June 2024 | Welcome Summer! Summer Safety Spotlight: Exploring with Care

Posted: June 1, 2024 at 8 a.m.

The first day of summer is June 20, and as the season approaches, plans for staycations, picnics, BBQs, river trips, or beach vacations are taking shape. Safety, however, remains a top priority. With the warm weather tempting us to be carefree, it’s important to stay vigilant. Keep these essential safety tips in mind to ensure a safe and joyful summer.

Water and Electricity Safety: Always exercise caution around water. Avoid swimming near boats that are plugged into shore power or docks with electrical connections to prevent electric shock drowning. Weather Alertness: Pay attention to changing weather conditions and use a weather app for real-time alerts. Lightning can strike from as far as 10 miles away from a storm. If you hear thunder, immediately seek shelter. Remember, a ‘watch’ suggests potential severe weather, while a ‘warning’ necessitates immediate action. Drone and Kite Safety: When flying drones, remote-controlled planes, toys, or kites, choose open spaces far from power lines. Should any object become entangled, do not attempt to retrieve it yourself; instead, contact your electric utility for professional help.

As my family and I gear up for our summer activities, we’re mindful to follow these guidelines for a secure and memorable season. There’s a whole world out there to explore—this spring, we even discovered a 14-foot troll! Here’s to a summer filled with safe explorations and surprising discoveries. Enjoy the warmth and wonder. Be smart. Act safely. Keep pushing forward!

Book of the Month: “Our ultimate success in mountaineering (and life) is based not on our performance when everything goes well, but rather in those moments when little or nothing does; when we are faced with adversity.” The Program by Eric Kapitulik and Jake MacDonald

Sean is the CEO/GM of SEMO Electric Cooperative and GoSEMO Fiber.

Sean, Ripley, Amanda, Debbie, Otto, and Jose stand under Jakob Two Trees in Issaquah, Washington. Fashioned entirely out of recycled materials, Jakob is a large-scale public art installation that is about 14-feet tall. Jakob Two Trees is one of six trolls in the region. The Nordic Trolls spring from the imagination of Thomas Dambo.