Summer Safety Tips from Plant City Police Department

By Cierra Craft

The kids are out of school and summer vacation is here! To help families stay safe this summer, the Plant City Police Department has created the following list of summer safety tips. FOCUS sat down with Public Information Officer Captain Al Van Duyne to remind you and your family to make summer safety a top priority.

Water Safety

Little kids need to have a “Water Watcher,” a responsible adult who agrees to watch the kids in the water without distractions, before getting in the water. Remove any pool toys that could attract children to the water. Prevent unsupervised water access by installing a barrier around your pool and hot tub

“These pool barriers can be purchased at pool supply stores like Pinch-A-Penny, Lowe’s, Walmart, or ordered online from Amazon,” said Capt. Van Duyne. “If you have a sliding glass door to access your pool patio, install a latch that is out of reach of small children and keep it locked to prevent an accident when children are not meant to be swimming.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ages 4 and older learn to swim. Learning how to swim should be a fun activity, promoting aquatic awareness and minimizing intimidation. To find swimming lessons in or near Plant City, contact the YMCA at (813) 757-6677 or find a local swimming school.

Kids Left in Cars

“In 2018 and 2019, we saw a record number of hot car deaths—53 children died each year—the most in at least 20 years, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,” said Capt. Van Duyne.

A child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. When a child in left in a hot vehicle, the child could die within minutes. Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees and a child can die when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.

Parents and caregivers, get in the habit of always looking inside your car before locking the doors. Remember Park. Look. Lock. And always ask yourself, “Where’s Baby?” The National Safety Council recommends placing a purse or even a shoe in the back seat to force you to take one last look before walking away.

Going on Vacation

If you’re planning a vacation, don’t broadcast that you’re leaving on vacation or post pictures on social media until you return. It would also be wise to turn off your appliances, consider turning your A/C off, and ask a neighbor or friend to keep an eye on your home.

“Timers or systems like Apple Siri or Amazon Alexa to control your lights via an app and if you can afford it, invest in a doorbell camera or security cameras that can be viewed from your smartphone,” says Capt. Van Duyne.

Celebrate July 4 with Safety in Mind

Please celebrate the 4th of July responsibly and safely. Consider all safety measures when barbequing and closely supervise children when using celebratory devices.

“Be mindful of the amount of alcohol you may consume and have a designated driver or use a ride-sharing service such as Uber, Lyft, etc. to get home safely,” says Capt. Van Duyne.

“We hope you take all these suggestions to heart,” said Capt. Van Duyne. “Our goal is to ensure all families, especially children, have an enjoyable and safe summer.”