Basic Safety Precautions for Skiing

Skiing and snowboarding are popular winter sports in the United States. During the winter of 2017-2018, approximately 7 million people considered themselves active skiers, along with roughly 2.2 million snowboarders. In order to safely and effectively share the slopes with fellow skiers and snowboarders, individuals should adhere to the responsibility code and refrain from taking on trails that are beyond their skill level.

The responsibility code is promoted by both the National Ski Areas Association and the National Ski Patrol. It outlines seven key areas of safety that people should follow at all times.

Arguably the single most important safety tip skiers and snowboarders should follow is always maintaining control over their person and equipment. Control can be divided into areas of speed and direction. A person should never be traveling so fast down the mountain that they cannot come to a complete stop and avoid contact with an obstacle or person further along the run. Similarly, people should travel in such a way that they can easily turn or otherwise navigate the trail ahead.

Part of the reason control is so important is that skiers and snowboarders further down the run cannot see and react to people behind them. There is an implicit trust that every person will demonstrate respect for the safety of others while traveling down the mountain. With this in mind, people must remember that anyone further along the trail has the right of way. It is always the responsibility of those uphill to avoid downhill activity.

The sole exception to this standard involves merging with a new trail or returning to a trail from the sidelines. In this scenario, all skiers and snowboarders already on the trail have right of way, even those further uphill from the point of merger. Merging skiers must wait until there is a safe opportunity to get back on the run.

In addition to merging safely, the responsibility code outlines how to safely remove oneself from a run. Rather than stopping at the site of an incident, individuals should quickly head to the side of the trail and stand as far back from the action as possible. That said, if an injury forces one or more people to stop in the middle of a trail, they must make sure that skiers and boarders uphill can see them with enough time for a safe, controlled reaction.

The responsibility code also outlines the safe use of mountain amenities and winter sports equipment. For example, most ski mountains and resorts make use of chairlifts. people should not use chairlifts unless they are confident in their ability to enter, ride, and exit the lift without posing any danger to themselves or others. In regard to equipment, all skiers and boarders are expected to stop runaway equipment whenever possible, both as a courtesy and safety measure. That being said, they should always use a device, such as a ski pole, to stop equipment, as opposed to grabbing at the equipment or using their body to block it.

Finally, people are required to follow all signs and warnings on a mountain, including trail rating signage. Trails marked as green circles, for example, rank among the easiest on the mountain. Blue square trails have been rated as intermediate, while black diamonds are the most difficult runs a mountain has to offer. In some cases, skiers may see double or triple black diamond signs, indicating trails that should only be attempted by advanced riders.

A Look at Some Common Uses of Caustic Soda

Founded in 1998, FSTI, Inc., has grown in volume or revenue every year since then. A leading manufacturer and distributor of chlor-alkali chemicals, FSTI operates in six states to offer a range of manufacturing, trucking, selling, and distribution services. The company produces several chemicals used in semiconductor manufacturing, among them hydrochloric acid, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda.

FSTI produces caustic soda in concentrations of up to 32 percent by weight, and it can source the chemical in concentrations up to 50 percent by weight. A versatile alkali chemical, caustic soda has broad applications, primarily in the production of petroleum products, pulp and paper, aluminum, and soap and detergent.

A white, odorless solid, caustic soda appeared in soap-making recipes as early as the late 13th century. Early recipes called for passing water repeatedly through a mixture of alkali and calcium oxide to form a solution of sodium hydroxide. By the 20th century, electrolysis had become the common production method; in this process, chemical decomposition occurs when an electrical current passes through a solution of sodium chloride (table salt), yielding chlorine gas and sodium hydroxide. The Food and Drug Administration-approved chemical is generally classified as safe for household use when handled properly.

An effective ingredient in many drain cleaners, caustic soda can transmute hard fat and grease buildup into dissolvable soap. The chemical can also help eliminate certain nucleic acids and proteins, killing many viruses on contact. Additionally, it removes many microorganisms and gets rid of yeast and fungi. Because it is accessible, affordable, and easy to dispose of, caustic soda has become a critical element in sanitation across a variety of industries.

Caustic soda can cause burns when it comes into direct contact with the skin, and thus it should be handled with extreme care. In particular, eye protection can help prevent damage or irritation from fumes.

In addition to cleaning applications, caustic soda appears as an ingredient in medical supplies. For example, many pain relievers contain caustic soda, as do anticoagulants and various prescriptions that help patients maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Common brand names with sodium hydroxide include Aspir-Low, Nexium, Didanosine, and Sutent.

At smaller concentrations, caustic soda makes many household beauty products more effective. For example, because it has the ability to stabilize pH levels, it can aid hair products in reducing acidity on the scalp, hair, and skin. Additionally, it can help neutralize pH levels on the scalp when the oil from hands mixes with the hair product.

Finally, caustic soda comprises a key element in creating various types of bagels and pretzels. Before the pretzels or bagels are baked, they are dipped in an extremely diluted concentration of caustic soda. Unlike the caustic soda used in manufacturing and cleaning, food-grade caustic soda has been produced and packaged in a manner that makes it safe for consumption.

Bathing the bread in caustic soda (also known as lye) changes the heat-activated reaction between amino acids and sugar in the dough. Specifically, the caustic soda bath breaks down the proteins in the dough and thus changes the ratio of protein to sugar. This typically results in the pretzel’s deep-brown crust, chewy interior, and distinctive taste.

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UTeach at UT Austin Promotes STEM Teaching and Learning

The UTeach program at the University of Texas at Austin aims to serve underrepresented populations while inspiring students to explore opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Part of the College of Natural Sciences, the program offers teaching opportunities to both undergraduate students and degree holders. From their very first semester, students work in pairs to develop lesson plans and deliver instruction in local classrooms.

A branch of UTeach, UTeach Outreach originated as a course that paired UT students with community teachers to assist with hands-on lessons. The course served a symbiotic purpose, providing real-world experience to aspiring teachers while providing much-needed classroom support for teachers in under-resourced schools.

The UTeach Outreach program has since expanded to work on various community-based projects, including after-school clubs and summer camps. Each year, approximately 200 UT students and volunteers visit Austin-area schools to teach inquiry-based science classes, as well as to serve as mentors for more than 30 after-school clubs.

UTeach Outreach participants practice the concept of service learning, an educational pedagogy that places equal emphasis on their own learning and service to the larger community. Students can complete their own coursework while achieving a positive impact in their communities, all while building connections with fellow UT students. Taken for class credit, UTeach Outreach courses provide a unique opportunity to earn academic credit while gaining fieldwork experience and engaging with the community.

In addition to learning in the classroom, UTeach Outreach participants mentor a variety of after-school STEM clubs. In this less formal setting, participants improve communication and leadership skills while inspiring students to explore their interests in STEM areas.

Finally, UTeach Outreach operates a number of summer programs designed to inspire students through hands-on STEM content. Ideally, students begin in sixth or seventh grade and take the five-week academic courses for four consecutive summers. Using engaging inquiry-based techniques, the courses prepare students for advanced high school coursework in STEM areas.

For degree holders and eligible upperclassmen, UTeach Accelerate qualifies individuals to teach secondary STEM courses in as little as a year. This pathway streamlines coursework and provides intensive coaching that helps candidates use project- and inquiry-based learning to engage students. After a year of rigorous coursework from master teachers and UT faculty, qualified candidates receive a recommendation for a full-time paid teaching position, or they may elect to complete one semester of student teaching before acquiring full certification.

During their year of preparatory coursework, UTeach Accelerate candidates receive personal mentorship to help them meet their educator preparation requirements. To enter the UTeach Accelerate program, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and sufficient STEM credit hours to meet UTeach content requirements.

Additional UTeach initiatives include UTeach Maker, a micro-credentialing program that invites UTeach participants to refine their teaching skills. Working one-on-one with Maker mentors, participants enhance their resumes and develop skills to infuse STEM learning with creativity and invention. Graduates of the selective UTeach Maker program will serve approximately 1,600 students in the classroom.

To learn more about how UTeach addresses educational needs in the Austin community, or to read about the program’s various initiatives, visit uteach.utexas.edu.

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