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SPRING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ALCOAST 188/04
R 211158Z APR 04
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-WK//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05100//
ALCOAST 188/04
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: SPRING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. SPRING HAS ARRIVED, BRINGING WITH IT A HOST OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND NEW SAFETY CONCERNS. TO SAFEGUARD OUR QUALITY OF WORK AND LIFE, WE NEED TO "MANAGE THE RISKS" ASSOCIATED WITH THESE ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR LOST MISSION CAPABILITY.
2. GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. BEFORE USING ANY EQUIPMENT, DETERMINE IF MANUFACTURERS OR ORGANIZATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS OR DIRECTIONS ARE AVAILABLE. READ AND FOLLOW THEM BEFORE USE. CONDUCT A PRE-CHECK TO ENSURE THAT ALL EQUIPMENT IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND THAT ANY INSTALLED SAFETY SHUT-OFF DEVICES WORK. WHEN MAINTAINING EQUIPMENT, ALWAYS DISCONNECT ANY FUEL AND/OR POWER SOURCE. USE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE ACTIVITY IN QUESTION. ALWAYS SELECT UL-RATED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. ENSURE THAT YOU WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING, PROTECTIVE, OR SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR THE ACTIVITY IN WHICH YOU WILL PARTICIPATE.
3. SPORTS AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONING. ENSURE YOU HAVE THE APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONDITIONING TO PERFORM SPORT OR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. ALWAYS PROVIDE TIME TO WARM UP PRIOR TO AND COOL DOWN AFTER THESE ACTIVITIES. UNDERSTANDING YOUR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, AND APPLICABLE RULES OR PROCEDURES, WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR INJURIES.
4. ELECTRICAL TOOLS. MANY OUTDOOR TOOLS POWERED BY ELECTRICITY WILL REQUIRE USING EXTENSION CORDS. ENSURE THESE CORDS ARE PROPERLY SIZED TO ACCOMMODATE EACH TOOL, AND ARE PLUGGED INTO A GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER (GFCI) RECEPTACLE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GFCI RECEPTACLE, USE A CORD MADE WITH AN ATTACHED GFCI. ENSURE CORDS ARE NOT CUT OR DAMAGED, AND MAKE SURE PLUGS HAVE GROUND PRONGS. UNPLUG TOOLS WHEN NOT IN USE. WHEN USING A LADDER,HAVE SOMEONE ASSIST YOU BY SUPPORTING THE LADDER, MOVING CORDS AND HANDING YOU ANY NEEDED TOOLS ONCE YOU ARE IN PLACE.
5. POISON PREVENTION. SPRING CLEANING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES INTRODUCE THE USE OF MANY CLEANING AGENTS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES AND FERTILIZERS. ALWAYS USE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS, READ THE MANUFACTURERS WARNING LABELS, AND WEAR GOGGLES, GLOVES AND/OR RESPIRATORS WHEN RECOMMENDED. KEEP CHILDREN AND ANIMALS AWAY FROM AREAS WHERE THESE AGENTS ARE STORED OR HAVE BEEN APPLIED. CONTACT A POISON CONTROL CENTER AT 1-800-222-1222 IF NEEDED.
6. LAWNS AND GARDENING. BEWARE OF WEAPONS OF GRASS DESTRUCTION. CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC) DATA SHOW THAT OVER 400,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR ARE TREATED IN HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS FOR LAWN AND GARDEN TOOL INJURIES. TO PROTECT YOUR HANDS AND EYES FROM BLISTERS AND DEBRIS, WEAR GLOVES AND IMPACT GOGGLES WHEN USING HAND TOOLS. ENSURE CUTTING EDGES ARE PROPERLY SHARPENED AND HANDLES ARE NOT CRACKED OR DAMAGED. EXERCISE PARTICULAR CAUTION WHEN USING MOWERS, TILLERS, WEEDEATERS, EDGERS AND BLOWERS. CPSC DATA ALSO SHOW THAT OVER 25,000 PEOPLE ARE INJURED AND 75 ARE KILLED ON OR NEAR RIDING MOWERS AND GARDEN TRACTORS EACH YEAR. MOWER BLADES, AND OBJECTS EJECTED FROM MOWER CHUTES, CAN TRAVEL UP TO 200 MILES AN HOUR. ALWAYS WALK THE MOWING AREA BEFOREHAND, AND REMOVE ANY LOOSE OBJECTS. NEVER FILL GASOLINE POWERED EQUIPMENT INDOORS OR NEAR ANY IGNITION SOURCE. ALWAYS SHUT OFF AND ALLOW TIME FOR HOT EQUIPMENT TO COOL BEFORE REFILLING. KEEP CHILDREN AWAY FROM MOWING ACTIVITY.
7. ALLERGIES, INSECTS AND BITES. MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO POLLEN AND INSECT BITES. FOR KNOWN ALLERGIES, AVOID THE SOURCE. WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, OR USE REPELLENTS PER MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS. AVOID SCENTED PRODUCTS LIKE PERFUME OR SHAMPOO THAT MIGHT ATTRACT INSECTS. DO NOT DISTURB ANIMALS, INSECTS OR FOLIAGE WHERE ALLERGENS MAY RESIDE. ALWAYS INSPECT YOURSELF FOR TICKS AND INSECTS AFTER BEING OUTDOORS.
8. ROADWAY SAFETY. BE AWARE OF TRAVEL RISKS FROM WINTER POTHOLES, FARM EQUIPMENT AND ANIMALS ON RURAL ROADS, FLOODING FROM SNOW MELT AND RAIN, AND RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER. DRIVE DEFENSIVELY, AND WATCH FOR CHANGING CONDITIONS. FLASH FLOODING OF ROADWAYS IS A PARTICULAR CONCERN, SINCE 40 PERCENT OF ALL FLOOD-RELATED DEATHS OCCUR TO PEOPLE TRAVELING IN MOTOR VEHICLES. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS A FLOODED ROADWAY WHERE THERE IS RUSHING WATER.
9. OFF ROAD VEHICLES. THE CPSC REPORTED 111,700 EMERGENCY ROOM CASES FROM DIRT BIKE AND ATV INJURIES IN 2001. TAKE A RIDER SAFETY COURSE IF YOU ARE A NEW RIDER OR HAVE NEVER HAD A COURSE. INSPECT YOUR RIDING AREA PRIOR TO RIDING, ASSESS THE HAZARDS AND KNOW HIDDEN DANGERS. LIMIT YOUR SPEED AND ACTIONS TO YOUR RIDING EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES. PROHIBIT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM RIDING UNTIL THEY ARE OF THE APPROPRIATE AGE AND SIZE TO HANDLE THE EQUIPMENT.
10. G-WKS, MLC, DOD SAFETY CENTER AND CPSC WEBSITES HAVE VALUABLE INFORMATION ON OUTDOOR AND RECREATION SAFETY TO SUPPORT UNIT TRAINING. THE G-WKS WEB SITE CAN BE ACCESSED AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/G-W/G-WK/WKS/WKS2/INDEX.HTM.
11. COMDT (G-WKS-2) POC IS MR. MICHAEL L. SMITH, 202-267-1870.
12. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.
13. RADM PAUL J. HIGGINS, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, SENDS.
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