Tips to Stay Safe This Summer

It’s time for summer fun! Whatever your plans, it’s important to stay safe. Follow the tips and best practices below to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this summer.

Water

Water watchers are crucial to keeping kids safe around water. Their sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over. Always prevent unsupervised access to water, provide constant and active adult supervision and know how to swim. Never swim alone – adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child.

Remember that drowning can happen quickly and silently. Unless rescued, it could take as little as 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge.

Camping

Being prepared for emergencies is critical when you’re headed to an area with limited access to phone services and help. If you are heading out to camp, or hike, wear layers of light-weight clothing, sunscreen and a hat.

Pack a first aid kit with insect repellant, sunscreen and personal medications. Download the FREE Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the FREE Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies.

Pets

Summer’s heat can be dangerous for your family pets. Don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open. Some of the signs of heat stroke in your pet are heavy panting, being unable to calm down, even when lying down, brick red gum color, fast pulse rate and being unable to get up.

Summer provides opportunities to enjoy good weather and great company. For more summer safety tips, visit redcross.org. Be safe, and enjoy your summer!