Quest for Zero: Those lazy, hazy, days of summer are here Published June 24, 2016 By Steve Serrette 72nd Air Base Wing Base Safety Office TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Summer usually means vacation time, outdoor activities and fun in the sun. It's a time when families hit the road to visit national parks or distant relatives. The warm months and long days mean there is plenty of time for baseball games and barbecues. The sultry temperatures practically invite you to take a dip in the pool or ocean. But don't let the sunny days and warm nights fool you. In addition to the usual suspects, summer also holds significant weather and water hazards. It is the time of year people of all ages are most likely to be injured. Heat waves can be lengthy and deadly. Lightning deaths are at their peak during the summer. Beach hazards such as rip currents can catch the unprepared. And, it's the start of hurricane season. Know your risk According to the National Weather Service, you can become and remain "weather-ready" in the face of such adverse conditions. One of the first things to do is to know your risk. For example, heat waves are common across the country during the summer. They are dangerous because the human body cannot cool itself properly when exposed to an extreme combination of heat and humidity. Another life-or-death fact is that in 2015 there were 26 lightning fatalities. In a country with an estimated population of over 321.3 million, it doesn't sound like much, but think if you were one of the unfortunate, or a family member or friend of one of the afflicted struck by lightning. The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that more than 100 people each year die in the surf-zone waters of the U.S. and that rip currents cause the majority of those fatalities. Rip currents are just one of many beach hazards. Wildfires kill 30 people, destroy 2,800 homes and burn more than 7 million acres, roughly the size of the state of Massachusetts, on average, per year. Flash flooding is the No. 1 killer associated with severe weather. Have children? Concerned about them playing it safe outside? From the local jungle gym to your driveway and a vacation home at the beach to enjoying a hot dog, where there's fun for kids, there are safety concerns for parents. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, one child dies every five days from choking on food, making it the leading cause of death in children ages 14 and under. Parents should exercise great caution with certain types of food ingested by their children. Some of those are: hot dogs, carrots, apples, grapes, nuts, peanut butter (believe it or not!), marshmallows, gum, hard candy and popcorn. Vehicle safety During summer months, many people hit the highways and byways for an enjoyable road trip. Remember, prevention and planning may take a little time up front, but will more-than-likely spare you from dealing with the stressful and monetary consequences of a vehicle breakdown - or worse yet, a highway crash - later. So here are a few gentle reminders: · Get the vehicle serviced: Regular maintenance such as tune-ups, oil changes, battery checks, and tire rotations go a long way toward preventing breakdowns. If your vehicle has not been serviced according to the manufacturer's recommendations, schedule a preventive maintenance checkup with your mechanic before hitting the road. · Stock the vehicle: Even a well-maintained vehicle can break down, so it's advisable to put together an emergency roadside kit to carry with you. A properly-charged and functional cell phone tops the list of suggested emergency kit contents since it allows you to call for help when and where you need it. Suggested emergency roadside kit contents include a cellphone and car charger and first aid kit · On the road: Stay alert! Stop along the way to take a group stretch, get something to eat and drink, return any calls or text messages, and change drivers if you're feeling tired or drowsy. Consider staying overnight at a hotel or family resort. While operating a vehicle, resist the urge to check your phone. Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and concentration on the task of driving. No life - yours, your passengers nor any other road users - is worth a phone call or text. And remember, law enforcement officers across the nation are now using innovative strategies to aggressively enforce their state distracted driving laws. Keep children safe around vehicles: Even when children are not inside a vehicle, it can be dangerous for them. Take these precautions to protect them: · Before you back out of a driveway or parking spot, walk around your vehicle to check for children. When children run and play, they are often oblivious to vehicles around them. Remember that every vehicle has a blind zone. Large vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, RVs and vans are more likely than cars to be involved in backover accidents. · Lock your vehicle's doors at all times when it's not in use. Put the keys where children can't get to them. Children who enter vehicles on their own with no adult supervision can be killed or injured by power windows, seat belt entanglement, vehicle rollaway, heatstroke or trunk entrapment. · Visit www.safercar.gov/parents to find out more about how to keep children safe in and around vehicles. Heat safety Heatstroke can occur when a child is left unattended in a parked vehicle. Remember: · Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows rolled down or air conditioning on. Children's body temperature can heat up three to five times faster than adults. · Always look in both the front and back of the vehicle before locking the door and walking away. · Heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in 10 minutes. · Always lock your vehicle doors and trunk and keep the keys out of a child's reach. · Learn more at safercar.gov/heatstroke. And for those who have pets: · Drive-thru lanes are your friend - Vehicles heat up very quickly, so NEVER leave your pet in the vehicle, not even for a "quick errand." Instead, use the drive-thru for errands when available. No longer restricted just to fast food, pharmacies, banks and even some coffee shops now will deliver to your waiting car while your pet rides in comfort. · Friends can help - Bring a friend who can play with your dog outside while you run your errand. · Shop at "pet-friendly" stores where your dog is welcome to browse with you. Be sure to practice with your dog a few times during non-crowded hours to be sure your pup's social and leash skills are up to the task of shopping. · Skip the trip - for your dog - Leave your dog at home where it's cool and safe. A little alone time can be healthy. Hazards at home Homes present varied types of hazards that run the gamut from barbecue grills to swimming pools and lawnmowers to trampolines. It's up to adults to childproof homes by discarding old, unused appliances. Don't allow a game of hide-'n-seek to become deadly. There are continual deaths involving children who crawled inside old cedar chests, latch-type freezers and refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dryers and picnic coolers. When biking, skating or skateboarding, wear a helmet and other safety gear. Studies on bicycle helmets have shown they can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. So, what are you doing this summer? Involving yourself in any of the above listed activities? How about some high risk activities? Keep the Quest-for-Zero campaign on the forefront of everything you do. The campaign is designed for every Airman and civilian to raise awareness of the hazards they face daily, at work and at home. The Tinker Base Safety office urges you to incorporate thoughtful planning in all your activities and get sufficient rest before strenuous events as well as extended road trips. Give some consideration to your personal limits and capabilities and exercise sound judgment. We want every Airman (both civilian and military) to come home safely at the end of the day. Choking hazards · The size and shape of popcorn makes it an easy food to choke on. It is best to avoid giving it to young children. · Young children should not chew gum or eat hard candy. Children can inhale the candy or gum if they laugh, take a deep breath or try to swallow it whole. · Soft foods like marshmallows can easily get lodged in your little one's throat. It's best to avoid giving marshmallows to young children. · A large dollop of peanut butter can be hard for kids to swallow all at once. The safest way to eat it is to spread a thin layer on crackers or bread. It's also a good idea to serve it with something to drink. · The size and shape of nuts make them very dangerous for young children to consume whole, and should be avoided. · Grapes should always be cut in half before you give them to a young child. If the grapes have seeds, make sure to remove them as well. · Apples, along with other firm fruits, should be chopped into very small, manageable pieces or cooked until mushy throughout. · To make carrots a little safer, finely shred them or cook them until they are a mushy consistency throughout. · And last, but not least - hot dogs are one of the most common foods that children choke on. To minimize risk, cut them lengthwise and then chop them up into very small, irregular shapes. Some portions of this article thanks to: noaa.gov; familyeducation.com; safercar.gov; petfinder.com.