Back in the late 80s' and early 90s' I was working for the Norfolk Southern Railway Police Department.  A lot of people are not aware that major railroads have their own police department with agents that are commissioned through the Federal Government to enforce state and federal law that pertains to railroads and their property.  I was one of those agents and we lived in Columbus, Ohio.  My territory was Windsor, Canada, North, to Kansas City, Kansas, West, to Roanoke, Virginia, East and to Lexington, Kentucky, South.  Needless to say we covered a lot of territory.  I investigated a lot of accidents, employee and citizen.  Sad to say some were fatal and the rest involved injuries.  

With that said, as the weather improves so does the opportunity to use the rail system for travel and entertainment.  I thought I would include a few safety tips:

SIX THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT LIGHT RAIL AND COMMUTER TRAIN SAFETY

1. STAY ALERT.
Trains can come from either direction at any time and can be very quiet.  They now have what is called "ribbon rail" which is a type of welded rail sections. You don't hear the noise of the wheel on the rail anymore.  Around train tracks or in stations, obey all warning signs and signals and use caution when using headsets or cell phones.

2. WATCH THE OVERHANG.
Trains are wider than the tracks; never sit on the edge of a station platform.

3. STAND AWAY FROM THE PLATFORM EDGE.
Pay attention to painted or raised markings at the platform edge, and stay at least three feet from the train while it is coming in or out of the station.

4. WHEN ON BOARD, HOLD ON.
Hold on tight to poles or seats, and listen carefully to directions from the train operator or conductor.

5. WATCH YOUR STEP.
Be careful getting on and off the train - there may be a gap between the train and platform or steps.

6. DON'T TAKE SHORTCUTS WITH YOUR LIFE!
Follow directional signs and markings that let you know where it is safe to cross the tracks. Crossing the tracks anywhere else is dangerous and illegal. Never use any rail road track as a short cut or drive around the railway crossing arms.  Trains are not like cars, they cannot stop on a dime.  Depending on weight and length, it could take a train over a mile to completely stop after they apply the brakes.
       

No one is ever a winner when they take shortcuts to safety, especially with a train. 

Spring is here and I don't know about your family but we’re getting ready to clean up inside our home and to work outside in our lawn and garden. But all that lifting, climbing, trimming and other spring-cleaning activities heighten the risk for home injuries. According to the Home Safety Council, there are over 10 million unintentional home injuries in the U.S. per year that result in visits to hospital emergency rooms. These injuries result in over 20,000 deaths per year. Falls and poisonings cause over half of home deaths.

Your safety at home is as important as your safety at work!  

Make Your Home Safe from Fires 
• Smoke/carbon monoxide detectors- Install UL approved smoke detectors on every level of your home.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly to make sure they are working. Change the batteries at least once per year.
• Fire Extinguisher- Place a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and other areas of your home. Check the gauge on the extinguisher to make sure that it is fully charged.
• Develop a fire escape plan for your home. Identify two escape routes from each room and have a place to meet outside your home. Practice the fire escape plan with your family.

Prevent Falls 
• Walkways

• Keep stairs, steps, landings and floors clear of toys and clutter. 
• Carry loads so that you can see over them and use the handrail. 
• Safely tuck telephone and electric cords out of walkways. 
• Make sure that area rugs are secured with non-skid pads. 

 • Ladders- If you need to climb, use a ladder (not a chair, table or box):

• Place stepladders on level ground and open them completely, making sure all locks are engaged. 
• Before using a ladder outdoors, choose a location that is at least 10 feet away from all power lines. Coming in contact with live wires can be fatal. 
• Use the 4-to-1 rule for extension ladders: for each 4 feet of distance between the ground and the upper point of contact (such as the wall or roof), move the base of the ladder out 1 foot from the wall. 
• Always face the ladder when climbing and wear slip-resistant shoes (e.g. those with rubber soles). 
• Keep your body centered on the ladder and gauge your safety by your belly button. If your belly button passes beyond the side rail of the ladder, you are overreaching and at risk for falling. 
• Make sure rungs are dry before using the ladder. 
• Stand at or below the highest safe standing level on a ladder. For a stepladder, the safe standing level is the second rung from the top, and for an extension ladder, it's the fourth rung from the top. 

 Be Kind to your Back 
Following these lifting techniques can help prevent most back injuries:
• Plan your lift, don’t be in a hurry. Look at both the starting and ending point.
• Bend at the knees, not at the waist and keep your back straight. Lift with your strong leg and thigh muscles.
• Keep the object you are lifting close to your body.
• Do not twist at the waist. Move your feet to turn your body when moving objects.
• Get help when lifting very heavy objects (e.g. over 50 pounds)

Lawn and Garden Safety 
• Service lawnmowers and power tools every spring before using them. Make sure that they are in good
repair. This includes having the blades sharpened and tightened on the mower. Make sure that all guards are in place.
• Before mowing, walk the lawn and pick up sticks, stones, toys and other debris that could shoot out from the mower or damage the blade.

• Don't let people stand or sit anywhere near where you are mowing. Be especially careful to keep small children away. Do not allow children to ride on lawn tractors/ mowers. The safest place for children while the grass is being cut in inside the The safest place for children while the grass is being cut in inside the home.
• Wear proper clothing and protective equipment
• Closed-toe shoes with non-slip soles when mowing
• Wear eye protection when mowing, using week wackers/powered equipment
• Don't wear any loose clothing that could be caught in moving parts.
• Wear ear plugs/muffs when using noisy power equipment
• Never reach under the mower unless it is turned off and the blade had completely stopped turning
• Store gasoline only in approved containers.  Refuel mowers outside when the engine is cool.
• Use fertilizers, insect and weed killers according to the container labels.  Keep pets and children off of newly treated areas.  Choose integrated pest management or non-toxic products when possible. Check the direction of the wind so that the mist or spray is not forced back onto you.

Use Chemicals Safely

• Properly discard out of date medicines.  The Mt. Juliet Police Department has a drop box in their lobby especially dedicated to this service.
• Consider using non-toxic cleaners.  For example, vinegar and water is an effective window cleaner. Toothpaste works well for polishing silver.  Lemon juice is a natural bleach.  Baking soda works well on tile and sinks.  Add vinegar and it's great for cleaning out drains.
• Consumer Reports has a good list of less toxic cleaners to consider on their web site, search "spring cleaning.  
• Read chemical labels and instructions before using cleaning products.
• Wear protective clothing and plastic/rubber gloves when using chemicals.  Wear eye protection when working with corrosive chemicals.
• Never mix cleaning products. Combination of certain cleaning chemicals can produce toxic gases - such as Mustard Gas, which was used in WWI.
• Store household and garden chemicals safely in closed containers out of the reach of children and pets.  Use child-proof locks on cabinets.  Chemicals with labels using the words "Caution, Danger, Poison, or Keep out of Reach of Children", should be stored safely and securely away from children.
• Keep medicines and cleaning products in their original containers with their original labels.  Always label containers if you must remove chemicals from their original containers.
• Discard hazardous and flammable chemicals that you no longer need.  Contact the Wilson County Solid Waste at 444-8360 to find out what can be disposed of and when.

OLDER ADULTS FALLING 

My wife and I were out and about during the weekend and I noticed a large group of seniors in several stores, sharing each others' company and generally having a good time.  There were also those that were with family members on a day out.  I naturally thought, what would I do if there was a medical emergency and did a quick check list in my mind.  A lot came from years of training and experience with my parents and now my mother-in-law.  

What I came to realize is that their generation was independent, proud and had a great "do it yourself" attitude that they have kept all these years.  We need to ask them often, how they are doing, any aches or pains, what can I do for you, so forth.  They may not volunteer the information but they might answer your questions.  I know that my mom would say that she was alright and that she would take an aspirin if needed, even though we knew she was hurting from various ailments.  It wasn't until we specifically asked that we got a direct answer.  One of the last things she said to me and my two sisters was that she had hoped she had not been a burden on us.  

With that said, I did some research and came up with the following information.  I am passing this on to our community so that they will have the knowledge to create a safer environment that will support the can do "attitude" of our seniors.

(From the National Safety Council)

Each year, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls. Falls can lead to moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and are the leading cause of injury death among those age 65 and older. In 2007, 18,334 adults age 65 and older died from fall-related injuries—four times as many as all other age groups.

As adults grow older, their risk of being injured in a fall increases exponentially. There is a slightly higher than average risk for 65-year-olds, but this risk rises significantly in 75-year-olds and rises once again for those that age 80 and older. Older adult falls lead to reduced functions and premature loss of independence, and oftentimes a fall may indicate a more serious underlying health problem. 

(Click on the link and then click on the pop up)

Older Adult Falls Fact Sheet

Older Adult Fall Prevention Tips
Falls are largely preventable, and as our population ages, more and more individuals will see their risk of falling increase. People of all ages, but especially older adults, will benefit from fall-proofing their homes and making lifestyle changes to decrease their risk of a fall leading to injury or even death.

Older Adult Fall Prevention Checklist

Fall-Proofing Your Home

For more information contact:

Tennessee Safety and Health Council
6719 Heritage Business Court, Ste. 604
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 553-1945 or Alt. Phone:
Fax: (423) 553-1944E-mail: tshc@tnsafetycouncil.org

REMEMBER - SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY