SAFETY SHARE FOR THE ENTRY TO SUMMER

By: Evan Lucyk

We’ve braved yet another brisk Canadian winter, the weather is getting warmer, and the days are stretching out and getting longer. You guessed it: Summer is finally here. And as you get ready to fire up the grill and break out your camping gear, we want to be sure you also take precautions to stay safe as you soak up all the summer sunshine.

While it is already known that Bit Service has made a name for ourselves as an organization dedicated to delivering a wide range of solutions for the Canadian mining, construction, and materials handling industries, we want to assure and show our clients and community that we are equally dedicated to supporting them in every area we can, including promoting their personal safety and well being.

So, consider this our (un)official summer safety meeting. We often talk about worksite safety, particularly this past year with the heightened focus on taking proper COVID measures and ensuring employees are outfitted with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), but with summer’s arrival comes a wealth of other considerations to keep in mind.

When we think of summer, some things that instantly come to mind are warmth, sunshine, freedom, and fun, but what also accompanies these things are a slew of other things, such as sunburn, heat exhaustion, accidents related to outdoor activities, and more. We want to encourage you to enjoy your favorite summer pastimes, and empower you to be smart—and safe—while doing so. This helpful guide offers our top summer safety tips for protecting yourself and your loved ones while still having loads of fun.

BEAT IT

No, we are not referring to the Michael Jackson song. We’re talking about beating the heat this summer. It is easy to forget to hydrate while you are so busy playing and enjoying the great outdoors, but ensuring that you keep drinking water on hand and take regular breaks to stay hydrated is vital.

Also important is keeping cool. One way you can do this is by planning your day around the hottest hours of the day (11 am-4 pm) and minimizing your time in the sun, especially during this window of time. A few other valuable tips for staying cool are wearing light-colored clothing, taking regular breaks to head into the AC, or when that’s not available, even escaping beneath the shade of a tall tree (not hard to find in Canada, thankfully). One final caution under this category is to never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle, as temperatures inside a car are known to soar and be extremely hazardous.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PESTS

We are talking about bugs here, as we have to admit we can’t provide any solutions for that sibling rivalry destined to occur in the backseat of your car during your summer road trip.

Mosquitoes are not only annoying but they also are known to cause several illnesses, some even serious, such as the Zika Virus and West Nile Virus. Bug spray and wearing protective clothing appropriate to the specific activity you are engaging in are of utmost importance.

BE SAFE WHILE ENJOYING WATER SPORTS, BICYCLING, AND BOATING

As mentioned above, summer is synonymous with outdoor activities, the most popular of which include water sports, bicycling, and boating. When enjoying the water, opt for lifeguarded swimming areas when possible, and when they are not, stay vigilant, especially if you are out with younger children. Never leave a child unattended in water, not even for a second.

When out on a boat, always ensure that your vessel is adequately equipped with the right amount of flotation devices for the number of people on board. Paying attention to be sure you properly tie down your boat so that you don’t get injured getting in and out of it off the dock is also key. While biking, wearing a helmet is the most important consideration. The Canada Safety Council agrees and even offers specific advice on choosing the best one for your needs.

BE PREPARED FOR EMERGENCIES

While packing up the car for that summer road trip, be sure that an emergency kit is included on the top of your must-bring list. If you are unsure what to include, the Canadian government has provided citizens with an excellent cheat sheet which you can refer to here.

Now armed with our summer safety tips, you can breathe easy knowing you protect yourself and your loved ones as you head out and have fun. We here at Bit Service wish you a memorable summer.