7 Safety Tips to Live By

November 17, 2015

Whether you’re biking, driving, or working, you must always take safety precautions. Always be on the defensive-no dangerous circumstance will get the better of you. The following ten steps will keep you out of harm’s way on your commute, at work, in school, or anywhere in between.

1. Wear a Helmet
Do you bike often? Secure your helmet and get ready for a bumpy ride. According to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), Canadian cyclists have a high risk of accidents:

  • Upwards of 8,000 cyclists are seriously injured every year
  • Most cycling injuries and accidents occur during the afternoon rush hour
  • 1/3 of cyclist deaths occur at night
  • 18% of cyclists killed in crashes and accidents every year are under the age of 16
  • Cyclists are more likely to be killed or injured at intersections with traffic signals and control signs
  • 34% of cyclists’ deaths are attributed to vehicular impact
  • 19% of cyclists killed were struck by a heavy truck
  • 64% of cyclist deaths occur on city roads

Don’t become one of these statistics – wear a helmet.

2. Buckle Your Seat belt
Did you know that seat belts reduce the risk of serious injuries and death by fifty perfect? In the event of a crash, you have a high risk of death by ejection. A seat belt will help you remain attached to the strong structure of the car. A car’s structure is a controlled environment and many deaths could be prevented if people buckled up, and buckled in, to a vehicle’s structure.

Who should buckle? Fastening your seat belt applies to you and your passengers-don’t assume that only small children and senior family members need a seat belt. If your car crashes, every single individual shares the risk.

If the prospect of injury and death doesn’t scare you into wearing a seat belt, consider this: throughout Canada, primary law enforcement gives police officers the liberty to stop and ticket drivers who don’t wear their seatbelts.

3. Use a Crosswalk
How often do you jaywalk? Don’t put yourself in serious danger when crossing the street. Crosswalks keep us safe because they signal to drivers that we want to cross the street. They keep us safe in a number of different scenarios:

  • Pedestrians don’t always have the right of way (except in marked crosswalks)
  • Even though you see the driver, the driver may not see you

Don’t become a casualty of a crosswalk mishap. Look both ways and use the crosswalk.

4. Don’t Text and Drive
Is texting more important than safety? Didn’t think so. You are twenty times more likely to get in an accident if you text while driving. Avoid the temptation and keep your eyes on the road:

  • Store your phone in the glove compartment
  • Keep your phone on silent
  • Designate a passenger as “texter”

It may be hard, but texting before and after getting behind the wheel may actually save someone’s life.

5. Avoid Public Transportation after Dark
Do you take a bus to work? Whether you drive or use public transportation, it is important to be extra cautious when traveling after dark. You never know who you might meet while traveling, so prepare for any situation that may arise:

  • Carry pepper spray
  • Keep a phone handy
  • Minimal amount of cash
  • Never get on an empty car, bus, or train

6. Wear High-visibility Apparel at Night
Does your job require nighttime workers? If you work outside after dark, be wise and invest in high-visibility apparel. Whether you are on a controlled job site or not, you never know what might happen. High-visibility clothes will help drivers and passerby know of your presence and take care to avoid any collision.

Do you intend to bike at night? If so, you must wear high-visibility clothing. Whether you have reflectors on your shoes, back, or helmet, make sure you choose reflectors that ensure your safety. Wear reflective vests and shoes so motorists can see you.

7. Wear Work Gloves
Do you always wear your work gloves? You better! If you wear gloves during work it reduces your risk for hand injury by sixty perfect. Most people make excuses to avoid wearing work gloves:

  • “Gloves make me lose my grip.”
  • “Gloves make my hands sweat and slip.”
  • “Gloves get in the way.”

Do any of those excuses sound familiar? If you’ve ever uttered one of them, now is the time to change. Wear gloves and keep safe.

Stay Safe
It doesn’t take much to stay out of danger.

  • Don’t mess with danger on the road-wear your helmet, buckle your seatbelt, use the crosswalk, and keep your phone stored away whenever you drive.
  • Don’t entertain danger on public transportation-prepare yourself and be aware.
  • Don’t put yourself at risk while working-always exercise caution and wear appropriate clothing and gloves.

Small things make a big difference – start small and stay safe. For more safety tips, be sure to read our blog or contact our helpful staff at Nutech Safety.

-->