This story first appeared in July 2012 in The Citizen but the tips (or just good common sense) never get old:
Jana Hargreaves, the unit chief at the Hart Highway station for the B.C. Ambulance Service, prepared the following summer safety tips:
Travel -- Be sure to keep your cell phone charged, and consider purchasing a second battery. Always have a first aid kit in the car. Make note of landmarks and direction so emergency personnel can find your location easily if you need to call 911.
Water and pools -- Children are particularly vulnerable to accidents in pools. They can drown in less than five centimetres of water, so never leave a child unattended near water. Always empty wading pools after supervised use. People really enjoy being in the water in the Prince George area -- we have numerous rivers and lakes where we love to spend time -- so remember that it's important to be vigilant about fast moving water. Children, adults and pets can be swept away in rivers or the ocean.
Bikes, skateboards and rollerblades -- Helmets can significantly reduce the risk of brain injury for all ages when worn appropriately. Children should wear a helmet at all times, even if they're just riding a tricycle; a fall from as little as two feet can result in significant trauma to a child's brain.
Cars -- Never leave a child or pet in your car -- even with the windows partly rolled down as the interior temperature can reach 50 C in as little as 10 minutes.
Sun sense -- Guard against heatstroke by moving to the shade -- take a break once in a while so that you don't overdo sun exposure -- and drink lots of water to avoid dehydration. Headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, clammy/pale skin and weak or rapid pulse are all common signs of heat exhaustion.
Campfires and barbecues -- Never leave a fire or barbecue unattended or use a camp stove in a confined space; always keep children a safe distance from the heat. Remember that even a fire that has been recently put out can generate enough heat to cause a serious burn in a child.
Pull over for paramedics and other emergency responders -- If an ambulance is travelling with lights and siren on, you can be sure that paramedics are responding to a life-threatening situation or are taking a patient to receive urgent care. B.C. Ambulance Service crews respond to more than 486,000 events every year throughout the province -- nearly one call every minute, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In Prince George alone, we respond to more than 9,200 events each year. When minutes can affect a patient's outcome, paramedics use lights and siren so that they can reach their destination as quickly as possible.
