Backyard Safety
1. Keep grills at least 10 feet from any structure: Grilling mishaps
cause more than 8,300 fires and send 3,000 people to the
emergency room each year. Never grill indoors or near garages
or porches, even if it’s raining.
2. Have a spray bottle or fire extinguisher handy: An unexpected
flare up can burn more than your burgers. Use a spray bottle to
avoid flare ups and have a fire extinguisher nearby. Also, coals
get hot – in some cases up to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit – so
dispose of charcoal away from kids and pets and cool it down
with a hose.
3. Never use gasoline or kerosene to light a charcoal fire: Both
can cause an explosion. When grilling, use insulated, flameretardant mitts and long-handled barbeque tongs and utensils
to handle food and coals.
2. Avoid direct sun exposure: Keep in shaded areas whenever
possible. Avoid prolonged sun exposure during the hottest
part of the day. Use umbrellas to help shield the sun’s rays.
Keep a form of shade shelter in your car such as a tube tent for
emergencies.
3. Drink water: Drink continuously even if you don’t feel thirsty!
Carry water with you. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which
dehydrate the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to
do so by a physician. Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid
high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
4. Avoid strenuous activity: If you must do strenuous activity,
do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the
morning between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.
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3. Always check the pool first if a child is missing: Child drowning
is often a silent death that alerts no one with splashes or yells
for help. Many drowning accidents happen when children have
been missing for less than five minutes.
4. Empty small wading pools and remove all toys after children
are through playing: Infants can drown in just a few inches of
water. Floats, balls and other toys may attract children to the
pool when it is unattended.
Heat Precautions
1. Dress for the Heat: Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored
clothing. Light colors can reflect some of the heat and sunlight
and help you maintain a normal body temperature. Cover as
much skin as possible to avoid sunburn and over-warming
effects of sunlight on your body. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to
help keep direct sunlight off your face.
Ross Township
4. Check gas grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and
leaks: If the tank valve or grill needs repair, do not attempt to
do it yourself. Take it to your local home improvement store or
qualified appliance repair person.
5. Inspect outdoor decorative lights carefully: Some families
add backyard ambience with outdoor decorative lighting. Do
not connect more than three midget light string sets together.
Light strings with screw-in bulbs should have a maximum of 50
bulbs connected together. Be sure to use light strings bearing
the UL Mark, which means UL has tested samples of the
product for risk of fire, electric shock and other hazards.