Summer Safety for You and Your Family

Summer is the time for fun outside with family and friends. However, it’s also when many accidents occur around the home. Keep your family, friends and neighbors safe with these tips. Children’s drowning deaths and injuries are highest between the months of May and August and drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1‑4.*

*Source: Pool Safely: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Around the Pool & Other Bodies of Water

Swimming pools and spas may be fun to play and lounge in; however, children and pets can get hurt in and around them. Follow these safety tips to ensure everyone’s safety around the pool.*

Never leave children unattended.
Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and openings.
Make sure everyone knows how to swim.
Keep safety tools for assistance near the pool or body of water (long shepherd’s crook/pool net and/or safety flotation device to throw/hand to distressed swimmers.
Learn CPR and first aid—they can save lives.
Don’t swim if the pool has flat, broken or missing drain covers. Drains can suction hair and body parts, causing serious injury to children and adults.
Install a fence at least four feet tall around the perimeter of your pool.
Make sure pool and spa covers work.
Use self-closing/spring-loaded and self-latching gates. Make sure children are aware of the rule: No Pool or Water By Yourself!

Around the Home and Yard

Enjoy your time around your home and yard this summer and make sure it’s free of hazards with these tips:

Supervise children whenever they’re outside, and keep them inside when you’re mowing or trimming.
Always grill in an open, well-ventilated area, and keep children and animals at least three feet away from the grill.
Put away hoses when not in use to prevent falls.
Keep paint, fertilizers and hazardous chemicals out of reach of children and animals.
Remove dead trees before they become a hazard.
Put away lawn and garden tools and machinery when you’re finished with them.
Maintain lawn mowers, trimmers and other equipment, and use them as instructed to prevent injuries.
Put ladders and other home maintenance items away when not in use.

Important Phone Numbers to Know

911, or your local emergency service number (it might seem obvious, in fact too much, so it’s at the top of the list!)
Poison control: Call 1-800-222-1222 for the poison control center near you
Fire department
Police department
Your family’s physician
Your child(ren)’s pediatrician
Hospital emergency room
Your pharmacy
Contact numbers for neighbors or nearby relatives