This week I would like to focus the safety section of The Weekly
News on a specific area. Transportation for the disabled.

When someone schedules for transportation to a doctors appointment,
they assume that the service is legit. Most are, but re you getting
into one that is or isn’t?

Each state has heir own laws, some of which make it easy to spot if
a medical transport vehicle is legal or not.

Example: In New York state, the inspection stickers are always
square and placed on the lower drivers side of the windshield. But
not for medical transport vehicles, a properly insured and
registered medical transport vehicle in new York will have it’s
inspection on the lower passengers side of the wind shield and it
will be a diamond shape, not square.

This is a very easy thing to spot as you are approaching the
vehicle.

There are other signs to look for as well.

A medical transport vehicle can have problems like any other
vehicle, however, the NYDOT does not permit medical transport
vehicles to run with unsafe problems and drivers are required to
inspect the vehicle prior to driving it (a requirement of DOT and
CDL license).

Therefore, if you notice a cracked windshield or broken mirror on
the same vehicle on more then one occasion, the vehicle may be
legal, but did not pass the drivers inspection prior to leaving the
lot.

There are companies that are known for playing games in this area.
One of which is Fresh Transport in Long Island, NY. Out of a fleet
of bout 10 vans, they are lucky if they have on that would pass a
DOT inspection. Also they are just as lucky if they have one driver
who holds a valid CDL license to drive the vans.

Is there a company like this near you?

Are they transporting you or someone you know?

Find out the local laws in your area. Be sure your getting into a
vehicle that is safe with a valid driver.

The life you save may be
your own!

By A. Wallace

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
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Safety tips for the Kids
From the Amber Watch Foundation

See their link on our Links page

1-Know what emergency numbers to call if you're home alone and you need help.

2-Don't give out your name, age, address and phone number on the Internet.

3-Never go anywhere without checking with your parents first, and make sure they know when you'll be back.

4-Don't get close to any car that slows down or stops near you. If the car stops near you, run away and go tell a trusted adult.

5-Always use the "Buddy System." Take a buddy with you whenever you go out to play or walk to school.

6-Say "NO!" and run away if someone tries to touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or scared. It is your body and no one has the right to touch you or kiss you in parts covered by a bathing suit. Go tell your parents or a trusted adult.

7-If someone tries to hurt you, yell for help, fight as hard as you can and run away.

8-Keep doors and windows locked and secured when you're home alone. Don't open the door and don't let anyone in without your parents' permission.

9-Stay with your parents or a trusted adult when you are at the mall, amusement park or other public areas. If you lose them, go to the nearest security officer or store clerk with a nametag and them that you're lost.

10-Never take short cuts. Always walk along well-traveled streets and follow the route that your parents planned out for you to go to school or other activities.

11-Don't tell anyone on the phone that your parents are not at home. Just say, "they can't come to the phone right now," and take a message.

12-Always check first with your parents before you accept anything from anyone, even from someone you know. If someone gives you something, or does something to you, and tells you to keep it a secret, tell your parents.

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Cool Tips for the Hot Days Ahead

With temperatures soaring across the nation and no end in sight for
this heat wave, staying cool is more than a matter of comfort—it can
be life saving. You can avoid heat-related illnesses, like heat
exhaustion and heat stroke, by taking some simple precautions and
paying attention to what your body is telling you. We asked family
physician Dr. Rob Danoff, the general health expert for MSN Health &
Fitness, for advice on surviving the searing temps, along with some
key dos and don’ts.

Be Cool

Summer sun can be a strong lure to play outside, but when it goes
from being warm to just plain hot, you need to be careful. Limit
your time in the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when
the sun and humidity are at their highest. Know your local weather
forecast and consult the National Weather Service heat index to know
what you’ll be in for at that softball game.

·Do: Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect sunlight
and keep your skin cool.
·Do: Slather on the sunscreen, even under your clothes. (Garments
with a loose weave will keep you cooler, but they offer less
protection from the sun.)
·Do: Take regular breaks. Find a shaded place and check your heart
rate to make sure it’s not racing.
·Do: Create your own shade by using an umbrella or hat.
·Don’t: Be cavalier about the heat. If you are experiencing
dizziness, weakness or other symptoms, take action. Heat exhaustion
can rapidly progress to heat stroke, which requires emergency
medical attention.

Livin’ La Vida Liquid

Urine output and color are good indicators of whether you are
getting enough fluids. If you notice that you’re making less
frequent trips to the bathroom or your urine is darker than a pale
yellow, drink more water. (Sorry, Coors Light won’t cut it.) Water
is our coolant system and dehydration robs our bodies of the fluids
necessary to perspire and cool the body.

So, how much water should you be drinking to beat the heat?
“Avoid the sensation of thirst,” says Dr. Rob. “By the time you feel
thirsty, your body is already started dehydrating.”
·Do: Drink water before and during any outdoor activity or workout.
·Do: Replenish fluids hourly throughout the day.
·Don’t: Drink caffeinated products or alcohol as they can cause
dehydration.
·Don’t: Drink sugary beverages as they can cause cramping.
Eat Like a Rabbit

Eat small meals and avoid high-protein foods. Dr. Rob warns
that, “Protein requires more energy to digest, which increases our
metabolic workload and, as a result, our internal heat.” Instead,
focus on water-dense fruits and vegetables like grapes, melons,
leafy greens and squash. They are easier to digest and help keep you
hydrated.

So again …
·Do: Enjoy tomatoes, watermelons and other seasonal produce.
·Don’t: Scarf down a Triple Whopper with Cheese.
Act Your Age

The effects of heat are more severe in people over the age of 65.
Seniors are sensitive to changes in the weather because their bodies
perspire less efficiently than the younger adults. If your age or
medical health makes you more susceptible to the ill-effects of
heat, take extra precautions. Check on relatives, friends or
neighbors who may need extra assistance until the weather cools.

Children, too, can be overwhelmed by the heat. Read about effective
strategies to reduce your child’s risk of heat illness.
·Do: Stay in air-conditioned areas and out of the heat. If you don’t
have air conditioning, go to the mall, the movies, a friend’s or
whatever cool respite you can find.
·Don’t: Rely on a fan to keep you cool in an overheated space. It’s
akin to sitting in a convection oven.

Check Your Meds

“Certain antidepressants, medications for intestinal disorders or
antihistamines can make it more difficult to perspire,” Dr. Rob
says. Other medications, such as decongestants or those with
stimulants like caffeine, can increase your internal heat load.
·Do: Check with your pharmacist to see if any medications you are
taking warrant extra precautions in the hot weather.
·Don’t: Take salt tablets without a doctor’s recommendation.
·Don’t: Take aspirin or Tylenol for headaches that may be caused by
dehydration. You need to treat the source of the headache. That is,
drink water.
·Don’t: Try to cool your skin with rubbing alcohol. It closes the
pores of the skin.

Know the Warning Signs

How do you know if you’re experiencing heat exhaustion or heat
stroke?

Warning signs for heat exhaustion—the less serious of the two
include headaches, moist and pale skin, dizziness, weakness, nausea
and low-grade fever. Heat stroke is when the body temperature rises
above 105 degrees and requires immediate medical attention. Even
with a trip to the emergency room, heat stroke can kill.

by MSN Health & Fitness staff

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Preparing for the worst

With all the wars breaking out in the world threats of terrorism,
hurricanes, wild fires, etc.

We need to be prepared for the worst.

FEMA may have received bad press in recent years, but they still
offer some of the best public information needed for a crisis.

We have supplied the following links to FEMA informational pages.
Please take the time to look around them.

NOTE:
If you are viewing this on BlogStream.com , please go to our site
TheWeeklyNews.info and click on “Weekly Safety Tips” to access the
links.

By A. Wallace

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm

Thanks for your patients.

I would like to thank everyone for their patients while I was out taking care of my medical needs.

I will be getting back to regular weekly updates starting next week. Until then, I have posted a few new articles on The Weekly News.

To follow along with future updates to this blog as well as our other blogs, visit us at
www.TheWeeklyNews.info.

Thanks Again,
A. Wallace

Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info
or join our mailing list to get weekly updates
at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm