Spring Cleaning
Outdoor Activities
Pool Safety
Barbeque Grills and Other Flammables
Bug Safety
Allergy Season
Thunderstorms
Lightning Storms
Floods
Tornadoes
Spring Cleaning
Spring is a great time to clean out the clutter and make your home an even safer place for the family. Here are a few tips:
| Tip: | Throw away all stored newspapers, magazines or other combustible materials you don't need. Pay special attention to the space around your furnace, hot water tank, dryer and heater. |
| Tip: | Inspect power tools and lawn equipment before you begin your spring landscaping. Look for frayed cords, broken plugs and cracked housings. |
| Tip: | Check your smoke detectors and replace batteries. Smoke alarms can save your life but only if you keep them working properly. |
Outdoor Activities
Baseball, soccer, hiking and biking are just a few of the season's outdoor activities so it's important to be prepared for minor injuries that can occur.
| Tip: | Children AND adults should wear protective gear such as helmets and pads for outdoor activities like biking, rollerblading, street hockey or using a scooter or skateboard. |
| Tip: | A well-stocked First Aid Kit is a must-have spring accessory. An assortment of cleansing wipes, ointments and BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages are just the thing for those inevitable cuts and scrapes. |
| Tip: | Wear sunscreen when outdoors. Depending on where you live, the spring sun can cause a burn. |
Pool Safety
| Tip: | Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. |
| Tip: | Make sure adults are trained in life saving and CPR. |
| Tip: | Inflatable swimming aids like "arm floats" are not a substitute for life vests. |
Barbeque Grills and Other Flammables
| Tip: | Keep children away from the grill. |
| Tip: | Always make sure a fire extinguisher is nearby. |
| Tip: | On camping trips, make sure the campfire is completely extinguished at bedtime. Young children can wake up in the middle of the night, become disoriented and step or fall into the old campfire. |
Bug Safety
| Tip: | Don't use scented soaps on your child, as some perfumes may attract insects. |
| Tip: | Spray insect repellant on skin and clothes for the best protection. |
| Tip: | Don't dress in bright colors or flowery prints; they attract bugs. |
| Tip: | Avoid areas such as garbage collection areas and flowering gardens (where bees may congregate), and stagnant water, a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other bugs. |
| Tip: | In grassy or wooded areas, protect children from ticks. Dress them in long-sleeved shirts and pants tucked into socks. Use insect repellent on exposed skin. Check head and body for ticks afterward. |
Allergy Season
Seasonal allergic rhinitis, also known as spring allergies or rose fever, is one of the most common allergic conditions in the United States, affecting 35.9 million people. If you are asking yourself why you feel so miserable this same time every year, you may be one of the millions of people who have seasonal allergies. Substances that trigger allergies, called allergens, cause spring allergies. Tree and grass pollen are the most common culprits. An important component of any allergy management plan is avoiding the pollens and molds that make you sneeze and wheeze. Following are some tips to help you lessen your exposure to seasonal allergens:
| Tip: | Do a thorough spring-cleaning -- windows, bookshelves and air conditioning vents collected dust and mold throughout the winter that can provoke allergy symptoms. |
| Tip: | Postpone outdoor activities until later in the morning. Pollens are usually emitted between the hours from 5 a.m. - 10 a.m. |
| Tip: | Know your local pollen count. |
| Tip: | If possible use air conditioning instead of having windows opened. |
| Tip: | When traveling in a car have the windows up and the air conditioning on. |
| Tip: | Stay indoors on hot, dry and windy days. |
| Tip: | Don't hang your laundry out to dry. Allergens will collect on them. |
| Tip: | After spending extended periods of time outdoors be sure to shower immediately to remove built up pollen from skin and hair. Clothing should also be laundered in hot water. |
Thunderstorms
April showers bring Mayflowers and the start of thunderstorm season. Thunderstorms affect relatively small areas - typically only 15 miles in diameter - but all are potentially dangerous. It is estimated that 100,000 thunderstorms occur each year in the United States. Take the following preventative measures before a storm.
| Tip: | Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are imminent. This is your best way to avoid being caught in a dangerous situation. |
| Tip: | Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local TV or radio station for the latest weather forecasts. |
| Tip: | Keep an eye on the sky. Look for darkening skies, flashes of light or increasing wind. Listen for the sound of thunder. |
| Tip: | You can determine how far away a thunderstorm is by counting the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the next clap of thunder. |
| Tip: | Take shelter in a sturdy building or car. Do not take shelter in small sheds, under isolated trees or in convertible automobiles. Also stay away from open outdoor spaces. |
| Tip: | Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity. Do not use a telephone during a storm unless it is an emergency. Unplug all unnecessary appliances BEFORE the storm approaches. Avoid using electrical appliances during a thunderstorm. |
| Tip: | If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately. |
Lightning Storms
Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms; each year lightning strikes the Earth 20 million times, causing an average of 80 fatalities and 300 injuries each year. Lightning results from the buildup and discharge of electrical energy between positively and negatively charged areas. Rising and descending air within a thunderstorm separates these positive and negative charges. Here's what you need to know:
| Tip: | Follow the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule. Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder. |
| Tip: | To determine the distance to the lightning in miles, count the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the next clap of thunder. Then, divide this number by five. |
| Tip: | Turn off air conditioners. Power surges from lightning can overload the compressors. |
| Tip: | Do not take a shower or bath during a lightning storm. Water is an electrical conductor. |
| Tip: | If you are caught outdoors, squat low to the ground on the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees with your head between them. Make yourself the smallest target possible and minimize your contact with the ground. |
Floods
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States that occur many times throughout the year as a by-product of a hurricane or a severe thunderstorm. They can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states. However, not all floods are alike. Some develop slowly, over a period of days. Flash floods can quickly develop, sometimes in a matter of minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Every state is at risk. Here's what you need to know.
| Tip: | Be aware of flood hazards no matter where you live, but especially if you reside in a low-lying area, near water or downstream from a dam. |
| Tip: | Familiarize yourself with the terms "Flood Watch" (Flooding is possible), "Flash Flood Watch" (Flash flooding is possible), "Flood Warning" (Flooding is occurring or will occur soon), and "Flash Flood Warning" (a flash flood is occurring, seek higher ground on foot immediately). |
| Tip: | If you live in a flood area, elevate the furnace, water heater and electric panel in your home. |
| Tip: | Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home. |
| Tip: | Seal walls in basement with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage. |
| Tip: | Secure your home. Bring in outdoor furniture; move essential items to an upper floor. |
| Tip: | Frequently listen to local radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio for official bulletins on the flood's progress. |
Tornadoes
Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year but are most prevalent in the southern states between March and May, while peak months in the northern states are during the late spring and summer. Practice the following safety tips to help you ride out the storm.
| Tip: | Develop a plan for you and your family at home, work, school and when outdoors. Identify safe places to take shelter in the event of a tornado in your area. |
| Tip: | If an underground shelter is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. |
| Tip: | Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or your local TV or radio station for the latest weather forecasts. |
| Tip: | Stay away from windows. |
| Tip: | If caught outdoors, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. |
| Tip: | Be aware of flying debris, which often causes fatalities and injuries. |
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