Summer Safety Tips

With the onset of summer vacation, it is a good time to post some safety tips that might help keep you and your children safe as the summer fun begins this year!

• Practice common sense.
• Make clear safety rules for the whole family.
• Learn to swim and/or teach your children how to swim.
• Swim in familiar areas to reduce the risk of potential dangers.
• Set up a secure area for your pool.
• Be aware of where children are. Many lives are lost every year due to accidental drowning.
• Keep rescue equipment and emergency numbers near your pool.
• Wear life jackets.
• Follow all of the rules posted in the area where you and your family are swimming.

These are only a few safety tips. While there are no 100% guarantees that nothing will ever happen, following safety guidelines might prevent serious injury or death for you or for someone you love.

The American Red Cross has an extensive amount of information to educate parents and children about safety. Visit:

http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html to learn more!

Medline Plus also offers information and links for more safety tips and related health information. If you follow the link below, you will find:

• Overviews.
• Latest news.
• Information on specific related conditions.
• Information on related issues.
• Tutorials.
• Journal articles.
• Directories.
• A list of other related organizations.
• Statistics.
• Articles regarding health information for children and teenagers.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/watersafetyrecreational.html

Have a safe and happy summer!

The American Red Cross is 126 Years Old Today

On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. The volunteers who make up this organization give disaster aid both nationally and internationally. They supply close to 50% of America's donated blood and blood products, as well as contribute to society through biomedical research.

The American Red Cross is also known for helping to bridge the communication gap between military personnel and their families. Other organizations are beginning to follow this lead to recognize the needs of our Nation's military personnel, as noted in my post from May 6, 2007.

In addition to all of these objectives, these volunteers serve through mitigation and education. They help to keep the public informed on a number of safety topics (such as some of the safety tips posted on Saturday), and by such the American Red Cross also strives to help prevent accidents.

To find the Red Cross nearest you, or to learn more about this organization, please visit the link below!