Summer Safety Tips

By SHARON KIESEL

June 20 to June 26 is Summer Safety and Lightning Awareness Week, set-up to help everyone have a fun and safe time. As everyone prepares for vacations or stay-cations, and all the related activities of summer time fun, do not forget to pack with common sense along with the sun-blockers and water bottles.

Flash Flooding is the number one severe weather-related danger, causing nearly 150 deaths each year. Lightning-related deaths are the second leading weather-related killer, claiming 75 to 100 lives each year. For children in two age groups, drowning for ages 1-4 and 10-14 is the leading cause of death. With all the thunderstorms and heavy rains that have moved through this area in recent weeks, the ground is saturated. Heavy rain in a very short period can quickly cause flooding and flash flooding in low lying areas.

If a thunderstorm is approaching, lightning is inevitable. All thunderstorms produce lightning. If outside, move inside as quickly as possible. Once inside, stay away from windows, doors, electrical appliances, telephones or metal objects. If driving, stay in the vehicle. When outside, stay away from isolated trees. Lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from the main part of the storm and can occur before or after the main storm passes through an area. Wait at least 30 minutes in the safest location before leaving the area.

For other summer safety tips, again, use common sense. During cookouts or picnics, keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold. Never let any food stand at room temperature for longer than two hours. When refrigerating hot foods, to prevent the center of the food from being a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, cool it as quickly as possible. Put the contents of larger food containers into smaller ones to hasten the cooling process.

A little precaution goes a long way to ensure a safe and fun summer for you and your loved ones.