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Messages - Charlie

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241
Safety / On & Off The Trail / Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
« on: January 05, 2008, 07:55:02 am »
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

*Submitted by Kentucky Steve

Did you know? Each year in the U.S.,  more than 500 people die and another 15,000 people are treated at hospital emergency rooms for carbon monoxide poisoning.  Source: CDC.gov
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas produced by the incomplete burning of carbon-containing fuels such as charcoal, coal, fuel oil, natural gas, and wood.  Common sources of CO in the home include gas-fired appliances, motor vehicles and wood-burning furnaces or fireplaces.

Effects of CO exposure can vary depending on a person’s age, health and the concentration and length of exposure.  Symptoms of mild CO poisoning, including fatigue, headaches and nausea, are often mistaken for the flu.  Symptoms of extreme CO poisoning can include hearing and vision impairment, loss of muscle control, mental confusion, unconsciousness, and vomiting.  

Protect yourself
·   ·         Install at least one carbon monoxide alarm near sleeping areas and outside bedrooms.  
·   ·         Have a qualified professional check all fuel-burning appliances, furnaces, venting, and chimney systems at least once a year.  
·   ·         Never burn charcoal or portable fuel-burning camping equipment inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.  
·   ·         Never leave a car running in a garage, even with the garage door(s) open.  
·   ·         Never use gas appliances such as ranges, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home.  
·   ·         Do not use gasoline-powered tools indoors.  
·   ·         Open flues when fireplaces are in use.
Signs of a carbon monoxide problem
·   ·         Streaks of carbon or soot around the service door of fuel-burning appliances.
·   ·         Excessive rusting on flue pipes or appliance jackets.  
·   ·         Moisture collecting on the windows and walls of furnace rooms.  
·   ·         Small amounts of water leaking from the base of the chimney, vent or flue pipe.  
·   ·         Damaged or discolored bricks at the top of the chimney.
If you experience symptoms you think could be from CO poisoning, or your CO alarm sounds, dial 9-1-1, open doors and windows for ventilation, and evacuate everyone--including pets--from the house.  

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at cdc.gov/co.


242
Safety / On & Off The Trail / Preventing Foodborne Illnesses
« on: January 05, 2008, 07:39:24 am »
Preventing Foodborne Illnesses

 *Submitted by Kentucky Steve.

Did you know? Each year, about 76 million people in the U.S. become ill and 5,000 people die from harmful bacteria in food.  Source: CDC.gov

You can’t smell it, feel it or see it –- but it’s there.  It’s called bacteria and it can make you sick.  To prevent spreading more than good cheer during the upcoming holiday season -- or any other time of the year -- follow these food safety guidelines to ensure a safe and delicious time for all:
 
Shopping
·   ·         Avoid canned goods that are dented, leaking, bulging, or rusted as these can be warning signs that bacteria is growing in the can.  
·   ·         Separate raw meats, seafood and eggs from other foods when placing them in your shopping cart, grocery bags and refrigerator.  
·   ·         Buy cold foods last and refrigerate perishable food within two hours.  

Cooking·   ·         Wash your hands with warm water and soap before and after handling food.  
·   ·         Keep your kitchen, dishes and utensils clean.  
·   ·         Use a food thermometer to make sure food is cooked to a safe internal temperature.  Visit isitdoneyet.gov for a list of recommended internal temperatures.

Serving
·   ·         Avoid cross-contamination of food by serving food on clean plates, never on those previously holding raw meat and poultry.  
·   ·         Bacteria loves moist environments, especially those containing eggs and dairy products.  Keep foods such as eggnog, cheesecakes, cream pies, and soufflés in the refrigerator until serving time.
·   ·         Discard any food that has been sitting out at room temperature for two or more hours.  
 
Leftovers
·   ·         Place food into shallow containers and immediately put in the refrigerator or freezer for
                          rapid cooling.
·   ·         Consume cooked leftovers within three to four days.  
·   ·         When in doubt, throw it out!

For more information, visit the Partnership for Food Safety Education at fightbac.org.


243
Safety / On & Off The Trail / Avoiding Slips and Falls, Workplace
« on: November 12, 2007, 11:59:14 am »
Submitted by Kentucky Steve.

Stand Firm:
Avoiding Slips, Trips and Falls at Work


Slips, trips and falls are the third leading
cause of workplace injury, and account for
12 percent of workplace fatalities. Vigilant
compliance with safety regulations and
commonsense caution can prevent most falls.

*Falls Risks

• Wet or slippery walkways
• Clutter or wires blocking passages
• Broken stairs or handrails
• Improper use of ladders or other height
equipment
 
*Tips for Prevention

• First and foremost, watch where you’re going.
• Keep all aisles, stairs and walkways free of clutter, and keep cabinet
doors and drawers closed when not in use.
• Report broken stairs or loose stair coverings.
• Immediately pick up and clean up any dropped items or spills
• Use caution on stairways: use handrails and take one step at a time.
• When walking on a wet or slippery surface, slow down, take small
steps, and keep a hand free for balance.
• If your work area tends to be wet, dirty, or oily, wear slip-resistant
footwear, and keep the soles clean for better traction. Request nonskid
floor coatings and slip-resistant mats in slippery or heavy traffic areas.
• Place chains, guardrails, or warning tapes around elevated areas.
• Keep all harnesses and other fall protection equipment in
working order, and use them correctly.
• When using a ladder, start with a firm, solid surface. Inspect the ladder
before and after every job. And follow the safety rules
and warnings posted on the ladder.
• Report even a minor fall. It could prevent someone from
experiencing a more serious injury down the line.

Source: National Safety Council

244
First Aid Information / Pennsylvania's Good Samaritan Laws
« on: September 20, 2006, 07:22:20 pm »
 
  This post is directed towards the men and women of our clubs, organizations and communities that remain current in First Aid, CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) certification. I have cited two examples within this text of Pennsylvania’s Good Samaritan laws dating back to 1996. Since the events of 9/11 and recent legal actions, Pennsylvania has broadened its protective umbrella not only legally protect the caregiver, but to promote the act of helping our fellow man in an emergency situation.

  Two things are very clear within these laws, you must be currently certified by an accredited organization such as the American Red Cross or American Heart Association and the treatment given must fall within your scope of training. Obtaining permission from the injured individual is very important, if they refuse treatment do not give any, stay with the individual until professional emergency help arrives. If the injured person becomes unconscious or is in a state of semi-consciousness such as suffering from shock, consent is then implied.

  Please be advised that anyone who does not assist an injured person and allows said person to suffer permanent physical damage, bleed or choke to death is not considered a Good Samaritan and does not fall under the laws protection. You could be open to legal proceedings by the victim and/or their family.



Pennsylvania Good Samaritan Act
42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8332
Non-medical good Samaritan civil immunity
(a) General rule. --Any person who renders emergency care, first aid or rescue at the scene of an emergency, or moves the person receiving such care, first aid and rescue to a hospital or other place of medical care, shall not be liable to such person for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions in rendering the emergency care, first aid or rescue, or moving the person receiving the same to a hospital or other place of medical care, except any acts or omissions intentionally designed to harm or any grossly negligent acts or omissions which result in harm to the person receiving the emergency care, first aid or rescue or being moved to a hospital or other place of medical care.
(b) Exceptions--
(1) This section shall not relieve a driver of an ambulance or other emergency or rescue vehicle from liability arising from operation or use of such vehicle.
(2) In order for any person to receive the benefit of the exemption from civil liability provided for in subsection (a), he shall be, at the time of rendering the emergency care, first aid or rescue or moving the person receiving emergency care, first aid or rescue to a hospital or other place of medical care, the holder of a current certificate evidencing the successful completion of a course in first aid, advanced life saving or basic life support sponsored by the American National Red Cross or the American Heart Association or an equivalent course of instruction approved by the Department of Health in consultation with a technical committee of the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council and must be performing techniques and employing procedures consistent with the nature and level of the training for which the certificate has been issued.
1982; 1976, July 9, P.L. 586, No. 142, S 2, effective June 27, 1978. As amended 1978, July 1, P.L. 697, No. 122, S 1, effective in 60 days

1996 version

PENNSYLVANIA
In comparison to the expansive Good Samaritan statutes in jurisdictions such as Virginia, Pennsylvania's treatment of the Good Samaritan doctrine is fairly limited. Specifically, unlike any of the statutes discussed above, Pennsylvania does not provide immunity to a non-medically trained individual who renders gratuitous assistance in an emergency situation.
I. Medical Good Samaritan Civil Immunity:
The Pennsylvania statutes provide immunity from civil liability for any physician, practitioner of the healing arts, or registered nurse who renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency. The immunity provision requires that the individual render care in good faith, and that the acts or omissions not be intentionally designed to harm or constitute gross negligence which may result in harm to the person receiving the emergency assistance. Pa. Const. Stat. Ann. § 8331 (1978). For purposes of Section 8331, good faith is defined as "a reasonable opinion that the immediacy of the situation is such that the rendering of care should not be postponed until the patient is hospitalized." Pa. Const. Stat. Ann. § 8331(b) (1978).
II. Non-Medical Good Samaritan Civil Immunity:
Pa. Const. Stat. Ann. § 8332 (1978) provides civil liability immunity to non-medical individuals who render emergency care to an injured person at the scene of an emergency. However, this immunity is specifically limited to those non-medical Samaritans who, at the time of rendering the emergency care, are currently certified as having completed a course in first aid, advanced life saving or basic life support, and who perform the techniques and procedures consistent with their training. In addition, the provision mandates that the non-medical Samaritan's acts or omissions must not be intentionally designed to harm the injured person, or constitute gross negligence, which results in harm to the person receiving the emergency care.
In those instances where untrained individuals take it upon themselves to offer assistance to an injured person in an emergency situation, Pennsylvania law follows the Good Samaritan Rule of the Restatement (Second) of Torts and will allow the injured victim to recover from the Good Samaritan if the injured party can show: 1) that the Good Samaritan was under no obligation or under no duty to provide assistance to the injured party; and, 2) that the injured party either relied upon the Good Samaritan's undertaking to provide assistance or that the Good Samaritan increased the injured party's risk of harm. Miller v. United States, 530 F. Supp. 611, 616-617 (E.D. Pa 1982); Blessing v. United States, 447 F. Supp. 1160, 1187 (E.D. Pa. 1978).

Charlie

245
Safety / On & Off The Trail / Fire Extinguisher Class Rating and Information
« on: September 20, 2006, 07:14:52 pm »
                    Fire Extinguisher Information
 
 Please take a few minutes to read this information and become familiar with the extinguishers in your home and/or rig. Also note that your typical multi-class powder type extinguisher are usually good for six years, the powder settles and becomes caked at the base rendering it less effective. Please keep your equipment up to date.
 
Fire Extinguisher specifics and class ratings.
 
  Class "A" fires: Paper, wood, trash, rubber and some plastics.
 
  Class "B" fires: Flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, paint thinners etc.
 
  Class "C" fires: Energized electrical fires.
 
  Class "D" fires: Flammable metals such as magnesium and titanium.
 
Fire extinguishers can be rated class specific or multi-class. Only use extinguishers on fires that the extinguisher is rated for!
 
  Class "A" extinguishers are normally pressurized water and should only be used on class "A" material. If applied to burning liquid (class B) or energized electrical (class C) serious injury and a larger fire can occur. Class "D" material probably won't be extinguished.
 
  Class "B" extinguishers may contain a powder, foam or gas (co2 or halon). Do not use class "B" foam on electrical fires.
 
  Class "C" extinguishers may contain powder or gas (co2 or halon).
 
  Class "D" extinguishers may be metal specific, different metals may require a different extinguishing agent.
 
Multi-Class extinguishers
 
  Class B, C may contain powder or gas (co2 or halon) and can obviously be used on flammable liquids and electrically energized fires.
 
  Class A, B, C may contain powder or gas (co2 or halon). Self explanatory.
 
Numerical ratings:
 
  Class "A" and class "B" Extinguishers will also have a numerical rating associated with them. Class "C" and "D" does not.
 
  Class "A" numbers are relevant to the amount of water the extinguisher holds. A rating of 40A holds a much larger volume of agent than a 1A.
 
  Class "B" numbers refer to the square footage of fire that can be extinguished. A rating of 10B will extinguished twice as much area as a 5B.
 
 In closing, please be aware that powder type extinguishers are very corrosive to electrical wiring, connections, circuit boards, computers etc. To avoid this problem co2 and halon gas extinguishers are recommended. Co2 extinguishers are a little costly and should be purchased in 5lb and up sizes. Halon is also expensive and can be purchased in a 2.5 lb and up. A 2.5lb halon is usually a 1A,5B,C. The reason for wanting a larger co2 or halon extinguisher is the fact that they are a gaseous agent that starves the fire of oxygen while cooling the air and does not smother it like powder or foam. Gas agents are easily displaced by wind.
 
Thanks for your time,

Charlie Stevens
 


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