The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)

Safety 1998 Archive.

Table of Contents.

1. FEBRUARY - SAFETY NOTE - DON'T STOP ON EMPTY,
2. FEBRUARY - DON'T THROW PLASTIC INTO A CAMPFIRE,
3. MAY - SAFETY-Various,
4. JULY - SAFETY-ADULTS NEED TETANUS SHOTS, TOO.

February.

SAFETY NOTE - DON'T STOP ON EMPTY! By Dorothy & Glenn Lee.
     That's a lesson we learned in our travel trailer on our way home from the Jackson Show. We stopped Friday afternoon in a trailer court along Highway 50 out of Lamar, CO. Rain began during the night and soon turned to snow and by morning a blizzard was raging and drifts were several feet deep. The blizzard continued all day Saturday with snow blowing into the trailer through the windows and door and by evening the electricity and phones were out and the court's water supply frozen. The wind blew even harder Saturday night but died down Sunday morning. However, drifts completely blocked the highway so that no traffic could get through. The court had no propane so we were completely dependent upon the propane, water and batteries in our trailer as the temperature dropped to 13 F. Fortunately, we had not stopped on empty (except for our holding tanks). After three very uncomfortable (but survivable) nights, the highway was plowed and by Monday afternoon we could continue on our way home, but we hate to think of how it would have been had we not had propane, water, good batteries and gas in the truck.

     via AFMS Newsletter,
     February 1998.

Editors Note: Ray & Florence Meisenheimer have met the Lees many times at Federation shows. They live in Oregon.

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DON'T THROW PLASTIC INTO A CAMPFIRE.
     It may first melt forming a bubble with liquid inside and then explode when the liquid turns into steam. Persons nearby could be burned seriously.

     HyGrader,
     via Pegmatite,
     via AFMS Newsletter, Feb. 1998.

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May.

SAFETY, COLORFUL AND DEADLY from AFMS Newsletter By Jeff Freeman, Osage Hills Gem & Mineral Society.
     Jeff reports that he has seen several reports and articles about adding chemicals to pine cones or pieces of wood to add color to the flames. There is a BIG HAZARD in some of the chemicals.
     I have seen this article in exchange bulletins about making colorful flames. "Prepare for a colorful holiday fireplace by soaking pine cones or small sticks in one of the following solutions. Using a plastic bucket, mix one gallon of water with one pound of chemical, soak the material overnight. Most of the chemicals can be purchased at a drug store or supermarket.
     "Table salt - yellow flame; borax - vivid green flame; copper sulfate - blue green; potassium nitrate - violet; strontium nitrate - red; copper nitrate - emerald green; barium nitrate - apple green; potassium chloride - purple; calcium chloride - orange; copper chloride - blue; lithium chloride - purple."
     The dangerous chemicals are the nitrates. They are used to make gunpowder and explosives. The dangers--strong oxidizer, may explode when heated. The other hazardous chemical is barium. Water-soluble compounds of barium are poisonous. The solution from mixing the barium, and even the ashes are poisonous.
     The safe chemicals are table salt - yellow; borax - green; copper sulfate - green; strontium chloride - red; potassium chloride - violet; calcium chloride - orange; copper chloride - blue; lithium chloride - crimson.

TOTE THAT ROCK - LIFT THAT TOOLBAG from AFMS 4/98 Newsletter by Mel Albright, AFMS Safety Chair.
     One thing we rockhounds do a whole bunch - pick up rocks - little rocks, bigger rocks, and big rocks. Rocks by themselves, rocks in boxes, rocks in buckets, rocks in sacks - all are ways we collect and move rocks. And heavy tool bags are lifted all too often.

The classic joke picture of rockhounds is a bunch of people standing with straight legs, bent over at the waist, and touching the ground with their hands. It is too often true, unfortunately.

Another thing we rockhounds do is put those heavy tools and rocks into a vehicle - or take them out - often by swinging things.

And - the result is a lot of bad backs, sore backs, back strains, sometimes even permanently damaged backs.

So, we need to learn - AND PRACTICE - the proper way to lift and lower heavy stuff (actually - light stuff, too) without hurting ourselves.

To lift and move something, several steps should be followed. We'll pretend we're picking up a rock, but the rules are the same for ANYTHING we pick up - even our dirty socks.

1. Stand with your feet apart about shoulder width, the rock between your feet, and one foot slightly in front of the other (for balance).
2. Lower yourself by bending your knees until you can grab the rock. The rock should be close to your body. Keep your back straight and your chin tucked in.
3. SLOWLY lift the rock by straightening up your knees pushing with your leg muscles. Keep the rock in close to your body. Do NOT twist sideways.
4. Once standing, DO NOT TWIST your back. To move the rock sideways, turn with your feet. Keep the rock in close to your body.
5. Once you get where you are going with the rock, reverse the steps you used to lift the rock. Remember - KEEP YOUR BACK STRAIGHT!!
6. If the rock must go into a trunk or car or whatever, set it down on the edge keeping a straight back. Then slide it into the vehicle. Most of us will bend over at the waist and swing it in - a sure way to get a bad back!

You aren't SUPERMAN OR WOMAN! If the rock or bucket or bag is too heavy for you to carry easily, do it another way! Get help. Use a skid made from a heavy cloth or a wood slat with a rope tied to the end. Roll the rock using a long handled tool to pry with. Use your ingenuity!

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July.

SAFETY-ADULTS NEED TETANUS SHOTS, TOO.
    While groping for crystals in the red Arkansas mud we were painfully reminded that rockhounding is an activity which is often accompanied by cuts, scrapes, and dirt. Were we protected against tetanus? How long had it been since we had our tetanus booster shots?
     Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, disease that affects the central nervous system, producing both stiffness and muscular rigidity or convulsive muscle spasms. The most frequent symptom is a stiff jaw, caused by spasm of the muscle that closes the mouth, accounting for the disease's familiar name, "lockjaw". Tetanus is fatal to more than half of its victims.
     This disease is caused by a toxin (poison) released in the body by the tetanus bacteria, Clostridium tetani. The bacteria most commonly enter the human body with dirt in cuts, scratches, and puncture wounds, especially ones that are deep. It is also present as spores, reproductive cells with thick walls that are tough to kill; and highly resistant to heat and the usual antiseptics that treat wounds.
     The tetanus bacteria will always be with us, since it can flourish just about anywhere ... it likes dirt and rusty nails. All persons not immunized with toxoid, the tetanus vaccine, are susceptible to infection. However, the vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing tetanus and the deaths it causes. Some individuals may be protected for life against tetanus but in most people, immunity declines with time. Adults should receive booster doses every 10 years. Play it safe; if you are unsure of your tetanus immunization status, consult your physician.
          By Al & Sylvia Sicree,
          MWF Safety Chairmen,
          from MWF Newsletter March 98,
          Via AFMS Newsletter June, July, Aug 98.

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