Safety Tidbits 6/2/08

Is it HOT out here or is it just me
If you spend a lot of time outside in the sun, beware of overexposure. Sun can damage skin and cause skin cancer. Heat cramps, heat rash and heat stress are possible especially when people overexert themselves. Here are a few tips to protect you.
-Get acclimated - adjust to working in the heat over a period of a couple weeks.
-A wide-brimmed hat will keep your head and face cool. Baseball caps only protect the face or neck (depending on how you wear it). A hat should protect the face, neck and ears ears. If you’ve ever burned your neck or you know what I’m saying.
-A long-sleeved shirt will protect your arms. It should be light colored and loose fitting except when working around machinery. My grandfather always wore a long sleeve shirt and a cotton t-shirt underneath -- he claimed it kept him cool.
-Carry a source of water with you (avoid caffeine). Take drinks frequently—every 10 to 15 minutes. Dehydration is a real concern in hot weather.
-Pace yourself - take frequent breaks in the shade or in a cool environment during the hottest times of the day.
-Keep track of each other - anyone suffering from heat stress should be moved to a cool area and given small amounts of water. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke which is life-threatening and requires immediate advanced medical care.
-Wear sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 15 (waterproof is best). Use a 30 SPF for children. Reapply often if you are out for long periods or going in the water.

Never, never give up
“While there's life, there's hope.” -Cicero

Thought for your day - It's all in how you say it (Thanks Wally)
A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which read: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day & I cannot see it."

Were the first sign & the second sign were saying the same thing? Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Think differently and positively. Invite people towards good with wisdom. When Life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and don't doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Life is wonderful if you know how to live!!! God Bless you

Quote of the week: “You can't help someone get up a hill without getting closer to the top yourself.” -H. Norman Schwarzkopf