Trauma Season

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…

In Southern Ontario we have been enjoying an extended autumn. While I am never one to complain about the delay of winter, it seems like the cold air is slowly creeping in and before we know it we’ll have our first blast of snow. Our friends to the north have already had some snow to contend with but are you ready for winter driving?

Here at Trauma Season we want you to be prepared for our first snow fall. So before the flurries start flying (for some of us anyway) let’s look at some winter driving tips to keep you on the road and out of the ditch.

1-      Learn to love your local weather person. By checking the weather in your area before you set out you’ll know what to expect while on the roads. You can also find out conditions on local highways and byways. Knowing this information ahead of time can help you plan a successful outing. So before you set out, tune in and find out the weather forecast while you’ll be out on the road.

2-      You’ve checked the weather and road conditions but before you pull out of the driveway make sure that your car is winter ready. Top up your windshield washer fluid and make sure it is rated for a minimum -40 C range and keep a spare bottle in the vehicle. Ensure that your gas tank has sufficient fuel in case you get stuck on winter roads for an extended period of time.

3-      Take a few minutes and make sure all of your windows, mirrors and lights are clear of snow. This helps eliminate blind spots and by clearing off your lights other motorists can see you too. While you’ve got the brush out be a good sport and get rid of the mound of snow sitting on your roof. We’ve all been behind someone who is merrily driving along and then they disappear because the snow they’ve failed to clear from their luggage rack is now on your windshield.  It is not a pleasant experience.

4-      Assemble a winter driving survival kit and make sure you actually put it in your car. Some items you can include are: snowbrush and ice scraper, shovel, flashlight, blanket and some non-perishable food items. Our friends at the Ministry of Transportation have a more extensive list of items that can be included in your survival kit.

5-      Once you are out on the open road drive according to conditions and leave a safe stopping distance between you and the car ahead. Keep in mind that in snowy and icy conditions your stopping distance is greater. Also keep in mind that you should proceed with caution when changing lanes. Slush can build up between lanes which may cause your car to behave unpredictably.

Keep these handy tips in mind when you are out on the road and you’ll be able to enjoy being out on the winter roads…at least until you get to a busy mall parking lot to do your holiday shopping. At that point you’re on your own!

Shhh…we must be vewy, vewy quiet…

Elmer Fudd had the right idea. He knew you had to ‘be vewy, vewy quiet when hunting bunny wabbits.’ The same is true of all hunting. It requires you to be patient, focused, skilled, and most important, safe. As the weather cools, leaves change colour and fall hunting season opens, keep safety top of mind when out in the wild.

We know that our hunter gatherer friends become giddy with excitement this time of year but before you go running into the woods in search of your next meal take some time to ensure you have all the proper precautions in place.

• Orange is the new black. All hunters in Ontario must wear a clearly visible orange coat or vest and hat while hunting. Not only does it prevent you from being an accidental target it is also very slimming and helps bring out your eyes. Those of you who hike, cycle or just take leisurely strolls in areas where hunting is allowed might also want to make orange a wardrobe staple.
• Make sure that all of your stories about ‘the one that got away’, exaggerated or otherwise, can be supported by someone – take a buddy hunting with you. In case of injury while out in the wilderness getting help is much easier when someone is with you. For those of you who insist on hunting solo make sure that you tell someone where you are planning to hunt and how long you plan on being out.
• Please make sure you know what you are shooting at! Line up your shot and be aware of who or what may get caught in your crosshairs. Remember that you may be sharing the area with hikers, joggers and cyclists.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has many courses and publications to help ensure that hunters can enjoy their sport in a safe way. Consult these links to access information about hunting regulations and safety.

Canadian Firearms Safety Course exam and Ontario Hunter Education Course exam 

Hunting Regulations summary (available online and in Service Ontario offices) published each spring 

The Ontario Hunter Education also provides a list of Ontario’s most common and preventable hunting violations.

Enjoy your time in the great outdoors and remember ‘Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands.’ – Jeff Cooper

One s’more tip for the summer!

As the air grows cooler and the days get shorter, the sad realization that summer is on its way out becomes more and more apparent. The Labour Day long weekend is now upon us; marking the end of “Trauma Season” and the beginning of “Really? I have to wear a jacket?!” season.

So, while you’re hanging around a campfire this weekend, eating s’mores and saying goodbye to summer, here are a couple of things to keep in mind about campfire safety.

Make sure to build your campfire in the fire pits provided to you or on bare rock or sand if a fire pit is not available. You want to ensure that it’s in a place where it will not spread; well away from tents, trailers, dry grass, leaves, overhanging tree branches or any other combustible. You also want to make sure you keep it to a small, manageable size.

Never use gasoline to start your campfire and never leave campfires unattended.  Make sure that you keep plenty of water and a shovel around to douse the fire when you’re done with it.  Carefully pour water onto the fire, stir the dampened coals with the shovel and then douse again with water. As an added precaution, shovel sand or dirt to cover the dampened coals to smother any remaining embers.

REMEMBER – Loose clothing can easily catch fire. If you do catch on fire, practice the STOP, DROP and ROLL technique.

There! Now you know how you stay safe around a campfire. So go back to your s’mores…I’ll start pulling my jackets out of storage!

Be a Super Cycler

Cycling is the chameleon of summer sports, with its riders taking as many forms as you can imagine: BMX teens shooting off jumps; twenty-somethings with one pant leg rolled up racing through the city to meet friends; professionals in spandex shorts opting out of the highway crawl on their way to work… not to mention mountain bikers, road racers, and trick riders on those tiny little bikes with oversized handlebars!  Needless to say, it’s a popular way to get around during the summer, either as a recreational activity or as a mode of transportation.  With so many riders out there comes the risk of injuries, especially in urban centres and on BMX trails – according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 4,324 Canadians were injured last summer as the result of cycling injuries, with over half of those injuries occurring on the road rather than on mountain trails.

Thankfully, the widespread use of helmets has reduced the frequency and severity of head injuries, however cycling does pose other dangers – with off-road and BMX cycling, injuries to the upper extremities are common occurrences, and include sprains, fractures, and contusions.  Those engaging in more rigorous forms of biking should wear helmets with mouth  guards to protect the teeth and face in the event of a crash.

In terms of the more severe cycling injuries and fatalities, the most common cause of injury is a cyclist/motor vehicle collision, where often the cyclist him- or herself is at fault: what some urban cyclists aren’t aware of is that they’re bound to the same rules of the road as drivers! Stoplights, traffic signs, and traffic etiquette all apply equally to cyclists and motorists, and if a cyclist runs a red or a stop sign, it’s at his or her own peril.  Either as a motorist or a cyclist, the road is a two-way street – respect it and watch for others on it!

So when it comes to cycling, cycle smart whether on the road, trail, or BMX course – be mindful of others, be aware of your surroundings, and wear a helmet!!

Fashion Tips… brought to you by Poison Ivy!

We here at TraumaSeason bring you safety tips and tricks to help keep you and your family safe against some of the summer’s common health risks.  Today, we’re branching out from our mandate a bit… by offering you some fun fashion advice!

Here it is: there is only one time when it is ever acceptable to wear socks with sandals.  And no, it’s not when you’re vacationing in some unknown town where no one knows you other than as “that guy with the fanny pack.”  Hear me out – the only time you can wear socks with sandals is when you’re hiking in an area that may have poison ivy.

Poison ivy is the sneakiest of plants – it can look like a shrub, a patch, or a vine; it can be green, red, brown, or mottled; and it can grow in woods, on rocks, in sandy areas and swamps, and can edge roadsides and gardens.  The easiest way to identify it is by the old adage, “Leaves of Three, Leave it Be” – poison ivy has three leaves and at this point in the year, those leaves are bright green and shiny.

So how is it poisonous?  Poison ivy contains an oil called urushiol, which is released if the plant is bruised or broken.  When the oil is absorbed into the skin, it causes an allergic reaction that raises red, itchy bumps or blisters.  It generally takes between 12 and 72 hours for the reaction to begin, and for most people it is an itchy nuisance that can last from two to four weeks – however, some people have much more severe reactions which may require medical assistance.   Seek medical help if the rash spreads to your face or sensitive parts of the body, if it involves a large part of your skin, if it looks infected, or if you’ve inhaled poison ivy as smoke.  For a more moderate reaction, cold compresses and topical creams should help keep the itch down.

While no one goes on a nature hike expecting to come home with a poison ivy rash, the best way to avoid it is to know what it looks like and to have a layer of clothing between yourself and the foliage.  Wear long pants – or socks with sandals, perhaps?! – and if you’re gardening, have long sleeves and gloves.  If you think you may have had a brush with poison ivy, though, wash everything that came in contact with it as quickly as you can – urushiol can remain active on clothes and gardening equipment for months.  For yourself, wash the affected area as soon as you can to lessen the effects of the rash.

All Terrain Vehicles

Summertime is ATV season – one of the more dangerous outdoor activities that the warm weather has to offer.  Thisyear, there have been six ATV fatalities in Ontario alone – and, according to SmartRisk, Ontario has lost 74 people to ATV crashes over the past ten years.  Riders most at risk of being involved in ATV accidents are males aged 15 to 29 years old, and alcohol is often a contributing factor – however, children under 16 account for a great number of ATV victims as well.

Because of the uneven terrain on ATV routes, the most prevalent danger that riders face is of their vehicle rolling over – and while cars have upper frames or roofs to protect riders, ATVs aren’t so securely equipped. Combine a rollover with a rider who isn’t wearing a helmet, and you’ve got a recipe for a serious injury.

The best way to prevent ATV accidents is to ride smart – stay within your comfort zone, and within the limitations of your vehicle.  Be sure that riders are on age-appropriate vehicles – children should not attempt to drive adult-sized ATVs, and riders under the age of 16 should be supervised at all times.  Ride on designated trails at safe speeds, and don’t carry passengers on single-rider vehicles.

What it all comes down to with ATV riding, however, are your choices as a driver.  Choose to wear a helmet; choose not to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and choose to ride at safe speeds – because these are the choices that will allow you to enjoy your favourite outdoor activities again and again!

Aquatic Advice from TraumaSeason!

The best relief for a heat wave like this one is to stay cool – and with extended hours at public pools, or home pools to enjoy before they slowly evaporate into humid puddles in the backyard, swimming is a very good option to beat the heat.

Pool safety, whether at a public or backyard pool, is important, especially when the number of swimmers seeking relief from the heat is rising along with the mercury in the thermometer.  Particularly if you have small children around, pools can pose a drowning hazard if you don’t take the proper safety precautions.

According to the Canadian Red Cross, infants and toddlers aged 1 to 4 years have among the highest drowning rates in Canada – and for every drowning death, there are as many near-drowning incidents that can lead to children being hospitalized.  Children can drown in a mere three centimeters of water – all it takes is enough to cover the nose and mouth – and when dealing with backyard pools that don’t have lifeguard supervision, parents and caregivers must be constantly aware of their child’s whereabouts.

Little legs move quickly, and taking precautions to ensure that an unsupervised backyard pool is inaccessible to children is an important way to help keep them safe.  Pool areas should be entirely fenced in, with a high, self-locking gate that a child can’t climb over, under, or through – and fences should be kept clear of climb-able objects such as barbeques, benches, and large toys that a child could use to hoist him- or herself into the pool area. 

The best way to avoid poolside dangers is to have constant, vigilant adult supervision whenever the pool is in use.  While most kids prefer the “cannonball” approach to entering a pool, little ones can fall in more quietly – keep your eyes open, and outfit toddlers with flotation devices (though they don’t replace adult supervision as a safety tactic).  If you’re on watch, keep roughhousing to a minimum, and be sure that all swimmers, even the older ones, have a “swimming buddy” — something that shouldn’t be too hard to find in weather like this!

If you can’t take the heat, find an air conditioned kitchen!

When the weather is hot and steamy like it has been these past couple of weeks it becomes important to stay cool and hydrated!!  Heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration are all common results of spending time out in the sun on days like these, so wear loose clothing, drink lots of water, and take frequent ”sun out” breaks by spending time indoors or in the water.   Don’t overdo it with physical activity, and be sure to layer up the sunscreen, because nothing can make a hot day hotter than a bad burn!

The Basics on Bears

The best advice I have ever heard on bear safety is blunt but true: if it’s not Winnie the Pooh, don’t approach it!

While black bears come across as cute and cuddly in the movies, in reality they are wild animals, who, for the most part, are afraid of humans and keep their distance – but bears will do anything for food, and if you supply it, intentionally or not, they will become conditioned to associate humans with food sources, rather than see us as something to stay away from.

Similar to the gremlins in that classic 1980s movie, there is only one golden rule when it comes to bears: never, ever feed them.  Bears are obsessed with food, and if they figure out that the birdfeeder in the back is a great place to stop for a snack, they will remember and return to it repeatedly – and I mean repeatedly – for refills.  Bears are intelligent creatures and have been known to return to food sources that they discovered a year ago after hibernating.  What’s more, they’ll sniff out other food sources at your home or cottage, including composters, garbage containers, barbeque grills, and will even break into kitchens if it feels there’s something tasty inside – and believe me, a bear in your kitchen is not nearly as polite or wisecracking as Yogi on a hunt for a picnic basket.  Chances are, it will realize it’s in a confined area, feel threatened, and panic.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has published an excellent site dealing with bear safety.  For detailed information on deterring bears, as well as what to do if you encounter one, visit BearWise, at http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Bearwise/index.html.

Stay Afloat On Your Boat!

Most boaters like to fancy themselves something of a skipper when they step on deck a boat.  Knowing your ports from your starboards, how to trim a motor, and properly tie a cleat are all parts of being allowed to wear one of those little blue and white hats – but the most important thing about being a skipper on a boat is ensuring the safety of your passengers.  Before you go cruising on the waves, be sure that your “float plan” includes safe and responsible boating practices.

You can’t drive a car without your license, and the same rule applies to boating.  Getting a Pleasure Craft Operator Card isn’t a difficult procedure and, more importantly, it provides you with the basics on safely operating a boat.   

Over 87% of drowning deaths occur to people who either aren’t wearing a lifejacket or are wearing a lifejacket improperly.   It’s no surprise, then, that properly fitting lifejackets or PFDs are legally required for every person on board a boat.  The difference between lifejackets and PFDs is that lifejackets are designed to turn an unconscious person face-up in the water so that they can breathe, while a PFD is designed to keep you afloat and are more generally used in watersports such as kayaking and waterskiing.  Choose a lifejacket or PFD based on the activity at hand, and be sure that they fit properly: it shouldn’t slide above your ears, and the straps should do up comfortably.

Another legal requirement for boating is to have the proper safety equipment on board.  Required marine safety equipment includes buoyant heaving lines, flashlights or flares, sound signaling devices, a paddle and anchor, a bailer, and a fire extinguisher.  Check OPP or governmental websites for a detailed list of what is required for your boat.

Use common sense when boating – don’t overload the vessel, use moderate speed, and avoid standing up in smaller watercrafts.  Don’t bring non-swimmers on a boat – it’s asking for trouble – however, if you must, have them wear a lifejacket. 

While many enjoy a summer drink on the dock, be sure that it stays there – on the dock.  Boating while intoxicated doesn’t merely hold the same penalties as drinking and driving: it also needlessly endangers yourself and others.  Designate a sober skipper if you and your friends decide to go on an after-cocktail cruise, to enjoy the sunset safely.