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Be Cool, Stay Safe
NFPA offers tips
to ensure safety in the summertime
Scooters. Swimming pools.
Barbecues. All signs point to summer. As adults
and children head for the great outdoors to enjoy hot fun in
the summertime, NFPA offers the following tips to make this
season safer.
Scooter and Bike Safety
Scooters, bikes, in-line
skates, and skateboards are associated with numerous injuries
yearly.
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Wear
a comfortable, properly fitted helmet bearing
the label of an independent
testing lab. Be sure that the helmet sits level
on top of the head-not rocking in any direction-and
always fasten the safety strap.
-
Be
sure that safety gear (wrist, elbow, and kneepads)
fits properly
and does not interfere with the rider's movement,
vision, or hearing. Wrist pads are not recommended
for scooter riders as they may affect their ability
to maneuver.
-
Ride scooters
only on smooth, paved surfaces.
-
Only
ride bikes and scooters during daylight hours.
-
Learn the
proper hand signals and use them when you turn or
stop.
-
Come to a
complete stop before entering driveways, paths, or
sidewalks, then look left, right, and left again
for bikes, cars, or pedestrians heading your way.
Water Safety
Extra caution should
be used when around water, for children and adults.
-
Only swim
in approved areas.
-
Always supervise
children near water at all times and make sure the
children learn to swim.
-
Check the
depth of the water with a lifeguard before jumping
in.
-
Always wear
a U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD (personal floatation
device) when boating, jet-skiing, tubing, or water-skiing.
-
Air-filled
swimming aids, like water wings or inner tubes, are
not substitutes for approved PFDs. An adult
should always supervise children using these devices.
-
Be
sure to extinguish all smoking materials and
shut down motors,
fans, and heating devices before fueling a boat. In
case of a spill, wipe up duel immediately and check
the bilge for fuel leakage and odors. After
fueling and before starting the boat's motor, ventilate
with the blower for at least four minutes.
Fireworks
Fireworks lead to thousands
of injuries requiring emergency room treatment, according to
NFPA. These impressive, but dangerous, devices can burn
up to 1200o F and can cause burns, lacerations, amputations,
and blindness. Stay safe by always leaving fireworks to
professionals.
-
Stay back
at least 500 feet from professional fireworks displays.
-
Treat all
fireworks, whether legal or illegal for consumers,
as suitable only for use by trained professionals.
-
If you find
fireworks, do not touch them but instead direct authorities
to them.
-
Leave any
area where amateurs are using fireworks.
Barbecue Safety
Be aware when you barbecue. In
1998 alone, there were 6,100 reported home fires involving gas
or charcoal grills in the United States, leading to $29.1 million
in direct property damage, according to NFPA.
-
When using
barbecue grills on decks or patios, be sure to leave
sufficient space from siding and eves.
-
Always watch
a barbecue grill when in use.
-
Keep children
and pets far away from grills.
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With charcoal
grills, only use charcoal starter fluids designed
for barbecue grills and do not add fluid after coals
have been lit.
-
With
gas grills, be sure that the hose connection
is tight and check
hoses carefully for leaks. Appling soapy water
to the hoses will easily and safely reveal any leaks.
-
Always follow
the manufacturer's instructions and have the grill
repaired by a professional, if necessary.
For more on these topics,
please visit www.nfpa.org and
view the seasonal safety tips. Following these quick and
simple steps will make summer activities safer. For further
information on summer fire safety and related topics, please
contact NFPA or view the summer safety fact sheet at www.nfpa.org. Also,
stay tuned for the launch of NFPA's new Risk Watch® Web site,
a dynamic, injury prevention site, providing a wealth of resources
and information to kids, parents, safety advocates, and teachers.
From Fire Marshals Quarterly
Newsletter
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