On The Safe Side

Welcome to the first official safety newsletter for the Sioux City Community School District! Check in each month for safety tips, interesting facts, workers' compensation updates and more.

The Golden Safety Cone Award is to recognize employees in our District who have demonstrated excellence when it comes to safety. Each building has their own Golden Cone. Anyone can make a nomination, so if you see someone being SAFE, please nominate them! Nominations can be sent to the Safety Cone Ambassador at each building. Please contact your building safety committee for more information.

Check out these Golden Safety Cone Award winners!

1. The outsole of the shoe is the area that’s in contact with the walking surface, and the depth and spread of the tread is important. Too closely-patterned treads or those with minimal depth will not allow liquids to be dispersed properly and may create a potential hydroplaning effect.
2. Periodically inspect shoe tread and replace shoes when significant wear is noted.
3. Find a shoe that fits: a boot that’s too big can cause tripping hazards, but one that’s too tight can cause circulation issues and increase the risk for frostbite.
4. Insulation matters — lining made with synthetic fibers to help keep warmth in and cold out is important. Look for materials such as neoprene, Sherpa or fleece.
5. Waterproof your boots with spray or wax, depending on the material of your footwear, to help keep moisture out and toes dry.
6. For extra tricky walking surfaces, like hard-packed snow or slick hills, consider using ice cleats over your shoes or boots for extra traction.
7. And lastly, consider changing out of boots and into dry footwear after you enter your building to reduce the risk of a slip and fall.

Want to win a pair of ice cleats for you and nine of your fellow colleagues? Then take this quiz to test your smarts on winter footwear! Those who answer all the questions correctly will be entered to win. Winners will be contact via email and announced in January. Take the Quiz! >>

Even skin that is protected can be subject to frostbite. It’s the most common injury resulting from exposure to severe cold, and it usually occurs on fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. If caught early, it is possible to prevent permanent damage. If not, frostbite can lead to amputation.

Superficial frostbite affects the skin surface, while the underlying tissue remains soft. The skin appears white, waxy or grayish-yellow and is cold and numb.

If the condition is allowed to progress to deep frostbite, all layers of skin are affected and the outcome likely will be more serious. The skin will become completely numb, blisters may form and eventually the skin tissue dies and turns black.

If you suspect frostbite:

• Get indoors immediately.
• Seek medical attention.
• Remove constrictive clothing and jewelry that could impair circulation.
• Place dry, sterile gauze between toes and fingers to absorb moisture and keep them from sticking together.
• Elevate the affected area to reduce pain and swelling.

Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops below 95 degrees. Severe shivering, one of the first signs of hypothermia, is beneficial in keeping the body warm. But as hypothermia progresses, shivering gives way to drowsiness or exhaustion, confusion, shallow breathing, irregular heartbeat, slurred speech, loss of coordination and eventually, unconsciousness and even death.

So what should you do if you encounter someone suffering from hypothermia?

• Move the victim inside and remove any wet clothing.
• Call for medical attention.
• Add blankets, pillow, towels or newspapers beneath and around the victim.
• Cover the victim’s head.
• Handle the victim gently to avoid cardiac arrest.
• Keep the victim in a horizontal position.
• If necessary, give CPR.

None of these steps are a substitute for proper medical care. Be sure to seek medical attention for frostbite and hypothermia as soon as possible.

Kysa Hagemann

Insurance, Workers' Compensation, Safety and Benefits

Email: hagemak@live.siouxcityschools.com
Location: 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6692

The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW.

The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices.

Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.