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| How to Prepare for a Winter Driving Emergency |
Last week, hundreds of drivers in the United States and Canada found themselves stranded on highways after being caught in snowstorms. Unfortunately, not all of them were properly prepared or knew what to do. Neeland Thomas Rumble, a 41-year-old security guard, left his car after it had been caught in a drift. His body was found approximately 50 yards (50 meters) away. He’d died of exposure.
Preparedness is key to getting through a winter storm with minimum danger and discomfort. Here are some pointers to share with your workers.
Before leaving on your winter journey:
- Make sure your cell phone is fully charged.
- Map out your trip carefully and plan to travel during daylight.
- Try to take at least one other person with you
- Dress warmly, wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing.
- Pack an emergency kit, containing:
- High-energy food and several bottles of water
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First aid kit with pocket knife
- Blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Matches
- Extra set of mittens, socks and wool cap
- Extra clothing, including an old pair of boots
- Bag of sand for wheel traction
- Small or folding shovel
- Booster cables
- Set of tire chains or traction mats
- Emergency “help” sign and/or brightly colored cloth to use as a flag
If you become trapped in your vehicle during a blizzard:
- Stay put. Don’t leave the car to search for help unless help is visible nearby. Display a trouble sign or hang a brightly colored cloth on the radio antenna.
- Turn on the car’s engine for about 10 minutes each hour to keep warm. Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning, though. Open a window slightly and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow.
- Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Do minor exercises to keep up circulation, but avoid overexertion, such as shoveling snow or pushing a vehicle. Cold weather puts added strain on the heart, and heavy physical activity could trigger a heart attack.
Help your workers plan for winter weather with this hazardous weather safety checklist. (Subscription to SafetySmart Online is required to access this page.)
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| This picture simply defies belief. It’s worth more than 1,000 words, yet it leaves us speechless. (Australian government Department of Defence) |
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| Dean Panel Issues Report on Ontario OHS System |
In January 2010, the Ontario Minister of Labour appointed Tony Dean as Chair of the Expert Advisory Panel to lead a review of the province’s OHS prevention and enforcement system. The appointed panel included members from labour, employers and academia with workplace health and safety expertise. The so-called Dean Panel just released a report containing its recommendations.
Read more on the Dean Report at OHSInsider.com.
(note: subscription is required; to get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Cost Trial of OHSInsider.com. Plus, if you sign up before December 31st, you will be entered into a drawing for a FREE NHL jersey of your choice.)
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| Bus Driver Saves Four from Apartment Fire |
A bus driver in Ottawa, Canada, is being credited with saving four people from a burning apartment building.
OC Transpo driver Peter Paquette, a former volunteer firefighter, spotted smoke pouring from an apartment window, stopped his bus and broke the main doors leading into the three-storey apartment block.
Paquette knocked on several doors to warn people to get out, kicking doors in if there wasn’t any response. He rescued four people and one dog before firefighters arrived on the scene.
The bus driver was taken to hospital for treatment for minor smoke inhalation and a foot injury, while one of the apartment’s residents also required treatment for smoke inhalation.
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