Safe @ Home
It’s getting warm again and folks are already hitting the road for summer vacation. There’s no time like the present to revisit driving safety tips before venturing forth
T
he number one thing to remember, of course, is how important seat belts are for the safety of drivers and passengers….and it’s the law. According to the National Safety Council, seat belts saved more than 75,000 lives from 2004 to 2008. So, please buckle up, and make sure those along for the ride do the same. Before taking any road trips, check to make sure that your air conditioning is functioning properly. It’s also good practice to have your car serviced and inspected for safety before traveling. All fluid levels, including oil, coolant, brake and others, should be checked as well. Tires should also be properly inflated. For every 10-degree Fahrenheit increase in air temperature, tire pressure increases approximately one pound. For those who like to pack everything but the kitchen sink, it’s important to remember that cars should not be overloaded for travel. Check your owner’s manual for the safe weight limit for your vehicle. If you’re traveling with children, make sure they’re buckled in properly. Kids under 12 should always ride in the back seat. For information about correct child passenger restraints, read the PDF at http://dps.alabama.gov/Documents/Documents/ ChildPassengerRestraintLaw.pdf. For locations offering free car seat inspections, visit www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. If you’re traveling outside Alabama make sure that you’re also following any other child safety procedures specific to that state.
Children should never be left in an unattended car, and this is especially true when the weather is hot. Follow these tips to keep young people safe during summer travels. h Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open. h Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area. h Make a habit of looking in the vehicle - front and back - before locking the door and walking away. h If you are dropping your child off at childcare, and normally it’s your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan. h Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare. h Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of children’s reach. If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk. h If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Cool the child rapidly. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. h Do things to remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle, such as: h Writing yourself a note and putting the note where you will see it when you leave the vehicle; h Placing your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle; or h Keeping an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy. When the child is buckled in, place the object where the driver will notice it when he or she is leaving the vehicle.
Dangers of Extreme Heat
Michael Kelley is manager of safety & loss control for the Alabama Rural Electric Association.
32 JUNE 2013
Symptoms of heatstroke: Warning signs vary but may include red, hot, and moist or dry skin; no sweating; a strong rapid pulse or a slow weak pulse; a throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; being grouchy; or acting strangely. If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If he is in distress due to heat, get him out as quickly as possible. Cool the child rapidly. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Information courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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