Las Vegas Urban League WIC Counselors A Vital Resource During June National Safety Month

LAS VEGAS - June 1, 2021 - PRLog -- With warm weather approaching and COVID restrictions starting to finally ease up, it's perfectly natural to want to get back into what was once a normal lifestyle. But don't let your eagerness cause you to throw caution to the wind.

The National Safety Council in 1996 designated June as National Safety Month to increase public awareness of leading safety and health risks during the summer months and to decrease injuries and deaths in homes and workplaces.

"Anyone can be at risk for heat stroke," Rewina Tsegay, Program Nutritionist says. "You need to not only apply sunscreen, but also make sure you are hydrated by drinking plenty of water when outdoors, even if you feel you are not sweating. Avoid long periods in the sun, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun's ultraviolet rays are the strongest."

Sunscreens should be applied 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every two hours after swimming or sweating. Southern Nevada's abundance of swimming pools are ideal for keeping cool during summer months, but their appeal also demands following strict safeguards to avoid accidents and unintentional deaths. Adult supervision is a must when children are in or near swimming pools. Walls or fencing to avoid accidental falls or drowning should seclude all residential pools.

"Eye safety is very important," Tsegay says. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can harm the eyes. Always wear sunglasses when you are out in the sun. Make sure to wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB light."

Cover all unused outlets with safety plugs to protect small children. Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways to protect children and have an emergency supply kit filled and easily accessible by everyone in your home.

"Install childproof locks on cabinets that contain cleaning supplies, soaps or medicines," Tsegay says. "Keep any medicine and any other items that could be ingested out of a child's reach. We recommend that parents sit down with their children during the month of June to discuss safety and how everyone can work together as a family to prevent accidents and maintain a healthy lifestyle," Tsegay says. "For more summer safety tips, please contact our WIC offices."

The Las Vegas Urban League Women, Infants and Children Program is a 501c (3) program that is funded by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

For more information, visit the Urban League WIC website at: www.wiclv.org or their two convenient locations: 6480 W. Flamingo Road, Suite B, Las Vegas, phone (702) 227-1573 or 3320 E. Flamingo Road, Suite 50, Las Vegas, phone (702) 476-9561.