Five Ways to Stay Focused on Safety during Summer Fun
From vacations and festivals, to picnics and playdates, no one wants to waste a single moment of summer. Therefore, we are soaking up every second of the long summer days creating memories with our friends and families before the season slips away. To help ensure that you too can soak up summer and not miss a single moment, here are five tips to help you stay focused on safety during the fun:
Have Fun in the Sun: While enjoying outdoor activities, always safeguard your skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted by the sun. A great reminder is these 5 S’s and remembering to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide:
Slip on a T-shirt:Wear clothing that protects your skin from the harmful UV rays.
Slop on sunscreen:Generously apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 and broad-spectrum protect over exposed skin. Daily use of a SPF 15 or higher sunscreen, when outside, can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Slap on a hat:Choose a wide-brimmed hat that covers your face, ears, and neck.
Seek shade: Limit your sun exposure and seek shade, especially from10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the UV rays are the strongest.
Slide on sunglasses: Protect your eyes by using a wrap-around style with 99 or higher UV block. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common sun-related vision problems include cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium.
2. Make a Big Splash: Whether at the beach or the swimming pool, it is important to obey all instructions posted on signs or from lifeguards. Always remember to:
Never swim alone – always have a buddy – with younger children being supervised by an adult.
Wear your personal flotation device (PFD) in or around water, and especially when boating.
3. Enjoy Picnic Time: During picnics and gatherings, be sure to practice food safety and use the 2-2-4 rule:
Don’t let hot or cold foods sit in room temperature longer than 2 hours, as it is in the danger zone between 40- and 140-degree Fahrenheit, where bacteria can rapidly produce.
Store leftovers in containers that are no deeper than 2-inches to allow hot food to cool quickly and evenly.
Be sure to dispose of any refrigerated leftovers after 4 days.
Celebrate Summer with a Bang: From fairs and carnivals to Independence Day and Labor Day celebrations, fireworks are prevalent. And the safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals. However, if you do use legal grade fireworks at your home, follow these tips:
Never allow young children to play with fireworks.
Keep a supply of water close as a precaution.
Light only one firework at a time – never attempting to relight one that did not fully ignite.
Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures, or flammable materials.
Spread Happiness, Not Germs: While many favorite summer spots re-open and some Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions lessen, many will make every effort to gain back what was missed out on last year. While COVID-19 may not be as prevalent as last summer, we still need to take precautions while having fun. Therefore, remember the importance of avoiding large crowds, practicing social distancing, and thoroughly wash your hands.
The “Safety Day Corner” is a safety message by the Progressive Agriculture Foundation® (PAF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, with the mission to provide education, training, and resources to make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for all children and their communities. Recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North American, the Foundation’s Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® program, has reached more than 1.8 million youth – and counting – since the program’s inception in 1995. For more information about PAF and its programs, visit: www.progressiveag.org.