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SPRING TIME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
ALCOAST 204/05
R 141056Z APR 05
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-WK//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05100//
ALCOAST 204/05
COMDTNOTE 5100
SUBJ: SPRING TIME SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1. SPRING HAS ARRIVED AND IT IS TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING, YARD WORK, HOME REPAIRS, NEW EXERCISE REGIMENS, AND A MYRIAD OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. HUNDREDS OF DEATHS AND THOUSANDS OF INJURIES ARE REPORTED NATIONALLY EACH YEAR FROM HOME AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. IN 2004, THERE WERE 324 COAST GUARD MISHAPS ATTRIBUTED TO OFF-DUTY RECREATIONAL SPORTS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES. BY SIMPLY APPLYING THE SAME RISK MANAGEMENT PRINCIPALS WE USE EVERYDAY IN OUR COAST GUARD DUTIES, AND FOLLOWING THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DISCUSSED BELOW, MANY OF THESE COSTLY MISHAPS CAN BE AVOIDED.
2. GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. FOR MANY ACTIVITIES THERE ARE OBVIOUS, BUT OFTEN OVERLOOKED, ACTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE RISK. WHEN USING EQUIPMENT, ALWAYS FOLLOW MANUFACTURERS PRE-CHECK PROCEDURES, OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES. KEEP ALL SUCH EQUIPMENT OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. ASSESS THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ACTIVITY BEFOREHAND, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO MINIMIZE THE RISKS. ALWAYS USE APPROPRIATE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR THE ACTIVITY IN WHICH YOU WILL ENGAGE.
3. CLEANING AND CHEMICALS. CHECK HOUSEHOLD AND POOL CHEMICALS, PAINTS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, AND FERTILIZERS TO ENSURE CONTAINERS ARE PROPERLY MARKED, STORED, AND NOT DAMAGED OR LEAKING. CHECK EXPIRATION DATES AND ENSURE THAT WINTER TEMPERATURES HAVE NOT RENDERED THE MATERIALS UNUSABLE. TAKE UNUSABLE ITEMS TO A COMMUNITY RECYCLING CENTER OR HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RECLAMATION CENTER. KEEP CHILDREN AND ANIMALS AWAY FROM THE AREA WHEN APPLYING CHEMICAL AGENTS.
4. LAWNS AND GARDENING. THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION (CPSC) REPORTS THAT ANNUALLY OVER 400,000 PEOPLE ARE TREATED FOR LAWN AND GARDEN TOOL INJURIES, WITH 25,000 PEOPLE INJURED AND 75 KILLED ON OR NEAR RIDING MOWERS AND GARDEN TRACTORS. KEEP MOWERS, TILLERS, WEED EATERS, EDGERS, AND BLOWERS WELL MAINTAINED. ALWAYS CONDUCT A PRE-CHECK BEFORE USING AND ENSURE THAT SAFETY SHUTOFF DEVICES ARE OPERATIONAL. NEVER FUEL EQUIPMENT INDOORS, NEAR AN IGNITION SOURCE OR WHEN HOT. ALWAYS USE HEARING, EYE, HAND, AND FOOT PROTECTION.
5. ELECTRICAL TOOLS. VERIFY THAT EXTENSION CORDS ARE PROPERLY SIZED FOR THE APPLIANCE/TOOL AND ARE CONNECTED TO EITHER A GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER (GFCI) RECEPTACLE OR A CORD MADE WITH A GFCI. CHECK THE CORDS CONDITION, REPLACE CUT OR DAMAGED CORDS, AND MAKE SURE PLUGS HAVE GROUND PRONGS. UNPLUG TOOLS WHEN NOT IN USE.
6. LADDER SAFETY. THE CPSC REPORTS THAT 164,000 LADDER RELATED INJURIES OCCUR EACH YEAR. REDUCE YOUR RISK OF INJURY - FOLLOW THESE PRINCIPLES: PERMIT ONLY ONE PERSON ON THE LADDER AT A TIME, SET THE LADDER ON A FIRM SURFACE, NEVER EXCEED THE DESIGNED LADDER WEIGHT LIMIT, USE WOOD/FIBERGLASS LADDERS WHEN WORKING NEAR POWER LINES, USE A TOOL BELT TO CARRY TOOLS, KEEP BOTH HANDS FREE FOR CLIMBING, AND NEVER STAND ON THE TOP RUNG OF A LADDER. WHEN USING POWER TOOLS, HAVE SOMEONE HAND THE TOOLS TO YOU UNPLUGGED ONCE YOU ARE IN PLACE. USE A SPOTTER TO STEADY THE LADDER.
7. ALLERGIES AND INSECTS. IF YOU HAVE POLLEN ALLERGIES, USE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION AND/OR ALLERGY MEDICATIONS WHEN WORKING OUTDOORS AROUND TREES, SHRUBS AND GRASSES. TWO OUT OF EVERY 1,000 PEOPLE ARE HYPERSENSITIVE TO BEE OR WASP STINGS. BE ALERT FOR WASPS NESTS UNDER HOUSE EAVES AND IN PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, AND WHEN POSSIBLE, REMOVE NESTS BEFORE BEES TAKE UP RESIDENCE.
8. SPORTS AND BICYCLE RIDING. FOLLOWING INACTIVITY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, GRADUALLY RESUME PARTICIPATION IN SPORTING EVENTS, HIKING, CAMPING, BIKING AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THIS WILL ALLOW YOU TIME TO INCREASE YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITIONING AND AVOID SORE MUSCLES, SPRAINS, STRAINS, AND MORE SERIOUS INJURIES. WHEN HIKING OR CAMPING WEAR APPROPRIATE SHOES, LIMIT THE WEIGHT OF BACKPACKS AND STAY HYDRATED. THE BICYCLE SAFETY INSTITUTE REPORTS APPROXIMATELY 540,000 BICYCLE-RELATED EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, WITH 67,000 HEAD INJURIES AND 800 FATALITIES. WEAR AN APPROVED BIKE HELMET AND SECURE THE CHIN STRAP WHEN CYCLING.
9. OFF ROAD VEHICLES. AS YOU TAKE YOUR DIRT BIKE OR ATV OUT FOR AN OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE REMEMBER THAT IN 2003, 270 RIDERS DIED AND THOUSANDS MORE WERE INJURED IN ATV AND DIRT BIKE MISHAPS. IN FY04 THE COAST GUARD HAD A TOTAL OF 17 ATV MISHAPS, INCLUDING ONE FATALITY AND ONE TOTALLY DISABLING INJURY. TAKE A RIDER SAFETY COURSE, PRE-CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT AND RIDING AREA, AND ALWAYS WEAR PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. LIMIT YOUR SPEED AND ACTIONS TO YOUR RIDING EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES. PROHIBIT YOUNG CHILDREN FROM RIDING UNTIL THEY ARE OF APPROPRIATE AGE AND SIZE TO HANDLE THE EQUIPMENT. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM AND NEVER RIDE ALONE.
10. BOATING SAFETY. IN 2003, THERE WERE 5,438 RECREATIONAL BOATING MISHAPS, RESULTING IN 703 FATALITIES AND 3,888 INJURIES. COAST GUARD STATISTICS INDICATE THAT 70 PERCENT OF THESE VICTIMS DROWNED, AND 86 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO DROWNED WERE NOT WEARING LIFE JACKETS. IN ADDITION, ALCOHOL INVOLVEMENT WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE REPORTED RECREATIONAL BOATING FATALITIES. ENSURE THERE ARE ADEQUATE LIFE JACKETS ONBOARD AND WORN, AND THAT FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ARE IN WORKING ORDER. WHEN TRAILERING YOUR BOAT, ENSURE TRAILER MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AND THAT THE TRAILER, WINCH AND LIGHTS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. ENSURE THAT THE TRAILER TONGUE AND VEHICLE BALL ARE EQUALLY SIZED AND THAT THE VEHICLE TOWING CAPACITY CAN ACCOMMODATE BOTH THE BOAT AND TRAILER WEIGHT. TRAILER TIRES SHOULD BE RATED FOR THE TRAILER SERVICE AND TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE SHOULD BE VERIFIED BEFORE EACH TRIP.
11. CHILD SAFETY. EACH YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 18 CHILDREN AGE 10 AND UNDER DIE FROM WINDOW RELATED INJURIES AND 4,700 CHILDREN AGE 14 AND UNDER ARE TREATED FOR WINDOW FALL INJURIES. THE MAJORITY OF THESE DEATHS RESULT FROM HEAD INJURIES. DONT DEPEND ON WINDOW SCREENS TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM FALLING. SCREENS EASILY GIVE WAY UNDER A CHILDS WEIGHT. INSTALL WINDOW GUARDS ON ALL WINDOWS. ENSURE THE GUARDS MEET NEW FEDERAL STANDARDS FOR EMERGENCY EGRESS IN THE EVENT OF FIRE. MOVE CHAIRS, CRIBS, BEDS AND OTHER FURNITURE AWAY FROM WINDOWS. STATISTICS DEMONSTRATE THAT CHILDREN CAN FALL FROM WINDOWS OPENED AS LITTLE AS FIVE INCHES. FOR MORE CHILD SAFETY TIPS VISIT: HTTP://WWW.SAFEKIDS.ORG/.
12. ROADWAY SAFETY AND FLOODING. AS THE WEATHER WARMS, BE ALERT FOR HAZARDS SUCH AS POT-HOLES FROM WINTER SNOWS, FARM EQUIPMENT AND ANIMAL MOVEMENT ON RURAL ROADS, AND INCREASED TRAFFIC. MELTING SNOW AND SPRING RAINS CAN CAUSE HAZARDOUS FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND FLASH FLOODING OF ROADWAYS. FORTY PERCENT OF ALL FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR TO PEOPLE TRAVELING IN MOTOR VEHICLES. NEVER ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOODED BRIDGES AND ROADWAYS WHERE THERE IS RUSHING WATER. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF WATER TO FLOAT MOST CARS. IF YOUR CAR STALLS IN RUSHING WATER, TRY TO MOVE YOUR CAR OFF THE ROAD SURFACE, STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE AND OUT OF THE RUSHING CURRENT. USE A CELL PHONE TO CALL 911, SOUND THE CAR HORN TO GET THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS, AND HANG A PIECE OF CLOTH OUT OF THE DRIVERS WINDOW TO ALERT RESCUERS THAT YOU ARE IN THE CAR.
13. MLCS, DOD SAFETY CENTERS AND CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION WEB SITES HAVE VALUABLE INFORMATION ON OUTDOOR AND RECREATION SAFETY. LINKS TO THESE SITES CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE "MLC SAFETY/HEALTH", "MILITARY SAFETY" AND "SAFETY RESOURCES" LINKS ON THE CG SHORE SAFETY DIVISION WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/G-W/G-WK/WKS/WKS2/INDEX.HTM. COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS-IN-CHARGE ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION TO UNIT PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES.
14. COMDT (G-WKS-2) POC IS MR. MICHAEL L. SMITH, 202-267-1870.
15. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.
16. RADM PAUL J. HIGGINS, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, SENDS.
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