# Presentation: 057100

## Presentation on Injury PreventionU.S. Public Health ServiceOctober 2007

## Who are we? 

**We are part of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.**

## PHS Officers

- We are a team of more than 6,000 health professionals who provide healthcare to the public.
- As officers, we are physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, scientists, engineers, and other healthcare professionals.

## PHS Officers

- Pharmacy Officers work in various types of environments.

## Who We Are

-    Field Hospital 	    USNS Comfort

##            “Ground Zero”

##          “Hurricane Katrina”

## Why are we here?

- We are here to provide information on how to be safe so you can have fun while playing your favorite sports or activities.
- By following simple tips, you can avoid getting hurt, and stay safe.

## Topics

- School Bus Safety
- Crossing the Street Safety
- Bicycle Safety
- Concussions in Youth Sports
- Poison Prevention
- Home Fire Safety
- Halloween Safety

## Injury Prevention

- School Bus Safety

## School Bus Safety

- Line up away from the street or road as the school bus approaches.
- Wait until the bus has stopped and the door opens before stepping onto the roadway.
- Use the hand rail when stepping onto the bus.

## School Bus Safety

- Take your seat immediately.
- Always sit down and face forward.
- Do not stand in the aisles.
- Do not distract the bus driver.
- Do not stick anything out the window, including arms, legs, head, book bag.

## School Bus Safety

- _When leaving the bus:_
- Make sure that the driver can see you.
- Wait for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross the street.
- Carefully watch traffic.
_**NEVER**_ walk behind the bus.

## Slide 14

## School Bus Safety

- NEVER RUN TO OR FROM THE BUS

## Injury Prevention

- Crossing the Street

## Crossing the Street

- Always cross the street with an adult.
- Before you step off the curb to cross, stop and look left-right-left to see if cars are coming.
- When no cars are coming, it is safe to cross the street.

**Notes:**
Do you know your left  from your right? If you do, that is great! If you don’t, here is a hint: when you hold your left hand up, your thumb and first finger will make the letter, “L,” and that stands for “left.” 

## Crossing the Street

- Only cross the street at designated crosswalks.
- At a cross intersection, if there is a safety patrol officer, follow his or her instructions and signals when to cross.

## Injury Prevention

- Bike Safety

## Bike SafetyEquipment Check

- Make sure your bike is the proper size.
- Check to see if your bike seat is adjusted to the proper height.
- Make sure you have a reflector on the front and rear of your bike.
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated.

**Notes:**
Steps to Safety Check 
Make sure your bike is the proper size. A bike that is too big or too small will be hard to control. When you're standing on the ground you should have a 1-3 inch gap between you and the top bar. You'll need more room if you're riding a mountain bike. 
Check to see if your bike seat is adjusted to the proper height. When you're sitting on the seat with your foot on the pedal, your leg should be slightly bent. This will help avoid knee strain. 
Make sure you have a reflector on the front and rear of your bike. The rear should be red and should be at least three inches across. Make sure the reflector is pointed straight back to reflect the headlights of cars that are coming up behind you. 
Have an adult check the bike's chain to make sure it's clean and lubricated. If it's not, take it to the local bike shop for a check up or have an adult do this. 
Have an adult check your brakes for even pressure. They should make your back wheels skid on dry pavement, but you don't want brakes that stick. Yikes! 
Have an adult make sure your tires are properly inflated. 

## Bike Safety

- Always wear a helmet and fasten it.
- Wear reflectors and bright colored clothes.
- Obey traffic signs.
- Walk your bike across streets at the crosswalk.
- Stay Alert!  Watch out for obstacles 	  	  in your path.

**Notes:**
Pay attention to what’s going on around you.  Stay Alert!!

## What’s wrong with this picture?

## Slide 23

**Notes:**
The helmet should not sit on top of Terry’s head.  The bike is too big!! The handlebars are too high, her knees are not bent.  She is not alert because she’s listening to music.  How could she hear someone honking their horn at her or giving her a warning?
Also there are no reflectors on the front and rear and her clothes are dark in color.

## Slide 24

**Notes:**
Terry’s bike is the proper size. 
Terry is sitting on the seat with her foot on the pedal and her leg is slightly bent to avoid knee strain. 
Her helmet is not sitting on top of her head.
She’s distracted by music.

## Concussions in Youth Sports

- A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head that can be serious.
- Did you know that as many as 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur in the U.S. each year?

## Concussion in Youth Sports

- Signs observed by others:
- Appears dazed or confused
- Moves clumsily
- Loses consciousness even briefly
- Can’t recall events prior to or after hit or fall

## Concussion in Youth Sports

- Symptoms reported by athlete:
- Headache or pressure in head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or blurred vision
- Feeling sluggish or foggy
- Confusion

## Concussion in Youth Sports

- If you suspect a concussion:
- Remove athlete from play.
- Ensure athlete is evaluated by an appropriate healthcare professional.

## Injury Prevention

- Poison Prevention

## NATIONAL CAPITAL POISON CENTER

**Notes:**
The National Capital Center is These are examples of stickers and tattooes the National Capital Poison Center uses to help people to remember the phone number to the National Capital Poison Center.

## Facts

- Did you know that approximately 38,000 poisonings and overdoses are reported to the Maryland Poison Center every year?

**Notes:**
Can you give me an example of a poison?

## Examples:  

- Hand sanitizers are everywhere ...schools, workplaces, playgrounds, and homes.
- Hand sanitizers are safe when used correctly, but they contain alcohols and other poisonous ingredients.
- It is the amount you take that determines if it’s a poison.

**Notes:**
While these products can be harmful if ingested, they are perfectly safe and effective when used in the correct manner.

## Spike Is Your Friend

- NEVER take medicine without an adult present.
- NEVER drink cleaners, liquid soaps, shampoo, or detergents.
- If you accidentally take, drink, or swallow something “bad”, let an adult know immediately.

**Notes:**
Medicine is not candy.  People use medicine to help them when they are sick or not feeling well.  

## Spike Is Your Friend

**Notes:**
Spike is a mascot that all of the poison centers in the nation use to teach kids about poisons and what to do if you think you or someone you are around becomes poisoned. Today we have Spike tattoos and stickers that you can use to place near all of the phones in your house with your parents.

## Home Fire Safety

- Smoke alarms:
- Are they located on each level of your house, including the basement?
- Do you change the batteries once a year?
- Do you push the test button every month?

**Notes:**
Remind the adult in your house to change the batteries once a year.  Choose a day you can remember like your birthday.
Remind them to push the test button every month or maybe this is something you could do.  Choose a date you can remember like the day of your birthday.  If you’re born on the 28th, pick the 28th every month to test the smoke alarm.

## Home Fire Safety

- Portable space heaters:
- Keep at least 3 feet away from everything - including you.
- Just brushing against it could set your clothes on fire.
- Remember to turn heaters off before going to sleep.

## Home Fire Safety

- Escape Plan:
- Plan 2 escape routes from every room in your home.
- Practice using them.
- Make sure exits are not blocked by furniture.

**Notes:**
During a fire, smoke or flames may block an exit forcing you to use an alternate escape route.  Portable ladders can be used to exit from upstairs bedrooms.

## Home Fire Safety

- During a fire:
- React immediately when the smoke alarm sounds.
- Smoke inhalation is more deadly than flames, so crawl low under smoke.

**Notes:**
Most people think that it is the fire that is deadly, but it is actually the smoke.  The smoke can make you really tired and eventually put you to sleep which could make it difficult for firemen to find you. Heat and smoke rise; clean air will be 12 to 24 hours above the floor.  If you find yourself in a fire crawl low.

If the door in your house needs a key to open it, tell the adult in your home to keep the key close to the door so that you all can get out in the case of a fire.

## Injury Prevention

- Halloween Safety

## Halloween Safety

- Plan your trick-or-treating route and share it with your family.  It’s best to have an adult go with you.
- Walk on sidewalks and not on streets.
- Don’t hide or cross the street between 	  parked cars.

## Halloween Safety

- Carry a flashlight to light your way.
- Only visit homes that have the porch light on .
- Have a grown-up inspect your treats before eating. And don't eat candy if the package is already opened.

## Halloween Safety

- Remember:

- Never trust anyone you don’t know
- 			or recognize.

## What We’ve Discussed:

## THE END!