Michael Holigan: These kids are playing and having a good time, and that's great to see. But this swing set is not set up properly. Three quarters of all injuries on playground equipment are due to falls. That's why the ground below this swing set should be covered with pea gravel, hardwood chips, mulch or sand. Whatever material you choose, it should be at least 9 to 12 inches deep and extend 6 feet out on all sides. Also, make sure there's plenty of room between playground equipment and fences or other hard surfaces. A general rule of thumb is to allow enough room for children to fall clear of equipment and even other children who might be around. Inspect your play equipment for signs of deterioration or rust. And make sure it's securely anchored. Slides or other platforms for climbing equipment should not exceed 6 feet for school age children or 4 feet for preschoolers. And anywhere you have elevated surfaces, there should be guard rails or other protective barriers. And finally, watch for any openings where a child might get an arm or their head stuck. And watch for any places where they might hang up a necklace, a drawstring, or even a shoelace. Especially at the top of slides.
Al Carrell: You know, outdoor cooking is fun, but you've got to protect yourself. You need to wear a heavy apron. Not like I've got on here, but one like this. And also, get a mitt that covers up your forearm. That ought to really protect you. But if you do burn yourself, you want to run cool water over the burn for about 10 to 15 minutes. Never put butter or salve on the wound, because that's going to make it hold the heat in and it can do more damage to your skin. If you really are badly burned, have a charred place, then get medical help promptly. For a charcoal grill, you want to make sure that you use only lighter fluid that's made for lighting a charcoal fire. Never use gasoline. It's really dangerous. If your fire starts to burn down, instead of going in and putting some more starter in there, you want to add more charcoal briquettes or kindling. And incidentally, when the cookout is all done, you want to be sure you wet down what's left of the charcoal briquettes before you put them into the trash. With gas grills, you want to make sure the gas cylinder is always stored outside and away from your house. Make sure the valves are turned off when you're not using them. And check regularly for leaks in the connections using a soap and water mix that will show bubbles where the gas escapes. All outdoor grills should be on a level surface. And you also ought to keep them away from the house, the garage, landscaping and particularly keep them away from the kids. And remember, even after you're through cooking, this unit is going to stay hot for a long time.
Episode 44 1996 - 97 Season
| Infrared Test | Shower Head Cleaner | Outdoor Safety | Locking Up Valuables | Building with Rastra | The LumberJack | People in the Loan Process |