Seasonal Tips - Summertime Safety

Northampton Township

Northampton Township Complex
55 Township Road
Richboro, PA 18954

Phone: (215) 357-6800
Fax: (215) 357-1251

Police Department

Northampton Township Police
50 Township Road
Richboro, PA 18954

Emergency: 911
Need a Police Officer? (Non-Emergency): (215) 357-8700
Business Only: (215) 322-6111

View More Contact Information

The summer season marks the time for families to enjoy some of America’s traditional summer pastimes – barbecues, pool parties and backyard gatherings. However, family festivities could be interrupted by a trip to the emergency room if you don’t follow simple steps to safeguard your family and friends against summer hazards.

"Kids and their friends are home more during summer so you want to make sure that your home is prepared for the increase in activity and guests,” says Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. “By being alert and prepared to summertime threats, families are reducing their chances of injuries for their loved ones."

The Home Safety Council recommends following these guidelines to keep your family safe in the summer:

Grilling Safety

According to the NFPA, gas and charcoal grills caused an average of 1,500 structure fires and 4,800 outdoor fires in or on home properties in 1999. To make sure your next barbecue doesn't go up in flames, the Home Safety Council recommends the following safety tips:

Designate the grilling area a “No Play Zone” keeping kids and pets well away until grill equipment is completely cool.
Before using, put your grill at least 3 feet away from other objects, including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
Only use starter fluid made for barbecue grills when starting a fire in a charcoal grill.
Before using a gas grill, check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.
Never bring a barbecue grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

Swimming Safety and Pool Security

Many drowning incidents involve swimming pools and spas. Drowning is a silent and sudden event, and Home Safety Council research found that many drowning deaths at home are related to swimming pools. Adopt the following guidelines from the Home Safety Council to help keep your pool area safe:

Prevent Drowning

Drowning can happen very fast.
Most of the time you will not hear someone drowning.
Drowning can happen in any standing water, such as a swimming pool, a pond or a ditch.

Be Prepared

Learn how to swim.
Have rescue equipment by the pool.
Take a class to learn First Aid and CPR.
Have CPR instructions posted by the pool.
Have a cordless phone in the pool area.
Have emergency phone numbers by the phone.

Protect Young Children

A swimming pool should have a fence that goes all the way around it.
The fence should have a gate that closes by itself.
Children who cannot swim well should wear a life jacket
Adults should keep their eyes on children every second they are near water.
Stay awake and sober when watching children in or near water.
Only adults can safely take care of children in or near water.
Don’t ask children to baby-sit younger children around water.
Children who cannot swim well should wear a life jacket.
Have bright lights outdoors at night.
Put away pool cleaning equipment after use.
Wipe up spills as soon as they happen.
Keep the area around the pool clean. Pick up toys and other things that you can trip over.

Safety with Pool Chemicals

Keep pool chemicals locked away in a dry place.
Store pool chemicals as directed on the label.
Keep chemicals in a cool, dry and safety place.
Keep pool chemicals in containers they came in, with labels on.

Backyard Safety

Lawn mowing and landscaping top the list of household chores when it comes to preparing for backyard parties and barbecues. The simple act of yard work can be riddled with opportunities for injuries if you’re not careful. The Home Safety Council recommends the following tips to make sure your backyard doesn’t become an injury trap:

Wear protective goggles and ear protection while using outdoor machinery to prevent sight and hearing-loss injuries.
All garden equipment and tools should be kept where children cannot reach them. Store all sharp tools pointing downward.
Use gasoline only as a fuel for motors.
Store gasoline in a container designed just for gasoline in a shed or garage with a lock.
Gasoline must never be brought indoors, even in small amounts.
Use gasoline only outside. The vapors (fumes) are very dangerous if you bring gasoline inside a building.
Fill mowers and gasoline-powered tools outside, before starting the job. Re-fuel only after the tool has completely cooled down.
Start the mower outdoors to avoid raising carbon monoxide levels inside the home or garage.
Chemicals, fuels (such as gasoline), car fluids (such as anti-freeze), pesticides (such as bug killers), and lawn and garden products (such as fertilizer) are poison.
Store pesticides in their original containers.
Close the lid on all dangerous products and put them away after using them.
Store them in a safe place with a lock.
Store them where children cannot see or touch them.
Clear sidewalks and pathways of any toys and clutter to avoid slips and falls.
Cover the ground under playground equipment with a thick layer (9-12 inches) of mulch, wood chips or other safety material.