"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die;' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself." - Ezekiel 33: 7-9

We in The Bahamas, like many around the region, have just gone through a most devastating hurricane. It is one of the strongest that many of us have ever experienced. Even though we in Nassau were spared the full impact of Hurricane Irma, many of our brothers and sisters in the southern islands felt the terror of Irma. Praise the Lord. We have not had any deaths.
As the hurricane approached these islands, many warnings went out to the people of The Bahamas. There were constant reminders about the intensity of hurricane Irma and the potential for disaster, if we did not take precaution.
Warnings do help. They give us notice and allow us to make proper preparations, both for the protection of our properties and for our personal safety.
When we get warnings about impending natural disasters, for the most part, we head them. We make preparations and we take precaution.
In the above text, God gives a warning, particularly to those who are entrusted with his word. God always gives fair warning. In fact, he has been giving us warnings since the fall of man.
Even though this message was given to the Prophet Ezekiel many centuries ago, it is relevant to us today. We who call ourselves Christians are charged with giving warnings to people everywhere, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with them.
This warning is not about our possessions. It is about our lives. Unlike the natural disasters, which we may sometimes survive even though we do not adhere to the warnings, with God if we fail to take precaution, we are doomed to eternal damnation.
We are to warn the wicked about their iniquities, their sins. We are to stand up for justice and what is right. We are to display the love of Christ in our daily living.
Who are the wicked? They are all who go contrary to God's word and spurn the work or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They neglect church attendance and live at odds with their neighbors. They are the spiritually wayward.
These people, whose lives are in jeopardy, are our neighbors. They are members of our family. They are in the workplace and all around us.
As the hurricane approached, we made it our business to warn people about the danger of the hurricane. We made sure that they took proper precaution.
If we felt it our responsibility to warn our family and neighbors about the impending hurricane, then why are we not warning them about that which is most important, eternal life.
We cannot claim ignorance. God calls us all to be watchmen and to send out the warning to the people around us.
More than any time in history, people of the twenty-first century seem more evil and overt in their behavior. They have no regard for the things of God or for God. They are spiritually dead.
Consequently, we have a responsibility to warn them. We can't save them. God does that through the Holy Spirit.
Instead, we are called to warn them of their wicked ways and to share the gospel with them. We are to demonstrate the love of God in Christ Jesus through our daily living. Amen.

o Rev. Samuel M. Boodle, pastor, The Lutheran Church of Nassau, P. O. Box N 4794, Nassau, Bah. Phone: 426-9084; E-mail: lutheranchurch@coralwave.com.

Hurricanes and other disasters are a common event in our country. Foot injuries after a hurricane are common. They include puncture wounds, cuts or lacerations, sprains and even fractures. There can also be insect bites or electrical shocks from walking in water where there are down power lines.
To prevent these injuries it is important to listen to the local news and officials to know when the "all clear" is given which tells you it's safe to go outside. Always be careful and never go barefoot. It is best to wear closed in shoes rather than sandals to protect the foot. Never walk in water where there are down power lines.
Puncture wounds, cuts or lacerations are the most common injuries seen in the foot after a disaster, flooding or a hurricane. They occur when walking barefoot and stepping on a foreign object such as a nail or other metal, glass, a splinter of wood or even plastic. This can be dangerous because of the risk of infection. The object that caused the puncture or cut may be covered in bacteria (germs) which gets into your foot. Puncture wounds and cuts on the foot are more prone to infection because there may be fungus or bacteria on the foot as well and sometimes the injury may occur through the shoes or other footwear. If the injury occurs in water especially stagnant water after a rain storm or hurricane this also increases the risk of infection because of all the bacteria that may be in the water.
Fortunately, most puncture wounds and cuts are not very deep and can be treated at home. If you happen to step on an object and sustain a puncture or cut your foot here is what to do.

First aid
1. Stop the bleeding. If it is a minor wound it will usually stop bleeding on its own. If it does not, apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or bandage. If the bleeding persists or if it is a heavy and continuous flow, seek emergency medical assistance right away.
2. Clean the wound. Rinse the wound well with clear water or saline.
3. Remove splinter. If you can see the splinter or foreign object such as glass or metal in your foot, use clean tweezers to remove it. Wash the area well with soap and water. If you can see or feel more of the object in the foot but you cannot get it out, you will need to see your podiatrist.
4. Apply antibiotic cream. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment such as Neosporin or Polysporin to help keep the surface moist, clean and to discourage infection while the wound heals more efficiently.
5. Cover the wound. Wounds need a moist environment to heal and exposure to air slows healing. Place a clean bandage over the wound to protect it and keep harmful bacteria out.
6. Change the dressing at least once a day or whenever it becomes wet or dirty.
7. Watch for any signs of infection. See your doctor if the wound doesn't heal a few days to a week or if you notice any redness, pus, warmth or swelling.
8. Soak the area in warm water. If you are not diabetic you may soak your feet in warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda which may help the splinter work its way out of the foot. If you are diabetic, do not soak your foot and see your podiatrist right away

Symptoms
After a cut or puncture wound you may experience pain and a feeling of something in the skin or foot. There may be an open wound and a small flow of blood or no bleeding at all. You may or may not be able to feel the object or a tip of it with your fingers. Sometimes persons who have diabetes and impaired feeling on their feet, may not notice the splinter until an infection develops. The area may become red, swollen, warm, and tender to the touch. There may also be pus or even red streaks on the foot. This is a sign that the foreign object (splinter, glass, etc) is still in the foot and has not been fully removed. Remember, these objects are covered in germs and can cause an infection once they remain in the foot. Callus may grow over the area as well. Rarely, a large object may penetrate or cut the foot and hit deep structures like the nerves, tendons, muscles, blood vessels and even bone. This is an emergency and should be treated in the hospital right away.

When to see the podiatrist
If the puncture is deep, bleeding a lot, not healing or it appears infected see your podiatrist right away. Any sign of infection is cause to see the podiatrist right away. For persons with diabetes it is very important that you never walk barefoot and prevent puncture wounds to you feet. If a puncture does occur, take out the splinter if you see it, clean the foot as best as you can with soap and water and put an antibiotic ointment and a dressing on the foot. Make a note of the object that punctured your foot and see your podiatrist as soon as possible. Do not soak your feet or wait to see signs of infection before you see the podiatrist.

Medical treatment
The best treatment for a puncture wound is to remove the object from the foot. If you are not able to remove the object, if you have diabetes, if there is pain or any sign of infection, it's time to see the podiatrist. The podiatrist will evaluate the foot and the wound and take x-rays too. The wound will be cleaned and a bandage placed on it. If you stepped on a nail or other metal objects you may need to get a Tetanus shot if you haven't had one within five years. The podiatrist will follow you closely until the cut or puncture heals.

o For more information on puncture wounds visit www.apma.org or www.footphysicians.com, or email foothealth242@gmail.com. To see a podiatrist, visit Bahamas Foot Centre, Rosetta Street - 325-2996; Bahamas Surgical Associates, Albury Lane - 394-5820 or Lucayan Medical Centre in Freeport, Grand Bahama at 3737400.

Outside of sports, what have we had to celebrate in this nation since the 1990s, when, at the very least, the economy enjoyed an almost decade-long high level of growth, and the nation saw reform in its social and political fortunes? When did we last score economic growth at or above three percent? When was unemployment less than 10 percent? When did the stopover visitor count exceed 4 million, or visitor spending exceed $4 billion? When did we last have a GFS deficit below one percent? When have workers gotten an increase that the economy could truly afford? When was the last time that interest rates on borrowing for a home fell below seven percent and a savings rate above two percent? When have wages increased while the cost of living decreased? When did FDI explode, and with it, the general level of prosperity in our country? When did school achievement break positive records and make us feel good about our schools and our school system? When did college graduation rates lead us to believe that our future was great, and with it the rate of male participation in it? When did housing starts soar throughout the nation and with it commercial construction activity? When has the murder rate shocked us because it was so low, and the BTVI enrolment rate because it was so high? When did we last create infrastructural developments so outstanding that the country stood in awe? When, oh when, did we last create or innovate something that caused the world to stand still and take note?
What we need in The Bahamas are wins. We need a big win. Our spirits are down. Our souls are parched. Our memories fail us of proud achievements. Our collective existence is diminished of excelling. We are uninspired. We need wins.
Life cannot just be drudgery. It cannot simply be grinding the mill. It cannot be the celebration of the few and the misery of the many. We, the big "WE" need a win. We need to feel good about ourselves. We need to feel, not from mere rhetoric, but the genuine birth of possibilities that better lies ahead. Hope is drowning in our midst, and the hand that reached in the water to lift it out is limp and ineffective. Our prayers appear to ring hollow, while fear seems to be winning the day. Where is victory? Where is triumph? Where is the rising sun Bahamaland?
We need wins. There was a big political victory on May 10. There was a collective celebration by multiple thousands fatigued by the burden of past failures. Many saw, if only dimly, a ray of hope in that big change. But dawn is fading, and dusk cometh forth, it seems. The hungry grow restless, and the thirsty are agitated. Patience we say to the hurting, but they scream back, "Patience for what? Show us hope." With weariness we try, but truth be told, it is not so easy. Hope is damaged, and faith seems frail. We need a win. We need a victory and we need it real soon.
The struggle is real, but so is hope. There are possibilities, but we must dig deep. We must really focus now. We must be real. Leadership in every sphere must step up big time. The stakes are too high now. Failure can be cataclysmic for generations to come. Rhetoric and platitudes are not real estate; they are puffs of smoke. Genuine strategy and dogged execution are the stuff that buy land. We need millions of visitors, billions of invested capital, thousands of jobs, rises in wages, spikes in productivity and the rise of public order. We need wins. If we do not find these wins, I fear for the future ahead. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick," says the holy book. Hearts are now moving beyond sick; arrest seems imminent. Can we find aid in this desperate hour? Can we find a win? We must. We had better.

o Zhivargo Laing is a Bahamian economic consultant and former Cabinet minister who represented the Marco City constituency in the House of Assembly.