For many of us, summer weather means splashing around the pool, fun in the sun at the beach (or the river or the lake), and backyard barbeques with friends and family.
Heat, sun, and water can make a dangerous combination, however, as it’s often easy to forget things like staying hydrated and reapplying sunscreen when we’re having fun outdoors. Following are some safety tips employers can share with their employees to help ensure a safe, fun summer for employees and their families. Employers may consider posting these safety tips on the office bulletin board or including them in a pamphlet as
part of a comprehensive employee wellness plan
.
Staying Safe in Warm Weather
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Stay hydrated when outdoors by making sure you have plenty of water with you at all times and assuming you’ll need 8 ounces of water every 15 minutes or so while doing strenuous activities. It’s always a good idea to have electrolyte drinks, as well, which replenish essential salts lost when we sweat.
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Protect your skin from the sun, and be sure to apply and reapply sunscreen often.
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Limit alcohol consumption or avoid it altogether. Alcohol impairs judgment and coordination, and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm, which can be especially dangerous when you’re in the water.
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Know the signs of heatstroke, which can include dizziness or light-headedness, throbbing headache, rapid heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, and other symptoms.
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Always wear a life jacket when boating; most boating-related deaths are caused by drowning1.
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Have an emergency plan in place, learn CPR, and take a pool/water safety course.
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Keep rescue equipment at the poolside, and make sure children are never left unattended.
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Always swim with at least one other person, especially at the beach, river, or other areas of moving water. Currents can easily pull you under the water or downstream.
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