Many of us look forward to summer all year — long days, calmer schedules and endless sunshine. For many families in Southern California, summertime means relaxing with friends and loved ones while participating in a variety of outdoor activities. Picnics, days spent at the pool or at the beach, riding bikes, camping and hiking are all popular ways in our area to get the most out of the summer season. Unfortunately, while warm weather hobbies and interests provide a fun way to spend a day or weekend, they can also result in an increase in accidents and injuries. Keep your gatherings safe and enjoyable for everyone involved this summer by following our simple summertime safety tips.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
Whether walking to your local park or to a friend’s house during the summer, here are some basic pedestrian safety tips from our dedicated OC personal injury attorneys:
Stay on the sidewalk: If a sidewalk is available, remind your children to ALWAYS walk on it, and not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, advise your kids to walk alongside the road on the far left-hand side of the street, facing traffic.
Look both ways before crossing: Remind your kids to always cross the street at a designated crosswalk. If there isn’t one, cross only at the corner. ALWAYS look both ways before crossing, and never cross between cars.
Be visible: In the early morning, evening or night time and when it’s rainy, always wear light-colored and reflective clothing and carry a flashlight. Bright colors make you more visible to drivers.
Bicycle Safety Tips
Bicycles and summer go hand in hand. The freedom of two wheels is great for kids and a wonderful way to get some exercise in, but safety should be at the front of their minds, too. Our Southern California bicycle accident attorneys have some tips to share with your family:
Wear a helmet: Without a helmet, a bicycle accident can result in a brain injury. Make sure your child wears a helmit that fits properly, rides low on the forehead, with two fingers-width between the helmet and eyebrows.
Follow road rules: Kids should know the traffic rules to follow when riding a bicycle. Go with the flow of traffic and ride on the right side in the same direction as other vehicles. Obey traffic laws, signals and signs, and always yield to traffic when appropriate.
Be alert: We should all use our eyes AND ears when riding bikes. Watch for road hazards and listen for cars. Headphones should never be worn while riding a bike. Keep your eyes and ears trained on your surroundings as you ride.
Pool Safety Tips
Swimming pools offer great relief on those hot California summer days but these can also present hazards. Reduce the risk of accidental drowning by installing safety barriers, such as a high fence and a pool gate to limit the chance that children could fall into your pool. There is the potential for liability if a child or another person accesses your swimming pool and drowns or suffers another water-related injury on your property.
Swimming Safety Tips:
- Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
- Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
- Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
- Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone
- Maintain constant supervision.
- Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and learn-to-swim courses.
- If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
- Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.
- If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
- Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
- Know how and when to call 911 or the local emergency number.
- Enroll in Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
- Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
- Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.
Heat Safety Tips
Whether you're outdoors playing sports, or running errands in your car — it's imperative to take precautions to prevent heat stroke or worse. This includes looking after all family members, including pets.
Outdoor Safety Tips:
- Residents are advised to take extra precautions if you are working or spending time outside.
- Only conduct strenuous activity in the early morning or late evening.
- Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Wear light-weight, loose fitting clothing.
- Drink plenty of water.
Vehicle Safety Tips:
- Remember to “look before you lock” and don’t leave your children or pets inside your vehicle.
- If you see a child or pet left alone in a car in the heat, you should call 911 immediately. If you need to break a window to save a person or animal, you will not be held liable in California.
Find a Trusted Southern California Personal Injury Lawyer When You Are Injured
Summer is a carefree time to relax and enjoy outdoor fun with those you love and taking safety measures can help reduce accidents. But personal injuries from premises liability accidents, car wrecks, slip and falls can still happen. And, when they do and you are hurt through no fault of your own, our experienced attorneys at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie are here for you.
The team at Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie has handled countless personal injury cases in Southern California and helped clients recover the financial compensation they deserve for their injuries. Our expert personal injury lawyers can advise you of your rights and whether or not your accident may warrant legal action. Contact us today at 949-752-7474 to discuss your accident completely free of charge.