Summer, sunshine, and safety. Keeping your loved ones safe during National Safety Month

The month of June brings summer days, sunshine, travel, vacations, and other activities. In the summer months, we should all think “safety” as well.

Dangerous situations can present themselves often during the summer. It’s important for each of us to do our part to keep ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones as safe as possible.

Observed each June, “National Safety Month” focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities. In fact, accidental injury has become the No. 3 cause of death for the first time in U.S. history, according to the National Safety Council.

Chain | Cohn | Clark, with the help of the National Safety Council, would like to pass along some safety tips to keep in mind this summer to remain safe, and injury-free.

Be Prepared

Emergency situations can happen at any time, making it a priority to be prepared for the unexpected before it happens:

• Research and prepare for natural disasters that may occur, like an earthquake.
• Create an emergency kit for both your home and car.
• Create a home emergency plan with your family and learn how to shut off your utilities.
• Be a good participant in emergency drills at work and school by following instructions and paying attention to lessons learned.
• Store important phone numbers, including those of family members, with other important documents in a fire-proof safe or safety deposit box.
• Learn first aid and CPR for children and adults.
• Stock your emergency kits.

Safe at Home

Slipping at home or tripping on the sidewalk is a serious risk, and they can be deadly. In fact, falls are the third leading cause of unintentional-injury-related deaths for all ages and the No. 1 cause of death for those 65 and older, according to the National Safety Council.

Take these simple steps to prevent falls both at home and in your community:

• Remove clutter, including electrical cords and other tripping hazards, from walkways, stairs and doorways.
• Install nightlights in the bathroom, hallways and other areas to prevent tripping and falls at night.
• Always wear proper footwear and clean up spills immediately.
• Place non-slip adhesive strips on stairs and non-skid mats in the shower and bathroom.
• For older adults, install grab bars near showers and toilets, and install rails on both sides of stairs. Older adults can also take balance classes, get their vision and hearing checked each year and talk with their doctors and pharmacist about fall risks from medication

Driving Dangers

Summer is a busy travel season. And considering up to 94 percent of motor vehicle crashes involve human error, it’s important to follow safety measures to help stay safe on the roads.

• Prevent injuries on the road by keeping your focus on the driving task.
• Avoid impaired driving, whether by alcohol, lack of sleep or drugs, including over the counter and prescription medication.
• Avoid cell phone distracted driving, including hands-free.
• Practice with your teen drivers and teach them to avoid distraction.
• Make sure all occupants are properly secured in age-appropriate restraints.
• Never leave a child alone in a car and always keep your car locked when not in use.
• If you drive for work, talk with your employer about safe habits – do not take calls while behind the wheel.
• Regularly check your vehicle for recalls at CheckToProtect.org and stay up to date on the safety features in your car by visiting MyCarDoesWhat.org.
• Make sure you understand your vehicle safety features before using them – not all vehicle safety features operate the same way.
• Pay attention to vehicle alerts and warnings.
• Educate teens and all inexperienced drivers about the safety features present in the vehicle and how they work.

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If you or someone you know is injured due to the fault of another, contact the personal injury attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or visit the website chainlaw.com.