Summer break offers excellent opportunities to spend time with family and friends! As board members, we are committed to ensuring the safety of homeowners and their guests who enjoy HOA amenities during weekend and holiday barbecues and pool parties. So, we’d like to offer some great tips for staying safe this summer in the sun, in the water, or at the grill.
Sun Safety
Stay hydrated.
Keep a water bottle with you at all times and keep track of how much you drink, especially if you’re spending the day outside. It is good practice to drink a cup of water (8 ounces) before you even go out into the heat!
Wear sunscreen.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is “the most common cancer in the United States,” so taking measures to protect your skin is a must. Keep sunscreen with you, and if you know you will be out in the sun for more than 15 minutes, apply it.
Stay inside between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
These are the hottest, sunniest hours of the day. Avoiding the sun midday will save you from becoming dehydrated and overheated.
Swimming Safety
Think before you drink. Many parties, especially pool parties, take place during the summer. If you’re on vacation, it’s also tempting to have an extra drink or two, especially because you won’t need to get up for work the next morning. But, be careful that you don’t dampen your judgement at times when you might need it! You should never swim or drive intoxicated. So, unless you’re done with water polo for the day, and you have a ride home, you may want to stick with soda or water.
Grilling Safety
Make sure there is a six-foot distance between the grill and any trees. Barbecuing must be then (10”) away from the buildings. Keeping this wide distance reduces the chance that anything will catch fire. Keep a large water bottle or a fire extinguisher by the grill. This way, if something does catch fire, you can put it out quickly. Do not grill in the fenced in patio area behind your unit. It is a violation of our fire codes because because of it's proximity to the buildings.
Keep grill lids closed when you’re not tending to your food. You’ll avoid flare-ups this way. And, covering flames also cuts off oxygen, so fires are less likely to become uncontainable.