Navigate Page: Water Safety – Summer Storms
Summertime in Tucson is not
always the most comfortable time. In
fact it gets pretty darn hot. For this
reason a lot of us resort to water for keeping our cool inside and out. Oh, and who could forget the best part of
summer: NO SCHOOL! Before you set out
to swim it up check out some safety tips:
http://www.chp.edu/besafe/fungame/watersafety.swf
(Leaving City of Tucson site)
Avoid the “Lobster Look”
Yikes! Not only does this guy look goofy, he is
probably going to be in a lot of pain.
Sunburns are called burns for a reason.
They damage your skin (can even cause blistering) and can leave you red,
scaly and smarting (another word for in a lot of PAIN!). You may not worry too much when going out in
the sun because you’re young and healthy.
It may take too long to put on sunscreen (this is another one of those
crazy myths like it taking too long to belt up), but avoiding sunburn now can
prevent you from premature aging (looking 50 when you are a senior in high
school) or prevent more serious things like skin cancer. Doesn’t get much more serious than skin
cancer, and who wants to look old and wrinkly at 18? So get smart and learn
more about sun safety:
http://www.chp.edu/besafe/fungame/sunsafety.swf
(Leaving City of Tucson site)
STAY HYDRATED
Did you know that by the time you feel thirsty you are already pretty dehydrated? That’s right, thirst is your body’s warning signal to get some water into it before it goes on strike!
Always drink plenty of water before, during,
and after activities during hot weather. Avoid drinks containing caffeine while
in the sun or heat. The best drink to
consume is water or one of the many flavored sports drinks available.
Signs and
Symptoms of Dehydration
- Dry
lips and tongue.
- Headache.
- Weakness,
dizziness, or extreme fatigue.
- Concentrated
urine that appears darker than normal.
- Nausea.
- Muscle cramps.
If a person
has any or all of the symptoms listed above, stop any activity and get them to
a cool location. Have them rest with
their legs elevated and drink cool beverages such as water or sports
drinks. Anytime a person who has been
exposed to heat becomes disoriented or unconscious, immediate medical attention
for that person must be sought by calling 911.
The flash of the lightning! The crash of the thunder! The thought of some relief from the blistering heat! All very exciting parts of the summer storm season here in Tucson. Nothing better than sitting on your porch enjoying Mother Nature’s Show. STOP! First of all you should not be OUTSIDE during a storm and secondly does Mother Nature really know anything about video production and shows? Perhaps, I heard she has been uploading her own stuff on YouTube. Lastly, is there really a Mother Nature? Okay, back to reality. Summer storms can be dangerous so learn to be Storm Safe:
Lightning storms:
Seek shelter immediately!
Don't seek shelter under a tree if
you're caught outside. Don't be the tallest object around - for example, in the
mountains, stay below the tree line. The inside of a hardtop car is suitable
shelter, in an emergency.
Avoid open areas such as fields and golf
courses
Get at least 7 feet away from tall
objects.
Avoid metal objects such as golf carts
and clubs, lawn mowers and pipes
Stay off the phone. Lightning can travel through electrical and
phone currents.
Keep large appliances off, including
TVs.
Don't shower or bathe.
Don't swim, and return to shore if
you're inside a boat.
If
you encounter a downed power line:
Stay at least 100 feet away.
Don't touch anything metal if a power
line has fallen on your car while you're in it. stay inside until professional
help arrives.
Never try to help someone trapped by a
downed power line; you will endanger your own safety. Instead, call 911
immediately.
Flashflood
Dangers:
Flashfloods
occur when rainy weather occurs upstream, and can affect washes and lower
elevation areas not experiencing direct rainfall. A flashflood can turn a dry wash bed into a raging river within a
matter of seconds.
To stay safe during flashflood season
(typically the beginning of July to late August):
Don’t attempt to cross flooded washes, dips or other low-lying areas in
a vehicle. It is impossible to gauge
the depth of the water and control of a vehicle is lost in 6 inches of water.
Most vehicles begin to float in 2 feet of water.
Don’t ride all terrain vehicles
or drive off-road vehicles in washes at anytime.
Don’t stand near banks of flooded washes, dips or low-lying areas.