HealthyLife Articles

Tag: car

  • Six Things You Should Never Do In Your Car

    Personal Safety

    Image of man driving.

    Driving takes total concentration. If you try to text message, talk on a cell phone, and do other things while driving, you risk having an accident.

    *  Adjust your child’s safety belt before, not after, you start driving.

    *  Don’t peer into the rearview mirror to comb your hair or touch up your makeup.

    *  Don’t drive with one hand holding the wheel and the other holding a hamburger. If you’re hungry, stop and eat.

    *  If a bee or flying insect distracts you or your passengers, pull off the road and get rid of it. Don’t swat at the bug while maneuvering through traffic.

    *  Don’t try to drive and read a road map at the same time. If you’re lost or need to get your bearings, pull off the road and look at a map, or have a passenger help you follow directions. Use a global positioning system (GPS), if you have one.

    *  If your children start to misbehave, don’t turn around to discipline them. Pull off the road and settle the problem, and teach your children how dangerous it is to misbehave in a car.

    Note: You should always wear a safety belt, use approved child safety seats, and heed the warning for air bags given by your car manufacturer. Doing so can make the difference between surviving a car crash intact or not surviving at all, between walking away with just a scratch or never walking again.

    A Year of Health Hints book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Stranded In Your Car During A Winter Storm?

    WELL-BEING

    Image of an older Asian couple stretching.

    A fast-moving winter storm could strand you in your car. The cold can lead to hypothermia and frostbite until you’re rescued.

    A charged cell phone can be your lifeline for first responders, but until help arrives, Amica Insurance with advice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers these tips to help keep you safe if you’re stuck in a winter storm:

    *  Always stay in your vehicle. You will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold temperatures.

    *  Run the engine for about 10 minutes every hour to provide heat. However, be sure to slightly open a window to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

    *  Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine.

    *  After the snow stops, open the hood of your vehicle to indicate that you need assistance.

    *  Tie a colored cloth – preferably red – to your door or antenna.

    *  Be sure to move your arms, legs, fingers and toes to keep blood circulating.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine