Summertime Safety
We recommend following these guidelines to keep your family safe in the summer.
Grilling Safety
According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), gas and charcoal grills caused an average of 1,000 structure fires and 3,400 outdoor fires in or on home properties in 2007. To make sure your next barbecue doesn’t go up in flames, the Home Safety Council recommends the following safety tips:
- Designate the grilling area a “No Play Zone”
keeping kids and pets well away until grill
equipment is completely cool.
- Before using, position your grill at least 3 feet
away from other objects, including the house
and any shrubs or bushes.
- Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills
when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.
- Before using a gas grill, check the connection
between the propane tank and the fuel line to
be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
- Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any
unventilated space. This is both a fire and
carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.
Swimming Pool Safety
Many drowning incidents involve swimming pools and spas. Drowning is a silent and sudden event, and research found that many drowning deaths at home are related to swimming pools. Adopt the following guidelines to help keep your pool area safe.
- Always practice constant adult supervision
around any body of water. Older children
should not be left in charge of younger
children in the pool area.
- Install four-sided fencing that isolates the pool
from the home. Four-sided pool fencing is
proven to be an effective drowning prevention
intervention.
- Pool fencing should be at least five feet high
and have self-locking and self-closing gates.
- Position gate latches out of the reach of young
children.
- Never prop the gate open or disable the latch.
- Clear debris, clutter and pool toys from the
pool deck and adjoining pathways to prevent
slips and falls.
Sun Safety
- Always drink plenty of water and take
frequent breaks when working or playing
in hot weather.
- Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! Always use
at least SPF 30 for children or fair skinned
adults; all others - never less than SPF 15.
Boating Safety
Whether you're the captain of a schooner or
a passenger on a ski boat, following safety guidelines ensures your safety and that of
other seafarers.
- Be weather wise. Sudden wind shifts, lightning
flashes and choppy water all can mean a storm
is brewing. Bring a portable radio to check
weather reports.
- Bring extra gear you may need - matches,
flashlight, extra batteries, a map, flares, sun
tan lotion, first aid kit & extra sunglasses.
- Tell someone where you're going, who is with
you, and how long you'll be away.
- Check your boat, equipment, boat balance,
engine and fuel supply before leaving.
Sensible Surf Safety
Whether you plan on simply wading in the surf or riding the waves, before you jump in with both feet, read these beach safety tips.
- Always stay within the designated swimming
area and ideally within the visibility of a
lifeguard.
- Never swim alone.
- If you should get caught in a current, don’t
try to swim against it, swim gradually out of
the current by swimming parallel to the shore
until clear of the current.
- If you have small children you must watch
them every minute, as leaving a small child
unattended at the water’s edge can spell
d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r.
Lightning Safety
Florida is the lightning capital of the world. Lightning strikes in Florida in the summer months more often than anywhere else and is the most deadly. Follow these tips:
- Follow the 30/30 rule. If the time between
seeing the flash of lightning and hearing the
thunder is less than 30 seconds, take shelter.
- Immediately get away from pools, lakes,
beaches and other bodies of water.
- Never use a tree as shelter – avoid standing
near all tall objects.
- Remain indoors until 30 minutes after the last
flash of lightning.
Backyard Safety
The simple act of yard work can be riddled with opportunities for injuries if you’re not careful. To ensure your backyard doesn’t become an injury trap, consider the following:
- Wear protective goggles and ear protection
while using outdoor machinery to prevent
sight and hearing-loss injuries.
- Keep all garden tools out of children’s reach
and store them with tines, blades or spikes
pointing downward.
- Fuel mowers outside and only when the
motor is completely cool.
- Start the mower outdoors to avoid raising
carbon monoxide levels inside the home or
garage.
- Store pesticides in their original containers
and out of the reach of children.
Fireworks Safety
Fireworks statistics show:
- Sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets and
Roman candles each contributed to 17%
of eye injuries.
- Almost half (49%) of the injuries were to
children under age 15.
- Sparklers can heat up to 1800 degrees
Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt gold.
- Data from the United States Eye Injury
Registry shows that fireworks more often
injure bystanders than operators themselves.
Sources: Home Safety Council; Fireworks Safety Council; American Red Cross
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