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EBMC NEWSLETTER - Summer Tips
Summer Maintenance Tips
Summer has arrived and with it comes more pleasant weather. As things dry out, it may be a good time to assess your property for any winter-related damage that may have occurred, and to get it fixed while it’s just a repair and not an expensive problem. Here are some tips for a summer maintenance program:
Landscaping – Trees destabilized by wet and stormy weather can become insurance liabilities. You have a hazardous or unstable tree if it is leaning, or if it has broken or dead limbs. The tree can also be hazardous if it has cracked limbs or trunk, holes from either nesting birds or pests, fungal growths, or evidence of rot.
Watering Systems – Run a test of the system. Check if the sprinkler heads are working properly and not watering pathways to create a slipping hazard. If sprinklers are not sprinkling fully, the heads may be clogged with dirt, bugs or debris.
Roof and Gutters – Check the rain gutters, downspouts and strainers for damage and remove debris. Check the roof for loose, damaged or missing tiles or shingles. If the roof is flat, look for blisters, bubbles, open seams and bald areas. Cut back tree branches to avoid damage to roof surfaces.
Walls – Examine masonry walls for deteriorated brick or mortar, and for signs of settling, buckling or other evidence of movement. Check wood walls for rot, loose or damaged wood, caulking problems or wood-to-soil contact.
Plumbing and Electrical – Flip breakers off and on to ensure everything is working as it should be, and that no breaker has seized up. Look over any exposed wiring for looseness and frays, and any exposed plumbing for signs of leaks or cracks.
Alarms – Check the smoke and fire alarms. If necessary, replace batteries.
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Stay Safe Around Water This Summer
Summer’s heat naturally draws people to the cooling waters of a pool, lake or river. Unfortunately, drowning claims the lives of more than 4,000 people a year, according to the National Safety Council. Most drowning or near-drowning accidents happen when a child falls into a pool or is left alone near water.
Children are naturally attracted to water and there are several barrier methods – such as pool covers, fences and alarms – available to protect children and adults alike. Despite all these barriers, there is no substitute for constant supervision.
To avoid the potential danger of drowning, follow these safety tips:
- Take the child with you if you have to answer the phone or door
- Make sure that buckets and pails have lids and chemicals are stored up high
- Indoor spas should have a lockable door. Outdoor spas should be surrounded by a fence, just as a pool would be
- Empty wading pools after use
- Turn wheelbarrows and pails upside down, so they won’t collect rainwater
- Don’t allow any water to stand on a pool cover
- Discourage children from chasing after balls or toys that fall into the pool or spa.
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Dog Days of Summer Can Be Heat-Stressful
For children and adults who work and play outdoors, late summer can bring hotter days and the risk of heat stress.
During heat waves, people are at risk of developing an illness because of the elevated temperatures. People who work outdoors, or in small spaces such as boiler rooms or attics, are especially at risk of developing hyperthermia. Hyperthermia happens when a high body temperature occurs because of working "or playing" in extremely hot environments.
Some mild heat-related conditions are heat rash, where the heat causes a prickly rash; heat cramps, that affect the muscles; and heat swelling, which swells the legs and hands. More serious conditions include heat syncope, when a person faints briefly because of the heat; heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which will require medical intervention.
Most heat-related illnesses can be prevented by keeping the body cool and by not allowing yourself to get dehydrated.
To prevent dehydration or hyperthermia, drink plenty of water. Health experts suggest drinking as much as 24 ounces of water about two hours before going out in the heat, and continue drinking anywhere from 8 ounces to 12 ounces every half hour or so, as you work, even if you don=t feel thirsty. If you are sweating heavily, have a "rehydration" drink. Gatorade is a suggestion, as it replaces such minerals as electrolytes and sodium.
If you have a physical condition that can be worsened in the heat, limit your activities during the hottest times of the day.
Experts also recommend that you wear lightweight, lightly colored and loose-fitting clothing. A hat should also help protect you and provide some welcome shade.
Are Swim Lessons for Children Safe?
Parents sign their children up for swim lessons with the hopes that being around the water will help them gain confidence, but that may backfire, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The AAP recently recommended that children younger than age 4 should not participate in swim lessons because they may not be developmentally ready. The lessons may also give young children and their parents a false sense of security that could lead to a drowning disaster.
Pediatricians cite a study that shows swimming skills are more readily acquired once a child's motor development reaches the five-year level. The same study also shows that small children who learn not to fear the water may try to swim on their own. The best word of advice is to realize there is no swim program that can "drown-proof" a child.
For the safest trip to the pool, follow these tips as offered by the AAP:
- Don't consider any child to be safe in the water, even if they have had swim lessons.
- Make sure you swim at pools attended by a life guard.
- Always stay within arm's length of your child.
- If you do sign up for a infant/toddler water program, don't allow the child to be under water repeatedly, as they could swallow toxic amounts of pool water.
- Don't use water wings or other blow-up type swimming aids as a replacement for a life vest. If the wings should suddenly deflate, or if a swim ring overturns, the child is in imminent danger.
- It's always a good idea to brush up on your CPR and other lifesaving skills. The local chapter of your American Red Cross, or your city's Recreation Department, will probably hold several training sessions a year.
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