June is National Safety Month! According to the National Safety Council, National Safety Month is an annual observance to educate and encourage safe behaviors around leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths. The timing is ideal. We made it through Memorial Day weekend (hopefully safely!) and have the rest of the summer, including the 4th of July and Labor Day weekend to look forward to!  

In Minnesota, warmer weather offers an abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy with family and friends. And no one wants to start their summer with an injury of any kind, particularly one which is easily preventable.  

Summer in Minnesota is for long walks in the park, backyard barbeques, daydreaming in a hammock, and feeling the warm breeze on your face as you bike along a trail. To ensure you enjoy these activities to the fullest extent, there are a few basic preventive measures that you can take to stay safe while you're having fun.

The focus on prevention is twofold; how you as an individual can prevent an injury to yourself, and how you can prevent an injury to another. There are few differences between the two, and both start with education and awareness. With these tools, we can handle almost anything that is thrown at us or at least attempt our best to avoid it.  

1. Be aware of your surroundings. Think for a minute about how many unintentional injuries can be avoided simply by paying attention to the things around you. A wet or uneven surface, a construction sign, proper handling instructions, the cars in traffic around you, the people sharing a picnic area with you…any of these factors can result in an unintentional injury with even the slightest change in circumstance.
2. Be proactive. Learn the recommended way of doing something, and don't take shortcuts.  Take two trips instead of one, lift heavy objects properly, and don't stand on the top step of the ladder. These simple yet obvious measures will help you attain the best outcome to your objectives and reduce the likelihood of injuries.
3. Educate others. Share the benefits of the information you have learned with others to help them avoid any unintended consequences for themselves and those around them.  Chances are you'll learn something yourself in the process!

4. Follow instructions. Swim only when a lifeguard is present, follow the rules of the road (stay in your lane, pass on the left, stick to the posted speed limit), don't trespass on private property, and read the owner's manual before operating machinery or appliances.
5. Secure your property. Protect yourself from liability and help others avoid temptation in situations where they may exercise poor judgment. Lock the door on your tool shed, the gate on your fence and the ladder on your pool.
6. Be prepared. Keep a bottle of water handy on a hot day, a fire extinguisher near an open fire, flotation devices near a body of water, and a first aid kit in your camping gear.
7. Do your research. Check the current and extended weather forecast, driving conditions and the traffic report.
8. Have a plan. Know where you're going and how you're going to get there. Have a backup plan in place in case things don't work out exactly how you expected them to.
9. Know your escape routes. Keep a reasonable distance between your car and those around you, locate the nearest fire exits, memorize the evacuation plan, and designate an emergency contact.
10. Ask for help. It's impossible to anticipate everything that can go wrong, even if you conscientiously follow steps one through nine. We all make wrong turns, forget to pack an essential item, run out of something, or simply find ourselves in unfamiliar territory.As a general rule, always exercise caution and use your best judgment. There is no need to be paranoid, just take an extra look before you leap. By doing so, you will help protect yourself and those around you from unintentional injuries. And remember, not all of those around you will exercise these same precautions, and you should adapt your response appropriately.

Now you're ready to get outside and enjoy June – safely!