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Control Your Emotions
and Live Longer
Among the causes predisposing us
lo accidents are fatigue and emo–
tions such as worry. anxiety, and
anger. When our brain gets out of
gear, thc drive of emotions heads
us toward a smash. Emotions can
block our senses so that we are
rea lly "dcafencd" or "blinded" to
possible dangers. They interfere
with clear thinking.
Bcing in a bad humor is a dan–
gcrous state. A person in a cheer–
ful, kindly, happy mood is less
likely Lo incur an accident than
one in a mood of discontent, grief,
or despair. When we are irritated.
fee l ing below par, or frustrated. we
havc to be extra careful in every–
thing wc do, for these feelings
make us sitting ducks for acci–
dents.
lrritability may arise from un–
satisfied desires or the annoying
actions of people. A succession of
irritations over trifies - and sorne
days seem lo be full of them -
may build up a condition that
makes it impossible for us to exer–
cise cmotional control in an emer–
gency.
Borcdom and despondency over
the course of personal or world af–
fairs invite us to go on a spree of
danger-courting. Sorne people be–
lieve that thc only remedy for
these mental upsets is action, and
the action thcy take is too oflen
hasty and unthinking.
Anger is not only one of the
seven dead ly sins but is also one of
the unbalancing forces that incline
us to do dangerous acts. I t makes
us less ready than usual for accu–
racy of thought, and it interferes
with our excrcise of control in an
emergency. We are not only likely
to speak harshly when angry, but
al oto behave recklessl}.
Patience is an ingredient of
safety. A person who habitually
acts on impulse is gambling with
his safety and ortcn sufrcrs the bit–
ter consequcnces of over-hasty ac–
tion.
Fatigue, another ingredicnt of
accidenlS, is a device of nature lO
keep within safe limits. Don't ig–
noreit.
Reprinted with permission of
The
Royal
Bank
of
Canada,
copyrighll.976.
Today's Top Hazards
34
Estlmated Injuries 1973*
Bicycles and bicycle
equipment ........................
372,000
Stairs, ramps, landings
(lndoors, outdoors) ...........
356,000
Nails, carpet tacks, screws
thumbtacks ......................
275,000
Football-related equipment
and apparel ......................
230,000
Baseball-related equipment
and apparel ......................
191,000
Basketball-related equipment
and apparel ......................
188,000
Architectural glass ............
178,000
Doors (other than glass) ....
153,000
Tables (nonglass) .............
137,000
Swings, slides, seesaws,
playground climbing
apparatus .........................
112,000
Beds (includmg spnngs
trames) ............................
100,000
Nonupholstered chairs ,....
68,000
Chests, buffets, bookshelves
etc...................................
68,000
Power lawn mowers ... .......
58,000
Bathtub and shower structures
(except doors, panels) ......
41,000
Cleaning agents, caustic
compounds ........... ..........
35.000
Swimming pools and
associated equipment
(in-ground only) ....... .......
32,000
Cooking ranges. ovens, and
equipment .......... ... ...... ...
25,000
'Based on
onJuroes treated
on 119
hosPIIIII
emergency rooms
Dala Consumer Product Salery CornmosSJOn
sist in driving his car even though
he has lost his reflexes, hearing, or
eyesight to a signi fican! degree. A
middle-aged woman may refuse to
admit her fading youth and avoid
wearing glasses, even though her
vision is seriously impai red without
them. A young athlete may refuse
to report an injury for fear that it will
reflect on his manliness. Men and
women , young and old, refuse to
stop working or playing when they
become tired. These individuals are
ripe for an accident. No weight is
too heavy, no staircase is too dark,
and no task is too hard for the vic–
tim of fa lse pride. Lightning on a
golf course, the absence of a life–
guard on a beach, storm warnings,
speed limits, safety belts, safety
glasses, or safety catches - all are
ignored because all too often
human pride believes "it can 't hap–
pen tome!"
Home ls Where the Hurt ls
According to a recen! bulletin from
the Metropolitan Life lnsurance
Company, home accidents con–
tinue to take about twice as many
lives as do wo rk-related accidents.
Only motor-vehicle accidents take a
greater number of lives.
In many cities, particu larly the
la rger ones, home accidents ac–
tually outrank every other type of
fatal m1shap and are responsible for
about 4.2 milhon disabling injuries
(disabling beyond the day of acci–
dent) - more than twice the num–
ber incurred in motor vehic le
accidents.
More than five sixths of the fatali–
ties due to tires and to poisoning by
solids and liquids occur in the
home each year; about half the ac–
cidental deaths from falls and f rom
firearms also take place in the
home.
Falls are the leading cause of ac–
cidental deaths in the home. In one
recent year such mishaps ac–
counted for about one third of the
total accidental mortality in the
home, with most of these deaths
concentrated at the older age lev–
els.
Fires and flames are responsible
for about a fifth of the total home
accident mortal ity and constitute
the principal type of fatal accident
in the home among adults aged 45
The
PLAIN TRUTH December 1976