Safety First – The Challenges We Face

Talking about safety is easy. “Have a safe trip.” “Be safe.” We hear these expressions on a daily basis; but how much do we really practice safety? Yes, we make sure that our doors and windows are locked at night or when we leave our homes. We know our brakes and tires are good on our cars and other obvious things.

But what about the things that aren’t so obvious? Are there fresh batteries in our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for example. Is the fire extinguisher fully charged? Items like these are easily overlooked.

When you think about safety, most people think of things that can cause harm to themselves or others, however, it is the unexpected that we all need to be more aware of.  

Ah, the unexpected! Situations that you don’t see coming, that is where the challenge begins and can sometimes be a little scary. We should all be thinking about safety in everything we do, and if you don’t, my question is; WHY NOT! Safety begins with common sense, thinking before you act, and being aware of things around you.

Today's technology plays a huge part in our everyday lives, continually evolving, making life easier and helping to keep us safe. But it's not the technology, its’ how you use it, that is where common sense comes in. Look at our cars today, advancements in design in the time of a crash, automatic braking, sensors, cameras, and so much more all built to keep us safe. Driving is a huge challenge we face each day we are on the road, always on the defensive for the unexpected, watching out for the other guy is not just a saying, it’s reality.

Summer Safety

Summer months are typically a time of more outdoor fun and family activities, with longer days and the sun setting later. Although good safety practices are a year-round challenge, summer months have their own unique challenges we need to be aware of, such as:

• Extreme Heat - During these times, outdoor activities should be early mornings or evenings when the sun is not as strong. A good sunscreen with an SPF-50 should be used. Wearing light color, loose-fitting clothes will help the body to stay cool.
• Dehydration – This is a very serious condition which can occur anytime during the year, but the number of incidents increases more during summer months. Dehydration can sneak up on a person without much warning. Being outdoors for long periods, it is very important to take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water to replace the bodies water loss from perspiring, which dries quickly in drier climates. Some sports drinks are also very good, as they replace the bodies loss of electrolytes.
• Swimming - Whether at a beach, a lake, or a public pool, ensure that there is a lifeguard on duty in case of an emergency. Children who are learning to swim or infants should never be left unattended and should always wear some type of floatation device that will keep their heads above the water.
• Drowning or Near Drownings – It can happen in a split second to anyone, young or old. Most incidents happen when young children or infants are unattended while in or near water, whether at a beach, lake or backyard pool. The number of reported incidents and non-reported increases during summer and can be devastating, which no parent or family should have to go through. Never leave children unattended around water.
• Pets - Thinking about safety is not just for people, we have to include our pets. Pets are just like people, they need food, and water, they feel the cold and heat. During the heat of the summer, your pet, if kept outside, should have a shady area to rest in, and plenty of fresh water. You don’t like drinking hot water, well neither does your pet. Dog houses, if placed in the sun is like your car left in the sun, even with the windows open slightly, temperatures can be devastating. When taking your dog for a walk, concrete, asphalt, and pavers and reach temperatures up near 150 degrees, so a good rule of thumb is – if you cannot walk barefooted on these surfaces for any length of time, neither can your dog. A dog’s paw pads are very durable but walking on extremely hot surfaces can cause severe injury to their pads. Early mornings or evenings may be the best time to take Fido for its walk.

Safety is and always will be a challenge for all of us in whatever we do. Volumes have been written about different safety concerns and how to avoid them. This one article only touches on a few points, but we all need to remember that staying safe should be everyone's concern.

Responsibility + Common Sense = Safety