Practice vigilance and protect your family from fire and burn injuries this summer! According to the American Burn Association (ABA), outdoor grilling and fireworks cause a shocking 12,000 fires a year and over 4,000 deaths are fire and burn-related.
You can keep the summer fun and safe by following these practical and easy safety tips:
Sun Safety
- Keep children under two years old out of direct sun.
- Always use and reapply sunscreen with a UV-A and UV-B protection.
- Use sun protective clothing.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- If sunburned, do not treat it with petroleum jelly, butter, harsh soaps, over-the-counter benzocaine sprays or toothpaste. Instead, use a cool compress or flush it with cool water.
Outdoor Cooking and Camp Fires
- Establish a kid free zone 10 feet around campfires and grills; use chalk to draw a boundary line!
- Never add gasoline or starter fluid to warm coals or leave a fire unattended.
- Keep a fire extinguisher and water accessible.
- Never bury hot coals in sand –extinguish them with water instead.
Fireworks
- Fireworks cause 10,000 injuries yearly, including 4,500 children;
- Never allow children access to fireworks.
- Do not light fireworks near buildings, trees, or other flammable surfaces and materials.
- Do not hold lit fireworks!
- Leave fireworks to the professionals.
Boating
- Inspect fuel valves and connections frequently.
- Never smoke during refueling.
- Wash skin that has been exposed to gasoline thoroughly.
- Show guests the location of any fire extinguishers.
Emergency Burn Care
- If your clothes catch on fire, STOP, DROP, ROLL!
- You can cool a burn by running cool, not cold, water on it for 15 minutes.
- Remove all clothing from the burn.
Cover with a clean dry cloth and call 911.
For a full toolbox of summer safety tips, check out ABA’s Guide to Summer Safety.
