SPARK UP THE FUN, NOT THE DANGER June is National Safety Month
Summer is a great season for fun vacations, family time outdoors, and new activities, but it also brings a heightened chance of risks. From boating excursions to fireworks, it’s vital to take all the necessary safety precautions for the thrilling traditions of summer. June is National Safety Month, a time to promote awareness of safety risks and how to prepare for them. So, before you spark up the grill for a backyard barbeque, ensure you know these steps to keep everyone safe. BOATING SAFETY Boating is a common summer activity, but this popular pastime can also be dangerous. Make sure you have enough life jackets on board. Even experienced swimmers still need a life jacket to remain safe. Before you leave the dock, ensure everyone’s life jacket is fitted correctly.
It’s vital to be prepared by maintaining your boat before use, creating a float plan that shares the details of your trip, and having the right gear and safety equipment on board. Always remain aware of your surroundings. GRILLING SAFETY Grilling is an excellent way to get outdoors and entertain loved ones, but you need to protect yourself and others anytime you are working with flames and food. To start, check your grill to ensure it’s working well and keep it in a location where it is far from the house or flammable objects. While cooking, never leave the grill unattended. Don’t wear any billowy or loose clothing that could fall into the fire; always wear gloves or oven mitts. Before the fun starts, stock the area with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
FIREWORKS SAFETY Nothing says summertime quite like an exciting fireworks display, but setting them off can be risky. You can take the family to a local event, where the professionals will handle the fireworks display. If you use sparklers or other legal fireworks, always keep a hose or bucket of water nearby. Never place your body directly over a firework or hold one in your hand to light it. Children should stay away from fireworks and should be supervised if they use sparklers. As you pack up your sunscreen and camera for all the exciting adventures this summer, remember to bring your precautions and safety gear. By being aware of dangers, you’ll be able to enjoy everything the season has to offer safely.
Visiting any popular indoor pool will reveal a diverse pool of swimmers — fitness buffs, sports watchers, swim teams, students in kiddie lessons and aerobics classes, and families playing. Few sports can meet diverse fitness goals like swimming. Swimming can provide benefits such as improving cardiovascular fitness, increasing muscle tone, trimming pounds, and getting a workout without hurting stiff, arthritic joints. No wonder it is the fourth-most popular activity in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Participation spikes every time a new swimming star bursts into the spotlight, as Michael Phelps did in 2008. Known for winning more Olympic medals than most countries , Phelps won gold in all eight of his events at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Public fascination with Phelps’ big feet, long arms, remarkable pain tolerance, and prodigious performance led to an influx of children and teens to school and community swim programs. Phelps has inspired double-digit growth in swim program participation for over a decade. Last year, champion swimmer Katie Ledecky surpassed Phelps in the total number of individual world titles. After competing in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympics and winning 16 gold medals, the 26-year-old superstar became the first swimmer to win six consecutive world championships in the same event in Japan’s 2023 World Aquatic Championships. Ledecky defeated the second-place finisher in the 800-meter freestyle by an astonishing 4.44 seconds. The Unique Benefits of Swimming DIVE INTO HEALTH
Fans of swimming stress that it is more than a cardio exercise. “This is resistance training. It’s the same thing as lifting in a gym,” says Steve Cole, a swimming instructor, creator of a swim-instruction app, and former Division I college water polo player. “Water creates enough resistance to stop a speeding bullet within just a few feet. When you’re swimming, you have to pull yourself through that heavy resistance. That is going to build a lot of muscle,” Cole explained. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just 2 1/2 hours of swimming per week can reduce the risk of chronic illness. On average, people who swim regularly reduce their risk of death by half compared to non-swimmers and enjoy their workouts more than those who exercise on land. Water-based exercise has the added benefits of improving flexibility, coordination, balance, and posture. For post-menopausal women, swimming can improve bone health. According to the Better Health Channel, a publicly funded Australian health and medical information service, swimmers can exercise without impacting weak or arthritic hips, knees, or ankles. The sport also builds endurance by delivering an all-around, full-body workout. Swimming laps at a pool can target different muscle groups, according to Healthline.com, because of the variety of strokes, like the breaststroke, butterfly, and backstroke. The water resistance works core, leg, and arm muscles simultaneously, while different strokes target specific muscles. Swimming has mental health benefits as well. Research shows swimming improves people’s mood and decreases anxiety in those with fibromyalgia and other painful conditions. And in one of the sport’s biggest draws, those who enjoy it can continue to swim for a lifetime. Any community pool is likely to attract swimmers from age 3 to 103! So, find that bathing suit and take a dip! You may decide to make it part of your regular exercise routine.
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