Archive for June, 2009

America’s National Park’s have more than 12,000 miles of trails. Hiking is great because you get to enjoy beautiful scenery, look for those little creatures that are trying to blend in with their surroundings and oh yeah, get exercise. Of course, with anything there’s always a chance one can get hurt or sidetracked so you need to take precautions to protect yourself from the what ifs. Here’s what you need to up your safety (fun) factor:

1. Good shoes that fit well and thick socks
2. A backpack to hold your necessities
3. Dress in layers, including a hooded, waterproof jacket, hat and sunglasses
4. Sunscreen
5. Insect Repellent
6. Map and compass
7. Water and food
8. Waterproof matches and army-style knife
9. Flashlight and extra batteries
10. First aid kit

These ten safety tips for hiking are pretty easy to handle. Many of the suggested safety items may be found right in your home. If you want to be head of the class you may consider a weather radio, CPR mask and whistle. You never know what can happen in the wilderness (snake bite, bee sting, all of a sudden anaphylactic shock). It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Be safe and enjoy the trails!

Source: Bam.gov

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Not only is this Sunday Father’s Day it’s also the kick off of Lightning Safety Week. Lightning, the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena, strikes year round but summer is its peak season.

Over the past 30 years, lightning killed an average of 58 people per year. This is higher than the 57 deaths per year caused by tornadoes and average 48 deaths to hurricanes. However, since lightning generally claims one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction it is underrated as a major risk. Documented lightning injuries average about 300 per year in the U.S. but obviously without all the lightning injuries being documented the true number will never be known.

Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining. That’s about the distance you can hear thunder. So, if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance and should seek shelter immediately. The National Weather Service has a great tag line: “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”

Once indoors stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity. Stay away from pools (indoor or outdoor), tubs, showers and other plumbing. Wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before going outside again.

If someone should be the victim of a lightning strike know that they do not carry an electrical charge, are safe to touch and need urgent medical attention. Cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death for those whose lives are taken. Some lives may be saved if the victim receives the proper first aid immediately. Call 9-1-1 immediately and perform CPR if the victim is unresponsive or not breathing. If an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use it.

Lightning is dangerous but with common sense and proper first aid training you can greatly increase the safety of yourself and others.

Source: NOAA.gov

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The end of the school year is nearing but that doesn’t mean the kids have to stop learning or making good choices. As an educational professional, what message are you leaving your students with?

As a school psychologist did you review the negative effects bullying can have on one’s self esteem? How about the effects of peer pressure? Off the playground or out of the hallway there’s still the public pool, parks, house parties, etc. that peer pressure weasels its way into.

If you’re a health teacher is there a female student who needs some guidance when it comes to healthy eating choices because she suffers from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia? How about reminding students that it’s okay to say “no” to sex? Realistically, knowing that not all kids practice abstinence, reiterate the importance of the use of condoms.

School nurses can’t stress enough the importance of hand washing. There’s a cool product on the market called Glo Germ that shows kids, and adults for that matter, just how quickly germs can spread. That would be a perfect summer “experiment” to keep the young people busy.

Speaking of keeping busy, physical fitness gurus (AKA gym teachers) maybe you won’t be able to drag the kids away from VH1’s latest “blank of love” reality show but you could create some commercial length quickie workouts that won’t seem so bad when broken down.  I know you know children and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day but do they?

Of course they may roll their eyes now but encouraging kids to keep active, read, take part in positive group activities and get out and enjoy the summer weather (of course wearing sun block) is all a part of what twenty years down the line they’ll be wishing they could do again instead of sitting at work twittering about it.

Source: CDC

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June 1 – 7, 2009 marks the second annual National CPR/AED Awareness Week. As a trained professional you may know how to respond to cardiac emergencies but do your loved ones? The goal of this week is to promote the importance and provide CPR and automatic external defibrillator (AED) training. From infants to the elderly, thousands of lives are saved every year because someone took the time to learn how to perform these important lifesaving skills. Find the special events happening in your hometown at: http://american.redcross.org/cpraedevents.

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