Fireworks!

At least it's still July as I post these pics... Thanks to the Tacoma Rainiers for a great show in a beautiful newly-remodeled stadium!

83% of All Accidents

One of my responsibilities as Safety Designate for my library is to create and distribute a quiz regarding emergency procedures. The idea is that an interactive exercise will encourage them to consider their roles in responding to potentially dangerous situations. One of the questions I formulated had to do with proper use of a fire extinguisher on a spontaneously combusting children's book. Even though we aren't Boy Scouts, we should always be prepared, right?

One of my esteemed colleagues informed me that this scenario reminded her of an event from an actual movie (it happens to be her favorite movie of all time.) In the movie, the drummer of a rock band suddenly and without warning was consumed by spontaneous combustion!

As if that isn't bad enough, I realized that two of my sons play drums at our church... behind a Plexiglas screen. (The photo above is the actual drum set they play, with the shield in place.) If either of them were to burst into flame, could anyone reach them in time to put out the fire?

Here's where safety principles learned on the job can be applied at home or church, for immediate and practical benefit. I am going to go out this very afternoon and purchase belt-mounted fire extinguishers for both of my boys to wear every time they play. The extinguishers must be within easy reach at all times, and the only way to do this is to attach them to their physical persons.

Wow. Just think of all the nights of sleep I should have lost over this before I knew there was any possibility of bodily harm. Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be percussionists -- unless they've got CO2 belt holsters.