| Health & Safety Tips |
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Health & Safety Tips for Volunteering, Community Service & Service Learning Whether we are at home, out in the community, or traveling
abroad, our individual health and safety is very important.
We also need to consider safety issues when volunteering or
doing service. Service to the community may take you to places
that seem different from your own neighborhood. Some people
welcome the chance to learn about new areas, while others
tend to wonder if they are safe. The following simple precautions
make good sense at a service site as well as in your hometown,
your favorite weekend spot, or on the University of Maryland
campus. 5. Always lock your car. When returning to a parked car, have your key in your hand as you approach. Before opening the car, check around, under, and inside. 6. It is very unusual to be harassed or threatened while volunteering in the community or traveling to a site. If this should happen to you, keep moving and leave the situation. However, if you must respond, say loudly and firmly, "Leave me alone." If you need help, yell "Fire!" Don't resist an attacker who is only after your property or who is armed. 7. Trust your instincts. If someone asks you to do something that feels unsafe or makes you uncomfortable, check with your supervisor before doing the task. 8. Report any incidents or accidents to your supervisor. If at anytime you feel nervous, unsafe, or an injury occurs, you can contact: Police: 911 REMEMBER: Be smart, be cautious, be safe, and HAVE FUN!
Many times our community service work requires us to provide service in unique settings. Just as any health care provider, food preparer, construction worker, or teacher, the community service providers will interact with a large variety of community members and should take steps to avoid the spread of communicable diseases or personal injury. Whether volunteering or just exploring the community, the following hygiene and safety tips will help protect you. 2. Wear latex gloves if you are not comfortable with someone’s hygiene, if you will be touching any object that has made contact with body fluids, or if you have a cold. Dispose of these gloves immediately after a single use and wash your hands. Ask for fresh gloves when needed. 3. Talk to your supervisor about other issues specific to the population you are working with (e.g., children). 4. Beware of environmental concerns including fumes, dangerous objects, and possible interaction with somebody or something that could carry an infectious disease. 5. Wear eye protection when operating power tools or other equipment that may throw off small particles. Wear appropriate foot protection, such as thick-soled shoes or boots. Use a respirator when working in dusty areas or with insulation. Ensure that ladders are properly secured before use. Wear suitable clothing for construction work. Keep the work area clean and neat. Wear gloves when handling wood or metal products. Hard hats must be worn at any time when someone is working above you or your supervisor instructs you to. 6. You should not lift any heavy objects while on duty. If you must bend down or lift an object, remember to bend with your knees, not your back! Prevent accidents by using good judgments. 7. If you should become injured while working you MUST report the incident to your site supervisor at once. Details about incident reporting may differ at various settings, so be sure to know the procedure at your location. Resources: Community Service-Learning 7/05
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