Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-13

yourself season In full swing,
It seems wise TO promote
safety around the house, to
60 along with all your in
creased industry.
There are quite q few tools
and devices which normally
don't get much use during
the cold weather. It's possi-
BILE that they may no longer
be in top condition. Careful
testing and inspection should
be the order of the day.
A ladder, for example: Be-
fore YOU place 1t and climb,
look 1t over carefully. Partic-
ularly examine the rungs to
make sure they're snug and
that no splits or deteriora-
ton Of the wood are evident.
Incidentally. this Is why
ladders should never be
painted, because If the rungs,
are covered with paint, you'll
never see q split or crack de-
veloping. So you'd have no
way Of knowing about q
weakened rung until 1t gave
way under your weight. II
this happened when you were
up there cleaning out q gut
ter, you can imagine the un-
pleasant possibilities.
A careful examination Of
your ladder is an excellent
demonstration Of safety
first is better than first aid"
Axe Head Tight3
Similarly, your axe: Before
busting It off and wading
into the trees or the wood
pile test the tightness Of the
head on the shaft. Sometimes
the shaft will shrink Just
enough to let the head fly
off.
If you're In doubt, drive a
few more small metal wedges
into the top of the shaft.
They're safety insurance. An-
other excellent way to make
sure the handle swells tightly
against the head is TO soak
it, the depth Of the head, In
oil for "a hours. The oil viii
penetrate into the wood, and.
unlike water, won't evaporate
quickly.
Before using any motor
after q long layoff, carefully
check the maintenance and
operating instructions. This
will not only be good il1sur-
ance against running the
motor under adverse condi-
lions which cause undue wear
but acts as q check for your
own safety. Chances are, Of
course, you remember per-
fectly well how to start, OPP
crate and stop the motor and
the rest Of the machine. But
confirming your memory. Is
good self-protection Just the
same.
Quotes Article
In the category Of motors,
I recently read an article In
Good Housekeeping magazine
which so deeply impressed me
with its sound and helpful
ideas for promoting safety
that I felt these ideas should
be circulated as widely Is
possible. Accordingly. ! asked
permission to reprint this In
my column, and 1t was
promptly granted. Here 1t Is:
with an estimated 20 mil
lion power mowers In use, 1t
is not unusual to see women
and teen-agers running them.
"A power lawn mower Is easy
to operate. But mishandled, q
power lawn mower Is danger
Gus to both users and inno-
cent bystanders. AS q result,
safety authorities and manu-
facturers are stressing that
strict precautions should be
followed in using q power
mower.
Safety begins, Of course.
with the mower itself. If your
family Is planning to buy
one, be sure 1t meets the
safety specifications set by
the American Standards AS
ISOLATION, q nonprofit or
ganization which develops
standards for industries.
Equipment made by manu-
facturers who certify they
have met ASA standards ell
Their carries the seal Of the
outdoor Power Equipment
Institute, an association Of
power equipment manufac-
turers, or states 1t in the
operating manual.
1.-THE National Safety Courl-
ell considers reel-type now
ers with blades similar to
most nonpower mowers the
safest type. Reel blades. the
NSC says, do not turn as fast
as rotary blades. This lessons
the severity of accidental In
Jury and the force Of objects
thrown off by the blades.
However, reel mowers can
be dangerous to hands II an
attempt Is made to clear an
entangled reel while the ma
chine Is running. The NSC
also strongly advises against
allowing children to run q
power mower. Older teen
ayers should be thoroughly
instructed before they are
permitted to use one. ANY
housewife who takes on the
moving chore also should fol-
low Instructions.
Clear Debris
For safe operation OF both
types Of power mowers: Clear
rocks, sticks, wires and other
debris from the lawn before
moving. Keep everyone-es-
pecially children and pets
away from the moving area.
start the machine on level
ground and be sure It Is not
a