Tips To Keep Your Family Safe This Summer

Many incidents resulting in injury or death occur because of the failure to follow basic safety rules. Violating safety rules needlessly endangers people. Following community safety rules prevents harm to individuals in any situation.

When we think pool safety, we generally think of “child safety.” However adults need to stay safe as well.

A swimming pool can be an oasis of fun filled entertainment as a means to beat the heat and enjoy the summer. Unfortunately, that oasis can many times become a danger zone when safety rules are ignored and violated. We all know that children should always have adult supervision when swimming to prevent drownings. However drowning isn’t all that occurs. The pool and it’s surrounding area can offer up many dangers. Slipping accounts for a plethora of deaths and injuries each year for both children and adults. Pets also succumb to a myriad of injury and death as well. So what can you do to ensure that you have the safest habitat for outdoor entertainment as possible?

1. Prevention
Injuries can happen at anytime however preparation can be the saving factor to prevent such events. Make sure to contain the pool area, a fence is ideal and in many communities a requirement. Yes it can be costly, but having a fence will reduce or even eliminate incidents. Many states such as Arizona require it. Do not over crowd your pool with toys, make sure you can see straight to the bottom of the pool should you need to. Adults, be wary of drinking alcohol while swimming. Should you drink too much and pass out, it could be the difference between “sleeping it off” and drowning.

2. Communication
Always let someone know you are swimming... even adults. Sound silly? Not really. If you talk to your neighbors, instruct them on how to access the backyard pool (in the event of an emergency) and you will at least have helping hands should you need them. Keeping a phone near the pool can be a life saver in the event of an emergency as well. Also, if there is a pool party, even if there are many adults around the pool designate at least one adult to supervise the children. Never simply assume someone is watching them.

3. Learn CPR
What’s a couple of Saturdays out of your month? In the time it takes to watch a few ball games, you can become CPR certified. If you own a pool, you owe it to yourself and your family to learn! Coincide CPR lessons with swim lessons for your family and you will have a happy and safe summer.

There are many things to remember around the swimming pool. Most important is safety and prevention. Check in, check often, check off everything on the safety list.

Stay Safe During Summer Road Trips

With summer approaching, people will be hitting the road for family road trips. It’s an age old tradition for families across America to jump in the car and see this great country of ours. Since the advent of the automobile and the highway, we have been a nomadic people; longing to see the country that we call home.

Before you head out to see Aunt Sue in Ohio, or Grandpa Albert in New Mexico, take a few things into account to make sure you and your friends and loved ones have a safe and happy road trip.

We all know the dangers of drunk driving and should look out for, and report anyone doing it, however other dangers exist the results of which can be equally fatal. With technology advancing at a rapid rate, we become more and more dependent on our hand-held devices; to get us places, communicate, document, etc. While these gadgets and gizmos have enhanced our lives and made them much more convenient, they have also taken away a great deal of our attention. As a result, automobile crashes caused by distractions are rivaling those caused by drunk driving. In many cases, texting can inhibit your senses and response time as much as a few cocktails.

Almost everyone’s phone is a portable entertainment center, office, library, message center and more. Just because it’s small, it doesn't mean it won’t consume as much of your attention as if you actually had a copy machine in your car along with a desktop computer, a couple of photo albums, a stack of mail, and a movie playing on a plasma screen all at the same time.

Once the “task of driving” takes a back seat to your cell phone, everyone on the road is in danger. Failing to follow the safe driving rules of the road needlessly endangers everyone including you and those in your car.

The solution? Follow basic safety rules. Make your phone inaccessible while driving. If you must take a call, use a hands-free device. (Although more and more studies are showing that to be just as distractive as well). Otherwise, turn it off and enjoy the ride. You have a responsibility as a motorist to yourself, your passengers, and those you share the road with to be safe and not to needlessly endanger anyone.