Category: Safety

There are some simple clues that indicate a tornado may be on its way.

First, notice the sky. A dark, greenish storm sky or a cloud that lowers itself down in the sky — a wall cloud — could indicate a tornado.

If you are in the middle of a storm, with hail and high winds that suddenly stop and all becomes quiet, this could mean a tornado is imminent. Hail forms above rotating winds so it is a serious sign of trouble.

Many people go outside in the quiet period to collect hail or marvel at the sudden stillness, but this could be a bad move. Instead, make everyone in the family put on long pants, sturdy shoes and discuss your tornado plan. According to livescience.com, about 50 percent of injuries from tornadoes come after the storm has passed when people are injured by debris, downed wire or leaking gas.

Dust devils swirling in fields or streets could mean rotating winds have already formed above in storm clouds. Make your plans to take cover.

If you hear a continuous roar, rumble or train-like sound, it means a tornado is near. Move immediately to an inside room or basement. Sometimes sheltering under a mattress will help.

If you are driving and you see a tornado, do not attempt to shelter under a bridge or overpass. There are no handholds on overpasses and the wind tends to be stronger. Those who survive, tend to have vicious injuries, losing limbs and fingers.

If you see a tornado while driving on a freeway, pull over to the side of the road, never stop on the road itself. This creates a dangerous situation for everyone on the road. Do not park your car under a bridge or overpass. Go to the nearest ditch, lie flat and cover your head. Do not shelter under your car.

The best idea is to find a building. But this may be impossible on a freeway.

If the road configuration allows it, drive at a 90 degree angle to the direction of the tornado. Don’t put yourself in the position of trying to outrun a tornado. You likely won’t win.

In the U.S., tornado season tends to move northward from late winter to mid-summer.

Ads on television or a friendly voice on the phone, can make a product or proposition sound mighty tempting.

But the products often disappoint and those friendly voices can belong to evil scammers.

How can you tell if you are talking to a scammer?

One thing you can do is have some firm rules about how you deal with people online or on the phone.

1. Know who you are dealing with. Is it really your grandson on the phone asking for money? Ask a question about the family that he would know but a scammer wouldn’t. If you are ordering online, read product reviews. Search for a company’s name online. See what others say about them.

2. Wiring money is like sending cash. You can’t get your money back. Don’t agree to swap a check for a wire transfer. Checks take a while to clear. Wire transfers are instant.

3. Be skeptical of claims of instant results. Beauty and health product are notorious for these claims.

4. Never reveal your social security number and birthdate over the telephone, in email or on the phone. Those two pieces of information can give a scammer all he needs to ruin your life.

5. Don’t play a foreign lottery. There is a reason this is illegal. If you must send any money, for any reason, then you haven’t won anything. You will lose your money. There will be nothing you can do about it.
Be an informed consumer; avoid scams and fraud! Visit ncpw.gov to find out more.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed injury data for adult cyclists using a sample of about 100 hospital emergency rooms.

They found that as cycling became more popular, the number of serious injuries has increased. In particular, the study found a disproportionate rise in injuries among people over 45, who accounted for 23 percent of reported injuries in 1998.

The most recent, figures, however, now show 42 percent. And, according to the University of California, Berkeley, about two-thirds of cycling injuries requiring hospital admission occur in people over 45. Most fatalities occurred in men.

Even if you’re an experienced rider, it’s a good idea to review these safety tips from the AAA:

1. Wear your helmet to reduce head injuries by up to 85 percent.
2. Keep your head up and look ahead, not at the ground.
3. Don’t carry a rider. It puts you and your passenger at greater risk.
4. Plan ahead when riding with a group. Agree on the route and what you’ll do if separated by traffic.
5. Check local bike laws if riding in an unfamiliar place. Avoid busy roads and peak traffic times.
6. Before riding at night, ask someone to check your visibility to motorists.
7. Maintain your bicycle. Keep chains clean and lubricated. Periodically inspect the brake pads.
8. Don’t drink and ride.