Water safety of all sorts is encouraged in a new report, and the tips should be understood by parents and indeed all citizens of California, especially the advice pertaining to beaches.  When headed to the beach, understand the common meanings of beach flags as explained by the National Weather Service.  Yellow or single red means you ought to use caution due to the heightened surf, while a double red line signifies that you shouldn’t be on the beach at all.  One thing in particular you’ll want to look out for on the beach is a rip current, which has the potential to pull even expert swimmers out to sea.  Look out for channels of water and lines of debris headed away from shore, and if you’re ever caught up in a rip current, swim perpendicular to the current until you get out.

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A new report offers some important safety tips for older drivers, and it’s imperative that the advice be understood in order to encourage safe driving on the roadways.  Persons over the age of 40 should make regular appointments with an eye doctor so that they’ll know right away if they need different glasses or suffer from something like glaucoma.  Prescription glasses that don’t cut off peripheral vision are a must, as is having a pair of sunglasses on hand to reduce glare.  Drivers might also submit to the AARP Driver Safety Course, which offers explanations about the most recent road rules and safe driving practices.  Finally, one might exercise regularly so that they’re able to turn their head properly to take the entire environment into account and get in and out of vehicles more easily.

For more tips, follow this link.

The Police Department of Grafton, Massachusetts has released a series of tips designed to help motorcyclists and automobile drivers alike encourage safety, and much of the advice relies on increasing visibility.  Motor vehicle operators are being asked to avoid situations where they might lose track of a motorcycle.  Particular caution should be used when such a rider is in your blind spot or when you’re turning left as a motorcyclist is coming toward you on the opposite side of the road.  Also be of a mind that a motorcyclist could be hidden from view by a larger vehicle and that riders might need to make a sudden movement if something like a pothole springs up in their path.  Motorcyclists, for their part, should avoid lane splitting and entering areas they know could put them in a blind spot.

For more tips, click here.

An Ask a Trooper feature found in a Minnesota newspaper nevertheless holds some valuable insights for persons in California.  The officer provides some important tips focused on ensuring pedestrian and bicycle safety.  First, drivers should realize that not all pedestrians are going to use only marked crosswalks.  Every single corner should prompt extra precautions, especially if a pedestrian looks ready to cross.  They should be given the right of way in those circumstances.  For their part, persons on foot ought to obey all posted signage and traffic signals and only cross when appropriate to do so.  Cyclists must basically act as if they were motor vehicles, riding with traffic, making turning intentions known, and following the directives of signage.  Visibility should also be encouraged among pedestrians and cyclists alike.

For more tips, follow this link.

If your worksite uses a pallet truck, then you might take a look at some of the safety tips included in a new report out of the United Kingdom.  Even slight mishandling of such a device can lead to a potential tragedy, and it’s essential that you not make a mistake with long-lasting consequences.  First, always follow the manufacturer’s usage recommendations, especially in regards to the weight limit.  Overloading a pallet can cause a potentially injurious malfunction.  Caution also needs to be taken while moving on a slope.  You should move uphill when possible so that you can maintain control of the load.  If on a flat area, though, pulling is acceptable.  Limit your speed, especially if people are around and your particular unit does not contain a hand brake.

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If you are headed out onto the road this Memorial Day weekend, then you might want to consider some of the tips provided by the California Highway Patrol in a new report.  The advice was touted during a recent event held by the CHP, the California Trucking Association, and the California Insurance Information Network that sought to impress upon drivers the importance of taking necessary precautions around big rigs.  Automobile drivers should always pass trucks as quickly as possible on the lefthand side, where blind spots tend to be smaller.  Smaller vehicles should never stay for an extended period of time in a trucker’s blind spot, because if they can’t see you, the threat of a crash becomes far greater.  If you’re traveling behind a tractor trailer, make sure to give it up to 25 car lengths of space.  Also give yourself plenty of room at intersections, as a truck in the midst of a turn requires a lot of space to navigate properly.

For more information, follow this link.

The recent situation that played out in Cleveland, Ohio has prompted a new report focused on safety tips which aim to prevent a child abduction.  Adults are first asked to take more of a vested interest in their community and to get to know their neighbors.  Parents should also speak to their kids about the steps to take to avoid danger, such as to not trust an adult that asks for a child’s help.  Kids should go for help and walk in the other direction when that happens.  If confronted by a stranger, children should also be taught that it’s alright to scream and generally be loud.  When your children begin to age and exhibit independence, make sure that if they go out with friends on their own that they stay in a group and immediately come home when their activity draws to a close.

For more tips, follow this link.

A number of businesspersons in the Seattle, Washington area who commute to work via their bicycles are providing some safety tips to other cyclists.  The business cyclists are largely upset with the city’s lack of infrastructure dedicated to bicycle safety, and each reports being involved in some kind of accident at one point or another.  Many talk up the importance of visibility-enhancement equipment such as reflectors, strobe lights, and brightly colored clothing.  Cyclists should ride their bikes along the right side of the road while being cognizant of certain obstacles, such as a car door being suddenly flung open.  The report cites research which suggests that cities with more cyclists might also decrease the danger, and thus employers are asked to get involved and offer incentives to workers who bike to and from work.

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Nevada, along with the rest of the country, is commemorating May’s designation as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.  To get citizens more involved, the Nevada Rider Motorcycle Safety Program has issued a series of important tips to drivers and motorcyclists alike.  Riders are asked to wear equipment that protects them, such as a helmet, and increases their visibility.  It’s also imperative to regularly brush up on skills training and understand your reaction time while on the road.  For their part, drivers are asked to put ample distance between themselves and riders, at least three or four seconds’ worth of road space.  Automobiles shouldn’t crowd a lane containing a motorcyclist and drivers should always keep an eye out for riders when executing a left turn.

For more tips, follow this link.

With the weather warming up around Washington, the State Patrol is taking the opportunity to call upon motorcyclists to use the precautions necessary to ensure their own wellbeing on the roads.  More motorcyclists on the road means more chances for injurious or even fatal accidents, but there are steps that can be taken that mitigate the risks.  Training is perhaps one of the biggest detriments to danger.  Not only should rookie riders submit to the necessary training course, but so should older riders who haven’t been able to dust off their motorcycle for months. When out on the roads, riders should also drive within the directives of posted speed limits, and if alcohol is consumed at any point, a motorcycle should not be in the cards.

For more information, follow this link.

Water and electricity certainly do not mix, and a new report out of Oklahoma aims to provide a few electrical safety tips geared especially toward reducing the types of injuries that occur when extensive rains lead to a potential hazard.  First, persons should not use electronics outside when the weather is rainy.  Even if the rain has cleared up, the grass might still be wet, and an electronic appliance can still pose a danger.  Instead of just keeping outdoor appliances outside when not in use, unplug them and store them in a safe place.  When you yourself are wet, stay away from circuit breakers and various appliances.  And should something like a vacuum or a lamp become damp, these must be absolutely dry before you can plug them back in.

For more tips, follow this link.

The spring is a great time to give your vehicle a decent once-over to make sure that it’s in the type of shape that will foster safety along the roads.  A new report offers some tips as part of National Car Care Month, and drivers concerned about their automobiles should at least consider them.  First, look at your tires to figure out if they’re inflated to the proper degree.  The tread should also be adequate for safety.  Your battery should be sufficiently charged, and transmission and brake fluids should be at the proper levels.  All lights, even those inside the cabin, should be in working order to improve visibility, and you should run your windshield wipers to make sure they clear up debris as they should.  Finally, if you’re not comfortable in your ability to make sure of these things, bring your automobile in to a trusted maintenance facility.

For more tips, follow this link.

A report out of Salinas offers a number of valuable electrical safety tips to consumers in the hope that the estimated 485 fatalities and 2,305 injuries which occur each year across the country can be reduced.  First, ground rules should be set up in regards to power lines.  Adults and kids alike should refrain from climbing trees in the vicinity of power lines, and various objects should be kept away from the lines.  That includes kites, ladders, and more.  Some of the tips are geared toward extension cords.  Such devices should only be used when absolutely necessary, and consumers should follow the directives for indoor or outdoor use.  They should also be kept out of the way of walking paths so that they don’t pose a tripping hazard.

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If you plan on renovating your home any time soon, then you might want to make yourself aware of a new report from Consumer Reports.  The organization explains that such remodeling projects typically release dust and chips of paint that tend to carry heavy amounts of lead.  It’s thus recommended that all homes submit to a lead test with  a kit approved by the Environmental Protection Agency before renovations begin.  Consumers can also work with a licensed contractor who understands applicable laws pertaining to lead.  535,000 or so children between the ages one and five reportedly have levels of lead in their blood that are above what’s been deemed acceptable, but taking the necessary precautions might protect your own children.  Parents might also purchase a water filter to eliminate lead from drinking water.

To learn more about the threat, click here.

This week is National Window Safety Week, and Consumer Reports is doing its part to protect citizens by issuing a series of safety tips which aim to mitigate the danger.  The agency hopes that the tips can reduce the estimated 5,200 falls and 1,300-plus serious injuries which occur every single year because of an open window.  It’s recommended that parents with younger children always supervise kids around windows, especially in the spring time when they’re more likely to be open.  Furniture, including cribs, should be far enough away that a child won’t be tempted to climb, and parents might invest in window guards to further prevent injury.  Parents can also plant bushes beneath windowsills so that, in the event that a fall does occur, the impact will be somewhat cushioned.

For more tips, follow this link.

A report out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin highlights some important bicycle safety advice from the local police department that could be followed by cyclists and drivers anywhere in the country.  For one thing, cyclists are told keep the number “three” in mind at all times.  Bicycles should be positioned three feet away from a curb or parked car to avoid danger, including dooring.  And automobile operators can do their part by moving over at least three feet when attempting to pass a bicycle.  Cyclists should look over their bicycle to ensure its safety prior to riding, and bright clothes should be worn to increase visibility.  Helmets can limit danger in the event of a crash, and all cyclists should recognize that laws pertaining to automobiles are applicable to them as well.  That means running stop signs or traffic lights is a poor decision.

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Motorcycle season is finally upon us with the start of spring, and that means that all drivers have to be cognizant of a near-certain upsurge in motorcycle traffic as the weather gets warmer.  In Anne Arundel County, Maryland, the local police are thus providing a few tips to citizens.  Automobile operators should limit distractions from their phones and otherwise, and they should also pay careful attention to their blind spots.  Looking twice when merging and turning can also go a long way toward protecting motorcyclists.  Riders, for their part, should realize that their skills may lag a bit since last they rode, and thus practice in a parking lot might be a good idea.  The bike should be checked out for potential damage since it was last ridden, and of course, the correct gear needs to be worn at all times.

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A new report attempts to dissuade those vehicle operators who might otherwise be tempted to engage in distracted driving.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol, concerned about a recent uptick in the number of fatalities (from 786 in 2011 to 825 in 2012), wants drivers to eliminate inattention from their lives.  Although cellphone usage is definitely a part of that, drivers must also take steps to remove temptations that take the form of food or drinks, GPS devices, and even the radio.  The National Safety Council encourages employers to speak to their employees about distraction and come up with policies that further enforce the idea that distraction has no place in commercial vehicles.

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In Gladstone, Oregon this week, the local police department plans to hold a bicycle education event for local Cub Scouts.  But ahead of that meeting, one officer has provided some safety tips that would be applicable to riders all across the country.  He says that riders should wear proper clothing and a helmet at all times.  The bike itself needs to receive proper maintenance.  Brakes ought to be in great shape and the tires should have enough air to get you to your destination safely.  If your ride brings you off a trail and into the street, it’s best to stay as close to the curb as possible while going the same direction as traffic.  Distractions from things like headphones should be eliminated, and you should pay attention to all signage to know what riding maneuvers are appropriate.

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A recent incident in Phillips, Wisconsin has caused police officials in that community to advise citizens to stay safe whether behind the wheel or on foot.  The collision apparently involved a distracted driver and a pedestrian.  The Police Chief is warning people to not engage in a practice wherein they step into the street but then wave on the approaching motor vehicle.  He says this creates a dangerous situation that could compromise the safety of other drivers, as is stepping into the road from between two parked cars.  Drivers are similarly advised to look out for pedestrians in a crosswalk or otherwise, as such persons should always be given the right of way.

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