Summer means fun in the sun. School is over for kids, adults are on vacation and it’s time for outdoor activities. However, one must be cautious because summer is also a peak time for accidents. One must be aware emergencies are just around the corner even though how small they are. It is good to remember that to enjoy summer is to bare safety in mind.

• One of the best ways to stay safe this summer is to wear a helmet and other safety gear when doing rigorous outdoor activities like biking, skating and skateboarding, and when riding scooters, all-terrain vehicles, and horses. Studies on bicycle helmets have shown they can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.

• Use layers of protection to prevent a swimming pool tragedy. This includes placing barriers completely around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency.

• When cooking outdoors with a gas grill, check the air tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease. Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing. If you ever detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas at the tank and don’t attempt to light the grill until the leak is fixed.

• Make sure you have a safe surface because falls are likely the cause for playground injuries. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt surfaces are too hard. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch.

• To prevent serious injuries while using a trampoline, allow only one person on at a time, and do not allow somersaults. Use a shock-absorbing pad that completely covers the springs and place the trampoline away from structures and other play areas. Kids under 6-years-old should not use full-size trampolines.

• Don’t allow a game of hide-n-seek to become deadly. There have been reports of numerous suffocation deaths involving children who crawled inside old cedar chests, latch-type freezers and refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dryers and picnic coolers. Childproof old appliances, warn children not to play inside them.

• If summer plans include camping and you want heat inside your tent or camper, use one of the new portable heaters that are equipped with an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS). If oxygen levels start to fall inside your tent or camper, the ODS automatically shuts down the heater before it can produce deadly levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Do not attempt to use alternative sources of heat or power to warm a tent or camper. Traditional camping heaters, charcoal grills, camping lanterns, and gas generators also can cause CO poisoning.

Summer is a time to think about adventures, trips and most of all fun! Summer vacations are the perfect opportunity to get away to a favourite spot and experience new sights. Any trip, however, can cause discomfort if you do not plan well. Here are things you can do to make your summer family vacation easier, safer, and stress-free.

• Try to avoid traveling during peak times, this means long weekends in the summer, unless you are a sucker for punishment. It also means rush hours in the city if you are driving, try to plan your time around these hours.

• Pack light. Pack only the things that you are sure of use. Do not bring unnecessary ones because it will only cause you an additional fee for the excess baggage especially most airlines today are implementing this policy. You have to plan ahead to have a good list of things to bring.

• Be sure to bring items like sun screen, hats and sunglasses to protect you from the scorching heat of the sun especially that it is stronger during summer time and UV rays keep increasing.

• Do not forget to bring a camera. This gadget will surely help you make out the best of summer because memories are preserved for you to reminisce with.

• Bring different set of clothes to suit the changing weather.

• Always be ready for an emergency because you will never know what will happen next. Don’t forget to bring a handy emergency kit that contains jumper cables, basic hand tools, flares or reflective warning triangles, a first aid kit, a flashlight with fresh batteries, and a cell phone if possible.

• Don’t spend much especially on foods and drinks. Try to find ways to enjoy your vacation like visiting parks or museums – these things will not cost much.

• If you decided to just stay at home, don’t be sad. Instead use these as time to spend time with your family and bond with them. Spend time with them. Show love to one another as much as possible.