Red Cross Has Tips For Fun But Safe Summer Weekends
 
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| D. Lent |
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July 30, 2010
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(Baltimore)--If your weekends include outdoors activities, barbecues, or relaxing days by the water, the American Red Cross of Central Maryland can help you prevent emergencies by offering the following tips:
Safe Grilling:
Nothing says summer quite like the smell of barbecue. Make sure safety is a key ingredient in your Fourth of July by reading the following tips for safer grilling:
- Use gas and charcoal barbecue grills outside only.
- Position grills far from siding, deck railings, overhanging branches and house eaves.
- Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
- Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
- Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using grills.
- Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use.
Water Safety:
The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. The Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To find out where lessons are offered or to enroll in a CPR/AED or first aid course, contact your
- Swim in a supervised, marked area with a lifeguard present, and swim with others. Never swim alone.
- Enter the water feet first. Enter the water headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.
- Adults should never leave a child unobserved around water. Practice "reach supervision" by staying within an arm's length of young children and weak swimmers while they are in and around the pool, lake or ocean.
- Take frequent breaks (about once an hour) where everyone gets out of the water, drinks water, reapplies sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) and rests.
- If you are caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Once you are free, turn and swim toward shore. If you can't swim to the shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore.
- Watch out for the "dangerous too's”-- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
- Post CPR instructions and directions to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number in the pool area.
- Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract young children into the pool.
- If a child is missing, check the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom, and surface, as well as the surrounding pool area.
For more safety tips or to register for a water safety, first aid or CPR/AED course, visit www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross wishes everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross of Central Maryland shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides lifesaving blood to area hospitals; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross-cmd.org or Twitter us at www.twitter.com/RedCrossCntrlMD.
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