How often do you lift something? Dozens of times a day? We are lifting things all day long, from a toothbrush in the morning to bags of groceries, small children, big heavy boxes and furniture. Lifting is such an integral part of everything we do that we tend to do it automatically, without thinking.  And that''s when it can become a problem - suddenly we've lifted something and our back starts to hurt.

Lifting things incorrectly can cause a variety of injuries to our back and other parts of our body.  Back strain, caused by overstretching certain muscles, is the most common type of injury.   Lifting incorrectly can also cause a hernia.  These types of injuries can be worse if we're not in good physical condition.

The best lifters in the world are small children.  As adults we should emulate the techniques they use automatically.  Watch any small child and you will see them:

      Bend at the knees,  they squat

      Keep the head up,  they squat

      Keep the back straight  they don't have the agility to bend and lift at the same time

      Lift with their legs, they don't have a choice, with their weak arms

      Hold the load close to their body, if it's too far away from their body, they can't  get their arms around it

      Avoid twisting , they fall

      Find stable footing, they fall

      Let you know when it's too heavy, they cry or call out for help

Safe lifting involves learning how our back works and using the right methods whenever we lift something larger than a toothbrush.  There are several steps to take every time you are about to lift something:

Size up the load: Look it over, decide if you can handle it alone or need some help. Often we look at something that is questionable and lift it anyway, rather than appear weak to others.  Keeping up the appearance that you are strong is not worth hurting your back.

Size up the area: Before you begin moving things make sure that there aren't any obstacles in the way.  Make sure that you can make any turns without running into another object or stumbling over something on the floor.

Keep your back straight:  Bend at the knees,  not the waist.  As we grow, we have a better sense of balance and forget to use our leg muscles to do the work.  Bending at the waist will put strain on the back.

Get a good hold: Your grip has to be firm in order to move something efficiently.  If you don't have a good hold on the item, it can slip out of your grasp and fall, damaging the item and possibly you as well.  Using gloves will also help give you a better grip and keep hands safe.

Find stable footing: You will be able to keep your balance better and use your leg muscles more effectively.  These muscles are stronger than your back muscles.

Lift close to the body: Don't try to lift something that is away from your body.  You won't be able to get a good grip on it.  Reaching may strain your back.

Avoid twisting: Use your feet to change directions.  Always move with your whole body. Twisting your upper body to move an object will put additional stress on your back.

Teamwork: It's easier and faster to have a helper in moving things.  Be sure to discuss how you're going to lift, and what direction you're going in, and make sure that there are no obstacles.  Lift, carry, and lower the object in unison.  If you're losing your grip, warn your partner and put the load down, reposition yourselves, and then continue.  A moment's pause may save dropping or injury.

A back injury, besides being very painful, can leave you incapacitated for weeks and may even cause permanent damage.  Follow the steps for safe lifting, and you will be carrying things for years to come!

TAKING CARE OF BUG BITES

Most insect bites and stings are not serious,but some people may have an allergic reaction and sometimes,  diseases can spread by insect bites.  If bitten or stung, follow the tips below:

IF BITTEN OR STUNG

If bitten by a mosquito, try not to scratch.  Scratching irritates the bite and may cause infection.  Contact the doctor if you have flu-like symptoms and suspect West Nile virus.

Remove ticks with tweezers as soon as they are found. Grab them as close to the skin as possible and pull the tick up and out.

See a doctor if symptoms of Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever appear.  Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, aches and fatigue.  There may also be a bull's-eye rash around the site of the bite.  Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include fever, aches, nausea and vomiting.

If stung by a honeybee, do not pull the stinger out.  Honeybee stingers have a small hook at the end.  They will eventually fall out on their own.

If stung by a wasp or hornet, leave the area immediately.  These insects can sting repeatedly.  Gently scrape the stinger off using the edge of a credit card or your fingernail.  You might squeeze more venom into the skin if you use tweezers.

Bee, wasp and hornet stings may feel hot and itch.  A red bump or swelling may appear where the sting was.  Treat bee and wasp stings by washing the area with soap and water, then applying cold water or ice.

If there appears to be an allergic reaction to a sting--hives, nausea, fever or trouble breathing--go to the emergency room.

If bitten by a black widow or brown recluse spider, go to the emergency room.

Exposure to sunlight is good for you.  It prevents vitamin D deficiency in the body.  Vitamin D deficiency  has been linked to increased risk of diseases, hormonal imbalances, depression, osteoporosis, and even some forms of cancer.  Sun exposure also has its downside, as it is linked to skin cancer.  So enjoy some time in the sun --and use some form of sun protection.

TYPES OF SUN PROTECTION

DIET - You can boost your internal resistance to some sun damage by changing what you eat. Antioxidant-rich foods and the supplement astaxanthin, for example, will boost your natural resistance to sunburn.

SUNSCREEN  - The best sunscreen products are broad-spectrum, perfumefree, and mineral-based with a SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 but not higher than 50.  Avoid sprays.

AVOIDANCE  - Limiting time in the sun is important even when using other forms of sun protection

HOW TO APPLY SUNSCREEN

Apply sunscreen generously, making sure you cover all exposed areas especially your face, nose, ears, feet, hands and the back of your knees, and rub it in well.

Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors so it has time to absorb into the skin.

Use sunscreen any time you spend time outdoors.  Remember that you can get sunburn even on cloudy days because up to 80% of the suns UV rays can get through the clouds.  Also, UV rays can bounce back from water, sand, snow, and concrete, so make sure you and your children are protected.

Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel.

SOOTHING SUNBURNS

Use aloe vera plant or aloe vera plant based lotions.

Drink water or 100% fruit juice to replace lost fluids.

Run cool water over the burn.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can provide some relief for painful sunburns.

Medicated lotions can be used with a doctor's approval.

Stay out of the sun until the sunburn is fully healed.

Unchecked emotions can lead to aggressive driving and even road rage.  Here are some tips to identify dangerous habits and how to prevent them.

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

Being in a caravan doesn’t increase your safety on the road, it can increase your risk. Here are some important tips…

• Keep a safe interval, depending on conditions, without dropping back. (Recommended interval is 3 seconds) Remember, you have a line of cars that will have to rush to catch up when the leader picks up the pace if you’re behind. This causes an unsafe “whiplash” effect.

• Let a metal car pass and/or get in the line when they want to. Other cars on the road can be very discouraged or challenged by a long caravan and we can’t control other drivers. Safety first!

• Don’t “follow the leader” if conditions don’t lend themselves to a safe move for you. Instead, wait until it is safe to follow; remember, you can always get back into the caravan further up…we’ll let you in!

• Although we enjoy “pedal to the metal” when traveling alone, a string of Corvettes makes a great target and the sheer number of cars might dictate a slower speed. This is especially true in congested areas/towns.

• When appropriate, we’ll “play”, especially on back roads, but you should drive at your comfort level keeping interval in mind.

• It is courteous to change positions in a caravan from time to time. It is much easier to be right behind the leader than at the end of the line, so give everyone a turn. Be aware of the cars just in front of you and behind you so you can report if they have a problem.

• Help the caboose; they have a huge responsibility to keep the caravan safe. The tighter a caravan rides, remembering safe intervals, the less difficult it is to keep everyone together.

• When we come in towns and have a 4-lane road with stoplights, it is helpful to take both lanes. After the light, merge back into one line.

• When the leader indicates they are going to change lanes and you are near the back of the caravan, move over when it is safe; this makes it easier for all the cars in front of you to change lanes.

• If you need/want to leave the caravan for any reason, notify the leader and caboose first…perhaps it’s time for everyone to take a break. We won’t worry if we know why you left and you can catch up later.

• Keep your FRS radio on channel 11-0 for directions and safety warnings.

• Put your parking/road lights on to increase visibility.

Defensive driving takes on a whole new importance this time of year.

Potholes pose a real danger to your tires, your rims and your suspension  It can be an expensive proposition. Keeping tires properly inflated can help ward off damage.

Another real danger is zigzagging to miss the pothole. If you don’t take the time to look before you move you can cross into another lane, or worse, hit another vehicle. It can happen very fast.

Even more unpredictable is the other drivers on the road. They may swerve to avoid a pothole and go right into your lane. So be very careful out there and keep your eyes on the road. Especially this time of the year.