Spotlight on Safety
Quarterly Newsletter for Safety and Loss Prevention
Winter 2002, Vol. 3; No. 4
Winter...
Although this winter has been very mild, remember that spring
is still a couple of cold months away. The northern air can be
dangerous, so remember to bundle up in layers and drink plenty
of water when working outside. Believe it or not, dehydration
is just as big a threat in the winter as it is in the summer.
In this issue of Spotlight, you will find articles pertaining
to seatbelts, eating healthy, and indoor tanning salons. Enjoy!
Seatbelts: Room For Improvement
According to the National Safety
Council's report on seatbelt use in the United States, North Dakota
was the worst scoring state in the nation even though our law
enforcement participation was scored fairly well. 
It is not only University policy to wear seatbelts in all state
vehicles, but also state law.
Law:39-21-41.4: A driver may not operate upon a highway
a motor vehicle designed for carrying fewer than eleven passengers,
which was originally manufactured with safety belts unless each
front seat occupant is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened
safety belt.
According to the National Safety Council, the leading cause of death in winter storms is transportation accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that seatbelts are the most valuable safety devices in vehicles today. The NHTSA also estimates that if everyone wore his or her seatbelt, we could prevent close to 49,000 injuries each year. Remember to buckle up before driving any distance, even if it's just a block or two.
Diet Sense
With the recent passing of the holidays, many of us are worrying
about how to shed those extra pounds. It is important to remember
that not all diets are safe or even good for you. Always consult
with your physician before starting any new diet plan or before
taking any new supplements. Your doctor can help you decide what
plan is best for you and your lifestyle. A dietitian can help
you get the right combination of foods and quantity for a healthy
body. Listed below are some simple solutions to lower the fat
and make favorite recipes a bit healthier without losing the flavor
you enjoy.
| Original Ingredient | Substitution |
| Butter in baking | Apple butter, prune puree, applesauce or yogurt (try ½ butter, ½ substitute to maintain texture) |
| 1 ounce of chocolate | 3 tablespoons cocoa |
| Egg | 2 egg whites or egg substitute |
| Cream Cheese | Low fat ricotta + yogurt; (in cheesecake) light cream cheese |
| Ricotta Cheese | ½ whole milk ricotta plus either part skim ricotta or low fat (1%) cottage cheese |
| Whole Milk | Skim or 1% milk |
| Whipped Cream | Frozen yogurt, lowfat yogurt |
| Ice Cream | Frozen yogurt, lowfat yogurt |
| Cream or Half and Half | Frozen yogurt, lowfat yogurt |
| Chocolate Chips | Raisins, mini chocolate chips, reduced fat chocolate chips |
| Buttered Pan | Non-stick pan |
| Mayonnaise | Fat free or mix regular mayo with fat free mayo |
| Fried Food, Breaded | Dip in non-fat plain yogurt, then bread crumbs mixed with seasonings. Lightly spray top with cooking spray and bake at 425°F until crispy |
| White Rice | Brown rice, millet, bulgur, or other whole grains |
UND is the first school to have an online nutrition program
for the University's food service. You can access the nutrition
for the food on the UND campus at the following web page:
Not So Rosy Glow
According to the Centers for Disease
Control, malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer,
is the most rapidly 
increasing form of
cancer in the United States. Over 53,000 cases will be diagnosed
this year. With spring recess approaching, many of you will be
taking trips to warmer places and will be visiting tanning salons.
But before you hop into those tanning beds, you should first understand
the dangers.
Simply said, tanning indoors damages your skin. Indoor tanning devices emit ultraviolet rays (UVA). The process of tanning only occurs because the skin produces additional pigment (coloring) to protect itself against burn from ultraviolet rays. Overexposure to these rays can cause eye injury, premature wrinkling of the skin, light-induced skin rashes, and can increase your chances of developing skin cancer.
In addition to skin damage, too much exposure to ultraviolet rays can damage the retina. Overexposure can burn the cornea, and repeated exposure over many years can change the structure of the lens so that it begins to cloud, forming a cataract. Left untreated, cataracts can cause blindness. Tanning beds can cause so much damage to the eye that the Food and Drug Administration requires tanning salons to direct all customers to wear protective eye goggles. Closing your eyes, wearing ordinary sunglasses, or using cotton pads do not protect the cornea from the intensity of UV radiation in tanning devices.
The intensity of lights used in tanning devices is much greater and potentially more damaging to the eyes than the intensity of UV rays in natural sunlight. Exposure to tanning salon rays also increases the damage caused by sunlight. This occurs because ultraviolet light actually thins the skin, decreasing its ability to heal.
The next time you are considering going to the tanning salon,
think twice, you may be doing more harm than you think.
Safety and Environmental Health Office
Box 9031
Grand Forks, ND 58202
Phone: (701)777-3341
Fax: (701)777-4132
