Category: reflective strips

The Application of Reflective Ribbon: Illuminating Safety and Style

In a world that thrives around the clock, where the boundaries between urban landscapes and the countryside are increasingly blurred, ensuring safety without compromising on style has become an essential pursuit. The solution? Enter the reflective ribbon – a dynamic accessory that seamlessly merges functionality with fashion.

reflective webbing
reflective webbing

A Luminous Shield:

Imagine a late evening jogger, a cyclist navigating through the bustling city streets, or a pedestrian crossing a dimly lit intersection. The reflective ribbon, with its unparalleled high-visibility properties, transforms ordinary clothing into a shield of safety. The ribbon’s capacity to reflect light, whether it’s the gleam of vehicle headlights or the glow of streetlights, positions it as a crucial tool for mitigating accidents and potential hazards. Whether integrated into clothing, accessories, or outdoor gear, the reflective ribbon ensures that you remain conspicuous, even amidst the darkest backdrop.

Style Meets Function:

Gone are the days when safety gear merely served utilitarian purposes. Today’s fashion-conscious individuals can seamlessly integrate safety precautions with their personal style. The high visibility ribbon, available in a plethora of colors, widths, and designs, can be effortlessly woven into clothing and accessories. From sleek handbags embellished with reflective accents to sneakers that radiate with each step, the opportunities are boundless. Designers and brands have adeptly harnessed the potential of reflective ribbons, transforming them into statements of both individuality and responsibility.

A New Frontier for Outdoor Enthusiasts:

For adventurers, explorers, and nature aficionados, safety is paramount. The reflective webbing becomes an indispensable companion, heightening visibility during nocturnal treks, camping escapades, or mountain expeditions. Whether affixed to backpacks, tents, or outdoor gear, its reflective properties guarantee that your presence remains unmistakable, even in the remotest settings. With the reflective ribbon, the wilderness evolves into a safer playground, where your existence is boldly proclaimed to all.

In a world that harmonizes safety and style, the reflective ribbon emerges as a unifying element. Its transformative prowess, surpassing the confines of conventional safety gear, offers individuals the opportunity to take charge of their visibility and well-being. From the urban sprawl to the vast wilderness, this unassuming ribbon lights the path toward a more secure and stylish future. Why settle for the ordinary, when you can radiate brilliance with the reflective ribbon?

Embrace safety. Embrace style. Embrace the reflective ribbon.

How to choose the right school backpack and not harm the child

Children’s orthopedic surgeon told what to look for when choosing a bag.

 

There are only a few days left before the start of the school year, which means that if you have not yet collected your child for school, then you need to hurry. Pens, pencils, pencil cases, and notebooks – this is important, but you can hardly make a mistake with their choice. One of the most important attributes of any student (especially in the elementary grades) is a backpack. We talked with a pediatric orthopedist Olga Khamidulina, and she talked about what you need to pay attention to when choosing a portfolio and what errors can lead to.

 

If the child is a first-grader, he does not need to choose a very large backpack. Dimensions are one of the most important details. The second important rule is the weight. A full backpack should be 10-12% of the weight of the child. If the child weighs 30 kilograms, the backpack should be no more than three and a half kilograms, otherwise, it will already outweigh, you will have to constantly correct it, it will be inconvenient and harmful.

 

An equally important detail is the back. The backpack should be framed to keep fit and not outweigh. Accordingly, the back should be stiff. If it is not framed, it will be uncomfortable for the child, cause discomfort, things can dig into the body. Very important: backpacks must have a reflective material element – especially in the elementary grades. This is a traffic police requirement for all schools.

“Many parents believe that they have chosen some kind of magic backpack and it will save the child’s posture – this is not so. If you have health problems, first of all, you need to go to the gym, and not look for backpacks. Although, of course, an improperly selected portfolio can exacerbate posture problems. But if a child is not accustomed to keeping his back straight, if he does not pay attention to it, and his parents do not pull him, then no backpack will help,” says Olga.

 

To prevent the straps from rubbing, the backpack must be properly assembled: all heavy things fold down and closer to the back so as not to outweigh the center of gravity.

But the most important thing for parents is to understand that backpacks are an individual thing, they must be picked up together with the child himself. Even the right portfolio may not suit him by height, weight, back. So to come to the store and buy it without the presence of a child, in the hope that he is “right”, is a mistake. The child should put on a backpack, walk with him at least a little and say whether it is convenient for him, whether the straps are rubbed, whether he is too heavy.

We also asked the opinion of Oksana Musatova, a mother of two children. She shared her thoughts on what prices might be acceptable for baby bags:

 

What you should pay attention to the backpack should have a blown orthopedic back, reflective strips – in winter it is especially important, it gets dark early, the child may not be noticed on the street. Lightning should work well, they quickly fail. A first-grader backpack doesn’t have to be expensive, as young children still do not know how to keep track of portfolios, most often they drop them anywhere. This year we bought a younger one for 1200 rubles. But when the child becomes older, class in the third, you can already buy a good backpack. The eldest son goes to the sixth grade, he bought a backpack for 5000 rubles, the quality is excellent, backpacks are worth the price, but you don’t need to choose such a first-grader.

 

What should a reflective vest look like, where to buy and how much does it cost

Already on Sunday, March 18, 2018, changes to the rules of the road will come into force. Drivers will be required to wear reflective vests when they are forced to stop outside settlements. We tell you how the vest should look and how much it costs.

 

  1. When should a driver wear a vest?

According to the rules, the driver must wear a vest if the car makes a stop outside the village.

 

Also, a vest is necessary if an emergency stop is made as a result of an accident and the driver is forced to leave the car.

 

Also, a special vest must be provided if a stop on the track is made for any reason in the dark or poor visibility.

 

  1. Why do I need a reflective vest?

The driver’s signal vest will be visible on the roadway for other road users. This reduces the risk of accidents.

 

The fact is that, for example, at night, or during heavy fog, you can hardly see a person on the roadway. And cases when a driver who made an emergency stop was hit by cars coming by, alas, not uncommon.

 

  1. How many stripes should be on a signal vest?

Only three types of vests are acceptable, subject to the indentation of strips from the edges of the vest and each other:

 

Two horizontal reflective stripes and two vertical from the upper horizontal through the shoulders;

 

One horizontal stripe and two vertical from it through the shoulders;

 

Two horizontal stripes without any others.

 

4.Vest specifications

The vest for drivers is made of 100% PE orange or lemon.

 

The lower edge of the lower strip on the torso should be located at a distance of at least 50 mm from the bottom of the product.

 

Jackets, vests, and wraps can have two horizontal strips of retro-reflective material around the torso at a distance of at least 50 mm from each other. The lower edge of the lower strip on the torso should be located at a distance of at least 50 mm from the lower edge of the jacket, vest or cape vest (if necessary).

 

The wrap vest should be designed in such a way that in all product sizes, the lateral gap between the materials is not more than 50 mm.

 

  1. How much does such a vest cost in Barnaul?

The cost of a vest will be from 150 rubles to 350. The price depends on the size and store.

 

  1. Where to buy such a vest in Barnaul?

You can buy a reflective vest in the car shop or a special department for car owners in shopping centers.

You can also order a vest online. The cost of online stores starts at 100 rubles.

 

  1. If there is no vest, will the driver be fined?

No, for the time being, a fine for violating this rule is not provided for now. The inclusion of a new paragraph in the SDA is made to draw the attention of car owners to their safety. But, according to experts, fines may soon be introduced.

 

Halloween safety tips

Halloween is just around the corner and the top priority for the City of Plattsburgh is the safety of trick-or-treaters. As candy collecting on Halloween takes place in the evening when it starts to get dark, it is important to remember some key safety tips for those planning on trick-or-treating. Over the past years, the Plattsburgh Crete Center has hosted “Trick-or-Treat on Safety Street” to encourage safe trick-or-treating. Kids and families are invited to come dressed up and safely collect candy.

 

According to the event page, “Civic Center is transformed into a family-friendly environment that promotes kids of all ages to dress up and trick-or-treat in a safe and controlled atmosphere. Children will travel from house to house and collect goodies without the worries of cars, strangers, or tainted candy.”

 

SAFETY COSTUME:

 

Spookiness may often be associated with the dark, but that means it is okay to blend in with the darkness. It is unsafe to wear dark colors at night, especially in a not-so-lit area like the suburbs. Putting reflective strips or reflective materials on a costume or wearing bright reflective clothing can help a lot and need to ruin the costume. Cars will be able to spot trick-or-treaters better with the reflective headlights colors.

 

DRIVING SAFETY:

 

It is a known law to put headlights on once it gets dark, but on Halloween night, it is recommended to put car headlights on a little earlier. The use of headlights will make it easier to spot trick-or-treaters wearing bright or reflective clothing. Not only that, but it will help trick-or-treaters spot, drivers, more easily.

 

CANDY SAFETY:

 

Candy-checking is pretty wide-spread knowledge following multiple incidents in the past where razor blades and other dangers were hidden inside candies or food handed out during Halloween night. Because of these problems, candy companies started encouraging people to hand out wrapped candy rather than treats. Parents are also encouraged to then check the candy before eating it and making sure it is properly wrapped and sealed so it has been tampered with. Though this problem is not so big due to public awareness over the years, dangers such as razor blades, drugs or poison are still a possibility.

 

Being safe during the holiday doesn’t mean it dampens the fun. As long as one takes mandatory precautions, Halloween can be just as fun as it is safe.

 

Getting ready for school: how to choose a safe school bag

For knowledge to be easily understood, students need to create conditions for this. For example, to buy a schoolbag, from which the back does not hurt, so in August, many parents go on a shopping trip to prepare their favorite child for school and buy everything they need.

 

Satchels and backpacks occupy in this list, not the last place. How to make the right choice of equipment for carrying school weights, and what requirements the  Rospotrebnadzor has for manufacturers of products for students, we find out at Med About Me.

 

Briefcases, school bags and “similar products”

Among all the school affairs, perhaps the most interesting is preparation for school. The process of choosing new clothes and bright school accessories of all stripes is popular with both girls and boys, first graders and graduates. However, all this wealth must be brought to school. In what? Shopping centers offer a lot of options.

 

We list the main ones:

Briefcase (narrow bag with a handle on the end and clasps); satchel (rigid bag with shoulder straps, which is worn on the back); backpack (bag without rigid parts, which serves to carry things over his shoulders).

 

Many people mistakenly think that they are all identical. This is not true. They are united only by the ability to carry documents, notebooks or books. All other characteristics and parameters are different, as well as all models have their own advantages and disadvantages.

 

Taking care of the health of children, the state identified all the parameters of products in special documents, which listed measures that ensure the safety of “products intended for children and adolescents.”

 

Bright colors, a lot of pockets and the low price of a schoolbag are not a reason to buy. When choosing a portfolio for a school, parents should familiarize themselves with the documents governing all safety indicators in the manufacture of school supplies. These include the laws of the Russian Federation that protect the rights of consumers and the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population, the Sanitary Code of Practice regarding the conditions and organization of children’s education, Technical Regulations.

 

The above documents clearly spell out all the requirements for school bags:

Size and weight of the product without teaching aids for different categories of students; the presence of a label on the age of the child; the definition of a knapsack design convenient for the student; requirements for the quality of the materials from which the portfolios and backpacks are made.

 

Along with this, all such products must necessarily be provided with reflective stripes. Necessary and different colors.

 

I want to warn about the many fakes that flooded the market. Counterfeit products cannot guarantee consumers either the quality of production or the quality of materials or the safety of the child.

Manufacturers may be required to sew reflective elements into clothing

Moscow, March 16. State Duma Deputy Vyacheslav Lysakov intends to send a letter to the government with a request to oblige manufacturers to place reflective materials on children’s, school and sports clothing. Reports about it “Parliamentary newspaper”.

 

The parliamentarian recalled that pedestrians on unlit roads are required to wear reflective vests in Russia. Jackets with reflective stripes should also be in possession of motorists going outside the settlements. Light-returning items on clothing may save a pedestrian’s life, but liability for violating the rules on wearing them makes it difficult to monitor their performance.

 

According to the author of the initiative, government agencies will be much more efficient in controlling enterprises than citizens. In this case, the rules should apply to both domestic products and goods from abroad.

 

“The state is obliged to protect the life and health of citizens not only by increasing fines for violating traffic rules or introducing new punitive measures against offenders but also by regulating the activities of industrialists in the interests of people’s safety,” said Lysakov.

 

According to preliminary calculations, the introduction of new rules can lead to a price increase of clothing by 10 – 15%.

Safe with the bike to work: How to do the bike check!

Finally spring! Finally the bike time! Maybe you can even do your commute by bike. But before you get on the bike after winter, think about road safety. The German Road Safety Council (DVR) gives tips on what you should definitely check before you get back on the pedals.

 

This point should include a bike safety check.

Good visibility:

 

Let’s see you! At the front of the bike, a white headlight and a white reflector should be attached;

Wear a safety vest or reflective clothing;

Equip your bike with a red tail light and a red reflector;

Two yellow reflectors per pedal make you visible to the front and to the rear.

Also, have two yellow spoke reflectors or white reflective stripes on the spokes, rims or tires.

Check that all reflective and retro reflective elements are still in good shape and still perform their task well.

 

Effective brakes: Stop safely!

 

Two independent brakes are required. When you apply the brakes, the wheel should gently come to a stop.

If the levers of the handbrake are pulled through to the handlebar during your break test, the brake must be readjusted.

On the grooves of rim brakes, you can see if you need new coverings. If you are unsure, compare the current pads with new ones.

Disc brakes also need new brake pads from time to time.

Check also the cables of brakes and gearshift for their functionality! Are the outer tracks undamaged and laid without kinks? Can you steer without the cables protruding too far? Do the trains move easily in the cases or do they need lubricant?

 

Intact tires: Ensure the right grip!

 

Especially after the winter break, you should inflate the tires.

Examine the coats of the tires accurately: see cracks, small stones or tissue show through, replace the tire better.

 

Right bell: Make yourself heard!

 

The bell must be bright and effective.

By the way, horns or other devices that produce sounds are not allowed.

 

Perfect chain: Cleaning and greasing are necessary!

 

Maintain your bike chain with chain grease or oil. So it uses more slowly.

A chain change is necessary if the chain lengthens and jumps over the pinions.

 

Your safe bike: Check it with a holistic view!

For details, do not lose sight of the big picture and look at your bike completely: Examine cracks, chafe marks or deformations more closely! Do the saddle and the handlebars fit tightly without twisting? Do you notice loose parts? Are all screw connections tight?

 

A final test drive is part of the bike check!

 

Also, bicycle repair shops do inspections. If you are unable to carry out the above tests and repairs yourself, schedule an inspection by a professional in a timely manner. Because just as when changing tires, the car repair shops, and bike repair shops are usually fully booked at the beginning of the season.

An automotive supplier to conquer the German market

The company Luxor Lighting, created just 100 years ago in Angoulême, has just signed an exclusive contract with the German manufacturer Volkswagen, for the manufacture of reflex reflectors for the new Cargo van that will come out at the end of 2020. And it does not count stop there!

 

Reflex reflectors are signaling elements, reflective strips, which make it possible for a vehicle even when stationary, to be visible from the rear. There are only two retro-reflectors in Europe, one on each side. But to ride in the United States, it also requires reflex reflectors along the entire length of the vehicle.

 

The opening of the German market

This is already a significant market: 200,000 euros over nine years. But it is especially a first step for the equipment manufacturer angoumoisin, which already works for Volvo, Peugeot and Renault., And who could soon work for other models of the German mark. The only constraint required by Volkswagen: to install in the Angoulême plant airlock to avoid any pollution of the parts produced. In the coming months, Luxor Lighting is expected to create 15 jobs, exceeding 130 employees.

Daan Roosegaarde places light artworks on Afsluitdijk

Artist Daan Roosegaarde has finished his project Icon Afsluitdijk. In it, he shows with works of art how special and its surroundings are. Light is central to every work.

It is advisable to visit the Afsluitdijk in the dark one day. Then as soon as you drive up the dike, you will immediately see the first work. With Gates of Light, Daan Roosegaarde has provided the lock towers on both sides with reflective strips. During the day they are not visible on the white towers, but in the dark, they emphasize the art deco design of the towers. This work by Roosegaarde will be on permanent display on the Afsluitdijk, a nice addition to a famous monument.

In addition, there are now two temporary works of art on the Afsluitdijk. These will not just be visible during a quick drive over the dike. For the one, you will have to drive a little slower than the permitted 130 kilometers per hour. For the others, you even have to stop and get off at the Casemate Museum. Glowing Nature is on display in this museum.

Luminous algae

In one of the bunkers, a floor is provided with countless light-emitting algae. Because there is a plastic layer on top, you can walk across the floor. At the places where your feet touch the ground, the floor will light up thanks to the algae. Studio Roosegaarde is currently investigating whether this technique can also be used to illuminate cycle paths, among other things.

Energy-generating kites

The other temporary work of art is the Windvogel installation. This is a tribute to Wubbo Ockels. It consists of 3 kites that can generate energy. If you look carefully, you will see the green-lit cables at Den Oever to which the kites are attached. The cables can generate energy through the movement of the kites. This technique was once devised by Wubbo Ockels, who wanted to carry out the project on the Afsluitdijk. This artistic version of this is a nice ode to the scientist.

Insert the reflective vest into the storage compartment

Reflective vest – in Poland, passenger car drivers do not have to have it, but they should. It costs only PLN 7-10 and can save a life. In most European countries, reflective vests are mandatory equipment for cars and trucks (in some also motorcycles).

 

From 1 July, the obligation to have a vest was introduced in Germany. Its lack means a mandate of 15 Euros. The obligation applies only to drivers of cars registered in Germany, but for the sake of their own safety, it is also worth respecting them with us. In countries where vests are compulsory, they must be worn whenever the driver and passengers have to leave the vehicle, for example as a result of a breakdown or accident, on a highway or other road – except of course parking lots.

 

Reflective vests are already valid in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic (applies to foreigners), Croatia, Finland (you can have reflective stripes), France, Spain, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and in Italy. The regulations are not uniform – in one country, you only need one vest in the car and in others, and all passengers must have it. In some countries, this obligation also applies to motorcyclists and cyclists, if they are traveling on roads after dusk.

 

We advise you not to look for loopholes and apply the maximum variant – take as many retro-reflective vests as possible for the number of passengers traveling. The vest costs from 7 to 10 zlotys. You can buy it at every gas station, in supermarkets, on the internet. Let us just remember to meet the norm – reflective vests are allowed in 3 colors: yellow, orange or red-orange. It must also have 2 reflective stripes at the front and back.

 

When buying vests, do not forget about children, in the event of a car breakdown or an accident, they will be particularly vulnerable. Reflective vests must be carried in the cabin of the car, and not – as most drivers do – in the trunk. The idea is to be able to put on a high visibility vest before leaving the car. We would also like to remind you: in the event of a breakdown or accident, a warning triangle should be put in front of the car; passengers should get out of the car not on the road, only on the right side, on the roadside. It is not allowed to stay on the road without having to go down to the side or the barrier as soon as possible.