The sun is shining. The weather is warm. The outdoors is calling, and you are getting prepared for another active summer of fun in the sun. The Choctaw Nation has many outdoor amenities and fun events planned for this summer. I encourage everyone to go over to the Choctaw Nation website and check out our events calendar. No matter what event we choose to attend or participate in across the reservation, I also want to urge everyone to be safe and keep safety at the top of your mind as you have fun this summer.
Before you embark on a summer activity, please take time out to make sure you and your family are prepared for any emergency that could arise while you are enjoying yourself.
For instance, did you know that every day, an average of 11 people die in the U.S. from unintentional drowning, and one in five of those are children 14 or younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?
The American Red Cross has come up with summer safety tips that will help in an emergency. Below are a few tips to help keep you and your family safe this summer.
Learning to swim and preventing unsupervised access to water for children are critical. Check for local learn-to-swim providers in your area. It’s best to swim in a lifeguarded area or designate a “water watcher” to watch over swimmers. Adding a life jacket to poor swimmers or children is a good plan.
In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble. Don’t go in, or you could become a victim yourself. A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line or apply sunscreen.
Watch the weather and get out of the water at the first sign of lightning or the rumble of thunder. Stay indoors and away from water for 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or thunder roar.
Protect your neck – don’t dive in headfirst. Walk carefully into open waters. Watch out for and avoid aquatic life.
If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then, turn and swim to shore.
When camping, pack a first aid kit to handle insect stings, sprains, cuts, bruises and other injuries that could happen to someone in your group.
When hiking, plan for falls and sprains. Pack extra water to avoid dehydration.
Share your travel plans and locations with a family member, neighbor or friend.
Bring nutritious food items and water, light-weight clothing to layer and supplies for any pets.
When planning picnics, wash your hands, utensils and workstation before preparing the food. Separate uncooked meats, poultry, and seafood from ready-to-eat foods like salads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and desserts. Use separate plates and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.
Bring hand sanitizer if your picnic site doesn’t have hand-washing facilities. If you are going to cook on the grill, bring a food thermometer to be sure grilled foods are cooked enough.
Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals have already been ignited.
Never grill indoors — not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill. Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe. Don’t leave perishable food out in the sun.
Don’t let mosquitoes and ticks ruin your carefree summer fun. Use insect repellents containing DEET when you are outdoors. Be sure to follow the directions on the package.
Consider staying indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots.
Use a rubber band or tape to hold pants against socks so that nothing can get under clothing. Tuck your shirt into your pants. Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see tiny insects or ticks.
When hiking in woods and fields, stay in the middle of trails. Avoid underbrush and tall grass. If you are outdoors for a long time, check yourself several times during the day. Especially check in hairy areas of the body like the back of the neck and the scalp line.
Inspect yourself carefully for insects or ticks after being outdoors, or have someone else do it.
Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying sources of standing water outside of the home, such as from flowerpots, buckets and barrels.
I have found an informative app that the American Red Cross has put out, and you can find it in the App Store or Google Play by typing in Emergency Severe Weather App. This app includes severe weather tips, locations of shelters, preparedness tips and can turn your phone into an alarm, strobe light or flashlight depending on what emergency you are in. Very helpful! You can also sign up for severe weather alerts on the Chahta Achvffa member portal.
If you are prepared, aware of your surroundings and take a little extra precaution, you can look forward to a worry-free vacation within the Choctaw Nation or wherever you choose to have your summer fun this year. My hope is that everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer, and we look forward to seeing everyone at the annual Choctaw Labor Day Festival.