2017 Summer Survival Guide

Drowning, hot cars, backyard BBQ safety, snake bites — summer has some pitfalls to avoid. Here's your survival kit.

By Bea Karnes (Patch Staff)

Many of us look forward to summer all year — long days, calmer schedules with school out and endless sunshine. But your trips to the mountains and beach, hiking and swimming all come with pitfalls that need to be avoided.

This summer, Patch has partnered with professionals from the Watch the video to learn when and how to perform CPR, then get more guidance on summer safety below.

Summer Safety Lesson #1: When And How To Perform CPR

Get Smart On Summer Safety

How To Combat The Heat
Whether you're outdoors playing sports, or running errands in your car — it's imperative to take precautions to prevent heat stroke or worse. This includes looking after all family members, including pets.
Outdoor Safety tips:

• Residents are advised to take extra precautions if you are working or spending time outside.
• Only conduct strenuous activity in the early morning or late evening.
• Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Wear light-weight, loose fitting clothing.
• Drink plenty of water.

Vehicle Safety tips:

• Remember to “look before you lock” and don’t leave your children or pets inside your vehicle.
• If you see a child or pet left alone in a car in the heat, you should call 911 immediately. If you need to break a window to save a person, you will not be held liable in California. A bill that would extend the same protection to breaking a window to save a pet is on the governor's desk.

How To Stay Safe In the Water
Most people, from toddlers to senior citizens, love a dip in cool water on a hot day. Whether in a swimming pool, the ocean, a lake or stream — water on a hot summer day is alluring. Unfortunately, it can also be deadly.
Swimming Safety Tips:

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
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• Never leave a young child unattended near ###a href="http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240219_NoLifeguardatHome.pdf" target="_blank">water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
• Maintain constant supervision.
• Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and learn-to-swim courses.
• If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
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• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
• Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• Enroll in Red Cross ###a href="http://homepoolessentials.org/" target="_blank">home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
• Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
• Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.

How To Care for a Burn
Did you know one of the leading injuries suffered during July 4 celebrations is first degree or superficial burns? The American Red Cross recommends that fireworks should be left to the professionals. Even sparklers, which appear hazard-free, burn at temperatures of 1200 degrees F (982 degrees C).
Burn Care Tips:

• Stop the burning. Put out the flames or remove the victim from the source of the burn.
• Cool the burn. Use large amounts of water to cool the burned area. DO NOT use ice or ice water other than on small superficial burns. Ice causes body heat loss. Use whatever resources are available: tub, shower or garden hose. You can apply soaked towels, sheets or other wet cloths to a burned face or other areas that cannot be immersed. Be sure to keep cloths cool by adding more water.
• Cover the burn. Use dry, sterile dressings or a clean cloth to cover a burn. Loosely bandage them in place. Covering the burn helps keep air out and reduces pain. Covering the burn also prevents infection. If the burn covers a large area of the body, cover it with clean, dry sheets or other cloth.
• For minor burns and burns with open blisters that are not serious enough to need medical care, wash the areas with soap and water. Keep it clean. Put on an antibiotic ointment. Watch for signals of infection.

Critical burns will need immediate medical attention. Call 911 or your emergency number if any one of the following instances occurs:

• Victim is having difficulty breathing.
• More than one part of the body is burned.
• There are burns to the head, neck, hands, feet or genitals.
• A child or an elderly person has been burned.
• Chemicals, electricity or explosions have caused the burns.

Photo credit: Pexels via Pixabay