With temperatures rising during the summer, your family runs the risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

Even if you own an air conditioner, there are things you can do to maximize its efficiency. Unshaded windows allow in excess heat. Properly shade them with blinds, blackout curtains, or even glass tinting. Keep your house tightly closed during the day to prevent the cool air from getting out and the heat from getting in.

Be sure to clean or change the filter on your air conditioner every month as buildup can prevent proper air flow. This will prevent your air conditioner from working harder and consuming more electricity. Ceiling fans are also effective in circulating air around the home.

Sadly, two children under the age of 14 die from unintentional drowning each day, according to national safety statistics. It only takes a couple of inches of water for a child to drown. Safeguards should be in place for your pool or hot tub to prevent a tragedy from occurring.

If you have a pool or hot tub in your backyard, secure it properly to prevent wandering young children from falling in. Consider installing a safety fence around the pool with locks.

You can also install a wireless outdoor alarm sensor on your pool’s gate and link it to your home security system. You will be notified if the gate is ever opened.

When your hot tub is not in use, place a safety cover on it and remove ladders or other access points to prevent a child from climbing in.

Also, ensure all pool steps and ladders are in good, safe working order to prevent falls and lacerations.

• Put in a shed or install a secure area to properly store bikes, skateboards and outdoor toys to prevent someone from tripping over them, especially at night.
• Installing security cameras in the home and outside can provide an extra set of eyes to monitor your kids’ activities.
• To reduce the breeding of mosquitos and other pests that can spread diseases, eliminate potential sources of standing water such as overturned garbage can lids, tree hollows, tires, and even children’s toys left in the yard. Insects need a steady water supply to survive, so deplete the area around your house of these potential sources.

DTRIC wants you and your family to have a FUN AND SAFE SUMMER!