How to Have a Safe and Sound Summer

Summer has it all: beaches, boats, bikes, fireworks, barbecues, and every kind of outdoor activity and adventure. All these activities can have hazards, yet thinking of these as ‘regular summer fun’ can cause you to lower your guard and allow accidents to happen. With proper awareness, you can ensure the safety of your family through an active summer season.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offers the following tips to make your summer safer:

• Bike, scooter, pedestrian safety: Wear and fasten helmets. Obey traffic laws and signs. Learn and use proper hand signals. Ride defensively — look out for other bikers, cars, roaming pets, young children and senior pedestrians. Check out your bike, or have it looked over by a bike shop, at the beginning of summer.
• Barbecue safety: Every year, gas and charcoal grills cause injuries, home fires and wildfires, resulting in property losses and costs in the millions of dollars. All of these disasters are preventable. Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Keep children and pets away from hot grills. Start charcoal fires only with charcoal starter fluid — never add fluid after coals are lit. Check connections of gas grills and bottle.
• Fireworks safety: Fireworks are explosives. They can cause serious burns and death. They should be handled only by professionals. The NFPA advises staying at least 500 feet away from any professional fireworks display. Leave any area where amateurs are playing with fireworks. Do not handle any fireworks you find, but direct authorities to their location. Above all, keep children and pets away from fireworks.
• Camping Safety: Use tents made of flame retardant materials. Use only flashlights or other battery-powered lights inside tents — never use an open flame inside or nearby a tent. When lighting a campfire, be sure to clear all vegetation away and dig a pit surrounded by rocks. Always extinguish campfires with dirt and water before going to sleep or leaving the campsite. Also teach children responsible camping practices.
• Water safety: Never swim alone. Always have an adult supervise children at pools and beaches. Learn CPR. Swim only in approved areas. Check the depth of water before jumping in. Adults may feel more confident but they are just as vulnerable as children to drowning.
• Boating safety: No less than guns, boats can be lethal weapons in the wrong hands. Every year, thousands of preventable recreational boating accidents kill people and damage property. In preparation for a boating excursion, practice using and deploying safety equipment and procedures. Always check a boat, its engine, fuel, and safety equipment thoroughly. While life jackets are a must, safe and responsible boating practices are equally as important. The best protection around boats is to operate defensively — a boat owner doesn’t need a license to operate a vessel, and is not necessarily a safe captain. Know yourself, your own skills, and be aware of the people around you.
• Amusement park safety: Not all states have the same amusement park equipment inspection and insurance regulations. Before boarding each ride, look for up-to-date state inspection stickers on rides. Do not board rides that look poorly maintained. Supervise children at all time, keep them in their seats and teach them to respect the dangers of rides.

Summer is the Season of Extra Danger:

• Roads are more crowded in the summer as people set off on their vacations. Be extra vigilant about road safety.
• More people gather in crowds at beaches, amusement parks, cities, parades, airports, railway stations. Vacationers are more exposed to dangers when away from home.
• If you are traveling abroad, everything will be new and different. Read travel guides carefully. Also check US Government travel warnings for American citizens going abroad at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

Be Prepared for Fun 

Being thoughtful, prepared, anticipating troubles and using common sense can help you and your family stay safe through a long and enjoyable summer.

Despite precautions, accidents may still happen. If you are a victim of an accident or injury that is not your fault, call Sokolove Law today. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.