Summer Safety Tips from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

School's out, and summer is here! The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office would like to offer the following tips for having a safe and secure summer.

With regard to summer vacations:

• It's tempting, but try not to advertise you're on vacation via social media websites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), and be sure that your kids don't either! Broadcasting your away lets potential burglars know that your house is vacant and they've got plenty of time to burglarize your home.
• Whenever possible, have a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor "house sit" for you and/or periodically check your house, bring in the mail, newspapers, or garbage cans while you're gone.
• Make sure your home is secure–lock all windows and doors; set your audible alarm (if equipped). Hide or remove any valuables in plain view or secure items in a safe, safety deposit box, or other secure location.
• Make sure that you can still be contacted in the event that there is an emergency.

With regard to keeping kids safe: 

• Caution children staying home for the summer to keep doors locked and the alarm set.
• Teach kids not to open the door to strangers and to call 911 first in an emergency! Children should have a trusted adult, family member, or neighbor that they can contact in the event they need assistance or in the event of an emergency, after calling 911.
• Go over the rules with your children about what friends they can visit and establish boundaries of where they are allowed or NOT allowed to go, when you're not at home.
• Daylight lasts longer in the summer, so be sure your kids know when curfew is and/or to check in when they are on their way home or running late.
• Check out any camps, daycares, or other summer programs before enrolling your children. Inquire if there is adult supervision at all times and if employee background checks are conducted.
• Be sure you're informed of all planned activities or field trips offered by a summer camp or other program.
• Make sure your kids stay hydrated in the summer heat!

With regard to Swimming Safety:

• Make sure young children know to stay away from pools, spas, ponds, lakes, rivers or any body of water without adult supervision.
• Whenever around water, keep small children within arm's reach!
• Most drowning incidents occur in residential pools when children are left unattended.
• Utilize gates, locks, alarms/sensors or adequate "child-proof" fencing to keep children from entering pool areas undetected.
• Teach your kids how to swim or how to float on their backs for air and to get to the edge of a pool, should they ever fall in.
• Always have rescue equipment (shepherd's hook, throw rope, life preserver) and a telephone (to call 911) nearby.
• Learn CPR.