Summer Safety Survival Tips

Summer is upon us once again and fun-filled times are abundant this time of year. Kids are getting their freedom from school and they cannot wait to enjoy all of the activities that summer has to offer. As with most families, mine enjoys most anything that involves the great outdoors!

Swimming Pools, Camping And Other Outdoor Activities

Swimming, gardening, camping, home projects, auto tune-ups, lawn care, tree and brush cleanup, porch additions, landscaping, farming, pest control, etc… all play a part of summer, but also offer dangers of their own. We often go camping during the summer and there are some great camping safety tips to keep in mind also. Swimming pools and spas offer their own electrical safety issues. In this article Swimming Pools and Spas Code Requirements, I discuss overhead, underground, and electrical wiring to these water-filled summer attractions. That’s why this is an excellent time to discuss summer safety survival tips.

Storm Dangers

Hot, sultry summer days brew up some wicked thunderstorms. These storms often pack high winds, heavy rains, flooding, and tornadoes and hurricanes that often cause power outages and storm damage. Being prepared for power outages and storms before they hit is an added safety measure to keep in mind.

Farm Safety

More and more people are moving to the great outdoors, the country. Some are living and working on farms and these areas present their own safety problems. Farm safety must be observed each and every time you do anything on the farm.

Every year farmers deal with many dangers around the farms and fields of America. Slow moving vehicles, moving parts on equipment, and electrical hazards are all a part of their daily routines as they go through their busy routines. Farm safety should be an ongoing practice on the farm.

Electrical Safety Tips

Whether you’re connecting power tools to extension cords or just tilling the garden, safety should always be of concern. It only takes a few minutes to do things the right way and practice safety. These practical electrical safety tips, along with some great safety tips from my fellow Guides, should help you keep the summer fun and projects just what be they should be, safe!

Kerry Michaels, Guide to Container Gardening, writes, "It turns out that garden hoses pose a real danger if you let water sit in them as they can leach a very unacceptable amount of lead into the water." Kerry explains the dangers of hoses in her article Is Your Garden Hose Safe?

David Beaulieu, Guide to Landscaping, offers these words of wisdom about yard safety, "A list of yard safety tips can never be complete. No one can warn us against unforeseeable circumstances, nor are even the most cautious of us immune to Murphy's Law. In other words, your best defense against injury is common sense."

David explains some obvious dangers and some you may not have thought of in his article Yard Safety Tips. In his article concerning landscaping around swimming pools, David explains how to keep everyone safe and which plants are right for these areas. He also makes a good point about calling before you dig in this article What's the "Dig Safe" or "Call Before You Dig" Phone Number?

Jenna Stregowski, Guide to Dogs, writes about summer animal safety in her article Warm Weather Safety for Dogs. She says, "Summer can be wonderful time for you and your dog to spend time outdoors exercising and having fun. However, it is important to understand that hot temperatures can be very dangerous, too. In order to keep your dog safe, here are some basic safety measures to take."

Franny Syufy, Guide to Cats, mentions, "Cats do not get a vacation from the dog days of summer, and they need your help to keep summertime annoyances at a minimum. Learn how to keep your kitties cool and free from parasites, hairballs, and other nasty things that savage their comfort during the year's hottest season, with these tips for summertime comfort for cats." In her article Top Summertime Tips for Cats, Franny lets us know how to take care of cats thoughout the summer to keep them happy and healthy.

Shirlie Sharpe, Guide to Freshwater Aquariums, adds her safety tip for drop cord loops for fresh water aquariums. In her article What is a Drip Loop?, Shirlie says, "An electrical cord is like a superhighway that will allow water splashed out of the tank to flow right into the outlet it is plugged into. The result can be disastrous."

Katherine Blocksdorf, Guide to Horses, has some great articles about horse riding safety while on summer vacation. She asks, "Are you planning a vacation that may include a horseback ride? Many tropical destinations offer horseback tours and trail rides are an attraction at many vacation spots. Before heading on out trail here a few tips that may keep you safe and comfortable." In her article Tips For Travelers Who Horseback Ride on Vacation, you'll learn what to and not to wear while riding a horse or pony, and how to control them.

Lisa Hallett Taylor, Guide to Pools and Patios, has some great tips for preparing your pool and yard before disaster strikes. Her articles cover wind damage from storms, including hurricanes, and lightning storms. Her National Water Safety article, gives safety tips for pools, hot tubs and spas. These deal with drowning, cleaning, and pool rules, just to name a few.

Lisa says, "Starting in May 2009, the public awareness campaign spearheaded by The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, the World Waterpark Association and the National Recreation & Park Association is dedicating the month to educating the public about safe aquatic environments. These include residential and public swimming pools and spas, waterparks, hotels and resorts, and water recreation facilities."

Ron Leshnower, Guide to Apartment Living, has some great playground tips you may not have thought about. Before you let the kids go crazy, check the playground to make sure it is safe for your kids to play there. Summer heat and metal don't mix as Ron explains in his article Protect Children from Playground Burns on Hot Days.

Ron explains, "Playground equipment can heat up quickly and retain the heat easily, causing serious burns to skin upon contact. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), young children are particularly at risk of second- and third-degree burns because they don't react by pulling away from hot surfaces as quickly as older children do.".

Ron also points out that bicycle helmets should be used by kids riding bikes, but they should always remove the helmets when they get off the bikes to play.

Amy Jeanroy, Guide to Herb Gardens, reminds us that, "Herb gardening is a relaxing and fun way to enjoy the summer months. When you are gardening edible plants, such as herbs, there are some basic rules to adhere to, so your harvest is as healthy and fresh as it can be."

In her article Herb Garden Safety, Amy gives great tips on the proper safety precautions for your herb garden.

Abe Abbas, Guide to Furniture, fires these comments on fire pit safety. Abe says, "Fire pits add drama and beauty to your outdoor space. But fire is fire, and to fully enjoy your fire pit, safety should always be a top consideration."

He also says in his article Home Safety Tips for Outdoor Spaces, "When you think of summer, home safety may not be the first thing on your mind. But if you want to make your outdoor spaces safer, just spend a little time going over these summer safety tips. You might discover you just need to tweak a few things around the house, and the result will be a safer, more enjoyable summer for you and your family."

Marie Iannotti, Guide to Gardening, states in her article Gardening Safely, "Gardening seems like such a genteel activity, but you will rarely see a gardener without a few cuts, bruises and bites. Gardening safely takes a bit of common sense and precaution. Hopefully we all know not to touch poison ivy or dig through electrical wires. Here are a few more tips to keep you safe while out in the garden."

Elizabeth Weintraub, Guide to Homebuying, warns us of fire dangers in her article Protecting Your Home from Wildfires and Forest Fires. She says, "FEMA estimates more than 4,000 American die every year in fires and property losses exceed $8.6 billion annually. You may be wondering why fires start and how you can protect your home from wildfires and forest fires."

And when the power goes out, Elizabeth will have you prepared in this informative article, complete with tips to survive a power outage. Bad things can happen to good people at any time. Elizabeth says, "You never know when disaster may strike your home. I survived when my home in Ventura, CA, fell into the ocean. A few years later, my Minneapolis home was the target of a freak hailstorm, which ripped baseball-sized holes through my roof and siding. More recently, during a torrential winter rainstorm, a 35-foot birch tree slammed into my Land Park home in Sacramento. My husband says I am jinxed, but the truth is a tragedy could strike anybody at any time."

Kelly Burke, Guide to Lawn Care, tells of the dangers of lawnmowers in his article Lawn Mower Safety. He says, "Mowing the lawn can sometimes seem like a mundane activity, made even more boring by virtue of repetition. In reality, a lawn mower can be a deadly and dangerous tool, capable of amputating hands and feet, and throwing objects with deadly speed."

Janet Tobiassen DVM, Guide to Veterinary Medicine, states in her article Top 8 Common Household Poisons that, "The average home contains many possible poisons for pets and children. Properly storing and locking up hazardous items is the first step to preventing accidental poisonings. An additional thing to remember for pet owners is the ability of many pets to chew through child locking caps and "safe" containers."

And in her article Summer Fun - Summer Safety, she says, "Summer is a time to do some work around the house and enjoy recreational activities. The purpose of this article is to serve as a reminder of summer dangers for pets, so that all of the fun isn't spoiled by an unsuspected emergency or illness."

Photo: Timothy Thiele