Home & Family Safety Tips

The Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross is committed to helping you and your family be safe and prepared for all of life's disasters - big and small. Take the time to check out our safety tips below:

Bicycling

Boating

Fire

Halloween

Holiday Safety

Holiday Travel

Picnics

Power Outage Tips

School Bus Tips

Sports Safety

Bicycling Tips to Live By

Whether you enjoy peddling along the Natchez Trace, on bike trails, or just casual fun, here are some important common sense rules that could save your life.

Always wear a bicycle helmet that is the correct size and adjusted properly.
Wear appropriate clothing. Long baggy pants can get caught in the sprocket and cause a serious fall.
Don't let another person ride along sitting on the handlebars, the center bar, or on back rack or fender.
Don't tow skaters, skateboarders, or roller bladers
When riding in traffic, always stay aware of where you are in relation to motor vehicles.
Watch the road ahead of you. There's always the danger of rocks, branches, and potholes that could give you a hard landing.
Follow the rules of the road: Don't ride against traffic on the wrong side of the street.
Keep your bike properly adjusted, especially brake cables and gearing mechanisms.
Be sure the bicycle fits you and the seat is adjusted at the right height for you. Riding a bike that is too small or too big is an accident waiting to happen.
Avoid riding after dark even if you have lights and reflectors.
Be sure you're in shape for your planned trip. Don't try a 25 kilometer ride when you haven't been on your bike for months.
Be sure you have water along to replenish fluids, especially when riding in hot, humid conditions.

Boating Tips to Live By

Boating and swimming are two of the most popular ways to stay cool during a long, hot summer. Enjoying the water can be dangerous if some simple precautions aren’t taken. The American Red Cross offers the following tips:

Always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating and fishing.
Alcohol and boating don't mix. The Coast Guard reports that more than 50 percent of drownings from boating accidents involve alcohol. If you use alcohol while boating, the consequences are very much like those of drinking while driving a car. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination.
Develop a Float Plan. Anytime you go out in a boat, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. This is important because if the boat is delayed because of an emergency, becomes lost, or encounters other problems, you want help to be able to reach you.
Know local weather conditions and prepare for electrical storms. Because water conducts electricity, it is wise to stop swimming or boating as soon as you see or hear a storm.

Fire Safety Tips to Save Lives

Is your home fire safe? Would you be ready if a fire struck? The Red Cross locally responds almost weekly to single-family fires in the Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Copiah and Leflore Counties. To help minimize injury and to help people prepare, the Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross offers the following safety tips:

Make Your Home Fire Safe

Smoke detectors save lives. Install a battery-powered smoke detector outside each sleeping area and on each level of your home.
Use the test button to check each smoke detector once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately.
Replace batteries at least once a year.
Have a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Get training from the fire department in how to use it.

Plan Your Escape Routes

Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
If you must use an escape ladder, be sure everyone knows how to use it.
Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

Escape Safely

If you see smoke in your first escape route, use your second way out.
If you must exit through the smoke, crawl low under the smoke to escape.
If you are escaping through a closed door, feel the door with the back of your hand before opening it. If it is hot, use your second way out.
If smoke, heat, or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed. Signal for help using a bright-colored cloth at the window. If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and tell them where you are.
Once you are out, stay out.

No Trick to Having a Safe Halloween: Tips for Safe Trick-or-Treating

With witches, goblins, and super-heroes descending on neighborhoods across America, the American Red Cross offers parents some safety tips to help prepare their children for a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treat holiday. Halloween should be filled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun.

Walk, slither, and sneak on sidewalks, not in the street.
Look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks, and low-flying brooms. Cross the street only at corners.
Don't hide or cross the street between parked cars.
Wear light-colored or reflective-type clothing so you are more visible. (And remember to put reflective tape on brooms, pitchforks, wands, and your goody bag, too!)
Plan your route and share it with your family. If possible, have an adult go with you.
Carry a flashlight to light your way.
Keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be extremely flammable.)
Visit homes that have the porch light on.
Accept your treats at the door and never go into a stranger's house.
Use face paint rather than masks or things that cover your eyes.
Be cautious of animals and strangers.
Have an adult inspect your treats before eating. And don't eat candy if the package is already opened.

Red Cross Tips Keep Families Safe For the Holidays

The holidays are filled with laughter, lights and festive decorations. The American Red Cross reminds families to keep safety in mind while decorating for the holidays this year. Twelve tips developed by the American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association are designed to help prevent injuries or even fatalities during the holiday season:

Test Holiday Lights - When decorating with lights, be sure to purchase only those labeled by a testing laboratory. Never use candles to decorate Christmas trees. For outside decorations, use only those lights labeled for outdoor use. Don’t overload electrical outlets and always unplug all lights before leaving home or going to bed. Surge protectors including grounding should be used when multiple plugs are used at the same outlet.
Take Care with Candles – Keep candles away from Christmas trees, decorations or other combustible materials. Don’t leave children unattended in a room with lit candles, and always keep candles, as well as matches and lighters, out of the reach of children. Never display lighted candles in windows or near exits.
Keep Christmas Trees Fresh - Choose a fresh Christmas tree and secure it in a sturdy stand. Place the tree away from heat sources and exits, and water it daily. If you purchase an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled fire-retardant. If you have small children, avoid decorations with small parts that can cause choking if swallowed. If you plan to hang stockings on your fireplace, do not use the fireplace for fires.
Cook With Care - When cooking, don’t wear loose fitting clothing. It can be ignited by hot burners. Always turn pot handles in so small children can’t grab them. Don’t store items on the stove top; they could catch fire. Keep kitchen appliances clean and in good condition, and turn them off after use. Make sure electrical outlets aren’t overloaded, and don’t use appliances with frayed or cracked wires. Children love to help cook. Supervise them closely.
Inspect Fireplaces - Have your chimney inspected by a professional prior to the start of every heating season and cleaned if necessary. Creosote, a chemical substance that forms when wood burns, builds up in chimneys and can cause a chimney fire if not properly cleaned. Always protect your family and home by using a sturdy screen when burning fires. Never use flammable liquids in a fireplace.
Watch Your Wood Stoves - Be sure your wood or coal stove bears the label of a recognized testing laboratory and meets local fire codes. Follow manufacturers’ recommendations for proper use and maintenance. Chimney connections and chimney flues should be inspected at the beginning of each heating season and cleaned if necessary. Burn only wood, and be sure the wood stove is placed on an approved stove board to protect the floor from heat and coals.
Be Cautious With Portable and Space Heaters - Place space heaters at least three feet away from anything combustible, including wallpaper, bedding, clothing, pets and people. Never leave space heaters operating when you are not in the room or when you go to bed. Don’t leave children or pets unattended with space heaters and be sure everyone knows that warming socks, drying wet mittens or other clothing over space heaters is a fire danger.
Prepare for Holiday Parties - Decorate only with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials. Avoid using candles during parties. If guests will be smoking, provide them with large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. After the party, check inside and under upholstery and in trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.
Designate a Driver - When attending a party, always designate a non-drinking driver. If you are the host of a holiday gathering, be sure there are non-alcoholic beverages available for guests who are driving and be aware of the condition of your guests.
Buckle Up - During the holiday months, people travel more than ever. Wearing a seat belt is the easiest and best way to prevent injury in a motor vehicle collision. Ensure that all passengers are also wearing safety belts.
Prepare a Winter Storm Plan - Have extra blankets on hand and ensure that each member of your household has a warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat, and water resistant boots. Stay tuned for storm warnings by listening to NOAA Weather Radio and your local radio and TV stations for updated storm information.
Enroll in a First Aid & CPR Course - Although these tips can help prevent an emergency, it is also important to be prepared should an emergency situation arise.

Safety Tips for Holiday Travel

‘Tis the season for visiting and making merry. Plans are made for long journeys in the car to visit friends and families and share the Holiday Spirit; cars are loaded up with food and presents for the journey. As thousands head onto the highways, the Red Cross offers the following safety tips for keeping your family safe throughout the journey to Grandmother’s house or wherever your Holiday travels take you.

In planning itineraries, leave extra time for making pit stops and for traffic.
Carry a first aid kit in your vehicle.
Have an emergency supplies kit in your vehicle including the following items: water, blankets, flashlight, battery powered radio, matches non-perishable food, can opener, children’s toys.
Children should travel in the approved safety seats, installed correctly. Here are some guidelines:

Infants weighing up to 20 lbs. should ride in a safety seat facing the rear of the vehicle to protect the infant's head, neck, and back. The seat should be at a 45-degree semi-reclining angle.
Never place a rear-facing safety seat in front of an airbag.
Children weighing from 20 to 40 lbs. should ride in a safety seat.
Children weighing from 40 to 60 lbs. should ride in a booster seat.
A safety seat must be correctly adjusted and installed.
Put the safety seat in the back seat.
Call 1-800-424-9393, the NHTSA Hotline, to ensure your child's seat is safe.

Picnics – Safe and Fun for Everyone

Picnics and barbeques are favorite activities for family get-togethers. The American Red Cross offers the following safety tips to help keep people safe and healthy:

Keep cold foods cold: Especially dairy foods and salads containing mayonnaise. They should be kept cold to avoid food poisoning.
Keep children away from grills, lighter fluid and matches.
Don't take the hamburgers off the grill too soon. Life-threatening illness can be the result of eating undercooked ground beef.
Watch out for insects that can really spoil your outing. Wasps, bees, spiders, mosquitoes and fire ants are not the type of guest you want at your picnic.
Check the weather forecast and watch for rapid changes in weather conditions. If severe weather approaches, find a safe shelter quickly.

Don't Be Left in the Dark! Be Prepared for a Power Outage

During hurricane and tornado seasons, power outages are a definite possibility. And during the winter, an ice storm can leave you in the cold with no electricity. Take a few minutes to think about potential power outages and your ability to deal with them. With refrigeration systems on the blink and traffic lights out of whack, safety hazards are a major concern. Protect your family and your neighbors by being prepared. Conserve energy wisely and prepare for a power outage. The American Red Cross offers these safety tips for before, during and after a potential power outage:

BEFORE POWER OUTAGE

Conserve Energy
Close drapes and blinds to keep heat or cold out
Weatherstrip doors and windows
Have flashlights, radios and clocks, w/ extra batteries
People with special needs or equipment should be ready for electrical outages
If you have a generator, read the directions and know how to operate it safely
Have a non-cordless phone in case of an electric outage
Have a working, non-electric smoke detectors

DURING POWER OUTAGE

------------Do---------------

Use flashlights or light sticks for lighting
Turn off all appliances
Turn off all but one light switch
Listen to the radio for information
Check on those with medical needs
Stop at all non-working traffic signals

----------Do Not-------------

Call 911 to inform them of a power outage unless you are experiencing an emergency
Assume other drivers will stop for you at non-working traffic signals
Use candles for lighting
Use propane indoors
Use barbeque indoors for cooking

--------Protect Food-----------

Coolers w/ ice ensure food will stay cool
Stock up on canned and dry goods
Keep the refrigerator/freezer closed
Discard meat, milk and leftovers if internal temperature is over 40 degrees

AFTER POWER OUTAGE

Continue to conserve energy
Reset all electrical equipment safely
Continue to drive safely: power may be out in other areas

School Bus Safety

Twenty-five million students are riding on school buses each day across our nation and the American Red Cross wants every rider to be safe this year. Working together with parents, teachers and administrators, we can help prevent injuries and save lives.

Teach your student bus rider these simple rules:

Line up facing the school bus door--not along the side of the school bus.
Don't play in the street while waiting for the school bus.
Carry your belongings in a backpack or book bag.
Never reach under a school bus to get anything that has rolled or fallen underneath.
After getting off the school bus, move immediately onto the sidewalk, out of traffic.
Wait for a signal from the bus driver before you cross the street. Walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so that the bus driver can see you.
Never cross the street behind the school bus.
Stay seated on the bus while it is moving.

Get Out and Play! Safety Tips Help Minimize Injury

Throughout the year, people in Mississippi are cleaning out cleats, hitting the links, finding tennis rackets, going for a jog and working up a sweat. Whatever sport is yours, it is important to remember how to stay safe and in the game and not sitting on the sidelines. Injuries during routine workouts or organized team sports are frequent no matter what the game. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, up to 39% of boys and 22% of girls participating in organized sports are injured each season. The good news is that almost half of all sports related injuries are preventable.

Warm Up: A proper warm-up prepares the body for training and competition by increasing body temperature, respiration (oxygen availability), and heart rate while reducing the risk of muscle tendon and ligament strains. Warm up before you work out—or begin any strenuous activity (even yard work)—by walking briskly for five minutes, then doing some easy stretching. Never stretch ‘cold’ muscles—warm up first. Stretch again after the activity.

Drink Lots of Water: Dehydrated athletes do not perform well. Fluid loss through sweating directly impacts strength, endurance, power, and cognitive abilities. Drink plenty of water before, during and after working out or playing the game.

Feel the Burn, Not the Pain: Pain can indicate a muscle, bone, or joint injury that can be made worse by continuing to participate in a sports activity without seeking medical attention or resting the affected area. Pain can also indicate overuse injuries such as bursitis, shin splints, stress fractures, and tendonitis. If you are experiencing pain, tell your coach, stop playing and consult with a doctor.

Cool Down: Ending a training session with a cool down period reduces the risk of muscle cramps, soreness, stiffness, fainting and dizziness. Cooling down helps the body make the transition from vigorous activity to a normal state of activity.

Protect your skin: Sunlight contains two kinds of UV rays—UVA increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging and other skin diseases; UVB causes sunburn and can lead to skin cancer. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of SPF 15 or greater.

Watch out for dangerous too’s. Too tired. Too thirsty. Too much sun. Too much strenuous activity.

Watch for signs of heat stroke: Heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Symptoms include hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness, rapid, weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 9-1-1 and move the person to a cooler place. Keep the person lying down. Quickly cool the body by wrapping wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, place them on each of the victim’s wrists and ankles, in armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear.

Use the right equipment for the right sport: That means always wearing a bike helmet when biking. Wearing kneepads, elbow pads, wrist guards and a bike helmet when in-line skating. A water bottle is essential for every outdoor sport. Protect your corneas with eye guards for all racquet sports (tennis, racquetball, and squash).

Get a Pre-Season Medical Check Up: An appropriate medical examination helps to assess overall health, reveal past and present injuries that could be aggravated by participating in the sport, and identify conditions pre-disposed to injury. Often, treatments can be prescribed to heal injuries or alleviate the condition prior to beginning training.

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