Cottage Health wants to offer these tips to help keep you stay safe this summer season.
Motorcycle Safety
If you ride a motorcycle in California, wearing a helmet is the law. But the kind of helmet you choose matters. At a minimum, it must be D-O-T certified. A full-face helmet offers even more protection if you’re in an accident.
Snake Bites
If bitten by a snake seek medical help right away. Since all snake bites are different, keep the bitten area below the heart to prevent the venom from spreading and stay calm.
Snake Bites
Don’t tightly wrap the area or take any aspirin as it can make the bleeding worse. Don’t put any ointments onto the bite.
Snake Bites
To prevent snake bites, don’t camp near swamps or streams and if you see a snake slowly back away.
Stingrays
- If you get stung by a stingray, soak the injured area in water as hot as you can stand for 60-90 minutes and seek medical help right away.
- To avoid getting stung by stingrays, shuffle your feet in the water but do not stomp on the ground as it can trigger the stingrays and increase your chance in getting stung.
Car Safety
Children under the age of two are required to ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat, however they should remain rear-facing until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
Car Safety
Once your child has outgrown the weight limits of a five point harness, transition them to a booster seat. Keep children in a booster seat until they reach the weight requirements and are at least 4’9” tall and big enough to fit in a seatbelt properly. Children that are correctly fitted in the proper seat are 45% less likely to be injured in a crash compared to children that are not in the correct seat.
Car Safety
A seat belt should fit properly with the lap belt low on the hips, touching the upper thighs, knees bending over the seat edge, and the shoulder belt crossing the center of the chest in order to prevent serious injuries.
Helmet Safety
Wearing a helmet is the best protection to prevent head injuries.
Helmet Safety
Never buy second hand helmets; it could be too old to protect your head. In order to prevent injuries make sure to go into the store when purchasing a helmet to ensure a proper fit.
Poison Oak
Seek emergency help if you are having a difficult time swallowing/breathing or have swelling near the eyes or face.
Poison Oak
Treat poison oak by removing contaminated clothing and washing the exposed area with cold water for 10 minutes.
Poison Oak
In order to ease the itchiness apply calamine lotion or take an oatmeal bath. Call your doctor if the rash doesn't go away within a week or two.
Water Safety
When children are in the water make sure that you have an experienced swimmer committed to watch your children and always have unexperienced swimmers wear Coast Guard approved life jackets.
Water Safety
Make sure to stay away from any animals and plants.
Water Safety
If you are caught up in a rip current make sure to swim parallel to the shore. If you can’t swim towards the shore, float or tread water until you feel you are out of the rip current.
Pet Safety
Pets can get dehydrated very quickly, especially when it’s hot outside so be sure to give your pet plenty of water and do not over exercise them.
Pet Safety
Watch for warning signs of your pet overheating such as excessive panting, increased heart and respiratory rate, mild weakness, seizure, bloody diarrhea, and vomiting.
Pet Safety
Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle as it can lead to heart stroke. In order to prevent heat stroke, give your dog a hair cut up to one inch to prevent overheating. Don’t let your pet linger on hot asphalt as it can burn their paw pads and heat their body very quickly.
Kids in Hot Cars
Never leave your child in a hot car no matter if it’s a quick stop or if the windows are down as a car can reach up to 30-40 degrees hotter than the temperature outside.
Kids in Hot Cars
Heat stroke may occur when the body temperature passes 104 Fahrenheit. Some symptoms include dizziness, disorientation, sluggishness, agitation, seizures and sometimes death.
Kids in Hot Cars
Some parents can forget that they have children in the back seat of the car. In order to prevent that from happening, place your work bag in the back seat with your child or leave your child’s bag next to you.
Skateboards
In California anyone under the age of 18 must wear a helmet when riding a skateboard.
Skateboards
Make sure to supervise your children when skating/riding and don’t allow your children to ride on the street.
Skateboards
Don’t let your children to wear long loose clothing when skating/riding as they can caught on wheels and possibly lead to concussions.
Staying On the Hiking Path
Trails are designed to give you maximum exposure to nature, however, they are also designed to make sure you do minimal damage to the environment. By staying on the trails, you are helping to preserve trails for future generations to enjoy.
Staying On the Hiking Path
Do not use short cuts as your footprints can disrupt the natural process and may destroy food sources. Be careful were you step as your actions have long lasting affects.
Driver Awareness for Bicycles
Watch out for children on bikes as many are unaware of traffic laws.
Driver Awareness for Bicycles
Ride with your lights on at night as many cars can’t see bikes in the dark. Use hand turn signals when changing lanes to give cars a heads up.
