As we all head outside to enjoy the sunshine and warm weather this summer, the American Red Cross, South Florida Region, has steps you can follow to help stay safe.

“Here in South Florida, many of us enjoy spending time outdoors with loved ones, including our pets, as we enjoy the ocean, the beach, and the park,” said Krista Coletti, Regional Executive. “The Red Cross wants you to avoid any danger no matter what your plans include and offers steps you can follow to have a safe summer.” Visit redcross.org/summersafety for more information.

WATER SAFETY Drowning can happen quickly and silently. Unless rescued, it could take as little as 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge.

• Learn to be safe, make good choices, learn to swim and know how to handle emergencies.

• Provide constant, active adult supervision and know how to swim.

• Swim in an area with lifeguards. Designate a “water watcher” to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.

• Wear your life jacket. 

• Reach or throw, don't go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself. 

• Swimming classes are available for both children and adults. Visit redcross.org/watersafety for a map of Learn-to-Swim providers in your community. 

• Download the Red Cross Swim app for safety tips, kid-friendly videos and activities, and take the free Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers online course in English or Spanish. 

OUTDOOR SAFETY Whether camping or just enjoying the outdoors, follow these tips:

• If a camping trip is in your plans, know the level of ability of the people in your group and the environment around you. Plan accordingly.

• Pack a first aid kit. 

• Take a Red Cross first aid and CPR course and download the First Aid app. 

• Watch for sprains, falls and dehydration.

• Share your travel plans and locations with a family member, neighbor or friend. 

• Bring nutritious food items and water, light-weight clothing to layer and supplies for any pets. 

• There is a greater chance of getting bitten by mosquitoes and ticks outdoors Use insect repellents containing DEET (N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) when you are outdoors. Be sure to follow the directions on the package. 

• Consider staying indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots.

• Use a rubber band or tape to hold pants against socks so that nothing can get under clothing.

• Tuck your shirt into your pants. Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see tiny insects or ticks.

• When hiking in woods and fields, stay in the middle of trails. Avoid underbrush and tall grass.

• If you are outdoors for a long time, check yourself several times during the day. Especially check in hairy areas of the body like the back of the neck and the scalp line.

• Inspect yourself carefully for insects or ticks after being outdoors or have someone else do it.

• If you have pets that go outdoors, spray with repellent made for their breed/type. Apply the repellent according to the label and check your pet for ticks often. 

• Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying sources of standing water outside of the home, such as from flowerpots, buckets and barrels.

PET SAFETY Summer’s heat can be dangerous for your family pets. Follow these steps to help ensure your pet stays safe this summer:

• Don’t leave your pet in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open.

• Animals can suffer heat stroke, a common problem for pets in the warmer weather. Dogs with short noses or snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea.

• Some of the signs of heat stroke in your pet are heavy panting, being unable to calm down, even when lying down, brick red gum color, fast pulse rate and being unable to get up.

• If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105 degrees, cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees

• Bring your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible as heat stroke can lead to severe organ dysfunction and damage. Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for instant access on how to treat heat stroke, other emergencies and general care for cats and dogs and take the Cat and Dog First Aid Online Training course.  

Download the FREE Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the FREE Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters, supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood, and offers training in life-saving skills. As a nonprofit organization, the Red Cross depends on volunteers and donations to deliver its vital mission. For more information, visit redcross.org/southflorida.