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Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke
When the weather is warm and sunny, it’s great to get outdoors. Especially in summer, kids and adults participate in outdoor sports more frequently. But without taking the proper precautions, exercising when it is hot and humid can lead to heat exhaustion and a serious condition called heat stroke. Keep a special eye on children, who may not know what to do or when to stop when it is hot.
With heat exhaustion, a person’s body is having trouble keeping itself cool. It can come on very suddenly. The body temperature is slightly raised and the person may feel weak, dizzy or sick to his/her stomach, but the person is sweating and is aware of the need to “cool down.” These people should get out of the sun, move to a cool spot and drink lots of water.
Heat stroke is very serious and requires immediate medical attention! With heat stroke the body’s temperature is very high, sweating stops and the victim may be disoriented, confused or unconscious.
If heat exhaustion or heat stroke is suspected:
- Place person in cool, well-ventilated area.
- Elevate legs slightly.
- If conscious and not vomiting, give 4–6 oz. of water every 15 minutes.
- If person has temperature of 101° or higher, call ambulance.
Safety Tips
Use these simple precautions to avoid heat-related illness:
- Be sure that you and your children drink lots of water throughout the day, even if not thirsty.
- Supervise children playing or exercising in the heat and watch for signs of heat distress.
- Make sure to take frequent breaks to rest and cool down.
- If possible, exercise or play in a shady area.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing that breathes.
- Be especially cautious of humidity. Excessive humidity makes it harder for the body to cool itself through sweating.
- If symptoms of heat exhaustion appear, stop the activity right away, move to a cool spot and drink plenty of water.
- If heat stroke is apparent, go to the emergency immediately.
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Boating
Each year, there are approximately (?) reportable boating accidents in Michigan, and (?) percent of these result in death. More deaths occur from people falling off boats that are 16 feet long or less, and most individuals involved in fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.
Alcohol is frequently involved in boating accidents, and people who hunt or fish from boats have one of the highest fatality rates of all boaters.
Safety Tips
- Always have a properly fitted life jacket (also known as a personal flotation device – PFD) on board for each passenger. (See Life Jacket Safety Chart.) Make sure that anyone who cannot swim (especially children) wears a life jacket.
- Never mix boating and alcohol.
- Realize that accidents occur from falling off boats as well as from unsafe driving.
- If you or a child falls into the water, leave clothing on, as it conserves heat.
- Have emergency distress signals, both visual and broadcast, on-board.
- Know the boat’s capacity, and take care not to overload it.
- Keep a constant eye on the weather.
- Know your water terrain.
- Take a safe boating course.
- Approach docks or stationary objects slowly.
For more information, contact:
- United States Coast Guard 800-368-5647
- United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 202-267-1001
- Boat U.S. 703-823-9550
- United States Power Squadron 888-367-8777
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Lawnmowers
Each spring and summer, hospitals see the results of injuries caused by power lawn mowers. Many of these incidents result in painful injuries, loss of fingers, toes and even eyes. Below are a few recommendations to protect you from getting hurt. Good lawn mower maintenance coupled with these safety tips can help ensure that the grass is the only thing that gets cut.
Safety Tips
- Children should not be allowed on or near a lawn mower when it’s in use. They should never be permitted to walk along side, in front of or behind a moving mower. Rocks and other debris often can shoot out of a lawn mower while it is running.
- Children under 5 years of age should be kept indoors during mowing. They can behave unpredictably and might run into the mower’s path.
- Don’t allow children to play on or around a lawn mower, even when it’s not in use – they need to learn that lawn mowers aren't toys.
- Inspect the area to be mowed for stones, tree branches, nails and wires – these objects can be picked up by the mower and expelled at bullet-like speeds, causing serious injury.
- Don’t cut wet grass.
- Always push the mower forward, never pull it backward toward you. A sloping lawn should be mowed across, never up and down. When the mower is pushed from the bottom of the hill, it could roll back on the operator’s feet. When the mower is being pulled from the top of the hill, the operator's feet could easily slip under the mower.
- Never drink alcoholic beverages and operate a lawn mower.
- Work clothes such as steel-toed shoes with sure-grip soles and long pants should be worn to minimize injury.
- When using a gas-powered lawn mower, never refuel when the engine is running. Turn off the engine and let it cool first.
- When using an electric lawn mower, make sure the extension cord is not cut or frayed and is the right gauge for the electrical current. A ground fault circuit interrupter cord is helpful as well.
- Riding mowers were not meant for passengers; carrying children or other adults invites the potential for falling under the mower and sustaining serious injuries.
- Carts are not meant for passengers, either. A cart can easily tip over, and riders can be seriously hurt.
- When mowing in reverse, remember to look behind you for potential danger or bystanders.
- A sloping lawn should be mowed up and down when using a riding mower, to prevent rollover.
- Not all mowers operate the same way. Read the owner’s manual and familiarize yourself with your model before operating it.
- Perform routine maintenance at the beginning of each season and before each use. Go over the entire mower, especially the blades.
- Check safety features often, and repair or replace your lawn mower if needed.
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ATVs & Off-Road Vehicles
Operating and riding on all-terrain vehicles can be dangerous and should be done as safely as possible. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported 2,752 ATV-related deaths since 1982. California, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan are the states with highest death rates due to ATVs.
In recent years, there have been approximately 250 ATV-related deaths and 65,000 accidents each year. Forty percent of all injuries and deaths occur in children and teenagers 16 and younger. Many of these accidents result in severe head injuries, facial injuries, broken bones and paralysis. These injuries are painful and may result in permanent damage and/or physical rehabilitation. Most accidents are caused from rolling over, falling from the ATV or colliding with a stationary object.
Safety Tips
Children and teenagers under the age of 16 should not operate or ride an ATV. Teenagers and adults who are 16 or older should exercise the following precautions:
- Operate an ATV appropriate in size (engine size should be less than 90 cc).
- Take a “hands-on” training course offered by certified instructors.
- Wear a helmet.
- Wear other protective gear such as boots, long pants and gloves.
- Operate an ATV during the daylight – lights on an ATV don’t provide adequate lighting when the vehicle is bouncing or turning.
- Do not carry passengers – this makes it difficult to control the ATV which could cause it to tip or roll over.
- Never use alcohol while operating the vehicle.
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