Summertime Safety

Kids are out of school; time is spent on the water or in it. Mother Nature is calling us to the out of doors. It’s summertime! Whether it is swimming, camping or simply going for a picnic on the weekend; summertime is a season filled with activities that revolve around sun, water and natural surroundings.

The carefree days of summer can also lead to risky behavior. Amidst all that family fun time, there still needs to be some care taken to keep all those summer memories happy ones. Here’s a quick review of some important summer safety tips for everyone to follow.

Be Aware and Alert
With any activity, paying attention to your surroundings and the activity of others is an important step in preventing accidents. If you’re operating a boat or other watercraft, keep a safe distance between you and other watercraft. Always be on the lookout for skiers or swimmers in the water. If you are at the beach or pool with your kids, always keep them in sight. Lifeguards are trained to watch for signs of trouble, but even they can’t see everything that goes on at a crowded pool or beach. Don’t rely on them to safeguard your children for you. Don’t entrust the safety of younger children to older siblings in these situations either. It is much too easy for them to become distracted and lose sight of their younger brothers and sisters.

Storms are dangerous and should be seen as a reason to cancel any boating trip. Check the weather forecasts before venturing out on the water. Turbulent and white-capped waves can pull a boater far out from land and make it very difficult to return to the landing. Even when operating a boat in familiar waters, it can still be very hard to navigate during a rainstorm that hides your normal bearing points, or blinds you with its pelting drops.

When you take that trip to the zoo, the local park or vacation in another state or country, pay attention to the people and surroundings and keep your family or group together. Create a plan ahead of time regarding what to do if someone should get separated from the rest of the group. Teach children to seek out people of authority such as a lifeguard, a park ranger or anyone with a uniform if they need help or are lost.

Take notice of safety equipment, signs and instructions. It is easy to become so accustomed to seeing safety signs and warnings that we don’t stop and read what they say. Next time you visit a pool, beach or park, take the time to read the safety rules.Understanding and following the wisdom provided could very well save your life or that of your child.

Protection Equals Prevention
The importance of wearing a flotation device when boating should never be minimized. Even advanced swimmers can suffer drowning accidents in adverse circumstances. But water isn’t the only natural element we have to consider. The summer sun and its UV rays create an invisible danger that can result in injury to our health. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, a hat to protect your head and sun screen with 15 SPF or higher to protect your skin from burning and the overexposure that can lead to skin cancer in the future.

Don’t overlook your feet when heading out to enjoy summer out of doors. Wear foot protection, whether it is flip-flops, sneakers or sandals to the beach. Hot sand can actually blister the soles of your feet in just a few minutes. The sun can do this too; be sure to extend sunscreen protection to the tops of your feet and ankles. If you’re hiking or walking for any distance, wear shoes that provide proper arch support and protection from injury. For any extended amount of time out of doors, be sure to also bring plenty of water for everyone. Dehydration and heat stress can come on quickly and can be deadly, even for the most physically fit, as tragedies among athletes and military personnel have shown us.

Roasting marshmallows and hot dogs over a campfire is a summer tradition that many families enjoy. But fire, like water and sun, has its dangerous side. The destruction of personal property, campground property and even lives have been attributed to renegade campfires. Fires should safely be quenched before bedtime and all flammable items kept a safe distance from the fire ring at all times.

Being aware and alert to potential dangers is the first step in keeping your family safe during your summer fun. Using practical preventive measures is the second step. Holding a family meeting to review summer safety measures is a good way to get the summer off to a safe start.