1. Think Abel – Think Safety
Winter 2011
Hello Again... Knowing the
Another year begins and the holidays are we need to focus our attention for certain Difference Between
behind us, although some of us will still safety exposures that affect us at work and Hypothermia &
be reminded of the end of 2010 by the home. Many of us are not interested in
statements and bills that are soon to these numbers; in our every-day world we Frostbite
arrive in 2011. are too busy working, hauling the kids off
to school, sports etc., and trying to get 25 HYPOTHERMIA:
Hopefully this year we can all look for- • When exposed to cold temperatures your
ward to many things that we hope will bet- hours out of a 24 hour day. So how does
this relate to us at work or home, or any body begins to lose heat faster than it can
ter us in some way. It may be a new job, be produced.
new car, new home etc. In this quarterly where else for that matter? Injuries at work
and around the home generate an enor- • Low body temperatures may make you
newsletter we would like to address a topic unable to think clearly or move well.
that is known to all of us but to which we mous amount of statistics and I could prob-
ably write a book or two on accident statis- • You may not know you have hypother-
pay so little attention. The main topic this mia.
quarter is Statistics. What is Statistics and tics that I have gathered in my many years
out in the field. The concept of this article • If your temperature is below 95°, the sit-
how does it affect me? uation is an emergency – get medical
is not to bore you with statistics, but hope-
Statistics is the science of the collection, fully to make you seriously think about attention immediately
organization, and interpretation of data. It how you, your family, co-workers, neigh- RECOGNIZING HYPOTHERMIA:
deals with all aspects of this, including the bors can easily become a statistic. Adults
planning of data collection in terms of the • shivering, exhaustion
design of surveys and experiments. Really, not me, you will say…
• confusion, fumbling hands
In Safety and Risk Management, statistics Well that’s the point – we are trying to • memory loss, slurred speech
plays an important role in identifying, make here. Take a moment to really think • drowsiness
planning and documenting trends involv- about all the possible ways that you could Infants
ing safety and accident hazards both in the easily become a simple Statistic, and do • bright red, cold skin
workplace and around our homes. How everything possible not to become one… • very low energy
does this relate to you in your everyday Always Think Safe, Always Think Smart, WHAT TO DO*:
life? Well lets think about this word Always Think Safety, or you may become • get victim into a warm room or shelter
Statistics for a moment. When you were just another STATISTIC. • if the victim has on any wet clothing,
born you became a statistic; if you have remove it
ever been involved in a motor vehicle STATISTICS FROM 2009
5214 – Fatalities in workplace
• warm the center of the body first – chest,
accident, you became a statistic. Many of neck, head, and groin – using an electric
us are very good at sports trivia by utiliz- 265 – people hit by a vehicle at work
168 – electrical deaths at work blanket, if available. Or use skin to skin
ing statistics; if your young college bound contact under loose, dry layers of blan-
student was accepted into the college of 68 – deaths due to contact with overhead
wires kets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
their choosing, then they became another continued on reverse
4762 – motorcyclists were killed
statistic. There are statistical reports for
6 million – DMV accidents, of that QUOTE:
every possible cause: car accidents, slips • 250,000 children were injured (700/day)
and falls, construction accidents, accidents Snowflakes are one of
• 42,000 of those were cell phone related
involving children in recreation, accidents nature's most fragile things,
• 2680 fatalities from those cell phone
at home, and on and on we go... related accidents but just look what they do
In our role as Safety and Risk Managers An average of 12 deaths per year relating to when they stick together.
we use these statistics to examine where ladder falls of 4 feet or greater Verna M. Kelly

2. Hypothermia & Winterize Your Car
Frostbite Driving in the winter means snow, sleet ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
continued from front page and ice that can lead to slower traffic, haz- Be prepared with a “survival kit” that
ardous road conditions, hot tempers and should always remain in the car. Replenish
FROSTBITE: unforeseen dangers. To help you make it after use. Essential supplies include:
• frostbite is an injury to the body that is safely through winter, here are some sug- • Working flashlight and extra batteries
caused by freezing gestions from the National Safety Council • Reflective triangles (or flares) and
• frostbite causes a loss of feeling and to make sure that you and your brightly-colored cloth
color in the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fin- vehicle are prepared. • First aid kit
gers, or toes • Exterior windshield cleaner
• seek medical care if you think you have Weather, any temperature
from 20° F below zero or 90° F • Ice scraper, snow brush and snow shovel
frostbite • Wooden stick matches in a waterproof
RECOGNIZING FROSTBITE: above – weather affects road and driving
conditions and can pose serious problems. container
• a white or grayish-yellow skin area • Scissors and string/cord
• skin that feels unusually firm or waxy It is important to monitor forecasts on the
Web, radio, TV, cable weather channel, or • Non-perishable, high-energy foods like
• numbness (victims are often unaware of unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, and
frostbite until someone points it out in the daily papers.
hard candy
because the frozen tissues are numb. YOUR CAR • Drinking water, enough for everyone
WHAT TO DO*: Prepare your car for winter. Start with a including pets
• get into a warm room quickly checkup that includes: • Heavy woolen blanket
• unless absolutely necessary, do not walk • Checking the brakes
on frostbitten feet or toes – this increases • Checking the battery connections IF YOU BECOME STRANDED...
the damage • Checking the tires for air, side-wall wear, • Do not leave your car unless you know
• immerse the affected area in warm, not and tread depth exactly where you are, how far it is to
hot water (temperature should be com- • Checking antifreeze levels and the freeze possible help, and are certain you will
fortable to the touch) line (do not use water in winter) improve your situation.
• warm the affected area by using body • Check windshield washer levels • To attract attention, light two flares and
heat, for example, the heat of an armpit Your car should have a tune-up (check place one at each end of the car a safe
can be used to warm frostbitten fingers the owner's manual for the recommended distance away. Hang a brightly colored
• do not rub or massage the frostbite area, interval). cloth from your antenna.
this may cause more damage • Make sure the car's exhaust pipe is not
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT blocked, run the engine and heater about
• do not use a heating pad, heat lamp or
An emergency situation on the road can 10 minutes every hour or so depending
use the heat of a stove, fireplace or radia-
arise at any time and you must be pre- upon the amount of gas in the tank.
tor for warming. Affected areas are numb
pared. In addition to making sure you • To protect yourself from frostbite and
and can be easily burned.
have the tune-up, a full tank of gas, and hypothermia use the woolen items and
* these are recommendation of what to do if
fresh anti-freeze, you should carry the blankets to keep warm.
emergency medical attention is not available.
following items in your trunk: • Eat a hard candy to keep your mouth
• Properly inflated spare tire, lug wrench, moist.
THINGS TO DO ON COLD DAYS
and tripod-type jack Reprinted with permission from the
Make a snow angel by lying on your • Shovel and Tool kit National Safety Council
back in the snow and spreading out
• Jumper cables
your arms to the side then moving
• Bag of salt or cat litter
them up and down.
Build a snow fort. Have a snow ball
fight. Interesting Information
Build a snowman. Give him a carrot Women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than men.
nose and a hat.
According to recent data from 100 hospital emergency rooms from 1994 to 2006,
Shovel snow.
each year 9,300 Americans suffer from a computer-related injury.
Put out suet and birdseed for birds.
Take photos of trees to compare to The average baby cries at 90 decibels... only 15 decibels less than a power mower
summer photos. It takes .06 seconds for an automotive air bag to fully inflate.
2 Corporate Drive, Cranbury, New Jersey, 08512-3604
t: 609-860-0400 f: 609-860-0440 safety@ThinkAbel.com www.ThinkAbel.com