I saw this article here and thought it was appropriate: http://www.chelanpud.org/safety-tips-spring.html

Cycling Safety

 

The most common cycling accidents involve colliding with a car or another bicycle; loss of control; entangling hands, feet, or clothing in the bicycle, or feet slipping off the pedals. Bicycle riders of all age groups and levels of experience need to be concerned about safety.  Most cycling accidents are the result of falls, and occur close to home.

Studies have shown that wearing a bicycle helmet can reduce head injuries by 95 percent. Wearing a properly fitting helmet is the single most important thing a cyclist can to do prevent injuries. Parents should not buy a helmet that is too large for a child, thinking he/she will “grow into it.” The correct fit for cycling is snug, but comfortable on the head.  It should have a chin strap and buckles that stay securely fastened.

To ensure injury-free cycling for everyone, please follow these bicycle safety tips:

• Always wear an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved helmet. Make sure it fits snugly and does not obstruct your vision.
• Make certain the bicycle is the proper size for the rider. Consider using training wheels for young and first-time riders.
• Ensure your bicycle is properly adjusted and well maintained. Replace broken or missing parts.
• Avoid plastic pedals that can be slippery when wet.
• Wear bright fluorescent colors and avoid biking at night. If you have to ride your bike at night, make sure you have rear reflectors and a working headlight visible from 500 feet away.
• Stay alert and watch for obstacles in your path.
• Ride with traffic and be aware of traffic around you. Obey all rules of the road – bicycles are vehicles, too.
• Don’t ride double, attempt stunts or go too fast.
• Avoid loose clothing and wear appropriate footwear. Use pant leg clips to keep clothing grease free and out of the bicycle chain.
• Wear knee, wrist and elbow pads to protect the bones and joints when falling.
• Avoid riding on uneven or slippery surfaces. Handbrakes may not work as well when wheels are wet and require more distance to stop.

Off the Job Safety Tips

 

Gardening Safety Tips

Avoid overexposure to the sun.

• Limit the time that you spend working in direct sunlight by gardening during the early morning or late afternoon hours.
• Protect your skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants instead of shorts, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat. When your skin is exposed, apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.
• Heat stress can be a risk. Remember to drink plenty of water or electrolyte replenishment drinks (Gatorade, Power Aid, etc.).
• Take frequent breaks by going indoors and relaxing in front of a fan.

Warm Up

• Remember to stretch before heading out.

Be careful with power equipment

Consider the following safety tips when operating power tools:

• Know how to operate the equipment. Read the manual and follow all of the instructions.
• Wear long pants, close-fitting clothes, sturdy shoes, safety glasses and ear protection. Don’t wear anything that could get caught in moving parts, such as loose jewelry. Tie back long hair.
• Clear your work area of rocks, twigs, toys and anything that could be thrown by mowing and weed-eating equipment.
• Always keep children and pets away from the area until you’re finished. Never carry a child as a passenger on a riding mower.

Personal Lightning Safety Tips

1. Plan in advance your evacuation and safety measures. When you first see lightning or hear thunder, activate your emergency plan.  Now is the time to go to a building or a vehicle. Lightning often precedes rain, so don’t wait for the rain to begin before suspending activities.

2. If outdoors, avoid water.  Avoid the high ground.  Avoid open spaces. Avoid all metal objects including electric wires, fences, machinery, motors, power tools, etc. Unsafe places include underneath canopies, small picnic or rain shelters, or near trees. Where possible, find shelter in a substantial building or in a fully enclosed metal vehicle such as a car, truck, or a van with the windows completely shut. If lightning is striking nearby when you are outside, you should:

• Crouch down, put feet together, place hands over ears to minimize hearing damage from thunder.
• Avoid proximity (minimum of 15 ft.) to other people.

3. If indoors, avoid water. Stay away from doors and windows. Do not use the telephone. Take off head sets. Turn off, unplug, and stay away from appliances, computers, power tools, and TV sets. Lightning may strike exterior electric and phone lines, inducing shocks in inside equipment.

4. Suspend activities for 30 minutes after the last observed lightning or thunder.

5. Injured persons do not carry an electrical charge and can be handled safely. Apply first aid procedures to a lightning victim if you are qualified to do so. Call 911 or send for help immediately.

6. Know your emergency telephone numbers.