Beat the Heat
Whether you’re working or playing outside in the summer, if you’re not accustomed to the heat, you’re at risk for a heat-related illness.
Take steps to protect yourself:
- Wear appropriate clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat
- Take frequent water breaks
- Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15
- Never leave kids or pets unattended in a vehicle
Water Safety
More than one in five drowning victims are children 14 years old and younger, and most incidents happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone in the bathtub. Keep your kids safe in the water:
- Find age-appropriate swim lessons for your child, but keep in mind that lessons do not make your child “drown-proof”
- Don’t rely on lifeguards to watch over your children
- Never leave your child unattended
Firework Safety
Fourth of July is one of the biggest events of the summer—but it can bring an increase in injuries. In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 reported fires, including 1,100 structure fires. If fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:
- Never allow young children to handle fireworks
- Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
- Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
- Never light them indoors
- Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
- Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
- Never ignite devices in a container
- Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
- Soak unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
- Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
This article is courtesy of the National Safety Council. For more information on summer safety, visit: http://www.nsc.org/learn/Pages/safety-events-summer-safety.aspx.
