Summer Safety Toolkit

Before you get behind the wheel: 

• Do not rush. Give yourself time to get where you are going; you are less likely to become impatient and take unnecessary risks. 
• Cool off. If you're upset, take time to calm down. 
• Be aware and anticipate. If you expect sometime to happen you can sometimes resolve the issue before it occurs. 

What to remember when driving: 

• Give other drivers a break. If someone is driving slowly, keep in mind they might be lost.
• Use hand gestures wisely. Keep gestures positive - for example, waving to a driver who lets  you in when merging. 
• Do not tailgate. Always keep a safe distance from the car in front, no matter how slowly they might be driving. 
• Lay off the horn. Honking out frustration will not solve any problem; it will just increase the stress level for everyone on the road. 
• Do not stop to confront another driver. Stopping could lead to a  dangerous situation for everyone. 

If another driver acts aggressively: 

• Stay away. Safely changes lanes, gradually slow down or even exit the highway to keep a safe distance from the aggressive driver. 
• Do not reciprocate. Ignore the temptation to respond to the other driver; it could cause the situation to escalate. 
• Do not make eye contact. 
• Do not stop. Stopping could lead to a person-to-person confrontation, which could be dangerous. 
• Watch your back. If you are worried that the other driver is following you, keep your doors locked and drive to the nearest police station. 

Food safety is easy to overlook at summer picnics.  These easy tips from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensure a deliciously healthy BBQ:

General Food Safety Tips

Food Handling: 

• Keep cold food cold with ice or frozen gel packs.
• Cold food should be stored at 40°F or below.
• Keep coolers closed. This keeps the contents cold longer.
• Do not cross-contaminate. Keep raw meat/poultry/seafood wrapped to avoid contaminating other picnic foods.
• Clean your produce. Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables before packing.
  For more summertime food safety tips, visit: https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/handling-food-safely-while-eating-outdoors
• Remember to thaw meat and poultry slowly in the refrigerator or under cold running water before cooking. Microwave defrosting is acceptable if the meat will be cooked immediately afterwards.
• Harmful bacteria usually grow in the "danger zone" between 40° and 140° F, so keep meat and poultry in the refrigerator until you are ready to throw it on the grill. Marinate it in the refrigerator too. If you want to use additional marinade as a sauce, be sure to boil it first to kill the bacteria or set a portion of it aside so it is not contaminated by raw meat.
• Precooking in the oven or microwave can reduce time at the grill but only precook immediately before finishing on the grill. Never partially grill meat or poultry and finish cooking later.
• When transporting food to another location, use a cooler with ice to keep it at 40°F or below. Everything should stay chilled until immediately before it will be cooked or consumed. Keep the cooler out of the direct sun and avoid opening the lid too often. It helps to keep beverages in a separate cooler.
• As always, cleanliness is essential to prevent food-borne illness. Wash hands, surfaces and utensils frequently with soap and water or antiseptic wipes.
• Never use the same plate, cutting board, or utensils for cooked food that you used for raw meats and poultry. Bacteria in the juices of raw meat and poultry can contaminate safely cooked food.
• Meat and poultry cooked on a grill browns very quickly but may not be cooked inside. Always use a food thermometer to be sure the food has reached a safe internal temperature. In the case of whole poultry this should be 180°F in the middle. Hamburgers and pork chops should reach 160°F throughout. Beef, veal, and lamb chops can be cooked to 145°F.
• After cooking, keep meat and poultry at 140°F or warmer until eaten. If fully cooked meats like hot dogs need to be reheated, grill them to 165°F.
• Refrigerate any hot or cold leftovers promptly in shallow containers.  Discard any food that is left out for more than two hours after cooking, or one hour if temperature is above 90°F.

Grilling:

Firing up the grill may be the largest safety hazard of the summer season. Use caution when grilling with open flame and careful when using charcoal lighter fluid. Nearly 5,000 people are injured annually while grilling. Outdoor barbecuing is a summer tradition and a national pastime. But it also presents two significant dangers – fires and food poisoning. warm weather causes food to spoil more quickly.

Before using a Grill: 

• Check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line. 
• Make sure the venturi tubes - where the air and gas mix - are not blocked.
• Do not overfill the propane tank. 
• Do not wear loose clothing while cooking at a barbecue. 
• Be careful when using lighter fluid. NEVER use gasoline to light the grill. 
• Do not add fluid to an already lit fire because the flame can flashback up into the container and explode. 
• Keep all matches and lighters away from children. 
• Teach your children to report any loose matches or lighters to an adult immediately. Supervise children around outdoor grills.
• Dispose of hot coals properly - douse them with plenty of water and stir them to ensure that the fire is out. Never place them in plastic, paper or wooden containers. 
  Never grill/barbecue in enclosed areas - carbon monoxide could be produced.
• Make sure everyone knows to Stop, Drop Roll in case a piece of clothing does catch fire.
• Call 911 or your local emergency number if a burn warrants serious medical attention.

With Memorial Day and Independence Day just around the corner, many families may plan to celebrate with fireworks. Take the proper precautions when operating fireworks.

• Never disassemble or try to make your own fireworks.
• Do not point sparklers or fireworks at yourself or others, especially while they are being lit.
• Only light fireworks on the ground and in areas that are dry and fire resistant. 
• Do not attempt to light multiple devices at the same time, and never allow young children to handle fireworks or sparklers.
• Keep portable fire extinguisher close by, as well as a water hose or buckets of water nearby to put out fires.
• If fireworks malfunction, do not relight them! Douse and soak them with water then throw them away.

Heat Cramps

Occur after several hours of physical exertion in the heat. 

Symptoms:

• Painful muscle spasms usually in the legs or abdomen

Treatment:

• Get out of the heat and into the shade
• Hydrate with water or sports drink
• Stretch/massage the muscle

Prevention:

• Acclimatize to the environment so your body adapts to the heat
• Hydrate with water or sports drink before and during exercise
• Avoid exercising during hottest part of the day
• Wear light, loose clothing and use sunscreen

Heat Exhaustion

Due to loss of water & salt through sweat

Symptoms: 

• Headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and cool, clammy skin.

Treatment: 

• Stop and rest
• Hydrate and get into a cool room or shade
• Loosen clothing and apply cool wet towels or pour cool water over the head

Prevention: 

• Same as heat cramp prevention

Dangers of Alcohol and the Sun

Consuming alcohol can increase your risk of sunburn and dehydration and can diminish your awareness of your body and surroundings.

Alcohol can also lower inhibitions and contribute to reckless behavior. Fun summer activities, like swimming, water skiing, or recreational sports, can become potentially risky when mixed with alcohol.

Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of melanoma, or skin cancer. Rates of melanoma are up to 20% higher for individuals who regularly consume alcohol compared to those who occasionally or never drink alcohol.

Mosquitoes can cause several illnesses, including Zika Virus and West Nile Virus. Find out more by visiting our Mosquito-Borne Illnesses page.

• Don't overload - check the boat manufacturer's capacity plate
• Know your boat - what you can and can't do
• Keep a good lookout and situational awareness of other boats and objects
• Ensure crew and passenger wear a USCG approved personal floatation device
• Operate at sage and legal speed - watch your wake
• Know and respect the weather - heed weather warnings
• Take sufficient fuel in proper containers, know your cruising radius
• Keep your boat shipshape; check safety equipment
• Take necessary equipment such as fire extinguishers, signal devices and personal flotation devices
• Secure the boat properly. Stow loose objects
• Review the boating laws and obey them
• Never operate the boat while impaired by alcohol and drugs

• Always swim with a partner
• Never allow young children to swim without adult supervision
• Never swim when you are tired, under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication
• Know and observe your swimming limitations and capabilities 
• Avoid swift-moving water. If caught in a current, swim with it and angle  towards shore or the edge of the current
• Observe warning signs
• Stay out of water during thunderstorms

Bicyclists must take extra precautions when they ride. They often s hare the road with vehicles, but injuries can happen even on a bike path. Learn more how to ride safely: