Summer Safety Guide

For many Canadians, summer means fun in the sun! The kids are out of school and adults are on vacation enjoying outdoor activities such as riding bikes, barbecuing and swimming. Read the following tips to ensure that your whole family plays safe this summer.

Bicycle Safety Tips

See and be seen especially when riding at night.
Use hand signals.
Stay alert for road hazards and watch for motorists.
Wear a helmet and appropriate footwear. Sunburn Prevention Tips
Use sunscreen and reapply frequently.
Moderation - avoid extended exposure during the peak hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Avoid repeated exposure.
Seek medical care if severely burned. Heat Stress Tips
Older or obese people on certain medications are at higher risk.
Take a 10-minute break every hour in a cooler environment.
Limit intake of caffeine and alcohol.
Avoid heavy activity during the hottest part of the day.
Slow your pace and take frequent breaks.
Drink lots of water or fluids.
Wear loose, light-coloured clothing. Studies on bicycle helmets have shown they can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.

Swimming Pool Safety Tips

Place barriers completely around your pool to prevent access using door and pool alarms.
Closely supervise children and be prepared in case of an emergency.
Make sure deep and shallow ends are clearly marked.
Keep non-swimmers in the shallow end.
Keep the pool clean.
All children must be accompanied by an adult when playing in or around a pool. Drowning can occur in seconds and in as little as two inches of water.
Encourage inexperienced swimmers to use floatation devices or PFDs.
Enforce "No Running on Pool Deck" and "No horseplay" rules for the safety and pleasure of all pool goers.
Have your pool chlorine and filter systems checked annually to ensure they are operating at peak performance.
Make sure that all water in-take and return valves have proper covers/flaps and replace any that are damaged or missing to prevent injury.
Ensure that all fences, gates and locks are in good working condition around your pool, with hours and rules of use clearly posted in several locations.

Cooking Outdoors

Never bring charcoal grills indoors. Burning charcoal produces deadly carbon monoxide.
When cooking outdoors with a gas grill, check the air tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease.
Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks.
Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
If you ever detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas at the tank and don't attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed.

Lawnmower Safety Tips

When mowing, keep small children out of the yard, and turn the mower off if children enter the area.
If the lawn slopes, mow across the slope with the walk-behind rotary mower, never up and down.
With a riding mower, drive up and down the slope, not across it. Never carry children on a riding mower.
Make sure the mower is in good working order.
Check to make sure the cutting blade is sharp and not damaged.
Never adjust, clear obstructions or place any part of your body under a running mower.

Jogging Safety Tips

Wear shoes appropriate to the activity.
Always jog against traffic and be seen while running.
Do not use headphones.
Pace yourself and finish with a cool down.

West Nile Virus Safety Tips

When outdoors use insect repellents that contain DEET.
Avoid spending time outdoors when mosquitoes are most active.
Wear light coloured protective clothing such as pants, long sleeves and hats.
Remove any old unused items that accumulate standing water and clear standing water regularly.
Limit use of scents. Use protective equipment.

Fireworks Safety Tips

Light fireworks on a smooth surface away from homes, dry leaves and flammable materials.
Never try to relight fireworks and keep a bucket of water or hose handy in case of fire.
Remember that sparklers burn at temperatures of 2,000 degrees.

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