Safety is always stressed as a priority on construction job sites. As the seasons and weather change so do some of the safety concerns, as summer brings issues like heat exhaustion, dehydration and sunburn.
However, many of the same summer safety concerns construction sites face carry over to anyone enjoying the wonderful weather and outdoor activities of the season. Here are five ways to work safer this summer:
Don’t Get Burned – Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that screens out both UVA and UVB rays. Sunscreen SPF (sun protection factor) numbers seem to be getting higher all the time. Choose a SPF that is appropriate for your family, but extra-high numbers aren’t nearly as important as careful, effective application on all exposed skin, which includes applying 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapplying every 2 hours or after 30 minutes in water.
Protect Your Head – Just as construction workers wear hard hats to protect themselves on job sites, there are summer activities that require the same caution. Everyone in the family should wear a helmet when biking. Statistics show that not wearing a helmet greatly increases the risk of sustaining a fatal head injury, or one with long-lasting or lifelong effects. For the same reasons, helmets should be worn for any wheeled or motor-related activity like riding go-karts or ATV’s. Kids should also wear helmets when skating and using scooters.
Drink Up and Cool Down – As the temperature heats up, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, like water and sports drinks, to stay hydrated. Also, when working (or playing) outside on hot, humid days, be sure to take frequent breaks in the shade or a cooler location to prevent heat stress and heat stroke.
Bug Off – Few things spoil a fun, outdoor activity faster than pesky (and sometimes dangerous) bugs like bees/wasps, mosquitos and ticks. Bees and wasps seem to be drawn to bright colors and floral prints, so wearing light, solid colors may deter them. Avoiding scented lotions, perfumes and hairsprays can also help keep them away. Insect repellents should be worn to protect from mosquitos and ticks, and the illnesses they carry like Zika, West Nile and Lyme disease. Repellents with DEET are effective, or there are also natural non-toxic repellents that can be made with essential oils like lemon eucalyptus.
Cool by the Pool – Enjoying time in a pool and around water is a summertime ritual, but safety can never be overlooked. It’s heartbreaking that more than 800 children drown every year. Teaching kids to swim at an early age can bring some peace of mind, but they should never be allowed to swim alone and should always be supervised by an adult. Inexperienced swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or flotation device. It’s also best to visit public pools, lakes and beaches that have lifeguards.