Summertime in Arizona provides many opportunities for fun times with family. The last thing you wish is to spend your summer in the hospital or nursing a serious injury. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe this summer with a few safety tips. You may be able to prevent a harmful accident before it happens.
Water Safety Tips
Cooling down on a hot summer’s day in a swimming pool or lake comes with water-related risks, especially for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowning is the number one cause of death for children under the age of four. Teach young children how to swim to reduce their risk of drowning. Children should be supervised around a body of water at all times. If you go boating on one of Arizona’s lakes, the operator should be safe and sober. Speeding and reckless boating can lead to devastating boat accidents.
Summer Driving Tips
There is a lot to celebrate in the summer, whether it is time shared with loved ones or holidays. Unfortunately, some choose to celebrate with alcohol and then drive. Young, inexperienced drivers such as high school students may also be on the road during summer break. This makes for dangerous roads and a high risk of car accidents. Always pay attention to the road while driving. Never text and drive. If you plan on consuming alcohol, do not plan on driving. Reduce your speed and remain vigilant. Be prepared to stop at a moment’s notice.
Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Tips
If the weather is nice enough to walk or bike around town, put your safety first. Pedestrians and bicyclists are the most vulnerable road users. You may be able to prevent an accident by improving your visibility to drivers. Wear bright colors and keep your movements predictable by obeying traffic laws. Do not step into the road when it is not safe to do so. You must ride a bicycle in the same direction as traffic, but should walk in the direction facing opposite of traffic.
How to Beat the Heat
Choose the right sunscreen and apply regularly on sunny days. At temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you are at risk of fatigue, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and sunstroke with prolonged exposure to the sun and/or physical activity. Stay well-hydrated by drinking at least 10 gulps of water every 20 minutes, as recommended by the Arizona Department of Health. If you work in the heat, drink plenty of water and take breaks. If you start to feel fatigued, nauseous or dizzy, tell your employer.
Child Activity Safety Tips
If you have children who are home for the summer, many of the games and activities they wish to engage in could pose injury risks. A playground may have product defects that lead to serious injuries, for example, or an ATV may not be designed for kids. Check everything your children wish to play with for product recalls on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. Pay attention to warning and instruction labels. If your children wish to ride bikes, rollerblades or skateboards, make them use helmets to reduce the risk of a serious head injury.
Slip and Fall Prevention
Summertime can come with slip and fall risks such as a wet pool deck or slippery floors from tracking water indoors. People in your neighborhood may also be watering their lawns or washing their cars. Slip and fall accidents can lead to injuries such as head trauma or a broken bone. Wear the right footwear – closed-toed non-slip shoes – to help prevent a slip and fall accident. Teach children not to run on surfaces that may be slippery, especially near a swimming pool.
If you or a loved one gets injured this summer despite your best efforts to stay safe, contact a Peoria personal injury attorney for legal advice. You may be eligible for financial compensation from one or more parties for causing your accident.