Volume 3, Issue 4

September 2006

In This Issue:

1. Walking Safety Tips

2. CarFit Safety Tips

3. The CarFit Program

4. Safe Use of Hand Tools

5. Announcements

This month's SAFE Aging newsletter topic is about community safety. We include tips to maximize safety when walking during the day or night in the community, general safety tips about the use of hand tools; problems that happen due to poor vehicle fit with the driver, and driver safety solutions that impact the safety of the driver and the community. We also include information about the excellent national CarFit program, developed by ASA, AOTA, AAA and AARP, and other helpful resources.
 

1. Walking Safety Tips by Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD

Walking is a great exercise. It not only does terrific things for the body, it does terrific things for the mind. It makes people feel good. Walking is good for you, but unsafe conditions can make walking a perilous journey. Here are some walking safety tips. 

Sidewalk Walking 

1. Wear good supportive shoes.  

Shoes should be a low height, rubber or crepe sole, and provide a wide base of support. This design provides the greatest contact between the shoe and walking surface. As a result, it gives the walker a greater base of support, which assists balance and improves walking stability.  

2. Be observant when walking. 

Always look ahead when walking, scanning the sidewalk or walking pathway for possible tripping obstacles such as benches, lamp posts, bicycles, garbage, rocks or stones.  

1. Watch for tree roots. 

Trees are quite beautiful, and add so much to the appearance of any environment. Unfortunately for the walker, trees have roots. Tree roots can cause sidewalks to buckle or crack and are a serious walking hazard to the unaware. 

2. Watch for eroded soil adjacent to sidewalk edges. 

Soil that has eroded from sidewalk edges can create a serious walking hazard. This lack of surface support is a common cause of falls. 

3. Watch for sidewalk cracks

Any side walk crack can be a hazard, but cracks more than one inch wide are a serious walking hazard. Report sidewalk cracks greater than one inch wide as a walking safety hazard to your local government officials. 

3. When walking with mobility aids, be sure rubber tips are in good condition. 

   When walking with any type of cane, walker or crutch, be sure rubber tips at the bottom of the walking aid are in excellent condition. The rubber tips add greater surface contact and resistance. This increases the safety of a physically impaired walker who needs the extra support a mobility device offers. Torn rubber tips can cause a tripping hazard. Worn rubber tips can cause slipping. 
    

4. Don't walk while under the influence!  

   This can sound silly, but the truth is, walking while intoxicated has caused many serious and even deadly falls. Walking while under the influence of alcohol, prescribed or controlled drugs, or even certain noxious chemicals can distort vision and perceptions, hearing, feeling and thinking. This is a deadly combination of risk factors that can lead to injury or death. 
    

5. Avoid walking along the side of the road. 

   Sidewalks are definitely safer. If your community does not have sidewalks in common walking areas, be a concerned citizen, and tell local officials about the hazards of walking without sidewalks. Ask for sidewalks to be constructed in all community walking areas. 
    

6. Carry a working cell phone. 

   Carry a cell phone for safety and security whenever walking. A cell phone can be used should any emergency arise.  
    

7. Let others know about your general walking habits or routines. 

   This is a kind of insurance, in the event an emergency happens and you are unable to help yourself. 
    

8. Use only walkway paths that are safe for crossing roads and highways. 

   Cross the street only in designated crossing areas. Motorists are mentally prepared to look for pedestrians at designated cross walks. Avoid crossing a street in any other location.

Safety Tips for Night Time Walking

1. Never assume motorists can see you when walking at night. 

   Motorists can easily be distracted when driving. Sight can also be reduced temporarily due to high or low beams from on coming cars. There are so many reasons a driver may not see a walking pedestrian.
    

2. Walk defensively to reduce night time walking risks.

1. Wear light reflective clothing and shoes for greater visibility. 

Light clothing is far easier to see at night than dark clothing. Add some reflective tape to your shoes and clothing before walking at night. Reflective tape can be purchased at home building stores, and sometimes in local dollar stores. 

2. Carry a bright light at night. 

Always make sure your batteries are in good working order. There are also new flashlights that do not require batteries and operate by cranking a handle. 

3. Walk in well lit areas whenever possible. 

This just makes good sense. Well lit areas are easier for the walker to see possible hazards; and also make it easier for motorists to see the walker. 

3. Do not look directly into car headlights. 
   
   Looking directly into vehicle head lights can cause temporary loss of vision. For seniors, the time it takes for the eyes to readjust or accommodate back to the normal night light can be many more than a few minutes. Avoid looking directly into car headlights. 
    

4. In addition to these night time tips, Follow the tips for sidewalk walking. 
   
   Walking can be a wonderfully relaxing and healthy daily life activity. Make your walk as safe as possible.

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2. CarFit Safety Tips

To be a safe driver, and to assure the safety of passengers, pedestrians and other motorists, the vehicle has to fit the driver. A good fit means the driver can easily and comfortably do all of the necessary driving functions at any given moment.

When a driver is not able to easily and comfortably handle every single aspect of driving a car, the driver, passengers, pedestrians and other motorists have a higher risk of injury due to car crashes.

Here are a few examples of problems that clearly indicate the car and the driver do not fit well together. There are many others.

1. Driver can't see above the steering wheel: This is an extremely dangerous situation because the driver does not have full environmental visibility. The driver can't visually scan everything that needs to be seen while driving, and in some cases can't see 10' in front of the hood of the car. This can cause problems when parking a vehicle, pulling up behind another car, or seeing things below the hood of the car such as pedestrians, children or animals.

Cause: This problem is usually caused due to the short stature of the driver or because the driver's seat is adjusted too low.

Solutions:

1. Elevate the seat height until the driver can see at least three inches above the steering wheel. 

2. If this cannot mechanically be done in the car, add a cushion that elevates the driver to be able to see at least three inches above the steering wheel. 

3. Be careful! Adding a seat cushion can also increase the distance needed for the feet to comfortably reach the brakes or accelerator. Make sure the feet are able to comfortably reach both pedals when adding cushions.

2. Driver's legs can't reach the brake or accelerator pedals:

This is dangerous because the driver is not effectively in control of the car, and may not be able to step on the brakes or accelerate enough to avoid an accident. Trying to continually stretch the legs can cause driver fatigue and slow reaction times.

Cause: Usually the cause is due to the stature of the driver, or the seat is adjusted too far back.

Solutions:  

1. Try to mechanically adjust the seat to bring the driver closer to the brakes and accelerator.

2. If the vehicle has the ability to adjust the distance of the accelerator or brake, bring both closer to the driver.

3. If neither solutions are available, there are brake and accelerator extensions that can be  installed.

4. Make sure the driver's chest  is at least 10" away from the steering wheel.

3. Driver can’t see out of rear view mirror:

This is dangerous because it is important to look ahead, to the sides and to the back while driving. The rear view mirror makes that possible. There will be blind spots if the rear view mirror is not adjusted properly. This can be extremely dangerous when the driver wants to change lanes.

Cause: The inability to see out of the rear view mirror is usually due to a poor mirror adjustment

Solution: Adjust the rear view mirror in such a way that the entire back window of the car is completely framed in the mirror. It is a good way to know you have maximum visibility from the back.

For more information, http://www.seniordrivers.org/driving/driving.cfm?button=mirrors

4. Driver's hands are too painful to hold and squeeze the car key to start the car or open a car door:

Cause: Having hand or joint pain that restricts the ability to hold and squeeze a key is commonly caused by arthritis or other hand conditions.

Solution: There are many assistive devices that reduce the need for the hand to tightly squeeze keys by enlarging the grip. This reduces joint strain and pain, and makes it possible to easily insert a key in the door or ignition.

3. The CarFit Program

The American Society on Aging, the American Occupational Therapy Association, American Automobile Association (AAA) and AARP developed a fantastic educational program for seniors to maximize car safety and driving skills called CarFit. CarFit was designed to help mature drivers

1. determine how well they currently fit their personal vehicle

2. learn actions that can be taken to improve personal car fit

3. to learn about driver safety and community mobility.

Dr. Dazio is a trained CarFit instructor, and has participated in the original CarFit studies conducted in Orlando, Florida, and has instructed national CarFit leaders.

• To learn more about the CarFit program, read the excellent and informative brochure.
• To learn how you can participate in a CarFit  program, go to the CarFit website.
• For more information on driver safety, visit our Learning Center - Older Driver Safety

4. Safe Use of Hand Tools

The incorrect use of hand tools is big cause of injuries at home and in the community. Here are some general tips to reduce physical strain and improve overall tool safety.

1. Keep wrists straight.  
   
   You want to avoid bending or rotating the wrists. Bending the wrists decreases overall grip strength, and places great pressure on the finer, smaller muscles that control hand function.
    

2. Avoid stress on soft tissue. 
   
   When stress or direct pressure is applied to the soft tissues of the body, blood circulation is stopped or reduced in some way. Pressure compresses muscles and tendons. Stress also decreases the muscles ability to get the job done.  
   
   To avoid stress on soft tissue, avoid grips on tools that have sharp edges or cause the skin to be pinched or blanch (blanch turns skin white reducing vital blood circulation in the affected areas). Use slightly compressible non slip gripping surfaces; rather than hard plastic.
    

3. Distribute your grip over as large an area as possible.
   
   Select tools that use a full-hand power grip, rather than a more precise finger grip. This enables the hand to use larger muscles that have greater capability of doing the work, without injury. Tools that can use all four fingers versus only one finger are a better choice as this reduces stress on the smaller joints of the hand. 
    

4. Wear protective equipment that fits.
   
   Always wear protective equipment that fits. For instance, tight fitting gloves put pressure on the hands; loose fitting gloves reduce grip strength and pose other safety hazards like snagging or slipping. Wearing protection is important to prevent the potential for damage. Don't forget to wear safety glasses when working with tools. 
    

5. General Safety Precautions 

• Keep all tools in good condition with regular maintenance

• Use the right tool for the job

• Examine each tool for damage before use

• Operate tools according to manufacturer's instructions  

6. Do not raise or extend elbows when working with heavy tools. 

Work in the comfort zone. This keeps the muscles working in their strongest, most comfortable position.

Excerpts from this article have been taken from
 "No Pain is Your Gain Workshop", 2002.

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5. Announcements

Workshop Presentation: Dr Dazio will be presenting a lively workshop "Sensitivity Training for a Harmonious Workplace" at the International Employees Assistance Professionals conference in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, October 8, 2006. 

This participant centered interactive workshop simulates a wide variety of common daily life situations often experienced by a diverse aging or challenged work force. Workshop participants experience simulated losses in vision, sensation, mobility, range of motion and other functional challenges in a lively format. Workshop goals are to develop strategies that maximize the inclusion of all individuals with diverse skills and abilities in the workplace, eliminate barriers or work place conflicts. Props, assistive devices, role playing and other directive or non directive individual, team or large group activities are used to facilitate.

IEAPA members - find more information here.

If your company is interested in having this program or a similar customized program at your place of business, contact Dr. Dazio at vmd@safeaging.com.