Summer Safety

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Stay cool and safe during the summer whether you are on the water, in your backyard, or staying indoors with the following helpful tips and resources. 

Extreme Heat

There are more than 700 preventable deaths from extreme heat in the United States every year. Getting overheated can make you sick.

Reduce Fire Risk

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the risk of fire danger increases during the summer season’s dry conditions and high temperatures due to fireworks use and lightning strikes.

In addition to fireworks, “many brush and other outside fires result from the misuse of heat of ignition, which includes abandoned and discarded materials, inadequate control of an open fire, and children playing with the heat source” according to FEMA.

Smoke Safety

According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, “smoke from wildfires, wood stoves, and outdoor burning causes poor air quality that can hurt your health.”

Grilling Safety

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), July is the peak month for grill fires. Before you light up the grill, check out these safety tips from NFPA:

Water Safety

According to Public Health—Seattle & King County, as more people were pushed toward outdoor activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “King County saw drowning deaths [in 2020] double compared to 2018.” Cooling off on or in the water is a great way to avoid the summer heat and have fun, but be sure to stay safe – here are some helpful resources:

Updated June 30, 2023