Summertime Safety

Jun 29, 2019

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By Rachel Livingston, BSN, RN, William Newton Home Health Director

Summer time is upon us. How can you keep you and your family safe during all the exciting activities that come with the season? Follow these tips to make this the most memorable and enjoyable summer yet:

Swimming

• Never swim alone.
• Make sure there is a designated chaperone for kids water play.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear a life jacket when around water.
• If you own a pool, secure it with a fence with four sides and at least four feet high.
• Statistics show that most children who drown in pools have been out of sight for less than five minutes.

Fireworks

• Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities.
• Keep a bucket of water or water hose handy in case of malfunction or fire.
• If fireworks malfunction, don’t relight them; soak them with water then dispose of them.
• Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees- hot enough to melt some metals.

Boating

• Don’t drink and drive your boat, you can be arrested for a BUI (boating under the influence).
• Be sure to have an adequate number of life jackets on hand for extra guests.
• Don’t allow anyone to board or exit your boat from the water when your engine is on or idling.

Insects

• Stay away from stagnant water and heavily wooded areas to decrease your chance of insect bites.
• Don’t apply perfume and avoid scented soaps as the sweet smell can attract insects.
• Avoid wearing bright colors; white, long sleeves shirts and pants are your best bet.
• Use bug repellant with DEET. If you are using sunscreen also, apply the sunscreen first then the bug repellant.
• Once a week, empty and scrub items that hold water such as buckets, planters, toys, pools, birdbaths, or trash containers to prevent mosquitos from laying eggs.
• Kansas is currently under a moderate risk for West Nile Virus so we need to be extra diligent.

Food

• Don’t leave food out all day; allowing food to sit in outdoor temperatures can invite food-borne illnesses.
• The FDA suggests not leaving food out for more than one hour if temperatures are above 90 degrees and no more than two hours at other times.

Pets

• Make sure your pets have ID tags with up to date contact information.
• Take a current photo of your pets just in case they need to be identified.
• Consider putting your pets in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties or fireworks.
• After the celebrations, check your yard for firework debris, food scraps, or other debris that could be dangerous to pets before letting them out.

With the right preparation and some mindfulness, summertime can be a safe and relaxing time for you and your family. So get out there and enjoy the season!

If you have comments or story ideas, call 620-221-2300, ext. 1113.****

The "Weekend Check-Up" is a regular health column published in the Cowley Courier Traveler penned by employees and friends of William Newton Hospital.