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Basic
Driving Tips and Rules
From the Desk of ACT’s Human Resources Director
The
highest risk of accidental death that workers encounter every day is
the one that they face if they drive on the job or to and from work:
a fatal traffic accident.
Traffic accidents also are a major cause of employee
injuries. No one can be
completely protected from being in a crash and none of us can
predict what other drivers will do.
What each of us can do is to be accountable for our own
actions and to do every thing possible to ensure a safe trip each
time we get behind the wheel.
The
North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicle provides to the public a
wealth of information on safe driving tips, basic driving skills and
rules. Here are
just a few that you should review whether you are driving your own
car or an ACT automobile.
Safe
Driving Tips:
- Plan
ahead.
- Allow
time for frequent rest stops.
- Stop,
get out of the car and move around at least once every 100
miles.
- When
you feel sleepy, stop and rest or have something to eat.
- Constantly
scan the road ahead, however, do not look at any one object for
more than a few seconds at a time and never stare into the
distance.
- Use
the rear view and side mirrors frequently to reduce the chance
of your vehicle being hit from the rear.
- Slow
your speed any time you see a situation that might be dangerous.
- Do
not impair your view through the windshield or windows.
- Load
your vehicle so that driver's view of the road will not be
blocked.
- Do
not eat, drink or smoke while driving.
- Except
to make a hand signal, no driver or passenger should ever place
an arm, head, and foot outside a moving vehicle.
- Your
vehicle must be equipped with items such as lights, seatbelts,
etc and should be in good working order.
Rules
to Follow When Driving:
- Give
yourself plenty of space to make decisions – leave a
"margin of safety" around your vehicle.
- Communicate
your intended movements to other drivers.
Signal at least 100 feet before turning or stopping.
The faster you are driving, the further ahead you should
signal.
- Watch
the road far enough ahead of you to detect possibly dangerous
situations earlier and to take proper defensive action.
- Avoid
driving side-by-side, especially in another driver's blind spot
– if you cannot see the inside rear view mirror of the car
ahead, you are probably in the driver's blind spot.
- Never
"weave" in and out of traffic – stay in one lane if
you can and plan lane changes ahead of time.
- Be
prepared to apply the brakes.
- Watch
for parked care that might be pulling out and pedestrians who
might dart onto the street from between parked cars.
Parked cars can also block your view of intersecting
traffic.
- On
a one-way street, use the center lane(s) for through-travel and
the outside lanes for turning.
- DO
NOT TAILGATE.
Tires:
Although
all equipment on automobiles should be in good condition, one item
that seems to be the last to be replaced is the car's tires.
Every
vehicle operated on the streets and highways of North Carolina must
be equipped with tires that are safe for the operation of the
vehicle and do not expose the public to needless hazards.
Tires are considered unsafe if they are cut, cracked or worn
so as to expose the tire cord, or when they have visible tread
separation, chunking or less then two thirty-seconds inch tread
depth.
Tires
are important for stopping your vehicle.
Never drive on smooth tires or tires that have fabric
showing. Tires without
enough air wear out more quickly.
Also tires without enough air increase the likelihood of a
blowout. Over-inflated
tires reduce traction and wear heavily on the middle of the tread.
The
air pressure of tires must be checked at least once every week.
For safe driving and fuel economy, tires should have the
right amount of air. Following
the manufacture's recommendation. The best time to check air pressure is when the tires are
cool. If you do not
have an air pressure gauge, you can take your car to a nearby
service station or auto center to have it checked.
ACT
recommends to all drivers of an ACT company car to have the tires
rotated and balanced every 6000 miles.
Seat
Belts
All
drivers should but ACT drivers of company cars are expected to
follow all the laws and regulations established by the NCDMV.
This includes the wearing of a seat belt. In NC each front seat occupant who is 16 years of age or
older and each driver of a passenger motor vehicle manufactured with
seat belts shall have a seat belt properly fastened about his or her
body at all times when the vehicle is in forward motion on a street
or highway.
There
may be some exceptions to the rule.
If you are exempt from wearing a seat belt, you must provide
proof of exemption from this rule before driving or riding in an ACT
owned vehicle.
Drivers
of ACT company cars should not be using the vehicle for personal
use, and; therefore, the only passengers should be other ACT
employees. Special
permission is necessary if your passenger is not an ACT employee.
Your
Driving
Good
driving skills should be developed and practiced at all times.
You should also know your physical and mental limitations and
not drive a vehicle when you are too tired, sleepy or stressed.
Your ability to safely operate a motor vehicle may save your
life as well as the life of others.
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Depression
in the Elderly
From the Desk of ACT’s Clinical Services Director
More
than 2 million of the 34 million Americans age 65 and older suffer
from some form of depression (NIH, 2000).
Individuals age 65 and older account for 20% of all suicide
deaths, with white males aged 85 and older being at the highest risk
for suicide. Depression
is not, however, a normal part of aging and can significantly
interfere with the individual’s ability to function and place the
individual at increased risk for medical disease.
Depression
often accompanies, is triggered by, or worsened by serious medical
illness. Depression can increase impairment or impede improvement
from the medical disorder.
Symptoms of depression may include changes in appetite or
sleep, difficulty with memory and concentration, persistent sad or
irritable mood, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, lethargy
and decreased energy, and loss of interest in pleasurable
activities. Depression
is highly treatable, with a high rate of success; more than 80% of
people with depression improve when they receive appropriate
treatment with medication, psychotherapy, or the combination and has
been found to reduce recurrence of depression among older adults (NIH
Publication No. 99-4593, 2000).
Available
literature (cf Ames, 1991) suggests that significant depressive
symptoms (minor depression) are present in 30 - 50% of nursing home
residents. Twenty-four
percent of cognitively intact and 10% of cognitively impaired
nursing home residents exhibit major depression (Parmalee, et al
1989). Thus, the highest risk for depression is in cognitively
intact nursing home residents who have the greatest physical
disability and medical illness (Kim & Rovner, 1995).
Many of the medical conditions that result in nursing
facility placement increase risk for depression, including
Parkinson’s disease, CVA, cancer, dementia, and heart disease.
Presence of depression is strongly related to the outcome of
physical illness (see ACT Newsletter archive August/September 2000).
Caregivers
can help patients to cope
· Discuss your concerns with the patient’s attending physician
· Remember that depression is not just a passing mood
· Remind the patient that strength of character and previous
accomplishments do not prevent depression and anxiety and that
depression and anxiety are not signs of weakness that can just be
“willed away”
· Encourage the patient to stick with treatment, even if treatment
doesn’t immediately help. Encourage
patient not to give up. Active
family members may want to explore the appropriateness of their
direct involvement in sessions with the patient and clinician.
· Offer emotional support, reassurance, and affection.
Be encouraging. Listen with understanding and let the patient know you
believe the treatment will help him/her feel better soon.
· Encourage participation in activities and continue to arrange social
visitations, even if this does not seem immediately appreciated.
· If the patient talks about death or suicide, take these remarks
seriously and let the nursing staff or physician know right away.
·
If the patient is irritable or negative, try not to take this
personally and recognize that it is the depressive illness causing
this behavior.
vEmployee
Birthdays! v
v
Karen Fulwood
March 3rd
v
Larry Gerstenhaber
March 7th
v
Gretchen Belovicz
March 9th
v
Chris Norris
March 11th
v
Reagan Bell
March 18th
v
Barry Moore
March 21st
v
Jeff Crawford
March 22nd
v
Chris Bullard
March 24th
v
Allen Greenway
March 28th
v
Tamara Starr
April 9th
v
Cathi Fithian
April 21st
v
Judy Lefaive
April 29th
vEmployee
Anniversaries!v
v
Bryan Patterson:
6 years as of March 1st
v
Erinn Moore:
6 years as of March 1st
v
Michael Lefaive:
2 years as of March 4th
v
Jeff Crawford:
4 years as of April 10th
v
Craig Iversen:
4 years as of April 13th
v
David Cook:
2 years as of April 15th
v
Ronny Wright:
2 years as of April 29th
vWelcome
on Board!! v
v
Judy Lefaive
February 16 as Central NC Business Development Representative
v
Tamara Starr
February 16 as Winston-Salem area NP
v
Karen Talbert
February 16 as Asheville area PA and Geriatric Specialty Team
Member
v
Bryan Connell
February 23 as Charlotte area psychologist
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