South Carolina, May 22, 2025— It’s time to enjoy the great outdoors and warm weather. The American Red Cross of South Carolina wants everyone to have a safe summer and offers steps they can follow. 

“Here in South Carolina, many of us enjoy swimming, grilling, our pets,” said Susan Landreth-Everitt, CEO of the Red Cross of South Carolina. “The Red Cross wants you to be safe no matter what your plans include and offers steps you can follow to have a safe summer.” 

Visit redcross.org/summersafety for more information. 

SWIMMING: Drowning can happen quickly and silently. Unless rescued, it could take as little as 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge. Be “water smart” ─ build confidence in the water by learning to be safer, making good choices, learning to swim and knowing how to handle emergencies.  

• Prevent unsupervised access to water, provide constant and active adult supervision, and know how to swim. 

• Never swim alone – adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child. Swim in an area with lifeguards.  

• Designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over. 

• Don’t just pack it, wear your life jacket — always on a boat and if you are in a situation beyond your skill level.  

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

GRILLING, FOOD SAFETY: Grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year.  Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Never grill indoors or in any enclosed area. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill. 

• Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire. 

• Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.  

• Wash your hands, utensils and workstation before preparing the food. 

• Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.   

• Separate uncooked meats, poultry and seafood from ready-to-eat foods like salads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses and desserts. Use separate plates and utensils to prevent cross-contamination. 

SUMMER’S HEAT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR YOUR FAMILY PET: The American Red Cross has 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 coats 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 and 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 a water hose. Stop cooling the animal when their 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. 

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; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SouthCarolina or follow us on social media @RedCrossSC.