Tidbits – 11/19/07

-Wear your hearing protection! Approximately 30 million Americans suffer from Chronic Hearing Loss.
-Drive sober! Don’t drink and drive over the holidays…it can lead to an arrest or even deadly consequences. (you probably heard about the gal from Tulsa, OK that killed 5 pedestrians and didn’t even stop because she was drunk. Many lives were changed because of one bad decision).
-Pay attention to the road. Driver distraction accounts for 80% of all motor vehicle crashes put the cell phone down and focus on the road…PLEASE?-The average life expectancy for U.S women born in 2005 is 80 years compared to just 48 years for those born in 1900.
-Lock it out! 44% of non-fatal workplace amputations involved people caught in equipment that they did not lock out.

Be True to Yourself
“I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.”
–Frederick Douglas

Fireplace Safety Tips
-When was the last time you had your fireplace cleaned by a chimney sweep. If you don’t remember, do it now and avoid a chimney fire this winter.
-Make sure your fireplace has adequate protective linings and smoke ducts and that the chimney is clear and in good repair.
-Open the damper before lighting the fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. This will avert the build-up of poisonous gases.
-Never use charcoal lighter fluid or gasoline to light a fire --the vapors could explode.
-Never use coal/charcoal in a fireplace because of the carbon monoxide danger.
-Don’t burn trash in the fireplace, as these materials can generate deadly fumes.
-Artificial logs are not like real logs. They are usually made of sawdust and wax with special burning properties. Read and follow instructions listed on the logs.
-Adding artificial logs to a burning natural wood fire can cause a flare up – be careful.
-Do not poke artificial logs -- the flaming wax could stick to the poker and drop onto the floor or carpet. Poking the log could also cause a flare-up.
-Never soak newspaper logs in flammable fuels because of the explosion potential.
-Soaking newspapers in water, before/during rolling, removes the clay content and makes for better burning. Put the logs on end and let them dry for 2 weeks prior to use.
-Do not overload the fireplace --it can lead to overheating of wall or roof materials, particularly if the fireplace is constructed of metal.
-Always use a fire screen around the fireplace to keeps sparks from flying out.

Quote of the Week: Remember…
"The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter." –Unknown