Over 3.7 Million people went to hospital ER’s last June, July, August. School’s out, adults are on vacation, bike riding, camping, swimming, cookouts, etc, etc. Keeping a few items of common sense in mind this summer may help keep you or your loved ones out of harm’s way. I certainly hope so.

-Wear a helmet on the bike, skateboarding, riding the scooter, atv’s, horses….studies say head injury risk is reduced by 85%

-Locked gate to your pool, pool alarms, supervise your young swimmers at all times

-No charcoal grills inside…charcoal produces carbon monoxide

-Playground safety… Falls account for 60% of playground injuries

-Install window guards to prevent children from falling from open windows in your home. Window stops will only allow windows to open approx. 4 inches or so. Keep furniture back so children can’t gain easy access to climbing up to windows.

-Avoid serious injury from trampolines, allow only one child on at a time. Kids under 6 should not be allowed on full sized trampolines.

-Use softer than standard baseballs and batting helmets

-Campers who need heat in their camper/tent be sure to use only heaters with a (ODS) oxygen depletion sensor which will shut down the heater if oxygen levels fall dangerously low.

-Yard work..keep small children out of the yard when mowing. Always turn the blades off when children enter the area.