Summer safety tips

Each season brings its challenges, but while we’ve come to expect the potential dangers of winter’s sub-freezing temperatures and heavy snow, we tend to forget that summer — known for fun and relaxation — has its own hazards. With summer officially here, we want to share some reminders to help everyone enjoy the season — safely.
We’ve previously discussed the dangers of hot cars, so we won’t re-tread that ground too much. But we would like to add that hot cars are not safe for anyone — regardless of age or number of legs (two or four). The sunlight coming through the windows heats the interior of the car well beyond the outside temperature, and it does so within minutes. Cracking the windows is not enough to counter the rising heat. Even rolling the windows all the way down may not be enough, especially without a breeze to move the air around.
Warm weather tempts many to leave the cars behind altogether and take alternate forms of transportation. Thanks to a law passed in 2020, all-terrain and utility task vehicles can be driven on certain roads, but they must meet specific road-worthiness requirements and the owners must obtain a special purpose vehicle registration. Even then, there are limits: ATVs/UTVs can’t be driven on interstate systems or for more than 20 miles on a highway with center pavement markings. Municipalities and counties can impose stricter limits, as well. And of course, drivers and riders should wear helmets (and preferably additional safety gear. Riding an ATV on the roadway shares many of the same risks as riding a motorcycle, so ATV users should be extra cautious and those of us in cars should give them extra space. 
Of course, many people seek to escape the heat by going to the water. Anyone going out on the lake or river should wear a life vest, even if we fancy ourselves strong swimmers. Currents can carry us beyond helping hands, and hazards under the water’s surface can drag us down or prevent us from resurfacing. A life vest cannot guarantee our safety, but it can increase our chances of survival if the worst were to happen.
Of course, what is summer without a trip to the pool? It’s tempting to think that the presence of lifeguards means we don’t have to worry about anything, but when there are hundreds of people in and around the water, the chances of something happening increase. It’s our responsibility to help lifeguards by being aware of our own state and keeping an eye on each other. As adults, that means understanding when we or our young companions shouldn’t go in the water, such as if we feel faint or dizzy, or are bleeding or experiencing certain health issues. It also means we are responsible for keeping an eye on any friends or family with us, especially children. We can also teach our kids about appropriate pool safety: no running, no holding others under the water, no diving where it’s shallow, not jumping in where other people are swimming/standing, etc.
 Sometimes, despite all our best efforts, accidents happen. We can’t live our lives in fear, but we can take precautions to make sure our fun in the sun and water stays as safe as possible.