YNHHS News Releases

Released November 6, 1999

Contacts:
Bridgeport Hospital (203) 384-3637
Greenwich Hospital (203) 863-3126
Yale-New Haven Hospital (203) 688-2493

Basic Tips for Safety
from the Staff of Yale New Haven Health

• Wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle or go skating. And never ride double with anyone.
• Don't play with guns. If someone in your home has a gun, make sure it is locked away.
• Always wear a seatbelt in a car. Never ride in the car when the driver has been drinking alcohol. And never drive a car if you have been drinking alcohol.
• Don't eat or drink anything without a label you can read and understand. Don't take medicine unless you get it from an adult. Make sure you know the phone number for the nearest Poison Center.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Cross only at intersections.
• Don't swim alone. Be careful where you dive.
• Wear the right kind of equipment to play sports.
• Don't play with matches. Make sure there are working smoke detectors in your home. Have a family escape plan in case there is a fire in your home. If there are young children in your home, make sure there are no matches or lighters within their reach.
• Be careful when you play outside. Don't climb on fences, handrails or trees. And don't jump from playground equipment.
• Don't use tools or machines without supervision from an adult.

Additional Safety Tips
Bicycle Safety

• Always wear a helmet. Look both ways before you start riding and after you stop. Ride in a straight line. Don't swerve. Concentrate. Ride with traffic. Stop at stop signs. Warn pedestrians that you are riding. Brake and slow down before you turn. Signal before turning. Don't ride with anyone on the handlebars. Listen for sounds. Check out the bicycle before you ride. Make sure the brakes work and the tires are inflated properly. Be sure you have the right shoes on--no sandals or bare feet. Tuck in or roll up long pants so they won't get caught in the chain or wheels. Keep loose strings or straps away from the wheels and chain.
• When you get to an intersection, walk your bicycle across the street.

Car Safety

• Always wear a seatbelt. Don't ride with someone who has been drinking alcohol. Don't drive if you have been drinking alcohol. Don't stick your head, hands or feet out of the windows in a moving car.
• Look before you close the car door.

Sports Safety

• Always wear the proper equipment when playing sports. Warm up before you play. Be alert during practice and warm-up time.
• Know where the boundaries of the field are, especially walls or fences.