The summer can be loads of fun. For many people, it means swimming in nearby lakes and rivers, family vacations, camping, and lazy days relaxing by the pool. But since the summertime is associated with extreme temperatures and water, it can also be very dangerous, especially in certain situations.
Some of the dangers involved with the summer include drowning accidents, boating accidents, children burning themselves on hot playground equipment, children overheating in hot cars, and heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. According to the National Safety Council, in 2017 alone, “87 people died in the U.S. from exposure to excessive heat.”
Who is at the highest risk of heat-related illnesses and death?
- Infants and small children, especially when they are left in hot vehicles
- Older adults age 65 and older (especially if they are dehydrated)
- People who are sick or have compromised immune systems
- People who are taking certain medications
- Overweight or obese individuals
Staying Safe During the Summer
When it comes to staying safe in the heat and around water, follow these important summer safety tips:
- Never let children swim unattended by an adult. Even if the child is a good swimmer, they still require adult supervision.
- When boating, always wear a properly-fitted lifejacket.
- Make sure everyone in your household (children and adults) are good swimmers. If they aren’t, enroll them in swimming lessons.
- Do not rely on lifeguards to watch your children. Plenty of children have drowned in the presence of a lifeguard.
- Only let your children swim where lifeguards are present.
- Do not drink alcohol or get engaged in distracting activities while watching your children swim.
- If you have a backyard pool, make sure it’s safely protected so your children or neighborhood children can’t slip into it and drown in your absence.
- Never leave a child in a parked car during the summer. Even if the windows are cracked, the temperatures rise quickly in the summer and this can be deadly.
- Never leave a sleeping child in a vehicle as this can lead to death, even if it’s not that hot outside. Since the temperatures inside a car rise to deadly temperatures, you can’t take a risk.
- Avoid the hottest time of the day by scheduling outdoor activities in the early morning or the evening.
- Summer can get really hot in North Carolina, so make sure your child drinks plenty of water and eats nutritious fruits like watermelon and grapes to help replace vital nutrients and fluids.
- Wear sunscreen!
We hope you found this article helpful. If you have suffered a heat-related illness because you work outside, or if you have been involved in another summer-related accident, contact our firm to meet with a Columbia personal injury attorney.