75th Anniversary of National Wildlife Week

By Terry Orr

The theme of this year's National Wildlife Week is "Branching Out," which puts a particular emphasis on the importance of trees to animals. Trees serve as protection, form habitats and provide food and other resources for animals and yet we don't always recognize just how significant a role they play for the creatures that live in and around them. [Source: Gadling]

Growing up, Granny believed in the importance of leaning and respecting wildlife as part of our education about life.  While looking out my window or our on the yard, I still find enjoyment observing wildlife going about their daily routines - bathing in either the bird bath or stream, feeding, playing, singing, communicating, and just enjoying a nice sunny day.

References and Links: 

http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/17/national-wildlife-week-begins-tomorrow/ 

(All images from Google) 

Eye Safety

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By Diane Forrest, RN

When I was growing up it seems like all the boys I knew had bb guns.  For every boy with a BB gun you could hear his mother say, "Be careful, you could put someone's eye out with that!"  I never knew anyone who had their eye put out, but I did know that all the boys were taught safety with their bb guns.

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Eyes are a precious and vital organ.  Protecting your eyes and sight are extremely important.  Accidents are always around the corner and can happen at any time.

Below are some facts and myths about eye injuries:

• Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women.
• Most people believe that eye injuries are most common on the job — especially in the course of work at factories and construction sites. But, in fact, nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries occurred in the home, as reported during the fifth-annual Eye Injury Snapshot (conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma).
• More than 40 percent of eye injuries reported in the Eye Injury Snapshot were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. More than a third (34.2 percent) of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.
• More than 40 percent of eye injuries every year are related to sports or recreational activities.
• Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects.
• Among all eye injuries reported in the Eye Injury Snapshot, more than 78 percent of people were not wearing eye wear at the time of injury. Of those reported to be wearing eye wear of some sort at the time of injury (including glasses or contact lenses), only 5.3 percent were wearing safety or sports glasses.

Thousands of people are blinded each year from work-related eye injuries that could have been prevented with the proper selection and use of eye and face protection. Eye injuries alone cost more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and worker compensation.

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OSHA requires employers to ensure the safety of all employees in the work environment. Eye and face protection must be provided whenever necessary to protect against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants and hazards. But for those injuries that occur at home, the few seconds to put on safety glasses while performing a task could make a huge difference in preventing injury.  My husband enjoyed woodworking in his shop.  That required cutting wood, sanding wood, and shaving wood on a lathe.  Using a lathe sends tiny wood particles out into the room, and the chances of it getting in his eyes were great.  he never worked out in his shop without putting his goggles and face mask on.  The same precautions are also necessary when out in the yard cutting or weed eating grass.

Not only do you need to protect your eyes from foreign particles, but also from dangerous chemicals and even the sun.

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If you don’t have any safety goggles or glasses, stop by the store to pick up a few pairs, it’s a small investment to protect your eyesight, which is irreplaceable.

Having Fun and being Safe!

Heelys - Staying Safe and Preventing Injuries

Like most things in life – there are some basic safety precautions we need to follow as Heelys is no exception.  My kids did skateboarding and had their fair share of bumps and bruises – and grandsons have all done skateboarding, inline skates, bikes and Heelys.  Had they been around when I was growing up, you can be sure that I also would have had my own.

For those parents who are out of the loop, Heelys are those new sneakers that have a hidden wheel in the back, so kids can roll around (heeling), in addition to the more traditional walking and running.

Heely Injuries

Heelys are thought to be safe by most parents since kids are usually not going very fast on their Heelys, but it is important to keep in mind that kids can get hurt while "heeling" or using them in skate mode.

They likely aren't any more dangerous than skateboards, scooters, or inline skates, but kids do seem to get the same injuries when heeling.

Preventing Injuries from Heelys

While many kids use their Heelys like inline skates, the problem is that few kids wear any safety gear when using their Heelys in skate mode.

Keep in mind that the manufacturer does state that "it is highly recommended to wear a Heelys helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads when using your Heelys skate shoes."

To prevent injuries from Heelys, be sure to have your kids wear the recommended safety gear, remove the wheels when using Heelys in shoe mode, and don't allow your kids to use their Heelys in skate mode in or near traffic, on uneven surfaces, or on stairs.

What You Need To Know

Make sure your kids stagger their feet when heeling, with one foot in front of the other. If they keep both feet together, they will likely fall.

Kids should always wear protective safety equipment, including a helmet, wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow pads, when heeling, just like they should when using a skateboard, scooter, or inline skates.

Don't leave the wheels in your child's Heelys all of the time, which will simply tempt your child to use the Heelys in skate mode more impulsively, including in parking lots, grocery stores, or the mall, and when he is less likely to be prepared and have protective gear. 

UV Safety Month – Protect yourself

July is UV (ultraviolet light) Safety Month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds Americans of the importance of protecting their eyes from the sun’s harmful rays by wearing sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats.

One of the greatest threats to your eyes is invisible. Studies show that exposure to bright sunlight may increase the risk of developing cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and growths on the eye, including cancer. (From http://development.aao.org)

When I was growing up and playing outside we didn’t wear sunglasses, nor did we wear hats when playing, unless it was an organized sporting event. We did wear hats out on the farm from time to time and fishing out on the water.  I do wear my sunglasses these days and every once in a while don my hat – should be wearing that all the time for a couple reasons besides my eyes.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers these tips to protect your eyes from the sun:

• Don't focus on color or darkness of sunglass lenses: Select sunglasses that block UV rays. Don't be deceived by color or cost. The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the price tag.
• Check for 97-100% UV protection: Make sure your sunglasses block 97 to 100 percent of UV rays and UV-B rays.
• Choose wrap-around styles: Ideally, your sunglasses should wrap all the way around to your temples, so the sun's rays can't enter from the side.
• Wear a hat: In addition to your sunglasses, wear a broad-brimmed hat to protect your eyes.
• Don't rely on contact lenses: Even if you wear contact lenses with UV protection, remember your sunglasses.
• Don't be fooled by clouds: The sun's rays can pass through haze and thin clouds. Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime during the year, not just in the summertime.
• Protect your eyes during peak sun times: Sunglasses should be worn whenever outside and it's especially important to wear sunglasses in the early afternoon and at higher altitudes, where UV light is more intense.
• Don't forget the kids: Everyone is at risk, including children. Protect their eyes with hats and sunglasses. In addition, try to keep children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun's UV rays are the strongest.

My children and grandchildren all wear hats and sunglasses – a blessing for sure.  Hope you and yours are wearing them!

References:

American Academy of Ophthalmology http://development.aao.org

Sunglasses - Choose Sunglasses that Look Great and Protect Your Eyes 

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/none/sunglasses-choose-sunglasses-that-look-great-and-protect-your-eyes-1398972/

http://www.earthgauge.net/wp-content/fact_sheets/EG_UV_Safety.pdf

http://www.ggclinic.com/pdf/July_2010_UV_Safety_Month.pdf