Experts warn of summer health hazards

Nov 22, 2023

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The unofficial start of summer is here, and with fun comes risk — especially for kids around pools, water parks and beaches.

Video above: Common sunscreen mistakes

"Fatal drownings are 100% preventable if folks follow some simple water safety steps," said Thaddeus Harrington of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The agency is warning families to be aware of drowning dangers.

Infant swimming safety classes are helping, but Harrington stresses, there's no substitute for adult supervision. Sixty-seven percent of drownings occur in residential pools.

Door alarms can provide an additional safety measure to alert you when children approach pools and so can pool fencing.

But again, supervision is key, according to Harrington.

Another concern is the use of both propane and charcoal grills. They’re popular and potentially dangerous.

A frequent mistake is cooking under a patio roof or too close to a home or some other building.

Fire safety experts say you must keep grills out and away from structures.

And with charcoal grills, never pour lighter fluid directly on flames and never use highly flammable accelerants like gasoline.

Even cleaning your grill can be hazardous, with wire brushes for cleaning grates leaving metal bristles behind that can attach to food and be swallowed, getting caught in your throat, stomach or liver.

The CPSC reports that the national annual average for grilling accidents results in 13 deaths and 5,000 injuries. But those wire brushes remain popular for cleaning grill surfaces.

A better, safer solution? Ordinary foil can be balled up in your hand and used to clean the grates.

The CPSC is also concerned about summer ATV accidents.

The CPSC has public safety videos on its Youtube and social media channels warning people, especially children, not to drive them on roads.

Annually, off-highway vehicle accidents average 726 deaths and more than 100,000 injuries, according to the CPSC, with just ATVs accounting for 70% of those accidents.

"Sometimes we are so focused on enjoying and staying in the moment that things (like safety) may slip and we don't want that to happen because tragedies happen when we're not focused on safety," Harrington said.

He says a good way to remember it is: safety is no accident. Plan ahead for a safer summer.