Summer Safety Tips

Summer is here, which means a lot more fun outdoor activities can be had. However, it's important to prioritize safety to ensure a memorable and accident-free experience. At Independence Health System we are invested in the safety of your family. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips for various aspects of summer safety, including swimming safety, camping & hiking safety, boat safety, firework safety, and more. By following these guidelines, you can create lasting memories while keeping yourself and your loved ones safe throughout the summer.

Swimming Safety

1. Swim near lifeguard stations and/or have a designated water watcher. Choose swimming spots with lifeguards nearby to ensure there are eyes on the water and people swimming at all times in case of an emergency.
2. Learn CPR. Learning CPR is important for swimming because it can potentially save someone's life in the event of a drowning or other water-related emergency. In a water-related emergency, time is of the essence, and knowing how to perform CPR can make all the difference in the outcome of the situation. Click here to sign up for CPR classes at Butler Memorial Hospital. Click here for CPR classes at Clarion Hospital. 
3. Stay hydrated. Staying hydrated when swimming is important because it helps regulate your body temperature and prevents dehydration, which can lead to fatigue, cramps, and other health issues. Additionally, being in the water can make it harder to recognize signs of dehydration, so it's important to drink water regularly while swimming.
4. Be aware. Being aware of rip currents and tides while swimming is crucial for your safety. Rip currents are strong, narrow currents that flow away from the shore and can quickly pull swimmers out to sea. Tides can also be dangerous, as they can change quickly and cause strong currents. By understanding these natural phenomena and how to navigate them, you can avoid dangerous situations and enjoy a safe and fun day at the beach.

Camping & Hiking

1. Bring appropriate gear and supplies on your camping and hiking trips. These include:
   • First aid kit
   • Extra day’s supply of food and water
   • Water purification stick
   • Map, compass, and GPS
   • Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
   • Raincoat
   • Flashlight, lantern, or headlamp
   • Matches, lighter, fire starters
   • Emergency shelter like tent, space blanket, tarp
2. Always let someone know where you're going and when you plan to return. Many national parks have no or limited mobile phone coverage.
3. Know what services are available. Do some research to know where help is available like locations of hospitals, police stations, and ranger stations.
4. Be aware of any risks around your tent. Avoid camping directly under large gum trees. Some species are susceptible to dropping large branches at any time. Consider where water will drain in the event of rain. Avoid camping in creek beds and over ditches where water may pool.

5. Give children whistles with the instructions to "stop and blow" if they become lost.
6. While hiking it’s important to stay on marked trails and be aware of your surroundings, including any potential hazards like wildlife or steep drop-offs.
7. Consider what you’ll do if you start to slide or fall so that you are prepared.
   • If falling, don’t try to catch yourself; try avoid landing on your hands, elbows or knees.
   • If the slope is such where you know where you are going to slide, lowering your center or gravity, by sitting down and sliding on your feet or bottom, is safer.
   • If sliding while standing up, keep your weight over your feet and beyond your knees – do not lean back or forward while sliding.

Boat Safety

1. Wear life jackets: Ensure everyone on your boat always wears a properly fitted and approved life jacket.
2. Check the weather: Monitor the forecast before embarking on any boating excursion and avoid going out during possible inclement weather conditions.
3. Assign a designated watcher: This person is responsible for keeping an eye on the water and other boats while the driver is focused on operating the vessel. This is important because it helps to prevent accidents and collisions, as well as ensuring that everyone on board stays safe. They should be alert and attentive at all times, and should be able to communicate any potential hazards or obstacles to the driver. It's also important for passengers to understand that the designated watcher should not be distracted by other activities, such as using their phone or drinking alcohol
4. Educate passengers: Familiarize everyone with basic boating safety rules like always keeping hands and feet inside the boat and avoiding any reckless behavior. Also, educate them on hand signals to use while tubing, wake boarding, etc.

Firework Safety

1. Never allow young children to handle fireworks. Older children should use them only under close adult supervision.
2. Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
3. Only use them outdoors, away from people, houses and flammable material.
4. Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.
5. Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.
6. Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire.
7. Never use illegal fireworks.
8. Be sure to keep pets indoors.

Fishing Safety

1. Handle fishing equipment safely. Be careful with hooks, lures and lines to avoid accidental injuries. Keep hooks covered and secure when you’re not suing them and dispose of old fishing line properly to prevent wildlife from getting entangled. Keep a first aid kit handy in case of any accidents.
2. Use caution while casting. Be mindful of your surroundings and the presence of other anglers. Avoid casting near people and maintain a safe distance to prevent accidents or injuries.
3. Be aware of your surroundings. Familiarize yourself with the area where you’ll be fishing. Take note of any potential hazards like rocks, strong currents or unstable terrain below the water’s surface.
4. Share your plans and communicate. Let someone know about your fishing plans, including your intended location and estimated return time. If possible, fish with a friend or in groups for added safety.
5. Familiarize yourself with local regulations. Understand and adhere to fishing regulations, including licensing requirements, catch limits and specific rules for the area where you'll be fishing. This ensures legal compliance and conservation of fish populations.