Every day there is sad news of accidents in the news. I ache when I hear or read those stories, and I wonder how I can prevent similar accidents in my own life and with those I love.
We all know that accidents happen, and we also know that there are ways to prevent a lot of common accidents too.
What can we do?
- Abide by public safety and health standards--those standards have been created for good reasons.
- Read/watch the news--the stories in the news are teachers to all of us in countless ways including how to be safe.
- Take care when using fire of any kind
- Teach your children not to play with matches (or gasoline)
- Read safety measures and information prior to an adventure or event.
- Abide by these common safety tips:
- wear a helmet when riding a bike
- don't speed when driving a car
- don't drink and drive
- avoid angry interactions--get away when faced with angry situations
- don't swim alone, swim at protected beaches, and if a beach is not protected bring a safety device with you.
- know safe boating guidelines and follow them
- when hiking researching trails, be prepared, know the weather, and consult local experts/rangers prior to the hike for any other needed information
- be careful cross the street--as your mom taught you, look both ways and use crosswalks when available
Accidents will happen, but a little research and attention to safety can prevent many of those accidents.