try to posses the bodies of the living. So to avoid being possessed by a ghost, living Celts would dress up in scary costumes and parade around the town making a lot of noise, so as to scare the spirits away. This is where the modern tradition of wearing costumes seems to have derived from.

As for the collection of treats, most scholars credit early Christians’ ritual of “souling” to the development of this festive activity. In connection with their All Saints Day celebration, Christians would walk door to door collecting square pieces of currant bread called “soul cakes”. The person who collected the cakes would say prayers on behalf of a deceased relative. The more cakes collected, the more prayers were said and the quicker the soul of the deceased would find heaven.
The combination of these two early activities has evolved into the modern practice of trick-or-treating.
How did “bobbing for apples” become a popular Halloween activity?
The apple has historically been associated with immortality and fertility because when cut down its center it has a five point star. This five pointed star was a common goddess symbol in many ancient religions and believed to help determine marriages, especially during the magical, spiritual season of Samhain. During early celebrations, apples would be hung either from a string or placed in a tub of water and young, unmarried people would try to take a bite. The first one to successfully bite the apple was believed to be the next one married.

Why are bats associated with Halloween?
In early Halloween celebrations, people often gathered around giant bonfires to ward off evil spirits. Night-flying insects were attracted to the flames, which made bonfires the perfect feeding ground for bats. Thus, bats became quickly synonymous with Halloween celebrations. Additionally, during the Middle Ages, people began to link bats to witches because the both seemed to mystically fly throughout the dark night and disappear during the day.

Have people always carved pumpkins for Halloween?
Jack-o-lanterns are an Irish tradition brought to America by early Irish immigrants. But early jack-o-lanterns were not pumpkins, they were turnips, rutabagas or gourds that were hollowed out. Lights were placed in them to ward off evil spirits and to keep “Stingy Jack” (the legendary Irish drunkard and prankster, believed to have made a deal with the devil and condemned to walk the earth upon death, whose namesake has been given to modern day, carved pumpkins) away. It was not until the 1800’s when Irish immigrants came to America and found pumpkins to be so plentiful and easier to carve, that the tradition was altered.

Au Pairs generally spend a lot more time with their kids during the summer,so please share the following safety measures with them or anyone in charge of your children:

FUN IN THE SUN
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/tanning.htm

Babies under 6 months:

  • The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.

For All Other Children:

  • The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
  • Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVB and UVA rays.
  • Be sure to apply enough sunscreen – about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
  • Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
  • Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly

POOL SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

  • Install a fence at least four-feet high around all four sides of the pool.  The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through.
  • Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can’t reach.
  • If the house serves as the fourth side of a fence surrounding a pool, install an alarm on the exit door to the yard and the pool.
  • Never leave children alone in or near the pool or spa, even for a moment.
  • Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd’s hook – a long pole with a hook on the end – and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd’s hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity.
  • Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security.
  • Children age 4 and older should be taught to swim. Parents may choose to start swimming lessons before age 4 if their children are developmentally ready, but swim programs should never be seen as “drown proofing” a child of any age.
  • Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.”
  • Avoid Entrapment: Suction from pool and spa drains can trap an adult underwater.  Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers.  Ask your pool operator if your pool or spa’s drains are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act.
  • Large inflatable above-ground pools have become increasingly popular for backyard use. Children may fall in if they lean against the soft side of an inflatable pool. Although such pools are often exempt from local pool fencing requirements, it is essential that they be surrounded by an appropriate fence just as a permanent pool would be so that children cannot gain unsupervised access.


PLAYGROUND SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/maytra.htm
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/playgrd.htm

The playground should have safety-tested mats or loose-fill materials (shredded rubber, sand, wood chips, or bark) maintained to a depth of at least 9 inches. The protective surface should be installed at least 6 feet (more for swings and slides) in all directions from the equipment.

  • Equipment should be carefully maintained. Open “s” hooks or protruding bolt ends can be hazardous.
  • Swing seats should be made of soft materials such as rubber, plastic or canvas.
  • Make sure children cannot reach any moving parts that might pinch or trap any body part.
  • Never attach—or allow children to attach—ropes, jump ropes, leashes, or similar items to play equipment; children can strangle on these.
  • Make sure metal slides are cool to prevent children’s legs from getting burned.
  • Do not allow children to play barefoot on the playground.
  • Supervise children on play equipment to make sure they are safe.

SKATEBOARD, SCOOTER, IN-LINE SKATING AND HEELYS SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/marskate.htm
Children should never ride skateboards or scooters in or near traffic.

  • All skateboarders and scooter-riders should wear a helmet and other protective gear; wrist guards are particularly important.
  • Communities should continue to develop skateboard parks, which are more likely to be monitored for safety than ramps and jumps constructed by children at home.
  • While in-line skating or wearing Heelys, be sure to wear appropriate protective equipment and only skate on designated paths or rinks and not on the street.

Never leave anyone — infants, children, or pets — in a parked car.

    HAVE A FUN SUMMER!