Uncategorized

How to be safe on a jog

Summer jogging is a great way to stay fit without shelling out big bucks on a gym membership. It’s also a great way to see more of your neighbourhood. Many areas of Ontario have jogging trails and paths of varying length and incline.

Staying safe on a jog, however, can be a challenge. By following some safety steps, you can greatly reduce your risk of injury while on a run. You might not know about many of the safety risks you could face while jogging. Here are some helpful tips on staying safe on a jog.

1. Bring some basics

When disaster happens, be it injury or crime, what you’re carrying can be vital and even save a life. Bringing a phone with you on a jog can mean a way to call for help. A phone can also be a map if you’re lost. Carrying some form of identification can come in handy in case of an emergency.

Other basics for jogs include water, keys, a whistle and even mace (if jogging in a wild or unsafe area). Much of this depends on when you’re jogging, how long the jog is and where it’s happening. It’s always good to be overprepared rather than underprepared.

2. Don’t jog alone

Bringing a jogging buddy can greatly reduce the risk of injury. Wild animals are less likely to attack, and someone may think twice about committing a crime if it’s double the risk. Bringing another jogger also means that if injury happens there is someone to call for help, give a statement and ensure immediate danger is minimized.

This is also a great way to enhance the overall jogging experience and motivate yourself to jog faster and longer.

3. Be traffic safe

Traffic collisions are a common cause of injury to joggers. For joggers, there are ways to avoid traffic-related injuries. By facing oncoming traffic, you have more of a chance to see an approaching vehicle and you improve your response time significantly. For vehicles, this gives them a clear view of you, meaning collision is less likely.

Wearing brightly-colored clothing, such as glow-in-the-dark clothes or runner’s lights, can reduce risk of injury as well. Most of all, don’t jog on the road at night.

4. Know yourself

Jogging is physical activity and we all have limits. It’s good to be ambitious with your fitness plan but also be realistic. If you’re planning to do a marathon distance on a jog, bring enough water to last you and maybe a small snack, especially if your blood sugar drops routinely. Account for distance back home on the jog.

On the jog, monitor yourself. If you’re struggling, don’t force yourself to finish a jog that’s going to injure you. It’s better to slowly make progress than injure yourself and make no progress at all.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

July 6, 2018 Road Safety, Uncategorized

Brain injury and memory

Strategies to improve memory after a brain injury

Brain injuries can radically impact your quality of life. One of the areas that can be most affected by a traumatic brain injury is memory. Conversely, memory is a critical function for daily life.

“Memory is your brain taking in, keeping, recalling and using information,” says BrainLine. “A brain injury can affect any of these areas of memory. A brain injury can also make it hard to learn and remember things.”

If your memory has been damaged as a result of a brain injury, or a brain injury has exacerbated existing memory problems, how do you recover what was lost?

Here are three steps to strengthen your memory after a traumatic brain injury.

1. Write it all down

For some, this means keeping a journal or calendar and writing down detailed descriptions to help them throughout the day. For others, this is simply writing cues or prompts to help them remember tasks or objectives. It is helpful, however, to have all of your prompts concentrated in one place to guard against loss.

Other ways to use writing to help you throughout the day are creating checklists, labelling items in shared spaces, making ‘cheat sheets’ for your wallet or cue cards for where items are located.

2. Make smart purchases

If you take medication, a pill organizer can be hugely helpful for those with memory problems. Purchasing appliances that shut off automatically can be helpful to ensuring home safety. If you’re opening a bank account, specify automatic bill payment or authorize a protective payee on your behalf.

3. Use PQRST

PQRST is a technique to help attain and retain information. First, preview the material, casually reading it over to understand what it is about. Second, question it by making a list of queries that you need answered to fully grasp the subject. Third, read! Read the material over again carefully, referring back to the questions list you generated. Fourth, state it in your own words. This could be out loud or on paper. Would you be able to

teach someone this material? Fifth, and finally, test yourself or ask someone else to test you. Repeat as necessary until you are confident you have fully retained the information.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

June 1, 2018 Uncategorized

A parent’s guide to pool safety

With summer making its arrival in Canada, pool season has begun. Pool safety is an important topic this time of year. According to the Lifesaving Society, hundreds of Canadians die each year from drowning. Parents, take note – for children under 10, drowning is the second leading cause of preventable death and children under five are the most at risk of drowning.

So, before you, or your children, dip your toes into the backyard pool, it’s important to review some pool safety tips.

1. Appoint a supervisor

Children of all ages require active supervision when in the pool. This means a parent/guardian who is placing their whole attention on the water. Accidents can happen quickly, and a rapid response time is critical. Don’t be fooled by Hollywood films – drowning is quiet and splashing or screaming doesn’t occur. The attention of a parent/guardian can be the difference between life and death.

2. No diving in shallow pools

Most backyard pools are not deep enough for diving, no matter the age of the diver. This is a frequent cause of injury. It’s important to do your own research into what your pool’s size allows. Establish clear rules with your children about diving in the pool, especially in the shallower end. Some parents choose to put up signage, which is available from many hardware stores, as a reminder. Most importantly, talk with your kids and make sure they understand your family’s pool safety rules.

3. Ensure proper fencing

Small children’s curiosity can lead to drowning by falling into pools. Multiple items are available for purchase which can prevent unsupervised access to water by young children. Examples include latching gates and four-sided fencing. It’s important to comply with any local fencing bylaws in your area so make sure to research these before you open your pool for the summer.

4. Arms’ reach matters

For children under 5, it’s important to keep them within arms’ reach when in the water. While supervision may be sufficient for older kids, younger children require the physical support and balance of a parent. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids the basics of swimming and create lasting memories.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

May 25, 2018 Uncategorized

Top tips to prevent dog bites

Whether you’re a dog lover, owner or just have dogs in your life they can bring lots of joy and companionship. But sometimes dogs can bite or launch a full-blown attack. However, before it gets to that there are things you can do to prevent dog bites and dog attacks from happening. Here are some key points from Best Friends Animal Society on safety when it comes to canines:

Build on their social skills

Dogs are very social animals and require a lot of attention. Socialize your dog by integrating them into regular activities both inside and outside your home as early as possible. Your aim should be to give your dog a series of positive social experiences to progressively build on their social skills. However, while introducing your dog to new situations, places, people and animals it’s important to exercise caution. Think about where your dog is at in their socialization progress to avoid overwhelming them or putting them in a negative social situation that could end badly.

Take the right approach to training

Training your dog with a certified professional is a great way for your dog to learn suitable behaviour in an effective way. Using positive reinforcement is a great way to encourage positive behaviour over negative behaviour in your dog while building the bond between you and your dog. Using physical punishment or rough play are things that you should avoid with your dog.

Give them lots of exercise

Whether it’s fetch, frequent walks or hiking trips, giving your dog lots of exercise is vitally important. Interaction with your pet with play strengthens the bond between you and the exercise will burn off their energy.

Avoid tying them up and letting them roam independently

Putting your dog in situations where they can potentially feel vulnerable can make them more likely to bite. When your dog’s ability to run away from potential danger is inhibited it can leave them feeling vulnerable, and when potential danger approaches (like another animal or person) they can feel forced to attack. Also, when you let your dog roam on their own it can leave them feeling vulnerable and lead to aggression if they feel confused or scared.

Pay close attention to their behaviour

Take note of your dog’s behaviour and tendencies. If you notice behavioural changes they could be a sign of an underlying medical issue. Take them to the vet to make sure everything is alright.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

May 11, 2018 Uncategorized

Using mindfulness to cope in the wake of an injury

How meditation can help you when the future is uncertain

After an injury, your life can be thrown into flux. What once was your normal everyday life can be turned on its head. In an instant, everything can change—not only physically, financially and socially, but mentally as well.

Dealing with this change can be overwhelming. While there is always a circle of care available to help you along the recovery journey, the physical and mental strain of your situation can still weigh heavily on your mind. In order to cope with the changes caused by your injury, finding things that work for you personally is key. While trying to find what works for you, something you may want to try is meditation.

What is meditation?

Meditation is the practice of putting all of your attention on a single thing—the present moment. It’s a practice of the state of mindfulness, which is awareness of the present. This can be done by focusing on a single thing, like a mantra, an object, or a part of your body.

Different types of meditation and other mindfulness practices can be used for various different purposes, so depending on the results you seek through meditation that will dictate the meditation practice you choose.

Coping with change

In the case of using meditation to cope with change brought on by injury, meditation can help you become more aware of your experience, specifically paying attention to your thoughts and body sensations. This awareness can allow you to experience the changes in your life and then give you space between experiencing them and reacting to them, allowing you to start practicing flowing with changes rather than struggling with them.

Mindfulness practices have shown to have a number of both physical and mental health benefits. Studies have also shown a trend towards positive outcomes specifically for those suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

In the face of a life-changing injury, meditation and mindfulness practice can be a key tool in helping you cope with both the physical and mental impacts of injury, the challenges of the recovery journey, as well as riding with the changes in your life.

There are many resources available to help you along your recovery journey, including lawyers who are there to protect you and your rights.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

March 2, 2018 Uncategorized

For brain injury victim family members

6 tips to help ease your way through recovery

Brain injuries don’t just affect those who are injured, they can affect entire families. If a family member of yours has experienced a brain injury chances are it might have placed emotional, social or financial challenges in your path. Every family’s experience is unique but all can experience the same types of changes.

It can be helpful to take some guidance from experts who understand your situation. Thankfully the Ontario Brain Injury Association has created a number of recommendations for family members of those experiencing brain injury. Some of these six tips might work for you:

1. Share responsibility

If you are becoming the main caregiver for the injured person the massive life change that your loved one’s injury can bring to your life can bring a lot of stress as well as personal strain. Know that you are not alone. If your injured loved one is capable of helping you in any way, allow them to help around the home.

While it can be challenging living with someone who has sustained a brain injury, there are support networks around you to help, whether that’s friends, family, support groups, programs or organizations.

2. Ask the nurses

Knowledge is power. While caring for someone who is recovering from a brain injury it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about their condition. Your loved one might have medical problems specific to their injury. You’ll want to learn all you can about the problems your loved one will be facing and how to properly manage them. Nurses who are caring for your loved one can be a great resource to ask questions that you may not have been able to get in when talking to specialists or doctors and walk you through specifics so you are more prepared for providing care on your own.

3. Consider getting a neurophysical evaluation

A neurophysical evaluation can give you a better understanding of your loved one’s injury, including how their abilities will be affected by the injury. Knowing this can help you in a number of ways. Because a brain injury can have significant affects on your loved one’s cognition and behaviour, this can cause significant changes in their life going forward. It’s important to understand what your loved one is facing. Secondly, knowing what these challenges are can help you moving forward in being able to care for them and look out for their wellbeing. Knowing what specific challenges they face, and what they are capable of doing, can help you predict issues in upcoming situations as well as know what you can expect of them.

4. Join an organization

There are many organizations and groups available to offer you support and resources, like brain injury associations. The information and community they provide can help you to improve your loved one’s quality of life on the recovery journey ahead.

5. Push for what you need

It’s important to be a strong advocate for your loved one. You have the expertise in what they were like before their injury, as well as the knowledge you gain from daily interaction with them. Ask questions, learn about their rights, and be firm when it comes to having their needs met.

6. Consult a lawyer

Talking to an attorney should be an urgent priority. Make sure to talk to a lawyer experienced in representing brain injury victims, especially before signing any paperwork.

An experienced lawyer is valuable to brain injury victims for a few reasons. They can help guide you through your options after the injury and help you find valuable resources for yourself and your loved one. The help of a personal injury lawyer can remove a lot of the stress that comes when a loved one suffers a brain injury.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

February 23, 2018 Uncategorized

Spinal cord injury recovery and nutrition

Here's how what you eat affects your health

No matter who you are, what you eat affects your health. Fueling your body with good food ensures that it can function at it’s very best. We often get used to certain types of foods and the quantity of those foods that make us feel our best. But, after a spinal cord injury our life and our body can change, forcing us to adjust our habits.

These changes and adjustments can affect your diet. Spinal Cord Injury Ontario outlined in their Nutrition after SCI Series how bad diets usually follow spinal cord injuries. They mentioned that changes in economic status, transportation, digestion, food preparation challenges and the nutrient values associated with comfort food contribute to the development of poor diets after spinal injury.

But the period after experiencing a spinal injury is a crucial time to give your body what it needs to heal. Nutrition, the fueling of your body with the nutrients in what you choose to eat, has a major affect on your health. Ensuring that you are eating an appropriate diet after your injury can help your body to avoid, or reduce the effects of secondary health complications.

Some health complications that can follow a spinal cord injury are pressure ulcers, pain and inappropriate bladder management, as well as increased risks of developing other medical concerns like diabetes, elevated cholesterol, weight gain and osteoporosis.

Avoiding any possible secondary health complications, or using your diet in order to minimize them or make them easier to deal with can be beneficial for your overall and long-term health—which can make your recovery journey a little easier. The food you consume has a major impact on many of these secondary health complications.

There are many great resources available to help you educate yourself on the effect a spinal injury has on your health and the dietary changes you can make to help alleviate the negative effects. For example, the Spinal Cord Injury Ontario Nutrition after SCI Series (as mentioned before) breaks down nutritional information by secondary health complication, including weight, pressure sores, cardiovascular disease as well as bowel and bladder issues. Also, the University of Washington’s report on Everyday Nutrition for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury breaks down dietary information after a spinal injury.

Seeking out advice on how your diet should adjust after your injury, including what, when and how much you should be eating, is valuable information that can help you improve your overall health. While there is lots of information available online when it comes to how you should change your diet, getting professional advice can ensure that you are making the right dietary choices in your specific case.

Do your research and speak with your doctor about reaching out to a registered dietitian for guidance. They can ensure that you are on the right track. With the number of changes already in your life that come with a spinal injury changing your diet can be difficult. But even though transforming your diet can be overwhelming, making changes gradually can help you ease into the process and make your diet changes less difficult.

After a spinal injury, your first priority should be your recovery. We can help you focus on your health by taking care of the legal part of your recovery journey.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

January 26, 2018 Uncategorized

Easy ways to prevent slip and falls at work

While slips and falls can be a pretty common occurrence they can be much more dangerous than you think. When we were children tumbling and springing right back up were a regular occurrence but as we get older slips and falls can pose a serious danger to our health and well-being.

According to Statistics Canada falls are the most common cause of injury hospitalizations in Canada, and among working age adults the most common location of injury is the workplace. Out of all injuries by Canadians in that age cohort, 18% were injured at work.

Everyone should feel safe in their workplace, and employers should try to help employees feel safe. Keeping health and safety as a main priority at work is crucial for everyone to keep coming back to work healthy and safe. Not to mention, maintaining a safe work environment not only protects employees but it helps protect employers and any customers that may be on company property. To make your business a safe place the Canadian Safety Council has created tips to help you prevent slip and falls at your place of work.

1. Safe floors

Treating the floors at your workplace with a non-slip treatment can help create a safer walking surface for employers, employees and customers alike. Floors that you should consider applying a non-slip treatment to are surfaces that can naturally become very slippery like tiles or polished untreated concrete. Also, if your workplace has high traffic areas where people are traveling from indoors to outdoors there is great potential in those areas for falls. The tracking in of water from snowy boots or muddy/wet shoes can make for slippery high-traffic areas. Also, busy kitchens or other high-traffic working areas where employees are working with oils can lead to a settling and collection of oils on the floor. A non-slip treatment to act against falls in both slippery high-traffic areas and places where oils can potentially settle on the ground would be a great help. But it doesn’t end there. It’s vital that floors be cleaned regularly and that clutter is removed in order to prevent slip and fall injuries.

2. Safe shoes

While it’s likely you can’t really control the shoes worn by customers on your property you can control what you and your employees wear on your feet. What shoes you wear can make all the difference in preventing a slip and fall accident. If special shoes are required for the job that is done in your workplace, consult the supplier you order your shoes from to determine the best shoes for the floor surfaces you work on. Encourage employers, employees and customers to wear shoes that will grip well on the floors in your workplace. Shoes that often lead to slip and falls are heels, cleats and smooth soled shoes.

While you can take precautions to be safe in the workplace sometimes a slip and fall can still occur and leave you seriously injured.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

December 15, 2017 Uncategorized

For active seniors: a guide to safe walking in the winter

Winter can be a beautiful season in Canada. But, the cold weather brings with it lots of hazards—especially while getting around. Whether you’re out and about to enjoy the season, or just get from point A to point B, you need to be careful.

Sustaining an injury from slippery conditions on the ground can bring with it serious long-term health problems and a fear of staying active. To prevent a slip and fall this winter here is the Canada Safety Council guide for active Canadian seniors:

1. Make your pathway a safe one

Make sure that surfaces around your home are safe by having them cleared of snow and sprinkled with salt, or sand, if necessary. If you have trouble removing the ice and snow on your own contact a local support agency or other community services for assistance. Report hazards on your walkways to your landlord or your municipal government.

However, while venturing beyond your property you have less control when it comes to the conditions you will face. Carrying a small bag of sand or non-clumping cat litter with you can come in handy when confronted by icy sidewalks while out and about.

2. Be prepared for the weather conditions

Dressing for the weather can make all the difference while you’re out and about in the winter. Proper footwear is key. Wear boots that are insulated, waterproof and light-weight with wide heels, and soles that are thick, treaded and non-slip.

For added grip in icy conditions ice grippers can be helpful but they can easily become dangerous and need to be removed before walking on smooth surfaces like tiles. Be careful if you are considering using them.

To help with balance walking aids like a cane (which an ice pick can be added to) or a walker can help. Also, wearing a hip protector and bright or reflective clothing can help prevent injury while walking outdoors.

3. Know what to do if you’re caught on ice

Walking on ice should be avoided, but if somehow you end up caught on an ice patch on your route walking in a certain way can help make you more stable. First, slow down, keep your body loose and your base wide (feet more than a foot apart). Keep your knees loose but bent to lower your centre of gravity and make your steps with your whole foot, shifting your weight slowly before bringing your feet together again. If shuffling your feet feels better just remember to keep a wide base.

Unfortunately, despite everything we do to prepare for a safe walk we can meet unsafe conditions while outside in the winter. A slip and fall outdoors due to dangerous conditions can change your life.

Fast dial #1000 free from your cell and we’ll get you the support you need.

December 1, 2017 Uncategorized

6 tips for adjusting to life after a brain injury

Most victims of brain injury and members of their family face a gamut of new and unfamiliar challenges on the road to recovery. Knowing how to navigate life and how to deal with the challenges recovery presents can be unbelievingly challenging. To help victims of brain injury Brainline developed a guide for adjusting to life after brain injury.

1. Redefine success

When your life changes after a brain injury it is likely your definition of success will also need to change. Comparing yourself and your progress to how you performed before your injury can be very limiting. Focusing on what you can do and how you can improve can help you change your definition of success. Explore ways you can be successful and set standards for yourself. No matter what state you are in you can improve yourself, enjoy relationships and live a meaningful life.

2. Ask for help

Asking for help can he a surprisingly difficult task. The fear of seeming like a burden or being turned away often stifles us from trying to get the help we need. But everybody needs help at some point or another. Don’t let a situation become a crisis before asking for help, and make sure to return a favour and thank those who have helped you.

3. Be kind to yourself

Immediately after a brain injury you begin your road to recovery. Taking time to heal and respecting the fact that your body needs time to mend itself mentally, physically and emotionally is very important. Being hard on yourself right now will only make things more difficult on you and those around you. Instead try to be kind and compassionate to yourself taking into consideration where you are in your recovery journey.

4. Set manageable goals

It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the hurdles ahead of you in your recovery. To manage this, break down the large goals in your recovery into small reasonable steps—ones you can do day-to-day to accomplish those bigger goals. Focusing on what you can do today and tomorrow can make the prospects of achieving big goals much less daunting. Even beyond recovery, breaking down your life goals in the same way can make them more manageable to achieve.

5. Create a support system

Social interaction is extremely important for recovery. After a brain injury receiving support and understanding is extremely comforting and helps stave off feelings of loneliness. Reconnecting with friends who have become distant after your brain injury, helping those in your circle of friends and family, as always showing care is important to maintain those relationships. If you don’t feel like those around you are able to understand what you are going through perhaps consider joining a support group to meet people who have similar experiences.

6. Practice patience

Patience is an essential skill to have while recovering from a brain injury. You will likely need to be persistent over time to reach recovery, but it can be difficult to keep your cool when faced with a difficult journey to get there. When you feel yourself losing your cool or becoming frustrated find a way to take a step back and relax yourself, whether that’s taking a deep breath or repeating an affirmation. Find what works for you.

Navigating the road to recovery after a brain injury can be difficult. We help brain injury victims during recovery as a part of the Circle of Care.

If you have been injured, and need legal assistance, call #1000 on your cell phone for free. We will offer you a free claim assessment.

November 17, 2017 Uncategorized

How to be safe on a jog

Brain injury and memory

A parent’s guide to pool safety

Top tips to prevent dog bites

Using mindfulness to cope in the wake of an injury

For brain injury victim family members

Spinal cord injury recovery and nutrition

Easy ways to prevent slip and falls at work

For active seniors: a guide to safe walking in the winter

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