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SPRINGTIME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ALCOAST 178/07
R 021825Z APR 07
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05100//
ALCOAST 178/07
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: SPRINGTIME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. AS SPRING ARRIVES, OUTDOOR ACTIVITY INCREASES DRAMATICALLY. AS
WE VENTURE OUTDOORS, BREAK OUT EQUIPMENT THAT HAS LAID DORMANT ALL
WINTER, AND CONDITION OURSELVES FOR DIFFERENT JOBS AND RECREATIONAL
ACTIVITIES, WE MUST ALL COMMIT TO MANAGING THE RISKS THAT ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH THESE CHANGES. KEEP THE SAFETY TIPS DISCUSSED IN
THIS MESSAGE IN MIND AS YOU PLAN AHEAD FOR THESE ACTIVITIES -
MANAGING RISK NOW WILL DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A MISHAP LATER.
2. ARE YOU PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY? DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME CAME EARLY THIS YEAR. MAKE SURE YOU CHANGED BATTERIES IN THE EMERGENCY DEVICES IN YOUR UNITS AND HOMES. SMOKE DETECTORS, CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS AND WEATHER RADIOS CAN ALL PROVIDE THAT EXTRA FEW MOMENTS THAT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. IF YOU DONT HAVE THESE DEVICES GET THEM. IF YOU DO, CHANGE THE BATTERIES TO KEEP THEM FUNCTIONAL. NOW WOULD ALSO BE A GREAT TIME TO REVIEW YOUR UNIT AND HOME EMERGENCY PLANS AND KITS. ENSURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF SEVERE WEATHER, FIRE AND OTHER EMERGENCIES.
3. LIGHTNING AND TORNADOS. APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MILLION LIGHTNING GROUND STRIKES OCCUR IN THE U.S. EACH YEAR RESULTING IN 87 RELATED DEATHS. TORNADOS ARE COMMON DURING THE SPRING WITH AN AVERAGE OF 1,000 ANNUALLY THROUGHOUT THE U.S., RESULTING IN APPROXIMATELY 82 DEATHS AND 1,500 INJURIES. WHEN OUTDOORS, STAY ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER BY LISTENING TO WEATHER RADIO REPORTS. SUSPEND ACTIVITIES AT THE APPROACH OF THUNDERSTORMS, AND SEEK SHELTER INSIDE. THE SAFEST LOCATION WITHIN A STRUCTURE IS AN INTERIOR CLOSET, BATHROOM OR BASEMENT. IF YOU SEE LIGHTNING, COUNT THE TIME BEFORE YOU HEAR THUNDER - LESS THAN 30 SECONDS MEANS THE STORM IS WITHIN 6 MILES AND IS DANGEROUS. SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. THE THREAT OF LIGHTNING CONTINUES FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD SO WAIT AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER THE LAST THUNDER CLAP BEFORE LEAVING SHELTER. DONT BE FOOLED BY SUN OR BLUE SKY, AND STAY AWAY FROM METAL STRUCTURES, TREES AND WATER.
4. KEEP AFLOAT AFTER A FLOOD. FLOODS MAY AFFECT YOUR COMMUNITY DUE TO SPRING THAW AND HEAVY RAINS. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY RECOMMENDS SEVERAL IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS WHEN FACED WITH THE AFTERMATH OF A FLOOD. KEEP THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS IN MIND:
A. DONT WALK THROUGH FLOWING WATER.
B. DONT DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED AREA.
C. STAY AWAY FROM POWER LINES AND ELECTRICAL WIRES. ELECTRICAL
CURRENT CAN TRAVEL THROUGH WATER. REPORT ALL DOWNED LINES.
D. TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRICITY. DONT USE APPLIANCES OR MOTORS THAT
HAVE GOTTEN WET UNTIL THEY ARE TAKEN APART, CLEANED, AND DRIED.
E. WATCH FOR ANIMALS SEEKING REFUGE, ESPECIALLY SNAKES.
F. LOOK BEFORE YOU STEP. MUDDIED FLOORS AND STEPS CAN BE SLIPPERY.
G. BE ALERT FOR GAS LEAKS. DONT LIGHT ANY FLAMES UNTIL THE GAS IS
TURNED OFF AND THE AREA HAS BEEN VENTILATED.
H. CARBON MONOXIDE GAS KILLS. USE GENERATORS OR OTHER GASOLINE-
POWERED MACHINES OUTDOORS ONLY.
I. CLEAN EVERYTHING THAT GETS WET. WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT.
J. BE PREPARED FOR A TOUGH RECOVERY. CONSULT A HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL, LIKE THE COAST GUARD EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
HELPLINE AT 1-800-222-0364, TO HELP DEAL WITH ANXIETY, STRESS, AND
FATIGUE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON FLOOD HAZARDS AND CONTROLS
GO TO: HTTP://WWW.BT.CDC.GOV/DISASTERS/FLOODS.
5. LAWNS AND GARDENING. THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC) REPORTS OVER 400,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR ARE TREATED FROM LAWN AND GARDEN TOOL INJURIES. KEEP HAND TOOLS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER (E.G., SHARPEN CUTTING EDGES PROPERLY, REPLACE CRACKED OR DAMAGED HANDLES). OVER 25,000 PEOPLE ARE INJURED AND 75 KILLED ON OR NEAR RIDING MOWERS AND GARDEN TRACTORS EACH YEAR. ITEMS PROPELLED FROM MOWERS CAN REACH SPEEDS OF OVER 150 MPH. PRE-CHECK MOTORIZED LAWN EQUIPMENT LIKE MOWERS, TILLERS, WEED EATERS, EDGERS AND BLOWERS (SHARPEN BLADES, CHANGE OIL/FILTERS AND SPARK PLUGS, ENSURE SAFETY SHUTOFF DEVICES OPERATE PROPERLY). NEVER FUEL EQUIPMENT INDOORS, NEAR AN IGNITION SOURCE, OR WHEN HOT. ALWAYS USE APPROPRIATE HEARING, EYE AND FOOT PROTECTION FOR HAND AND POWER TOOLS.
6. MOTOR VEHICLE/DEER COLLISIONS. DEER-VEHICLE CRASHES CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN FOR MOTORISTS. MANY COLLISIONS OCCUR DURING SPRING FAWNING, WHEN YEARLING DEER ARE SEEKING OUT NEW HOME RANGES. REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR, MOTORISTS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR DEER TO CROSS ROADS AT ANY TIME. TAKING PROPER PRECAUTIONS LIKE DRIVING SLOWLY DURING EVENING AND AT NIGHT AND SCANNING ROADSIDES FOR DEER CAN PREVENT MANY OF THESE ACCIDENTS.
7. NATIONAL PLAYGROUND SAFETY WEEK (22 - 28 APRIL). ENSURE THE
SAFETY OF CHILDREN AT HOME AND AT DAY CARE CENTERS BY FOLLOWING
THESE GUIDELINES:
A. CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS BE SUPERVISED WHEN PLAYING ON PLAYGROUND
EQUIPMENT. WITHIN RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS, INJURY REPORTS INDICATE
THAT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 CHILDREN ARE INJURED AND 10 DIE ANNUALLY.
THESE FATAL EVENTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH FALLS FROM PLAY EQUIPMENT,
STRANGULATION BY CLOTHING OR DRAW STRINGS THAT BECOME ENTANGLED ON
PROTRUSIONS, HEAD ENTRAPMENT, AND EQUIPMENT TIPPING OVER.
B. AGE APPROPRIATENESS. PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH A PLAY AREA THAT IS
DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE. PLAYING HELPS CHILDREN DEVELOP
PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY, AND INTELLECTUALLY. OFFER A
VARIETY OF PLAY EXPERIENCES SUCH AS: DRAMA, GAMES, ART, AND WATER,
AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CLIMBING, SWINGING AND SLIDING.
C. PLAY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE INSTALLED ACCORDING TO THE
MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS AND SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND
THE MAXIMUM FORCES ANTICIPATED. THE RISK OF SERIOUS CRUSHING INJURY
CAN BE REDUCED BY PAYING SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO ANCHORING.
D. FALL SURFACING. WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN CHILDREN PLAY, THEY WILL
FALL. ASPHALT, DIRT, CONCRETE, AND GRASS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE
SURFACES FOR UNDERNEATH PLAY EQUIPMENT. A ONE FOOT FALL ONTO
CONCRETE CAN CAUSE A CONCUSSION. APPROPRIATE SURFACES INCLUDE LOOSE
FILL MATERIALS SUCH AS SAND, PEA GRAVEL, WOOD CHIPS, OR RUBBER
CHIPS. RUBBER TILES, RUBBER MATS, OR POURED-IN-PLACE RUBBER ARE
ACCEPTABLE IF THEY MEET THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
RECOMMENDATIONS AT: HTTP://WWW.CPSC.GOV/CPSCPUB/PUBS/325.PDF
E. EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE SHOULD INCLUDE
FOLLOWING THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES ON MAINTENANCE:
1. PERIODICALLY RAKE AND REPLACE THE LOOSE-FILL SURFACING
MATERIAL.
2. CHECK THE EQUIPMENT FOR BROKEN EQUIPMENT, GAPS, AND
ENTANGLEMENTS.
3. PERIODICALLY SEAL, STAIN, OR PAINT WOODEN PLAY STRUCTURES TO
PREVENT DETERIORATION.
4. REMOVE SCATTERED DEBRIS, LITTER, FECES, OR ROCKS.
5. CHECK FOR MISSING OR DAMAGED EQUIPMENT COMPONENTS.
8. NATIONAL SAFE KIDS WEEK (30 APRIL - 6 MAY). ACCIDENTAL INJURY IS A LEADING KILLER OF CHILDREN 14 AND UNDER WORLDWIDE. MOST OF THESE ACCIDENTAL INJURIES CAN BE PREVENTED BY TAKING SIMPLE SAFETY MEASURES. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO: HTTP://WWW.USA.SAFEKIDS.ORG/INDEX.CFM AND SEARCH FOR "SAFE KIDS WEEK." YOU CAN ALSO FIND LINKS FOR HOW TO KEEP KIDS SAFE FROM BIKES, CARS, FALLS, FIRE AND BURNS, POISONS, WATER AND DROWNING, AIRWAY CONSTRUCTION BY GOING TO THE FOLLOWING SITE: HTTP://WWW.SAFEKIDS.ORG/TIPS/TIPS.HTML.
9. MLC, DOD SAFETY CENTER, AND CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION WEB SITES HAVE VALUABLE INFORMATION ON OUTDOOR, RECREATIONAL AND SPRING SAFETY. THESE SITES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CG SHORE SAFETY DIVISION WEBSITE, UNDER THE "MILITARY SAFETY LINKS" AND "SAFETY RESOURCES" ICONS AT: HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/G-W/G-WK/WKS/SHORESAFETYHOME.HTM
10. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE ARE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH UNIT PERSONNEL AT ALL-HANDS SAFETY BRIEFINGS, AND WITH FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH THE BEST AVAILABLE MEANS. TAKE THE TIME TO IMPRESS UPON ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR IMMEDIATE CG FAMILY THAT THERE ARE VERY FEW "UNIQUE" OR "NEW" TYPES OF MISHAPS, BUT WITHOUT APPROPRIATE RISK MANAGEMENT ON AND OFF DUTY, IT IS EASY TO HAVE MANY "NEW VICTIMS."
11. COMDT (CG-113) POC IS MR. BERT DAVIS, 202-475-5204.
12. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.
13. RADM PAUL J. HIGGINS, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, SENDS.
BT
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