I saw a guy over the weekend riding a sport bike, in full leathers.  He was definitely dressed to avoid injury in case of a fall, but it was nearly a hundred degrees.  I am sure that the heat index was much higher.  Whew.

Have fun riding in the Texas heat, but stay safe.  Take your time.  Watch out for slick patches.  Avoid riding at night in areas where deer might be crossing roadways.  Above all, despite soaring temperatures, wear a helmet.

I served as a crossing guard when I was in elementary school.  I remember little about it, other than we (as kids) garnered little respect from motorists.  I have not seen (for good reason) a child crossing guard in years.

Let’s state the obvious – a pedestrian is no match for a car, truck, bus, or motorcycle.  A collision between a pedestrian and any vehicle can cause serious injury or death.  As pedestrians, we need to watch closely when approaching or crossing a street.  One of the first things that we as parents teach our kids is to stay out of the street.  Then, when they are old enough to cross a street, we tell them to look both ways before crossing.  As adults, we at times forget the lessons we teach.  Last night, I saw an adult run with about four or five kids across a 4-lane street.  They were not at a crosswalk, and there was significant traffic.  Sheesh.

As drivers, our responsibilities related to pedestrians are even more important.  We are those controlling the movement of, at times, vehicles weighing several thousand pounds.  We should always yield to pedestrians.

Here are some sites to assist with our pursuit of safety, and avoidance of injury, with kids, crosswalks, and adult pedestrians -

Texas law for yielding to a pedestrian -

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_Texas_Law_for_yielding_to_a_pedestrian

Crosswalk safety rules for kids -

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/426706/crosswalk_safety_essentials_for_school.html?cat=27

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Pedestrian Safety Program -

http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.dfedd570f698cabbbf30811060008a0c/

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Americans depend on pharmacies and pharmacists to appropriately dispense medication.  When I think of pharmacy errors, a scene in It’s a Wonderful Life comes to mind.  The pharmacist (Mr. Gower) is distraught because he has just lost his son to the flu.  Being inattentive, he fills a medication mistakenly using cyanide.  In the movie, everything worked out in the end.  Unfortunately, real life does not always work the same way.

If a pharmacist fills a prescription using the wrong medication, or gives incorrect instructions, serious illness or death can occur.  While there was a time in this country that we placed blind trust in doctors and pharmacists, those days are gone.  Be an informed patient and consumer.  Check and double-check your prescription.  If you take medication on an ongoing basis, be sure that you recognize the pills or tablets by sight.  Here are links to some sites which might be helpful in your quest to assure that you are receiving the proper medication and/or that your pharmacy is safe -

Identifying Factors that Cause Pharmacy Errors -

http://www.uspharmacist.com/continuing_education/ceviewtest/lessonid/105916/

Investigation into Pharmacy Errors -

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/popup?id=2991778

20/20 Story on Pharmacy Errors -

I heard the phrase, at a young age, “The right tool for the right job.”  Usually, someone says that in a sarcastic manner, when they are using one tool to do the job of another.  A person might bang a nail into a board with a wrench or a large screwdriver when a hammer is not handy.  While the phrase might be  funny in an injury-free shop or garage, it can have more serious implications when life or limb is at risk.

We should always strive to be safe when working with tools, whether at home or in a shop at work.  However, even when we act safely, defectively-manufactured or improperly maintained tools can cause serious injuries.  Before choosing a certain tool for a specific job, be sure that you are familiar with the tool.  Some tools, such as screwdrivers, might take little more than a quick glance.  Other more complicated tools might require that you read a manual or do a little internet research.  Here are some sites that might aid you in working safely with tools -

OSHA – Hand and Power Tools -

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/handpowertools/index.html

The Hand Tools Institute – Tool Safety

http://safety.hti.org/safety.htm

Workshop Safety for Kids -

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,20167210,00.html

If you ride motorcycles, you have heard the phrase “dress for the crash.”  If you started riding at a young age, and you jumped even small hills with dirt bikes, you likely had at least one spill in which you did or could have flipped over the handlebars.  In such a case, it is likely that you could land head-first.  There are innumerable other bike-riding situations (both street and trail) in which a rider’s head could strike the ground or an object, resulting in a traumatic brain injury, paralysis, or death.

What is the lesson?  Wear a helmet.  Okay, but what kind of helmet?  The first helmet that I had was an open-face.  I could snap various visors onto it depending on the weather and time of day.  I then began to appreciate (and use) a Bell-type helmet.  The helmet would give more complete coverage, having a hole of sufficient size to allow sight.  A helmet that provides significantly less protection is the German-type helmet.  It is smaller that the typical open-face helmet, but some bikers like the look.

Tips for helmet purchasing -

• Be sure that the helmet is DOT-approved.  This should go without saying these days, because most motorcycle helmets manufactured by reputable manufacturers are DOT-approved
• Be sure that the helmet fits YOU correctly.  Helmets are not “one size fits all.”  Go to a bike shop with people you trust, and who can properly fit you to a helmet.
• Don’t buy used helmets.  A helmet might look great, but a prior hit on the helmet might make the helmet unsafe.

You might also want to check out these sites -

http://www.motorcyclehelmet.com/motorcycle-helmet-tips.html

http://www.articlesbase.com/motorcycles-articles/motorcycle-helmets-tips-for-purchasing-the-right-helmet-for-you-1739846.html

http://www.legendinhelmets.com/tips-and-tricks/

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Riding a bike can bring a great feeling of freedom.  There is nothing between the rider and the road other than two wheels and tires.  There is no constricting “body” or “cage,” as with a car or truck.  However, these physical attributes of a motorcycle, while giving a feeling of freedom, are also the attributes that can lead to significant injury and death.

Motorcycle riders literally put their faith in motorcycle manufacturers when they hop on bikes and ride.  Riders assume that bikes are safe.  They assume that the worst would not occur - that the wheels would not fall off.  However, there are times when manufacturers have not properly designed and/or manufactured a bike.  How do you know which bikes are the safest?  There is no way to know for sure.  “Google” the manufacturer before you buy.  Visit a few bike shops and ask for lots of opinions.  Check out online forums and local bike clubs.  Don’t take a chance on an unknown manufactuer.  The result could be a head injury, paralysis, or even death.  Ride safely by first buying safely.

I have lived in Texas most of my life, and I have grown weary of Hollywood’s depiction of Texans.  Nevertheless, one thing that Hollywood has right is the strongly-held belief of many Texans that they have a right to bear arms.

Some Texans hunt with their guns, while other Texans use them just at the range.  Still other Texans are licensed to carry, or keep firearms in their homes, for protection.  Yet others are merely collectors and never fire their weapons.  Whatever the purpose for gun ownership, safety is paramount.

The safety rules vary with the type of weapon and its use.  Here are a few sites which give tips and/or offer courses to gun owners and users -

NRA gun safety rules -

http://www.nrahq.org/education/guide.asp

Gun safety for kids -

http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/gun_safety.html

Texas hunter education -

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/

Texas is known for its large ranches and it ability to feed millions from crops grown on its farms.  Farmers and ranchers are so sewn into the fabric of the state that Texas would lose its identity without them.  However, Texans are faced with significant risks on farms and ranches.

Perhaps one of the greatest risks is that resulting from the use of farm and ranch equipment.  Texans use all types of equipment, including hay balers, tractors, irrigators, feed grinders, mowers, bulldozers, cultivators, and generators.  One could write books on how to best use this equipment to avoid injury and death.  However, for a short primer on farm and ranch safety, take a look at these sites -

Farm safety for kids and teens -

http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/farm_safety.html

Preventing machinery accidents during operation -

http://nasdonline.org/document/1050/d000845/farm-machinery-and-equipment-safety-part-ii-preventing.html

OSHA fact sheet on farm safety -

http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/FarmFactS2.pdf

Farmtek safety and protection supplies / equipment -

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/cat1a;ft1_safety_protection.html

Here is a good, brief video on boating safety -

On a lighter note -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqq08IkNG90

Lead ingestion, particularly by children, can cause significant illness.  the most common source of lead poisoning is paint used in pre-1978 homes.  Lead-based paint is no longer used for residential purposes, but it is still used in some commercial applications and by the military.

If you are buying a home built in the late 1970s or earlier, and you have small children, you should consider having a lead-based paint risk assessment / inspection.  Here is a link to a disclosure form to be used by sellers of residential real estate in Texas -

http://www.trec.state.tx.us/pdf/contracts/OP-L.pdf

Here is a link to to a summary of the Texas lead-based paint rules -

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/elp/pdf/TELRRSUM.pdf

Finally, here is a link to a pamphlet, promulgated by the federal government, as to how to protect your family from lead-based hazards in your home -

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/426.pdf