Embrace Autumn—But With Care!

Ah, autumn! It is a time for fresh starts—a new school year, cooler temperatures that beckon one outside for a walk through crunchy fallen leaves, and just beyond, the winter holidays. It is hard not to like fall.

The season brings with it its share of dangers, however, so use common sense so you will still be around for winter!

DRIVING IN AUTUMN

Those gorgeous, colorful leaves can be slippery on the road—even when they are dry. When they are wet, you really have to be cautious, or you will find yourself in a Slip ‘n Slide situation, having lost control of your car and sliding into a tree, a ravine, or another car. Black ice is another possibility with the weather getting colder. Take it easy!

Remember that children are back in school, and as they walk to school or the bus stop, they may be enjoying the company of friends that they have not seen in months. As the one behind the wheel, you are the one who must watch out for them. Also, if you are behind a school bus with its lights flashing and the arm out, YOU MUST STOP. Period. It is the law—but it is not just the law; it is prevention for possibly the worst thing you would ever have to live with: killing a child.

Wildlife is more active in the fall, too. Many species have regular migration patterns, travel in herds, and are more visible now, and a collision with a large buck can lead to severe damage to your car and your body. According to the Farmers’ Almanac, many animals are most active between 6 and 9 p.m., when drivers may be sleepier and less focused after working all day.¹ Add those factors to the next one, and you could have a hazardous result.

Poor visibility is another condition to be aware of when driving in the fall. With the changing of the season and the days getting shorter, you are more likely to be driving at dusk or dawn. When the sun is lower in the sky, or you are driving through half-light after driving through bright sunlight, seeing is more difficult. Morning fog may also be a factor. Be an intelligent driver, and drive more slowly if you cannot see. Better to have an irritated driver behind you than get into a car crash.

BEING SAFE WITH FIRE

Who does not like to cozy up in front of a crackling fire? If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, you must observe some safety precautions.

Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure that you completely extinguish it before you go to bed. Use a fireplace screen to prevent sparks from setting your carpet or other belongings on fire. Get both your fireplace and your furnace inspected and your fireplace cleaned every fall.

In the same vein, take care using candles. They lend a warm, homey atmosphere and a lovely fragrance, but do not burn them near anything that could catch fire. The National Candle Association states that about 8,200 home fires each year are started with candles.² Extinguish candles before you go out or go to sleep, and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Keep them away from drafts and vents and at least 3 inches apart so they do not melt each other or create drafts.

Space heaters can be a godsend if your home never seems to get warm enough for you, but give them space. Sources recommend at least 3 feet of space around a space heater.

Burning that huge pile of leaves may seem like a great autumn activity and an efficient way to get rid of the leaves (now that many state and local governments ban yard waste from scarce landfill space), but did you know that burning leaves produce harmful elements? A brochure put out by the Environmental Protection Agency details the following air pollutants in the smoke from burning leaves:

• particulate matter, which can make its way deep into the lungs, increasing the chance of respiratory infection, reducing air intake, impairing the lungs’ ability to use that air, and even triggering asthma;
• hydrocarbons—in particular, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, some of them known carcinogens; and
• carbon monoxide, which is absorbed through the lungs and into the bloodstream, combines with red blood cells, and can reduce the amount of oxygen those blood cells can absorb and transport to body tissues.

Consider composting. It is better for your lungs and better for the environ­ment—particularly your garden!

PERFORMING HOME MAINTENANCE

Autumn is the time to trim trees and bushes after the growing season. When you do, however, make sure you know where the power lines are to avoid electrocution or even just a wicked shock. Also, if you are using a ladder, it should be on a flat, level surface, and your shoes should be nonslip.

Keep leaves, snow, and ice off sidewalks and driveways. Slips and falls are funny only in comedy routines.

BOATING SAFELY

The beauty of autumn foliage is amazing when seen from a boat, but again, use caution, and you will be able to compare this year’s foliage with next year’s. A U.S. Coast Guard report³ states that boating accidents during the fall are more likely to be fatal than those during the summer.

Fall is known for its warm days and cool to cold nights, so dress accordingly. We are talking layers, folks! You could suffer heatstroke and hypothermia on the same day if you do not dress appropriately. Also, do not forget rain gear and gloves.

Let others know about your boating plans. Fewer people are out on the water in the fall, so fewer people will be around to help should you run into trouble. Also, always wear a life jacket; if you fall overboard, you will lose consciousness more quickly in the colder water. Of course, make sure that your cell phone is charged before you leave, and keep it in a waterproof pouch or container on your body.

PREPARING FOR THE FLU

Get your flu shot. It is a no-brainer. Also, consider breaking out that mask that you wore during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Healthline,⁴ the measures we took to prevent the spread of COVID-19—wearing masks and social distancing—played a large part in keeping flu numbers unusually low last flu season. Maybe that is a positive takeaway from the pandemic.

No matter how you plan to enjoy yourself this fall, stay safe and love life!

1 https://www.farmersalmanac.com/tips-avoiding-wildlife­collisions-28512.
2 https://candles.org/fire-safety-candles/.
3 https://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/ Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2018.pdf.
4 https://www.healthline.com/health-news/covid19-is-surging­but-flu-cases-are-down.