Four Basic Safety Tips for Summertime Activities in Cobb County
There are plenty of fun, outdoor summertime activities. However, these activities come with inherent safety risks. It is important to be aware of these risks and limit your chances of suffering from a personal injury or worse. Here are four things you can do to keep yourself and your children safe this summer:
1. Stay Hydrated
When the weather gets hot, one of the most important things to do is to drink enough water. It sounds simple enough, but people often forget how important hydration is. Not only is being dehydrated bad for your health in a number of ways, but it can make accidents more likely. Dehydration can make a person lightheaded, tired, and mentally fatigued. That isn’t how you want to feel, especially if you are doing a physical activity outside that requires you to stay alert. Stay on the safe side and make sure you drink plenty of water this summer.
2. Prioritize Safety Around Water
Unfortunately, each year hundreds of people drown or require hospitalization from nearly drowning in Georgia. Practicing good safety when doing water activities, like swimming or boating, is extremely important. Some basic things to remember are to wear life vests, not to mix excessive alcohol with water activities, to be completely familiar with a body of water before diving into it, and to fully understand how to operate a boat before taking it out on the water. It can be easy when you are having fun to forget some of these things, but they are important. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has published several helpful videos that discuss boating and water safety.
3. Check Conditions Outside and in Public Areas Before Enjoying Yourself
If you are going camping, to the beach, or enjoying time in a park, don’t assume that conditions will be safe. Take time to inspect things. Debris, trash, and natural conditions can all create potential pitfalls outside. Check park play equipment to sure it is safe before allowing your children to use it. According to the CDC, “Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries.” Many of these injuries are due to equipment defects or other unsafe conditions. The owners of a playground – whether they are a public entity or private company – have a duty under Georgia premises liability law to keep the playground safe for the kids who use it.
4. Make Sure Your Kids Follow Safety Rules
Your kids should have some safety rules to follow when playing outside. They should understand which areas are off-limits and which areas are safe. Warn children about the dangers of going near busy streets or open bodies of water and be sure to have a conversation about the potential risks of unsafe behavior.
Contact Williams Elleby Howard & Easter, for More Information
If you would like more information about summertime safety, or if you or your child has had an accident and you think you may have a personal injury case, call Williams Elleby Howard & Easter at 833-LEGALGA.
