It is time to make summer safe. Regardless of the calendar and the official beginning of summer, for most of us Memorial Day is the beginning of summer activities. Summer brings many opportunities for fun, but there are many dangers that are unique to the summer season.
We want to help you make summer safe for your family. We offer a few safety reminders here, as well as a list of safety advice articles we have published in the past. The first step in being safe at any time or in any place is to think safety first.
- Never leave any child in any car or other confined place for any length of time.
- Prevent heat stroke or heat-related illness by drinking lots of water, limiting exertion and taking frequent breaks from activity during hot weather. Keep in mind that older adults and children are particularly susceptible to the effects of heat. Consider any physical conditions and medications when planning outdoor activities.
- Practice water safety for all ages, but particularly for young children. Never leave a young child unattended near any water (pool, pond, lake, etc.). Ensure that your pool is enclosed sufficiently to prevent unattended children from entry. If hosting a party near any pool or body of water ensure that someone is watching the water at all times. Approximately 9 people die from drowning every day. The younger the child, the greater the danger.
- Manage bugs and their bites. Keep in mind that bee and wasp stings can be deadly to some people. Avoid fragrances and floral print clothing to reduce the likelihood of attracting pollen-seeking bugs. Make screens impervious to mosquitos, remove any standing water near your home, and use sprays as appropriate. Mosquitos carry many illnesses that affect both humans and pets, including zika virus and west Nile virus, and heartworm in dogs. Use insect repellants that include DEET. Check for ticks whenever in the area of trees or wooded areas. Tick bites can cause Lyme Disease and a number of other illnesses.
- Teach children to avoid any wild-growing mushrooms or toadstools. Many are poisonous.
- Don’t leave children unattended at playgrounds. Emergency rooms see more than 20,000 children aged 14 and under with playground-related traumatic brain injuries each year.
- Keep fireworks away from children. When displaying fireworks, limit those that your children are allowed to ignite, and always supervise children around fireworks.
- Require your children to wear appropriate safety gear when skateboarding. In 2015 hospital emergency rooms treated 125,145 people for injuries sustained while skateboarding.
- Know and follow all rules and recommendations for boating safety.
- Use sun screen to protect your skin. Keep in mind that children and the elderly are more susceptible to skin damage from the effects of the sun. Do not use combination sun screen and insect repellent. Although sun screen must be reapplied regularly, repellent does not need to be reapplied as often.
- When grilling food, ensure that children do not play or wander too close to the grill. Many children are burned each year by grills.
- Never leave a pet in a vehicle or other enclosed area. If your pet is outdoors, provide adequate shade and water to keep the animal healthy.
- Keep children away from lawnmowers. Use only lawnmowers that stop turning the blade when the handle is released. Most recommendations suggest that no child under the age of 16 be allowed to operate a riding lawnmower and that no child under the age of 12 be allowed to operate a walk-behind mower. Know and observe all lawnmower safety guidelines.
- Know the laws governing the use of all-terrain vehicles by children and observe both the laws and other safety standards.
- Keep water handy when out of doors and hydrate regularly.
- Teach your children about lightning strike safety and prevention.
We hope these tips and our previous articles on safety will help you to be and to keep your family safe this summer. We cannot protect others from every danger, but we can certainly take appropriate steps to make summer safe.
If you or a loved one suffers a personal injury due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person and through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to receive fair compensation for your hurts and harms. We truly hope you will never need us. If you do need legal assistance, Bettina Altizer and the entire team of experienced experts at Altizer Law, P.C., are here to help you.
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