How to Stay Safe During a Heat Wave

Summer 2015 has officially arrived in full force. Today, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the US and results in even more heat-related illnesses. However, by educating yourself on the dangers of severe heat and preparing for excessive heat levels, you can protect yourself and your family from becoming a victim of the high temperatures.

When a heat wave is predicted for your area, your weather forecasters will issue either an excessive heat watch, an excessive heat warning or a heat advisory. A heat watch means there is likely to be a short heat wave within the next 24 to 72 hours. A warning means daytime highs for at least the next 2 days are between 105-110° Fahrenheit. An advisory means highs are likely to be between 100-105° Fahrenheit for 1 to 2 days.

Heat Wave Safety Tips

Paying close attention to your local weather is the best way to stay aware of upcoming heat waves. Before the next heat wave arrives however, you should ensure you and your family are prepared. You should keep your phone charged and have a plan for the places you most often spend your time – home, work and school. An emergency disaster kit could be essential in the case of a power outage. Make sure you’re always stocked up on food, water and basic first aid supplies.

If you do lose power and therefore air conditioning in your home during a heat wave, it’s bound to get uncomfortable fast. Plan on places you can visit during the day, such as the library, museum or a movie theater, to find relief. A fan alone will not be enough to prevent heat-related illnesses during extreme heat waves.

What to Do During a Heat Wave

During a heat wave, make sure to stay hydrated and drink water often, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Sweating removes salt and minerals from your body, so it’s a good idea to have sport beverages on hand as well. You should wear lightweight and light-colored clothing (dark colors absorb the sun’s rays) and stay indoors during the warmest parts of the day.

As always - remember to never leave your children or pets alone in an enclosed vehicle. Young and old people alike are particularly sensitive to extreme heat. Babies and young children may not show any signs of heat stress, so it’s important to keep an extra close eye on them and watch for: increased irritability, loss of appetite, going to the bathroom often and generally looking unwell.

For those who work outdoors and cannot easily escape the heat, it’s a good idea to monitor the conditions of your fellow co-workers and keep a Heat Stress Responder Kit on hand so you can prevent and manage emergencies instantly. Cramps, headaches, nausea and dizziness may indicate you need to move to a cooler place. If vomiting occurs or you begin to lose consciousness, ask for assistance and call 9-1-1 immediately.

Have your own summer heat safety tips or activity ideas? We’d love to hear about them – leave us a comment below! And of course, stay cool this summer!

How to Avoid Insect Bites & Stings This Summer

While summer offers the best, and the most, opportunities for outdoor adventures like hiking, swimming, camping and more, this outdoor season also means dealing with more mosquitoes, spiders, bees, ticks and other stinging and biting bugs. Most bugs are simply annoying, and the majority of bites and stings simply itchy, however, for some people certain bugs can cause major health problems.

Fortunately, serious issues from bites and stings are rare, and there are some simple steps you can take to minimize your risk of ever getting bitten.

1. Make Yourself Less Attractive

No, insects don’t care if you have on an evening gown or pajamas. However, they are attracted to flowers and items they think are food. Perfume, sweet-smelling hair products and even brightly colored clothing can attract bugs to you. Next time you’re headed outdoors, choose earth tones and fragrance-free products to best help avoid attracting bugs and increasing your risk of being bitten.

Additionally, covering your body by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants will greatly lower your chances of being stung and bitten.

2. Apply Insect Repellent

Bug spray is an excellent option for repelling bugs and preventing bites and stings. When out for a full day and/or night, remember your repellent will only continue to be effective if you follow the directions and reapply when necessary. When using both sunscreen and bug spray, you should apply sunscreen first and then your repellent.

There are numerous bug repellent options, so whether you prefer an odorless insect repellent lotion, a traditional spray or even a bug repellent towelette, there is a bug repellent solution out there for you.

3. Avoid the Areas Bugs Love Most

Mosquitoes and flies breed and thrive in standing water, and ticks and chiggers are common in tall grass and weedy areas. Avoid staying in areas that bugs are in most in order to reduce your risk of being bitten. Additionally, you should keep your feet safe from bugs you can’t see by wearing shoes whenever you’re exploring outdoors.

4. Avoid Swatting or Panicking

Eventually, you will come into contact with some bugs. When you do run into a flying insect, it’s best not to swat, shoo or panic and flail your arms around. Instead, remain calm and move away slowly to avoid agitating the bug and getting bitten or stung.

5. Be Prepared for Bites

If you spend a lot of time outside, it’s inevitable that over time you’ll receive some bites. When you do get bitten or stung, the next best thing you can do is be prepared to treat the bites. Sting care wipes provide pain relief, a tick remover makes it easy to remove ticks from both humans and pets and for serious bites, an extractor pump can provide safe extraction of venoms and poisons. When traveling to a new outdoor destination, you should research what bugs you are most likely to encounter in order to best be prepared.

Have your own tips for preventing bites and stings? We’d love to hear ‘em! Tell us about your methods in the comment section below!

Wildfire Prevention & Safety Tips

Every year an average of 5 million acres burns across the United States, causing casualties and millions of dollars in damage. Wildfires can start in an instant and spread at a rate of up to 14.29 miles per hour. Once a wildfire starts, it can be difficult to put out, as new smaller fires constantly spawn up to miles away.

What Causes Wildfires?

While wildfires can be caused by nature, most are caused by humans. Up to 90 percent of U.S. wildfires are started by campfires, burning debris, sparks from trains, vehicle exhaust, discarded cigarettes and even arson. While there is no 100 percent fool-proof solution for preventing wildfires, there are steps you can follow and precautions you can take to help reduce the risk.

Prevention Starts at Home

The easiest way to start reducing your risk is to safety-proof your home. Some easy wildfire prevention techniques include keeping your gutters, eaves and decks clean and free of debris, trimming your trees, creating adequate space (about 100 feet) between your home and surrounding wildlands, and disposing of debris such as leaves and branches immediately. It’s also a good idea to store a firefighting system in an easily accessible area around your home in case a fire does break out. Taking the proper prevention steps before a wildfire breaks out could save your property, and even your life.

Take Care While Camping

The first rule of wildfire safety is: If there is a ban on fire in your camp area, do not start a fire! If fires are permitted, make sure all flammable materials are put away and that there is no dead vegetation around your fire. You should also keep a shovel and water nearby so you can put out your fire at a moment’s notice. Never leave fire unattended, including smoldering charcoal and barbeques. Additionally, do not park vehicles in dry areas, as heat from the exhaust system could ignite the grass.

Dispose of Cigarettes Properly

Make sure it’s out! Not only is tossing cigarettes out littering, but discarded and, still-lit cigarettes can also start a fire in an instant. Dispose of your cigarettes properly in order to completely reduce your risk of accidently starting a fire.

How are Wildfires Extinguished?

There are many factors that determine how fast a wildfire will spread and how difficult it will be to put out, including temperature, wind and moisture. Warmer temperatures allow fire to both ignite and burn faster. Wind supplies fire with the oxygen it needs to keep burning, and strong winds greatly contribute to fire spreading faster. Finally, the more saturated with moisture the air is, the more suppressed a fire will be.

Fortunately, every year thousands of firefighters are willing to put their lives on the line to stop these dangerous events. Wildfire firefighters are either considered hotshots, those who surround a fire and try to keep it from spreading, or smokejumpers, those who jump out of planes to put out smaller fires in remote areas. Once on the ground, smokejumpers use the same tactics as hotshots to extinguish fires. Finally, helicopters and air tankers are often sent in to drop thousands of gallons of water and retardant onto fires.

By taking just a few precautions, you can greatly help reduce the risk of wildfires, save lives and prevent thousands to millions of dollars worth of damage.