SPRINGFIELD, Mo (May 26, 2022) — How do you plan to enjoy this summer? Whether your plans include fun in the water, camping or grilling your favorites, the American Red Cross serving Southern Missouri has some resources you can use to help you have a safe summer. And don’t forget your furry friends — there are even some safety tips to follow to help protect your pets as the weather warms up.

“Summer is a great time of year to get outside and have fun with your friends and loved ones,” said Stacy Burks, executive director of American Red Cross serving Southern Missouri. “But there are dangers if you don’t swim, camp or grill properly. We here at the Red Cross want you to have a safe summer and offer these steps you can follow.”

Every day, an average of 11 people die in the U.S. from unintentional drowning — and one in five of those are children 14 or younger according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Red Cross wants everyone to know critical safety knowledge and skills that could save your life in and around the water. We encourage families to build confidence in the water by learning to be safe, making good choices, learning to swim and how to handle emergencies.

If a camping trip is in your plans, know the level of ability of the people in your group and the environment around you. Plan accordingly.

More than three-quarters of U.S. adults have used a grill — yet, grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. To avoid this, the Red Cross offers these grilling safety tips:

Summer’s heat can be dangerous for your family pets. Follow these steps to take to help ensure your pet stays safe this summer.