When promotions go to the bananas
Safety precautions can make summer more fun
Since today is the first official day of summer, it appears appropriate to issue a few safety precautions which would be worthwhile for each and every one of us to follow.
Kids have been out of school for several weeks and that means most of them are spending more time outdoors. Whether that’s riding a bike, playing in the yard, or throwing ball at a park, as motorists, we should be aware children are out and about.
This is good advice to follow any time of the year – especially as motor vehicle traffic appears to move slightly faster all the time. Neighborhoods where people once proceeded with caution and drove at reasonable speeds now seem to be treated as drag strips.
This is not the best mentality to have behind the wheel and it’s especially true in the summer. Remember, children don’t always act rationally. Their movements can be erratic and they can dart in front of oncoming traffic – even though they are often reminded by their parents to look both ways when crossing the road.
It’s a good idea to always have your eyes open and to proceed with caution instead of barreling down the road with reckless abandon.
It’s also wise to keep one eye on the thermometer when your child is outside playing for an extended time. As we get further into June, with the so-called dog days of July and August just around the corner, we have to watch out for heat exhaustion.
Over the years, this has been thought of as something to watch out for as it pertains to elderly citizens but that’s not always the case. As we saw last year with the death of a NFL player, even professional athletes can fall victim to the dangers of heat exposure.
Be on the lookout when temperatures approach the mid-90s and certainly keep a close eye on children when the thermometer approaches 100 degrees. If you must be outside for extended periods in such unbearable heat, remember to drink plenty of fluids.
And when it comes to summer, there’s always the popular pastime of swimming. By now, we all probably know McMinnville doesn’t have a city pool this summer, but there will still be much swimming which takes place.
Whether it’s in backyard pools or in a nearby river, if it’s hot outside you can bet children will be swimming. Children should always be properly supervised by an adult and young children should be sure to wear a life preserver or other floatation devices when entering the water.
By taking a few extra precautions, it can help make summer a safer time for all of us and hopefully prevent an accident from spoiling some of our summer fun.