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Safety first: Reduce risks during summer
Kansas
The risk of accident or injury can increase during summer months when seasonal outdoor employment and recreational activities also increase, said Mike Bradshaw, Kansas State University Research and Extension health and safety specialist.
Accidents happen, but disabling injuries and deaths sometimes occur needlessly, said Bradshaw, who identified 12 risks that typically increase during the summer and offered tips to reduce them:
1.) Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of accidental death in Kansas.
"Use your seatbelt and be alert to weather, road conditions and other drivers, including slow-moving farm and harvest traffic," said Bradshaw, who also advised routine maintenance, such as oil changes and periodic checks on belts, hoses, tire tread and pressure that can be affected by heat. In Kansas, maintaining an automotive air conditioner also is important.
2.) Supervise children in or near water and invest in life jackets if boating or fishing.
"Not all water-related deaths occur at swimming pools or recreational areas. An accidental drowning can occur in the home when a toddler is left in or near a bath or small backyard pool momentarily," Bradshaw said.
3.) Wear a helmet to reduce the risk of a head injury that can occur from a fall while using a scooter, skateboard, skates, bicycle or motorcycle. Replace helmets as children outgrow them or if a helmet is damaged in use.
4.) Teach children to recognize and obey traffic signs and to wait for a signal before crossing a street.
"Children younger than 10 years old can be at a greater risk when crossing the street in high traffic areas," said Bradshaw. "Playing in or near a street or alley is not recommended, as children preoccupied with play may run into traffic while trying to retrieve a ball."
5.) Choose a playground with a base of wood chips or absorbent mats that will cushion falls, which account for 75 percent of playground injuries and supervise children at play.
6.) Wear protective sports gear, such as a mouth guard or knee pads, to reduce injuries.
7.) Watch the weather and heed watches and warnings of severe thunderstorms, strong winds, lightening, tornadoes or excessive heat. Postpone or cancel activities that put you or your family at risk
8.) Drink water to replace fluids lost through perspiration.
"People who must work outside--farmers and ranchers, construction workers and highway crews, for example--can be vulnerable to heat and heat exhaustion," said Bradshaw. "Try to work during the cooler hours of the day; wear sunscreen and a hat to protect the head and neck; take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water."
9.) Use sun screen.
"Parents sometimes overlook the need for sunscreen while children run in and out to play. Yet children typically experience 50 percent of their lifetime sunburn during childhood," said Bradshaw, who urged parents to limit children's outside activities from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. when the sun's rays are the most intense and to keep infants out of the sun."
10.) Avoid areas where mosquitoes that may be carriers of West Nile Virus nest or congregate, such as low places with standing water and early morning or evening hours when mosquitoes are more active.
"Choose and use an insect repellent containing DEET. Read the instructions carefully because products vary in strength and recommended use. Insect repellent is, for example, not typically recommended for infants under two months of age," he said.
"Wearing a long-sleeved shirt or blouse and long pants rather than shorts also can reduce risks," Bradshaw said.
11.) Recognize dangers associated with mowing the grass.
"Pick up sticks and loose gravel or rocks that can be sucked into a mower and spun out like a bullet, causing injury or property damage," he said.
Mowing when grass is wet or slippery is not recommended; neither is allowing children to play outside while mowing is underway, said Bradshaw, who warned that children who slip or fall near a mower might lose a hand or foot.
Dress for the job: Wear boots or sturdy shoes, slacks and a long- sleeved shirt, hat and safety glasses.
If the mower blade becomes clogged, shut down the mower and wait until the blade comes to a complete stop before attempting to free or unclog the blade, said Bradshaw, who also advised caution when mowing hills and inclines so as not to pull the mower over a foot.
12.) Kids home alone on those long summer days?
"Parents can struggle with the decision as to whether a child is old enough to stay home alone. Age is a factor, but it isn't the only one. A child's maturity level, family structure, neighborhood and the length of time a child would be alone all factor into the decision," Bradshaw said.
"Talk with your child and consider leaving he or she alone for a short period, perhaps while you run an errand, to begin this transition and allow the child to begin to feel more comfortable with the responsibility," he said.
For more information on personal safety and health, visit the local K-State Research and Extension office or Extension's website: www.oznet.ksu.edu.
Date: 6/24/04
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