As you can imagine, proper hydration can be one of the drier (no pun intended) discussions. Stories about drownings at camp, abuse at camp and botched field trips, after all, get all of the headlines. But as a recent article in the New York Times points out, it’s easy to push heat-related illnesses to the side even though heat stroke causes the death of a young athlete every other day in the hot summer months.

Unfortunately, even if you know that keeping busy campers hydrated is important, it can be extremely difficult to actually provide an efficient and cost-effective solution. Constantly filling small barrels of cold water and keeping paper cups stocked could be a full-time job at a busy camp. And then you have to get campers to actually drink the water.

The Water Monster

We received a tip from one of our customers last summer about a solution that worked wonders at their camp… the Water Monster. The Water Monster is an enormous, 125-gallon water container that comes with six self-serve spigots to accomodate several drinkers all at once.

Testimonial From Phantom Lake YMCA Camp

Tony Ayala, the Camp Director at Phantom Lake YMCA Camp in Mukwonago, Wisconsin worked with Water Monster last summer to outfit the camp with three new Water Monster filling stations. Even with one of the hottest summers on record, they had a safe and successful camp season. Here’s more information about Phantom Lake’s experience directly from Tony Ayala:

IF I’M NOT YOURS
CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE ME
TO THE LOST & FOUND?
___________________
Camper’s Name

___________________
Tent or Group

We’re thrilled to hear that the Phantom Lake YMCA Camp found an effective solution to one of the biggest safety concerns facing summer camps each year. What has your camp done to ensure that campers and counselors are hydrated all day long?

If you enjoyed the story behind Resusci Anne, the CPR training doll, I’m positive you’ll enjoy this 25-minute podcast from Radio Lab. This story really has it all: science, drama, mystery… even a moment or two that might cause you to choke up a bit – no pun intended.

I better stop before I start giving away too many details. Enjoy.

More information available on RadioLab.org

On the other hand, there have been cases of individuals who have surprisingly survived falls from much greater heights. Vesna Vulovic, a Serbian flight attendant, survived a 33,330 ft fall from a plane in 1972. The point is, focusing on the height of a ladder to determine whether or not it’s safe ignores other very important and potentially life-saving factors.

Ladder injuries aren’t caused by the height of the ladder, they’re caused because people aren’t using them properly.

For example, if you need to reach a high place, it’s much safer to use a tall, appropriately sized ladder that allows you to maintain good balance than to use a short ladder. Additionally, if you’re resting your ladder too close to a building, your risk of falling is greater. The Extension Ladder Fast Fact Sheet from the United States Office of Compliance has a very helpful graph showing the proper distance a ladder should be from a structure.

Once you’ve selected an appropriately tall ladder and set it up with the correct pitch, there are still plenty of ways for you to injure yourself. Consider the data presented to the right:

• 40% of ladder falls resulted from the ladder itself moving. The large majority of these cases involve the bottom of the ladder moving. You’ll recognize that this kind of movement can happen no matter how high up you are.
• 24% were attributed to slips on the steps of the ladder.  Inspecting the steps to make sure they are free of any slippery material and wearing appropriate footwear along with choosing ladders with anti-slip surfaces on the steps can help mitigate this risk.
• Losing one’s balance accounted for another 18% of ladder falls which should be less likely to occur if the ladder itself is stable.

If you’re interested in reading more about ladder safety you might enjoy our article on The 4 Biggest Mistakes People Make on Ladders. You might also want to read up on Proper Step Stool Use since falls can occur from any height.

Tennessee Teachers Didn’t Report Abusive First Grader

If convicted, the these women – all mandatory reporters under the law – will be serving a relatively light punishment as some states have penalties that include five years in prison, fines reaching $10,000, and even the possibility of assuming civil liability. The penalties imposed for failing to report child abuse vary widely based on state, but as long as you report any suspected abuse to authorities or a trusted supervisor you should be in the clear. You can visit ChildWelfare.gov to get more info about the mandatory child abuse reporting laws in your state as well as possible penalties.

Child abuse prevention is a chief concern among individuals who work with children, but the focus is placed primarily on recognizing abuse. Abuse recognition is important, but knowing what to do once you suspect child abuse is occurring is equally important. Reporting abuse is the only way to start the process of identifying the abuser and preventing further abuse. Do you know what to do and who to report to if you suspect a child is being abused? If you aren’t sure of the specific steps to take at your organization, ask a supervisor, executive or HR associate right away.

Chel Buttchen, the Childcare Underwriting Supervisor at West Bend, says there is a wide range in cost for a child care insurance policy, but the large majority of West Bend customers with small in-home daycares pay between $250-$500 for business insurance each year. Larger commercial child care centers that lease space will pay closer to $2,000 a year for business insurance coverage. These estimates include the cost of optional abuse and molestation insurance coverage. It’s important to note that these numbers are highly variable, however, because insurance premiums are dictated by the exposures a center faces. For example, a child care center that arranges rides before and after school, has a play area with a wading pool, has a dog on premises, or has extended hours of operation will be priced differently than a center without these exposures. The number of children a center is licensed to care for is also another important consideration when determining insurance pricing.

If you’re trying to keep premiums lower, you can consider carrying a higher deductible. It’s important, however, to not carry a deductible you’re unable to afford if you have a claim. A knowledgeable independent insurance agent who understands your business will be able to help determine what deductible is right for you and which coverages and exclusions you should be aware of. In addition to your agent, the checklist provided at the bottom of this resource by the National Network for Child Care can help you make sure you’re asking the right questions to get you the coverage you’ll need.

$1,000,000,000.00

That’s how much Facebook paid for the smartphone app that lets users add artistic filters to their photos. You don’t buy a company for that much money just to watch it fade away.

Personally, I’m fine with all of this. I really enjoy Instagram. I like reliving all of the fun things I’ve done and all of the incredible things I’ve seen. I like seeing where my friends have been. I love seeing incredible photos from National Geographic.

At this point, I really only have one problem with Instagram… and it just so happens to be a big one. Photo Map.

What is Instagram’s Photo Map?

Years ago, I shared some safety concerns I had with an up-and-coming Silicon Valley startup called Color. Color has famously fizzled after a $41,000,000 initial venture capital investment, but, in a sense, their original idea lives on in Instagram’s Photo Map.

The Photo Map feature in Instagram adds geolocation information to the photos you take within the app. Once you post the photo you can see it in the context of a world map whenever you’d like.

Travel to Belize for your honeymoon? Any photos you took there will show up on a map so you (and all of your friends) can see exactly where you took it. Go on a hike last weekend with a couple of friends? You (and all of your friends) can see exactly where on the trail you snapped the shot.

Why is Photo Map Potentially Dangerous?

Let me start by saying that I use Instagram and the Photo Map feature more than most. Let me also say that my concerns don’t have so much to do with the technology, but instead the lack of information regarding safe and unsafe ways to use it.

So That’s Where You Live

If the Photo Map feature is turned on, and you choose to allow geotagging of every photo you take, where do you suppose the largest cluster of photos you take will appear? For most people, the largest cluster of photos will appear at home.

Here’s an example. This Instagram user is engaged to one of the biggest up-and-coming musicians in the world. She’s joined her fiancée on tour, and she’s taking incredible photos across the globe. She has more than 48,000 followers, but because her account is public, anyone can see the photos she’s posting. And because she has the Photo Map feature enabled, we can see exactly where all of her photos are being taken.

Each of the six photos above are screengrabs of her Instagram Photo Map. In the first clip, the map is zoomed all the way out. As we progress through the clips, the clusters of photos begin to break apart and show more geographic detail. In boxes #1 and #2, we can tell that the user has taken photos all across the United States, but it’s clear that the large majority are coming from the Pacific Northwest. As we zoom in with boxes #3 and #4, it becomes clear that she’s taken the majority of her photos in close proximity to Seattle, Washington. And by the time we see the Photo Map in boxes #5 and #6, we can really start to get an idea of a specific neighborhood.

I’ve chosen not to show any closer detail in this post, but you need to understand that the Instagram Photo Map provides even more exact geotagging. By the time the Photo Map is fully zoomed in we have a very good idea of the exact apartment building the user lives in.

If You’re There…

If you’ve added your Instagram photos to the Photo Map, then not only can we figure out where you live, we can also see when you’re not home. When the user I’ve shown above tags a photo in Australia or Atlanta, I know she’s not in Seattle. And if she’s not in Seattle… who’s watching her apartment?

How Can I Make Instagram Safer?

As far as I can tell, you have three different ways to make Instagram safer. You’ll notice, however, that each recommendation operates under the assumption that your close family and friends (i.e., the people who already know where you live) would never use your location information to break into your home. Please recognize that there are inherent risks anytime you check-in or using geotagging with Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare or Instagram.

Deactivate Photo Map Completely

Short of deleting your Instagram account, the best way to prevent people from knowing where you are is to deactivate the Photo Map feature on Instagram completely. Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy way to remove the location information from all of your previous photos once you’ve added it. You can, however, remove the location information from each photo one shot at a time.

It’s worth noting here that the Instagram Photo Map feature is not turned on be default. If you’ve never expressly given the app permission to add location data to a shared photo, your Photo Map should be empty.

Pick and Choose the Photos You Add to Photo Map

As I mentioned earlier, I personally really like the Photo Map feature. I love being able to see where all of my photos were taken, so I use it with a large percentage of the photos I upload. The major exception is photos taken anywhere near my home. Anytime I take a photo of my dog laying on the couch or of a steak I cooked up on the grill I deselect the “Add to your Photo Map” button.

This option is presented just before you upload your photo to Instagram. To the right you see a screenshot of the feature turned off and on. When turned on you are given the option to name the location the photo was taken at.

Lock Down Your Instagram Profile

Your final option is to make your Instagram profile private. This feature can be accessed through the main Settings menu within the app. When a Instagram profile is private, only the friends that you allow to follow your account will see your photos, your Photo Map, and the location data for each of your uploads.

Once again, sharing location information about your home can still be risky if one of your friends inadvertently shares your Photo Map or loses their phone – or if they decide you’re not really friends after all and they use your check-ins to burgle your home. In general, it’s a good idea to just never add a photo taken at home to the Photo Map.

Did you know many automobile injuries are actually caused by objects from within your car? During the past year, we had a customer slam on their brakes to avoid a collision, only to have a piece of equipment from the back seat catapult to the front and smash their car’s console and navigation system. Fortunately, our customer was not injured.

Having been in an accident where I was hit by a semi many years ago, I distinctly recall my cell phone and leather bound notebook ricocheting off my windshield and then into the cargo area of my Chevy Blazer. All the loose items that were in the back ended up in the front and all the items in the front ended up in the back. I, too, was fortunate to have not been hit by anything.

A gentleman from Mequon, Wisconsin, and a young child from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, were each injured in separate accidents by booster seats that were not fastened down. In each situation, the empty booster seats flew through the air and struck the individuals in the head and face causing injuries that required surgery. I encourage you to read more about how these booster seats injured the car passengers.

After reading the article, I also decided to talk to several friends with children and found that not a single one had ever thought of fastening or removing a booster seat from their car when their children were not using it.

Consider this during an accident: a 20 pound unsecured object can fly through the air with 1,000 pounds of force. Loose objects in a moving vehicle are responsible for an estimated 13,000 injuries a year. Take a moment to think about other items that you may have in your car — computers, tablets, GPS devices, pets, crates, tool boxes, suitcases, sports equipment, books, storage bins etc. Many of us tend to live out of our vehicles, planning our daily route each morning and loading up the kids or what we will need to make it through the day.

When traveling in a vehicle what can you do to protect yourself?

Consider the following tips:

• Pack most items in a trunk or cargo area of your vehicle. This makes items less likely to intrude into the passenger compartment during an accident.
• If your vehicle has a cargo area instead of a trunk, utilize cargo nets, anchors and tethers.
• Large items that need to be in inside the vehicle should be placed to make sure that the maximum amount of surface area makes contact with the backseats and positioned in such a manner that would prevent movement or shifting.
• If you have booster seats in your vehicle make sure to properly fasten or remove them from the vehicle when not in use. Make sure to read the instructions, and if you are getting a handed down seat from a relative make sure to ask them for a copy of the instructions.
• Leave objects at home that you don’t need for your trip.
• Use the glove compartment to store personal items such as cell phones, sunglasses, or electronic devices.

In society where people are in a hurry to get from point A to point B, taking an extra moment to look around your vehicle and make sure your items are secure can make the difference. In an accident, you could potentially walk away and lessen the potential for injury, or you could expose you, your children or your passengers to the possibility of suffering from a preventable injury. Please, take the time to check and improve the safety of your vehilce.

And the abuse didn’t stop there. Although the sound has been edited by ESPN, it’s clear that Mike Rice also enjoyed verbally abusing his team as well. On several instances he can be heard swearing at the players and showering them obscenities and homophobic slurs.

Mike Rice Abuses Rutgers Basketball Team

Why Didn’t Anyone Speak Up Sooner!?

Mike Rice’s actions are indefensible and disgusting, but the bigger story here has to be… how can this sort of thing go on for so long? During the three years he’s been a head coach at Rutgers how many adults have witnessed this kind of behavior and done nothing? There are almost too many to count. Between assistant coaches, team representatives, boosters, athletic department officials, and the players themselves, there have to be dozens of people that witnessed all of this firsthand.

Intimidation and Power

The only plausible explanation for why a coach would be allowed to treat student athletes this way is fear. Mike Rice’s assistant coaches, team managers and players were all intimidated by his power. They were afraid to lose their jobs, their connection to a DI sports program, and their scholarships. As I wrote in Hero Delusions: Where Penn State Went Wrong after the Jerry Sandusky story broke, this all could have been avoided if so much power hadn’t been concentrated with one person.

Cameron Groezinger-Fitzpatrick, aged 19, was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy when he was only eight years old. He took all of the common peanut allergy precautions and had carefully avoided nuts, checked labels, questioned restaurant staff, and carried all necessary medications his whole life. A brief lapse in the careful monitoring of his allergy, however, led to a series of events that ultimately claimed his life.

Cameron, while out with his college-aged friends, picked up some cookies. After a friend ate one and told him, he did not taste any peanuts Cameron decided to try one. Within minutes, he was home and began experiencing severe breathing problems. She immediately called 911 and requested help. His mother was unable to find his Epi-Pen and the one she kept was expired. Luckily, their neighbor had an Epi-Pen and they administered it as soon as possible. After arriving at the hospital, CPR was performed, but it was too late and Cameron’s young life was cut tragically short.

No matter what kind of allergy you have, it is critical to do everything you can to avoid exposure to potential triggers. Had Cameron read the label on the cookie package, he most likely would have seen that it was produced with peanut oil and could have avoided it. Always have access to treatment for your allergy. If you’re responsible for administering medication to children always make sure it hasn’t expired and ensure that there hasn’t been a recall by the medicine manufacturers. These few seemingly simple lapses in the management of his allergy could have prevented this terrible tragedy from ever happening.

In hopes of answering as many of your questions as possible, we’re going to start posting a monthly Ask the Experts feature designed to answer the most interesting questions from the previous month. Take a look below at our first batch of questions from February 2013. If you have a question that you’d like our safety experts to tackle, leave a comment at the end of this post or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.

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What can I do to make a diaper changing table safer?

Which of these 3 tables looks the safest to you?

None of these diaper changing tables are perfect… and here’s why:

1. The storage available underneath the table is a plus because it helps you keep baby changing supplies within reach. However, the wheels at the bottom, while convenient, can be a potential hazard because they also make the table unstable. If your changing table has wheels, you may want to remove them, or, at the very least, be sure they are securely locked before you begin changing the baby.
2. The heavy wood makes this table very sturdy, and, like the first example, it has plenty of storage space. The downside to this one is the surface where the baby lies. Ideally, the changing pad should be recessed and/or slightly concave to reduce the likelihood of a child being able to roll off the table.
3. This table has a recessed surface and guardrails which can keep babies from falling to the floor. It still leaves room for improvement though. Safety straps incorporated into the table can help keep the child still. As children get older you might also consider installing steps leading up to the changing surface to make the diaper changing table safer for adults. Back injuries are common among parents and childcare providers who have to lift heavier children up throughout the day. Steps can offer some relief.

In the market for a new changing table? Consumer Reports has a great changing table buying guide.

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Are social networks encouraging cyberbullying?

The popularity of social networks among teens and adults alike has provided the means for us all to be connected to one another more than ever before. The best in us would like to think of these websites as tools to stay in touch with family and meet new friends, but with 32% of teens reporting they’ve been the victim of cyberbullying at some point, it’s hard to ignore that more than a few are using them for darker purposes.

Researchers on the topic suspect the frequency and cruelty associated with cyberbullying stems from the anonymity that the internet and social networks offer. With traditional bullying, the bully and the victim have to meet face-to-face. This allows the children being bullied to try and avoid it. This isn’t the case with cyberbullying which makes it much easier to do and harder to escape. If social networks don’t encourage cyberbullying they seem to do very little, if anything, to discourage it.

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Can oily rags burst into flames without a spark?

Given the right combination of circumstances, yes, oily rags can catch fire without a spark. Oils left out in the open tend to absorb or gain oxygen from the air around them through a process called oxidation. This process creates heat that can be trapped by the rag holding the oil. If enough heat is allowed to build up and the oil on the rag reaches its autoignition temperature, it can and will start a fire. The autoignition temperature of an oily rag or oil-soaked paper is around 200° F. If you want to reduce the risk of oily rags in your home or business from catching fire you should keep them in well-ventilated areas where heat is unable to build up and never put them in a dyer on a high heat setting.

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As a child care provider, what are some ways I can reduce my stress?

A study conducted by Stanford University concluded that the occupational stress experienced in child care centers could affect the quality of care the providers were able to offer. Knowing this, it is all the more important to effectively manage your stress as a child care provider. Many say their stress arises from tension with children’s parents, coworkers, noise, limited resources at the center, or the stress of the children themselves. The ChildCare Education Institute offers these coping strategies for the kinds of stress common to childcare providers:

• Get good nutrition and maintaining a regular exercise program. In other words, take care of yourself! The healthier you are, the more able you are to deal with stressful situations in all areas of your life.
• Use calming breathing techniques in moments of stress (inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, exhale for 4 counts).
• Take short breaks throughout the day to calm and collect yourself.
• Plan engaging, sensory experiences for children to calm them and in turn your work environment.

It’s also important to communicate your feelings of stress to your manager or others who are in a position to help you manage it.

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What should I do if someone is having an asthma attack and they don’t have their inhaler?

First, determine if the asthma attack is severe. Severe asthma attacks symptoms include rapid breathing, difficulty talking, anxiety, and a pale face with blue lips or fingers. If the attack is severe, call 911 first! When in doubt, call 911, especially if the person is elderly or a young child. Once help is on the way you can do the following:

• If possible, move them to a warm or humid area. Cold can sometimes trigger asthma attacks.
• Have them sit up and lean slightly forward. This reduces pressure on the diaphragm. Don’t let them lie down.
• Loosen any tight clothing.
• Have them drink some coffee or tea. The caffeine in them has been found to help relieve asthma attacks.
• Try to calm them. Not being able to take a breath can be very frightening and panic can exacerbate the attack.
• Antihistamines can help, particularly if the attack was brought on by an allergen.
• Ask questions like Do you think your asthma attack was triggered by an allergy? rather than Why do you think you’re having an attack? In the case of a more severe episode it may be difficult to speak. Yes/No questions allow them to communicate by nodding instead of talking.

Can I get burned by putting my hand under hot tap water?

Yes, hot tap water can burn you if you haven’t taken the necessary steps to prevent it. Both gas and electric hot water heaters allow you to adjust the maximum water temperature. On average, the “High” setting heats water to 140-150F, while the “Warm” setting typically reaches 90-110F. The EPA and many manufacturers recommend setting it at 120F to prevent scalding.

The chart below shows how long it takes water a certain temperature to burn an adult. Keep in mind that children and the elderly can be burned more quickly than adults.

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