Silverline Security Blog

The winter months are full of sitting by the fire sipping hot cocoa, bundling up in scarves and mittens, and participating in activities that are sure to get your heart racing. If you live in a place where it snows, or visit these places during the winter months, you are probably familiar with sports such as skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snowmobiling. All activities are high energy and are sure to get your adrenaline pumping. The snow can make for a fun packed day, but it can also have its dangers. Snow is a slippery substance and can get icy. This means, when participating in winter sports, you have to be extra careful and conscientious of your surroundings. According to the AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), approximately 440,000 people were treated for winter sports-related injuries in 2010. The goal is to participate in winter sports cautiously to prevent any injuries.

Prevent Lament

• Weather. Check the daily forecast before you go to avoid severe storms or temperature changes.
• Fluff or Crust. It is best to go right after it has snowed, when it's in a powder state. If it's a couple days after it has snowed, then it becomes icy and many injuries occur under these conditions.
• Buddy it up. Never go by yourself. Always have someone with you in case of an emergency.
• Work it. Exercise allows your body to become more flexible and durable for possible tumbles and falls. Exercise on a daily basis.
• Layer. Be sure to wear many layers (the outermost being water/wind resistant) to protect yourself from the cold.
• Legit Equipment. Check out your equipment to make sure there are no significant damages. You can get gear checked at ski shops to make sure it is up to code.
• Sledding not Slipping. Pick hills that have few trees and a gradual decline. Avoid hills close to roads and sit face forward, steering with the rope.
• Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. That about says it all.
• Get Warm. Warming up before you participate in any sport is crucial to prevent injuries. Do some lunges, sit-ups, or whatever you can to warm those muscles.
• Cheap Tips. Talk to those around you who are experienced in a sport you want to try, and get advice on those skill sets. The more you know, the less you have to deal with a learner's curve.

This isn't to say you should stop getting out there and pushing yourself to the limit, but simply be aware of your actions and exercise preventative techniques. Living life actively enhances quality and health. So hit the slopes, ice rink, or nearby hill and get your game on. Just do it {safely}.

The dynamic of a workplace is often ambiguous in nature. Corporate culture has a variety of aspects and diverse atmospheres. With social interaction, to safety compliance, employees should feel comfortable and protected in their work environment.  From traveling to lifting heavy objects, we have you covered to stay reliable and safe.

Traveling To and Fro

• Pick a hotel that is pre-approved from other coworkers. This way you know exactly what you're getting yourself into. Make sure to locate emergency exits when you arrive.
• Keep an eye on your bags at all times especially in airports and hotels. You can never be too careful.
• Make sure your electronic devices { e.g. laptop and cell phone} are tucked away or locked up. These devices can have a lot of personal information stored on them so it is important that they are protected.
• Taekwondo nearby? You might want to pick up a few self-defense techniques. People traveling alone are more vulnerable to criminal activity. It never hurts to be prepared.

Team Unity

• In order to make any changes to the cultural atmosphere in an office, you first have to understand the current one. Does each department have their own culture?  How do the different departments interact with one another? It is necessary to ask these types of questions in order to understand what you're working with.
• Create a wellness program at work. Provide information and make resources available to employees to help them begin or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Research shows that regular exercise keeps a body healthy and boosts brain functions. More brainpower? It's a win win.
• Allow the environment to be an open forum where employees can express their ideas and opinions freely. This can lead to a higher efficiency rate and a heightened sense of importance and recognition among each individual.
• Acknowledge each other's acheivements and express appreciation on a regular basis. "Be hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise," Dale Carnegie.

Safety in the Workplace

• Background checks. This can prevent a potentially dangerous person from entering the work environment.
• Get CPR certified. It is something that can be beneficial in any environment from the office to the home.
• Get trained on safe lifting techniques. A good tip is to keep your back straight and use your legs to lift. Let's avoid injuries.
• In case of an emergency, make an evacuation route and have a practice drill. This way, people are prepared and ready to take action.
• Encourage continual cleaning of office desks, furniture, and cleansing of hands. Hand sanitizer is a good thing to keep around the office. This helps prevent the spread of illness, therefore increasing production by keeping people in the office instead of at home.

Making a work environment a desirable place tends to increase productivity, and in turn, the trend of "going the extra mile" becomes contagious. A happy employee means a happy business.

Every year, when the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve, goals that we want to accomplish have been previously scratched down on paper and we have every purest intention of sticking to them the next 12 months of our lives. We all have made New Years Resolutions at one time or another, and it seems our optimistic intentions are easy enough to attain at first, but as time passes, sooner or later (with the exception of our fellow overacheivers) some, if not all, of our precious and coveted resolutions get lost in the cracks of time. With the start of a new year, it's time to let go of old habits (mainly procrastination in this sense of our predicament) and take a big heaping gulp of ambition and gumption. This is the year to accomplish the things you have always yearned to achieve, and if you are focused on climbing that mountain, finally buying a gym pass (and using it), or volunteering for the non-profit you believe in, make sure it is done with a safe and sound plan.

Perseverance

If we can do it, you can too

• Focus on just a few goals. Setting too many can can be overwhelming and create stress. Stick with what is manageable.
• Schedule a time every day or week, depending on the nature of your goal, that is designated to accomplish it. Put it in your planner or on a sticky note on your bathroom mirror, whatever it takes to help remind you to get it done.
• Have FUN with it. You don't want it to feel like a chore. Resolutions are our desires and dreams, so take joy in the process.
• Blog, facebook, tweet, pinterest, whatever! about your goals. When we know that other people know about our goals, it makes us accountable to continue and finish them.
• Write down a plan and completion date to accomplish your goals and put it somewhere that you will constantly see. A lazy attitude needs constant reminders, but remember, consistently doing something leads to habit, and habit leads to accomplishment.

Our Resolution Recommendation

Safety allows accomplished goals and a sigh of relief

• Drive more carefully. You won't create amazing achievments if you are reckless on the road. Stay off your phone and pay attention.
• Make sure you always dress appropriately for the weather. If there is snow and black ice, wear heavily treaded boots. Let's avoid broken bones and sprains this year.
• Eat good, healthy food. Your body allows you to do it all, so we say treat it right, and it will treat you right.
• Cleanliness is key. Pull out your hand sanitizer as often as you see fit. Avoid getting colds...and the flu. More time to spend on your resolutions.
• Treat the planet right. Recycle when you can, where you can. Use less and reuse more. The safer the health of our planet, the safer we are.

Creating goals is admirable in and of itself, but following through and accomplishing them is an inspiring story of personal triumph. You can never go wrong achieving your desires (assuming they're commendable) but become a better individual because of it. We wish you a Happy New Year and all the best attaining your ambitions!

Christmas has come and gone, and with that, the overstuffed Santa doll, shriveled Christmas tree, and hoards of ornaments and festive decorations will cease to remain in their coveted places bringing cheer to all those whom they've encountered. The lights come down, hopefully without any broken limbs, and the various candy canes and sugar cookies disappear as fast as they came. With all the cleanup required after the holidays, it's no wonder we all need a little help and a few pointers in the right direction to put the home back to its normal state while ensuring safety in the process. From taking down the Christmas lights, to the safe disposal of your Christmas tree, this is sure to help you end the holidays right.

Take down those Lights, but Carefully

• Steer clear of burns. Make sure lights are turned off before removing them. 
• Use a good ladder. Some indicators are sturdy rungs and steps, heavy side rails, wider spread between the legs, and a firm stance when open. This is not something to skimp out on.
• For those hard to reach lights, use a long hook to grab them. Do not try and reach for them, this is where most falls happen.
• Coil the strands together carefully and orderly so they will be easy to put up the following year.
• Always make sure there is someone on hand who can help you in the process. This ensures safety in case there are any mishaps.

Dispose your Tree

• Make sure all candles are unlit and the fireplace is out before taking down your Christmas tree. Usually by this time the needles have dried out which makes it at high risk to catch fire.
• Curbside pickup for your tree is often scheduled in most areas within two weeks following Christmas. There are often requirements for size, removing ornaments etc., so make sure you check with your city first.
• Arrange an appt. with a non-profit to come pick up your tree. Some offer this service for a small donation. Tis' the season.
• Take your tree to a recycling center. It's biodegradable and usually free.
• Cut the tree into pieces to turn it into mulch for your yard. You can also fit any leftover pieces into your yard waste container.

Make sure to use gloves when taking down decorations to avoid any cuts or irritations due to various materials. Store them in a cool, dry place and organize them into labeled bins. This will make it easy to locate and bring them out for the next Christmas. The holidays are fun, and so is all the hoopla that comes with it, but there is a time and place for everything. Time for a New Year and a clean house.