We hope this month is the start of a long, safe summer full of great memories and photos for you and your family. Especially right here in Philadelphia, as we welcome America to the birthplace of our nation!

To help you be safe in and around your home and car, here is some safety information from City of Philadelphia partners in public safety.

Weather Watching

Keep in communication The Atlantic Hurricane Season starts June 1st. Warm weather can bring severe storms that produce heavy rain, lightning, and high winds.  Sign up to get real time weather updates direct from the National Weather Service though the City’s mass notification system, ReadyPhiladelphia. Important information is sent to your phone or inbox and text or email, free of charge.

Severe storms that produce heavy rain cause flooding, which is more prevalent in urban areas like Philadelphia that have less green space. The Philadelphia Water Department has information to help you be informed on flooding, how it affects different neighborhoods, and what you can do to mitigate damage in your home or business.

Health and Heat

Dehydration and Heatstroke When the temperature rises on the thermometer, our body gets to work internally. A process called thermoregulation allows our body to maintain its core internal temperature. Sweat is the ends result as heat leaves our body. This is why you must remain hydrated. If you’re feeling thirsty, it’s already too late.

According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH), heatstroke is the most severe form of dehydration, where your internal temperature rises to dangerously high levels. Your skin gets hot, but you stop sweating. Someone with heatstroke may pass out, have hallucinations, or suffer seizures. The PDPH has simple tips to prevent dehydration and heatstroke as well as what to do if someone is suffering from symptoms.

Fun in the Sun The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Those rays are to blame for skin’s premature aging along with an increase in risk for skin cancer. So, have fun in the sun, but think of your skin in the long run. Take cover with info and advice for you and your kids from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

See how extreme heat can affect your health and learn more about a Heat Health Emergency. 

Good Grilling

Fire Prevention Two rules to start: Clean your grill and never leave an unattended grill lit. An average of 8,900 home fires are caused each year by grilling, and close to half of all injuries involving grills are due to thermal burns, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Safety tips from the Philadelphia Fire Department include cleaning the grease and fat from the grill before each use and keeping children and pets at least three feet from the grill area.

If you live in a one or two family house, Philadelphia Fire Code requires you to keep your outdoor grill at least 5 feet from combustible walls, floors, and ceilings.  If you use a propane tank, it must be at least 5 feet from any doors or windows.

The City’s Licenses and Inspections Department (L&I) notes if you live in a building with more than two units, you can grill at ground level only, and at least 10 feet away from any part of the building that is made out of combustible material.

Food safety Make your summer cookouts memorable, but in a good way. Ensure your guests leave with a full stomach, not food poisoning. Improperly stored or cooked foods can make you sick.

Tips to help you become grill-master from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before handling food and after touching raw meat
  • Keep meat and poultry refrigerated until ready to use. Only take out the meat and poultry that will immediately be placed on the grill.
  • Avoid cross-contamination. Be sure there are plenty of clean utensils and platters. To prevent food-borne illness, don’t use the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry.
  • Refrigerate leftovers and perishable foods within two hours. Don’t keep mayonnaise products in the sun for longer than 15 minutes at a time.
  • Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. Meat and poultry cooked on a grill often browns very fast on the outside. Use a food thermometer to be sure the food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature.
    • Safe minimum internal temperatures
      • Whole poultry: 165 °F
      • Poultry breasts: 165 °F
      • Ground poultry: 165 °F
      • Ground meats: 160 °F
      • Beef, pork, lamb, veal (steaks, roasts and chops): 145 °F. Allow to rest for 3 minutes.

Water Wisdom

Swimming Safety Thinking of installing a swimming pool for your family and friends to enjoy? Have fun and stay safe.  Philadelphia’s L&I can help you make your pool as safe as possible.  

Nationwide, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under 5 years of age and the second leading cause for children between the ages of 5 and 14.  Supervision is the key to keeping kids safe.

  • Children in and around swimming pools must be watched closely at all times.
  • To decrease the risk of shock-related injuries or electrocution, ask a qualified electric contractor to check the wiring of your pool for proper “bonding and grounding.”
  • If the pool has a drain that uses suction, make sure that drain covers have been installed.
  • If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
  • Protect yourself and your family by teaching your children to swim and by learning first aid and CPR.

For more information on swimming pool safety, visit the Association of Spa and Pool Professionals and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Hy and dry Fire hydrants are for fighting fires and not for cooling off. According to the Philadelphia Water Department, opening hydrants to cool off decreases water pressure and makes it difficult for firefighters to do their jobs, plus it can damage water mains. The water pressure alone from a hydrant can cause serious injury or even death, especially if there are little kids around. From a waste perspective, the amount of water used in one hour by an open fire hydrant can be equivalent to a household’s water usage for an entire year.

Editor’s Note: Click here to watch the 1986 PSA rap video about opening Philly fire hydrants.

Celebrate Correctly

Fireworks FAQ Leave the professional display to the professionals, please. Pennsylvania State Law defines what can and cannot be uses with or without a permit.

Celebratory gunfire There is no such thing. Firing a weapon indiscriminately in the air is illegal. It’s also dangerous as innocent people have been injured for life or killed by a random bullet. Philadelphia Police will investigate and make arrests.

Proper Property

Check your deck  L&I urges homeowners to check the safety of any deck on their properties. National statistics indicate that 90% of deck collapses are caused when the “ledger board”, the wood that connects the deck joists to the building wall, loosens and becomes detached.  This can happen when water gets behind the ledger board and rots it out, or when the hardware connecting the ledger board to the house is inadequate, improperly installed, or insufficiently tight. Injuries can also occur when guard rails become weakened from wood rot or the connecting hardware becomes loose or corroded.

Car-assurance

Driver safety Memorial Day marks one of the busiest weekends of the year for drivers. AAA estimates 39.3 million Americans will travel this holiday weekend, and that’s just the start of the summer season. Increased cars mean increased danger.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has tips to help you enjoy the ride:

  • Look before you lock When it’s hot out, never leave kids or pets in cars. Temperatures inside a car can reach 109 degrees after 20 minutes. Heatstroke begins when body temps reach 104 degrees. Leaving a child or pet in a car can be fatal.
  • Buckle Up All passengers must agree to wear their seat belts every time they are riding or driving in your vehicle. Set the example by always wearing your seat belt.
  • Stay Alert Stop along the way to take a group stretch, get something to eat and drink, return any calls or text messages, and change drivers if you’re feeling tired or drowsy. Consider staying overnight at a hotel or family resort.
  • Driver Distraction Accidents happen in split seconds. Your radio, food, navigation system, beauty product or anything else that takes your eyes of the road is not worth getting into an accident. Resist the urge to check your phone. Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel, and concentration on the task of driving. No one’s lives–neither your passengers nor any other road users–are worth a phone call or text.
  • Don’t drink and drive Simply stated, but simply cannot be overstated. If you’re enjoying alcoholic beverages, prevent a tragic death by getting a designated driver, cab or public transportation.

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