• Tornado preparedness- Not one state in the continental U.S. has escaped the wrath of tornadoes. While the main tornado season is from Late April to July, tornadoes can strike at any time of the year.
• If a tornado is spotted:

• • Seek shelter immediately
  • If you’re away from home, seek out a basement, interior corridor, tunnel, underground parking lot or subway
  • Avoid auditoriums, upper floors of buildings, trailers and parked vehicles
  • Stay away from all windows
  • If you’re out in the open, lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area and protect your head; stay away from poles or overhead lines
  • If you’re driving, drive at right angles to the tornado’s path; if you can’t escape it, get out of the vehicle, and seek a low-lying area
  • If you’re at home, head for the basement and take cover under a heavy table or workbench; if you don’t have a basement, go into a windowless room in the center of the house
  • Stay away from windows and cover yourself with a rug for protection against flying glass and debris
  • Know the difference between a watch (conditions are favorable for a tornado to form) and a warning (a tornado has been spotted in your area and you should take shelter immediately)

• Transportation safety: Almost 1 in 6 crashes (15%) where someone is injured involves distracted driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

• Fire Safety- If there is a fire, you may have less than 3 minutes to get out of your home. Talk about what you should do to be safe. Make sure everyone in your home knows what to do if there is a fire.
  • Cooking Safety- The cooking area has no items that can burn. People stay in the kitchen when they are frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food. Pot handles are always turned toward the back of the stove.
  • Escape Plan-There is a fire escape plan that shows 2 ways out of every room. Everyone knows where the safe meeting place is outside the home. Everyone living in the house practices the escape plan 2 times a year.
  • Electrical and Appliance Safety – All electrical cords are in good condition and not broken or cut. People clean the dryer of lint after every use. All plug outlets are safe and do not feel warm when you touch them. (If they are warm, call the landlord or an electrician.)
  • Candle Safety – Candles are in sturdy fire-proof containers that won’t be tipped over. Adults blow out all candles when leaving the room or going to bed. Candles are kept out of reach from children and pets.

                                                               Lu Kimpel, RN