Wednesday, July 6th, 2011
It’s important to remember that while camping and outdoor activities can be fun, you must also be cautious and aware of the following safety tips:
Barbecue Safety
- Before using a grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line. Make sure the venturi tubes – where the air and gas mix – are not blocked.
- Do not overfill the propane tank.
- Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue.
- Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because the flame can flashback up into the container and explode.
- Keep all matches and lighters away from children. Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Supervise children around outdoor grills.
- Dispose of hot coals properly – douse them with plenty of water, and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers.
- Never grill/barbecue in enclosed areas – carbon monoxide could be produced.
- Make sure everyone knows to Stop, Drop and Roll in case a piece of clothing does catch fire. Call 911 or your local emergency number if a burn warrants serious medical attention.
Campfire Safety
- Build campfires where they will not spread, away from dry grass and leaves.
- Keep campfires small, and don’t let them get out of hand.
- Keep plenty of water and a shovel around to douse the fire when you’re done. Stir it and douse it again with water.
- Never leave campfires unattended.
Tags: fire, safety, tips | Posted in Safety | No Comments »
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Getting to Lake Erie swimming beaches is easier this year thanks to a site that provides detailed information and maps to each of Ohio’s more than 164 coastal public access sites. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Office of Coastal Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service want to ensure when you’re out exploring these special places along Ohio’s 312-mile shore, you do so safely.
Beach-goers are reminded that strong waves, currents and lake bed variations including sharp drop-offs occur on Lake Erie. During the right conditions, rip currents can develop. Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore and can occur at any beach with breaking waves. When waves break, water is pushed up the slope of the shore. Gravity pulls this water back toward the lake. Due to lakebed variations, waves may break strongly in some locations and weakly in others causing the water to converge in narrow, river-like currents moving away from shore. 
Rip currents do not pull people under the water; they pull people away from shore. Drowning usually occurs when people panic and are unable to keep themselves afloat to swim back to shore. To heighten awareness of rip currents at beaches, each year NOAA designates the first full week of June as National Rip Current Awareness Week, June 5-11 this year.
If caught in a rip current, you will feel yourself being pulled away from the shore. If this happens, remain calm to conserve energy. Never fight against the current; instead, swim out of the current in a direction parallel to the shore. If you are unable to swim out of the current, float or tread water until the current stops pulling you lakeward then swim at an angle away from the current and toward the shore.
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Tags: drown, resources, rip current, safety, tips, water | Posted in Safety | No Comments »
Friday, June 3rd, 2011
Who wants to visit a State Park, forest, mountains, or a beach? If you’re planning a roadtrip this summer, you’ll want to make sure you’re fully prepared. Your first priority should be getting to your destination and back safely. We’ve compiled a list of tips but feel free to comment on this post if you have any to add! We think it’s a great idea to share these tips with your kids. Good habits can start at any age!
Regular maintenance such as tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, tire rotations, and so forth go a long way toward preventing breakdowns before they happen. If you’re not sure what to check, take a look at our list below or bring your car into a shop.
- Tires – Check the air pressure, tread wear, and make sure you have a spare!
- Belts and Hoses- Be aware of the condition and fittings
- Wiper Blades- Take a look at the wear and tear on both sides
- Cooling System- Check your coolant level
- Fluid Levels- Took a look at the oil, brakes, transmission, power steering, coolant and windshield
- Lights- Check your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, interior lights and trailer lights
- Air Conditioning- Sensitive to heat? Check the AC!
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Tags: explore, road, safety, summer, tips, travel, trip, vehicle | Posted in Safety | No Comments »
