When it comes to summer, water and sun safety should be every person’s highest priority. That’s why it’s time for a quick review of some of the most important outdoor summer safety tips.
Back to Basics: Outdoor Summer Safety Tips
Wear Plenty of Sunscreen
Of all the summer safety tips, let’s start with the most obvious one: don’t forget to wear plenty of sunscreen! That boiling hot star in the sky can burn skin faster than a lot of us realize. In fact, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the sun’s ultraviolet, or UV, rays can begin to inflict skin damage in as little as 15 minutes. That’s true even on a cloudy day.
Keeping that in mind, don’t forget to apply generous amounts of sunscreen lotion. Make sure not to miss any areas on your back or neck. Besides leaving your bare flesh exposed to the elements, it can also ruin your tan. If needed, ask a friend or family member to help. To learn more, read our full article about the
importance of sunscreen.
Kiddie Pools
We usually talk about swimming pools and hot tubs, but there’s another often-overlooked home pool, too.
Kiddie pools can be a great way for kids to cool off, but they can also be deceptively dangerous. It is very easy for adults who are watching the kids to not take these miniature pools seriously. This is a mistake.
Even though they don’t appear to contain that much water, it is more than enough to drown a child. Put simply, if there is enough water to cover the nose and mouth of a little one, there is enough to drown them. If kids are going to be playing in the kiddie pool, then
active supervision should be practiced.
Preventing Drowning Danger
For outdoor summer safety tips, the knowledge of drowning danger is critical. Believe it or not, according to the
National Drowning Prevention Alliance, drowning can occur in as little as 20-60 seconds. To make matters worse, drowning is often quite silent. The victim can simply slip under the water and, before anyone notices, it would be too late.
For this reason, let’s talk about some ways of preventing this unfortunate but all-too-common hazard. First, for the home, it pays to install in a proper
mesh pool fence. This barrier can keep children and animals safely away from the pool areas. When combined with other layers of security, including door and pool alarms, this can do a great deal to help lessen the danger.
Take Swimming Lessons
There is not any shame in not knowing how to swim. A surprising amount of adults don’t have this potentially life-saving knowledge. That said, it is never too late to learn.
Swimming lessons are available for people of all ages and skill levels. This skill, like CPR, is something that every person should take the time to learn. It can easily save your life or the life of someone you love.
Only Swim Near Lifeguards
Finally, it is important that you always swim in a safe area. Even on the beach or at a community pool, it is important not to go in the water unless there is a
trained lifeguard on duty. Having a properly prepared professional watching your back is great for both a swimmer’s safety, and also their peace of mind.
