Maintaining a Safety Focus during Summer Fun
From vacations, fairs, and festivals to parades, picnics, and parties, no one wants to waste a single moment of summer. Many are soaking up every second of the long summer days and creating lasting memories with friends and families before the season slips away. Unfortunately, taking the focus off safety and health can lead to tragic incidents, which could make creating our fun-filled memories come to a screeching halt.
Therefore, here are three (3) important safety tips to help you keep your safety focus when enjoying fireworks, the sun, and food:
Celebrate Summer with a Bang: From fairs and carnivals to Independence Day and Labor Day celebrations, fireworks are prevalent. The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. However, if you do use legal grade fireworks at your home, always follow these tips:
Never allow young children to play with fireworks and supervise older children.
Keep a supply of water and a fire extinguisher close by as a precaution.
Light only one firework at a time – never attempting to relight any that did not fully ignite.
Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures, or flammable materials.
Don’t forget your pets! Fireworks can cause a lot of fear and anxiety for dogs and other pets. Year after year, the Independence Day holiday in the U.S. is often the day when many dogs go missing, as their hearing is 10 times more sensitive than ours. To prevent this from happening, keep your dog inside and try to create a safe environment for them with white noise in the background. If your dog is outside and not sure how they may react, keep them on a leash and ensure they have a properly fitted collar with ID.
Have Fun in the Sun: While enjoying outdoor activities, always safeguard your skin from the harmful effects of sun ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A great reminder is these 5 S’s and remember to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, and Slide:
Slip on a T-shirt: Wear clothing that protects your skin from harmful UV rays.
Slop on sunscreen: Generously apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 and broad-spectrum protection over exposed skin. Daily use of SPF 30 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 from 10 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 a 99 or higher UV block. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common sun-related vision problems include cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium.
If we could add a sixth, it would be Sip on water and stay hydrated when partaking in outdoor activities.
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 at room temperature longer than 2 hours, as they are in the danger zone between 40 and 140 degrees 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.
Spread happiness, not germs. Avoid cross-contamination among juices from your meats to fruits and vegetables. Remember to always wash your hands thoroughly before preparing, serving, or enjoying food.
Protecting our Future Generation
At Progressive Agriculture Safety Day® (PAF Safety Days) programs offered throughout North America, activities and demonstrations have been designed to educate children, ages 4 to 13, on various safety and health topics. After participants learn potentially life-saving messages, they return home to share the knowledge they gained with their family and friends.
The Progressive Agriculture Foundation® (PAF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, oversees the PAF Safety Day program. Since its inception in 1995, it has reached millions of participants and is recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America.
You, too, can join the mission and provide education, training, and resources to make farm, ranch, and rural life safer and healthier for all children and their communities. Visit www.progressiveag.org for more information and click on Get Involved to learn about volunteer opportunities, donating to the cause, or how to bring a PAF Safety Day to your local community.