That's right, no reminder needed here amongst our Patriot Woodworkers!!!!

I'd like to kick off the days leading up to the 4th of July with some preliminary tips on how to have a wonderful, safe, and memorable 4th of July. We will in the next couple of days get into the meaning of the 4th of July and how we all recognize it in our own unique ways, but today, how about we discuss being safe for the holidays?

I'd like to start a running tally of great tips here in this discussion of safe practices, and how we can all come back here, on July 5th, with our limbs in tact, and keeping good ol Uncle Jessie out of jail for the night!

Here are some of my favorite reminders.

1. Heat, it's a killer. We are in a nation wide heat wave and it may get even hotter soon.

Drink plenty of fluids, if you're going to be at a parade or other function away from a water source, be sure to pack plenty along with you, water in plastic water bottles, or even a cooler full in the trunk of your car so you can walk back to the car to hydrate up.

Recognize signs of heat stroke in yourself, and in others.

White pale face, lack of sweat, if you stop sweating, you ran out of fluids.

Flu like symptoms, chills down your back, or body, fever, disorientation, dizzy, head aches, cramping up, it may feel like your coming down with a flu, but you could be suffering heat stroke. If you feel these symptoms, find a shady cool spot, out of the sun, and drink fluids. Even a shady spot, just a couple degrees cooler works well, as long as you are out of the sun. You may consider calling for help.

Heat stroke is nothing to fool with, it can kill you before you know what is happening. Many folks ignore the symptoms, if you are feeling the above symptoms mentioned, you are already on your way to a hard time.

The best way to avoid heat stroke is to hydrate up the night before you know you are heading out to the big event. Before you go to bed, drink water, when you wake up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, take this chance to drink water. And while at the event, make sure you are prepared with plenty of fluids. Drink re-hydrating fluids at the rate of up to 1 quart per hour or as needed. But try to hit that 1 quart goal of water. Wear a wide brimmed hat, baseball hats don't count. Contrary to common sense, long sleeve light colored shirts help greatly, reducing the heat intake. Short sleeves as wonderful as they feel, suck it all in and heat you right up.

I have been a victim of heat stroke twice, on the job, in the desert working out in the wide open surveying a road both times. It crept up on me before I knew it. It does truly feel like a bad flu at first, and it takes hours if not a couple days to recover from. It's no fun. Fortunately we were armed with plenty of information at our construction tail gate safety meetings to understand what it feels like, and what it looks like in the folks you are with at the time.

Be safe, and think!!!!!!

How about anyone else, do you care to touch on some important safety tips to enjoy our biggest American Holiday of the year?

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John Morris

The Patriot Woodworker

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Use very long matches when lighting the fireworks!!

Actually they're illegal in Pennsylvania. However, our town hosts a nice display and they launch them just about 200 feet from our back yard. Talk about a ring side seat!

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Lew Kauffman-

Wood Turners Forum Host

Time Traveler and Purveyor of the Universe's Finest Custom Rolling Pins!

I that y'all for celebrating our returning to the states from our trip to Europe.  It is really quite an honor  BUT is not really necessary.

Let us instead celebrate the start of the greatest free nation in the world.

It is because of great men, honorable men, PATRIOTS and ordinary men  such as us that have given our hard work, our sweat, out tears, our blood, and yes, our lives in order to be a free nation.

Let us celebrate our FREEDOM and contemplate our for fathers.

End of serman

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Fred

aka Pop's Shop

www.pops-shop.com

'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'

Scroll Saw Forum Host

Be smart and safe!   No illegal fireworks!  

SQ

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Happiness is wood chips flying!

John,

Heat Wave?

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Please keep it by you!!!!

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We had almost 2/3 of last month with rain. We are now on record for wettest season on record.

20+ inches of rain for the month of June

This time last year we were in a drought with temperatures near 100 degrees, and dewpoints in the mid 70's.

It was a sauna, yuck.

Today the forecast high is 78, with dewpoints in the upper 50's, and a few days forecast without rain. Yippie!

Hopefully I can get caught up to the yard. It got away from me with all of last months rain.

It was simply to wet to mow, and just kept plugging the mowers. I may have to use the brush hog first, and then mow now, as most of the yard is 8-10" or deeper.

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I'll be staying home for the 4th, We can see the fireworks from 3 directions.

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Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Well said Fred!

Fred Wilson said:

I that y'all for celebrating our returning to the states from our trip to Europe.  It is really quite an honor  BUT is not really necessary.

Let us instead celebrate the start of the greatest free nation in the world.

It is because of great men, honorable men, PATRIOTS and ordinary men  such as us that have given our hard work, our sweat, out tears, our blood, and yes, our lives in order to be a free nation.

Let us celebrate our FREEDOM and contemplate our for fathers.

End of serman

---

Fred

aka Pop's Shop

www.pops-shop.com

'Soooooo many patterns - sooooo little time'

Scroll Saw Forum Host

To add to this growing list of safety tips for our big day,

I'll add this very important one here.

Don't Drink and Drive!!!!!!!!

If you are planning on being out, and drinking, please be sure you have someone as a designated driver.

If you witness someone at a get together who insists on driving and they are obviously impaired, take the keys and call a taxi for them. If they refuse, call the police, I have actually done that before.

Drinking and driving is no joke folks, just two beers can impair your driving and you would not even know it.

Please be safe, and please be wise, and think!

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John Morris

The Patriot Woodworker

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