National Safety Month: Tips for Keeping Your Family Safer This Summer #LSSS

As a blogger on Master Lock’s Live Secure Safety Squad, I’ve been thinking more and more about my family’s safety lately. Last month, we focused on bicycle safety, and taking steps to ensure that our children wear helmets and use Master Lock bike locks when they are done riding. For the month of June, I’m looking at my family’s safety in broader terms, especially since it’s National Safety Month. According to the National Safety Council, the purpose of this month is “to educate and influence behaviors around leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths.” The theme for this year: “Safety Starts with Me.” For families, that means it must start with Mom and/or Dad. So, what can you do this month to help increase your family’s safety?
Stay off your cell phone while driving. It’s estimated that more than 20 percent of car accidents involve cell phone usage! According to the NSC, you’re four times more likely to crash when talking on your phone and 8-23 times more likely to have an accident if you’re texting while driving. Is your family’s safety really worth that phone call?
Secure your swimming pool and sign the kids up for swimming lessons. More than 1,000 deaths were caused by drowning in homes in 2009. Here in Florida, where I live, we hear about children falling into pools and canals all of the time. Talk about water safety with your kids, keep the pool locked, and be sure your kids can swim.
Lock away medications and cleaning supplies. If you’ll be visiting the grandparents or other relatives this summer with your little ones, don’t be shy about asking them to lock away their medicines and chemicals. When you arrive, check for items that might be a temptation, such as knives too close to the edge of the counter or glassware within a toddler’s reach.
Have proper sports safety equipment. Summer is a popular time for sports. Make sure your children have appropriate gear, such as helmets and mouth guards. Bring plenty of water to keep them well-hydrated in the hot summer sun, and learn the signs of sunstroke and concussion. These conditions can be deadly and should be treated immediately.
Lock up yard equipment. Lawn mowers, edgers, and other lawn equipment are very dangerous in the hands of a child. Don’t let your child ride on a riding lawn mower. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), about 17,000 children are taken to the emergency room each year as a result of lawn mower accidents. And lock your equipment up in a shed or other secure place with the help of a Master Lock padlock, chain lock or cable lock.
These are just a few of the things you can do this summer to increase the odds that you and your family will have a safe and fun summer. Visit the Master Lock Live Secure Safety Squad page for more tips from our bloggers about summer safety!

Disclaimer: As a Master Lock Live Secure Safety Squad blogger, I have received complimentary products and compensation for my participation. However, all opinions are 100% my own.