How to Stay Safe While Shoveling

2/12/2020 (Permalink)

I know, personally, I asked for winter weather for the holidays and of course, we received very little. I could’ve worn shorts on Christmas!  It snowed on Halloween, but we couldn’t get a white Christmas? Come on, Mother Earth! All my wishes for winter weather have now been granted way too late, and we’ve been receiving snow and ice these last few weeks with more on its way. 

After all the snow and ice, we have to worry about removing it from our driveways and sidewalks, but it’s very possible to injure yourself while shoveling snow, because it can be very heavy and it is a lot of work! I’ve compiled a few tips from multiple sources about how to stay safe while shoveling. First of all, the most common injury when it comes shoveling is injuring your back. The way a lot of people hurt their back is by lifting the snow while shoveling instead of just pushing the snow to the side. Once again, snow is heavy! You should also take breaks as needed. At the end of the day, there really is no rush. No need to hurt yourself because you’re rushing something with no finish line. 

But you can also prepare yourself before you even get to the point of actually shoveling, consider salting before the snow arrives to lessen the load once it actually arrives. Also, if you know you’re going to be shoveling, prepare yourself by warming up your body, by doing jumping jacks or another exercise to get blood pumping. 

While we’ve covered snow, you should also be careful with ice, especially black ice. Black ice is ice that takes on the color of the surface it is on, which makes it very hard to see. When thinking about how to be safe when it comes to ice, footwear is very important. I have many pairs of older shoes that I still love to wear, but there is little to no traction. I can’t count how many times I’ve almost fallen because my shoewear choice was poor. Wear shoes with traction that can have a little more grip on the surface you’re walking on. Also, take smaller steps with feet smaller apart to increase balance. 

At the end of the day, the winter weather is coming whether we are ready or not, so why not be prepared and do everything possible to protect yourself?

June is National Safety Month!

6/7/2019 (Permalink)

It's officially June, which means it is National Safety Month! The way this national month is observed is by changing the safety topic weekly, in order to dedicate time to every safety topic. 

Week One 

Week one is dedicated to hazard recognition. In order to recognize hazards, we recommend: 

• Identify risks in your home, business or community and think of how you can lower the risks. 
• Run through "What if" scenarios of your home/business to identify any hazards you may have missed.  

Week Two 

Week two is dedicated to slips, trips and falls.  They're the leading cause of injury-related deaths for adults 65 and older. In order to be safe when concerning falls we recommend:

• Cleaning up spills immediately.
• Keep walkways free of clutter.
• Replace burnt out light bulbs immediately. 

Week Three 

Week three is dedicated to fatigue. About 20% of fatal road accidents involve driver fatigue according to Transport Accident Commission. In order to observe this week, we recommend: 

• Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.
• Avoid eating heavy meals before sleeping.
• Don't drive if you feel too tired. 

Week Four 

The last week of National Safety Month is dedicated to impairment. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 30 people die every day due to drunk-driving crashes. In order to observe this week, we recommend:

• Plan a ride home if you are planning to drink alcohol.
• Always wear a seat belt.
• Check to make sure any prescription drugs you are taking don't have side affects that could impair you

SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Heights is reminding our community to be safe and to observe these safety tips! Happy National Safety Month! 

Norridge Community Fest

6/4/2019 (Permalink)

This Saturday is Community Fest in Norridge and we are proud to be a sponsor of this year's event. 

This event benefits the Norridge School Foundation. They work with local businesses, like SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Heights, to identify and support the needs of the school district. They work to improve the experience of education for the children in the district and to improve the security of the school. 

We are proud to help in our community and support the schools.

At This Year's Event

There will be live music, food and drinks. There will also be bingo and raffles for adults and a bounce house and games for the children. It will be fun for the whole family! We hope to see you there! 

Address of the event: Divine Savior Church                 7740 W Montrose Ave. Norridge, IL 60706

May is Electrical Safety Month!

5/9/2019 (Permalink)

Happy May! While we're thinking about summer and enjoying the warming weather, we also should discuss electrical safety, because May is Electrical Safety Month! Here are some helpful tips when it comes to electricity!

• If there is a downed power line on your property, do not go near it. Even if you think it is no longer dangerous, assume it is to stay safe. Call 911 or your local utility.
• Check your cords for fraying or cracking and replace them if they are cracked or frayed.
• Keep electrical appliances away from water at all times
• Don't run cords under carpet or tack cords to walls or floors
• Only use bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the electronics
• Unplug electronics when not in use

Electrical safety is important all year round, but it's important to review safety tips and adjust things that may be putting you at risk during this month. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, electrical accidents cause 43,900 house fires and result in $1.7 billion in property damage each year. 

SERVPRO of Norridge/Harwood Hts. would like to remind you to be safe and follow these guidelines to have a successful Electrical Safety Month! 

WATER SAFETY

5/8/2019 (Permalink)

Be safe at the community pool.

With summer almost here, SERVPRO  of Norridge/Harwood Heights wants you to be aware of these water safety tips provided by The 
Red Cross. 

1. Do your part, be water smart! Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well.

2. Actively supervise children by staying within arm’s reach of young children and newer swimmers.

3. Don’t fool with a pool: fence it in. Enclose your pool and spa with four-sided, four-foot fencing and use self-closing, self-latching gates.

4. Don’t just pack it; wear your U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket – always when on a boat and if in a situation beyond your skill level. Inflatable children’s toys and water wings can be fun, but they are no substitute for a life jacket and close adult supervision.

5. Swim as a pair near a lifeguard’s chair - everyone, including experienced swimmers, should swim with a buddy in areas protected by lifeguards.

Little League

8/29/2016 (Permalink)

Message from NHHLL about league in which we sponsor a team.

Norridge / Harwood Heights Little League (NHHLL) Baseball and Softball is a chartered, non-profit organization that provides an exciting youth baseball and softball experience for players 5 to 18 years of age. NHHLL has been providing baseball and softball programs in both the spring and fall, for over 50 years. NHHLL strives to promote and teach the game, develop players at all levels, create an environment where area youth can learn good sportsmanship and fair play and encourage all players, officials, coaches and spectators to enjoy the game. We are dedicated to bringing value to families looking for a positive youth athletic experience for their children.

None of this is possible without the generous contributions of volunteers, private individuals, local government, and local business sponsorships in our community. We are deeply grateful for our community members for their contributions and support. Their contributions have helped us offset costs for equipment, uniforms, clinics, training materials, awards, and all general associated costs required for us to run our league.

Toy Donations 2015

1/8/2016 (Permalink)

We collected over 12 toys and donated them to the local hospital.  Next year we hope to double the donation. Our new collection date will be September 9th, 2016.

Thank You for your donations.