Each season brings its risks, be it adverse weather, lighting and visibility or driving conditions. So what can we be more aware of during Summer?
School’s out for summer
Playgrounds, parks, farms, activity centres and other popular destinations often see considerably increased numbers of people during the warmer months and children can be at added risk of injury.
Common causes of injuries:
- Faulty equipment such as broken swings, slides or climbing frames
- Poorly maintained surfaces and structures – councils must be vigilant in inspecting and maintaining playgrounds to protect children from avoidable harm
- Lack of adequate supervision be that from summer school teachers or activity leaders
Property owners, event organisers or councils can be held liable for injuries caused by negligence.
In addition, the popularity of outdoor sports recreational activities increases the potential for accidents to occur in public places. Therefore, organisers and local authorities must make sure that there are safety measures in place to protect the public and minimise liability.
Contact sports, water sports and cycling all become more popular in fairer weather and so the risk of injuries can increase.
Another seasonal risk is pop-up events such as inflatable parks and summer funfairs. If they are poorly maintained or not set up properly injuries can occur.
Lazin’ on a sunny afternoon
Pit fires and barbecues are very popular in summer but we need to ensure we keep safe to escape fire-related injuries. These can be caused by:
- Improper use of barbecue equipment – so always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Using or placing barbecue equipment near flammable materials
- Lack of safety planning such as no fire extinguisher or sand bucket and no first aid kit
- Poor supervision of young children
- Poorly cooked food leading to food poisoning
In addition, fires and barbecues on the beach and in other open spaces can contribute to serious burns from embers hidden in the sand as well as contributing to wildfires in particularly dry, hot weather.
Spending long periods playing or sunbathing can lead to heatstroke or sunburn if skin isn’t protected sufficiently
I like driving in my car
Due to holidays, festivals and day trips, summer brings an upsurge of road traffic and this corresponds with higher numbers of road traffic accidents. Common causes can include:
- Speeding to reach your destination quicker
- Distractions due to mobile phones, losing direction in unfamiliar places, passengers or other drivers
- Overtiredness due to longer than usual journeys and lack of rests leading to slower reaction times
- Drink-driving because of more social events can lead to more drink driving incidents
Summer is a great time for going out, relaxing and having fun, but we do need to recognise that it brings with it not just the sun, warmer temperatures and longer days but also various risks that can lead to injuries, and in some cases serious injuries.
In many cases we can take measures ourselves to avoid accidents. However, if you are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence you may be able to bring a claim. Contact us today on 0161 696 6235 or fill out our enquiry form to speak to our specialist solicitors.
Blog author: Angeline Holmes
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