Seasonal Safety Tips
Safety should always be a primary concern, but as the seasons change, new safety precautions arise and should be observed so that you can protect yourself and your family. Staying safe all year long can prevent any unexpected health expenses that might put a dent in your budget. To help provide you with an ounce of prevention, the following tips offer some safety suggestions for the summer and winter months.
Summer Safety
Stay Hydrated. Adults and children alike can suffer from heat stress and dehydration if they don't drink enough water, especially when the days are hot and humid. Be sure to take regular water breaks when participating in outdoor activities. It's also a good idea to wear lightweight, light colored, and single-layer clothing to allow for proper ventilation.
Stay Safe at the Pool. Be sure to only swim in approved areas of the pool. Children should never be left alone at a pool, not even for a few seconds. In fact, infants and toddlers should always be within an arm's length of an adult at all times.
Enjoy Fireworks with Caution. Fireworks are best left to the professionals. All fireworks, legal or otherwise, need to be used with extreme caution. If you are watching a fireworks display, stay back at least 500 feet from the fireworks themselves.
Have Mindful Cookouts. When you are barbequing on a deck or patio, leave plenty of space between the grill and the siding and eaves of your house. Carefully supervise the grill while it's in use, and keep kids and pets far away from it.
Winter Safety
Dress Warmly. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. This means bundling up in a winter jacket, gloves or mittens, snow boots, and hats. Dressing appropriately can help you avoid frostbite and enable you to protect your nose, cheeks, ears, fingers, and toes–the parts of your body most susceptible to the effects of frostbite.
Drive Safely. Drive slowly when the roads are snowy or icy. Be especially mindful of hard-to-see black ice on bridges and highway ramps, and keep at least a half tank of gas in your car at all times. You should also carry a windshield scraper and a winter safety kit containing a blanket, flares, jumper cables, and a flashlight in case of emergencies. And, as a general rule, never drive during a winter storm.
Maintain Fireplaces. Before lighting your fireplace, be sure the flue is open and there are no obstructions in your chimney. There also should not be any seasonal decorations on the fireplace when it is lit. Keep children away from the fireplace doors or screens, as these will become very hot and can cause burns.
Watch for Carbon Monoxide. With home heaters of all shapes and sizes in use during the cold winter months, it's important that you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. This odorless, colorless gas can be produced whenever natural gas, propane, gasoline, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. To help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, be sure to have your furnace serviced each year and do not leave your car idling in your garage (if it is attached to your home), even if the garage door is open.
