Millions of children age 6 to 19 have hearing loss in one or both ears. Audiologists at the University of Louisville in Kentucky say it’s the same degree of hearing loss they see in 60-year-olds. Teens often turn up the volume of their car stereos so loud, it can be heard inside buildings they are passing by. When they turn up the volume, they damage the tiny hair cells in the inner ear that play a key role in hearing.

Pumping loud music directly into the ears from an MP3 player has the same effect.

Over time, the hair cells begin to die out, and there is no way to restore them. The hearing loss is permanent.

Students playing in high school and college marching bands have a similar risk. Indoor rehearsals concentrate the sound. One student quoted in USA Today says that after indoor rehearsals, his ears hurt and start ringing. Now, he hears the ringing whenever he’s in a quiet room.

Michigan State University and the University of North Texas, which have large music schools, are researching the effects of indoor practice and taking steps to protect band members.

Measures they take include free hearing tests, courses in occupational health, and lining practice rooms with sound absorbing materials.

They also monitor sound levels during rehearsals and give ear plugs to music students.

Small home improvement projects take more consideration than you might think. Before using an electric or cordless drill, for example, consider this:

* Is the drill the right size for the job? If you will be attaching a shelf or art work to a wall, the drill should not be too heavy or too difficult to hold.

* If you are using a new piece of equipment, have you read the instructions for the tool completely?

* Have you checked a drill you already own to be sure it isn’t rusted and the cord has no breaks? Test the trigger to make sure it doesn’t work too easily or too hard and that power cuts off when the trigger is released.

* Don’t wear a loose shirt that could get caught. Roll up your sleeves.

* Are you mentally alert? Don’t start if you are tired, stressed, or distracted.

* When using a ladder, is there someone available to steady it as you climb? Climb no higher than the second rung from the top on a step ladder.

* Are your drill bits sharp? Master carpenter Norm Abram says dull bits are dangerous because they make you apply more pressure. The drill bit could break and become a projectile.

Ready to begin?

* Make sure the bit is set straight in the jaws. If the bit wobbles, either it isn’t straight or it is in the jaws crooked.

* Start drilling at a right angle and keep the drill straight. If it isn’t held right, the bit could break and go flying, especially if you apply much pressure.

* When drilling into very hard material, use a pointed punch to make a place for the drill to start.

* Unplug the drill when you decide to change to a larger or smaller bit.

* When you are finished, wipe off the drill and drill bits and put them in a safe place.