Summer break offers excellent opportunities to spend time with family! With open community pools, vacations, and day trips with the kids, we’re sure you’ll be plenty busy in the coming weeks. We know board members like you are committed to ensuring the safety of homeowners who enjoy HOA amenities during weekend barbecues and pool parties. So, we’d like to offer some great tips for staying safe this summer in the sun, in the water, at the grill, or on the trail.

Sun Safety

  1. Stay hydrated. Keep a water bottle with you at all times and keep track of how much you drink, especially if you’re spending the day outside. It is good practice to drink a cup of water (8 ounces) before you even go out into the heat!
  2. Wear sunscreen. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is “the most common cancer in the United States,” so taking measures to protect your skin is a must. Keep sunscreen with you, and if you know you will be out in the sun for more than 15 minutes, apply it.
  3. Stay inside between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. These are the hottest, sunniest hours of the day. Avoiding the sun midday will save you from becoming dehydrated and overheated.

Swimming Safety

  1. Think before you drink. Many parties, especially pool parties, take place during the summer. On vacation, it’s also tempting to have an extra drink or two, especially because you won’t need to get up for work the next morning. But, be careful that you don’t dampen your judgement at times when you might need it! You should never swim or drive intoxicated. So, unless you’re done with water polo for the day, and you have a ride home, you may want to stick with soda or water.
  2. Use the buddy system. Never swim alone, and watch out for people in your group, whether they are family members or friends. Even if trained lifeguards are on duty, an extra set of eyes can be helpful!
  3. Become a stronger swimmer. The better you are at swimming, the safer you’ll be in the water. To promote water safety, encourage your homeowners to visit USA.gov for a helpful list of swim lesson providers, sorted by area.

Grilling Safety

  1. Make sure there is a six-foot distance between the grill and any buildings or trees. Keeping this wide distance reduces the chance that anything will catch fire. If your association park has fixed grills, you can ensure that this guideline is followed.
  2. Keep a large water bottle or a fire extinguisher by the grill. This way, if something does catch fire, you can put it out quickly.
  3. Keep grill lids closed when you’re not tending to your food. You’ll avoid flare-ups this way. And, covering flames also cuts off oxygen, so fires are less likely to become uncontainable.

Wilderness and Wildlife Safety

  1. Wear closed-toe shoes. Even if you’re just going out to the backyard, wearing sneakers or tennis shoes will prevent stings, bites, and pricks from thorns. If you’re going hiking, wear boots and long-sleeved shirts and pants.
  2. Be aware of your environment. Always scan the area for large dirt mounds, a clear sign of fire ants. Snakes love to hide in brush, wood, and piled-up debris, so be vigilant in areas that have any of these. Last, but not least, be cautious around ponds, streams, creeks, and the like, because water attracts wildlife.
  3. Care for your yard. Regular maintenance lowers the chance that wildlife will come into your yard. You’ll want to keep the lawn trimmed and treat mounds with pesticide. You can also consider hiring an exterminator to treat your home, and the community clubhouse, regularly.

Even though these safety precautions can help, remember that it’s impossible to prevent every sunburn, dehydration headache, or fire ant bite. But, you will be able to lower the chances that any of these will happen. To help ensure a fun and safe season, consider sharing some of these tips with the members of your association.